WEDNESDAY 27TH JANUARY 2021

CBN Extends 5% Interest on Intervention Fund by One Year Emefiele tackles Fitch, says CBN obligated to fund FG MPC retains MPR at 11.5% James Emejo in Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced a one-year extension of the concessional interest rate of five per cent on all its

intervention funds that was introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the extension, the expiration date earlier scheduled for March 2021 will now be March 2022.

Also, the CBN, in an effort to stimulate recovery and growth of the economy, resolved yesterday to leave all monetary policy parameters unchanged, retaining the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

otherwise known as interest rate at 11.5 per cent with the asymmetric corridor of +100/700 basis points around the MPR. It further retained the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 27.5 per

cent as well as the Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the decision to extend the deadline on the rate was in recognition of the fact that the

second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is currently being witnessed in the country, could further hurt businesses.

The concessions were Continued on page 9

IMF Revises Nigeria's 2021 GDP Forecasts to 1.5%... Page 6 Wednesday 27 January, 2021 Vol 26. No 9425. Price: N250

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Buhari Reinvigorates War against Insecurity, Replaces Service Chiefs Tested war general, Irabor, becomes CDS Changes made to inject fresh ideas into system, says presidency National Assembly, Afenifere, ACF, others welcome new appointments Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Adedayo Akinwale, Udora Orizu in Abuja, Seriki Adinoyi in Jos, John Shiklam in Kaduna, George Okoh in Makurdi President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday injected fresh vigour into efforts by his administration to combat insurgency, banditry and other

forms of criminality with the appointment of new service chiefs.

Buhari’s media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement that announced the appointments, named tested insurgency war general, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru Continued on page 8

ACF, PANDEF Express Doubt over Govs, Miyetti Allah Pact Say it won’t bring permanent peace Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha in Abuja, John Shiklam in Kaduna and George Okoh in Makurdi The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) have said that the decision by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Miyetti Allah

Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to end open grazing, including night and underage herding won’t lead to permanent peace.

ACF said the resolutions may have doused tension but would not provide lasting peace.

Continued on page 8

Adams Seeks Coordination of Fight against Insecurity in South-west...Page 5

TESTED GENERAL TAKES OVER...

Former Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, takes over the headship of the military as Chief of Defence Staff in Abuja…yesterday

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Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Adams Seeks Coordination of Fight against Insecurity in South-west Fire razes estimated N50m property in Igboho’s house

Ejiofor Alike The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, has called on the Yoruba nation to be well-coordinated in their efforts to fight the raging insecurity in the South-west.

Adams, who featured yesterday on ‘The Morning Show,’ the flagship breakfast programme of ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, lamented that the Yoruba have a penchant of destroying their warriors.

Also yesterday, another Yoruba rights activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, put the value of assets destroyed at his old house that was set ablaze by arsonists in Ibadan at N50 million.

Adams accused some Yoruba politicians of trying to use Igboho to malign him and destroy all that he has built in the last 28 years by calling him “a coward.”

He said: “On the braveness of Sunday Igboho, some wicked politicians in Yorubaland have stepped in to use him to destroy their enemies and to even call them names. How can somebody call Iba Gani Adams that has been in the trenches for the past 28 years a coward?”

Igboho had issued and enforced a vacation order to Fulani herdsmen accused of perpetrating crimes ranging from kidnappings, killings, rape to the invasion of farmlands with their cattle in Igangan, Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Adams noted that some politicians have infiltrated the struggle for a secured space despite the genuine concerns

by Igboho to fight for his people.

Adams said Igboho has the

genuine interest of the Yoruba at heart but some politicians have infiltrated the struggle to “malign me and dent my image.”

According to him, “I started this struggle at the age of 23 years when OPU (Oodua Peoples Union) has not been on the ground. We started OPU in 1994 and I risked everything for Yorubaland. I have been to jail three times. The total of my detention was seventeen-and-ahalf months. I lost everything I had in this life. I started from scratch in 2008 and I didn’t surrender because my people have to be liberated.

“How can somebody now come out – Sunday Igboho –and use his braveness of one day to destroy somebody who has been in the struggle for 28 years.

There is more than meets the eye.

“Yoruba always destroy their warrior at the end of the day.

About 78 per cent of those that fought for the people, they destroyed them. We know what happened to Abiola. A lot of the people who asked him to declare himself as president ran away from him when he was arrested. It was just a few people in NADECO that stood

by MKO Abiola.”

Adams said the Yoruba nation has to be well-coordinated in its liberation struggle.

“Why should you say I’m a coward by now? I have five children and the whole of my family (members) are still living with Nigerian passports. I am a convener of Oodua Progressives Union.

“Ten years ago, my people in Europe told me to get a European passport; they wanted to do it for me within two years. I told them they will use it against me in the struggle of Nigeria and they

Aregbesola Seeks Dialogue to Tackle Insecurity Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja The Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has implored Nigerians to exercise restraint and embraced dialogue, good neighbourliness and the primacy of peace-building as ways of dousing anger and resentment over the worsening insecurity in the country.

In a statement titled, “A Time to Put Unity and Peace Above All,” the minister described the incidences of heightening ethnic and religious tensions in the country as part of outcomes of political and economic strains that have persistently defined the country and continue to exacerbate security challenges, making the task of development more traumatic.

“Government is keenly aware and genuinely concerned about these complications that sadly, have been sharpened by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through the growth of anxieties about issues, life and livelihood in our communities,” he said.

He added that the federal government is taking a holistic look at the challenges to ensure the return of lasting peace, security and amity to all our

communities.

Aregbesola, however, warned that the federal government will not tolerate any act or behaviour capable of jeopardising law and order as well as security of lives and property.

“Therefore, as the government is fashioning long term answers to address these problems, it urges citizens to appreciate that self-help and lawlessness cannot offer a path to sustainable solution. It can only lead to greater pain as well as costly human and material losses and disruption of the already difficult task of devising responses that will produce tangible peace and development in the country,” he stated.

Aregbesola assured Nigerians that the federal government will facilitate dialogue among states, community, security, traditional institutions, religious organisations and youth groups to resolve the problems within constitutional and legal frameworks.

He, therefore, called on the people to continue to work together towards building a peaceful community that will be beneficial to all, irrespective of ethnicity, religion and other differences.

will say I can’t fight for them again. So, I rejected it and I and my family (members) are still living with Nigerian passports and still living in the country,” he said.

Adams accused security operatives of wanting to arrest Igboho for political reasons.

Adams said: “It was not only Sunday Igboho that security operatives targeted for arrest, but I was also the number one person for arrest. I was targeted for some political reasons.

“The same people who attacked and condemned us in 2015 using social media are now coming to portray themselves as activists to use Sunday Igboho.

“Now, we woke up to hear his (Sunday) house got burnt.

Who are the people that went to burn Sunday Igboho’s house that is not in the forest?

“The issue with Sunday Igboho’s braveness now is that he has been used to destroy

some political enemies.”

When asked if he and Sunday Igboho have spoken on the activities of renegade herdsmen, he said: “I have only met Sunday Igboho once and that was at a function. The other times we spoke were on phone."

Fire Razes N50m Property in Sunday Igboho’s House Meanwhile, Igboho yesterday put the value of assets destroyed by arsonists who torched his old house in Ibadan at N50 million.

The house was set ablaze by unidentified men in the early hours of yesterday.

Narrating the incident, Igboho told journalists that the arsonists fired gunshots before breaking in.

He said: “Around 3.30 am today, my younger ones residing at my old house rushed to my gate to wake me up, saying some

bandits came to the house, fired gunshots, broke the gate and set the house ablaze. The two people at the house managed to escape. By the time I got there, the bandits had escaped. So, we called firefighters to help us put out the fire.”

On why he is against herdsmen, Igboho said their atrocities in Yorubaland are preventing peace from reigning.

“These Fulani are killing our brothers in our fatherland.

They’re killing, raping, and kidnapping. All the things they are doing to us are not good.

That’s why I’m trying to unite our people so that we can chase them away for peace to reign in Yorubaland,” he said.

He expressed the belief that those who attacked his house must have had help from some Yoruba.

“What I find surprising is that some Yoruba are in support of the herdsmen to set my house

on fire. I’m saddened by it,” he said.

When asked who he suspected to be behind the attack, he said: “For now, I do not suspect anyone."

“When they knew they could fight, fire gunshots and set a house ablaze, isn’t it where I stay that they are supposed to come? If they had come to the house where I stay, I would have had evidence for you people (journalists) because they won’t all escape. It’s either you meet their bodies or meet them with broken legs. I thank God that they applied wisdom by going to a house where they know that I don’t live and destroyed my property and burnt it down,” he stated.

He said his younger brothers who were at the house during the incident escaped unhurt, noting that the incident has been reported to the police who had come to inspect the scene.

BOOST FOR EDUCATION...

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Ms. Sadiya Farouk (left), and Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, during the inauguration of the national steering committee on alternate school programme in Abuja…yesterday

Oil Host Communities Ask FG to Scrap NDDC Sylva urges agitators to accept 2.5% fund in PIB Deji Elumoye in Abuja Host communities in the nine oil-producing states have called for the scrapping of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

This is just as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, urged the host communities to accept the 2.5 per cent fund provided in the revised Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), instead of insisting on 10 per cent.

The National President of the Oil Host Communities (HOSTCOM), Chief Benjamin Tams, said yesterday at the end of the two-day public hearing on the revised 2020 PIB that all the intervention agencies established by the federal government for the development of oil host communities had not made much impact on the development of the communities.

He cited the NDDC, which

he described as a cesspool of corruption, as the least impactful.

He said: "What government is supposed to add to the new PIB is scrapping of NDDC and the establishment of Oil Host Communities Commission, which will in practical terms, be very responsive to the development needs of the various host communities."

Tams insisted that 2.5 per cent proposed in the new PIB is unacceptable to the host communities.

He said: "What we want is 10 per cent equity remittance from the various oil firms to respective host communities as proposed in the PIB considered in the 7th National Assembly but not assented to.

"It is even very annoying that having reduced the 10 per cent to five per cent in the last bill considered by the eighth National Assembly, it is further slashed to 2.5 per cent in the current bill.

"This is not acceptable to us as host communities of the oil-producing firms. The 10 per cent earlier proposed must be worked upon if the bill is to be acceptable to the various communities bearing the brunt."

Tams, in an earlier presentation, had said that it would be absurd and economically illogical to deprive "HostCom" the right to equity shareholding in both the establishment of the NNPC Limited, the commission, the authority and the boards.

The host communities added that "this quest to take over complete control of all our national assets by a very unpatriotic few has to stop”.

Sylva, however, said the 2.5 per cent proposed for the host communities in the new bill is fair.

"I speak advisably as a member of the host community myself. If you have to look at it properly, you will see that 10 per cent of

profit is different from 10 per cent of the operation cost from the various oil firms.

"Before now, you had the provision of 10 per cent of profit and profit means that if I don't declare it, you don't have anything. I can decide to say 100 per cent of profit and not declare any profit, so you don't get anything.

"But in this case, it's 2.5 per cent of the OPEX. So, at the end of the year, you look at your operating cost and take 2.5 per cent of that cost to the budget of the next year. As far as we are concerned, we have made a very fair proposal. Fair to the host communities, to the country and to the oil companies," he stated.

He added that provisions made in the bill are just proposals before the National Assembly and until they are passed before there can be an effective discussion on them.

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IMF Revises Nigeria’s 2021 GDP Forecasts to 1.5% Calls for vaccine funding for African countries Projects 21% rebound in crude oil prices Nume Ekeghe in Lagos and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) update released yesterday has projected that the Nigerian economy will grow by 1.5 per cent this year, slightly lower than the 1.7 per cent it had predicted for the country in its previous forecast.

The multilateral institution, in its latest WEO titled: ‘Policy Support and Vaccines Expected to Lift Activity,’ however, predicted that in sub-Saharan Africa, growth will strengthen to 3.2 per cent in 2021 and 3.9 per cent in 2022.

It also expected oil prices to average above $50 per barrel in 2021, a more than 21 per cent rise from 2020's depressed level on the back of the rollout of vaccines and fiscal stimulus programmes.

IMF stated that the updated version of the report was

reviewed in line with emergence of a new variant of coronavirus, which poses as a concern for global recovery.

On its revised projections, the report stated: “Although recent vaccine approvals have raised hopes of a turnaround in the pandemic later this year, renewed waves and new variants of the virus pose concerns for the outlook. Amid exceptional uncertainty, the global economy is projected to grow 5.5 percent in 2021 and 4.2 percent in 2022. The 2021 forecast is revised up 0.3 percentage point relative to the previous forecast, reflecting expectations of a vaccinepowered strengthening of activity later in the year and additional policy support in a few large economies.”

Speaking at the virtual unveil of the WEO report, Economic Counselor and Director of the Research Department, Ms. Gita Gopinath, said as much as 90 million people

Fire Destroys 70 Shops in Lagos Market Rebecca Ejifoma No fewer than 70 shops and goods, whose value is yet to be ascertained were destroyed yesterday in an early morning inferno at the Slade Market in Shomolu area of Lagos State.

A preliminary investigation showed that the fire, which erupted at 1.05 am, was due to a surge in voltage after power supply was restored to the area.

The Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi OkeOsanyintolu, said the agency responded to distress calls at 1.05 am.

“Upon arrival, we commenced fire suppression activities. The agency firefighters alongside the Lagos State and Federal Fire Services worked to complete thorough damping down exercise,” he added.

According to him, initial post-disaster assessment indicates that 70 lock-up shops were affected while the extent of destroyed goods was still being assessed.

He implored residents to

ensure their appliances are switched off once not in use to prevent voltage surge.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also confirmed that 70 shops were severely damaged in the fire outbreak.

The agency, however, said it salvaged 101 shops from being razed.

Briefing journalists on the incident, the Acting Head of the agency, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, said the fire was put out by firefighters from the Ilupeju and Bolade Fire Stations.

She said the average land area of 1,944 square metres, accommodating 171 shops of varying sizes, already had 70 of the shops engulfed by fire by the time the firefighters arrived.

“The affected shops, which had various items, including food, gas cylinders and other perishable goods, were severely damaged by the inferno," she stated.

Adeseye said the cause of the fire is still being investigated, adding that its spread may have been aided by gas cylinders inside a gas shop at the market.

worldwide would fall below poverty bracket and also urged low income and emerging economies to hasten COVID-19 vaccination.

She said: “Oil exporters and tourism-dependent economies are particularly hard hit and their prospects are severe given that oil prices have a subdued outlook and cross border travel is not expected to resume anytime soon.

"Even within countries, the burden of the crisis has been felt unequally across different groups. Workers with less education, youth and women have suffered disproportionate income losses. 90 million individuals are expected to enter extreme poverty over 2020/2021 reversing the trends of the past two decades.”

She called for more support to fund African countries' purchase of vaccines.

“But there are many countries that are waiting till 2022 for that to happen and that is just costly for everybody not just for developing countries, it is also very costly for countries that have the vaccines. Which is why we are calling for greater funding for making sure these vaccines are available to poor nations.”

IMF Projects 21% Rebound in Crude Oil Prices Oil prices will average above $50 per barrel in 2021, a more than 21 per cent rise from 2020's depressed level on the back of the rollout of vaccines and fiscal stimulus programmes, the IMF has said in an updated forecast.

The IMF now expects global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow 5.5 per cent in 2021, after a 3.5 per cent contraction in 2020, with the 2020 figure revised up 0.9 percentage point from the previous forecast issued in October while the 2021 estimate is a 0.3 percentage point upward revision.

S&P Global Platts quoted the IMF as forecasting that advanced economies are projected to recover more quickly than developing countries due to quicker access to vaccines and broader fiscal measures.

"Oil exporters and tourismbased economies face particularly difficult prospects given the subdued outlook for oil prices and expected slow normalisation of cross-border

travel," it said.

The IMF uses a simple average of prices of Brent, Dubai and WTI to calculate its oil prices. With that methodology, the IMF said oil prices averaged $41.29/b in 2020 and would rise to $50.03/b in 2021, before falling back to $48.82/b in 2022.

The October forecast had estimated that oil prices would average $46.70/b in 2021.

"Non-oil commodity prices are also expected to increase with those of metals, in particular, projected to accelerate strongly in 2021," the IMF said.

The fund said its forecasts were subject to uncertainty, with the pandemic yet to be contained.

Meanwhile, Barclays has lifted its view on the average Brent Crude price for this year by $2 per barrel, expecting it at $55.

The bank also expects WTI Crude, to average $52 per barrel in 2021, raising its outlook by $2 a barrel due to a weaker U.S. dollar and expected higher demand for winter fuels because of the cold snap in the northern hemisphere.

The new forecasts are

roughly the levels at which both benchmarks traded early on Monday, with WTI Crude at just above $52, and Brent Crude at $55.80.

The bank projected a more bullish oil prices in the second half of this year, while for the first half, it still sees downside risks such as expanding Chinese lockdowns to fight resurging COVID cases.

“The COVID-19 shock, despite its acute effects on mobility demand, does not appear, at least for now, to have materially affected the oil supply-demand continuum,” Barclays said.

Transportation demand for oil is set to normalise by the end of this year, thanks to vaccinations and freight demand with fiscal stimuli around the world, according to the bank.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies OPEC+ group is forecasted to ease the cuts by 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in total during the second quarter of the year while the alliance is also expected to release another 1.5 million bpd of oil on the market in the second half of 2021, Barclays said.

HONOUR FOR THE CORPORATION...

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The New Telegraph, Mr. Ayodele Aminu (left), Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Malam Mele Kyari, during the presentation of the 2020 Award of Government Agency of the Year (Transparency) to the NNPC in Abuja…yesterday

APC Commits to Observing COVID-19 Protocol in Membership Registration Faleke seeks postponement Udora Orizu and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians that it will observe COVID-19 protocol during the revalidation and registration of its members.

The assurance came in a reaction to a call on the party by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. James Faleke, to defer the national membership registration due to the pandemic.

Faleke, in a letter to the Chairman of the National Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Yobe State Governor, Mai Bala Bunu, cautioned against going ahead with the

registration and revalidation of party members.

But the Secretary of the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, said the party would strive to observe all the protocols as stated by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

He stated: "On behalf of the Chairman, Mai Mala Buni, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, we thank Hon. James Faleke for his concerns. We appreciate all the issues raised in his open letter, but as a committee, we are guided by the directive of NEC on the conduct of the registration exercise and we wish to state that the exercise will continue

as scheduled.

"In doing this, we shall ensure full compliance of the PTF protocols on COVID-19 in the cause of this exercise. Our registration officers will be adequately trained to observe the protocols by the PTF." He added that the exercise is unit-based, adding that there will be no need for a crowd.

Akpanudoedehe said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted elections and the protocol was adhered to, adding that the registration is not a day exercise.

He said: "It is a continuous one and we assure our members of their safety and protection. We are committed

to carrying out this exercise as scheduled in view of the life time of the caretaker committee."

Faleke, who is representing Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives, in his open letter on Monday, had urged the party to postpone its scheduled fresh registration and revalidation of members.

He expressed concern about the prevailing pandemic in Nigeria.

Faleke stated that the Chairman of the PTF on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, had recently warned that the second wave of the pandemic would be more dangerous and more deadly, adding that events

since the beginning of the year have proven him right.

He noted that being a survivor of COVID-19, he is wary of the implication of the registration, saying that while the decision to revalidate and conduct new registration of members os a laudable one, it will be wrong to carry it out at this time.

According to him, postponing the exercise is even more expedient, especially given the renewed surge in the spread of the pandemic as it is being reported daily while some states are already overstretched in oxygen supplies and care.

“Our government has for some time given directives to

the religious bodies to reduce congregational attendance at both churches and mosques.

So many states have cancelled social gatherings, while others are compelling the use of face masks to reduce the rate of infection and fatalities. So why must we go into an exercise that will certainly draw large crowds across the various states?

“The stage is set for the exercise and I must confess that I'm personally impressed with the preparations and logistics put in place for the exercise. I have no doubt in my mind that it will be a resounding success for us and will be a springboard for achieving one strong, united party,” he added.

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PAGE EIGHT BUHARI REINVIGORATES WAR AGAINST INSECURITY, REPLACES SERVICE CHIEFS as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo as the Chief of Naval Staff; while Air-Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao emerged the Chief of Air Staff.

Their appointments followed the resignations and retirements of their predecessors who had come under severe attacks, leading to mounting pressure on the president to drop them, over their perceived inability to tame the nation’s worsening insecurity.

Those who retired are the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

Yesterday's appointments, described by analysts as a sign of the president bowing to pressure to replace the service chiefs in a bid to combat insecurity attracted kudos and knocks from groups and organisations, including the Senate; the House of Representatives; Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere; All Progressives Congress (APC); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF); and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The presidency also said the new appointments were carried out in a bid to inject fresh ideas into the system.

The statement quoted the president as congratulating the new service chiefs, urging them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Buhari also accepted the immediate resignations of the service chiefs and their retirements from service.

He thanked them for what he called their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country” and wished them well in their future endeavours.

Adesina shed more light on the appointments while featuring on a television programme last night, saying that the president felt it was

the best time to rejig the security system in the country.

“The president knew the time to do it and I believe the time has come and that is why it has been done,” he said.

He faulted claims that their resignations were a result of security failures under their tenure or due to the pressure mounted on the government to sack the service chiefs.

“I don’t think it is a matter of right or wrong,” Adesina said when asked to clarify the situation, adding: “It is just a matter of doing what is best for the country at the best time.”

He explained: “It will not be right to say one side was right or one side was wrong because the president even in the statement we issued also commended the outgoing service chiefs for their contributions to engendering a safer country.

“That shows that by and large, he was satisfied with their performances and he just felt it was time to rejig the system; have fresh energy, have fresh blood, have fresh ideas.”

The Senate welcomed the new appointments, saying Buhari’s action is in tandem with its earlier resolutions to replace the service chiefs.

Senate spokesman, Senator Ajibola Basiru, told THISDAY yesterday that the change in the service chiefs was in line with two earlier resolutions of the Senate for the nation's security to be overhauled.

He said: "It is an honourable thing for the CDS and other service chiefs to have resigned and give room for fresh blood and you know that in the past, we had called for the realignment of the security network of the country and the need to inject a new set of leadership into the military."

He urged the new service chiefs to work towards tackling all the security challenges facing the nation, especially the insurgency in the North-east and banditry in some parts of the country.

The Senate Minority Caucus said the appointment of the new service chiefs was better

Amao late than not coming at all.

Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said: "It is better late than never. We had been calling for this for a long time now; let’s hope this team will stem the tide of insecurity."

The House of Representatives also lauded Buhari for finally heeding the calls of the National Assembly and Nigerians by replacing the service chiefs.

The House, since its inauguration, has been clamouring for the replacement of the service chiefs due to their failure to curb the worsening insecurity in the country.

The House, in two previous resolutions, had asked the president to sack the service chiefs if they failed to resign.

However, their resolutions were ignored by Buhari until yesterday.

Speaking to THISDAY yesterday, House spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, described the appointment of the new service chiefs as a reflection of leadership that listens.

Kalu noted that the coming on board of the new service chiefs is an injection of new energy, which though may not be automatically magical but is still a good step towards combating insecurity.

While appealing to Nigerians to manage their

Attahiru expectations from the new service chiefs, he urged everyone to support them.

He said: ''For the House of Representatives, it is a reflection of the leadership that listens. On our part, we’ve shown that we pay attention to wishes, desires, hunger and the need of the Nigerian people. What they actually wanted is what we have carried on our shoulders and presented at the plenary as their representatives.”

The ruling APC also expressed confidence that the new service chiefs will consolidate on the remarkable achievements of their predecessors in keeping the country safe and peaceful.

The National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement yesterday, said the ruling party welcomed the appointments.

It urged increased synergy among the armed forces in achieving these tasks.

The PDP described the replacement of the service chiefs as belated, adding that much harm had already been done to national security.

The party said the belated replacement showed that Buhari is a leader who has always refused to heed to wise counsel by well-meaning

Gambo Nigerians.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said: "If Mr. President had acted when our party and other well-meaning Nigerians, including the two chambers of the National Assembly impressed it upon him to do so, the security situation in the country would not have degenerated to this abysmal level.”

PDP, however, expressed the hope that the new service chiefs will brace up to the challenges.

ACF spokesman, Mr. Emmanuel Yawe, commended Buhari for finally heeding the calls to sack the service chiefs.

“Indeed, they had overstayed their welcome; I understand that some junior officers were retired prematurely because the service chiefs refused to move out of the way. I think the country is better for it,” he said.

General Secretary of NLC, Mr. Emma Ugbaja, told THISDAY that Nigerians expect the new leadership of the armed forces to rise to the occasion and ensure that they win back the confidence of the people by frontally tackling insecurity.

"We expect that the new people will bring new impetus to their job. The new army chiefs included

According to him, "The Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) should move into action and fish out those behind the burning of this man's house. These are the main criminals.”

He said the arsonists have ulterior motives and did not mean well for the crisis.

“These are the people who don't want the crisis to end.

They feed fat on the crisis.

Why must they set his house on fire when the governors and everyone are trying to ensure a peaceful resolution of this crisis?

"The police and other agencies should move in and Nigerians should cooperate by giving information that would lead to their arrest,” he said.

He said he was shocked by the sudden spike in the fight between the farmers and herdsmen, and commended the efforts of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in resolving the misunderstanding between the farmers and the herdsmen.

"The Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw and Fulani have been living together in the past and, therefore, must live peacefully forever.

"I do not support anyone

who says that all lands in Nigeria belong to Fulani. All lands belong to every state. I support all governors trying to solve these problems between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in every state,” Jubrin said.

Meanwhile, the Benue PDP has hailed the governors over their unanimous adoption of the stand of their Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, on anti-open grazing in Nigeria.

The party, through its state publicity Secretary, Mr. Bemgba Iortyom, was reacting to the outcome of the South-west governors’ meeting.

In the statement signed

by Iortyom, the party said it is positive on the chances of improvement in security across Nigeria following the declaration by the state governors that open grazing of livestock be banned in the country.

“The party hails the decision as courageous and a vindication of the stand earlier taken by Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, through his enactment and enforcement of the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law (2014).

“Benue PDP affirms once

tested hands in real combat activities. We expect them to help us restore stability in our security to enable workers to go to work much more freely and to enable Nigerians not to embark on deaths trips each time they set out to go to work or travel. Rather let it be that people will go out and expect to come back safely to meet their loved ones," he said.

Spokesman of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, also told THISDAY that the replacement of the service chiefs at this moment is belated and not impressive.

"The action does not in way invalidate the invidious agenda that brought about the unusual situation we have just passed through. It is not lost on us that the South-east for instance has nobody in the new service chiefs,” he said.

PANDEF welcomed the appointments, saying it is long overdue.

PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ken Robinson, stated that the group commended the president for finally responding to calls by well-meaning Nigerians to replace them.

"We congratulate the new service chiefs while hoping that they will discharge their duties and responsibilities professionally, without biases Continued on page 9

ACF, PANDEF EXPRESS DOUBT OVER GOVS, MIYETTI ALLAH PACT In a telephone interview with THISDAY yesterday in Kaduna, spokesman of the forum, Mr. Emmanuel Yawe, said now that nerves are calmed, efforts should be made towards finding a permanent solution to herders/clashes.

According to him, “The decisions taken between the governors and MACBAN will bring an immediate cease-fire and bring down tension” especially “all these hot exchange of words which does not help matters.”

He said: “Beyond calming nerves, we should look for more permanent solutions to the problems of herders and sedentary farmers fighting each other. There should be a search for more permanent solutions.”

Recalling that pastoralists and farmers used to live in peace, Yawe noted that desert encroachment has denied pastoralists grazing ground, while sedentary farmers also have less land to farm.

“It is the struggle for farmland and grazing that has led to most of these clashes,” he said, adding: “The criminal aspect of it is that people come into Nigeria without proper identification.” He added that unemployment also

contributed to the problem.

According to him, “All these are the fundamental issues.

We should find the solution to these things and not the sentimental issues of religion and ethnic group.

“Nobody will leave his place in Sokoto to go and fight a war in Yorubaland. What does he stand to gain?”

He said the problem is about a search for survival, stressing that in this search for survival, some people adapt to legal means, while some people take to illegal means.

PANDEF has also disclosed that the decision of the herders and the governors will not bring permanent peace.

He faulted the agreement reached between the governors and MACBAN, saying the understanding will not yield the required result.

Its spokesman, Hon. Ken Robinson, in a reaction, told THISDAY that it amounted to little more than window dressing as the vicious and barbaric actions of those criminals strolling under the cover of herdsmen would continue, adding that they had been emboldened by the obvious tolerance of their criminal activities by the federal government and

its agents.

He called for tougher actions against the criminals and a complete prohibition of open grazing of cattle.

He said: "For goodness' sake, cattle rearing is a private business; let those involved establish ranches, instead of taking over lands and terrorising communities.

Open grazing of cattle is outmoded and would continue to occasion crisis.

"The irrational and ridiculous assertion reportedly

by Miyetti Allah that they own all lands in Nigeria, and that nobody can tell herders to vacate their lands, is not only outrageous but vexatious" PANDEF, therefore, urged state governors, particularly in the southern regions, not to sacrifice the security and safety of the citizens on the altar of political correctness.

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jubrin appealed for dialogue as one of the basic ways to reconcile the crisis.

He also charged security agencies in the country to fish out the miscreants behind the burning of the house belonging to Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo.

again Governor Ortom’s stand that only a nationwide enforcement of the ban on open grazing will guarantee national security and stimulate economic recovery and growth,” it said.

TOP GAINERS RTBRISCOE CHAMPBREW UNIVINSURE AFRINSURE FIDSON TOP LOSERS JOHNHOLT JAPAUL SEPLAT

NGN NGN 0.02 0.22 0.21 2.35 0.02 0.23 0.02 0.24 0.40 5.05 NGN 0.05 0.45 0.08 0.78 50.00 490.00 ACADEMY 0.04 0.40 NIGERINSURE 0.02 0.25 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,505.00 Volume: 467.886 million shares Value: N5.565 billion Deals: 5,990 As at yesterday 26/01/2021 See details on Page 39

% 10 9.8 9.5 9.0 8.6 % 10 9.3 9.2 9.0 7.4

WEDNESDAY, ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS BUHARI REINVIGORATES WAR AGAINST INSECURITY, REPLACES SERVICE CHIEFS and tendencies, in the best interest of the country,” he stated.

But the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) faulted the composition of the new security chiefs, saying it's lacking in proper representation.

Special Assistant to the CAN president, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, said the replacements though belated, is a welcome one.

Oladeji, in a text sent to THISDAY, however, said the only concern about the composition is the absence of any Igbo extraction among them.

"President Muhammadu Buhari did well by replacing the service chiefs with new ones though belatedly. It is a case of better be late than never. Their prolonged tenure has cost the nation a lot in terms of security. Hopefully, the new ones will be able to inject the long-awaited confidence, hope and new ideas. Security architecture needs a total overhauling as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other well-meaning Nigerians have been calling for.

"The new service chiefs should bring in new

helmsmen to other security agencies such as the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and other related paramilitary organisations.

“Our concern about the new security chiefs is the absence of any Igbo extraction among them. It is the status quo ante on the composition," the CAN stated.

The former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, however, condemned the non-appointment of an Igbo officer as a service chief.

"Gen. Buhari thanks for making us in Igboland feel once more that we are not fit to head any of the security services," he said.

Lucky Irabor (CDS) Maj. Gen. Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea Irabor was born on 5 October 1965 in Aliokpu Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. The senior officer gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna as a member of the 34 Regular Course in 1983 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 28 June 1986 into the Signals Corps of the

Nigerian Army.

Irabor attended military and civil courses both locally and abroad. He attended Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) for his Junior Staff Course in 1995 and Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, Teshi, Accra, Ghana for Senior Staff Course in 2000/2001 amongst others. He equally attended the National Defence College in Bangladesh in 2010 and Harvard Kennedy Schools of Government and Executive Education, the USA in 2012 and 2017 respectively. Irabor is a trained engineer from the Obafemi Awolowo University and holds two Masters Degrees from University of Ghana, Accra and Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka.

Ibrahim Attahiru (COAS) Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru was born on August 10, 1966, and hails from Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Ibrahim was a member of the 35th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

Until his appointment

as the Chief of Army Staff, he was the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigerian Army.

He was appointed to lead the offensive against Boko Haram in the North-east in May 2017, but was redeployed by his predecessor, Buratai, after a string of attacks by the insurgents. He had also failed to meet the July 2017 deadline given him to deliver Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, dead or alive within 40 days.

But Attahiru, in his valedictory speech as the theatre commander said his removal was routine and not as a result of failure to realise his mandate.

Awwal Gambo (CONS) Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo was born on 22 April 1966 and hails from Nasarawa LGA in Kano State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Navy on 24 September 84 as a member of Regular Course 36 and was commissioned SubLieutenant on 24 September 1988. He is an underwater warfare specialist with a subspecialisation in intelligence.

He has attended many military courses, including sub-technical course and officers’ long course at NNS QUORRA. He also attended Junior Division 48/99 and Senior Course 26 both at AFCSC Jaji. Other courses attended include the National Defence Course at the South African National Defence College. Until his appointment as the CNS, he was the Director of Procurement at the Defence Space Administration.

He holds a PGD in Transport Management and a Master's degree in Transport Management (Logistics option) both from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in Oyo State.

He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Fellow of the Certified Institute of Shipping, Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria as well as a fellow of the National Defence College, South Africa.

The senior officer has been awarded the Grand Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, passed staff course among other decorations and awards. He is married to Hajiya Nana Aishat Gambo

and the marriage is blessed with three children.

economy very useless. A health crisis that had caught every global leader pants down without resolution. Today as we speak, even the vaccines that have been provided or research to be workable, they are not 100 per cent efficacious.

