TUESDAY 2ND FEBRUARY 2021

Zenith Bank Retains Nigeria’s Most Valuable Banking Brand Position Nume Ekeghe Zenith Bank Plc. has again emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2021.

For the fourth consecutive year, Zenith Bank has been

ranked as the number one banking brand in Nigeria with a brand value of $275 million, moving up two places from 392 in 2020 to 390 in the 2021 global ranking of banks.

Notably, Zenith Bank is the only Nigerian bank among the first 400 banks in the global

ranking.

The ranking was published in the February 2021 edition of The Banker Magazine of the Financial Times Group in conjunction with Londonbased Brand Finance.

According to the publication, brand value is the licensing

rate that a third-party would need to pay to use the bank’s brand.

Commenting on the latest ranking, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said: “This ranking is a further affirmation of the

it this recognition as Nigeria’s Most Valuable Banking Brand, thus building on the legacy of its visionary Founder and Chairman, Mr. Jim Ovia, CON, whose pioneering and foundational role in building

bank's resilience given the very challenging macroeconomic environment brought about by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic".

He added: "Zenith Bank remains committed to sustaining the superior performance which has earned

Continued on page 8

FG Turns to Russia, India for COVID-19 Vaccines... Page 6 Tuesday 2 February, 2021 Vol 26. No 9431. Price: N250

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AGPC Raises US$260m to Complete ANOH Gas Processing Project Ready to drive energy transition in Nigeria Oluchi Chibuzor The ANOH Gas Processing Company (AGPC) has successfully raised $260m in debt to fund the completion of

its 300MMscfd capacity ANOH plant, located on OML 53 in Imo State, a statement by the company said yesterday.

AGPC is an incorporated joint venture (IJV), jointly

owned by Seplat and the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Seplat Petroleum

Development Company Plc, a leading Nigerian independent energy company, and NGC had previously provided $420m in equity funding.

With the fresh $260m, it

said, the project is now fully funded.

The fresh financing provided by a consortium of seven banks: Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc (advisor), United Bank

for Africa Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, FirstRand Bank Limited (London Branch) / RMB Nigeria Ltd, The Mauritius Continued on page 8

Appointment of New IG Awaits Buhari’s Return from Daura Adamu remains in office pending presidential directive President won't appoint service chiefs based on ethnicity, says presidency Ejiofor Alike, Funmi Ogundare in Lagos and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to take a decision on who will be the next Inspector-General of Police (IG) any time from today when he returns from his trip to his hometown, Daura, Katsina State, it was learnt yesterday.

A top presidency official confided in THISDAY that the incumbent, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, who was billed to retire yesterday after 35 years of service, would have to continue in office pending when a new appointment is made to fill the position.

This came as the presidency also yesterday launched a pushback over agitation for

the appointment of service chiefs along ethnic lines.

It said the president’s decision in picking a candidate to fill any post in any of the security agencies will be informed by the ability of the appointees to secure lives and property and not their ethnicity.

It also dismissed claims of a plan by the Buhari administration to clamp down on the media or tamper with the freedom of the press.

In addition, the presidency debunked the allegation that Buhari violated COVID-19 protocols in Daura, Katsina State, over the weekend when during the revalidation of his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Continued on page 8

Buhari, Atiku, Lawan, Tinubu, Govs, Others Mourn Momoh...Page 5

REACHING OUT TO THE PEOPLE...

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva (left), and Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, during a special town hall meeting in Yenagoa...yesterday

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

Buhari, Atiku, Lawan, Tinubu, Govs, Others Mourn Momoh

Davidson Iriekpen, Segun James in Lagos, Deji Elumoye and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu, yesterday paid tribute to a veteran journalist, politician and a former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh, who died earlier in the day.

He was 82.

They expressed shock at the death of the former minister and a chieftain of the ruling APC. Momoh, who served during the military administration of President Ibrahim Babangida died in Lagos after a brief illness.

A source close to the family, who confirmed the demise to THISDAY last night, said the former minister had been suffering from age-related illness lately.

Momoh, a renowned prince, was born on April 27, 1939, in Auchi, Edo State. He was the 165th child of King Momoh I of Auchi.

He attended Government School, Auchi from 1949 to 1954 and Anglican School Okpe in 1954.

Momoh was a pupil-teacher at the Anglican School, Auchi from January to December 1955 and Headmaster at the Anglican School, Ubuneke, Ivbiaro, Owan East Local Government from January 1958 to December 1959.

He went to the Provincial Teacher's Training College, Abudu, Edo State and Government Teacher's College, Abraka in Western Region from 1960 to 1961.

Later, while working at the Daily Times on sabbatical, he

attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka wherein 1966 he earned a degree in Mass Communication and then the University of Lagos where he studied Law. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos from October 1974 to May 1975), and was called to the bar in June 1975.

Momoh started his journalism career as a sub-editor at the Daily Times in October 1962, rising steadily through the ranks to become editor and deputy general manager.

Buhari, in a message by his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, expressed grief at the passing of his long-time ally, friend and political loyalist.

Buhari said Momoh stood with him through thick and thin, adding: “His brand of loyalty is very rare in the politics of today.

I will greatly miss him.”

He recalled that as Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the defunct All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) Campaign Organisation in the 2003 and 2007 elections as well as Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the deceased contributed immensely to the growth and strengthening of the organisations, leading to the eventual formation of the APC. Atiku, in his condolence message, described the former minister as a good man and an avowed apostle of politics without bitterness, adding that he carried himself with dignity and respect.