People have doubt about the efficacy: whether with the second variants in different countries, whether the vaccines will be efficacious.

"Not talking about that fact that the health crisis resulted in terrible fatal: the same health crisis has dovetailed into a global economic crisis where the price of crude came down in February/March 2020 to as low as $17 per barrel whereby even our cost of production became even higher than our revenue. And then Fitch says that the CBN is lending to the federal government."

According to Emefiele, since the world is facing a crisis, the CBN isn't the only central banker supporting its government.

"I will give you a few examples: advanced and emerging market economies have implemented both conventional and unconventional monetary measures aimed at curtailing the spread of the virus and stimulating greater economic recovery.

"In the US for instance, over $7 trillion of funds is projected to have been spent in 2020 alone. The balance sheet of the US Fed has increased from $4.1 trillion to $7.4 trillion over the past year as part of its asset purchase programme.

"A few more examples and I will link them to the GDP: In the UK, in fact, there was a time the Governor of the Bank of England came out and said the Bank of England will not be giving support to the government and the following day he reversed himself because he saw the consequences of the statement that he made.

"Today, the Bank of England and the Treasury have granted support that is equal to about 56 per cent of its GDP to help stimulate the UK economy

and this amounts to about $1.57 trillion. Like I said, in the US, 35 per cent of its GDP amounting to $7.4 trillion has already been extended.

The new administration in the United States is already thinking about granting additional...just to give free money to people who had been impacted by the pandemic.

"In the Euro area, 15 per cent of the GDP has been granted by the various central banks and treasuries to support and this amounts to about $2.3 trillion.

"India has done 15 per cent of its GDP to support the recovery and that is to the tune of about $400 billion.

"South Africa has provided close to 10 per cent of its GDP which amounts to close to about $26 billion to support recovery. And in Nigeria, just 4.5 per cent of GDP... has been done.

"So when Fitch institution, as recognised and reputable as they are, comes out and makes such sweeping remarks passing judgment and supported by some newspapers, unfortunately, all I can say is that this is very unfair because those statements are totally misplaced.

"Some of these support measures have been included outright purchase of government debts by central banks in order to improve the ability of fiscal authorities to fund recovery efforts. We have also seen in the case of the United States, as I said, asset programme...bonds as part of the Fed efforts to stimulate the economy.

"So, the efforts of the CBN are not different.

That’s the only thing I can say, from what is being witnessed in other climes all over the world as we all share the same objectives of considering both conventional and unconventional measures that would support faster economic recovery in the light of reduced revenue receipts being faced by these fiscal authorities," he said.

Isiaka Amao (COAS) Air Vice-Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao was born on 14 September 1965 at Enugu.

He hails from Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on 19 January 1984 as a member of 35th Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course and was commissioned as a pilot officer on 20 December 1986.

He has the following academic qualifications: Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Madras India; Master of Military Science and Strategy (M.MSc.) and Advance Diploma in Defence and Strategy Studies from National Defence University (NDU) China, Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy from Kaduna Polytechnic Nigeria, National Diploma in Freshwater and Fisheries Technology from Federal College of Freshwater and Fisheries Technology (FCFFT), New Bussa and Nigerian Defence Academy Certificate of Education.

CBN EXTENDS 5% INTEREST ON INTERVENTION FUND BY ONE YEAR provided during the first wave of the pandemic as part of measures to cushion its impact on businesses.

Also, Emefiele expressed disappointment over the recent statement by ratings agency, Fitch, which had criticised the CBN over its exposure to the federal government.

The agency had stated that the CBN financing of the federal government was threatening economic stability and weakening its balance sheet.

However, while addressing journalists at the end of a twoday meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Emefiele described the remarks

by Fitch as "unfair and very unfortunate, especially coming from a renowned rating institution.”

According to him, while the CBN is currently trying to convince government not to adopt a wholesome lockdown in view of the catastrophic on livelihoods and the economy, "We would extend by 12 months again the interest rate of 5 per cent for CBN interventions".

According to him, even though the extension will result in losses for the bank, particularly if yields appreciate, "but we think this should be CBN's contribution to ensure that interest rates, particularly for our interventions which are targeted at either household, SMEs, agriculture, the health sector, pharmaceuticals - will stimulate consumer spending or and increase manufacturing output that we need to support it. We will continue to do so."

On Fitch, the CBN governor said in the face of dwindling revenue from oil to support the government, it would be "irresponsible on the part of the CBN as a lender of last resort not to support the federal government."

He added that the CBN remained banker to the government as the lender of last resort not just to the government but also for banks when they run into short term liquidity problems.

He questioned the rationale behind Fitch's criticism when central banks in other developed and emerging economies had been supporting their governments to meet their obligations.

However, Emefiele, who read the committee's communiqué, said the MPC noted the moderation in output contraction in the third quarter of 2020, associated with the news of the discovery of COVID-19 vaccines and rising oil prices but observed that outlook for the recovery appeared to be dampened by the second wave of the pandemic considering its intensity.

It added that the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures put in place by the government to forestall its public health impact, including the lockdown and other associated restrictions, contributed to the Nigerian economy going into recession.

Emefiele said the CBN's current priority remains to quicken the pace of the recovery through sustained and targeted spending by the fiscal authority supported by the bank’s interventions.

He said: "In this light, it was thought necessary to increase collaboration with the fiscal authority by providing complementary spending to finance productive ventures in a bid to improve aggregate supply and reduce prices. This is in addition to effectively collaborating with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 through the existing private sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) to procure and distribute vaccines to fast-track the pick-up of business activities and economic recovery."

The MPC noted the adverse impact of insecurity on food production, stressing that the current uptick in inflationary pressure could not be solely associated with monetary factors, but due mainly to legacy structural factors across the economy, including major supply bottlenecks.

It called on the government to redouble efforts at strengthening infrastructural efficiency and addressing the emerging security challenges in the country.

In addition, the committee called on the government to partner the private sector to improve funding sources to address the huge infrastructural financing deficit.

The CBN also expressed concern about the rising public debt stock, as recurrent expenditure remained relatively high, compared with capital expenditure, thus, signalling future debt servicing challenges.

To improve government revenue sources and investment in capital, the MPC called on the government to take advantage of the take-off of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which could boost domestic production and generate revenues for the government, as well as improve domestic productivity and competitiveness.

The MPC, however, commended the bank’s effort at improving liquidity in the foreign exchange market, but noted the need to continue to explore avenues to improve inflow from sources such as the International Money Transfer Operators (IMTO), diaspora remittances and non-oil export promotion, given the current trajectory of crude oil prices.

It stated that these sources will boost foreign exchange supply and ease the current exchange rate pressure.

Emefiele said data and forecasts for key macroeconomic variables for the Nigerian economy suggest further improvement in output growth in the first quarter of 2021.

He said this would be supported by the coordinated and sustained interventions of the monetary and fiscal authorities, including the broad-based stimulus and liquidity injections.

He added that inflationary pressure is also expected

to commence moderation as the economy’s negative output gap closes. However, underlying uncertainties in the oil market and the current uptick in the second wave COVID-19 infection rate may pose some downside risks to this forecast.

However, on Fitch, the CBN governor said:" I think it's important for me to present it this way: that it is unfair and I would say very unfortunate that Fitch, which is known to be a first-class company and a first-class rating agency, would hold such views on what we are doing and therefore, pass judgment regarding the size of credit that the CBN had granted the Federal Government of Nigeria.

"Let it be known, first and foremost, that the CBN is the banker to the government.

Second, let it be known that the CBN is the lender of last resort not just to the government but also for our banks when they run into short term liquidity problems.

"And I go back - because Fitch said yes it predated COVID-19 - It is true. In 2015/2016, you could all recall that there was a global crisis which resulted in a massive drop in the price of petroleum products - crude oil. Like you all know, unfortunately, Nigeria is a country that would celebrate when the crude oil price is high but will sneeze when the price of crude goes down.

"In this case, the price of crude went down and we sneezed because revenue came down. When revenue came down, the government became incapable to finance all its obligations. And if the government cannot finance all its obligations, I think it would be irresponsible on the part of the CBN as a lender of last resort not to support the federal government.

"Now, COVID-19 started.

Again, we not only had a global crisis but it's a crisis of monumental proportion never seen in our lifetime. A crisis that has rendered every

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NEWS

Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Funds Traced to former Zamfara Gov Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday ordered the final forfeiture of funds linked with former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari’s in Zenith Bank and Polaris Bank.

Justice Ojukwu made the order after holding that the former governor had failed to show cause why the order sought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should not be granted.

The seized sum include $56, 056.75 in Polaris Bank account and N12.9 million, N11.2 million, 301, 319.99 dollars; N217, 388.04 and $311, 872.15 dollars in different

Zenith Bank accounts in the name of Yari and his companies.

The ICPC had instituted a suit, praying the court for the former governor to show cause why the money under investigation should not be finally forfeited to the federal government.

The anti-graft agency had accused the governor of committing the alleged crime when he served as governor of Zamfara State between May 2011 and May 2019.

Yari was the 1st respondent in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/916/2019, his two companies; Kayatawa Nigeria Ltd and B. T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd were 2nd and 3rd respondents, respectively.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo had, on August 16. 2019, granted the order

for interim forfeiture of the assets in an exparte motion brought by the commission’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha.

Justice Taiwo also ordered the ICPC to publish same in national dailies for any interested party to show cause while the money should not be finally forfeited to the federal government.

The anti-graft agency had alleged that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

It accused Yari of illicitly taking

the money from the state’s coffers while he was governor.

According to the commission, the victim of the alleged crime is the Zamfara State government and by extension the Federal Government of Nigeria and innocent taxpayers which include judges of courts across Nigeria.

It alleged that the former governor used the two companies to launder money in the state account.

In his arguments, Yari said there

was no case of prima facie against him before the interim order of forfeiture was granted.

The former governor said the action negated the principle of fair hearing.

Yari, who claimed that he was rich before becoming the governor of the state, urged the court to dismiss the interim order earlier granted against him.

Delivering the judgment, Ojukwu queried how one of Yari’s company’s bank accounts grew

from zero to $301,319 at the end of his tenure.

She said Yari could not present convincing evidence that the money under investigation was his.

The judge, who dismissed the allegation that the action was a political witch-hunt, held that the suit was not instituted by a political party but a federal government agency charged with the mandate to carry out such duties.

Gunmen Kidnap Ex-PDP Chairman’s Widow, 13 Travellers in Kogi The widow of the late Peoples Democratic Party, Zonal Chairman, the late Matthew Kola-Ojo, Mrs. Yemi Kola-Ojo, was among the 14 persons kidnapped on Monday in Okunland, Kogi State.

The victims were reportedly kidnapped while travelling between Iffe and Egbeda, in the Ijumu Local Government Area.

The journey was said to be her first trip from Okoro-Gbede after concluding the mandatory mourning period of her husband, but was kidnapped on her way back.

However, five persons were later released by the kidnappers but the late PDP zonal chairman’s wife was held captive.

The President, Okun Development Association (ODA), Chief Femi Mokikan, said eight persons were released.

He also said the kidnappers had established contact with a relative of Mrs. Kola-Ojo but were yet to demand ransom.

“The persons they (kidnappers) called was a family member, telling him they have Mrs. KolaOjo in their custody. But before they could state their ransom, the man’s phone experienced flat battery. We are hoping that they will call back today”.

He said ODA in collaboration with the Ijumu LGA were working for their release.

CBN Appoints Three Pre-shipment Inspectors The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the appointment of three PreShipment Inspectors (PIAs) for non-oil export sector.

They are Angila International Limited with the responsibility to cover North-West and North Central Zones; Neroli Technologies Limited will cover South-West and South-South; while Gojopal Nigeria Limited has been assigned South-East and North-East.

This was contained in a circular by the CBN Director

of Trade and Exchange, Mr. Ozoemena Nnaji.

Similarly, the federal government appointed Foops Integrated Services Limited and Ace Global Depository as Monitoring Agents to oversee the activities of the PIAs in their zones of operations.

The firms will, according to the CBN, function in the Non-Oil Export sector of the economy.

It directed all Authorised Dealers to ensure strict compliance with all necessary guidelines with respect to non-oil exports.

Oyinlola Turns 70 on February 3 Former Military Administrator of Lagos State and former governor of Osun state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola will clock 70 years on February 3, 2021.

To celebrate the milestone, a two-day event which will comply strictly with COVID-19 protocols, has been lined up.

According to a statement issued by the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Gbenga Abiola, there will be a thanksgiving service @ the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos on February 3, 2021 at 11am.

This will be followed by another Thanksgiving Service

at the Oba Oyinlola Memorial Anglican Church, Okuku, on Saturday 6th February at 10am for well- wishers from Osun State and the environs.

Expected at the celebrations are leaders across the country including former presidents, governors, ex-governors, other political leaders, captains of industry and religious leaders of all persuasions.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns, a reception earlier planned for the Harbour Point,Victoria Island Lagos and other social events earlier scheduled for Okuku, Osun State have been put off.

PROMOTING NON-OIL EXPORTS…

Chairman, National Committee on Export Promotion and Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru (left), and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo, during a courtesy call by NEPC boss on the governor in Abuja…yesterday

Makinde’s Aide Urges Politicians to Stop Playing Politics with Security in Oyo The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, yesterday warned opposition elements in the state to stop playing politics with the insecurity situation in Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun parts of the state.

The governor’s aide maintained that most of the comments attributed to opposition elements on the security situation in the state missed the point due to pettiness,

contempt and clear attempt to play to the gallery.

“Their utter attempt at showmanship and unpatriotic conduct portray them as babes and sucklings intervening on sensitive matters,” Adisa said.

According to him, if opposition elements were true lovers of the state, they should have used the occasion to demonstrate patriotism by empathising with the people of the state and coming up with

their own ideas on how to address the situation.

He added that merely playing to the gallery only showcases them as ordinary politicians who do not think about the state but solely about the next election.

The statement by Adisa indicated that contrary to the picture being painted by the opposition, especially the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, and some leaders of the All Progressives Congress

(APC), which suggested that the government did nothing on the Ibarapa security challenge, the Makinde administration took a number of steps.

Adisa wondered why a Sunday Dare could pass the buck on insecurity to Makinde when it was obvious that the lack of action and apparent dereliction of duty by the APC-led federal government brought the entire country to its knees, security-wise.

NECO Announces New Date for 2020 External SSCE Kuni Tyessi in Abuja and Dipo Laleye in Minna Following requests by candidates to be given more time to complete their registration process for the 2020 external SSCE, the National Examinations Council (NECO) has fixed new dates for the examination.

The council said all candidates are advised to access the revised

examination time table on the council’s website.

In a statement signed by its head of media and publicity, Mr. Azeez Sani, the examination which was earlier scheduled to commence on Monday, February, 1, 2021 and end on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 will commence on Monday, February 8, 2021 and end on Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

The statement reads: “The

Council hereby informs those candidates who missed some papers during the 2020 SSCE (Internal) due to the ENDSARS protests in some states, to take note of the new dates and report for the examination accordingly at their various examination centers to be designated.

“The examination which was earlier scheduled to commence on Monday, 1st February, 2021 and

end on Wednesday 3rd March, 2021 will commence on Monday, 8th February, 2021 and end on Wednesday 10th March, 2021.

“All candidates are advised to access the revised Examination Time Table on the Council’s website.

All candidates, stakeholders and the general public have been encouraged to take note of the new dates”.

Buhari Asks Minister, FIRS to Release Funds to NASENI Agency gets marching order to produce helicopter Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to release statutory funds due to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to enable it function optimally.

He also gave the agency a marching order to manufacture

a Made-in-Nigeria helicopter.

Buhari who gave the directive yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja during a virtual meeting of the board of the agency, noted that NASENI is a mechanism to stimulate linkages between science and technology, academics and the industrial sector on the one hand and the country’s economic and industrial transformation on the other.

He stressed that for NASENI to succeed, it must be empowered

through adequate provision of financial, human and material resources and allowed to exercise independence to forge partnerships.

His words: “By its mandate, NASENI is strategically poised to develop local capacity in machine building and fabrication, which is critical to Nigeria’s industrial development. However, in order for it to realize its full potential, NASENI must be empowered through the provision of adequate

financial, human and material resources and be given the autonomy and independence to forge international partnerships to acquire the relevant technologies for social, economic and industrial advancement of the country.

“In this regard, I have directed the minister of finance budget and national planning and Federal Inland Revenue Services, to commence remittances of funds approved by law to the agency.”

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Nigeria Joins Forces with World Economic Forum against Plastic Pollution Ejiofor Alike Nigeria will officially join the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), a platform that works with governments, businesses and civil society to translate plastic pollution commitments into concrete solutions.

This development followed a week of virtual dialogues during the Davos Agenda, a global summit where heads of state, CEOs, civil society leaders, activists and media have convened to choose bold and innovation solutions to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure a green and inclusive recovery in the years to come.

In a statement issued by the Communications Officer, WEF, Aylin Elci, the group forum acknowledged Nigeria as the largest economy on the African continent as well as home to one of the largest youth populations in the world.

The statement noted that the

pandemic has slowed economic activity in this diverse and entrepreneurial nation and contributed to a depressed labour market, creating highly challenging setbacks for human and economic development efforts.

“Mismanaged plastic waste and unsustainable plastics production are commonplace in the West Africa region. Challenges include thin capacity and investment in waste collection and recycling, varying levels of awareness of sustainable practices among businesses and consumers, and the niche nature of innovative and alternative models supporting reduce and reuse. In 2018, Nigeria was estimated to have discharged around 200,000 tonnes of plastic waste into the ocean per year, while its annual plastics production is projected to grow to 523,000 tonnes by 2022,” the statement explained.

The statement added that in joining GPAP, Nigeria will work with the WEF to launch a National Plastic Action Partnership, based

on a promising model that has been piloted in Indonesia, Ghana and Viet Nam. According to the organisation, its principal mandates will include creating and working with locally led, locally driven platforms, such as the Federal Ministry of Environment and the African Development Bank-coordinated Nigeria Circular Economy Working Group (NCEWG), to bring together the country’s most influential policy-makers, business leaders and civil society advocates.

The goal is to deliver a national action plan for radically reducing plastic pollution, connecting high-

potential solutions with strategic financing opportunities.

“With this partnership, Nigeria is further reinforcing its commitments and efforts towards addressing plastic pollution and safeguarding the environment,” Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, said.

“From co-founding the African Circular Economy Alliance and establishing a Nigerian/AfDB Circular Economy Working Group to joining the Global Plastic Action Partnership, Nigeria is determined to unleash the full potential of our young generation of innovative

and passionate leaders so that we can work together towards a future free of plastic pollution and waste. We look forward to strengthening our engagement with the World Economic Forum on this effort and to formally launching the partnership in the coming months,” the minister added.

“Amidst the myriad economic and social challenges that nearly every nation is facing, Nigeria has recognised plastic pollution as an urgent priority that cannot be sidelined,” Director of the Global Plastic Action Partnership and Member of the Executive

Committee, World Economic Forum, Kristin Hughes, said.

“Plastic waste and pollution are not issues that exist in a vacuum – they are deeply and intrinsically tied not only to the health of our environment but also the well-being of women and children, the livelihoods of communities and informal workers, the creation of new jobs and ways of working, and a nation’s ability to build a sustainable and thriving economy that leaves no one behind. We are honoured to support the Nigerian people in their fight to turn the tide on plastic pollution.”

Okowa Congratulates New CDS, Irabor Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated Major General LEO Irabor on his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, Okowa said that the sacrifices of the new defence chief towards peace and progress of the nation, especially his acknowledged gallantry at assignments, were outstanding.

He thanked Buhari for appointing an illustrious son of Delta into the exalted position of Chief of Defence Staff, and said that it was an elevated responsibility given to a deserving officer.

According to him, Irabor, who hails from Agbor in Delta, has the requisite experience for his new job having served as Theatre Commander “Operation Lafiya Doyle”, Force Commander of the

Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), combating Boko Haram; Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters and Commander, Training and Doctrine Command of the Nigerian Army (TRADOC).

Okowa urged Irabor to ensure that under his watch, Nigeria would record improvement in military-civil relations and that he should continue to uphold the territorial integrity of the nation.

He lauded the new CDS for the successes recorded at the many army formations where he served across the country, which according to him, contributed in strengthening Nigerian Army’s capacity for its constitutional role.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate a fine military officer and gentleman, Maj. Gen. LEO Irabor, on his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff.

Sacked NLC Chairman, an Impostor, Says Imo Govt Imo State government yesterday declared that the sacked Chairman of Nigeria labour Congress (NLC), Austin Chilakpu, was an impostor who was sponsored by politicians to betray the workers.

Chilakpu was removed on Monday as chairman by the workers who accused him of maladministration and working against their interest.

He was immediately replaced

by Comrade Ndubuisi Uchehara who by yesterday had assumed office at the Labour House, along Port Harcourt road, Owerri.

However, the state government debunked the allegation by the sacked chairman that 17,000 workers and pensioners were being owed in the state.

In a press conference in Owerri, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Declan Emelumba said Chilakpu was the greatest enemy of the

workers, adding that he was actually disconnected with many affiliate unions of the congress who never had confidence in his leadership.

According to him, apart from being hired by opposition politicians to lie against the state government, the former chairman was ignorant of the status of workers because he had since retired from service.

The commissioner said it was curious that a man who claimed to be leading workers did not even know the number of those who have been paid up to date.

He said contrary to the number being bandied by Chilakpu, the state government has paid all verified workers and pensioners up to December last year. “Even the new chairman of NLC confirmed that to journalists yesterday,” he added

SIGNED AND SEALED…

L-R: Kwara State Governor, Mr. AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq; Speaker, state House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Danlandi-Salihu; Majority Leader; Hon. Mogaji Abubakar; and Clerk, Alhaja Alimat Jummai Kperogi, during the signing of the 2021 appropriation bill into law by the governor at Government House, Ilorin…yesterday

Buhari Nominates Aghughu as Auditor General of the Federation Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated Mr. Adolphi Aghughu for appointment as the AuditorGeneral of the Federation.

Aghughu’s nomination, he said, is in consonant Section 86(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Buhari has therefore submitted the name of Aghughu to the Senate for approval as AuGF. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National

Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, in a statement yesterday also said the President has nominated Mr. Victor Muruako for appointment as Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission in accordance with provision of section 5(3) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

According to him, the letters of nomination of the two nominees have been forwarded to the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan for confirmation

by the Senate.

Aghughu has been acting as the Auditor-General since the voluntary retirement of Mr. Anthony Ayine from service upon attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 60 years on October 25, 2020.

The Auditor-General designate hails from Edo State and, holds a master’s degree in economics; he is a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management and Associate

member of Chartered Institute of Taxation.

He became an Auditor in the Office of the Auditor-General in 1992 and was promoted to the rank of Director of Audit in January 2016.

On his part, Muruako, a legal practitioner who had served as the Secretary to the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and currently acts as the Chairman of the Commission is from Imo State.

Police Train 18,000 Community Policing Officers, Says IG Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, said yesterday that 18,000 Community Policing Officers (CPOs) were so far screened and trained by the police as part of its community policing implementation plan.

Speaking at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Nigerian Police for members of the public in Abuja, Adamu said 18,000 CPOs were trained across the country.

“We have successfully screened, recruited and trained Community Policing Officers (CPOs) across

the country in an exercise that was conducted in two batches”, he said.

The IG said 9, 478 CPOs were trained in batch one while 8,278 were trained in batch two bringing the total number to 18,360.

A breakdown of the number

state by state shows that Zamfara State recorded the highest number of 2,550, while 1,997 were recruited from Imo State.

Others include Lagos State, 1,250; Edo, 877; Rivers, 356; Delta, 378; Enugu 272; FCT, 96 among others.

546,449Youths Benefited from N-Power, Says FG OghenevwedeOhwovoriolein Abuja The Minister of HumanitarianAffairs, Disaster Management and Social Development,SadiyaFarouq,yesterday inAbuja disclosed that a total of 546,449 youths have so far benefited from the federalgovernment’sN-Powerinitiative under the supervision of the ministry.

Speaking during the official flagging offoftheN-Creativeprogrammeforthe northern zone with 1,500 participants, she said a total of 544,949 N-Power

beneficiaries (graduates and nongraduates) had benefitted from the variouscomponentsoftheprogramme.

Theministerwho was represented by the Permanent Secretary in her ministry, Bashir Alkali disclosed that with the addition of the N-Creative, the number of N-Power beneficiaries increased to 546,449.”

She explained: “N-Creative is focused on equipping youths with relevant skills and certification to become competent workers,

innovators and entrepreneurs prepared for both the domestic and global digital and creative industries.

“The training will enable beneficiaries learn the necessary animation skills sought in storytelling, illustration/ graphic design, post production, script writing and voice acting.At conclusion, the training will upskill 3,000 young Nigerians as developers of world - class animated content for local and global consumption.

“The N-Power programme is a critical part of the National Social

Investment Programmes domiciled intheFederalMinistryofHumanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD) and designed to achieve the national objectives of poverty reduction and job creation. The N-Power programme is key to helping young Nigerians acquire and develop life-long skills that ensure they become solution providers and entrepreneurs in their communities.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

13

NEWS

Chevron Sells 40% Stake in OMLs 86, 88 to Conoil Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja American oil giant, Chevron, has reportedly divested its last stake in old oil assets located in Nigeria’s shallow waters; Oil Mining Licenses (OMLs) 86 and

88, selling its 40 per cent stake to Conoil Producing Limited.

It was learnt that negotiations concerning the deal had been in the works for a while, with Conoil Producing, emerging the winner of the bid for the 40 per cent equity

Yakubu: N’Assembly to Get Electoral Act Amendment Bill February 9 Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has disclosed that a draft bill for the repeal of 2010 Electoral Act will be presented before the National Assembly as it resumes from extended Christmas holiday on February 9.

Yakubu spoke yesterday in Abuja during the submission of the report to the National Assembly Joint Technical Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters to Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

“As the National Assembly resumes on February 9, there will be a clean copy of the Electoral Act Amendment bill tabled before the Senate and the House of Representatives by the technical committee. With this, passing of the bill within the first quarter is more or less assured.”

He commended members of the committee for their

commitment at ensuring that Nigeria has a brand new electoral act by the end of the first quarter of this year.

Speaking while receiving the report, Omo-Agege said once the electoral system was sanitised, every other thing would fall in place.

“The entire country will be grateful for what you have done,” the deputy senate president told the committee members.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya said the report of the electoral amendment bill would not become just another addition to the myriad of reports that had been shelved over the years in the area of electoral reform.

“We are committed to put in place the requisite legislative framework that will enhance the rebirth of a vibrant electoral system for our growing but delicate democracy. We believe this electoral bill when passed into

held by Chevron Corporation.

When contacted, a Spokesman for Chevron, Sola Adebawo, requested an e-mailed enquiry, but had yet to respond at the time of going to press, while another Spokesperson of Conoil also declined comments.

However, it was gathered that Conoil had already paid a deposit of $250 million for the purchase of the assets located in the Niger

Delta basin, having been acquired

by Chevron following its merger with Texaco 22 years ago.

While OML 86 comprises the Apoi, Funiwa, Sengana and Okubie fields, and the most recent discovery, Buko, OML 88 contains the Pennington and Middleton fields as well as Chioma field.

Chevron had been trying to dispose the shallow water acreages, but with the conclusion

NCC Begins Forensic Audit on Data Price Reduction Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta has disclosed that forensic audit on data price deflation in the country is ongoing.

He disclosed this yesterday, in Abuja when he was presented an award of the man of the ear by the year by the MoneyReport Magazine.

Danbatta said that the commission needed to get to the bottom of why consumers were experiencing data deflation and the possibility of compensating them for wrong deductions, which may arise from short message service (SMS).

He said: “We have instituted and we have insisted that despite the fall in data price, that forensic audit must go on and must be concluded and that communications will be

submitted to the CEO, so that we can see what actions we can take to right any wrongs that will be made known to Nigerians, including the possibility of compensating the consumers in the way and manner we have compelled mobile network operators to do another audit to compensate consumers for wrong deductions arising from SMS. “Airtel is compensating consumers. This has been done as I am talking to you, Airtel has complied. We should await the outcome of the forensic audit. This intention is to get to the bottom of why are data being deflated if indeed this is true,” he said.

On the award by the management of MoneyReport Magazine, the EVC expressed delight and thanked members of the MoneyReport Magazine for the recognition and described it as humbling to the commission.

of the sale, the oil giant may have successfully divested of all the legacy shallow water assets it acquired when it purchased Texaco in 1999.

It had earlier between 2013 and 2015, sold its stakes in OMLs 83 and 85, both of them former Texaco Nigeria assets.

Chevron then re-launched sale of the 6,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day OMLs 86 and 88 last year,

with the fields reported to have untapped potential of 55 million oil barrels and 2.8 trillion cubic feet of undeveloped gas reserves.

Aside Chevron, other International Oil Companies (IOCs) like Exxon Mobil and Shell had also been divesting from some of their assets, especial their onshore and shallow-water oil facilities to local companies in Nigeria.

COVID-19: 4.3m Children in Nigeria at Risk of Acute Malnutrition, Says SCI Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Save the Children International (SCI), has raised the alarm that 4.3 million children in Nigeria are at risk of acute and severe malnutrition.

The SCI, in a statement that was issued yesterday by its Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Inger Ashing, stressed that 60 million children need help to survive this year.

Ashing said the SCI is launching a $769 million plan to reach 15.7 million people including 9.4 million children in 37 countries.

She noted that children were faced with a triple-threat to their rights from conflict, climate change and hunger before the advent of COVID-19 pandemic.

The SCI, therefore,

called for a concerted and immediate global response in 2021 to ensure that setbacks experienced in 2020 would not permanently impact an entire generation for years to come.

She lamented that COVID-19 has put decades of progress for the world’s most vulnerable children at risk.

She also noted that children went hungry as families were plunged into poverty because the breadwinners lost their income.

Ashing pointed out that the education of more than 300 million pupils was affected by the pandemic as many schools were closed to curb the spread of the virus, which increased the risk of child abuse, exploitation, child marriage or children dropping out of school permanently.

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COMMENT

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

BEYOND COVID-19 VACCINES

I

Sonnie Ekwowusi argues the need to respect the wishes of citizens about the vaccines

f the recent statement of the federal government is anything to rely on, Nigeria will take delivery of the first batch of COVID-vaccines (which is 42 million Vaccines anyway) by the end of January 2021. Nigeria has signed an agreement with the Global Vaccine Alliance Initiative (Gavi) for access to vaccines. The country has also registered for COVID-19 vaccines with the Global Access Program (COVAX) co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO). It appears that the aforesaid partners have agreed to donate vaccines covering 20% of Nigerian population free of charge. Nigeria targets to vaccinate 40% of her population by the end of 2021. The government says that the first batch of citizens to be administered with this first batch of the vaccines will include Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG) Boss Mustapha. This will be televised in order to inspire confidence in the people that the vaccination is worth taking.

It is important that the federal government refrains from politicizing the COVID-19 vaccination as it is doing with the COVID palliatives. To begin with, the administering of the vaccines should not be compulsory. No citizen should be deprived of anything or suffer anything or any discrimination on account of his or her refusal/failure to take the vaccines.

The federal government, in consonant with international best medical practice and ethics, must respect the conscientious objection of some citizens who, for explicable or inexplicable reasons, do not want to take the vaccines. Considering all the frightening things surrounding the administering of COVID-19 vaccines, let each wayfarer, in the exercise of his or her fundamental human right, decide whether he or she wants to take the vaccines. To compel the citizens to take the vaccines simply because Osinbajo, Mustapha and probably President Buhari had done so in the full glare of the public is unlawful and unconstitutional. A vaccine which works for A may not necessarily work for B and vice-versa. In any case, prioritization of the vaccines does not translate to wiping away the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. COVID-19 has no cure at the moment in the sense that there is no drug or medication or vaccine that has been spotted as providing cure for COVID. Health experts say that prevention is still the best way of staying safe from COVID. Vaccination is not a cure for COVID: It is just one preventive measure. In fact, medical experts say that taking of COVID-19 vaccines does not translate to immunity from contracting COVID-19. Cases of victims of COVID-19 who still died despite taking the COVID-19 vaccines abound. Besides, the COVID Vaccines are so expensive. Besides, we don’t have the storage facilities to keep the vaccines. So, it is not unlikely that the vaccines will go bad by the time they are used. We don’t even know the fertility effect of those vaccines. Some pregnant women who were administered with the vaccines had lost their babies. This probably explains why African countries such as Tanzania and Madagascar are still reluctant to accept the vaccines until they are sure the vaccines are certified safe. A survey conducted between August and December 2020 across 15 African countries- Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, and Uganda- by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), in partnership with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) showed that a predominant majority (79% average) of respondents in Africa would take a COVID-19 vaccine if it were deemed safe and effective.

Therefore the federal government should be guided by the aforesaid facts as it acquires the Pfizer vaccines. I agree. This second wave of COVID-19 is deadlier than the first. Nigeria is

GIVEN THE ESCALATING SURGE IN COVID CASES IN NIGERIA, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PRIORITIZE THE USE OF DRUGS SUCH AS IVERMECTIN AND OTHER IMMUNITY BUILDING DRUGS AND TREATMENTS

under great COVID threat at the moment. Some have reportedly lost three or four folks in one week. I am scribbling this with a heavy heart. Why? Because we lost Oscar Onwudiwe, lawyer, renaissance man, immediate past president, Pan-Igbo socio-cultural group Aka Ikenga, to COVID a few days ago.

I spoke with Oscar a couple of weeks ago. He not only sounded hale and hearty at that time but he thrilled me with his usual sarcastic humour. But today Oscar is no more, snatched away by the new enemy of mankind. This is the agony of many of us. So, we must do everything possible to defeat COVID-19. But this does not mean being imprudent or playing politics with the lives of citizens all in the name of COVD vaccination.