“A good man, Prince Tony Momoh, has gone home. The veteran journalist, politician and former minister was an avowed apostle of politics without bitterness. And like the prince he was, carried himself with dignity and respect. He will be sorely missed,” Atiku stated.

Lawan said he shared the grief of the family, friends and

political associates of Momoh.

He also commiserated with the government and people of Edo State and the APC on the loss.

Tinubu, in a condolence message, signed by the Head of his Media Office, Mr. Tunde Rahman, expressed shock over the death of Momoh.

He described him as a statesman, patriot and an exemplary journalist.

He said: "He was a statesman and patriot resolutely committed to the unity and progressive development of this country.

"He was not just a journalist, he was also a notable politician.

He was one of the true founders of the APC. "His death is a great loss at this time his wise counsel is needed in the country."

Sanwo-Olu described the death of Momoh as a colossal

loss to Nigeria, saying that the country will sorely miss his rich experience and knowledge, especially his contributions to national issues through politics and his editorial contents.

The Lagos State governor said the death of the elder statesman, politician and journalist was painful and heartbreaking.

In mourning Momoh, Obaseki, in a statement, celebrated the contributions of the deceased to the growth and development of Nigeria.

He described him as a rare politician who spoke truth to power when it mattered the most.

“Prince Momoh, though a great son of Edo State, was a total Nigerian. He was forthright, driven and spoke with candour. As a nationalist, he was unapologetic about the Nigerian

project. His lasting legacy remains the enthronement of democratic values in Nigeria,” he said in a statement.

A former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, said with the passing of Momoh, Nigeria has lost a remarkable elder statesman, a renowned journalist, an eminent public servant and a totally detrabilised Nigerian.

Ibori said: “Though Prince Tony Momoh and I were never in the same party all through, he was civilised enough to respect the boundaries of friendship resulting in a rewarding friendship that lasted for decades."

A group of senior citizens, elder statesmen and leaders of thought under the aegis of Project Nigeria Movement (PNM), also expressed sympathies over the death of Momoh, saying that

he will be missed.

The group, under the leadership of elder statesman, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN), said in a statement by its National Secretary, Sir Olawale Okunniyi that the former minister in his lifetime joined in advocating the democratic constitutional restructuring of Nigeria.

It added that he also produced many books and pamphlets on ensuring the cohesion, stability and prosperity of Nigeria.

The ruling APC also expressed sadness over the death of Momoh.

The Secretary of the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement yesterday, said Momoh truly lived a storied life, which will be a source of inspiration to present and future generations.

SOOTHING WORDS...

L-R: Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Maj. Gen. Muhammed Magoro (rtd); and widow of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, late Ibrahim Mohammed (SAN), Hanatu, during a condolence visit by Gambari in Abuja... yesterday

FG Arraigns P&ID Director, Kuchazi, on Money Laundering Charges Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government yesterday arraigned a Commercial Director of the Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited, Mr. Muhammed Kuchazi, on money laundering charges.

Kuchazi alongside his company, Kore Holdings Limited, were arraigned before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to all eight-count charges read against him.

Counsel to the Economic and

Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Bala Sanga, then prayed the court to remand Kuchazi in the custody of the Correctional Service, pending the commencement of his trial.

Kuchazi's lawyer, Mr. Aniah Ikwen, however, attempted to make an oral application for his bail, stating that Kuchazi is seriously ill and in urgent need of medical attention.

Although Sanga did not oppose the bail application because of the health condition of the defendant, trial judge, Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo,

however, declined to take the oral argument on the bail application.

Giwa-Ogunbanjo subsequently adjourned till February 4 for hearing in the bail application and April 27 for the commencement of trial.

The judge in the meantime ordered that Kuchazi be remanded in the custody of the EFCC. The anti-graft agency in the charge specifically accused the defendants of concealing facts concerning the activities of the firm.

Count one reads, “that you Kore Holdings Limited, being a designated non-financial institution; Muhammed Kuchazi, being a director of and signatory to the bank account of Kore Holdings Limited, sometime in May 2014, in Abuja, within the Abuja judicial division of the Federal High Court, failed to comply with the requirements of submitting to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, a declaration of the activities of Kore Holdings Limited contrary to Section 16 (1) (f) read together with

section 5(1) (a) (ii) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.” P&ID, an Irish firm is currently locked in a legal battle with Nigeria in a London Court where it is demanding the sum of $10 billion judgment debt against Nigeria.

The said sum was awarded in favour of the Irish company following a failed contract deal.

According to the deal entered in 2010, P&ID was to build a

gas processing facility in Calabar, Cross River State, for the processing of gas to be supplied

by Nigeria. In addition, Nigeria was expected to provide land as well as construct pipelines that would supply wet gas to the plant to be built by P&ID. The deal according to the agreement was for a 20 years period.

However by 2013, the Irish firm sued Nigeria for allegedly reneging on the gas processing deal, leading to a whopping $9.6 billion award in 2019 against Nigeria by a London Court.

Constitution Review: Clamour for Restructuring, Creation of States Top Demands Committee receives 254 memoranda Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate Committee on Constitution Review has analysed the 254 memoranda submitted by the public for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution with many Nigerians canvassing the restructuring of the federation as well as creation of more states and autonomy for the judiciary.

The committee, at the end of a two-day retreat to review and analyse the memoranda in Abuja, said it received a total of 254

memoranda late last year from the public, including groups and organisations.

In a communiqué signed on behalf of the committee by the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Senate President, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, and Lead Consultant to the committee, Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo, it explained that some of the analysed memoranda called for the review of the derivation principles and legislative powers of the federal, state and local governments.

Other key issues in the memoranda analysed include the creation of states and local governments, gender equality and affirmative action, including inclusiveness of women, youth and persons with a disability, granting autonomy to the judiciary, derivation, streamlining of criteria for qualification for participation in elective offices at all levels.

According to the communiqué, some of the recommendations considered at the retreat include

making constitutional provision for the allocation of 35 per cent of political positions reserved for female candidates and gender inclusiveness in the constitution.

In one of the presentations at the retreat, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Comfort Lamptey, noted the low representation of women in public life, especially in Nigeria’s political sphere, lamenting that Nigeria ranked 185 in the world on women's participation in

governance.

Also speaking at the retreat, the Country Director, National Democratic Institute (NDI), Dr. Stephen Snook, commended the initiative of the National Assembly to review the constitution and urged the committee to pay close attention to issues concerning promoting gender rights, especially in the area of equality and women’s rights.

The 59-man committee, during the retreat, also reviewed and

analysed the 2014 National Conference Report, report of the APC ad-hoc Committee on True Federalism and other previous reports on improving the constitution.

The committee, according to the communiqué, at the closing session of the retreat received the specific recommendations from the working groups, which will be elaborated by the technical committee towards producing the final report and bills for the review of the constitution.

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FG Turns to Russia, India for COVID-19 Vaccines Sends samples to NAFDAC Targets vaccination of 40% Nigerians in 2021

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Nigeria has extended its search for COVID-19 vaccines to Russia and India in a bid to get enough supplies to meet its target of vaccinating 40 per cent of its population by the end of 2021.

The federal government said it has obtained vaccine samples from Russia and India for testing by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The latest move came in the wake of a disclosure by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that 75 health workers have tested positive for the virus in the last one week.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, told his audience at a media briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 yesterday in Abuja that the federal government is strictly monitoring development in the international scene, especially on the procurement of vaccines for the country.

However, he expressed concern over the report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the scramble for the limited quantities of vaccines by powerful nations.

Although the minister did not disclose the names of the vaccines from both Russia and India, Sputnik V is the first registered vaccine against COVID-19 in Russia while India last month formally approved the emergency use of two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin.

Covishield, a brand of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is being manufactured locally by the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer.

Covaxin, the local vaccine, however, was approved despite the absence of data on how efficient it can be.

It has yet to go through large-scale trials.

Ehanire explained that Nigeria cannot be left out of the global scramble for the vaccines as the federal government owes it a duty to protect the people against the pandemic.

He said: "We have been keeping a strict eye on the vaccines’ scene and those who follow international news would have heard of the scramble for vaccines, which has pitted some countries against each other in Europe, as wealthy high-income countries have prepaid to allocate vaccines to them.

A spokesperson for the World Health Organisation estimated that 95 per cent of vaccines manufactured globally so far have gone to only 10 rich and powerful countries.

According to him, Nigeria is joining the WHO in

urging for global equity in the allocation of vaccines, since the pandemic is a threat to mankind and not only to any country alone.

Ehanire said the DirectorGeneral of the WHO, Mr. Tedros Adhanom, has repeatedly stated that no country is safe till all countries are safe.

The minister added that the date of the first arrival of vaccines in Nigeria has kept changing because the decision lies with the manufacturers who already have heavy commitments.

According to him, Nigeria has been advised to expect the first batch of vaccines from COVAX from February.

He said the government will continue to review plans to ensure a smooth rollout of vaccines.

He stated that the federal government will need the support of state governments on remuneration of vaccinators.

"The NAFDAC is the approving agency for all vaccines that will be used in Nigeria and this approval is required and must be sought before importation. Till date, only two companies have submitted the samples of their vaccines to NAFDAC, where the evaluation is ongoing.

"Vaccines without NAFDAC certification are illegal and may be dangerous in the light of fake vaccines, said to be already in circulation in parts of Europe," he said.

On the status of vaccine procurement drive, Ehanire said Nigeria has been allocated over 41 million doses by the African Union's African Vaccines Acquisition Task Team (AVATT).

The country is also expecting 15 million of about 42 million doses from COVAX. "Altogether, it will give us coverage for over 50 per cent of our target for 2021, if we can access all doses promised," he said.

Ehanire said the Ministry of Health and its agencies will be engaging with various segments of society in the coming weeks to sensitise them on Infection Prevention and Control and vaccines.

The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, in his update, lamented that the country has been witnessing increasing casualties from the pandemic since the beginning of the new year.

He said 75 health workers had tested positive for the virus in the last week, a situation he described as tragic.

Ihekweazu advised all health workers to strictly adhere to the health protocols to avoid being victims of the pandemic, adding that the lives of other Nigerians who might be infected by diseases

DONE DEAL...

Chairman, ANOH Gas Processing Company, Mr. Yusuf Usman (left), and Managing Director, Mr. Okechukwu Mba, at the signing ceremony of the US$260m ANOH Gas Project Financing in Abuja… yesterday

depends to a large extent on their ability to come to their rescue.

COVID-19 Vaccines Now Expected in April, Says FG Also yesterday, the federal government yesterday said the expected delivery date of COVID-19 vaccines has shifted from February ending to April.

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, at a sensitisation meeting on COVID-19 vaccines organised for Christian leaders by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja, said the vaccines would not start arriving until March or even April.

The federal government had earlier announced that it would receive the first batch of 100,000 vaccines the end of January.