Speaking at a Zoom Press Conference organized last week by the Civil Society of Nigeria (CSO) on COVID-19 vaccination, neuroscientist Professor Phillip C. Njemanze urged the federal government to be circumspect in approving Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for Nigerians. First, one of the dangers of prioritization of the vaccines is that the COVID virus is a mutating virus which attacks the receptors in black people.

So, what do we do when the virus mutates and overcomes the vaccines? queried Prof. Njemanze. A vaccine, according to him, means a specially prepared antigen administered to a person for the purpose of building the immunity of the person. But unfortunately, what the federal government is purchasing from Pfizer and Moderna are strictu sensu not vaccines but nanoscale particle device designed to genetically engineer cell spike protein production in the human body. It is important to note that the Pfizer vaccine is the first mRNA vaccine to be approved for use in human beings. We don’t know how Nigerians who will react to the vaccine after it had been administered on them. It is very dangerous to impose vaccines which had not been clinically tested in Nigeria on Nigerian citizens, concluded Njemanze.

I cannot agree less. For example, last week, 23 out of the 33,000 Norwegians that had been administered with the Pfizer COVID immunizations died. Consequently the Norwegian Institute of Public Health has cautioned against vaccinating elderly people above 80 years of age saying those with a short life span may not benefit much from the vaccines. This is why the speakers at the Zoom Conference had urged the federal government not to accept any COVID vaccine for use in Nigeria without first getting Nigerian health experts and institutions such as NAFDAC, medical doctors, nurses and others to subject it to our local clinical trial. Why? Because it is dangerous to use in Nigeria vaccines which allegedly had been tested in other countries without first subjecting them to clinical trials in Nigeria.

Therefore, it is important to first allow our health experts to ascertain whether the Pfizer vaccines are good for Nigerians before administering them to Nigerians. It is suicidal to acquire COVID vaccines from abroad and impose them on Nigerians without first subjecting them to clinical tests in Nigeria. Given the escalating surge in the COVID cases in Nigeria at the moment, the government should prioritize the use of drugs such as Ivermectin and other immunity building drugs and treatments. It is not enough to open up COVID Isolation Centres across Nigeria, the Centres should be properly equipped with oxygen and other essential medicaments. A friend died at the Yaba, Lagos Isolation Centre a few days ago due to lack of oxygen. Another person I know died at another Isolation Centre in the South-East recently owing to the same lack of oxygen. Whereas the government can afford to squander huge amounts of money in useless things, it cannot afford to spend a little amount of money to purchase oxygen and put our COVID Isolation Centres in order. Sad.

RE: ON CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMME

The programme has a clearly defined implementation structure and its transparency is not in doubt, writes

T

he attention of the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has been drawn to a publication titled “Concerns Mount over Corruption and Inefficiency in Cash Transfer Programme” published on the front page of THISDAY, Sunday 24th January, 2021.

This publication is not a true representation of the Household Uplifting ProgrammeConditional Cash Transfer (HUP-CCT).

The National Cash Transfer Programme was introduced by the federal government in 2016 in partnership with the World Bank to fortify social safety nets and establish a social protection system in Nigeria. This is in line with the President Buhari- led government’s Social Investment agenda of eradicating poverty and promoting shared prosperity amongst the citizenry. It involves the release of a monthly stipend of N5,000 to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerian households, mostly in rural communities.

The Programme has many objectives that include: Improved Household consumption that could improve the economy of the community; increase in utilization of health and nutrition services; improved school enrolment and attendance; improved environmental sanitation and management; improved Finance and Asset acquisition to ultimately enhance financial and eco-

nomic inclusion; beneficiary engagement in sustainable livelihood.

On the whole, the programme is a component of government’s resolve to reduce community poverty in Nigeria.

As of December 2020, the programme operated in 33 states of the country and the FCT. A total of 1,414,983 beneficiaries with 7,068,629 individual household member beneficiaries have been enrolled, covering 487 Local Government Areas, 4,716 Wards and 37,628 Communities. The programme targets to cover all states of the Federation

by March 2021.

Contrary to claims of lacking implementation structure, the programme has a clearly defined implementation structure with an electronic base beneficiary enrolment system that focuses on the Poor and Vulnerable Households (PVHHs) mined from the National Social Register. The PVHHs are identified through a combination of geographic and community-based targeting mechanisms conducted by the various State Operating and Coordinating Units (SOCU) under the supervision and guidance of the National Social Safety Net Co-ordination Office (NASSCO). The Community Based Targeting (CBT) mechanism is used for the targeting process.

The following clarifications are necessary for the discerning public: The database of Poor and Vulnerable Households (PVHHs) is generated at the state level and domiciled at State Ministries

of Planning. This information is accessible through the National Social Safety Net Project (NASSP) website-www.nassp.gov.ng.

All three-grant based programmes are within budgetary provisions and are processed electronically.

Rapid Transfer Register (RRR)- This is provided for under the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP).

Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT)- This is funded from the Abacha restituted funds and the World Bank facility.

Cash Grant to Rural Women (CGRW)This is a one-off cash grant and it is provided for in the 2020 Appropriation Act. Electronic disbursement is done to the extent of infrastructural capacity of any location, noting that the targeted beneficiaries of the CCT are the poorest of the poor who normally dwell in rural areas typically lacking banking and telecom facilities.

At the commencement of the programme in September 2016, Memoranda of Understanding were signed between the FG and all states. Some states committed to the programme instantly while others joined in late. This clearly put some states in the lead ahead of others in the generation of the State Social Register of Poor and Vulnerable Households.

The engagement of Payment Service Providers (PSPs) is carried out through a National Competitive Bidding (NCB) process that is within the World Bank Prior Review Mechanism threshold. Hence the

transparency of the process is not in doubt.

The CCT Programme provides capacity building, coaching and mentoring to beneficiaries on various topics including hygiene, girl- child education, savings, etc. Formulation of co-operatives and savings are voluntary and managed by the beneficiaries with no degree of involvement by the programme.

Currently, State Social Registers have been generated across all the states, while the CCT is being implemented in all 36 states with only Borno, Ebonyi and Ogun States yet to commence payments. While many goodwill and statements of gratitude have been received from many state governments on the programme, success stories and testimonies abound on how the Programme is impacting the lives of the beneficiaries as well as poor and vulnerable Nigerians with a positive effect on their communities as well.

It is the desire of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to ensure the full and successful implementation of the administration’s Social Investment Programmes, in full alignment to Mr. President’s deliberate policy of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by year 2030.

Sadiya Umar Farouq is Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development

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EDITORIAL

WORKERS AND UNPAID SALARIES The times call for prudence in the management of resources

O

n the first working day of 2021, magistrates from the 18 local governments in Cross River blocked the entrance to the governor’s office in Calabar to protest 24 months of unpaid salaries. “We have court that we are heading and we have been working for the state government to bring about peace and tranquility to the society.

Yet the governor does not dim it fit to pay us our salaries in spite of our entreaties, pleas, letters, correCUTTING DOWN ON spondence,” said Solomon Abuo, ENORMOUS COST OF Chief Magistrate GOVERNANCE WILL to the governFREE RESOURCES FOR ment of Cross DEVELOPMENT AND River. “After our employment PAYMENT OF SALARIES and swearing in we went through four screenings; in each of them, the governor will ignore the report requesting him to pay us our salaries, so this is our last resort. Some of us can’t pay our house rents; they are squatting with colleagues.”

Cross River is just one of many states that are unable to pay workers their dues.

From teachers to health workers (including those in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19 pandemic) to civil servants and judicial workers, no fewer than 31 states have defaulted in their salary obligations in the past three years despite federal bailouts and emergency handouts. While the action of these affected states undermines the right to livelihood and dignity by these workers, there is an urgent need to begin to examine why the problem persists and what should be done to address it. But it is particularly dangerous when you leave those at the temple of justice to practically fend for themselves as it is the case in Cross River and a few other states across the country.

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What the situation therefore calls for is a re-think of the fundamental assumption of our fiscal arrangements. The state governments are increasingly handicapped as the monthly proceeds of oil rent from Abuja is fast becoming unreliable. As oil prices plummet and the number of oil producer nations multiplies, there may soon be little or no petroleum dollars to re-distribute. The authorities must wake up to that reality.

Going forward, a number of things should be done to address the situation. One, cutting down on enormous cost of governance will free resources for development and payment of salaries. Two, waste most be eliminated. On this score, many of the state governments are as guilty as the federal government. Billions of naira are expended on meaningless projects every year just as religious festivals are celebrated with hundreds of millions of naira to purchase rice, ram, vegetable oil, etc. Dozens of officials accompany governors to inspect projects, including boreholes and markets. Millions of dollars are paid to officials and legislators to embark on foreign trips to ‘seek investors.’

To compound the problem, each of the state governments has scores of agencies and commissions which add no value to governance. Public funds are diverted to political activities while the burial and wedding ceremonies of family members of top public officers are turned into state events at huge expense to the public. These are some of the challenges that must be tackled by the federal and the various state governments before the crisis of non-payment of wages can be resolved. But that would require a critical review of the country’s fiscal structure. The state must become centres of productive activities.

All said, governors who habitually default in the payment of salaries to workers in their states have no excuse for shirking their responsibilities. Labourers, as the holy book says, are worthy of their wages.

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

ABUJA UNDER SIEGE BY BANDITS

buja is under siege. Terror lives and breathes here.

Citizens are kidnapped every day from their homes but sadly, some of these tragedies escape outrage and alarm. There is a false sense of security in the federal capital territory (FCT) – the flawed assumption of safety – which has enabled the atrocities of bandits in the nation’s capital to persist without hysteria.

Security agencies – all with headquarters in Abuja – get away with nonperformance as regards the FCT largely because of this false sense of security by residents. No one calls them out. Kidnappings happen and everyone carries on in the invalid hope that banditry cannot get much worse in the FCT. But these bandits have become bolder and more daring. They are inching into the heart of the city. Must we wait until Abuja and its orbiting communities become another Sambisa before the security agencies act?

As a matter of fact, these criminal onslaughts have been happening on the fringes of the city. But owing to a lack of response by security agencies; they have now metastasised like end-stage cancer. Abuja appears to be encircled by

deadly outlaws who do not only steal but also extract blood from their victims to quench their vampiric thirst.

These abnormalities – banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery – have become a daily normal; more like the quotidian corollaries of city life. No one knows who the next victim will be. We are all like sitting ducks waiting for certain blitz.

Abuja has never been this unsafe. The occurrences sound bizarre. Really, it is unsettling this is happening in the FCT. Bandits would go as far as Kubwa, break into the house of their victim in the dead of night, kidnap them; march them all the way into the forest and demand ransom.

Some months ago, these brigands besieged the inner road of Life Camp – at the centre of Abuja! They shot at commuters and kidnapped some persons.

And just a few days ago, the freebooters reigned unchecked for about three hours in an operation at Ushafa, Usman Dam area. They kidnapped at least two persons in that raid.

Last Saturday, the marauders attacked an orphanage in the nation’s capital in the cover of darkness, kidnapping seven children – all orphans. Such a painful tragedy. Who kidnaps orphans – who

have no mother or father and who are all alone in this cruel world? I cannot imagine how traumatised those kids will be – the torture and the agony! And this is all because of a failed government. Yet again, no alarm, no outrage – because it happened in the FCT “and all is well.’’

Last Friday, Abdullahi Sule, Governor of Nasarawa, met with President Buhari.

The distraught governor let out a bellow over Boko Haram’s incursion in his state.

He said the terrorists were camping in Nasarawa, and that the group was using his state as a springboard to launch attacks. Nasarawa is the closest state to Abuja. In fact, much of Abuja is in Nasarawa and much of Nasarawa is in Abuja. That is how contiguous the two areas are. So, if terrorists are in Nasarawa, they are already at Abuja’s doors.

But what are the security agencies doing? Why did we allow things to deteriorate this far? Really, what is happening in the FCT calls for drastic measures. It is an emergency. Abuja is under siege. Why is the DSS which is dutiful in clamping down on protesters and agitators not alive in tackling the menace of banditry in the FCT? Why are the army and the police going after agitators in the south-

east not as potent in dealing with bandits in Abuja? What is going on?

The south-east is reputed to be the most peaceful and safest region in Nigeria. In fact, it is rated to be the safest place to live in -- in all of Nigeria -- by the United Nations. But it is the same region that is being garrisoned by the military, the police and the DSS. Why the fixation on the south-east?

On Monday, there was a reported collision between soldiers and some agitators in Orlu, Imo State. The facts of the brush are still inchoate so I will refrain from passing judgment. But the loss of lives and property to violence stands condemned. However, I must say, the south-east has always been treated as a region that is at war – while it is not – by the Buhari administration.

Security checkpoints everywhere; this is provocative. While in the suburbs of the FCT where there are enduring criminal attacks there is no security presence.

What is really going on?

The security agencies should refocus their energy where it is exigently needed.

Abuja is under siege.

Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

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WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2021

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

Is the Quest for a Mega Party Another Day Dream of Political Elite?

Chuks Okocha considers the prospect for a mega political party that can upstage the popularity of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party

Okorocha

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he notion of a mega political party has gained momentum since the former governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha called on a certain governor in the South-south to join him to form a new political party.

The erstwhile governor has fallen out of favour with his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and since then, he has not failed to call for a third alternative that would become the next ruling party by 2023.

Okorocha said the regrouping of ‘good politicians’ was urgently needed to restore public confidence in governance and save the country.

“The movement for a new Nigeria has begun and we must come together, I mean progressive Nigerians, to make the country work,” Okorocha said.

Many have dismissed Okorocha’s plan for a mega political party because of his perceived presidential ambition and coming to terms with the fact that it may not be possible under his present party, the APC. One of the political pundits who should know said, “I can tell you that the mega party will not fail to contact all those we consider as assets to the movement.

“It is wrong for anybody to think Okorocha is trying to form a political party for himself alone. Let me tell you that what is coming is a broad based movement that will change the face of Nigerian politics ahead of 2023.

“Majority of those who were part of the failed attempt to form a mega party during the build up to the 2019 general election have been contacted.

“Many are willing to join this new effort. As a group, we are already part of the movement and I can tell you some PDP and APC governors are already talking to us with varying degree of commitment.”

Okorocha has also dismissed the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But in actual terms, is there any plan to form a mega party.

Though amorphous, the promoters of the hybrid mega party being plotted to emerge from the APC and PDP are reaching out to more chieftains of the two leading parties for membership.

Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, and former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole are among the prominent figures of the ruling APC and opposition PDP being wooed to come on board.

Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West in the Senate, said that he and other progressive-minded politicians were perfecting plans for a new mega party in response to the silent agitations and complaints across the country against the current state of the nation.

Investigation revealed that Okorocha is working with a group of ex-governors and National Assembly members who are currently

Na’Abba chieftains of the APC and PDP. According to sources, a South-south governor is also being pressured by the Okorocha group to dump the PDP and join the new movement. The said governor has recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the current leadership of the opposition party, accusing its NWC of working against unity in the party.

It was also gathered that promoters of the new party, through some prominent Igbo leaders, have reached out to Governor Obiano of Anambra State, urging him to be prepared to move his faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) into the emerging party.

Consequently, Obiano and his political camp are now said to be considering shelving alleged earlier plans to dump APGA and join one of the two leading political parties.

There is already in existence a registered political party with the name, Mega Party of Nigeria, which was deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in February 2020 for not meeting with the prerequisites and terms of registration as a political party.

Records have it that the National Chairman, Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) was Mr. Biyi Poroye However, it is not known if Okorocha is part of the group floated by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, Prof. Pat Utomi and Wale Okuninyi among others under the aegis of the National Consultations Front (Ncfront).

The NcFront has both Ghali Na’abba and Pat Utomi as national coordinators, while Wale Okunniyi is the National Secretary. According to Ncfront, their mission is to rescue Nigeria from the maladministration of the APC and the PDP. According to Wale Okunniyi, “Since its formation in July, 2020, the National Consultative Front, NCFront, has come to terms with

Utomi the fact that political power is crucial to the realization of our goals and objectives for a New prosperous Nigeria.

“So we will not hesitate to seek political power to lead and govern Nigeria as a credible alternative peoples’ movement but not as a matter of desperation or precipitation.

“To this extent, it can be said that the NCFront is not fixated on the power politics of 2023 but rather on providing Nigeria first with a brand new people’s Constitution that will enable Nigeria work for all and to eliminate corruption and self aggrandizement in Government,” he explained on the mission of NcFront as an emerging mega political party.

He explained that the point being made here is that the “ideological focus of the proposed Mega Political Mass Movement, to be launched by the end of end of January, 2021, as agreed in the first communiqué of our Consultative Front issued on 1st July 2020, shall, first and foremost, be to pursue popular democratic constitutional reworking and remaking of Nigeria to enable the country work out and embrace a new legitimate political structure and national constitutional relationship that will essentially make politics less juicy or attractive but service oriented and values driven.”

Therefore, he stated the new Mega Party Movement shall be expected to immediately embark on a vigorous struggle for a new peoples constitution for Nigeria and it is after the struggle is won by the peoples of Nigeria that the movement in form of an alternative mass party to PDP and APC shall be expected to venture into the second phase of its agenda, which shall be to present and sponsor credible candidates for electoral power, as a mega movement party and mass ideological platform to pursue the good governance and prosperity of Nigeria.

In other words, the mass movement shall be expected to first mobilize Nigerians as a

The erstwhile governor has fallen out of favour with his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and since then, he has not failed to call for a third alternative that would become the next ruling party by 2023. Okorocha said the regrouping of ‘good politicians’ was urgently needed to restore public confidence in governance and save the country. The movement for a new Nigeria has begun and we must come together, I mean progressive Nigerians, to make the country work,” Okorocha said. Many have dismissed Okorocha’s plan for a mega political party because of his perceived presidential ambition and coming to terms with the fact that it may not be possible under his present party, the APC

movement for a new Nigeria or a peoples front for popular constitutional restructuring of the country before venturing into electoral power politics (after effecting a democratic merger and fusion of credible political parties and movements presently in the NCFront as advised by the former INEC Chair, Prof Attahiru Jega during the national consultation on internal party democracy as one indivisible alternative political block.

To the organisers of NCFront, when the time comes what they are building now is formidable movement and credible political leadership that can step in to fill Nigeria’s leadership lacuna or lead the country in the event of any emergency at any time.

The secretary of the group said argued that ultimate aim of the NCFront is to win power to lead Nigeria, however the various consultations and recent experiences have revealed that without first replacing the existing warped corruptive military constitution of 1999, it may be fruitless and impolitic to engage in electoral contest with moneybags and state captors, who have milked the nation dry, on the basis of money politics and highest bidder’s electoral merchandising, rather than on ideology, principles, values and service to the citizens and electorate.

Accordingly, he said. “we have resolved to mobilise Nigerians to first change the humongous and outrageous cost of contesting elections and winning electoral power in Nigeria “A two prong mega movement to rescue and lead our beloved country, Nigeria”, Okunniyi stated, adding, “Therefore, what is required from the NCFront is a legal framework and procedure of how to replace the corrupt and crisis generating 1999 constitution with a new legitimate people’s constitution without creating a constitutional lacuna or pitfall for the country.

“We may therefore have to collaborate with some eminent jurists and statesmen/women, among others, who have already provided substantial answers to that requirement in their work on how to legitimately and legally repeal the 1999.

“However, the NCFront has also in the recent past canvased that to overcome any constitutional quagmire in this regard, the National Assembly should be compelled to amend sections 8 and 9 of the 1999 constitution (which presently takes away the sovereign power over the Nigerian Constitution from the peoples and citizens of Nigeria and technically put it in the hands of their lawmakers) for a new referendum clause in the two sections of the existing 1999 constitution, so as to enable Nigerian citizens take full ownership of their constitution and sovereignty over the country as applicable in advanced democracies.”

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2021

POLITICS

Ibikunle Amosun as Quintessential Enigma

GOVERNANCE IN PHOTOS

Raheem Ajayi felicitates with Senator Ibikunle Amosun on his 63rd birthday, while using the opportunity to highlight some of outstanding projects as Governor of Ogun State

Amosun

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gun, the Gateway State has been lucky to have scored first in many areas of human endeavours to the admiration of many and to the chagrin of a few. In fact, it has been called the State of Giants by great intellectuals on account of the contributions of its indigenes to socio-political and economic development of Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. Ogun has produced giants in law, accounting, sports, science, literature and the arts as well as politics.

It is therefore not surprising, that the state is gifted with another giant who is not only an embodiment of the tradition of excellence that Ogun is known for, but also combines energy, zeal and creativity that are uncommon. Senator Ibikunle Amosun (SIA) is the definition of a home made brand who is proudly “Egba” and truly global in his orientation. He didn’t only rise to the pinnacles of his professional career, he has also done exceedingly well in political space leaving indelible marks in the hearts of the people with his role in the making of modern Ogun State.

A Master of Arts holder in International Finance from the University of Westminster in London, United Kingdom, Amosun’s knack for prudence is second to none. This was fabulously employed in the management of the resources of Ogun State during his tenure as the Governor between 2011 and 2019.

His knowledge, as a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, was brought to bear when he increased the internally generated revenue of the state from N700 Million to N7billion monthly before he left office as governor in 2019.

He left no one in doubt as to his preference for an egalitarian society when he presented a pro-people manifesto and ran for Senate in 2003 defeating established politicians to represent the good people of Ogun Central in the National Assembly. He didn’t just become popular overnight winning a Senate seat.

He had engaged in philanthropic works sponsoring students’ education, helping businesses and footing hospital expenses for the less privileged. He was a man who gave back to the community. He started giving scholarships to students as far back as 1986.

He hasn’t stopped doing all these till date.

Born on January 25, 1958 at Totoro Abeokuta; his father Alhaji Abdulazeez Oyedeni Alade Sanusi was a Railway worker while his mother Alhaja Rafatu Mojisola Alake Sanusi was into petty trading. Both parents died in 1997 and 1999 respectively. Young Ibikunle Amosun took more than passive interest in buying and selling helping his mum in her trading. This would later manifest in his adult life.

The first problem confronted by SIA when he took over as Governor in 2011 was insecurity as well as lack of funds. In fact, banks

couldn’t open in some areas of the state as a result of the activities of hoodlums and armed robbers. Within weeks, Amosun set up Security Trust Fund (STF) headed by Mr. Kayode Are former Director-General of Department State Security (DSS). He procured 125 double cabin patrol vans operational vehicles fitted with sophisticated communication gadgets that facilitated easy communication for security operatives. His administration later acquired 14 Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC. These actions reduced insecurity greatly in the State.

Amosun believed that if insecurity was taken care of, economic prosperity would naturally follow and the citizens would be better for it. In 2011 when he took over, Ogun state was rated as number 35 on the scale of ease of doing business by the World bank.

Three years later, in 2014 the state moved to number four, thanks to the ingenuity of the administration of SIA. Over 300 industries were attracted into Ogun state with 148 of them investing over 200 million US Dollars.

Unilever alone has created over 7500 direct jobs with multiple indirect jobs. According to Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, 75% of foreign direct investments in the country streamed into Ogun State under his watch!

The journey to the new era in Ogun state was mid-wifed by Amosun’s Mission to Rebuild Ogun State (MITROS) with an unassailable momentum which led to the epoch-making infrastructural revolution in the state. Within a short time, the state capital witnessed an uncommon transformation from its hitherto backwater status into a modern city centre and a metropolis of some uniqueness. During his time, the World also witnessed rice revolution in Ogun state with Mitros Sawonjo rice and Mitros Ofada rice defining the next stage of rice production in Nigeria.

Ajiri Omo Oye, as fondly called by his immediate family members and close associates, loves to project the image of Nigeria, its culture and the central roles expected of it as the most populous Black Nation. His desire to unite Africans all over the World through celebration of the beauties of African Drums brought about African Drum Festival. It was in the quest to correctly situate the place of the African Drum as part of the larger agenda of cultural renaissance that made SIA create African Drum Festival.

The annual cultural show-piece usually features diverse genre of cultural exhibitions which convey the artistic uniqueness of the traditions of African societies.No fewer than 14 countries participated in the fourth edition of the festival in April, 2019 which featured over 70 groups across the world including groups from the Caribbean. cultural artists from 24 states of the 36 states in Nigeria competed for honour at the events with Kwara State emerging first while Enugu state and the host state Ogun emerged in second and third positions respectively.

Amosun has an uncommon energy pursuing anything he believes in. He would remain on sites till late in the night making sure works are done to the specifications which he named “Ogun standard”. He doesn’t believe anything is impossible through hard work and prayers. He would go any length assisting and encouraging Ogun indigenes achieve their aims. He was in Cardiff to give support to Anthony Joshua, Ogun born boxer who is the World Heavyweight Champion when the latter was defending his title. I witnessed him give moral support to his wife, Dr. Olufunso Amosun, at Ile Ife three years ago when she was honoured with Moremi status by Ooni of Ife, HRM Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.

As our own Ajiri turns 63, all I can wish him is more energy, good health and wisdom to continue his service to his fatherland. I propose 63 hearty cheers to the distinguished Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital market.

National President of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Alhaji Musa Mohammed (left) and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State when Mohammed paid a courtesy call on the Governor in his office at Umuahia

L-R: Mr.Ifesuo Jeremaiah, Secretary of the Igwe of Umunze in Orumba South local government area of Anambra State, Hon. Stephen Ifemkpa, Chairman of the 80 chairmen of kindred groups in Umunze, Dr. Godwin Maduka, governorship aspirant in Anambra State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Vice Chairman of Umunze kindred groups and Mr. Chinedu Uka, Secretary of Umunze kindred chairmen at a unity reception for Dr. Maduka facilitated by Hon. Isaac Onuka

Governor Udom Emmanuel being led to review the parade during the 2021 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day celebration in Uyo

L-R: Member, Democracy Youth Roundtable, Blessing Esimkheuei, Founder, Aftican Children Talent Discovery Foundation, Noah Dallaji, Executive Director, Democracy Youth Roundtable, Desmond Agboola and former Nigerian Ambassador to Gambia, Ambassador Famara Gaya, during a courtesy visit to ACTDF in Abuja

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FEATURES

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

An Entrepreneurial Partnership The British Council and Ashoka’s Impact Africa Social Entrepreneurship Summit has gone virtual in 2021. Rebecca Ejifoma reports that the overall objective of the partnership is to accelerate social innovations to Africa’s most pressing challenges by inspiring and connecting social entrepreneurs, change makers, investors, and other ecosystem stakeholders across sub-Saharan Africa

British Council Regional Director, Moses Anibaba

Ashoka’s Africa Diamond Leader, Pape Samb

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therefore will feature sign-language interpreters for the first time, who will participate in most sessions to open-up to and encourage a wider, diverse audience.

Moses Anibaba, British Council’s Regional Director, puts it this way “By delivering the Summit virtually over a 12 month period, we believe that we can reach more young people and give them time to react to the tools, the content, the mentorship opportunities, the elevator pitches, and many more programes that Impact!Africa 2021 has to offer.”

According to Lucy Pearson, Director British Council Nigeriaand Director West Africa, “we also want to reach more women entrepreneurs and we want to provide access to budding, underserved innovators. The British Council and Ashoka aims to use this year's Summit to further push for the creation of an ecosystem of vibrant young innovators, passionate about making a significant change to their countries and to their communities.”

Pape Samb, Ashoka’s Africa Diamond Leader, further stressed the importance of the Summit especially in the midst of the growing disruptions caused by the pandemic “studies have shown that the economic damage has been particularly severe for small and medium scale businesses, youth and women in emerging markets. Impact

Africa has become more necessary now in delivering a social entrepreneurship ecosystem, that will develop and deliver individual impactful solutions to support relief, recovery and resilience of African communities”.

British Council and Ashoka are calling on all young social entrepreneurs as well as business innovators to register to be part of a unique ecosystem that is making good change happen across Africa. Visit the British Council Nigeria and Ashoka’s social media channels as well as the Impact Africa Summit website for more information.www. impactafricasummit.net

The incidence of the pandemic, in many ways has unveiled the disproportionate abilities of entrepreneurs across Africa to pivot. To creatively adapt and continue to build their businesses in the new-normal, the complexity of the challenges facing humanity during this COVID-19 times requires a fundamental redesign of Africa’s social and economic systems to align with ecological and cultural realities that advance business equity

About Ashoka The world is defined by change and requires a new mindset. Ashoka envisions a world in which everyone is a changemaker: a world where all citizens are powerful and contribute to change in positive ways. Established in 1981, Ashoka identifies and supports the world's leading social entrepreneurs, learns from the patterns in their innovations, and mobilizes a global community that embraces these new frameworks to build an "everyone a changemaker world."

Together, we collaborate to transform institutions and cultures worldwide so they support changemaking for the good of society.

n January 21, 2021, British Council and Ashoka announced the launch of the virtual edition of Impact Africa Social Entrepreneurship Summit. The summit, is aimed at accelerating social innovations to Africa’s most pressing challenges by inspiring and connecting social entrepreneurs, changemakers, investors, and other ecosystem stakeholders across sub-Saharan Africa.

Building on the inaugural Impact Africa Summit of June 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa and the 2019 summit held in Nairobi, Kenya; the 2020 live event was scheduled for Lagos, Nigeria but had to be postponed to 2021, following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The incidence of the pandemic, in many ways has unveiled the disproportionate abilities of entrepreneurs across Africa to pivot. To creatively adapt and continue to build their businesses in the new-normal. The complexity of the challenges facing humanity during this COVID-19 timesrequires a fundamental re-design of Africa’s social and economic systems to align with ecological and cultural realities that advance business equity.

This requires a new mind-set to drive businesses agility; to embrace technology as well as collaborate across geographical boundaries, digitally.

African business enterprises require new ways of defining their structures, products and value propositions. They need to unlearn the status quo and develop new leadership skills across organisational, sectoral, political and geographic boundaries in a social context of expanding volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.

To this end, Impact Africa has been re-designed and re-imagined as a virtual event for the first time. It has also been extended and expanded to run as a series of programmes over12 months to increase reach as well as open-up to a larger audience across sub-Saharan Africa, featuring six plenariesevery other month; six clinics every other month and 3-5 Virtual Keynotes over two days.

The theme of this year ’s Impact

Africa Virtual Edition is Resilience and Sustainability. It will support over 1,000 social entrepreneurs with tools, skills and new knowledge to accelerate their business growth and achieve wider societal impact. It will be a gathering of bright and innovative young minds looking to acquire access to new networks and help them to rethink their business strategies. The programme content also includes an Elevator Pitch competition that will enable the winners gain mentorships with some of the world’s largest organisations and venture funds as well as provide the opportunity to qualify for seed funding.

With sessions that cover topics like 4th Industrial Revolution; Digital Preparedness; Investment Readiness; Business Modelling and Job Creation, to mention a few, Impact AfricaSocial Entrepreneurship Summit is open to young entrepreneurs in the key countries of Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa. It is anticipated to be one of the biggest Social Impact event on the continent. Our speakers range from social entrepreneurs to representatives from several major international organisations such as Microsoft, MTN, Anglo-American and SAP. Striving to be an inclusive event and reaching the underserved innovator, is a major consideration this year and

About the British Council The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.

We work in two ways – directly with individuals to transform their lives, and with governments and partners to make a bigger difference for the longer term, creating benefit for millions ofpeople all over the world.

We help young people to gain the skills, confidence and connections they are looking for, to realise their potential and to participate in strong and inclusive communities. We are on the ground in 19 countries in Sub Saharan Africa and deliver impact working with local institutions and partners.

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FEATURES

Garlands for Sahara Group at Silver Jubilee As Sahara Group gears to celebrate its 25 years of global expansion and operational efficiency, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that its sustainable economic, social, and governance impact echoes widely

Sahara celebrates 25 years of transformational energy

L-R: Managing Director, Sahara Power, Anthony Youdeowei; Executive Director, Financial Strategy, Moroti Adedoyin-Adeyinka; Executive Director, Kola Adesina; Group Head, Human Resources, Ivie Imasogie-Adigun; and Executive Director, Ade Odunsi at the unveiling of Sahara Group's 25th anniversary logo in Lagos

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or Sahara Group, its 25th anniversary, is not one to be swept under the carpet given the milestones achieved over the years. The group plans to mark its 25th anniversary with several events and activities all through 2021 with the theme, “Harnessing Safe energy today.”

According to them, emphasis will be on promoting the “capacity to do and achieve positive and sustainable transformation” in the energy sector.

Executive Director, Sahara Group, Temitope Shonubi said the energy conglomerate’s impressive growth trajectory since 1996 has been driven by knowledge, business integrity, humility, diverse people and robust global network.

“These past 25 years, knowledge has been the empowering tool for Sahara, business integrity our greatest asset, humility our utmost ethos, diverse people and network our greatest value,” he asserted while unveiling Sahara’s 25th anniversary logo and the group’s plan for the future.

Changing the Narrative Shonubi said Sahara had since disrupted previously held notions that put looking to Africa for the implementation of global energy solutions beyond imagination. According to him, since its inception, Sahara has deployed “transformational energy initiatives” to become a conglomerate with a proud African heritage and vast operations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East Asia.

“Today, the narrative is rapidly changing with Sahara at the vanguard of the transformational story from Africa to the world. Founded in 1996 with an initial focus on oil trading, Sahara Group is widely regarded as a leading energy conglomerate renowned for championing capacity building and promoting the ‘best in Africa

for Africa’ to the world narrative globally,” he affirmed.

Shonubi said Sahara would increase its investment in technology, artificial intelligence, and human capital transformation as critical drivers of its next expansion phase, adding that innovation will define Sahara’s brand positioning and offering In the coming years.