It later shifted the arrival date to February due to what it described as manufacturing issues by the producing company.

NPHCDA Executive Director, Dr. Shuaib Faisal, had said on Sunday that the delay in the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines was because countries were negotiating price reduction, safety and effectiveness as well as the required logistics to stop ongoing community transmission of the virus.

“While the country appreciates the global effort through the COVAX facility to ensure low and medium-income countries like Nigeria have fair and equitable access to the COVID – 19 vaccines,

the delay in accessing vaccines means that eligible countries would have to explore all channels that can ensure fair prices, safe and effective vaccines for its populace,” he stated.

The latest shift in the arrival date comes as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, stated that the federal government will ensure that at least 40 per cent of the country's population is vaccinated before the end of the year.

Ehanire, at the sensitisation programme, said: "In order to ensure full benefits of vaccines, at least 76 per cent of the population must be immunised.

“We have been working on strategies to procure these vaccines and I can say that from our activities so far, we have secured for the books up to 46 per cent of the vaccines for eligible persons, although they will not start arriving until March or even April."

Speaking on the challenges facing the introduction of the vaccines in the country, Ehanire said there is a groundswell of resistance, hesitancy or even hostilities, which the federal government is battling to deal with.

On the imminent health danger facing Nigeria with the second wave of the pandemic, the minister said the disease is no respecter of any kind of limits or boundaries.

"It discriminates according to age and state of health, but COVID-19 does not discriminate according to tribe or religion or place of origin. In the face of this threat to mankind, it is imperative that we gather

as one people, with one voice to deliberate on how to save ourselves and use all means to survive," he said.

Ehanire urged religious leaders to support the government's efforts and to always verify the information they receive, especially through the social media and other sources so that people are not misled.

In his remarks, the SGF said the federal government is working on a plan to vaccinate 40 per cent of the population this year.

On the need for greater access to the vaccines, Mustapha said it behoves world leaders to ensure equitable distribution of the vaccines so that every country will have access to the vaccines, adding that until everyone is vaccinated, no one can be safe from the scourge.

He identified some of the challenges facing the efforts to contain the pandemic in Nigeria to include scepticism by the people, lack of compliance with COVID-19 health protocols, poor response to testing and inaccurate record of COVID-19 infection and casualty figures.

While welcoming participants to the meeting, Shuaib said traditional and religious leaders had played influential roles in previous vaccination campaigns, hence the need to partner them to ensure success in the current effort.

He urged religious leaders to help the federal government in checking misinformation on COVID-19 vaccines.

Mustapha said: "I would like to respectfully ask our religious leaders to actively challenge inaccurate and

harmful messages that could threaten an effective public health response to the pandemic and encourage all communities to promote healthy living.

"As we fight the spread of disinformation and misinformation, I ask religious leaders to leverage your networks and communication capacities to support the government’s recommended public health measures — from physical distancing, use of a face mask to good hygiene — and to ensure that faith-based activity, including worship, religious ceremonies and burial practices, comply with these measures."

CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, enjoined church leaders to sensitise their members to adhere strictly to all measures approved by the government to tackle COVID-19, including nonpharmaceutical measures and vaccines.

He said: "We should not be myopic and allow this virus to cut short our dreams. It is not good to show reckless confidence as being done by some faith leaders that COVID-19 is non-existent and that it is not for Christians. We have seen Christians very close to us who were hit by the wave of COVID-19 and you cannot say that they were all sinners.

"If you love your congregation, this is the time to teach them restraint; that is the way of wisdom.

If COVID-19 is a joke, why is it killing people in advanced nations where they have strong health infrastructure? Britain and America are under the siege of COVID-19."

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Nigeria’s Crude Oil Exports Hit Three-Year Low, Says Report Sylva: FG curbing unemployment, vandalism with modular refineries Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report West Africa’s oil exports slumped to the lowest level in at least three years last month as infrastructure woes for some of Nigeria’s biggest streams combined with gradually waning output in Angola.

Combined flows from the region fell to 3.41 million barrels a day in January from 3.8 million barrels a day in December, according to tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.

It was the lowest for both countries since January 2018, when Bloomberg started monitoring shipments in detail.

The report came just as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has said that with the completed and ongoing modular refineries in Nigeria, the federal government is set to tackle unemployment and incessant pipeline vandalism.

Nigeria, West Africa’s biggest oil producer, has seen its shipments curtailed in recent months by infrastructure issues affecting its biggest crude streams.

The nation’s loadings fell to 1.37 million barrels a day in January, the lowest for four years, according to separate data based on loading schedules compiled

by Bloomberg.

Exxon Mobil Corp.’s Qua Iboe stream was placed under force majeure until late January following a fire in mid-December at the grade’s oil export terminal.

Revised loadings of Qua Iboe slumped to about 61,000 barrels a day over December and January, the lowest rate in more than four years while liftings averaged 190,000 barrels a day last year, the loading data show.

Nigeria’s Brass crude flows also slumped as shipments were rescheduled following pipeline problems late last year.

Eni SpA lifted a force majeure, a clause in contracts that allows deliveries to be suspended, on Brass exports in mid-December following repairs of two pipelines that lead to the Brass oil terminal.

Exports of Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s Forcados crude, the nation’s biggest oil stream, were also briefly placed under restrictions last month after a pipeline for that facility experienced leaks, although crude flows weren’t fully halted.

However, according to Bloomberg, Nigeria’s export problems may be temporary, as infrastructure is repaired and oil flows are restored.

However, it stated that Angola’s dwindling outflows look symptomatic of a longer-term decline in the country’s oil output.

Africa’s second-largest oil producer shipped 1.05 million barrels a day last month, slumping from an average of 1.25 million

barrels a day last year, the tankertracking data show.

When Angola joined the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2007 it was pumping about 1.5 million barrels a day and output was rising as a string of new deepwater discoveries were brought into operation by companies including Total SE, BP Plc, Eni and Chevron Corp.

At the time, Angola said it would accept an OPEC production quota once its output hit 2 million barrels a day, a level that it struggled to reach on a sustained basis before a steep decline in rates as its offshore fields began to exceed the pace of additional supplies from new discoveries.

Linking smaller satellite fields back to existing floating production units helped the country to keep production close to its two million barrel-a-day

target for several years, but declines really began to set in from the beginning of 2016, when the stock of new fields available for development began to dwindle.

Sylva: FG Curbing Unemployment, Vandalism with Modular Refineries Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has said that with the completed and ongoing modular refineries, the federal government is set to tackle unemployment and incessant pipeline vandalism.

Sylva spoke during the ground-breaking of an energy infrastructure park being developed by Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited in partnership with the Nigerian

Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) at Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

A statement by the NCDMB in Abuja noted that the minister also inaugurated three corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects executed by the company.

The projects included the Okpoama Cottage Hospital, Iseleama Health Centre and Okpoama Community Water Works. Sylva added that one of the best strategies to curb restiveness in the Niger Delta region is to create jobs and opportunities for youths.

He listed part of his mandate to include collaborating with players in the private sector to establish oil and gas facilities, including modular refineries, which will ensure value addition to the crude oil, products sufficiency, create jobs in-country and curb pipeline vandalism.

APPOINTMENT OF NEW IG AWAITS BUHARI’S RETURN FROM DAURA he appeared in public and mingled with the crowd without wearing a face mask.

Giving THISDAY an insight into why Adamu would have to continue in office despite being due for retirement, the source said the outgoing IG couldn't have handed over to an interim successor without the approval of the person who appointed him.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who also spoke on finding a successor to Adamu, said while he appeared on a national television yesterday that the president will make a decision on the matter when he returns to Abuja from Daura.

The president had arrived in Daura on Friday at the start of a four-day official visit during which he renewed his membership of APC. He's expected in Abuja today.

Shehu said: “I haven’t spoken with the president, but if I read his mind correctly, the president would rather have an InspectorGeneral of Police who would make you and I safer, who would protect lives and property than one who is more pronounced by his tribal marks."

He stated that the president would decide on the leadership of the police after his return to Abuja.

Uncertainties Persist as IG Maintains Normal Schedule THISDAY checks yesterday, however, showed that there was no sign that Adamu was retiring, triggering uncertainties that pervaded the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

It was learnt that Adamu reported for duty, about 8 am yesterday and closed by 4 pm.

There was, however, an atmosphere of uncertainties

around the Force Headquarters as contrary to expectations of the rank and file, the IG, who was expected to hand over to the next most senior Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), did not do so.

Sources said the IG did not direct any of his subordinates to prepare handover notes.

"He was in the office by 8 am and closed by 4 pm," a source told THISDAY. There are also strong indications that the IG may be awaiting the arrival of the president today.

A source said the president is expected to clear the air on the matter.

"The president is expected in Abuja tomorrow (today) and he will resolve the issue," a source familiar with the matter said.

It was further gathered that being his last day in office, Adamu was expected to be in the office to work for the last time.

"Under normal circumstances, today (yesterday) is his last day in office. The handover you expect should be done today.

"On handover, the practice is that he would have directed departments to prepare handover notes since last week but he did not do so," another source said.

THISDAY also learnt that the support the IG enjoyed amongst northern power blocs had waned as they are now focused on their choice candidate.

"Even the support he enjoyed from the North is no longer strong. You know, they (North) are pushing for their candidate," a senior government official, who preferred anonymity, said.

President Won't Appoint Service Chiefs Based on Ethnicity, Says

Presidency Also yesterday, the presidency dismissed agitation for the appointment of service chiefs and other heads of security agencies based on their ethnicity.

Reacting to calls by interest groups for the appointment of an IG of South-eastern extraction, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Shehu, stated on a live television programme that Buhari would rather have an IG who would protect lives and property than one who is more pronounced by his tribal marks.

He said the president was fair in his recent appointment of service chiefs by making two appointments each from the South and the North.

He said: “The language that is being used is that there should be an Igbo service chief and this is a country with more than 250 ethnic groups. If you are going to appoint a service chief from every ethnic group in this country, you are going to have more than 250 Inspectors-General of Police, 250 Chiefs of Army Staff, and 250 Chiefs of Naval Staff. Things are not going to work like that.

“If we said that we are going to use ethnicity or religion as the basis, then, we have lost it. This is about law and order and not about ethnic identity.

“Look at what happened with the service chiefs appointed now – two from the South, two from the North - if you are talking about religion, two Muslims, two Christians.”

Shehu also faulted the allegation that Buhari violated COVID-19 protocols in Daura, over the weekend.

Buhari was seen in photos discussing with some APC governors at the revalidation of his APC membership in Daura on Saturday without wearing a mask or maintaining social

distance as stipulated by the Coronavirus Disease Health Protection Regulations (2021) he signed last week.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other groups had accused the president of violating the regulations.

But Shehu said Buhari wore a face mask earlier in the day but only removed it when he wanted to address his party members.

“People are missing the point.