“For us at Sahara, it has been 25 years of instituting a stamp of distinction. Like most start-ups, we were chasers then followers, and today are the dream actualised corporation. It is much more expensive and difficult to be a trailblazer, defying the impossible to emerge as an enterprise that creates value innovatively, responsibly, and sustainably. Still, at Sahara we are focused on remarkable growth and grateful for the opportunity to serve and bring energy to life across global markets.”

Growth An analysis of Sahara’s operational model shows that creating a sustainable economic, social, and governance impact has remained central to Sahara’s corporate strategy. The conglomerate has grown its operations to achieve annual revenues in excess of $10 billion, with over 4000 employees and operations in over 40 countries.

“Sahara’s focus is on continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and sustainability. We plan to deploy best-in-class Terminal Automation System (TAS) for efficient terminal operations in the oil & gas sector, Plant Data Visualisation System (PDVS) for enhanced remote monitoring of plant operations, Customer Energy Management (CEM), and GIS-based Network Monitoring System (GNMS) for customer-centric power distribution & data management services,” said Shonubi.

Temitope Shonubi, Co-Founder & Executive Director Sahara Group Sahara Foundation The group considers the activities of the Sahara Foundation as one of its most cherished accomplishments. Following its initial partnership with the Carter Centre to eradicate guinea worm disease in Nigeria, Sahara Foundation has over the years, emerged as a global promoter of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with over 2,000,000 (two million) beneficiaries across its locations through interventions in Health, Education, Capacity Building, and lately, Extrapreneurship a concept that promotes opportunities for social innovators and entrepreneurs.

Social Impact In 2015, the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), through the Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG-F) established the Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) as a pivotal platform for business leaders opportunity to contribute to extraordinary social impact and cultivate partnerships of tremendous transformative capacity.

From an initial list of 100 shortlisted global multinational companies, the United Nations SDG-F selected 13 companies and inaugurated them in Madrid. Within the African continent, Sahara Group was one of the only two companies that made the final selection.

Promoting Clean Access to Affordable Energy In line with its commitment to supporting growing global demand for safe and clean energy and the shift towards a lower carbon footprint, Sahara and the UNDP in 2019 entered into a partnership to promote access to clean and affordable energy in Africa, with a target of providing access to clean and affordable energy to over 650 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Sahara Group remains passionate about green energy and environmental conservation.

Our Green Life project, aimed at driving energy and ecological conservation initiatives across our business operations and partnerships, saw the Group pioneer the commencement of an electronic billing system (e-billing) at Ikeja Electric Plc, the Group’s power distribution arm to promote environmental conservation in the energy sector,” Shonubi said.

To reinforce its commitment to clean energy initiatives, Sahara Group also initiated the use of electric buggies and bicycles at its Egbin Power, Africa’s largest privately-owned Power Plant, with plans to replicate same at other operational facilities across the Group.

Contribution to Fight against COVID-19 Shonubi said Sahara’s zero-waste approach to promoting operational efficiency and commitment to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic has seen Egbin Power Plc invest in an oxygen bottling facility on the plant to harness the oxygen generated as a by-product of the plant cooling mechanism. Egbin Power supplies oxygen, a key ingredient in the fight for life in the ICU, freely to medical facilities in Lagos State and the FCT, Abuja Nigeria, through Fortitude Children's home, the largest orphanage in Nigeria.

Sahara’s COVID-19 interventions also include donation of personal protective equipment (PPE), driving COVID-19 awareness and education in sub-Saharan Africa through educational literature in indigenous languages across various countries and leading the delivery of the 300bed THISDAY Dome Isolation and Treatment Centre and donation of medical equipment, including fully equipped world-class Intensive Care Units, to the centre and other medical facilities across Nigeria.

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WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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Quick Takes EEDC Commences Free Meter Roll-out

SCREENING PROCESS

L–R: Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Babajide Omoworare; NDIC MD/CE Nominee, Hassan Bello; and ED (OPs) Nominee, Mohammed Mustapha Ibrahim, during their appearance before the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions for screening...recently

Afreximbank Earmarks $2bn to Finance COVID-19 Vaccines’Purchase Stories by Dike Onwuamaeze The President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Okey Oramah has disclosed that the bank is putting in place a financing facility of $2 billion to assist African countries in the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, which would be available in the continent in March.

He also called on Africans and businesses hoping to reap the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to exercise patience with the teething problems that would accompany the implementation of the continental free trade area’s agreement.

The AfCFTA took effect

ECONOMY official on January 1, 2021.

Oramah made the call during an interview on Arise TV. He said: “We should be patient. The AfCFTA implementation will come with challenges. But we should not be daunted with the challenges.

We should expect and approach them with a positive spirit to find solutions. I will want every Africa and the Small and Medium Enterprises not to dwell in complaints but to try to find solutions.”

Oramah, who is a champion of intra-African trade, regretted that colonial powers had broken Africa into 55 atomistic dissected economies, with some countries so small that they

were being ignored even by some companies. This, according to him, brought other difficulties that made African countries not to deal with themselves.

Africans, according to him, hardly see an African country as a market but looked to very far land for trades.

He noted that among the implications of having a dissected continent was that Africa has remained an exporter of commodities to the rest of the world for more than 60 years, which create jobs outside the continent at the expense of unemployed teeming youthful African population.

“That is how we find ourselves in a ridiculous situation where a particular country exports outside Africa something a neighbor in Africa imports

from outside the continent at a much higher price.

“Ethiopia imports certain types of leather for its shoe industry. The same kind of leather it imports at a very high cost is exported by Burundi to the outside world. Look at the technical statistics for specified rubber. Ivory Coast exports this in abundance to many parts of the world but Nigeria imports the same thing from Asia,” he said.

Speaking further on the plan for vaccines’ purchase, he said: “We have been able now to get up to 270 million doses of vaccines. We have received indications from Pfizer, from Oxford’s AstraZenca, a manufacturer in India and the Continued on page 24

AfCFTA: OPS Pledges to Collaborate with FG Members of the organised private sector in Nigeria (OPSN) have pledged to work closely with the federal government on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

They made the pledge Monday, during the formal handing over of the leadership of the OPS from the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) to the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).

The OPSN is made up of the NACCIMA, the NECA, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigerian Association of Small Medium Enterprises (NASME) and the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists.

The National President of the NACCIMA, Mrs. Saratu

ECONOMY Iya Aliyu, who handed over the mantle of leadership of the group to the President of NECA, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, said the OPSN was still grappling to know exactly what was needed for them to do to participate effectively in the AfCFTA. Aliyu said a lot of enlightenment was needed to be done, adding that a lot of things have to be in place because the movement of goods and services from one country to another has its own protocol.

She said: “Our members have to know and be educated about the AfCFTA. There is a lot we as the leaders of the organised private sector are trying to know.”

Speaking in the same vein, Adeniyi, who is the new Chairperson of the OPSN,

said the OPSN was concerned about the operational details of the AfCFTA. Adeniyi said: “We are currently working with the National Action Committee (NAC) to make sure that all of this is stated out. But you will be rest assured that as the OPSN, we are willing to work with the government to get its assurances and be sure that we will not shoot ourselves in the leg. We want to get a full grasp of the implications and modalities of the trade and be assured that we are well protected and that our concerns are taken care of.”

He also assured that his chairmanship of the OPSN would continue with the steps already taken by the immediate past leadership of the organisation.

“What is expected of us is advocacy to ensure that the concerns of our members are

always brought forward before the government. We know that we are in difficult times as far as the country is concerned.

But we will not shy away from doing what is right to be done.

“Quite a number of issues we raised have not been attended to like power, ports operation, and the customs. And what we want to continue to do is to ensure that government hears us as we (OPSN) speak in one voice,” Adeniyi said.

Similarly, the Director General of the NACCIMA, Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, pointed out that the AfCFTA is not a 100-meter dash.

“It took 60 years of negotiations to sign that agreement and it will not take less than 10 years before its implementation will come into full flight,” Olukanni said, adding that Continued on page 24

TheEnuguElectricityDistributionPLC(EEDC)hascommencedmass meter roll-out to its customers under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP). The NMMP is an initiative of the federal government designed to ensure speedy deployment of meters to electricity customers, as a conscious way of closing the identified metering gap in the sector. In a statement, the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, assured that the meters would get to the customers free, as they will not be required to make any upfront payment to be metered.

“The mass metering program comes at no cost to our customers, and we kicked off last week Thursday, using select feeders under our Ogui and Abakpa Districts as pilot,” he said.

Already, pre installation survey has begun at these pilot locations, and meters are being installed simultaneously.

“CustomersarerequestedtocooperatewithEEDCasthemodalitiesfor deploymentwillbeaccordingtofeedersanddistributionsubstations.

Informationonthiswillbemadeavailabletocustomersastheexercise progresses,” he added.

Ezeh advised customers against falling victim to some elements that might want to extort them of their hard-earned money in the process, assuring them that the meter is free and that with time it will get to everyone.

“Itisexpectedthatbytheendof2021,asubstantialnumberofelectricity customers within the EEDC network would have been metered.

Ojumah Wins Awards

The Managing Director, FBNInsurance Limited, Val Ojumah has emerged the ‘CEO of the Year’ in the African Insurance Awards 2020 edition, recently organised by the AfricanReinsurance Corporation.

Ojumah, won the award amidst other nominees who contested for the position.

OthernomineesinthecategorywonincludedtheCEOofARMLife,Mr. Stephen Adekunle Alangbo; CEO of Societe Nationale D’assurance, SAA, Mr. Nacer Sais; CEO of MUA Limited, Mr. Bertrand Casteres and the CEO of GIG Insurance, Egypt, Mr. Alaa Mohamed Ali El-Zoheiry.

AfricanRe commended Ojumah, saying he won the award on the strength of his ability to turn aroundthe fortunes of FBNInsurance.

Ojumah, was also applauded for using his experience to gain market share and for overseeing a strategic acquisition – FBN General Insurance.

Africa Re also noted that FBNInsurance was the pioneer of the sale of insurance through mobile device under his leadership.

“Ojumah’s ability to navigate FBNInsurance through the health and economic crisis that enveloped the world in 2020 in order to meet the expectations of shareholders was also acknowledged”, the corporation stated.

Whilst congratulating the winners at this year’s edition of the awards, the Group MD/CEO, AfricaRe, Dr. Corneille Karekezi commended all thenomineesandassuredthateachwinnerwillgetasumof$25,000.

Google Workers to Form Global Union

Googleemployeesfromacrosstheglobeareformingaunionalliance, weeks after workers at the search engine giant and other units of its parent company, Alphabet Inc. formed a labor union for US and Canadian offices.

UNI Global Union, that represents about 20 million workers globally, said it helped form Alpha Global, Google’s union alliance that includes multiple countries such as the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and the UK. Alpha Global will fight for the rights of full-time Alphabet employees as well as temporary, vendor and contract workers, UNI Global said.

“The problems at Alphabet ... are not limited to any one country, and must be addressed on a global level,” Reuters quoted UNI’s General Secretary, Christy Hoffman, to have said.

Alphabet did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Afteryearsofprotestsoverworkingconditionsandbusinesspractices, 200 Google workers formed Alphabet Workers Union, a so-called “minority union,” in early January.

“The Ninth Senate in its wisdom, made the passage of the bill a priority in its legislative agenda and has since in conjunction with critical stakeholders been working assiduously to get the bill passed this year” President of the Senate,

Dr. Ahmad Lawan

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BUSINESSWORLD AFCFTA: OPSN PLEDGE TO COLLABORATE WITH FG, DEMANDS CLARIFICATIONS Johnson & Johnson who we believe its vaccines will be approved in the next couple of weeks.

“The good thing is that if the Johnson’s vaccines are approved, they would be produced in South Africa. Allocation has been done by way of population.

“The total cost of the vaccines is about $1.8 billion. So, we are seeking the approvals of our board of directors, which we are expecting to get in the next few days. We will be giving commitments to each of those manufacturers.

And if you go to the African medical supply platform you will see a page that is available for countries to indicate their demands’ through pre-orders.

“It is this pre-orders that we will aggregate to place orders and allocate the available vaccines. It is these countries that we will be able to allocate available vaccines. The good thing is that as we speak, about 50 countries have indicated. So, we are hoping that we will be able to receive vaccines from March.”

AFCFTA: OPS PLEDGES TO COLLABORATE WITH FG

“the most important thing is to understand that the OPSN is engaged with the NAC to make sure that we take advantage of the free trade area.”

According to the Executive Secretary of the NASME, Mr. Eke U. Ubiji, the OPSN took the AfCFTA seriously and have held serious workshop to aid the appreciations of its implications in collaboration with the Centre for International Private Enterprise, an American based organisation.

However, the President of the MAN, Mr. Mansur Ahmed, noted that the taste of the pudding is in the eating.

He urged the organised private sector to take a step further and engage with other members of the private sector in continent like the African Business Council.

NEWS

Gombe Seeks NNPC’s Partnership on Alternative Power Supply Segun Awofadeji in Gombe Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has said his administration will spare no effort in taking advantage of the renewable energy plan of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which was designed to boost alternative power supply and bio fuel source in the country.

He said this when NNPC’s Renewable Energy Team visited Gombe and inspected designated areas in Kwami, Funakaye Local Government Area of the state.

Yahaya, granted audience to the Group General Manager, Renewable Energy Division of the NNPC, Dr. David Ture, who led a team from the corporation on a tour of designated areas for the sugarcane fuel ethanol project in Gombe State.

The governor said the decision by his administration to constitute a committee on the bio fuel project was consequent upon his discussions with the former Group General Manager (GGM) of the Division, which placed him on a vantage position to take informed decision towards the realisation of the project.

He assured the GGM that his administration would work against time and do all it takes to see to the actualisation of the project in view of its immense benefit to the people of the state.

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Emma Okonji .of its network capability, Smile Nigeria, the 4G LTE broadband service provider has just completed the latest upgrade of its Core Network Expansion (CNE).

This upgrade, according to the company, was significant in its far reaching modernisation of the Smile Network, leading to increased capacity, which will enable Smile to serve more customers and improve the

No fewer than 1,000 young women have been engaged in the production and processing of agro food products by a non-oil exporter in Nigeria, Valency Agro Nigeria Limited.

The Senior Executive Director, Valency Group, Mr. Sumit Jain, in a statement recently, said the engagement of the women in its cashew production and processing for both local consumption and export, was a demonstration of the company’s women empower-

Correspondents

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

He commended the partnership among the Gombe State Government, NNPC and the Upper Benue River Development Authority, noting that such collaboration can help in improving the socio-economic development and fortunes of Gombe state.

“The truth of the matter is that, if you leave it to the natives there is no way they can know the value. But since we know the disconnect, so let us be the bridge”.

experience of existing customers.

Giving details of the upgrade, the Chief Technical Officer of Smile, Akinola Alayoku, said the Radio Network Expansion, which commenced this January, would greatly improve the internet experience of customers on the Smile network giving them super-fast internet experience.

Acting Managing Director of Smile Nigeria, Abhulime Ehiagwina, said: “The upgrade

is strategically timed to coincide with the period of high traffic on the network.”

He, disclosed that the upgrade aligns with Smile’s global vision and mission to be the mobile broadband provider of choice in all markets, whilst enabling its customers to do and achieve more.

He further enthused that having the best network in its class, “is something we have a passion for, and we

are excited about this latest upgrade as it will enable us to redouble efforts towards providing continued access to SuperFast, SuperReliable and affordable 4G LTE services to all Nigerians.”

Speaking on the upgrade, the Chief Marketing Officer of Smile, Abdul Hafeez, noted that the network upgrade reaffirms, “Smile’s commitment to creating opportunities that will enable our customers to enjoy the best

broadband internet experience by providing differentiating solutions that will enrich their lives.”

Explaining further, Hafeez said the upgrade was done partly with the aim of enhancing overall quality of service on the Smile network, to extend connectivity and access to the internet to more Nigerians, and to make quality internet access more affordable and empower our customers to do more and succeed in their respective endeavors”.

ment program, an initiative entrenched in the company’s corporate responsibility and sustainability policy to empower young ladies and women with earning abilities.

He said, “In view of the expansion of production and processing of cashew nuts and other agro products such as sesame, cocoa, ginger, soya bean and black eye bean for export, three peeling centers have been built and fully equipped with the state-of-art modern processing machineries in Ibafo and Abule-oshun area

of Ogun State.

“This automatically implied the need to increase our labor by 400 female employees in addition to the existing 600 in our workforce and also empower them with the skills to perform.

“At a time as this where many households have lost their livelihood due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, we have remained resolute in our commitment to continue to enhance the enterprise value for shareholders and stakeholders alike which implies

sustaining the wellbeing of our people- our employees.”

Jain, explained further that the preference for engaging women to make up the huge workforce was not born out of gender prejudice, but stemming from an understanding that empowering a woman with earning ability was central to poverty alleviation and coping with the economic impact of the pandemic. Women demonstrate resilience and tend to be better domestic managers of resources in the home front, he said.

“It is not enough to offer employment opportunities; we ensure the working environment and conditions are safe and motivating for optimum performance.

“Strict hygiene and COVID-19 protocols are central to our HSE policy where adherence is enforced across all units and areas of the factory premises. We provide in-house medical support, concession food and subsidiary for crèche. When you empower a woman, you empower the entire family,” he added.

Firm Offers Free Cyber-security Training for SMEs

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potentials for the benefit of the common man,” he said.

He said in view of the importance his administration attaches to the sugarcane fuel ethanol project, he will personally keep constant tap on developments to monitor its progress.

Yahaya used the occasion to express appreciation to the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority, saying both the state government and the authority operate as allies on this and many other projects.

Firm Engages 1,000 Women in Agro Food Processing

Senior Correspondent

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

and the Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA. “I know for sure that at the highest level people like you and even the GMD are interested in this project, equally, when I visited Mr. President, we talked about this project.

“You know the whole of the belt from Dadin kowa to Gombe Abba is arable and irrigable land and there is no reason whatsoever that we cannot utilise it to improve on our Agricultural and other

Smile Enhances Service Delivery

Raheem Akingbolu

Group Business Editor

“And we know that once we are able to do this at least the major thing that is a hindrance to the springing up of industries and commercial activities which is power can be addressed.

“By the records I got, we could have up to 60 megawatts which will serve not only Gombe but the whole of the northeast,” he added.

Yahaya, welcomed the suggestion that his administration takes a second look at the feasibility study of the project

Emma Okonji Tros Technologies, an indigenous technology firm, has announced free cyber-security training, an online video-based training program to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and big corporate alike in the country to tackle the rising trend of cyber risk.

According to the firm, as the incidence of coronavirus continues to force people to work from home, cyber criminals are continuously on the prowl to exploit the environment with data breach and revenue losses.

Tros Technologies has also created EasyAppz, a platform for small and medium-sized businesses to create their personal

Apps by following three steps, thus, enhancing further digitization of small business operations.

The company explained that the robust cyber-security training program is designed to educate employees on common threats to their organisation’s cyber-security and offers a new way for small to medium-sized businesses to educate their employees on cyber-

security risks and best practices amid the coronavirus pandemic, right from their home.

“While many more people continue to work remotely, the problem with this is that it poses new cyber-security and data protection risks to organisations that they likely have not dealt with up until now,” the company said.

Managing Director at Tros Technologies, Mr. Muyiwa Awosile, said: “As many of the businesses in our community have shifted to a work from home environment to keep their doors open, we wanted to ensure that these businesses aren’t putting themselves at greater risk later down the road. Working remotely has its perks.

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Facilitating Capital Formation The federal government and corporates raised over N4 trillion while investors witnessed significantly growth in their investments in the stock market through the Nigerian Stock Exchange platform last year, writes Goddy Egene

N

igeria as a developing country needs funds, especially long-term funds, for its economic development and growth. And the capital market serves as the appropriate place to pool such capital resources and make it available to the government and private sector players.

The role of the capital market in capital formation that lead to economic growth manifested last year as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), which is one of the platforms in the market, facilitated the raising of over N4.015 trillion by governments and corporates. Also, the wealth of equities investors appreciated by over N8 trillion.

The N4.015 trillion raised by government and corporate was through bonds and equity issuances.

However, bond market accounted for the highest of capital raise as the federal government and companies raised N2.6 trillion from bond market.

Also, companies raised N1.415 trillion through equity offerings.

Speaking at the annual 2020 market recap and 2021 outlook of the exchange last week, the Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said continuing the trend in recent years, the Federal Government of Nigeria(FGN) dominated issuances, which comprised 92 per cent of total bond issuances.

According to him, corporates also leveraged the low yield environment to fund expansion objectives and pursue debt refinancing, raising a total of N192 billion bonds. He explained that capital-raising activities in the fixed income market increased significantly in 2020, pushed the NSE’s bond market capitalisation by 35.5 per cent from N12.92 trillion in 2019 to N17.50 trillion.

“Some of the ground breaking achievements for the year include: the historic listing of Interswitch’s N23 billion 15.00 per cent Fixed Rate Series 1 bond.

The premier bond listing illustrates the potential of the Exchange to support FinTechs and growth companies across various economic sectors. The listing of Dangote Cement’s N100 billion 12.50 per cent Series 1 bond under its N300 billion bond programme which became the largest corporate bond issuance in Nigeria’s fixed income market and the listing of Primero Plc’s first bond on the NSE, the Primero BRT Securitisation SPV Plc bond valued at N16.5 billion.”

Looking at the performance of the exchange in 2020, Onyema said it was indeed a historic one for global capital markets.

“Facing buffeting headwinds, world markets saw sharp swings and steep losses, but largely remained resilient and orderly amid rising uncertainty. For the NSE, renewed investor optimism coupled with improved economic conditions and low fixed income yields, propelled a year end bull run. Of 93 global equity indices tracked by Bloomberg, the NSE All Share Index (ASI) emerged the bestperforming index in the world, surpassing the S&P 500 (+16.26 per cent), Dow Jones Industrial Index (+7.25 per cent) and other global and African market indexes, to post a one-year return of +50.03 per cent,” Onyema said.

Product performance The NSE boss noted that the Nigerian equities market got off to a strong start in 2020, returning 10.4 per cent by the eighth trading session, adding that by October, the equities market entered a much awaited bull run. “ Buoyed by the formal declaration of the United States(U.S) president-elect, unattractive fixed income yields and better-than-expected corporate earnings, the NSE ASI recovered from first quarter (Q1’20), to close the year at 40,270.72 (+50.03 per cent) and erase losses of -14.90 per cent recorded in 2019.

“During its remarkable year end run, the ASI gained 6.23 per cent in a single trading session which triggered a 30-minute halt of trading on all stocks for the first time since the NSE Circuit Breaker was introduced in 2016 to safeguard market integrity in periods of extraordinary volatility,” he said.

The CEO said at the close of the year, the NSE’s equity market capitalisation was up by 62.42 per cent, from N12.97 trillion in 2019 to N21.06 trillion in 2020 while market turnover saw an uptick of 7.25 per cent, from N0.96 trillion in 2019 to N1.03 trillion in 2020.

“Although Initial Public Offering (IPO) activity was mute, the value of supplementary issues increased dramatically from 2019, rising by 851.37

NSE Trading Floor is backed by a gold bullion and serves as a good currency hedge, was the best performing ETF for the second year running as it returned 66.03 per cent in 2020, reflecting investors’ continued preference for risk-backed securities.

Oscar Onyema per cent to N1.42 trillion, from N148.77 billion.

Also noteworthy is that for the second consecutive year, equity market transactions were dominated by domestic investors who accounted for 65.28 per cent of market turnover by value (Retail: 44.98 per cent; Institutional: 55.02 per cent) while foreign portfolio investors accounted for 34.72 per cent,” he said.

Speaking on the NSE Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) market, he said it experienced its best year yet.

“Market capitalisation increased by 272.30 per cent from N6.58 billion recorded in 2019 to N24.51 billion in 2020 while trade volumes increased by 218.23 per cent from 4.15 million units in 2019 to 13.20 million units in 2020, and turnover skyrocketed by 51,830.59 per cent.

“These achievements can be attributed to several factors including: growing adoption of the asset class by investors and asset managers on the back of strong year on year growth; launch of two new ETFs – Meristem Growth ETF and Meristem Value ETF by Meristem Wealth Management Limited which track the NSE Meristem Growth Index and NSE Meristem Value Index respectively; and unattractive yields in the fixed income market which led investors to seek alternative asset classes as also experienced in the equity market,” he said.

He explained that the NEWGOLD ETF, which tracks the price of gold and offers investors the opportunity to invest in a listed instrument that

Strategic Performance of NSE According to Onyema, in terms of the strategic performance of the exchange, several milestones were recorded last year. ”The NSE moved closer to its goal of launching Exchange Traded Derivatives as NG Clearing Limited received approval in principle from the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) to launch clearing and settlement of exchange-traded derivative products as Nigeria’s premier Central Counterparty Clearing House (CCP),” he said.

The CEO said that plans for demutualisation of the exchange also advanced significantly following the Court Ordered Meeting (COM) and Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) where members of the exchange unanimously voted in favour of the resolutions presented for consideration, while the Scheme of Arrangement for the NSE’s demutualisation was also sanctioned by the Federal High Court. ”The NSE launched the Growth Board to support SMEs to access the capital market, by offering advisory support, relaxed entry criteria and reduced post-listing obligations. Four companies – McNichols Consolidated Plc, The Initiates Plc, Living Trust Mortgage Bank Plc and Chellarams Plc., were successfully migrated to the Growth Board. Building on its digital credentials, the exchange revamped the NSE Data Portal to facilitate easier access to NSE market data; upgraded the X-Issuer platform to further enhance market integrity and X-Whistle to strengthen investor protection; launched the X-PO to boost retail participation in the market and automate listing processes,” he said.

Market initiatives In the area of market initiatives, Onyema said NSE sustained its thought leadership and advocacy role in the capital market evidenced by the successful transition of stakeholder engagement activities to virtual sessions including the Oil and Gas webinar, Sustainable Capital Markets forum, Smart Investing Workshop, 5th Market Data Workshops, 2nd NSE CEO’s Stakeholder Engagement Call, Nigerian Securities Lending Forum and 2nd Islamic Finance Forum.

“The NSE reviewed and amended the Pension Index to ensure that it represents the appropriate benchmark for evaluating Pension Fund Administrators’ equity portfolios. Reviewed its trading fee charge on debt instruments to 0.0005 per cent (N5 per million) to boost liquidity in the

fixed income market.”

Others included: accreditation of X-Academy by the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria (CIBN).

The academy also partnered with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) and the IoD Centre of Corporate Governance (IoDCCG) to run Corporate Governance trainings in view of the pandemic. Compensation of a total of N17.02 million to 49 investors/claimants who suffered pecuniary losses in 2020. The NSE also facilitated restitutions and recoveries of shares worth N305.11 million for investors in 2020,” he said.

Corporate citizenship development Onyema disclosed that in upholding its key pillars of sustainability, the joined the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria by committing a total of N100 million.

According to him, N60 million was donated to Capital Market Support Committee for COVID-19 (CMSCC), while N40 million was donated to the NSE’s “Masks for All Nigerians” campaign which saw the distribution of face masks to low-income households.

“The NSE hosted a half day symposium which ended with the closing bell to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD) and gender equality. The exchange published the first and second editions of StockTown, a comic book aimed at promoting financial literacy in Nigeria.

The NSE won the Best Regulatory Information Management award from the Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards (LaPRIGA Awards),” the CEO said.

Outlook for 2021 Looking ahead, Onyema said: “The year has started on a positive note as the ASI has already returned 2.0 per cent after 11 trading sessions.

We expect the marginal reopening of businesses, normalization of the economy and revenuediversification drive of the Nigerian government to elicit positive sentiments throughout the year.

Our growth expectations should be noted with caution, as the recent second wave of COVID-19 in Nigeria and globally, may slow down renewed social and economic activities.”

According to him, as the NSE transitions to a demutualised exchange group, the appointments of Mr. Temi Popoola as the CEO of NGX and Ms. Tinuade Awe as CEO of NGX REGCO were recently announced.

“The NSE believes that these appointments will support its vision to be “Africa’s preferred Exchange Hub” and looks forward to consolidating on the benefits of demutualisation in the coming year. The exchange also reiterated its intention to aggressively pursue cutting-edge products and services, access new markets and deliver better value to its stakeholders,” he said.

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Okejimi: New CBN Remittance Policy Gives more Value for Transfers The Central Bank of Nigeria in December 2020 issued new guidelines on Diaspora and other remittances which allows beneficiaries to receive their inflow in foreign currencies. In this interview, Country Manager, Nigeria, and Ghana at WorldRemit, Gbenga Okejimi, speaks on the policy and how his organisation is complying. Goddy Egene presents the excerpts:

T

important that they leave the lower dollar bills and every other bill available so that customers can always have access to funds.

he Central Bank of Nigeria last year directed that international money transfer operators (IMTOs) in Nigeria begin remittance payouts in United States Dollars, how would you explain this to an average Nigerian?

This simply implies that all remittance transfers to Nigeria via international money transfer organisations like WorldRemit will now be paid out in dollars rather than the local currency - naira. The objective is to ensure that recipients get fair value for their transfers which will also help to increase US dollar supply at the retail end and ultimately encourage appreciation of the naira.

We understand that there were some IMTO’s that resisted CBN directives. On the contrary, how did WorldRemit react to the development?

As a matter of fact, WorldRemit was the first IMTO to implement the CBN directive globally as we began USD payouts immediately after the announcement. We have been at the forefront of digital transformation in remittances with the focus on financial inclusion. However, we appreciate that some of the countries where we operate are cash reliant, so as a digital company we were able to innovate and roll out the service in Nigeria without much disruption to the satisfaction of our many customers.

Can you tell us a bit more about how remittances were paid in the past before the new CBN directive?

USD payout is not new to Nigeria; it was discontinued sometime in 2013 by the CBN. Before now however, it was a dual currency policy where recipients could choose either Naira or USD unlike now where it is strictly US dollars that banks are permitted to pay to recipients.

In your opinion, how will this new development impact your customers and the Nigerian economy?

Customers will get fair value for their transfers as I am sure you will agree with me that $100 in the United States is the same thing as $100 in Nigeria. The customers will then have the choice of changing this currency in the bank or with the Bureau du change (BDC). In terms of the economy, it improves the retail supply of the USD with the

Okejimi objective of stimulating local currency appreciation.

How will you assess WorldRemit’s USD payouts options, in comparison to what it used to be before?

WorldRemit has several partner banks in Nigeria that payout USD to recipients, in fact, we have the largest bank payout network for transfers to USD bank accounts in Nigeria as we speak.

We are continuously adding to the network by onboarding more partners to make our services available to more customers. The Central bank has also pledged adequate support to facilitate the supply of USD notes.

Who are your current financial partners for payouts and how are you looking to collaborate with more financial institutions?

Currently our partners include, Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, First

City Monument Bank, Union Bank, UBA, Polaris Bank and Zenith Bank. We are also discussing with some other partners to broaden our cash payout network. The extensiveness of the network is important for USD payout, hence the need to onboard more partners to widen the network.

So how are you working with other players to ensure sufficiency of cash reserves for remittances?

We acknowledge the availability of U.S dollar notes as central to the success of this policy, and in this regard, the CBN has confirmed that USD notes are readily available for supply to all banks.

On our part, we support the bank as much as we can on the importation of USD notes and provide them with feedback when customers complain about non-availability of U.S dollars. Basically what we try to do is to ensure that banks have USD in their vaults in the right mix because it is also

When it comes to receiving international remittances, there are certain challenges in Nigeria. How is WorldRemit helping with this?

According to the World Bank, Nigeria is the biggest remittance recipient in Sub-Saharan Africa with a Diaspora standing of about 17 million. Undeniably, there is a huge potential for remittances to increase over the coming years. Remittances have also contributed to financial inclusion, helped bridge gaps in forex and assisted households in paying school fees, electricity, and medical bills. World Bank also said remittances account for approximately six per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and even exceeds receipts from oil and gas revenue. At WorldRemit, we are a digital innovator seeking ways to create opportunities for our customers to ensure that they receive their funds at a convenient, safe manner and at a very reduced cost. This is our ultimate objective. WorldRemit is collaborating with the Nigerian government to ensure that remittances continued to play a huge part in the development of the economy. Last year, WorldRemit had embarked on an entrepreneurial program which rewarded some customers in Nigeria with the sole objective of helping them grow their businesses and bring to life their new ideas.

Since WorldRemit began its business operation in Nigeria, how will you assess the market in terms of remittances and its impact on the country’s economy?

Remittances are a huge driver for Nigeria and constitute a large chunk of FDI inflows. Knowing how much human capital Nigeria exports annually, one should be able to estimate the value of remittances received into the Nigeria. According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Nigeria is one of the top five nations with high remittance inflows globally and in the last three years, remittances into Nigeria have been on the average benchmark of about $25 billion. Looking into the future, we expect that with the commencement of the Africa Free Continental Trade Agreement and the strong push for intra-African trade and integration, the Nigerian market will continue its sustainable growth.

Devon King’s Announces N2.5m Cash Prize for Reality Show Raheem Akingbolu Devon King’s, a brand from the stable of PZ Wilmar, has announced the renewal of its sponsorship of the ‘Street Foodz Naija’ reality TV show, an initiative of African food and lifestyle channel, Foodbay TV. This announcement was made at press briefing in Lagos to mark the commencement of the second

season of the competition.

The competition which is focused on identifying, showcasing, and uplifting various street food entrepreneurs across the country, comes with few changes this season as the grand prize has been increased to further empower and energize the food-preneurs in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic.

Speaking on the prospects of the competition’s second edition, the

Category & Brand Manager, PZ Wilmar, Toyin Popoola-Dania said: “Understanding the peculiarity of the times, it is important that we all play our part one way or the other to reduce whatever negative impact the pandemic might have on us.