The president had his face mask on through that engagement. He had it off when he was speaking into the microphone. It is just a childish antics by PDP,” he said.

Also speaking yesterday on ARISE NEWS Channels, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, another presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said there is no plan by the Buhari administration to clamp down on the media or tamper with the freedom of the press.

Adesina, while answering questions on the alleged orchestrated smear campaign against Buhari by some online newspapers and blogs, said the administration is not one that clamps down on the media.

"This government will never tamper with the freedom of the press. If any columnist is alleging that, it is within their right to allege that,” he stated.

According to him, there is concrete evidence of a conspiracy against the Buhari administration, stressing that when the presidency was notified, it raised the alarm and warned the public so that they would not be hoodwinked into believing a falsehood.

"When we raised the first alarm, they retreated, but as at last week, they were about launching and we had the evidence that it was going to be done up to the point of those they had interviewed, what they

had said and the documents they wanted to unleash. We just had to warn the reading public lest they be hoodwinked to believing falsehood. Government has the capacity to ferret out all these things. So when you speak about certain things, it is because you already have evidence," he said.

Adesina added that Nigeria’s war against insurgency is underreported by the media.

He cited an example of how an ambush laid by the military for insurgents was reported as an attack on the military without mention of what the insurgents suffered.

He said: “Two weeks ago, there was an attempt to seize military formation in Marte, Borno State. If you seek to know what happened in Marte, you will give kudos to our military.

“They allowed the insurgents to come in and the insurgents just suddenly found themselves in an ambush and they decimated them completely; took out all their gun trucks, about six or seven gun trucks. Do you know that that thing did not gain traction in the media?

“Those that reported it said the insurgents attacked the military formation; they didn’t say what the military did to them. That’s a practical example of underreporting what happens even in the anti-insurgency war.

“You find out that when the insurgents seem to have made gains, it’s played up, but when our military fights back and gains ground, people don’t seem to hear about it. It is not reported even online they don’t celebrate it.”

Speaking on the farmers/ herders crisis in the South-west and various intervention schemes by the government, Adesina said the herders’ crisis is older than many of those speaking on it.

“It has always been there. The degree may have escalated than

increasing natural gas utilization in the domestic market.”

Also speaking on the financing arrangement, the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Okechukwu Mba, said: “Successfully closing the $260m debt facility means that the

ANOH project is now fully funded. “Once operational, AGPC will be a significant supplier of gas to Nigeria’s power sector, supporting local employment and the cleaner generation of power for millions of Nigerian homes and businesses.”

Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine "Top 500 Banking Brands 2020" and Number One Bank in Nigeria

by Tier-1 Capital in the "2020 Top 1000 World Banks" ranking by The Banker Magazine. Similarly, the bank was recognised as Bank of the Decade (People's Choice) at the THISDAY Awards 2020, Retail Bank of the year at the

2020 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards, and Best Company in Promotion of Good Health and Well-Being as well as Best Company in Promotion of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment at the Sustainability, Enterprise and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards 2020.

AGPC RAISES US$260M TO COMPLETE ANOH GAS PROCESSING PROJECT Commercial Bank Ltd, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and FCMB Capital Markets Ltd was signed yesterday by AGPC. “The transaction allows for an additional $60m at the time of completion to fund an equity rebalancing payment, if

considered appropriate,” the company stated.

According to it, funding commitments of more than $450m were received by the company, which is a significant oversubscription and a strong sign of confidence in the project.

Commenting on the transaction, the Chairman of AGPC, Mr. Yusuf Usman, said: “This financing agreement; for the development of the ANOH Gas Processing Plant will significantly contribute to the realization of the federal government’s initiatives towards

ZENITH BANK RETAINS NIGERIA’S MOST VALUABLE BANKING BRAND POSITION the structures and laying the foundation ensured an enduring and very successful institution.

“Zenith Bank places a premium on its core business strategy anchored on People, Technology and Service, to create value for its numerous clientele. With a team of dedicated professionals, the bank leverages its robust Information and

Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure to provide cutting-edge solutions and products through its network of branches and electronic/digital channels.”

Zenith Bank's emergence as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria is coming on the heels of several awards and recognitions in 2020 for its track

record of excellent performance.

The bank was voted as Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker's Bank of the Year Awards 2020, Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance World's Best Banks Awards 2020 and Best Corporate Governance 'Financial Services' Africa 2020 by the Ethical Boardroom.

Also, the bank emerged as the

it was in the past. So we don't need to carry on as if it is a new development that came with this administration. Government is working to resolve it. What happened in the South-west recently is something that will lead to a resolution. There was a meeting of minds, governors met with stakeholders from different sides of the divide. After that meeting, the tension went down considerably and that is the kind of thing that will ultimately lead to a solution,” he stated.

Adesina also highlighted some of the achievements of the Buhari administration, saying that not much has been said about the positive sides.

Reacting to the perception that the federal government has been appointing people into offices based on ethnic and religious background, he said: "Perception is not reality.

A lot of people believed that it is a larger percentage of reality but it is not reality. They believe that most Inspectors-General of Police have come from a certain part of the country in the past 20 years, but somebody put the right information out last week.

In the past 20 years, we have had 11 Inspectors General (IG) of Police; six of them have come from the South and five from the North. But you will hear people saying that five are coming from the North. If we have 11 IGs in 20 years and six came from the south and five from the North, is that a perpetuation?”