“Food, as we all know, plays quite an important role, which is why we have once again partnered with Foodbay TV for a

bigger edition of the Street Foodz Naija campaign, consolidating not just on our efforts to elevate the health, taste and quality of Street Food in Nigeria but also to encourage and support foodpreneurs who we know play a vital role in our society today.

“This season promises to be much more exciting, engaging and even more rewarding, our partners Foodbay TV have put together

something quite unique and very beneficial and I am excited as to what this season holds.”

Also speaking at the briefing, Managing Director, Maxima Media Group, Oluwafemi Ogundoro, said he was particularly excited about the prospects of the show.

“In the spirit of continuous improvement and having taken key learning from the maiden edition, I can say we have put

together something very unique, a show that is as exciting, informative as it is rewarding.

“As you are aware, with the support of our sponsors we have increased the grand prize quite significantly, we have brought on board notable personalities who are food enthusiasts. Nigerians should get ready for something quite amazing” he added.

COVID-19: Firm Launches New Product in Kano Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Manufacturer of home products, Aspira Nigeria Limited in Kano, unveiled a new product, Viva Plus Laundry Sanitiser Detergent Powder to the members of the public in Kano In his welcome address at the event, Head of Marketing, Aspira Nigeria Limited, Mr. Santhosh Kumar Nair, disclosed that the latest product had undergone all the necessary checks and was carefully manufactured to bring about a more hygienic and healthier society.

He further said the product was a result of the endless desire of the company to serve the society in better ways, adding that, “Our commitment to the society and to health care has expanded our product range to sanitisers, dish- washers and dental health care products.”

Nair, recalled that Aspira Nigeria Limited has an unblemished reputation as the flagship of a number of market leading brands such as Viva, Sabil, Chic, Family Care Baby and Me, while assuring that the new product would offer a fulfilling product- experience to

customers. The Chairman, Aspira Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Ahmadu Haran Danzago, in his remarks, stated that the product could not have entered the market at a more auspicious time, given the present global push for improved personal care and hygiene, including the need for a cleaner and safer environment. He appreciated the people of Nigeria, the company’s customers in particular, for their unshaken patronage and loyalty to their various range of products, while promising them a happy and prosperous relationship in the years to come. Also, the Brand

Ambassador, Aspira Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Sani Musa Danja, stated that the product- launch was in line with the tradition of the company to break new grounds and deliver high- quality products to their customers. He said the new product, “has been tested and proven to be of world class standards”.

The Product Manager, Aspira Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ali Jammal recalled that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the company decided to develop a detergent that could reduce the risk of spreading ill-

causing bacteria, in addition to keeping clothes stain- free.

He indicated that, “The new Laundry Sanitiser was developed under multi-enzyme and eco- friendly technologies and contains zero percent bleach. It is gentle on fabrics and works even in cold water.”

According to Mr. Jammal, Viva Plus Laundry Sanitizer Detergent Powder contains an advanced formula that removes tough stains and leaves a long-lasting fragrance while stating that, “It is specially designed to keep your clothes bright and vivid, wash

after wash.”

He explained that the new product is available in four different variants.

Speaking at the occasion of the launch, the Personnel Manager of the company, Alhaji Bala Adamu said: “Aspira was established in 2009, since then we have expanded to 12 manufacturing facilities as of today. As I speak, we have created over 3000 jobs, and with our upcoming facilities, we hope to create more job opportunities with a vision of youth empowerment and to reduce unemployment rate.”

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Adeseyoju: Why Organisations Must Beef up Digital Security Data Privacy Day is observed annually on January 28th. It is a global day aimed at raising awareness about the importance of data privacy and is also celebrated in the European Union, United States and Canada. The issuance of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation in 2019 showcased Nigeria’s commitment to Data Protection and Privacy of its citizens. To commemorate the 2021 celebration,AbimbolaAdeseyoju, the Managing Director of DataPro Limited, a compliance solutions company in Nigeria, and one of the licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations speaks with Adedayo Adejobi on Nigeria’s effort to drive the Data Protection compliance regime as well as the fundamentals of Data Protection and Privacy The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) was issued on 25th January 2019, to drive data protection and privacy compliance.

Two years later, what achievements has the regime recorded?

The issuance of the NDPR 2019 saw Nigeria record a significant growth in Data Protection and Privacy compliance. Between 2019 and 2020, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the regulatory agency charged with driving data protection compliance in Nigeria, received audit fillings from 635 entities warehoused on the NDPR portal, a verifiable database. Based on the audit report filings received, financial services sector recorded the highest level of compliance with audit report filing. Notably, the data protection compliance market recorded revenue upwards of N2.2 billion between 2019 and 2020. Additionally, NITDA licensed 70 Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs), of which DataPro Limited is one, to provide data protection compliance services, audit and training for data controllers and processors among other functions, thereby creating 2686 jobs.

In the performance of its oversight function, NITDA issued 230 compliance and enforcement notices.

The regulator also conducted 15 investigations on alleged data breaches. As a DPCO, DataPro has provided advisory and compliance services such as Data Protection and Privacy policy formulation, data protection and privacy training and capacity building programs, Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and annual audit for several organisations across various sectors. With the achievements recorded so far, DataPro predicts a higher level of compliance with the regulation, as corporate entities become increasingly aware of their obligations in regard to data protection and privacy.

What is the impact of the NDPR 2019 on organisations in Nigeria?

The NDPR 2019 provides an array of obligations for Data Controller and Processors in Nigeria. Data Controllers and Processors are obligated to appoint a Data Protection Officer for the purpose of ensuring company-wide adherence to the regulation; develop a Data Protection and Privacy policy which should set the tone of Data Protection and Privacy practices in the organisation; conduct training and awareness on Data Protection and Privacy for all staff; conduct Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA); and implement adequate security measures to protect data. Similarly, data controllers and processors who

right to rectification – Data subjects have the right to request for the correction of inaccurate personal data and to have incomplete personal data updated without delay; the right to erasure – Data subjects have the right to request the erasure of their personal data from a Data Controller and Processor system; the right to restrict processing – Data subjects have the right to request Data Controllers and Processors restrict the processing of their personal data under certain circumstances; the right to data portability – Data subjects have the right to request a transfer of their personal data from one Data Controller or Processor to another; the right to object to processing – Data subjects have the right to object to the processing of their personal data under certain circumstances; the rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling – Data subjects have the right to object to a decision solely based on automated profiling or decision making, which significantly affects them. It is important that Nigerians are aware that to exercise any of these rights, they must contact the Data Controller or Processor managing their personal data.

Adeseyogu process the personal data of more than 2000 data subjects in a period of 12 months are required to conduct annual Data Protection Audit and file the report with NITDA. This is to showcase their level of compliance with the provisions of the NDPR. Furthermore, with the advent of the NDPR, it has become expedient for organisations to only collect relevant data necessary for the purpose of their business relationship with data subjects and maintain transparency in the processing of data.

How has the Covid - 19 pandemic affected data protection?

The Covid -19 pandemic has disrupted the traditional way of doing business. Many organisations have resorted to working remotely, which has posed significant data privacy risks as a lot of personal information is being obtained and processed over less secured networks. As a result, organisations have become more susceptible to

data breaches. To mitigate the risk of data breaches, organisations have been challenged to beef up security measures in order to ensure that their digital platforms are highly secured against cyber threats. With the heightening of cyber-security issues, organisations are required to be forward looking and employ creative security measures such as the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and encryption of computers. The prevailing situation which has forced organisations to adopt stringent cyber security measures will subsequently help improve data security standards.

What are the rights of Nigerians under the NDPR? The NDPR dictates several rights for Data subjects.

The rights include: The right of access – Data subjects have the right to access their personal data being processed by a Data Controller or Processor; the

What notable steps have been taken by the regulator to drive the NDPR compliance regime?

One of the notable steps taken by NITDA in the quest to drive data protection compliance is the fining of a public institution the sum of N1 million for personal data breach offence, making it the first sanctioned entity since the issuance of the NDPR. This move reinforced the government’s commitment to safeguarding the data of Nigerian citizens. It has also propelled compliance with Data Protection and Privacy among corporate organisations. Additionally, the regulator served 51 enforcement notices on Data Controllers perceived to have breached the provisions of the NDPR 2019. It also served 180 compliance notices on Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Nigerian government. Likewise, NITDA inaugurated a Data Breach Investigation team in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General of Police to conduct effective investigation of data breach and misuse. The NDPR portal was also launched to enable reporting of data breaches. The steps taken so far to enforce Data Protection compliance in Nigeria is commendable and showcases NITDA’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria continues to improve on its current standing as relating to data protection and privacy.

Allianz Nigeria Shores up Capital Base to N18.5bn Stories by Ebere Nwoji Allianz Nigeria, said it has received the first tranche of capital required to shore up its capital base to N18 billion.

The company also said it has restructured its shareholding to make the Allianz group sole-owner, adding that the company will now operate as a limited company. It, therefore announced changes in its board leadership and named Chief Dickie Ulu as chairman, while

Ms. Adeolu Adewumi-Zer is the Managing Director. Disclosing this in a statement, Adewumi-Zer, said the restructuring also witnessed increase in the company’s authorised share capital from N10 billion to N18.5 billion.

She said this was done following the creation of 17 billion ordinary shares, to increase Allianz Nigeria’s authorised share capital from N10 billion to N18.5 billion.

She said the shares have been issued and allotted in favor of the regional legal entity, that

is the holding company for Allianz Nigeria (Allianz Africa Holding GmbH), adding that the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has been informed of the capital inflow. “This move to strengthen the capital base of its local operations reaffirms Allianz‘s commitment to business in Africa’s most populous nation, making Allianz Nigeria one of the very few insurers to announce compliance with the new capital regime”, Adewunmi-Zer stated.

According to her, as part of a

wider restructuring of the business, Allianz Nigeria had in December 2020 reconstituted its shareholding to make Allianz the sole investor, and further streamlined its business operations by taking the company private, now operating as Allianz Nigeria Insurance Limited.

According to her, other internal changes include her appointment earlier in September 2020, as the new helmsman of the company and appointment of Mr. Jaideep Goel, as the Executive Director to succeed outgoing executives.

She, highlighted other changes made in the company saying, “the new leadership team are Mr. Oyetunji Oshiyoye as Chief Customer Officer; Mr. Uyi Osagie as Chief Financial Officer Ms Abimbola Alabi as Chief People Officer and Mr Enahoro Ikhidero as Chief Technology Officer.

She said in line with corporate governance and regulatory provisions, the board in December 2020, approved the appointment of Ulu, incumbent Independent Director, as new Chairman to succeed the

outgoing chairman, Mr. Fola Adeola, who had resigned after half a decade of service. She noted that Mr. Adeola’s absence woul be felt because of his insightful guidance and wealth of experience.

Adewumi-Zer, expressed confidence that Ulu was qualified to fill the position and steer the company through the next phase of its transformation.

Adewumi-Zer also appealed to customers who have been experiencing challenges in routine claim settlements.

AXA Mansard Champions Health Insurance Initiative Health Management Organisation (HMO), AXA Mansard Health Limited, has deployed technology to address challenges facing Nigeria’s health insurance industry.

The organisation announced this at its virtual yearly Human Resources Conference tagged:

“Winning the Pandemic Battle Together”.

The conference, had in attendance the Managing Director, Paelon Memorial Hospital, Dr. Frances Onyia as guest speaker and two panelists - Medical consultant-Human resources, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Idorentin

Oladiran and Medical and Wellness Consultant-Human Capital, Stanbic IBTC Dr. Jatto Sylvanus respectively.

Speaking, the chief Executive Officer, AXA Mansard Health Limited, Tope Adeniyi, said AXA Mansard Health had been positioned to lead all health

management organisations in Nigeria providing health related services to both individuals and corporate bodies.

He said the focus of the session was to get a deeper understanding of the COVID 19 pandemic and how as organisations, “we can deal with the

resultant effects on our staff and the business operations.”

“A major step we have taken to help reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus is the introduction of pre-authorisation approval notification, aimed at reducing the wait-time at hospitals,” he added. He said to fast-track

hospital visits and remove information asymmetry between care providers, enrollees can now get pre-authorisation approval notification, access benefit schedule, pre-book hospitals, refill drug prescriptions and so on via the MYAXA Plus Application.

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Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: The Priest-in-Charge of St. Mathias Anglican Church, Udi LGA of Enugu State, Rev. Stephen Alor: Founder of Emeka Okenwa Foundation (EOF), Chief Emeka Okenwa; and Project Manager of the Foundation, Ms Ujunwa Okenwa, during a free medical outreach programme organized by EOF at Orji-Amokwe community in Enugu State... recently

L-R: Registrar/Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria(CITN), Mr. Adefisayo Awogbade, Director of EggHeads International Schools, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Prof. Ezekiel Williams, Deputy President of CITN, Barrister Samuel Agbeluyi and David Ogbanga of Archdeacon Brown Education Center, winner of the 1st Edition of the Rivers State All Secondary School Tax Quiz Competition in portharcort...recently

L-R: Chief executive officer, Autochek, Etop Ikpe; President, Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria, AMDON, Prince Ajibola Adedoyin; and PRO, AMDON, Mr Vincent Mangai during the signing ceremony of partnership agreement between Autochek and AMDON in Abuja...recently

L-R: Chairman of the Occasion, Alh. Rabiu Oluwa; Chairman, APC, Lagos state, Chief Tunde Balogun; and Lagos west Senatorial district, Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi, during the 4th edition of Lagos West Senatorial district, town hall meeting/poverty Alleviations and Empowerment programme, held in Lagos... recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

CEO of Victoria Crest Homes, Ichechi Okonkwo, (right) presenting a Bus gift from Victoria Crest Homes Ltd to Toke Benson Awoyinka on behalf of Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Agency in Lagos...recently

L-R: Deputy Comptroller Nigeria Custons Seevice, Mr P. N. Ebeatu; Executive Director, Pathfinders Justice Initiative, Mrs Evon Benson Idahosa and Member NCS, Mr. G. Yakubu, during the capacity building training for law-enforcement officers, judges and prosecutors on HumanTtrafficking in Benin City...recently

L-R: Executive Director, ARM Agribusiness, Mr. Theo Adewale Onadeko,; Host & Lead Pastor, The Elevation Church;, Pastor Godman Akinlabi; Director of Media and Communications, The Elevation Church, Ms. Chinny Ugoji, and CEO, Olu Tee Engineering International Limited, Mr. Kola Shawana, during the Press Conference for Vantage Forum 2021, an upcoming business outlook forum, organized by The Elevation Church held in Lagos...recently

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EDUCATION Schools’ Resumption: Ensuring the Safety of Nigerian Varsities Amidst Covid-19 With the directive by the federal government that schools across the country, should resume despite the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic which has led to an increase in the number of cases, the management of some universities explained to Funmi Ogundare the efforts they have taken to prevent the spread of the virus among students and staff

P

enultimate week, the Federal Government gave a directive that schools across the country should reopen.

The decision was taken at a meeting that had governors, commissioners and other stakeholders, where a consensus was reached.

Despite the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic which has led to an increase in the number of cases, the federal government had directed the management of individual federal government-owned tertiary institutions to resume academic activities while putting in place safety protocols and guidelines laid down by the Presidential Task Force (PTF).

The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Ben Goong, in a statement said protocols such as compulsory wearing of facemasks by all students, teachers and workers in all schools , must be put in place, adding that there must be temperature checks and provision of hand washing facilities at strategic locations in all the schools.

According to him, “Ensuring constant supply of water and sanitisers, enforcement of maintenance of social distancing and suspension of large gatherings such as assembly and visiting days, avoiding overcrowding , including limitations in class sizes and hostel occupancy.”

The ministry also stressed the need for functional health clinics with facilities for isolation and transportation of suspected cases to medical facilities, and that there must be adherence to all other non-pharmaceutical protocols, restrictions and containment measures as may be prescribed/approved by the Presidential Task Force(PTF) from time to time.

Consequent upon the directive, the senate of some tertiary institutions including private universities held meetings to deliberate on plans for its resumption for the 2019/2020 academic session, and some even set up Coronavirus prevention committees.

For instance, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, will be resuming academic activities on February 8, 2021, which was suspended due to the strike embarked on by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. Its senate has also approved the cancellation of 2020/2021 academic session.

The final year students in the faculty of Phamarcy, clinical students in the College of Health Sciences and year four students in the Faculty of Agriculture are expected to come into residence, while other students are to attend their classes virtually.

The Registrar of the University, Mrs. Margaret Omosule in a statement made available to THISDAY, said the approved resumption is subject to periodic review in line with the realities and trend of the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said the Senate of the university was emphatic on the need for both staff and students to strictly adhere to the Covid-19 protocols to prevent the transmission of community transmission.

According to her, “Staff, students and other members of the university community, must adhere strictly to the recommendations of the Covid-19 committee set up by the university administration on resumption and on-line consideration through regular washing of hands with soap and running water, use of hand sanitiser, compulsory wearing of facemasks and social distancing.”

As part of the recommendations from a virtual meeting of the postgraduate college board of the university held on January 12, to deliberate on resumption implications for postgraduate students, the board took an informed decision that all postgraduate students, both newly admitted and returning, be allowed to come into campus once the university reopens .

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu According to the board, these students not only take lectures, but some have practical sessions and interact weekly or every fortnight with staff and other students in the department and faculty for pre-field and post-field seminars as well as oral examinations, among others.

“The board is aware that students, both undergraduate and postgraduate cannot stay off their programmes indefinitely. It is also aware that for students to physically resume, anti-COVID 19 pandemic measures must be put in place for both sets of students and all staff as stipulated by the federal government.

“Cognizant of the fact that students have two options; physical and/or virtual resumption; the board is mindful of the challenges that go with each of the options at a time like this.

The board strongly believes that their limited number can be conveniently accommodated without any hazard once adequate measures are put in place to safeguard their lives from threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

On its own part, the University of Lagos, Akoka, approved the commencement of academic activities for the completion of the first semester of 2019/2020 academic session for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes virtually from January 25 through the institution’s Learning Management System (Lagonline).

The Registrar of the University, Mr. Azeez Oladejo said in a release, that due to the second wave of Coronavirus, all lectures, continuous assessment and examinations for the first semester shall be held virtually (both synchronous and assychronous) as students cannot be accommodated on campus at this time. “The first semester examination shall commence on Monday March 15, 2021 and end April 1, 2012.The 2019/2020 second semester shall commence virtually in a blended mode on April 12, 2021 and end on August 14, 2021, “ he said.

Resumption of academic activities will be at no cost to the students, as Azeez appealed to parents and guardians to provide appropriate support to enable their wards participate optimally, in the online classes . “ Parents/guardians as well as students are hereby informed that the university of Lagos shall bear the full cost of data of all students through a specialised toll free data arrangement during the three-week examination period.”

The management, however enjoined students who are yet to complete their 2019/2020 first semester course registrations online, to seize

the window period provided to complete their registrations.

The decision by the institution to commence virtual classes, THISDAY gathered, may be connected to the fact that some of its top officials, recently, tested positive and even died as a result of the virus.

The Head the Media unit of the university, Mrs. Olufadeke Akinleye confirmed to THISDAY that the reason why students cannot be accomodated in campus hostels, is to reduce risk of Covid-19 spread, adding that all lectures have been migrated because of its large classes and the impossibility of enforcing social distancing in the existing lecture halls, in line with best practices in higher education worldwide.

“The current protocols in place are as dictated by the PTF on Covid-19 viz ensuring social distancing at campus events, migrating classes and meetings to virtual platforms, making water soap and sanitiser available at all campus locations and insisting masks be worn at all times and places on campus, “ she stressed.

The Head of the Public Relations, The University of Ilorin, Mr. Kunle Akogun told THISDAY that the the institution was fully ready to welcome all its students back on campus for the resumption of academic activities, having lost more than 10 months of academic activities to the rampaging Covid-19 pandemic.

In observing all Covid-19 prevention protocols, the university has put in place a number of measures which include; adoption of virtual learning by which lectures would be delivered and taken online . Akogun said this started on January 11 and it has been going on smoothly and will continue even after physical resumption of classes.

As the need to resume physical classes becomes imperative, he noted that Unilorin has adopted a phased system that would ensure that the return of students to campus , would be staggered into four phases; return of students with outstanding first semester examinations on January 25, and would return home after their examinations, final year and postgraduate students coming into campus on February 1; 100 level students coming into campus by February 15, while March 1, will witness all other students coming into campus.

According to Akogun, this is to ensure that the institution do not have a huge concentration of students on campus at any given time.

He said the management has provided

hand washing facilities in all students’ areas, such as lecture theatres, examination halls, and places commonly frequented by staff and students, adding that the Coronavirus prevention committee has provided hand sanitisers at each handwash points. “ Each student should have at least five changeable facemasks and pocket sanitisers.

Enforcement of the no-squatting policy in the university hostels will be strictly pursued to ensure the physical distancing policy of Covid-19 prevention.”

While appealing to the government to provide resources for the expansion of the existing infrastructural facilities, especially classrooms and lecture theatres to make physical distancing possible while physical classes are going on, Akogun said the university management will continue to support its health services to ensure the safe handling of emergency cases.

Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State also adopted a staggered resumption for physical and online classes. It opened its doors for students on January 17 in batches: A and B. While batch A were expected to resumed from January 17 to 28, batch B will be resuming from March 21 to 25.

Batch A, according to the resumption guidelines made available to THISDAY by the Director, Communications and Maketing, Dr. Joshua Suleiman, for fresh and returning students, consisted of newly admitted 100 level students, 200 level direct entry and conversion students, students studying education-related courses and foundation students, 300 level returning students (except those on SIWES posting), as well as all 400 to 600 level clinical medical students. Batch B consists of 200 and 400 level students .

Fresh students were required to come with their Covid-19 safety kits and alcohol-based sanitisers) on resumption. Aside that, they were all required to undergo Covid-19 screening at the cost of N25,000 borne by the students at the university’s Amphitheatre on resumption while returning students will be required to do a rapid diagnostic test at no cost to the students and parents, but at a cost to the university According to Suleiman, “the result of the test takes about 20 minutes. If the result of the student is okay, the student proceed straight to the hall of residence. Any student with positive result from antibody testing will go through standard Covid-19 screening (PCR) at the university’s medical facilities.”

He noted that such a student, will be isolated in the designated halls (Bethel Splendour for males and Ogden for females) pending the outcome of the PCR testing, adding that the cost of the PCR will be borne by the students.

Asked what Covid-19 protocols have been put in place by the management of the institution to ensure safety of staff and students, he said, “there is an approved standard isolation centre where anyone who tests positive is isolated, monitored and properly and adequately catered for.”

The director said different entry and exit points in and out of the campus where temperatures of people are checked with infrared thermometer have been created, adding that they have also placed handwashing and sanitising facilities all over the campus for all to use.

Aside enforcement of social distancing, there is also constant communication about the need for everyone to help halt the transmission of Coronavirus by strictly adhering to the approved health safety protocols.

Such communication Suleiman affirm, comes through different platforms; the university’s weekly newsletter, emails from HR department, official correspondence from the vice chancellor to the university community, campus outdoor advertising medium and through word -of-mouth communication.

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Two Million Children are Receiving Education in Low Cost Private Schools in Nigeria, Says Tooley Funmi Ogundare Vice Chancellor , University of Burkingham, UK, Professor James Tooley has said that there are about 2.1 million children currently receiving education in 14,000 low cost private schools in Nigeria. Seventy per cent of this figure, he said, are pre-school and primary school age children.

Tooley disclosed this, weekend, at the launch of Bukingham-Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED) pilot teacher training programme, aimed at expanding qualitative and affordable education to every Nigerian child. He expressed excitement that AFED schools are sprawling all over Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

According to him, “Nigeria is not alone. Across Africa, in Nairobi, Kenya, 75 per cent of children are in low cost private schools, in Kampala, Uganda, 80 per cent, Accra, Ghana, 70 per cent, urban India too, 70 or 80 per cent. From research, 30 of children in the rural area in India are in low cost private schools.”

He said he had always had passion for private schools for the poor, adding that when he first came to Lagos, Nigeria, 20 years ago and taken through the third mainland, he was moved to go and see if there are poor schools in the slum of Makoko “ When I landed at the Muritala Mohammed Airport and was taken to Victoria Island passing through through the Third Mainland bridge, I told my host about shanty town of Makoko which I had seen and wanted to go there to find low cost schools, but he told me that its would be too dangerous to go there, but the next day I came on my own. I met someone there who introduced me to AFED. AFED was growing because people were not appreciating what the low cost schools were doing. I felt that there was something revolutionary going on in these schools.”

The VC who spoke virtually, noted that he has been carrying out a study on low cost private schools across Africa and South Asia, adding that its shows that the schools

Kogi is Committed to Revamping Technical Education, Says Commissioner Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Honorable Wemi Jones has reteraited the commitment of Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration to revamping technical education in the state.

Jones who gave the assurance after he led a team on an inspection tour of the facilities at the two Government Technical Colleges in Ankpa and Idah in the Eastern senatorial district of the state, said the government was looking at revamping the colleges to admit more students into the new Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara. ‘’As I have said it severally in various fora that Alhaji Yahaya Bello is irreversibly committed to revamping education in our state, and technical education takes a primary place if we are ever going to get it right in this country.This is because of the fact that the moment you are out of technical college, ordinarily you have a vocation that you can then decide to build upon.’’

He noted that the two stateowned universities; Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Ayigba, and the newly established CUSTECH and other tertiary institutions, should be fed with qualified students from the secondary and technical colleges in the state.

According to him, there is a need to take care of our secondary schools and technical colleges so as to adequately fit our students into those state owned tertiary institutions .The government can not afford to allow learners from neighbouring states to be beneficiaries of the institutions than the indigenes

who laboured for them. ‘’We must support our indigenous learners from Kogi to be the primary beneficiaries of whatever we are doing in our institutions, “ he stressed, adding that this is why the team was there to visit the technical colleges to know the level of work done in rehabilitating and revamping them. ‘’Presently, we have four state owned technical colleges in Kogi, which include: Oboroke, Ankpa, Idah and Mopa, and we have visited three to assess their facilities. We will be visiting the fourth one in Mopa before the end of this week by God’s grace,’’ he said.

Jones emphasised that the state government would revamp all the four state’s technical colleges, and create 17 additional ones in the remaining 17 local government areas of Kogi State. ‘’We are taking technical and vocational education to another level in Kogi, and the only way to get ourselves ready is to start from the existing four technical colleges.Thereafter, 17 additional new technical colleges will be established, which is already a law in the state, and we already have a template to run the colleges effectively. ‘’It is going to be an immediate thing, because His Excellency is irreversibly committed to ensuring that education is totally revamped in Kogi,’’ Jones said.

The commissioner added that adequate provision had been made for the resuscitation of the four existing technical colleges in the 2021 budget, urging the host communities to those colleges to stop encroaching on the school’s land.

He warned that government would do everything possible

are ubiquitous, movement into low cost private schools is of positive benefit, they don’t discriminate, going into the schools leads to sustainable outcomes and also the preferred choice for parents.

According to the Don, “there are five key points the research shows across private schools; its is ubiquitous especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The second point is movement into the low cost private schools is of positive benefit and what we are doing now is bring teacher training programme to enhance teaching, that is not to say that what is going on there, is not good.

Infact research showed that the teaching and learning in the low cost private schools is better than what goes on in the government-owned schools.

“We know we are committed to raising children we can do so well in our schools and community. Secondly achievement is higher, thirdly some of the critics say low cost private schools suffer from gender bias, you know that’s not true when you see your school yourselves, in Lagos in particular. We have done research showing that private schools are fair, they don’t discriminate, they want to serve all children in their community. Fourthly, to

send a child to school, every child has to have books, shoes, uniform and pay for transport and the cost of those things are the same in low cost private schools.. The final point is controversial; most of the low cost private schools represented here by AFED, are run by entrepreneurs who created the schools as small businesses in a totally sustainable manner.

Entrepreneurship is good because it leads to sustainable outcomes,” Tooley enjoined AFED members to stand proud to improving the education of poor children as it would help to improve their learning experience.

In her remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo thanked AFED for its support in impacting lives of poor children .

“I have always believed that there is a star in every child and we must help the child to become better. Secondly, I have always believed that every child deserves quality education no matter where the child lives or what his parents circumstances are, his gender or religion. That is why I have always said that the society cannot believe only on those that can only afford it alone,

but they must be concerned for all. That means all of us must work together towards the same goal.”

She said the society cannot afford to neglect children from the poor background, adding that the impact will be tremendous as witnessed in recent times.

“We are turning out too many people who are unskilled and they don’t know what to do with their lives. If we truly work for equity, and solve the problems of inequality, then our society will be better for it,” the commissioner said.

She urged the association to get the right people to be teachers so that they can learn the theory of teaching, adding that they must also upgrade their skills. “ It is very glaring that teachers are critical, teaching is a profession so we must develop our practices and code of conduct.”

A total of 300 participants will be benefitting from a 9-months training, which will hold in six centres across the six educational districts in Lagos.

They were also provided with Smart phones with internet connection, to enhance their training.

The Country Project Manager for AFED-Burkingham Teacher

Training Programme , Dr. Ibukun Daramola commended James Tooley for supporting the association and ensuring that the products from the low cost private schools can become ones to be proud of. “ When AFED solicited for his support, Professor Tooley didn’t find it difficult to throw its weight on the project.”

He disclosed that the training will be entirely free for the participants, while commending the London team who have helped in designing its curriculum and content.

Daramola appealed to them to take the training seriously.

The President of the association, Mr. Orji Kanu Emmanuel also commended Tooley’s support and passion to impact lives, adding that the objective is to ensure that children of poor parents who are mostly in low cost private schools get the best of education and be able to compete favourably with their counterparts in any part of the world.

“AFED will continue to leverage with Tooley to ensure that the programme comes to teachers of low cost schools,” he said, while expressing optimism that with the training, in the next 9 months, will enable pupils and students to come out in flying colours.

The National President , Association For Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Mr. Orji Kanu Emmanuel,flanked by the Buckingham University-AFED Teacher Training Programme Manager, Dr. Daramola ibukun(right) and other content developers and consultants to the project during the launch of Bukingham-AFED pilot teacher training programme held in Lagos... recently

Unilag VC Tasks New DLI Students on Focus, Discipline Funmi Ogundare The Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has appealed to the newly admitted students of its Distance Learning Institute (DLI) to be focused, disciplined and uphold its academic and moral standards.

Ogundipe who made this known, recently, during the virtual matriculation ceremony, advised them to distinct themselves as well grounded students and also keep the flag of the university flying by aligning themselves to its vision.

“The University takes discipline as a serious issue, we shall not condone any act of indiscipline, misconduct, violence and other social

vices,”he said.

The VC expressed delight about the ceremony saying that in the last 10 months, the institution was gradually witnessing a return of academic activities despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The dreaded Coronavirus dealt a great blow on activities on campus. We are therefore glad that academic activities are gradually retuning to our campus, albeit, through the virtual method, which is different from the traditional in-person mode. It may interest you to know that virtual learning is not entirely new to us, we are only deploying it at a larger scale this time. So our students need not worry too much. Let me assure you

that the University of Lagos is prepared to ensure you get the best and a very rewarding experience throughout your period here.

He congratulated the matriculating students saying that the university has have in place the manpower and necessary equipment to ensure that staff and students flourish both locally and internationally.

In his remarks, the Director of the institute, Professor Uchenna Udeani who welcomed the students, noted that it has put in place various resources to enable them complete their studies and accomplish their dreams of becoming a graduate.

“There are also various academic support programmes

that are available to enable you to succeed in your studies, so please utilise them,”he said, adding that they should be focused on their academics and desire to pass excellently.

“My wish for you all is to leave this campus with the qualification you came here for because that is what matters most. Do not just desire to pass, but desire to pass excellently.”

Udeani advised them to familiarise with the Learning Management System (LMS) and what the assessment policy of DLI available online, adding, “while pursuing your studies, we have channels of communication to facilitate basic communication within the institute.’

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T H I S D AY ˾ JANUARY 27, 2021

EDUCATION

Gov Yahaya Inaugurates Governing Council of Gombe State Varsity, School of Nursing Board, Others Segun Awofadeji in Gombe Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has inaugurated the Governing Council of the state university and boards of School of Nursing and Midwifery, as well as College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kaltungo with a charge on members to ensure that their various institutions adhere to the principles of accountability and compliance with the best practices in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The Governor stated who made this known, during the inauguration held recently, at the new Banquet Hall of the Government House, appealed to them to provide policy direction and desired leadership in order to move the institutions to greater heights.

To the Governing Council of the State University, Governor Inuwa Yahaya noted that “the institution was established in line with the tripartite mission of institutions of higher education which involves teaching, research and service, as well as production of knowledge through research, building of an exemplary character in the individual student through learning and engaging the society in the exchange of ideas through service.”

He said for any university to achieve its mission, the govern-

ing council has a big role to play in maintaining its functions as enshrined in the law establishing it.

These functions, the governor explained, include the general principles of control and supervision of policy implementation, finances and property of the university, including its public relations.

He further tasked the council to ensure that proper accounts of the university are kept and audited annually by auditors appointed by the state auditorgeneral and an annual report published by the university together with certified copies of the audited account.

“In carrying out its functions, the governing council should cooperate with the state government, the management of the university, the various unions in the university, external bodies and local communities for the purpose of fairness, equity and justice.”

As for the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Gombe, Governor Yahaya reminded the board members that “the institution was established in order to train the much-needed manpower for our health institutions and serve as a vehicle for effective healthcare delivery in State.”

To the Board members of the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kaltungo, the governor said the institution

was established to produce skilled health technologists and allied personnel to help the health institutions respond to emerging and re-emerging health challenges across the tate.

“Discharging those responsibilities require the efficient mobilisation and application of resources. This is even more important considering the prevailing economic condition caused by Covid-19 which calls for prudence and accountability.

The boards should therefore help their institutions create innovative ways to generate revenue and reduce their financial dependence on government”.

He said in order to ensure that higher institutions achieve their statutory objectives, his administration selected individuals of impeccable character and track records into the council and boards, expressing the belief that they will bring their wealth of experience and unique expertise towards the development of the institutions.

“I charge you to exhibit exemplary character in the conduct of your affairs in order to move the institutions forward and to justify the confidence reposed in you. Your appointments and inauguration are coming at a critical time when government is seriously focusing its attention investing heavily in the education sector, culminating in the declaration of state of

emergency in education after considering the reports of the transition committee and the taskforce on tertiary institutions which highlighted the negligence and systemic rot in the sector”.

He thanked the members of the immediate past Gombe State University Governing Council chaired by His Royal Highness, Alhaji Haruna Kadiri Rashid, the Emir of Dukku and those of the two colleges for their services and commitments to duty.

The governor appealed to the management, staff and students of the institutions and the general public to give the members of the newly inaugurated council and boards the support and cooperation in order to succeed in their new responsibilities.

Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi said the inauguration was another milestone in the history of the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to bring life back into the state owned institutions of higher learning.

Speaking on behalf of the members of the three boards, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Gombe State University, Senator Joshua Lidani thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in them, assuring that the trust will not be misplaced.

KEHINDE OMORU www.kayomoru.com

STOP RILING CHILDREN An ever shouting and restless teacher who always harangues her class will infect the children with these negative traits.To children, teachers are semi-gods who ought to be obeyed and emulated. Children that are forever shouted at, will shout at others to get on daily. They will become aggressive adults. Have you noticed how much harsh words flow freely from our lips these days? It’s appalling.The boss at work, the busconductor,themarket-sellers,stressedupparents,clerksinoffices who are forever expecting, traffic wardens, policemen and soldiers at checkpoints,everyonetalksharshly.Carenginesareshouting,hornsare hooting these days too. What with the harsh petrol scarcities coupled withthethirdorfourthhandsparepartstransportershavetoworkwith.

Incensing your child This country must change for the better.This change must not only be in terms of a better standard of living for the average Nigerian, but change also in terms of content and manner of our discourse with one another.

Our speech should always be seasoned with grace, with good will and with encouragement. I admire and have emulated a good trait in the British- this is politeness.The expressions: yes, please; thank-you, beg your pardon, mind if I, excuse me, and the like are utterances I hear from them daily and I observe too that these are not said to colleagues only but also to the children as the need arises.

Fellow teachers, we have these children in our care for at least five hours daily. Let’s drill politeness into them. In our Nigerian cultures, we have the legacy of polite expressions. The Yorubas, for instance, have the word which not only is a plural pronoun referring to more than one person but can be used to address and indeed should be used to address anyone irrespective of age or affluence. All these, I’m afraid, are fast disappearing. Can you beat the rudeness of the primary six child awhile ago who dared me to send him to the quiet room in isolation (the naughty corner)?

I had told him that he’d have to go into the quiet room if he continued to make distracting and rude noises with the latches of his locker during my lesson. Our headmistress then, I remembered clearly, was stunned but handled the situation like the teacher that she was. Here was a lanky boy, from a rich home, who, from his childhood, displayed disrespect for authority. On the other hand, I was grateful for the incidence because it wasyetanotheropportunitytounderstandthechildbetter.Hewasmost probably from a home that flowed with milk and honey where nannies, cooksanddriverswereplummetedwithordersandthreatsfrommaster and madam or either of the two and where their namby-pamby children must not be disciplined by teacher.

The AncientTruth says “train your child and he shall give you rest”. Mind you, I do not at all mean to hit with the cane, as they are not animals, but rather I am for discipline which sets out to instruct, teach by words and actions, deprive if that would pass on the lesson to be learnt and reward immediately any good behaviour..

Omoru is a freelance writer, education, health and social care advocate

NAOSS Holds Lecture in Abubakre’s Honour A cross-section of officials of Shanxi Polytechnic Institute, China, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Association of Proprietors of Innovation and Vocational Institutions (APIVI) during a meeting held in Abuja... recently

Expert Canvasses Change in Nigeria Education Sector An educationist and Consultant to the Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute, China, Pastor Julius Adeniyi Ayodele has said Nigeria’s education sector needs the assistance of diverse stakeholders to lift it to an enviable height.

Speaking at the formal presentation of sponsored curriculum of Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute by Association of Proprietors of Innovation and Vocational Institutions (APIVI) to National Board for Technical Education, NBTE , in Abuja, he premised attainment of such feat on more high quality education, development of talents for international opportunities and resources to operate optimally globally.

“My own view on Nigeria curricula for Technical and Vocational Education(TVE), is that some of them are out of date

and there’s a need for review of some of the existing ones, and new curriculum should be introduced considering the changing economic and societal needs. We the stakeholders in the education sector, should be preparing our young citizens for current and future job opportunities.

“Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute is a government-owned college.

They are well positioned to support Nigeria tertiary education, particularly technical and vocational education and will consider any innovative ideas that could move education forward to high quality standard and providing right skills that could help to solve unemployment problems and creation of jobs for Nigeria youths.”

The Proprietor of Firstmark Innovation School of Technology,

Ekiti State; Professor Olatunji Kadeba, said as more institutions are expressing interest, it has become expedient to involve the Association of Proprietors of Innovation Enterprise Institutions whose mandate is to extend the frontiers of technical and vocational skill acquisition, Federal Ministry of Education, and NBTE, a regulatory body for technical/vocational education.

According to him, Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute is one of the leading institutions in China.

Firstmark Innovation School of Technology, Ado-Ekiti, sought cooperation with this institute in areas of vocational and technical education, research, staff exchange and student internship.

He added that the initial stage of the partnership involves review and development of

new curricula that addresses issues of technical-know-how, entrepreneurship, industry needs and professional ethics with the active support of Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute.

The Association of Proprietors of Innovation and Vocational Institutions used the occasion to clarify their roles and responsibilities in coordinating the activities of their members for curriculum development and development of government policies on education as well as influencing and impacting the policies of government agencies.

The body also suggested the coordinating of activities of all Shaanxi partners in Nigeria who are members of the association for the national critique and that their role will be to host the experts, mobilise and conduct the national critique.

The National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), recently held a public lecture in honour of Razaq Abubakre, a former Vice-Chancellor and Federal Commissioner for the Public Complaints Commission, Osun State.

The virtual lecture had in attendance Professor Abdul Rasheed Adeoye, Dean, Faculty of Arts of the university who delivered the keynote titled, ‘Academic Excellence: A trajectory to a successful life’.

Dr. Alex Akanmu, Sub-dean, students affairs, delivered another lecture, ‘Adaptation to the University Community: Prospects and Challenges’.

Abubakre who declared the programme opened, thanked the association for convening the lecture.

Earlier, the Association’s President, Adegoke Rahman Adetunji, in his address, extolling the achievements of Abubakre, saying that he was not only an asset to Osun, but a national and global brand in academic scholarship and excellence in ethical leadership.

Abubakre, born on January 20, 1948, in Iwo, Osun State,

obtained a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue his doctoral studies in Arabic Literature at the School of Oriental and African Studies, the University of London from 1977 to 1980.

His undying passion for his discipline became even more evident and profound as he became a Professor of Arabic, at the University of Ilorin in 1989.

He served as the Chairman Governing Council of the Oyo State College of Education now Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun between 1986 and 1989.

Within the last three decades, Abubakre was Chairman, Governing Council, Muftau Lanihun College of Education, Ibadan; Head of Department of Religions, University of Ilorin 1992 to 1995 and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin 2001 to 2003.

He participated in forming the World Assembly of Muslim Youth as National President of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria from 1974 to 1975.

35

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ͵˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Osun: Oyetola Building Education Policy around Peoples Tenet Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Education maintains a primacy in every society and has a direct and intrinsic role for development.

This is because it affords the people a chance to live a better life. Just like every other sector, certain policies guide the educational operations in every nation-state in the world and the quality of these policies coupled with long term development visions of the policy makers determine the effectiveness of the education sector.

Meanwhile, change remains the only constant phenomenon in life and it occurs across all facets of life and activities. It is not new today that policies guiding the activities and operations of governmental and private institutions are often reviewed from time to time.

This periodic review and reforms are often informed by certain reasons in an overall attempt to improve institutional functionality. Reforms usually refer to a major change which involves attempts to upgrade and improve systemic performances with an eye on future sustainability.

Based on these, education remains the catalyst for sustainable societal development if its guiding policies are given a

cyclic review at close intervals.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola within two years of his administration has made education sector a force to reckon with while it has been his major priority to improve quality of education in the state.

As a democratic leader which started on the principle of inclusiveness and people centredness, Governor Oyetola who went on a statewide thank you tour was inundated by the good people of the state to look into some education policies which were formulated by the former administration.

The demand became popular as all critical stakeholders such as educationists, teachers and parents, demanded a review for a better efficacy in the education sector. The governor noted the peoples yearnings and promised a corresponding government action which would look into them.

Immediately he assumed office, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, set up a panel led by a cerebral educationist, Professor Olu Aina to review the education policies acting in tandem with the popular demands of the people. It is the conviction of the governor that the clamour for change by renowned educationists, school administrators, missionaries and

Expert Laments Dearth of Medical Personnel in Paramedics Kuni Tyessi in Abuja An Abuja based neurosurgeon and Chief Medical Director of Brain and Spinal Surgery Limited, Dr. Biodun Ogungbo has lamented the dearth of medical personnel in the field of paramedics, saying that only few institutions offer paramedics as a course.

He listed some of the institutions which offer the course to include; University of Benin, University of Port Harcourt, Delta State University and Olabisi Onabanjo, University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

He said in 2014, the federal government increased the period of paramedics training programme to five years, beginning with a two-year national diploma, a year of field internship and another two years to obtain a Higher National Diploma (HND) with its recent first set of graduates numbering 30.

Ogungbo who stated this in a statement, said there is need for more advocacy on the importance of paramedics in the nation’s ivory towers and more importantly, in ministries of health, Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

He added that apart from the fact that paramedics are few in Nigeria with limited institutions opening to their training and courses, they are underutilised with few options.

He said even hospitals whose drivers are expected to have some skills in life saving techniques are bereft of such, adding that there in lies the nations shame and lack of

understanding of the role of a paramedic.

According to him: “I understand that the training takes place mostly at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), but there are also training centres in Delta, Ogun and Rivers States in Nigeria.

“The program was set up in 2008 and designed to churn out graduates every three years. In 2014, the federal government increased the period of paramedics training program to five years. This starts with two years to obtain a national diploma, a year of field internship and then another two years to obtain a higher national diploma (HND).

Nigeria just recently graduated the first set of HND paramedics, 30 in number.

“Since inception in 2008, UBTH has graduated about 130 paramedics.

“A lot of advocacy is required to explain the worth of paramedics to the Ministry of Health, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

There is an urgent need for paramedics and the establishment of EMS in all the states of the federation. They will facilitate and compliment the work of NEMA and FRSC. “We need to rethink the strategies we have in saving Nigerian lives and develop the system to ensure that every life matter in Nigeria. The paramedics already trained are a much-needed manpower resource waiting to be deployed. There are also teeming numbers of unemployed youth in Nigeria begging to be employed. Many would gladly take up positions that empowers them to save lives.”

Oyetola school owners was a strong precursor to the need to review the extant policies in the state education sector.

It is noteworthy that the review committee headed by Professor Olu-Aina appraised the policy and came up with resolutions which formed the recommendations made to the government.

They recommended that Opon Imo should be retained after improving on its seeming lapses, noting that it is imperative to make provisions for the teachers as well as involve parents and other stakeholders to make sure it is not only

available but effective.

By retaining Opon Imo which received UN-World Summit Award for innovation and the endorsement of UNESCO and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Oyetola administration has demonstrated that its review of the past administrations education policies was done with a sense of responsibility.

Other recommendations of the panel were considered by the government as in line with Oyetola’s integral action plan coupled with the demands of the people of the state of Osun. Governor

Adegboyega Oyetola changed 4-5-3-4 classification system to the originally designed 6-3-3-4 in line with the national policy on education. Single uniform system, old single sex schools, among others, was restored in the state according to the recommendation of the committee.

In March 2020, the Governor Oyetola administration adopted the report of the review committee and made necessary modifications to the education policy according to the tone of the people. The administration took this bold step towards implementing these changes as the schools resumed in the post pandemic period because of the disposition of the governor to making governance revolve around the masses.

The change of the single uniform policy, a policy which received accolades from all and sundry, was also second to none. It precipitated for a commercial boost which brought textile and fashion industries to live.

The business moguls in the industries could not hold their joy but to lavish their praises on Oyetola for his action in the right direction.

Based on the foregoing, it is commendable that the Oyetolas administration initiated the review based on popular revolt.

It demonstrates the importance of a government that listens. Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has shown a quality of a good leader which must be responsive to peoples demands, a legacy that formed the basis of the resolve of the government to reposition the education system.

Apart from policy review which has stabilized the education system in the state, Oyetolas administration has gone further to perform some value-driven programmes and

projects in the education sector within his two years in office.

The teachers across the state were adequately trained on quality assurance which is the driving force of standard education while necessary equipment such as tablets were distributed to the 31 Heads of Session for the routine monitoring. Building on the human resources in the state teaching service, Oyetolas administration has collaborated with the Federal Government to employ 100 qualified teachers under the framework of Federal Teachers Scheme (FTS), while the recruitment of thousands of teachers by the sole responsibility of the state government under Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is underway.

In a bid to improve the education infrastructure, the state government has awarded a number of contracts for the construction, repair and rehabilitation of several blocks of four classrooms at different communities in the state. Equally, 1,000 units of pupils furniture and 500 units of students’ furniture have also been constructed and distributed to some schools that were in dire need of it.

It is crystal clear that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola whose administration has been regarded as God-sent, has reengineered and overhauled the education sector in a shape that was widely accepted by all the critical stakeholders in the state.

To cap it all, the silent achiever has once again proven to the world that the adage that says empty barrel makes the loudest noise was actually true. Governor Oyetola who has been regarded as an epitome of democracy and his doggedness to make the education policy work in Osun cannot be overemphasised.

NAS Distributes Uniforms, Writing Material to Pupils in A’Ibom School Okon Bassey in Uyo The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) also known as Pyrates Confraternity has distributed 100 uniforms and writing materials to Government Primary School Ikot Ndua Iman/ Ikot Nkan in Onna local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

Making the donation, recently, the President of the association, Eket chapter, Mr. Paul Ike said the gesture was in commemoration of the International Day of Education, in Onna.

He said small, medium and large uniforms and writing materials such as exercise books, biros, rulers, erasers and

sharpener were distributed to the pupils of the school.

Ike noted that education was key to sustainable development and encouraged the pupils to be of good behaviour to their parents and their teachers.

“We want to identify with you on this year’s International Day of Education and to encourage you to take your education seriously.

“Don’t play with your education, ensure you read your books, listen to your teachers and parents because you are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

The president lamented that 70 per cent of the pupils of the school, do not have uniforms

while some are wearing torn uniforms.

“For schools we have not visited, we will visit them in subsequent edition as we encourage schools to take their education seriously.

“Our assistance cut across, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, given this gesture doesn’t end with providing school uniforms, writing materials, but we also go to some schools and work on infrastructure that has dilapidated,” Ike said.

He noted that the initiative was the association’s little way of contributing to the development of the economy, adding that

education was very important to any nation.

Responding on behalf of the teachers, Mr. Etukudoh Essien expressed appreciation to the association, saying that the benevolence and love towards the pupils of the government primary was fantastic.

“Your benevolence is so much that we really appreciate it because so many of these pupils, their parents can not afford their uniforms but your kind gesture and love to the pupils was appreciated,” Essien said.

He appealed to NAS to do more especially to those who have not benefitted from their gesture.

Basic Education: UBEC, NASENI Collaborate on Schools Infrastructure Kuni Tyessi in Abuja Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi has said the commission will collaborate with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for the supply of science equipment and solar power to basic education schools across the

country.

Bobboyi disclosed this when he received the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive officer of NASENI, Professor Muhammed Sanni Haruna and his management in his office.

He explained that the commission is presently building model schools across the country that will require science equipments and solar to power the equipments in the schools.

Head, Public Relations and Protocol, Mr. David Apeh in a statement quoted Bobboyi as saying the collaboration became necessary because, “ the equipment will require power to function and there is no way the epileptic supply and the cost of electricity in the country will not slow down learning and other school activities.”

He said the commission has been collaborating with the

agency for the production and supply of science equipment distributed by UBEC to states.

He also assured the executive vice chairman of the commission’s continued patronage.

Earlier, the Haruna appreciated UBEC’s management for the patronage in the procurement and distribution of locally produced science equipment that are produced by NASENI and distributed to schools across the states.

“ hav ges pup you

36

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ͵˜ ͰͮͰͯ

CITYSTRINGS

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ ÍÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ˛ÏäÏÙÌÓ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט ͙͖͓͑͒​͓͖͓͔͓͖

Role of Force Protection in Dynamics of Military Operations The role of force protection in military operations cannot be overemphasised. Recently, in furtherance of its continued efforts at developing the capacity of its personnel to tackle various security challenges, the Nigerian Air Force graduated 676 additional regiment personnel trained in force protection in complex air-ground complexities, writes Chiemelie Ezeobi

The graduands

I

n line with the ever-changing complexities of military operations, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) established the Special Forces (SF) unit. Their task was explicit- they are to undertake covert, counter insurgency and unconventional warfare, thus bridging the gap between air power projections and force protection.

Over the years, this unit has blossomed in strength and training. The resultant effect is its capability in conducting specialised operations.

Capacity Development Last week, the unit received a boost with the addition of fresh graduands- 676 Regiment personnel, comprising three officers and 673 airmen/airwomen. During the training, the students were exposed to both theoretical and practical training in weapon handling and marksmanship, live shooting at the range, contemporary field tactics as well as force protection skills for guarding critical assets.

The combined graduation ceremony, which took place at the Regiment Training Centre (RTC), Kaduna, consisted of graduands of the Basic Regiment Officers’ Course (BROC), Regimental Sergeant Majors’ (RSM’s) Course as well as the Basic and Advanced Regiment Airmen’s Courses (BRAC/ARAC).

According to NAF Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, apart from the 40 Senior Non Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) that graduated from the RSM’s Course, all the other 637 personnel were trained in Force Protection in Complex Air and Ground Environment (FPCAGE). Significantly, the FPCAGE Course, which was hitherto conducted by the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT), was, for the first time in the history of the Centre, conducted by the RTC’s NAF instructors, having built capacity over the past five years under BMATT guidance.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, reiterated that the human being is the most important resource in any system or endeavour. He noted however that no human being can give their best without being properly trained. He added that it would be irresponsible for any leader to give tasks to any individual or group without adequately equipping them with the required knowledge and skills to be effective in the execution of those tasks.

He emphasised that it is only when leadership ensures that personnel have sufficient capacity and are properly equipped with requisite knowledge and skills as well as the necessary tools that it would have the moral courage to hold them accountable in the event of failure or any lapses.

He highlighted that this has been the rationale behind the robust capacity building initiatives embarked upon under his leadership since 2015.

As a result of this drive, the CAS noted, an unprecedented 152 new pilots had been trained, while 20 others were expected to receive their pilot wings in the coming months. He disclosed that over 1,000 aircraft engineers and technicians had similarly been trained while over 200 NAF

The Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command (AOC GTC), Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin (right), presenting a souvenir to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (left), during the combined graduation ceremony of 767 Regiment personnel from various courses at NAF Regiment Training Centre (RTC), Kaduna personnel were undergoing training in nine different countries across the globe. This, he said, was aside the thousands of others undergoing various training courses within the country.

Force Protection Capabilities In specific reference to the building of capacity of Regiment personnel, Air Marshal Abubakar observed that the objective has always been to ensure that the service has sufficient inherent capacity to protect its air assets and bases as well as its air and ground crews so that the service is, in turn, able to effectively and efficiently project air power. According to him, “you must ‘force protect’ in order to be able to effectively ‘force project”.

Speaking further, Air Marshal Abubakar stated that the NAF has relentlessly pursued the improvement of force protection capabilities amidst the increasing complex nature of contemporary threats.

This, the CAS said, had necessitated the drive for massive recruitment and training of Regiment personnel to complement NAF air operations across various theatres. He noted that the trainings and subsequent deployments of force protection elements have contributed to bridging the gaps in the protection of NAF critical assets and bases.

“It is reassuring to note that the monumental investments by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the acquisition of new platforms and other critical infrastructure are now better secured than they were in the past”, he said. The CAS further noted that, as part of the move by the service towards the continued expansion of the NAF Regiment Structure, the current NAF Administration recently restructured the 407 Air Combat Training Group, Kainji and established the 41 Force Protection Wing in Kainji. The wing, he said, is to serve as a dedicated unit to ensure credible force protection and base defence for units in the Kainji Base, which has been expanded with the planned induction of the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft in mind.

The CAS disclosed that 65 Regiment personnel, made up of 20 officers and 45 airmen, have been nominated to attend various specialised Regiment

courses in Egypt to further improve the capacity and quality of NAF Regiment personnel. “I want to assure you all that plans are in place to train more Regiment personnel overseas to sustain capacity development in the Regiment Specialty”, he said.

He further revealed that the NAF would reinvigorate capabilities that had hitherto declined whilst also developing new capabilities for the changing security environment as well as adopting processes to reflect the broad range of security requirements. He added that the service would equally continue to invest in capacity building initiatives aimed at generating combat forces not only capable of securing NAF bases against all forms of hostile elements but also poised for effective, efficient and swift response to national security challenges.

He noted the the evidence of the effectiveness of the NAF Regiment and Special Forces was in their creditable performance in contributing to the return of normalcy in areas where they are deployed including Agatu in Benue State, Gembu in Taraba State, Gusau in Zamfara State and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State.

Charge While congratulating the graduands, Air Marshal Abubakar charged them to imbibe the attributes of the military profession which include loyalty, discipline, honesty, intelligence, physical fitness, motivation, accountability, teamwork and decisiveness, amongst others. He reminded them that they would be operating at a time when the nation is facing numerous security challenges and must therefore be disciplined and vigilant while protecting all Nigerians, irrespective of their political ideology, ethnic background or religious inclination.

In his words, “You will be operating at a time when our nation is facing numerous security challenges. You must therefore be a strong bulwark, disciplined and vigilant. It is also important that you guard your utterances and conduct at all times, and not allow yourselves to be used by ‘disgruntled and criminal elements’ in the society.

Furthermore, you must always submit yourselves

to civil authority and protect our democracy.

“Most importantly, the safety and security of our precious people and communities must remain our primary priority. In addition, you must avoid any act capable of denting the image of the NAF. Always remember that your duty is to protect all Nigerians irrespective of their political inclination, ethnic background or religious inclination. I am confident that with our continued commitment and sustained effort, we shall overcome every threat to the peace, stability and security of our dear country, Nigeria”.

The CAS expressed his appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his unwavering and relentless support to the NAF. He also commended the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command (AOC GTC), Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, as well as the Commandant RTC, Group Captain Daniel Komo, and his staff for conducting the training effectively, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic, which hinders human activities and operations.

While appreciating the Chief of Training and Operations, AOC Air Training Command (AOC ATC), Directors and other staff officers, the CAS implored them not to relent, while assuring them of his continued support to sustain the various capacity building initiatives.

Curriculum Restructuring Earlier in his welcome address, the AOC GTC, AVM Amin, stated that, in order to meet the expectations of the NAF Headquarters, the curriculum of RTC was restructured to ensure that the training of personnel meets the everchanging complexities of military operations. He said the students were accordingly exposed to both theoretical and practical training in weapon handling and marksmanship, live shooting at the range, contemporary field tactics as well as force protection skills for guarding critical assets.

He added that, in order to further improve their level of understanding, the students embarked on tours to Nigerian Army School of Artillery Kachia; Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji and the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria, Kaduna.

The objective of these trips, he said, was to foster inter-service cooperation and compare notes on training tactics and methods. The AOC therefore expressed his appreciation and profound gratitude to the CAS for his unwavering support and timely approval of the centre’s training needs. This, he said, undoubtedly improved the morale of the instructors and enhanced the smooth conduct of training in RTC. Highlights of the graduation ceremony included the conferment of certificates on the graduating students as well as the presentation of awards to students who excelled in the various courses. Also present at the ceremony were Branch Chiefs from Headquarters NAF as well as Commandants and Commanders of tri-Service and NAF Formations in Kaduna. Before departing Kaduna, the CAS inspected some ongoing projects at the RTC Training Area.

37

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ͵˜ ͰͮͰͯ

CRIME&SECURITY

POCACOV Solicits Support in Fight against Cultism, Other Vices

Members of POCACOV and CRAN

M

embers of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) Lagos chapter recently solicited the support of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) in the fight against cultism and other social vices.

According to the group, it was pertinent to address the worrisome dimension cultism and other crimes have assumed in Lagos State, with a view to ensuring a safe environment for all Lagosians.

Chairman of POCACOV, Mr Henry Bassey, made the request during a courtesy visit on members of CRAN, at its secretariat in Oduduwa, Ikeja area of Lagos.

Bassey explained that POCACOV was

an initiative conceived by the present Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu out of the desire to nip crime in the bud through the principle of Community-oriented Policing.

He said POCACOV as a campaign and advocacy group, became necessary as evidence had shown that cultism and other vices had left tertiary institutions and were gradually penetrating all spheres of human endeavours, with the involvement of artisans like auto mechanics, traders, commercial bus drivers and traders, among others.

The aim of the advocacy group according to Bassey, " is on four Thematic Areas viz: to sensitise members of the public on the dangers of belonging to cult groups; to reawaken the security

consciousness of the public; to inculcate moral values in our youths and re-awaken that of the adults and to educate relevant stakeholders such as traditional rulers , town union presidents, political class, transport unions market leaders, Youth leaders, among others”.

Lending his voice to the Chairman's assertion, POCACOV's Vice Chairman, Mr Ahmed Abass, said the Lagos chapter would be officially inaugurated on February 25, 2020, and therefore called urged CRAN, as a body that had been in the forefront of crime fighting, to join hands with POCACOV to deliver its mandate.

Responding, President of CRAN, Mr Odita Sunday, assured the visiting team of the association's support, noting

that the long term benefit would be of advantage to Lagosians in particular and Nigerians in general.

As part of the association's task of giving back to the society in that regard, he disclosed that every June 26, which is the World Drug Day, it joins the rest of the world to sensitise youths on the dangers of drug abuse.

The association's president said cultists needed to be rehabilitated and counseled, just as he lamented the state of the nation's correctional centres.

He commended the group for selecting professionals from different professions that were relevant to the initiative, expressing optimism that it would deliver on its mandate, thereby creating a safe haven for all.

AIG Calls for Effective Collaboration between Police, Communities r Charges officers to respect the public Rebecca Ejifoma

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, Tuesday, called for effective collaboration between the police and communities across the country to solve security issues.

He made this submission at the commissioning of the newly renovated two blocks of 15 offices, conference, recreation hall among others at Area B Police Command Headquarters, Apapa, Lagos.

The AIG said: “Since the inauguration of the Community Policing Committees at the state, Area Commands,

Divisions and Local Government level on June 25, 2020 Community Policing has gained precedence.”

Describing it as a strategy for effective security and crime prevention in communities, Iliyasu hinted that community policing has come to stay.

The AIG outlined: “The recent graduation of 1,250 civilian Special Constabulary batch two from Lagos and other states confirms that Community Policing has come to stay.”

Iliyasu, who represented the IG of Police, Adamu Mohammed, emphasised that government and police alone cannot solve all security challenges; hence,

the need for effective collaboration.

He added: “Community problems are best known by the society while the role of the police is to serve efficiently to solve these problems; embrace the community members, as critical stakeholders that expect quality service.”

Iliyasu further stressed the need for a result-oriented collaboration of the type witnessed today.

“This will further strengthen our work together, take a very inclusive look at problems in our community and rely upon community police collaboration to proffer solutions.

“While officers must have thorough understanding of community needs,

they must also lay emphasis on treating community members with respect, justly, fairly and equitably,” he implored.

In his remarks, the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Area Commander Area B, Akinbayo Olasoji, appreciated the donors and supporters for the successful completion of the project.

Accordingly, 49 donors were honoured with plaques for immensely contributing to the cause of community policing in the state.

Olasoji said his zeal in ensuring that the environment he is posted is habitable and conducive to operate in, led to the commissioning of the building.

EndSARS: Family of First Slain Policeman Cry For Assistance Sylvester Idowu in Warri The family of the first police corporal, Stanley Etaga, who was slain during the EndSARs protests in Ughelli, Delta State have charged Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to assist them.

A rights group, Conference for the Actualisation of Human Right gave the charge in Warri, Delta state, on behalf of the victim’s family.

It demanded that late Etaga be declared the “hero of the Nigeria Police Reform, 2020 at least in Delta state” and N30 million compensation be paid to the family.

Other demands are scholarships for the deceased’s four children to university level and employment within the state civil service for the victim’s widow to cater for her children.

National Adviser of the group, Com-

rade Edewor Egedegbe, who spoke to newsmen on behalf of the family, said efforts to get the Delta State government to offer the necessary aid, like its Lagos, Anambra and Rivers counterparts, have been unsuccessful.

A letter which was addressed to the governor by the group on behalf of the family, described late Etaga’s case as “sheer murder”.

The letter was signed by Egedegbe and the national secretary, Comr. Atiku Sunday and made available to journalists.

Corporal Stanley Etaga, with force number 504636, served under the Delta State Police Command, ‘A’ Division, Ughelli.

The Urhobo-born native of Assah, Ewu, Ughelli South joined the Police Force on October 17, 2011 and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant seven days after his death on October 8, 2020.

“He was mobbed to death in Ughelli by professed protesters he was deployed to protect which was the reason he did not pull the trigger, even when it was obvious he was going to die,” the letter stated.

The rights group however, berated the state government for keeping mum, adding that it is a “deliberate insensitivity to the plight of a citizen”.

The group urged the Federal, State and Local governments, as well as the National Assembly leaderships across the country to urgently conduct self appraisal on itself with a view to spontaneously addressing the failures of governments.

Parts of the letter read, “the family have through our office petitioned the state panel on police brutality and extortion whereupon the panel decline jurisdiction on the ground the

petition to enforce the right of the slain police officer is outside the scope of the committee/panel.

“To this end therefore, we call on the Delta state Government to treat this case as a special case by reaching out to the family of the Late Sgt. Stanley Etaga with a view to assuaging their pains in damages as her counterpart states of Lagos, Anambra, Rivers and others have demonstrated or on the alternative extend the scope of panel to accommodate cases of murder involving Police officers.

“Be reminded that by fiat, the Lagos State government paid thirty million naira each to deceased policemen who didn’t even hail from the state and in Delta State, a Nigerian Police officer of Delta State origin was killed and Your Excellency is silent denying his family the needed attention.”

38

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ͵˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

LCCI Commends CBN on Low Interest Rate, Predicts Growth in Q2 Dike Onwuamaeze The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the low interest rate environment in the economy. The Chamber also urged the banking sector regulator to sustain the policy throughout 2021. The chamber gave the commendation yesterday when its President, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, addressed a press conference on the, “State of the Economy,” in which she predicted that the Nigerian economy would exit recession and return to positive growth in the second quarter of 2021 According to the LCCI boss, the current low interest regime is good for investors to mobilise cheap funds locally, adding that it also contributed significantly to the impressive performance recorded by the Nigerian stock market the previous year.

She said: “A low interest regime will encourage blue-chip corporates to undertake further investments, thereby stimulating aggregate demand and economic growth. We expect the CBN to maintain its pro-growth policy stance by keeping interest rates low, to stimulate redirection of funds from money market to the real economy. The focus of improving credit access by small businesses must be sustained.”

Mabogunje stated that in the absence of major shocks, the economy was expected to, “return to positive growth path in the second quarter of year 2021 albeit the pace of recovery is expected to be subdued within the region of one per cent.”

She noted that projections

by World Bank, the IIF and the International Monetary Fund put Nigeria’s annual average growth for year 2021 at 1.1 per cent, 1.2 per cent and 1.5per cent

respectively. The President of the LCCI posited that the country’s economic recovery prospects in 2021 would depend on the effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic locally and globally, widespread COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the direction of global oil market and the quality of Nigeria’s fiscal, monetary, trade and regulatory policies.

She said: “Accelerating the pace of economic recovery requires fiscal and monetary authorities to be well coordinated to promote growth-enhancing and confidence-building policies that would encourage more private capital inflows into the economy.

“Investment-led growth strategy is critical for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Strong commitment to key reforms will not only boost output recovery but will also put the nation on a path of macroeconomic stability.”

Mabogunje

MARKET INDICATORS

Ogun Aims to Become Nigeria’s Fastest Growing Economy Ogun State has said its 2021 budget is aimed at sustaining the state’s economic agenda and making it the fastest growing among its peers in the country.

This was the submission of the State’s Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo while giving the breakdown of the 2021 budget, recently.

Okubadejo, who explained that the ambition of the Prince Dapo Abiodun administration was to improve on the real sector and job creation, noted that the budget also targets poverty eradication and encourages investors.

Explaining that part of the vision of the state was a deliberate action to encourage private sector participation, he noted that the Abiodun’s economic agenda would drive investments.

Okubadejo said the overall vision and strategic direction of, “the present administration is to make the economy of the state the biggest in the country in a manner that would ensure real sector growth, create jobs and also significantly eradicate poverty amongst our people.”