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NGN NGN 0.13 1.43 0.31 3.42 0.05 0.56 0.05 0.59 0.06 0.71 NGN 0.04 0.36 0.02 0.20 0.02 0.23 JBERGER 1.65 21.00 MULTIVERSE 0.01 0.21 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,505.00 Volume: 586.806 million shares Value: N6.024 billion Deals: 7,611 As at yesterday 1/2/2021 See details on Page 33

% 10 9.9 9.8 9.2 9.2 % 10 9.0 8.0 7.2 4.5

TUESDAY, ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

9

NEWS

Report Projects 15% Banks’ Loan Growth on Back of CBN’s Interventions Obinna Chima A report by Agusto & Co. has predicted that total banking industry loan will rise by between 12 and 15 per cent in 2021.

The Lagos-based firm hinged its prediction on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) aggressive real sector interventions as well as its expected naira devaluation.

The pan-African rating agency, in its ‘2021 Outlook for the Nigerian Banking Industry,' stated that pressure by banks to meet up with the minimum loanto-deposit ratio (LDR) and risk assets created by the relatively new banks (those licensed in the last six years) will further support loan growth in the year.

It also did not expect the industry’s impaired loan ratio

to exceed 9.6 per cent as of December 31, 2021.

“2020 financial year was a challenging one for the Nigerian banking industry. The coronavirus pandemic and some heterodox policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria impacted the industry’s performance negatively.

“Conversely, the regulatory forbearance, the extension of the moratorium on intervention loans and other measures introduced by the apex bank supported the industry.

“The issuance of securities as a refund of the excess cash reserve requirement (CRR) debits in December 2020, relieved the liquidity pressure on banks, albeit to an extent,” it added.

The ratings agency said 2021 would be a year of two halves for the banking industry and the

economy at large, adding that the lingering adverse impact of the pandemic, exacerbated by the second wave, was expected to dominate the first half of the year.

“However, mass vaccination, clarity on OPEC’s pricing strategy and a better understanding of the coronavirus are expected to moderate the headwinds in the second half of the year. In our view, the year will be a mixed bag for the industry and this will be reflected in its asset quality, earnings, liquidity, and capital position,” it stated.

Also, Agusto & Co. expects a gradual increase in interest rates, particularly in the second half of the year. It anticipated a 56 per cent net interest spread, higher than the 50.1 per cent it had estimated for full-year 2020,

given that loan pricing was more sensitive to upward movements than funding costs.

“Net earnings will also benefit from debt instruments (bonds and commercial papers) issued by banks at record low-interest rates in 2020, coupled with the expected 400 basis points increase in the pricing for intervention loans by March 2021.

“In our view, investments in electronic banking platforms, growing adoption of the digital banking channels and the expanding online community will continue to drive noninterest income. The industry is expected to consolidate on cost-efficiencies elicited by the pandemic, although we foresee additional technology costs, which are largely dollardenominated, as most banks

scaled up on electronic tools platforms. Overall, we anticipate a 21.8 per cent average return on equity for the 2021 financial year,” it added.

The firm also expects a significant improvement in the industry’s foreign currency liquidity position in 2021.

“The banking industry’s capital was pressured in 2020 by additional provisions elicited by the deterioration in most macroeconomic variables.

However, long-term bonds issued by some banks provided a capital buffer.

“In 2021, we expect this trend to continue to support capital, provide liquidity and reduce the asset-liability mismatches on the balance sheet. We foresee the initiation of capital raising exercise by some tier II and III

banks in anticipation of the CBN planned increase in the minimum capital of banks.

“The asset growth plan of banks will also propel the capital raising exercise. However, successful implementation of the capital raising exercises will be challenging based on the general apathy to equity by the investing public.

“Overall, we anticipate a better year for the industry, compared to the prior one on the back of a more supportive regulatory environment, a better understanding of the macroeconomic environment, positive economic growth and cost efficiencies elicited by the pandemic. "Notwithstanding, we believe some of the challenges in the industry will still linger,” it added.

We Led TNOG’s OML 17 Acquisition, Says Standard Chartered Goddy Egene Standard Chartered Bank acted as Global Coordinator/Financial Advisor to Heirs Holdings Oil & Gas Limited (formerly Trans-Niger Oil & Gas Limited) on its acquisition of a 45 per cent working interest in OML 17 (a producing onshore oil

and gas asset in Nigeria) from Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Total E&P Nigeria Limited (TEPNG) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) a subsidiary of ENI SpA, the bank has said.

In a statement, Standard Chartered said it advised

Heirs Holdings Oil & Gas on all aspects of the transaction, including market sounding, investor screening, transaction structuring, negotiation with financiers and the sellers, regulatory engagement, overall process management and completion escrow account structuring and management.

The transaction, which is the largest oil & gas M&A deal in Africa in recent times, it said further demonstrates the bank’s extensive knowledge of the Oil & Gas industry, access to investors and diverse capital sources, strong M&A capabilities and trusted relationship with the key

transaction stakeholders.

Speaking on the transaction, Executive Director, Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking, Nigeria & West Africa, Standard Chartered, Mr. Korede Adenowo, said: “Standard Chartered is proud to have partnered with Heirs Holdings Oil & Gas to deliver

completion on this landmark transaction and we look forward to supporting Heirs Holdings Oil & Gas to realize value from this world-class asset.

“We continue to work with our clients across the oil & gas value chain to support them on their growth aspirations.”

South-east Govs Cost PDP 2019 Presidential Poll, Says Report Party’s committee submits report soon Chuks Okocha in Abuja The report of a committee set up by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to review why the party lost 2019 presidential election has attributed the party’s defeat to disenchantment by South-east governors over the choice of former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, as the party’s running mate.