Speaking on the agricultural sector, which he described as the major economic driver in the state, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina said the state plans to expand the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) with the introduction of cotton, oil-palm and cocoa in 2021, just as 10,000 hectares of

land has been allocated for the use of cotton farmers in the state.

Odedina added that the state government approved new framework for land use in the state, adding that access to land would become a seamless process in 2021. He also noted that the state government would be stepping up its game in the New Year with its engagement with the World Bank, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the African Development Bank in it’s the bid to make the State the official special agro-processing zone.

“We also want to move into Anchor Borrowers Programme for Cotton, Oil palm and Cocoa in 2021 and government already allocated 10,000 hectares of land to Cotton farmers and we have also started work to link Cocoa, Oil-Palm farmers in 2021.

“We are going to step the game in 2021 with our engagement with the World Bank, IITA and particularly the African Development Bank in the bid to make Ogun State the official special agro-processing zone,” he added.

The commissioner who further disclosed that the state would be concentrating on dam irrigation, said it would also be focusing on Climate Smart Agriculture, which he said would help to create more employment opportunities for the people.

“In the area of Investment in agriculture, the government already approved new framework for land use that will make land

access a smooth process in 2021, because we have to expand agriculture, we cannot lock down agriculture, in 2021, we are going to be concentrating into abandoned agriculture activities of dam irrigation and service to take in more people across the state.

“We are also going to be focusing on climate smart agriculture because in other parts of the country they are talking about flood, but in our state, we are only being confronted with drought, that means, we are taking particular attention to irrigation facility in 2021, when this is being done, more people will be employed,” he said.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, on her part disclosed that the vision of the state government which would be focusing on the ‘Ogun Health Improvement Programme”, said that there are three pillars of Hub and Spoke model, standardisation of health facilities, health workers and their equipment and innovative funding, which includes collaboration with the private sector.

Coker who also noted that the ultimate vision of the present administration in the state was to provide an affordable and accessible and quality health care for every citizen of the state, added that the goal of the state government was to ensure the reduction of the maternal and infant mortality by 25% by the year 2023.

Organised Private Sector Backs Ehingbeti As preparation for Ehingbeti, the Lagos Economic Summit holding on February 16 -18, 2021 intensifies, members of the organised private sector (OPS) has their re-affirmed commitment to continued deployment of the platform as a channel for setting developmental agenda for Lagos State.

At a recent stakeholders’ conference, where key private sector operators in Nigeria gathered for the upcoming Lagos Economic Summit, the OPS stressed the need for government to focus on infrastructural development, job creation, waste management and social issues.

Other areas listed for government’s consideration by the group are investment in technology and innovation, security, while government was also advised to enable the large population of entrepreneurial youth domiciled in the state to take advantage of their skills and talents.

“The government should match manpower development with available needs to create room for employment,” a statement quoted the Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ikeja branch, Francis Meshioye, to have said.

He added, “there are many companies domiciled in Lagos,

adding that if the growth of industrialists is eroded, it will affect the economy and gross domestic product of the country at large”.

“Lagos needs more industrial clusters to become the desired economic hub, adding that government should create viable links to channel goods from one cluster to another” concluded Meshioye.

Earlier, the Director-General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni, said attention needs to be focused on municipal solid waste.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ Ͱͳ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $54.85 a barrel on Monday, compared with $54.69 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), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela) SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

39

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ͵˜ ͰͮͰͯ

All-Share Index Rises 1.21% as Equities Market Surges Further Goddy Egene The stock market surged further yesterday with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) rising 1.21 per cent to close at 41,584.94 as companies begin to release their unaudited financial results for the year ended December 2020.

Apart from the benchmark index that appreciated, market capitalisation added N259.4 billion to close at N21.8 trillion.

Similarly, activity level advanced

as volume and value traded rose 40.5 per cent and 110.8 per cent to 467.9 million shares and N5.6 billion respectively.

The bulls were in total control of the session yesterday as 32 stocks appreciated, while 19 depreciated. Although gains

by Airtel Africa Plc, MTN Nigeria Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc influenced the rise in the NSE ASI, RT Briscoe Nigeria Plc led the price gainers’ table with 10 per cent.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Champion Breweries Plc trailed with a gain of 9.8 per cent, while Universal Insurance Plc chalked up 9.5 per cent.

African Alliance Insurance Plc and Fidson Healthcare Plc garnered 9.0 per cent and 8.6 per cent respectively.

Royal Exchange Plc, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Prestige Assurance Plc and Airtel Africa Plc chalked up 8.3 per cent, 8.1 per cent, 8.0 per cent and 7.6 per cent in that order.

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Conversely, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc led the price losers with 9.2 per cent, trailed by Academy Press Plc with 9.0 per cent. Niger Insurance Plc and Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc shed 7.4 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively among others.

Meanwhile, the most traded stocks by volume were Transcorp Plc (45.9 million shares), AXA Mansard Insurance Plc (34.7 million shares) and Sovereign

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

Trust Insurance Plc (26.4 million shares) while Airtel Africa Plc (N1.2 billion), Zenith Bank Plc (N501.0 million) and Dangote Cement Plc (N494.6 million) topped by value.

Performance across sectors showed that the NSE Consumer Goods Index appreciated by 0.5 per cent, trailed by the NSE Insurance Index with 0.4 per cent. The NSE Industrial Goods Index rose 0.3 per cent.

Conversely, the NSE Oil & Gas

O F

Index dipped by 5.3 per cent, followed by the NSE Banking Index shed 0.1 per cent.

Norrenberger Financial Group, a leading financial services group on Monday said equities market are likely to remain favoured in 2021.

According to firm, the market will be shaped by system liquidity, corporate earnings, attractive corporate dividends, foreign exchange and foreign portfolio investors.

2 6 / 0 1 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

˾ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Surges 2.4% dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϮϰϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

at 1,862.82 points. This was on the back of buying interest in AIRTELAF (+7.6%), MTNN (+0.5%), and WAPCO (+3.8%).

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϰϬ͘ϴй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

ƋƵŝƟĞƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ ^ƵƐƚĂŝŶƐ 'ĂŝŶ͙ ASI up 1.2% dŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ϭϮϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ 41,584.94 ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ in AIRTELAF (+7.6%), MTNN (+0.5%) and WAPCO (+3.8%). ConƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ϯ͘ϯй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ

ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ

േ259.4bn

to ƐĞƩůĞ at േ21.8tn. ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

Price Change Index to Date

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,862.82

2.41%

26.9%

86.3%

19.0%

3.5%

5.6x

920.00

7.6%

32.1%

8.0%

8.0%

7.7%

2.8%

16.3x

79.00

0.0%

10.9%

2.1%

2.1%

33.15

0.2%

9.0%

2.5%

2.5%

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Cement Plc 3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC 4 Zenith Bank PLC 5 Dangote Cement PLC 6 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

ROE

ROA

27.9%

4.7%

P/E

P/BV

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

0.6x

5.0%

7.5%

1.3%

6.1%

44.1x

7.4x

2.3%

2.3%

4.8x

1.3x

8.4%

20.8% 26.4%

26.25

-0.9%

6.7%

5.8%

5.8%

22.8%

3.1%

3.8x

0.8x

10.7%

236.00

0.0%

5.5%

-3.6%

-3.6%

30.8%

14.6%

15.8x

5.0x

6.8%

6.3%

170.90

0.5%

4.6%

0.6%

0.6%

189.4%

11.9%

17.7x

29.6x

4.1%

5.7%

1,505.00

0.0%

3.7%

0.0%

0.0%

83.0%

20.5%

29.3x

28.5x

4.7%

3.4%

27.50

3.8%

4.1%

30.6%

30.6%

6.5%

4.6%

19.1x

1.2x

3.7%

5.2%

9.25

0.5%

2.9%

9.5%

9.5%

16.8%

1.5%

3.0x

0.5x

7.0%

33.3%

8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC 10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc 12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

8.80

0.6%

2.6%

1.7%

1.7%

13.9%

1.3%

3.7x

0.5x

11.0%

26.8%

7.40

0.0%

2.4%

3.5%

3.5%

13.5%

1.3%

3.6x

0.4x

5.1%

27.7%

61.00

0.0%

2.1%

8.9%

8.9%

6.6%

2.5%

45.2x

3.0x

2.9%

2.2%

44.00

0.0%

1.9%

-0.1%

-0.1%

25.8%

3.8%

5.6x

1.4x

5.5%

17.7%

േϱ͘ϲďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Brew eries PLC

6.16

0.0%

1.5%

3.5%

3.5%

1.1x

34.00

6.3%

were TRANSCORP (45.9m units), MANSARD (34.7m

15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

1.3%

30.8%

30.8%

#N/A N/A

490.00

-9.3%

1.2%

21.8%

21.8%

-0.3%

-0.2%

0.4x

7.8%

units)

17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

249.50

0.0%

0.8%

9.4%

9.4%

16.4%

7.6%

13.6x

2.1x

3.4%

93.00

0.0%

0.8%

2.2%

2.2%

20.6%

13.4%

11.3x

2.7x

ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϰϬ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϭϭϬ͘ϴй ƚŽ ϰϲϳ͘ϵŵ units and

and

SOVRENINS

;Ϯϲ͘ϰŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ AIR-

E' D (േϰϵϰ͘ϲŵͿ ƚŽƉƉĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

Bullish Sector Performance

22 FCMB Group Plc 23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

TELAF

(േ1.2bn),

ZENITH

(േ501.0m)

and

Performance across sectors ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǁĂƐ ďƵůůͲ ŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Ϯ ƚŚĂƚ ůŽƐƚ͘ dŚĞ &Z-ICT ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ͕ ƵƉ ϯ͘ϵй ŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ in AIRTELAF (+7.6%) and MTNN (+0.5%). dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ Consumer Goods and Insurance indices advanced 0.5% and 0.4% ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ FLOURMILL (+6.3%), UNILEVER (+2.3%), MANSARD (+2.2%) and WZ ^d/' ;нϴ͘ϬйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ WAPCO (+3.8%) ĚƌŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž 0.3% higher. KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ

26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 Total Nigeria PLC 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC 36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC 38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ϱ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů-ŽīƐ in SEPLAT (-9.3%), OANDO (1.8%), ZENITH (-0.9%) and STERLNBANK (-2.5%).

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϴdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϳdž ƌĞĐͲ ŽƌĚĞĚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ ĂƐ ϯϮ

stocks

advanced

against

ǁŚŝůĞ JOHNHOLT (-10.0%), SEPLAT (-9.3%) and ACADEMY (-ϵ͘ϭйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŵŽͲ mentum ƚŽ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ŝŶ ƐƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘

8.3%

8.3%

10.7%

1.1%

3.0x

0.3x

9.2%

9.2%

0.5%

0.0%

65.5x

0.3x

20.10

0.5%

0.6%

14.2%

14.2%

30.8%

15.6%

7.1x

7.4% 8.8%

7.3%

32.9%

2.0x

5.4%

14.0%

1.5%

3.25

-1.2%

0.5%

-2.4%

-2.4%

10.3%

1.2%

3.1x

0.1x

4.3%

32.4%

1.95

-2.5%

0.4%

-4.4%

-4.4%

8.8%

0.8%

5.4x

0.4x

1.5%

18.4%

16.20

0.0%

0.4%

11.7%

11.7%

18.4%

5.8%

10.6x

3.5x

2.5%

9.5%

1.09

0.9%

0.4%

21.1%

21.1%

-3.5%

-0.8%

0.7x

0.9%

-5.3%

74.50

0.0%

0.3%

5.0%

5.0%

18.5%

7.7%

2.4x

2.7%

13.50

2.3%

0.2%

-2.9%

-2.9%

-2.4%

-1.6%

5.60

0.0%

0.2%

5.7%

5.7%

-12.2%

-5.6%

5.50

1.9%

0.2%

16.8%

16.8%

85.7%

8.7%

18.50

0.0%

0.2%

-2.6%

-2.6%

-16.2%

-8.4%

14.2x

1.2x

2.1x

7.0% -2.1%

0.7x

1.8%

1.6x

9.1%

0.6x

-157.8% 47.7% -32.2%

6.00

0.0%

0.2%

2.6%

2.6%

13.9%

4.8%

5.6x

0.8x

1.19

-4.0%

0.2%

5.3%

5.3%

25.0%

3.3%

2.6x

0.5x

143.00

0.0%

0.2%

10.0%

10.0%

10.7%

2.1%

17.3x

1.8x

4.7%

19.50

0.0%

0.1%

9.6%

9.6%

3.8%

0.4%

21.1x

0.8x

8.5%

4.7%

0.68

-2.9%

0.1%

-1.4%

-1.4%

6.8%

0.5%

4.0x

0.5x

5.9%

25.3%

0.0%

0.0%

3.20

-1.8%

0.1%

-13.5%

14.5%

2.6%

1.4x

0.2x

7.8x

0.8x

3.1%

12.8%

0.5x

1.9%

-20.8%

-100.0% -13.5%

7.5%

39.2%

6.9x

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-21.3%

-6.4%

55.40

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

10.3%

7.2%

3.60

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-10.4%

-5.0%

17.9%

4.2%

5.8%

14.5% 72.6%

1.8x

-13.3%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

0.44

10.0%

T R A N SC OR P

49.0

-5.3%

M A YB A KER

4.01

9.9%

M A N SA R D

28.0

7.0%

12.30

9.8%

F ID ELIT YB K

26.5

0.4%

C H A M P ION

2.14

9.7%

UB A

16.7

0.6%

UP L

1.37

9.6%

Z EN IT H B A N K

T ic k er

15.9

0.0%

15.4

6.3% 0.5%

LEA R N A F R C A

1.04

7.2%

UB N

M A N SA R D

1.37

7.0%

A C C ESS

9.9

UB N

5.90

6.3%

C H A M P ION

9.4

9.7%

J B ER GER

19.50

3.2%

UA C N

9.1

-1.2%

WA P C O

26.50

1.9%

FCM B

8.9

1.2%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er R OYA LEX

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

0.36

-10.0%

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

Z EN IT H B A N K

419.0

0.0%

5.13

-10.0%

A IR T ELA F R I

287.2

0.4%

A R D OVA

18.45

-9.8%

GUA R A N T Y

239.1

0.0%

C ILEA SIN G

SOVR EN IN S

0.30

-9.1%

D A N GC EM

225.1

0.9%

M B EN EF IT

0.41

-8.9%

UB A

145.8

0.6%

UN IVIN SUR E

0.21

-8.7%

F LOUR M ILL

127.2

0.0%

WA P IC

0.54

-8.5%

WA P C O

118.0

1.9%

96.7

-1.0%

LA SA C O

0.44

-8.3%

D A N GSUGA R

M ULT IVER SE

0.22

-8.3%

UB N

91.8

6.3%

-7.9%

A C C ESS

91.5

0.5%

R EGA LIN S

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

0.7% 0.7%

-2.7%

A C A D EM Y

T ic k er

18 ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ RTBRISCOE (+10.0%), CHAMPION (+9.8%) and UNIVINSURE (+9.5%) were the top-ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƟĐŬĞƌƐ

0.0% 0.0%

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

M RS

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

2.73 6.55

-28.2% 4.1%

0.35

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Adedayo Bakare | abakare@afrinvest.com

41

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

NSE Hosts Transcorp Hotels to Gong Closing Ceremony Goddy Egene

The Nigerian Stock Exchange

(NSE) will host Transcorp Hotels Plc, to the digital Gong Closing ceremony tomorrow

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

(Thursday, January 28, 2021) to commemorate the listing of 2.64 billion new shares

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 25Jan-2021, unless otherwise stated.

from the company rights issue.

The Managing Director/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, Mrs.

Dupe Olusola, is expected to close the market. The exchange had last week listed the shares at

N3.76 per share. The company realised about N9.9 billion from the rights issue.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.87% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.54 3.69 -0.44% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.63% Anchoria Equity Fund 137.52 137.98 2.75% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.24 1.24 -7.26% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.01 19.58 4.83% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 400.43 412.51 0.02% ARM Ethical Fund 35.67 36.74 5.80% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.22 1.23 -0.05% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.11 1.12 -0.69% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.70% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.15 2.15 -20.51% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.27 2.32 18.87% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.00% Paramount Equity Fund 16.99 16.67 4.28% Women's Investment Fund 136.46 138.06 2.55% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.22% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 132.91 133.83 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.13 109.13 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.36% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.20 1.21 -0.03% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.61 1.61 1.74% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,377.30 1,378.92 -1.58% FBN Balanced Fund 189.48 190.91 0.96% FBN Halal Fund 111.65 111.68 0.11% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.08% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 122.85 123.26 1.04% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 122.98 123.39 1.02% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 157.56 159.84 4.22% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,888.05 3,939.57 3.53% Coral Income Fund 3,320.20 3,320.20 1.66% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 2.91% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.38% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 129.08 129.62 19.87%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.19% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.87 2.94 -0.77% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.66 156.19 -1.00% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.47 1.47 1.59% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,129.31 1,128.62 0.55% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.65 1.68 7.11% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.32 12.43 9.66% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.65 1.67 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.73 111.25 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 136.56 139.42 11.23% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 0.48% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 1.56% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.25% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 2.97% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.30% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 1.02% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.00% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -0.08% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.23 1.23 0.37% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.35 111.35 0.24% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.41 1.44 3.38% United Capital Bond Fund 1.90 1.90 0.27% United Capital Equity Fund 0.91 0.94 5.44% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.40% United Capital Eurobond Fund 117.46 117.46 0.32% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.11 0.97% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.50 12.63 5.43% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.87 14.00 13.56% Zenith Income Fund 24.11 24.11 0.57% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.92%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

120.97

0.19%

52.50

0.19%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.31 127.27 100.70

13.41 127.27 102.60

0.67% 4.54% 1.35%

Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.24

4.28

11.78%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.98

6.06

4.98%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

18.05 1.00 20.53

18.15 1.00 20.73

10.19% 0.97% 0.04%

192.37

194.37

-13.51%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.05

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

42

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2021 •T H I S D AY

43

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Moderna COVID-19 Jabs Can Be up to Six Weeks Apart, Says WHO World Health Organisation experts on Tuesday cautiously backed delaying second injections of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine in some situations, as they did for the Pfizer-BioNTech jabs.

The WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) also insisted international travellers should not be prioritised for any Covid-19 jabs for the time being.

During a meeting last week, the experts discussed the Moderna vaccine which, like that of PfizerBioNTech, uses mRNA technology and is being rolled out across the world.

Both vaccines require boosters after three to four weeks, but several countries facing limited vaccine supplies have said they will delay administering the second injection so that more people can benefit from receiving a first dose.

The WHO’s vaccine advisory group said it was best to respect the tested intervals between doses

of 21 days in the case of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine and 28 days for Moderna.

But earlier this month, it said that in “exceptional circumstances” it was possible to wait for up to 42 days to administer the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — and on Tuesday, it said the same for the Moderna jabs.

Head of the SAGE, Alejandro Cravioto, warned in a virtual press briefing though that “the evidence we have does not go beyond that” six-week cut off.

The UN health agency has so far approved only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine but it is expected to issue approval for the Moderna jab soon.

“We’re working with Moderna to go as quickly as possible,” WHO’s vaccines chief Kate O’Brien told the online briefing.

The two vaccines are very similar, the experts said, except for the storage requirements, with the Pfizer-BioNTech jab needed to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius

(-94 degrees Fahrenheit), while Moderna doses can be stored at -20 C. With vaccine supplies still limited, the WHO has called for health workers and the most vulnerable to be prioritised and SAGE reinforced the message on Tuesday.

“In the current period of very limited vaccine supply, preferential vaccination of international travellers would counter the

principle of equity,” SAGE said.

“Because of this, and the lack of evidence that vaccination reduces the risk of transmission, SAGE currently does not recommend Covid-19 vaccination of travellers.”

SAGE also recommended Tuesday that the Moderna vaccine, like the Pfizer-BioNTech one, should only be administered in settings that can deal with potential anaphylactic reaction.

But the experts stressed this

was the usual recommendation for most vaccination programmes, pointing to findings from US health authorities last week indicating that severe allergic reaction to the Moderna vaccine was “rare”.

SAGE said there was not enough data to make recommendations on the use of the Moderna jab while breastfeeding or during pregnancy.

And the experts said in situations where there was a shortage of vaccines, people who had been infected with Covid-19 in the previous six months and therefore likely had immunity could opt to postpone vaccination.

But “we are not recommending that programmes exclude individuals on that basis”, SAGE executive secretary Joachim Hombach told the briefing.

Mali Officially Disbands Military Junta Mali has officially disbanded its military junta, according to a government decree seen by AFP on Tuesday, more than five months after the army deposed president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

The junta briefly governed the country after the August 18 coup and formally remained in place even after the putschists handed power to a civilian interim government, which raised questions about the military’s continuing influence.

“The National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) is dissolved,” said the decree, dated January 18, which AFP obtained from a military official. Young army officers launched the coup after weeks of anti-Keita protests, fuelled partly by frustrations over perceived government corruption, and the president’s inability to end

a jihadist conflict that has raged since 2012.

Under the threat of international sanctions, the officers handed power between September and October to a caretaker government, which is meant to rule for 18 months before staging elections. But some have raised doubts about the government’s ability to stick to its timetable so soon after the coup, and amid conflict.

Mali’s military has also retained a tight grip on the interim government. Coup leader Colonel Assimi Goita is the interim vice president.

The 15-member Economic Community of West African States, which has mediated Mali’s political strife, urged the interim government on January 12 to disband the junta.

Merkel Invites Biden to Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel has invited US President, Joe Biden, to visit Germany “as soon as the pandemic situation allows,” her spokesman said, in their first phone call since the Democrat took office.

In what appeared to be a markedly warm call compared to her conversations with Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump, Merkel and the new US leader also underlined the importance of working together in the fight against Covid-19.

“The chancellor and the American president agree that stronger international efforts were needed to deal with the coronavirus pandemic,” said Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert in a statement.

On that note, she welcomed Biden’s decision to reverse Trump’s decision last July to pull the United States out of the World Health Organization — even as the pandemic was raging.

A few months later in

November, Trump also yanked the United States out of the Paris climate accord, claiming it “was designed to kill the American economy” rather than save the environment.

Also lauding Biden’s decision to return to the Paris agreement, Merkel pledged “Germany’s readiness to assume responsibility as it works with European and transatlantic partners in dealing with international tasks”.

Merkel said Thursday during a press conference that there was far more common ground with Washington now that Biden has replaced Trump.

She had minced no words in criticising Trump, saying after the storming of the US Capitol by his supporters that the president shared blame for the unrest.

In 2016, she had greeted Trump’s election victory with an extraordinary warning: that she would work with him on the condition that he respect democratic values.

NATIONAL INTEREST...

L-R: Impeachment Managers Representatives, Ted Lieu (D-CA); Stacey Plaskett (D-US Virgin Islands AT-Large); Joe Neguse (D-CO); and Madeleine Dean (D-PA), leaving the Senate floor after delivering the article of impeachment on Capitol Hill in Washington DC…Monday AFP

House Sends Trump Impeachment Article to Senate, Triggering Trial The US House of Representatives presented a single article of impeachment to the Senate on Monday accusing Donald Trump of inciting the storming of the Capitol, setting in motion the first-ever impeachment trial of a former president.

In a solemn procession, the nine House impeachment managers silently walked the article through the same ornate halls of Congress overrun by Trump supporters on January 6 and delivered it to the Senate.

Representative Jamie Raskin, the lead impeachment manager, then read out the charge against Trump on the Senate floor, where the former president continues to enjoy significant support from Republican senators.

“Donald John Trump engaged in high crimes and misdemeanors

by inciting violence against the government of the United States,” Raskin said. “He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power and imperiled a coequal branch of government.”

The Senate trial of the 74-yearold Trump, who was impeached by the Democratic-majority House on January 13 for an unprecedented second time, is to begin the week of February 8.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the 100 members of the Senate, who will act as jurors, will be sworn in on Tuesday and a summons issued to Trump.

Democrats and Republicans agreed to delay the start of the trial for two weeks to allow Trump to prepare his defense against the charge of “incitement

of insurrection,” and for the Senate to confirm President Joe Biden’s cabinet appointees.

US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts presided over Trump’s previous Senate trial — which ended with his acquittal — but presiding this time will be the Senate president pro tempore.

The president pro tempore is the senior senator of the party with the majority in the Senate, currently the Democrats. Patrick Leahy, 80, who was elected to the Senate in 1974, holds the position.

Republican senator John Cornyn said having a senator serve as both judge and juror raised a conflict of interest, but another Republican senator, Lindsey Graham, dismissed his concerns.

“I’ve known Pat a long time,” Graham said. “I believe and hope

he’ll be fair.”

Leahy said he would take an oath to be impartial.

“The president pro tempore has historically presided over Senate impeachment trials of non-presidents,” Leahy said.

“When presiding over an impeachment trial, the president pro tempore takes an additional special oath to do impartial justice according to the Constitution and the laws,” he said. “It is an oath that I take extraordinarily seriously.”

Biden, 78, eager to put Trump in the rear-view mirror and make progress in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and reviving the economy, has taken a hands-off approach to the impeachment.

However, he told CNN on Monday evening, “I think it has to happen.”

Refugees Cannot Be Returned to Greece, German Court Rules A German court said Tuesday that two refugees granted asylum in Greece could not be sent back there because of the “serious risk of inhumane and degrading treatment” they could face.

The two men from Syria and Eritrea would face “a serious risk that they would not be able to meet their most basic needs if they return”, to Greece, said the court in the western city of Muenster.

Germany had previously rejected the two men’s asylum applications because they had already been granted international

protection in Greece and threatened them with deportation.

But the court ruled they would face “extreme material hardship” if they were returned, citing difficulties finding accommodation and access to the labour market.

“The applicants’ applications for asylum cannot be rejected as inadmissible because they face a serious risk of inhumane and degrading treatment if they return to Greece,” the court said.

Since becoming one of the main gateways into Europe for migrants and asylum-seekers in

2015, Greece has built dozens of detention centres on its islands.

But long waits in the camps and overcrowding are common.

Over 7,000 people have been living in the 32-hectare (79-acre) Kara Tepe tent camp on the island of Lesbos since September, when the permanent facility of Moria burned down.

Human rights campaigners say they are living in squalid conditions with “fewer rights than animals”.

People are supposed to apply for asylum in the first EU country

they arrive in before being relocated if they are successful.

But the system has been widely derided as some countries barely accept any refugees and others like Greece and Italy bear the brunt.

Athens last year moved thousands of refugees from Lesbos and other islands to the mainland.

But many have been unable to find accommodation or jobs after leaving the camps, and the government has scaled back housing and cash benefits.

44

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Three Feared Killed, Four Abducted in Boundary Clash between Abia, A’Ibom Okon Bassey in Uyo Three persons have been feared dead and four reportedly abducted in a renewed clash between the people of Usaka Uko in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State and Nkari in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

THISDAY learned that the latest conflict between the two communities occurred in the early hours of January 22, 2021, when some youths suspected to have come from Usaka Uko allegedly ambushed indigenes of Nkari.

In the attack, the people of Nkari were alleged to have been shot and their motorcycles carted away.

Similar incident occurred last August where 11 persons were allegedly killed and scores injured in both camps.

An elder in Nkari, Major Tony Isenyeng (rtd), told a delegation of the Civil Liberties Organisation, Akwa Ibom State, led by its Chairman, Franklyn Isong, who visited the deserted community that the community has become helpless over the continuous bloodletting occasioned by the constant clash.

He called on the National Boundary Commission (NBC)

to hasten up in giving a clear demarcation of the boundary between them, adding that security guards should be permanently mounted in the area to forestall further crisis.

Narrating the incident, a former councillor in Nkari ward 4, Hon. Benjamin Christopher Akpan, said: “last Friday, which was our market day, our attackers lay ambush and killed our people. They killed my younger brother and my other relative with her husband. We found their corpses this morning. I’m sure they both went to the early market “Four persons, whom were said to have passed the road, could not be found as I’m speaking with you now. May be they were abducted because we have not seen them since. The issue is beyond our community; how can we be living in perpetual fear in our father’s land?”

Also, a member representing Ini state constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Bassey, who is also the Chief Whip of the state Assembly, described the crisis as a guerilla warfare in that the youths would lay ambush and shoot anyone who crossed the road, calling for a full security presence in the area, even as he said the federal government was expected

Gunmen Kill Community Leader, Bricklayer in Delta Sylvester Idowu in Warri Suspected gunmen have reportedly killed the immediatepast chairman of Ugbori community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Prince Godwin Metie.

Metie, it was gathered, was shot dead at about 9p.m. yesterday at Merogun, a volatile area in Warri.

Sources disclosed that the deceased was reportedly waylaid by masks-wearing hoodlums, who opened fire on him, and died instantly at the scene of the incident.

Similarly, a bricklayer, simply identified as Uruese, was allegedly murdered by gunmen suspected to be cultists.

Uruese, who was popularly known as ‘Iron Monkey’, was killed at Orerokpe in Okpe Local Government Area of the state last Friday.

The deceased, who lived in a street close to the council’s secretariat, was shot through the window while asleep.

However, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said she was not aware of the alleged killing of the former Ugbori community chairman, but confirmed the death of Uruese in Orerokpe.

“The one that was shot while he was sleeping is true. Investigation is on. The woman (Uruese’s wife) stated that previously, she noticed marks of caning on her husband among other things which she asked. But he didn’t give her any satisfactory response,” the PPRO said.

Onovwakpoyeya, however, promised to provide information on the killing of Metie, who was murdered at Merogu area of Warri.

Herdsmen Destroy N10m Farm in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

As clashes between herders and farmers continue to fester in Ondo and Oyo States, maize farm worth N10 million belonging to members of the Maize Growers Processing Marketer Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN) has been destroyed by suspected herdsmen in Ekiti State.

According to the owners of the farm, the farm spanning over 235 hectares of land is located inside the state forest reserve in Aduloju on the Ado-Ijan road in Ado Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state Secretary of the association, Mr. Tope Emmanuel, said the herders have been terrorising the farmers in the last one week leading to

the destruction of the maize farm.

Emmanuel alleged that the herdsmen stormed the farm at night with dangerous weapons to feed their cows, and “all efforts to stop them were rebuffed.”

He disclosed that members obtained N6.6 million loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the anchor borrowers’ programme in September 2020 to cultivate the maize, adding that the 160 members had been left with nothing to cultivate.

According to Emmanuel, “Last year, we approached the CBN as a group to obtain a loan worth N6.6 million for the maize farm, and we planted the maize covering 235 hectares of land the farm. In actual fact, the expected proceed is over N10millon.

to mandate the NBC to urgently do the demarcation of the boundary.

On his efforts so far on the matter, Bassey said: “In my first and second term in the state House of Assembly, I’ve moved a motion of urgent public importance on the need to rescue the people of Nkari. I told the assembly in October last year that if the crisis

was not addressed, it would worsen and deteriorate to the extent that we won’t be able to manage it.”

On his part, the Clan Head of the Nkari, His Highness Udoette Edon, called on the state government to construct the Mbiabong/Nkari road in order to link the Nkari people

to their kith and kin in Akwa Ibom State, noting that lack of motorable road contributes to the attacks the Nkari people are facing from the people of Usaka Uko. The monarch called on the state and federal governments to come to the aid of the

people of Nkari by providing them electricity, potable water, primary and secondary schools, and healthcare facilities. He urged the state and federal government to take over the disputed farmland and use same for investment that would be beneficial to the people.

WORTHY HONOUR…

L-R: Director, Human Capital and Administration, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Usman Malah; Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta; Executive VicePresident, Centre for Policy and Foreign Engagement/member, MoneyReports Editorial Board, Dr. Eke Agbai; Secretary, Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu; and Director, Finance Services Department, NCC, Mr. Yakubu Gontor, during the Presentation of the “Man of the Year 2020 Award” to Danbatta by the Publishers of MoneyReports magazine, in Abuja … yesterday

Ugwuanyi Seeks FG’s Nod to Construct Roundabout Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, is seeking approvals from relevant agencies of the federal government to construct an iconic roundabout and tower, at the popular Opi Junction, about 14 kilometres from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Ugwuanyi who inspected the site yesterday disclosed that the major purpose of the inspection tour was to obtain approval from two federal agencies for the commencement of the all-

important project.

The governor was accompanied by his Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Greg Nnaji; the Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Femi Oyekanmi; and the Airspace, Manager, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Mr. Iliya Yohana.

Ugwuanyi explained that the roundabout and tower will be

a deserving identity of Nsukka, stressing that the second largest city in Enugu State, which was hitherto neglected, truly deserves major facelifts in terms of infrastructural development.

“We called NAMA to approve this project because of the height of the tower, to ensure that it won’t be an obstruction to flights,” he explained.

Ugwuanyi also thanked the stakeholders of Nsukka zone, especially the owners of the land

where the roundabout and tower will be sited, the Federal Controller of Works, Ministry of Works and Housing, Odinma Nsukka, the youth, among others, for granting approval for the commencement of the project.

Reiterating his resolve to serve Enugu State with the fear of God, Ugwuanyi pledged to continue to deliver on his promises to the people of the state in spite of various challenges confronting the nation.

AbdulRazaq Signs 2021 Appropriation Bill into Law Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday signed the 2021 Appropriation Bill into law, with the assurances that the administration will build on the ongoing infrastructural development and increased investments in social protection and youth empowerment.

The governor also assented to the bill repealing pension payments to former state governors and

former deputy governors in the state following widespread support from the public when the proposal came up for public hearings at the state House of Assembly.

AbdulRazaq had last November sought the repeal of the law-both a fulfillment of his campaign promise and a response to public opposition to the pension package that many decry as unfair.

The Assembly Speaker, Yakubu Danladi, who led members of the House of Assembly to the

brief budget signing ceremony, told the governor that members of the public were unanimous about a need to repeal the pension law during the hearing.

Signing the N137.6 billion Appropriation Bill into law, the governor commended the Assembly members for their hard work.

He added: “This budget will build on the achievements of the previous years in the areas of education, health, and roads infrastructure. We

are also focusing on youth empowerment, job creation, and social investments which are very critical at this point of our national life.”

AbdulRazaq said social protection is most important at this time to prevent more people from falling into abject poverty, commending the conditional cash transfer (CCT) initiative of President Muhammadu Buhari, which he said was already being replicated in Kwara State.

Widow Drags Ibeto, Others to Court, Demands N1.5bn David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka A 104-year-old widow, Mrs. Margaret Onwuelo, has dragged billionaire industrialist, Chief Cletus Ibeto, and 14 others to Anambra State High Court over alleged attempt to take over her property.

The centenarian in her statement of claim/writ of summons asked the court presided over

by Justice Denis Maduechesi

to cause the defendants to pay about N1.5billion for disturbing her peace over a piece of land she claimed to have bought with her late husband in 1957.

Onwuelo in the statement noted that the matter, which has 15 defendants, was instituted by her on behalf of her children, except the 12th defendants (her grandson’s wife) and her offspring.

The centenarian sought

among other things from the court an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or any other person, howsoever described, from further trespassing on her land at No 136-140 Abel Okoye Road in Egbu, Umuenem, Otolo, Nnewi in Anambra State.

In Onwuelo’s statement of claims, which was made available to THISDAY yesterday,

she begged the court for “a declaration that by the invasion, trespass, demolition and subsequent actions of the defendants on the first plaintiff/ plaintiffs’ property on the piece of land on the January 6, 2021, the plaintiffs constitutionally guaranteed right to dignity of human person, right to own property, right to privacy, right to life and right to personal liberty were grossly violated.

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NEWS

Court Dismisses Exam Fraud Charges against Adeleke’s Co-accused Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, yesterday discharged and acquitted four persons accused alongside the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, standing trial for alleged involvement in examination malpractices.

Justice Ekwo freed the defendants from the sevenamended-count-charge while delivering a ruling in their no-case submission against the suit.

The Police, in 2018, had arraigned Adeleke along with Sikiru Adeleke (who is said to be the senator’s relative), Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (the school principal), Gbadamosi Ojo (a school registrar) and Dare Olutope (a teacher) on a four-count charge bordering on examination fraud.

However, the court had last year freed Adeleke from the charges after it was withdrawn by the police.

The police predicated their action on the grounds that Adeleke had failed to make himself available for the trial since he was

granted leave to travel abroad on medical grounds on May 19, 2019.

The police then prayed the court to sever the charge to exclude Adeleke from the trial and arraigned the remaining four on a sevencount charge bordering on conspiracy.

After calling five witnesses, the police closed its case, which led to the filing of a nocase submission by the defendants.

In his ruling on the no-case submission, Justice Ekwo held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie

case having not proved the ingredients of the charge.

Ekwo further held that the burden of proof rest on the prosecution, which failed to call relevant witnesses.

"No witness was called from the National Examination Council (NECO) to testify throughout the trial. To worsen the situation, no eyewitness was called from the school where the alleged malpractices were perpetrated," Ekwo said.

Besides, the judge said there were no ingredients of conspiracy supplied to the court by the police

to establish that the four defendants conspired to commit the alleged malpractices.

"In all, the evidence of the five witnesses was so discredited during cross-examination and so manifestly unreliable to warrant the defendants to be called upon to enter their defence in the charges against them.

"In conclusion, since the testimony of the prosecution is insufficient to warrant the defendants to open defence, I have no difficulty in upholding their no-case submission and discharge and acquit them from the

charges. The suit is hereby dismissed", the judge stated.

In the charge, Ademola and Sikiru were accused of fraudulently, through personation, registering as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Ojo-Aro, Osun State to enable them to sit for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination of June/July 2017.

The other three defendants were accused of aiding the commission of the alleged offence, in the charge filed in the name of the Inspector General of Police.

A DANGEROUS POLITICS OF SECURITY animal husbandry.

Perhaps, the greatest achievement of the Akure parley (significantly attended by governors from the north and south) is the separation of criminality from ethnic politics: “Criminals should be apprehended and punished, no matter the origin, class or status…

“No one has sent anyone away from any state or region, but all hands must be on deck to fight criminality.”

That’s the crux of the matter.

The ethnic or religious label does not enhance the process of dealing with criminality. No kidnapper takes the proceeds of his crime to his ethnic or religious group. Criminals hardly distinguish between members of their ethnic or religious groups in targeting their victims. For instance, while falsely claiming to fight the cause of Islam, the Boko Haram murderers have killed Muslims and Christians alike. So a criminal should be treated as a criminal without being identified as Yoruba, Fulani or Kanuri. To do otherwise is to make the process of law enforcement and, indeed the justice system in general, vulnerable to diversionary politicisation.

In retrospect, therefore, in the spirit of the Akure Declaration, Akeredolu had no business issuing a prior ultimatum before enforcing the relevant laws of Ondo state against anyone trespassing forest reserves. The unnecessary order has made his otherwise legitimate policy step vulnerable to politicisation. He should just have enforced the law as the constitution permits him to do in the situation.

Meanwhile, in the heat of the debate of Akeredolu’s statement the point that seems to be missing is that permitting the destruction of a forest reserve in a place in which one luckily still exists in the age of climate change is a recipe for environmental disaster. This scientific fact transcends ethnic politics. It’s also ultimately a security issue.

The matter was worsened by the most inappropriate response from Aso Rock. Leadership demands that the federal government should have engaged the state government on such sensitive issues in a different way. The statement issued in Buhari’s name gave the impression of an instinctive defence of the “ Fulani herdsmen” who were the targets of Akeredolu’s order. When some state governors decided to evict hapless Almajiris from their states during the lockdown last year, there was no rebuke from Aso Rock against the violation of the rights of the poor boys. The respective state governments should have made provision for their security and welfare as demanded by the constitution. Neither did the police

Buhari

arrest some northern elements who issued quit orders to Igbo residents in northern Nigeria some time ago.

The present crisis is, therefore, another ringing reminder that for the remaining 28 months or so of his tenure, Buhari should focus on tackling insecurity decisively and promoting national unity concretely.

In words and actions, the President should take steps to dispel the widespread perception that he is a sectional leader. Policy conception and implementation should be directed at cementing the unity of the country as an important task henceforth.

It is not too late to correct the political errors that may ultimately define his administration.

To begin with, the President should stop ignoring the calls for restructuring which is embodied in the manifesto of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Buhari needs to act fast because he doesn’t have eternity to make a difference.

This should be coupled with a rethink of the security strategy especially with the new appointments and the other changes that could be made in the security sector in the near future.

The point cannot be over-emphasised that the failure of Buhari to fulfil his electoral promise to secure Nigeria is giving rise to frustration among the citizens. As a result, there is desperation almost everywhere. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno once said publicly that the “army has failed.” This true leader of his people has narrowly escaped being killed in attacks by Boko Haram on more than one occasion. The same frustration was evident in Benue when 70 coffins of those killed were displayed in Markurdi. While Governor Samuel

Ortom wept publicly, the response from the federal government was that Benue people should live in peace with those they accused of killings. It is the marked difference in responses to problems of insecurity in various parts of the country that has reinforced the accusation that Buhari favours a group over the other in security matters.

A rigorous survey of the security landscape would show that nationally insecurity is worse today than it was in 2015 when Buhari made security one of the cardinal items on his agenda. The verdict from even those who are part of the government is that insecurity is worsening in the land. Roads are unsafe.

Farmlands are insecure. Classrooms are endangered. There is hardly a day that killings are not reported in one part of Nigeria or the other.

To be charitable to the Commanderin-Chief, who happens to be a retired general, these certainly cannot be comforting indices of security.

Examining the New Populism The recourse of some elements in the southwest appears to be the “liberation force” led by Igboho. This is borne out of the frustration with the constitutionally established security system – the police, armed forces, intelligence agencies, paramilitary organisation etc. Even if you call what is happening opportunism, it is the failure of the Nigerian state that has provided the basis for it to blossom. The Amotekun security outfits were legally established in the southwest last year as the solution to the huge deficits in policing in the region. By the way, no one seems to be asking the question now: whatever happened to Amotekun in Oyo state with the

emergence of the “liberation force” of Igboho? Can’t Amotekun simply protect the Ondo state forest reserves without making political statements?

This is the time to reason.

Issuing orders to any group of people identified on ethnic or religious basis to quit anywhere in Nigeria is not the way to approach insecurity problems.

The matter is made more dangerous when non-state actors, who also clamour for secession, decide to chase members of other ethnic groups from their areas on the basis of insecurity. No person or group should be permitted to foist anarchy on this country.

It’s intriguing that a segment of the Yoruba elite has embraced the upsurge of the new populism and the emergence of a new leader of the movement. Those members of the elite are advised to scrutinise the new populism burgeoning in the land. For those who hunger for this new instrument of “liberation,” it may be in order to caution: beware of a mission not clearly defined.

For instance, the Yoruba elements who want the Fulani expelled from the land of Oduduwa should pause and think of what would happen if the Kano opposite number to Igboho also decides to chase out the Yoruba in Kano for whatever reason. That could be the beginning of a series of events the end of which only the clairvoyants can even attempt to predict now. This is the danger of politicisation of insecurity.

It makes no sense to walk blindly into a war for which you are not prepared; it is worse when you are not clear about the true purpose. It is never bravery to attempt to do so.

As the Yoruba would say, ti a ba nsokun, a ma riran (it doesn’t mean you are blind when in tears).

RAWLINGS, A NEW GENERATION STATESMAN given a chance to mend its own leaky roof! By that well-articulated rebuke, the meddlesome international community took clear note of Africa’s rallying march for a Nigeria undergoing a necessary but acute process of establishment.

However, J.J. and I were closer than mere pan-Africanist comrades. Over the years, I admired and enjoyed his unusual capacity for friendship. I was therefore not unduly surprised when he turned up at my 70th birthday celebrations in my hometown Igueben (Edo State, Nigeria) on 25th April 2014. It was probably the first time a Ghanaian leader of his status visited Nigeria under such circumstances.

His visit was most appreciated and is still a talking point in my community and beyond to this date. Such was his level of commitment to alliances of value.

Such was the kernel of his principled self.

This is not an occasion for a long disquisition, but we must pay tribute to a remarkable man who taught the African leadership class how to make power count in very transformational terms so that when a proper history of Africa will be written by Africans, we will indeed know how to apportion heroism to our leaders. While the place of the Kwame Nkrumah’s will be secure in the pantheon of founding fathers of post-colonial nations, the significance of the likes of J.J. Rawlings as the practical framers of the postcolonial continent will remain etched in our minds forever. And I mean forever.

Adieu, my dear brother and friend. May your gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.

High Chief Ikimi FNIA, KSG, CON, is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, ͺ͸ͺ͹˾ T H I S D AY

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor ßÜÙ ÕÒËäßËÑÌÏ Email ÎßÜÙ˛ÓÕÒËäßËÑÌÏ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ× ͸΀͹͹ ͹΀͹ ͻ͸΀ͻ

Pinnick Cleared to Contest FIFA Council Seat Duro Ikhazuagbe President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has been cleared to contest for a seat in the FIFA Council at the elections slated for March 12 in Rabat, Morocco.

In a letter dated January 26,2021, Chairman of FIFA’s Review Committee, Mukul Mudgal, informed Pinnick of his eligibility to contest the FIFA Council seat.

“We refer to our correspondence dated 18 November 2020 regarding the subject matter. In this regard,

we kindly inform you that the Review Committee has declared you eligible for the position of member of the FIFA Council,” the letter sighted by THISDAY read in part.

Pinnick, a former First Vice President of CAF is aspiring to become the third Nigerian to seat on the FIFA Council after Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo and Dr Amos Adamu had represented the continent on the hallowed chambers of world football governing body.

Speaking via his Twitter handle shortly after he was cleared to contest the FIFA seat

at the 43rd Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) coming up in Rabat, Morocco on the 12th of March, later this year, Pinnick solicited for support from both his supporters and critics.

“As part of my commitment to keep pushing Nigerian and African football forwards and upwards, I would like to announce that I have now been cleared by the FIFA Review Committee to seek a position on the FIFA Council at the forthcoming elections,” began the NFF chief.

Pinnick recalled that since

2014, “when I first got into the office of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, I have always maintained that Nigeria and Africa deserves to be more visible in the administration of World Football and this is still part of that quest....a major step in seeking a seat at World Football’s governing table.

“With that extremely important test passed, I can continue to push for more representation of the African continent in world football,” observed the Pinnick who is a CAF Executive Committee member.

He reeled out some of the

heights he has taken Nigerian football to attain under his watch.

“Before our board came, Nigeria football was almost 100% government dependent.

Now, we have attained 60% selfsufficiency with our drive to be totally financially independent still in effect.”

Pinnick hopes whoever was going to succeed him in 2022 will build on the relationship he has created with Corporate Nigeria.

“Hopefully, the next President of the Federation will build on the relationships we have nurtured with Corporate Nigeria

over time continues.”

With Incumbent CAF President, Ahmad, disqualified, the race to ascend the topmost football post in Africa appears a level playing field with the all-clear given to all the four contestants in the race.

Those in the race include; President of Senegalese FA, Augustin Senghor, former FIFA executive member, Jacques Anouma (Ivory Coast), President of Mauritania FA, Ahmad Ould Yahya and South African Billionaire and owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe.

Ighalo’s ‘Dream’ Loan at Man Utd Ends Forward Odion Ighalo has announced that his “dream has come to an end” as he prepares to leave Manchester United at the end of his one-year

loan spell.

The 31-year-old Nigeria international scored five goals in 23 appearances for United after arriving from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.

Ighalo said he would “forever cherish” and “be grateful” for his United spell.

“I’m still and would always remain a Manchester United fan,” he said in a Twitter post yesterday.

Ighalo, whose loan deal expires on Saturday, has played just nine minutes of Premier League football this season, with his chances restricted further following the arrival of Edinson Odion Ighalo...end of Man Utd Cavani on a free transfer dream in October from PSG.

AFN Opens Season with All-Comers Event in Akure The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) will kickstart its 2021 calendar of activities with the All-Comers competition holding on Saturday at the Federal University of Technology in Akure, Ondo State.

The competition, the first in the calendar of events for the year is designed to help athletes gauge their level of preparedness for the National Sports Festival which begins next month on Valentine’s day in Benin City, Edo State.

Secretary General of the AFN, Prince Adeniyi Adisa Beyioku, said yesterday that the federation has written to all the states of the federation

to make their athletes available for the competition.

“Our sights are frimly on the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan and our programme of activities for the elite athletes is geared towards getting the them ready to qualify for their respective events and of course for the relays.

“Nigeria has not qualified for any of the five relay events scheduled for Tokyo and some of our athletes based here at home are integral parts of whatever relay teams we are putting together hence the need to offer them competition that will help in their training,” said Beyioku.

Onyekuru Hoping for Third Time Lucky at Galatasaray Nigeria international Henry Onyekuru has returned for a third loan spell at Turkish club Galatasaray hoping it will change his career after finding himself in the shadows at French side Monaco.

The 23-year-old played an integral part in the club’s successful Turkish League and Cup double in the 2018-2019 season when he scored 16 goals, contributed six assists in 44 matches in all competitions.

His second stint was a mixed six months in Istanbul in 2020, but the forward is glad to be back at Galatasaray again for the remainder of the 2020/21 season after failing to make the breakthrough at parent club Monaco this season.

His latest deal comes with

an option for the Turkish side to buy him at the end of the season.

“Honestly, I’m very happy to be back in Galatasaray where I had previously enjoyed success,” Onyekuru told BBC Sport Africa.

“I chose Galatasaray because I’ve not been playing for six months. I just want to go somewhere that I don’t need to try too hard to prove anything to the coach or force myself into the consciousness of the club or fans.

“Here at this historical club I can get more regular games to be back in shape.

Play on a weekly basis to get my form and important fitness back.”

Record 22-time Turkish champions Galatasaray,

L-R (front row): Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the Chairman, Main Organizing Committee (MOC), National Sports Festival, Mr. Nebeolisa Anako during a courtesy visit by the MOC and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) at the Government House in Benin City... on Tuesday

Edo Ready to Host National Sports Festival But Lacks Funds, Says Obaseki Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state is ready to host the National Sports Festival but expressed fear of lack of funds to host 11,500 athletes and officials at the 20th edition of the sports meet in Benin City.

Obaseki disclosed this when he received members of the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) from the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development (FMYSD) and the Local Organising Committee who paid him a courtesy visit

in Benin City yesterday.

The governor said Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the finances of various states and countries across the globe and Edo State is not left out.

He noted that the impact of the virus might have a negative effect on hosting the game in the state.

Obaseki said: “Since March last year, you know the financial strength of most states, subnationals and countries. For us as a state, we are ready to host but don’t have the funds at this point in time to host the

games; this is the plain truth.

“If the Federal Government however in its wisdom decides to bring the funding for the games, we will be too willing to host the country. We have to live with Covid-19 because it has come to stay; even with the vaccination, the virus will still be around.”

Obaseki insisted that cancelling the festival was no solution to the matter.

“Cancelling the game is not the solution to this issue. We have to sit down and look at all these issues critically before reaching a final decision.”

The governor continued: “Beyond the game itself, which is an instrument of unity and a way of engaging the youths, there is the Tokyo Olympics to prepare for. But how do we prepare for the Olympics without Edo 2020?

Can we afford to expose our young people to the dangers of Covid-19 or would there be other Olympics in the future?

We have to balance these things.

“We have to make a decision whether we want to go to the Tokyo games. If we want to, how do we prepare Nigeria’s contingents, where are the trials?”

Bazuaye Quits Bendel Insurance as Chief Coach The Chief Coach of Bendel Insurance FC, Baldwin Bazuaye, has disengage his services from the coaching crew of the Benin-based club.

Insurance confirmed Bazuaye’s exit in a statement on Tuesday by the Media Officer of the team, Kehinde Osagede.

According to the statement, no reason was given for Bazuaye’s resignation, but the Nigeria National

League (NNL) club however wished him well in his future endeavour.

The statement particularly commended the input of the former Super Eagles winger since the club was rebranded by the Edo State government four years ago.

It said the club accepted Bazuaye resignation letter dated January 22, 2021.

Following the resignation of Bazuaye, the club has

elevated some of its coaching staff and also affected changes in the title of the coaches.

“The management has immediately approved the elevation of Coach Greg Ikhenoba to step into the vacant position created by Bazuaye’s departure but to maintain the title of Assistant Coach.

“The Insurance Management in their wisdom,

effected some important changes in the titles of the coaches as followed.

“Coach Benard Ogbe who is the head coach will now be addressed as the chief coach while the title of Technical Manager is abolished by the club.

“Coach Greg Ikhenoba is elevated to the second position which Bazuaye vacated but to bear the title, Assistant coach.

LMC Fines Akwa Utd N3m, Jigawa Stars’ Coach Banned The League Management Company (LMC) has descended heavily on Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club side, Akwa United for accumulated breaches. The Promise Keepers are to pay N3million as fines.

LMC warned that a repeat of the breaches would attract banishment and deduction of

points.

“Akwa United has been fined a total of N3million for breach of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL, in the course of the Matchday 5 fixture against Wikki Tourists.

“Some members of Akwa Utd contingent accosted and harassed match officials as they made their way to the

changing room immediately after the match. In the process of which the Assistant Referee II sustained injuries to his head and face.

“Consequently, the following sanctions has been imposed: a) a fine of N1 million for failure to ensure adequate protection for match officials & b) a fine of N500,000 for

harassment of match officials.

“Furthermore, the LMC also imposed another fine of N1 million to be paid as compensation to the match officials; & an additional fine of N500,000 for misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute.”

Journalists and other stakeholders were reportedly attacked during the match.

47

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Chelsea Appoint Tuchel as Lampard’s Replacement Chelsea have appointed former Paris St-Germain boss, Thomas Tuchel, as their new manager on an 18-month contract with an option to extend it.

He won two league titles, the French Cup and the French League Cup at PSG. “I cannot wait to meet my new team and compete in the

most exciting league in football.

I am grateful to be part of the Chelsea family,” Tuchel, 47, said yesterday.

Chelsea sacked Frank Lampard on Monday after 18 months in charge, following a run of one win in five league matches.

“We all have the greatest

respect for Frank Lampard’s work and the legacy he created at Chelsea,” added Tuchel.

The German becomes the 11th full-time manager appointed

by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich since the billionaire

bought the club in 2003.

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia described Tuchel as “one of Europe’s best coaches” adding that “there is still much to play for and much to achieve, this season and beyond”.

He will be in the dugout at Stamford Bridge for Wednesday’s Premier League meeting with Wolves (18:00 GMT).

Tuchel will not be exempt from coronavirus quarantine rules but will be granted an

exemption by the Football Association to attend matches and training should he test negative before entering the UK, and then do so once again to enter a Premier League club’s bubble.

SPORTS BUSINESS

Man Utd Drop to Fourth on Football Rich List, Barca Lead Manchester United have dropped out of Deloitte’s football rich list for the first time in eight years as the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic sees the drop in revenue projected to reach £1.75billion for Europe’s biggest clubs.

It sees United drop behind European champions Bayern Munich into fourth place, with their revenue down by £118.1m, 19 per cent on the 2018-19 season, after missing out on Champions League football.

The figures lay bare the impact of the crisis on football’s European elite with Deloitte’s money league showing that the top 20 revenue-generating clubs lost around £975million during the 2019-20 season due to factors including the lack of spectators and effect on broadcast income.

Some of the latter will be made up in the 2020-21 accounts, along with deferred prize money for many clubs, but the ongoing effects of the virus see the drop in revenue projected to reach £1.75bn between the 20 clubs.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer...Covid-19 has forced his Man Utd to fourth spot on football rich list

Tim Bridge of Deloitte’s Sports Business Group said: “We usually release our money league and talk about the growth in revenue but of course football is not immune to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The revenue that’s been missed out on is driven by the lack of fans in the stadium, the lack of interaction on a matchday - fans spending in the club shop and buying food and drink - and there is an element that relates to revenue that broadcasters have either clawed back (or deferred) to next year.

“There is an element of the 19-20 season being played in the 20-21 financial year, so there’s a rollover of a certain element of revenue, but for this season the matchday revenue is the most significant hit for the clubs.

“The commercial revenue has so far held up. I think many people were concerned that in the short term there would be an immediate shock from sponsors pulling out or unable to pay their bills but at the moment these biggest clubs have been able to hold up their commercial value.”

Cash-strapped Barcelona still top the charts despite their latest accounts this week showing they are £112m in debt to 19 clubs over unpaid transfer fees.

Real Madrid have closed within £100,000 of their El Clasico rivals, who suffered a 15 per cent drop in revenue to £627.1m.

Bridge added: “In Germany they managed to complete the season prior to the end of June so the vast majority of revenue was recognised within the correct financial year.

Sportsville Award, a Morale Booster, Says Egbe Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Facility Limited, Ebi Egbe, has described the Sportsville award to be bestowed on him and other prominent Nigerians in Lagos on Saturday, January 30 as a morale booster.

Egbe in a letter to the organizers of the award said the recognition of the work his outfit Monimichelle is doing is something that would propel his company to do more.

“I want to thank the Sportsville board for this recognition...it is an award that I would describe as a morale booster as we strive to eradicate bad football pitches not just in Nigeria but Africa. I would be in Lagos to receive the award,” Egbe stated.

He stressed that the FIFA Goal Project which his outfit is handling in Ugborodo , Escravos in Delta State “is another opportunity to showcase what Monimichelle can do.”

The maiden Sportsville award is billed to take place at Ibis Royale Hotel, Ikeja on Saturday, January 30 with the red carpet kicking off at 4pm.

Some of the awardees include; Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, NBBF boss, Engr Musa Kida, NOC president, Engr Habu Gumel, NWFL chairperson, Aisha Falode, Enyimba chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu, and the CEO of Monimichelle Group Mr Ebi Egbe.

Thomas Tuchel will be in the dugout tonight against Wolves

TRANSFER NEWS....

Iheanacho’s Loan Move on Hold, May Lead Leicester against Everton Tonight Leicester City Manager, Brendan Rodgers, has hailed Kelechi Iheanacho’s performances for the club this season and revealed the forward remains a key member of his team.

The Nigerian international has delivered impressive showings in the few games he was afforded in the 2020-21 campaign. He’s presently linked with loan move to Fenerbache.

Iheanacho has made 19 appearances across all competitions this season, involving eight starts, scoring three goals and providing four assists.

The forward is behind Jamie Vardy in the pecking order and with the 34-year-old set to spend time on the sidelines, the Super Eagles star will be expected to play a more prominent role for the Foxes.

Rodgers is looking forward to seeing Iheanacho make more impact for the club in the second half of the season.

“The role he has been in, he’s done very well in. It’s difficult for any striker when you play with one up front, you need guys who are going to be loyal,” Rodgers said at a press conference ahead of tonight’s clash with Everton.

“He played very well with Jamie. He has made a great impact coming into games. It’s difficult because they get confidence from scoring goals.

“He doesn’t play as much as a striker needs to get that rhythm.

But he contributes. He brings great energy to the game.

“He’s still a very valuable player for us and will be important for us in the second half of the season.”

Leicester City will take on Everton in a Premier League

game tonight and Rodgers is confident with the players available to him in the absence of Vardy.

“It just depends on the game.

The type of game we want to play. There’s a lot made when Jamie doesn’t play, he’s one of the best in the league, but our development is about the collective,” he continued.

“Forty of our goals have come from others. Jamie’s got 13. Ayoze I know will score goals. He hasn’t

featured as much this season.

“He will play a really pivotal role. Whether it’s him, or Kelechi, or someone else, the responsibility for goals is the team.”

Iheanacho has been with the King Power Stadium outfit since the summer of 2017 when he teamed up with the side from Manchester City.

The centre-forward will hope to get more minutes under his belt against Everton at Goodison Park.

Kelechi Iheanacho (left) and compatriot Wilfred Ndidi celebrating one of Leicester’s good home run this season

FCT/Unicentral Set to Unveil Abuja International Marathon The Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Unicentral Resources Generation Limited are putting finishing touches to the first international marathon in Abuja.

The race, a full marathon (42.195 km) will start at The City Gate and finish at the Eagle Square.

Sources within FCT Ministry said that the Ministry and Unicentral have contacted the World Athletics to recommend

a Grade ‘A’ measurer who will measure and calibrate the route.

It was learnt that the race will parade a strong elite field, about a hundred Nigerian and international elite runners will be in Abuja.

There will also be a 5km fun and family run to encourage the culture of running in the FCT and environs.

Fatimah Waziri, a marathon enthusiast who resides in Abuja applauded the initiative. “This

is a huge achievement for this government, and I pray it becomes a reality soon. Abuja, more than any city, needs a race to showcase its beauty to the world and turn it into a global tourist destination.

“If you look at the major cities in Africa, Abuja is the only one without an international marathon. From Cairo to Cape Town, Rabat to Lagos, Dakar to Johannesburg, we are the only city missing from the

international marathon calendar, yet we have one of the best road network in Africa.”

Waziri said the race will boost local economy, especially the transport sector and hospitality business.

Unicentral Managing Director, Zsuszanna Ogunmiloyo confirmed that Unicentral “is working with FCT Ministry to deliver a world-class marathon in Abuja in 2021.”

Wednesday January 27, 2021

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Nwodo to Buhari “Gen Buhari, thanks for making us in Igboland feel, once more that we are not fit to head any of the security services.”

– Immediate past President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, expressing disappointment at President Buhari for excluding an Igbo among the newly appointed service chiefs.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

A Dangerous Politics of Security I t might have been a mere coincidence that at last President Muhammadu Buhari “accepted” yesterday the “resignations of service and their retirement” at a time the political consequences of rising insecurity are dangerously becoming manifest.

However, not a few would draw a link between this announcement from Aso Rock and the gross incompetence in tackling insecurity in the land amid the ferment generated by this failure of the state to perform a constitutional duty.

After all, the central question today is how to secure Nigeria and the service chiefs are expected to give professional leadership in the circumstance. The seeming lack of that leadership in the crucial security sector is the basis of the present crisis that is taking on political, ethnic or regional coloration. Come to think of it, some of the killings and kidnappings are reportedly perpetrated by elements of terrorist organisations based outside Nigeria. So the territorial integrity of Nigeria has been brought into question given the swathes of ungoverned spaces in parts of the country.

Although the spectre of insecurity haunting Nigeria varies in forms and

intensity as you move from one part of the country to the other, yet no part of the country can be said to be safe in real terms.

In particular, the politics of the security of lives and property has taken a dangerous dimension in the southwest in the last few days. The unity of the country is increasingly being threatened by the errors of omission and commission by the various players, with the Buhari administration being the original culprit.

There were at least two triggers to the present crisis. One was the ultimatum issued by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State to “those occupying the forest reserves… illegally to quit.” The immediate background was the spate of killings, kidnapping and invasion of farmlands in the state. Late last year, a traditional ruler left the governor’s office after a meeting and was killed on his way back to his domain. More deaths and kidnappings have been reported this year. The Ilesha-Akure road linking Ondo and Osun states has become a den of kidnappers. It is one of the most unsafe roads in Nigeria.

The other event was the “order” given

by Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, better known

as Sunday Igboho. He has vowed to chase out to those accused of killings, rape, kidnaping and destruction of farms in the northern part of Oyo state. Igboho is only giving vent to the growing discontents in his fatherland, according his supporters. Matters appeared to have come to a head with the brutal murder of the Dr. Fatai Aborode, a chieftain of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in his farm on Apodun road, Igangan. Despite the valiant efforts of the government of Governor Seyi Makinde and Oyo State Police Commissioner Ngozi Onadeko, the security situation especially in Igangan and other places in the northern part of the state, has been degenerating fast.

A number of suspects were reportedly arrested. This could not douse the tension. In sum, this could roughly be described as the context for the rising populism of which Igboho has now become the symbol among the Yoruba nationalists at home and in the diaspora and across social classes.

This is, of course, in the pattern of non-state actors increasingly filling the apparent leadership vacuum created by the abysmal lack of people-oriented governance at various levels in Nigeria.

The timely intervention of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum led by Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state may have helped, to some extent, in de-escalating the tension with the outcome of the Monday meeting in Akure.

The fundamental issues at the root of the crisis were isolated with proposed solutions that could be applied in other states of the federation.

In the meeting of the governors with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the “misconstrued” statement of Akeredolu was clarified.

According to the communique of the meeting, the cattle breeders agreed with the state government that “night grazing should be banned henceforth” and that “occupation of the state forest reserves illegally is condemned.”

Significantly, the meeting amplified the point to which the federal and state governments seemed to have been paying only a policy lip service : “free range grazing” is an obsolete mode of livestock production; ranching should be embraced as a modern method of Continued on page 45

Rawlings, A New Generation Statesman Tom Ikimi Jerry John Rawlings, the pride of Africa, and my own very dear friend was one of Africa’s most misunderstood statesmen.

The reason for this is very clear: he was one African leader who never did the ordinary or the pedestrian, and who successfully broke with political convention.

Perhaps the most distinguished member of the second generation of African postcolonial political innovators, Rawlings would best be remembered for inaugurating the tradition of an enduring, well-structured continental democracy which emerges from the people’s experience and consciousness of who they are. If Ghana was one example, Rwanda is another.

A truly gifted individual, Flight Lieutenant J. J. Rawlings had a prospective life direction as a young man. But he chose the burdensome, hazardous and even sacrificial path of a revolutionary, placing all he was and could become on the line, to forge a path of greatness, not just for his dear Ghana, but for Africa as a whole. The example of Jerry Rawlings was unprecedented and is still unparalleled in Africa – a man who taught us that a country can take its destiny in its own hands; that one singular inspired, visionary individual, and not a band of

High Chief Tom Ikimi, as Foreign Minister of Nigeria, meets with President JJ Rawlings in Accra - 1996.

profiteers and mercenaries, could lead the charge to retrieve that destiny from the brink of extinction. JJ was a humble man who by a stroke of the pen, could transform himself into a four-star General but he remained Flight Lieutenant for life!

Like most other progressive minds, I first knew Rawlings from all the legendary history spins around him as the Ghanaian leader that restored the dignity of his country in one of the most astonishing narratives of a national renaissance ever told. But

later, I got to know him better from close range when I served as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1994-1998. I had the task, at the Ministerial level, of leading the ECOWAS operation to bring to an end the war in Liberia and secure sustainable peace for the troubled West African country. With Nigeria leading the ECOMOG troops, President Rawlings ensured seamless cooperation with the Ghanaian troops, thus facilitating the surrender of Charles Taylor and the end of the war. Indeed, as a courageous and

ideologically persuaded pan-Africanist ally, who could defend the honour of an embattled brother-African country no matter what it cost him, Rawlings stood tall and strong for Nigeria during our protracted crisis of the 1990s, and the elaborate design of the international community to victimise Nigeria and extend a neocolonial stranglehold over the Giant of Africa.

To recall a specific spectacular instance, I was moved to tears (as the embattled Foreign Minister of Nigeria) when Rawlings dressed down the entire Commonwealth establishment for interfering rather uncharitably in Nigeria’s internal affairs. This was at the very explosive Auckland Conference of November 1995. In a retreat meeting room, jam-packed with only Commonwealth Heads of States and Governments, including Prime Minister John Major of Great Britain, late President Mandela of South Africa, President Arap Moi of Kenya, late President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe etc, and myself as leader of the Nigerian Delegation to the Conference, he courageously cited in detail his own world- famous revolution in Ghana, stressing without any equivocation that Africa was capable of solving its own problems and that Nigeria should be Continued on page 45

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