THISDAY's findings showed that the report of the committee, headed by Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, also accused other presidential aspirants, who lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in the race for the PDP’s ticket of being indifferent to working

for the party’s electoral victory.

In the race for the party’s ticket, Atiku scored 1,532 votes to defeat 11 other aspirants, including, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who scored 693 votes; former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, 317 votes; Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, 158 votes; former Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, 111 votes; former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, 96 votes; and former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, 74 votes, among others.

However, Atiku lost the election to President Muhammadu Buhari, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The National Executive

Committee (NEC) of the PDP had set up the committee following a recommendation by Atiku at the party’s 87th NEC meeting in Abuja last year.

The committee, which has the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, as secretary, was tasked with the probe of why the PDP lost the presidential election and also make recommendations on the way forward.

The North-west geopolitical zone was represented on the committee by Lamido and for Minister for Special Duties, Mr. Tanimu Turaki (SAN); while a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara (then as a PDP member) and Mr. Alhassan Muhammadu were selected to represent the

North-east.

Other members are former Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, and Mr. Istifanus Gyang (North-central); Mr. Francis Nwaifuru and Austin Nnamani (South-east); while Hon. Austin Okpara and Mrs. Stella Omu represented the South-south.

A member of the committee, who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity, said the committee discovered that the PDP lost the election because of issues like indifference and non-commitment by some of the presidential aspirants, as well as the roles played by some PDP governors over the nomination of Obi as Atiku's running mate.

He said: "Despite the anxiety and expectations of Nigerians

for a change, the aspirations of Nigerians were dashed because of the indifference of the co-presidential aspirants that contested and lost at the Port Harcourt presidential convention of the party.

"The convention organised by the party under the chairmanship of the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, was basically seen to be free and transparent but events that followed thereafter marred the campaigns.

"We left Port Harcourt as a team and ready to move into the campaign but the signals we get from the co-presidential aspirants that contested against Atiku was a bad one. There were indifference and absence of commitments.

"Except a few of them that came into the campaign with vigour, others were not fully committed.

"Another matter that marred the campaign was the way and manner the vice presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, emerged. This could be described as the last straw that killed the enthusiasm of the campaign. For a long time into the campaign, it haunted the campaign."

According to him, the committee discovered that many PDP leaders saw the choice of Obi as not based on consultation but merely imposition.

He stated that Obi was Anambra State governor for eight years and a friend of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

FG Reiterates Commitment to Revenue Mobilisation, Macro-stability Nume Ekeghe and Dike Onwuamaeze The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has reiterated the federal government’s resolve to enhance revenue mobilisation as well as Nigeria’s competitiveness.

Ahmed said the government would achieve the target by encouraging domestic investors and enhancing overall macroeconomic stability and jobs creation in spite of the difficult challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ahmed, while delivering the keynote address at the PwC Nigeria’s virtual, “Executive Roundtable on the Finance Act 2020 and Economic Outlook for 2021,” said: “The administration is committed to enabling economic recovery and stimulating inclusive growth through policies and interventions designed to foster economic resilience and business sustainability.

“Thus, the Finance Act 2020 is aimed at supporting vulnerable households and businesses, improving fiscal discipline and procurement

efficiency, enhancing economic competitiveness, encouraging domestic investors and enhancing macroeconomic stability amid the challenges posed by the COVID19 pandemic.”

In his opening remarks, the Country Senior Partner PwC Nigeria, Mr. Uyi Akpata, urged businesses to understand the forces that would shape Nigeria’s economy in 2021.

According to him the knowledge will help them to minimise potential risks and take advantage of the fiscal policies the government had enacted to stimulate economic recovery.

A Partner and Chief Economist of PwC Nigeria, Dr. Andrew S. Nevin, who presented the economic outlook for 202, outlined 10 themes that policymakers and businesses should consider in 2021.

These themes, according to him, are unlocking Nigeria’s vast dead assets to stimulate growth, harnessing the power of the Diaspora for economic development, driving export growth through services, moving thriving informal sector to the formal sector and ensuring that growth is spread across

the country, and not restricted in a few urban centres.

He listed other themes to include improving the country’s low investment and gross capital formation, enhancing the business environment and ease of doing business in the country, addressing Nigeria’s big three distortions, which are exchange rate, power and subsidies, as well as shifting Nigeria’s focus from the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) lens to the Sustainable Development Goals lens and prioritising climate change.

He said: “Nigeria holds as much as $900 billion worth of dead capital in residential real estate and agricultural land. The value of the federal government’s abandoned property alone, according to the Nigerian Institute of Builders, is projected to be about N230 billion.

“And about a half of Nigeria’s population live in cities, of which almost 80 per cent of them are living in substandard conditions.

Finding the political will to act and unlock Nigeria’s dead real estate assets will have a transformative impact on the lives of Nigerians.”

The Fiscal Policy Partner and

West Africa Tax Leader PwC Nigeria, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, said the Finance Act 2020 and other significant changes that have been made to existing tax laws would shape Nigeria’s tax environment in 2021.

Oyedele commended the government for not introducing new taxes or increasing the rates of existing taxes.

He also applauded the reduction in minimum tax rate and advocated the termination of taxing companies based on their turnover even when they are making losses.

Oyedele, who presented the results of the survey conducted

by PwC on the 2020 Finance Act, noted that 59.7 per cent of the respondents did not agree with the idea of transferring unclaimed dividends and dormant account balances to a trust fund while 31.2 per cent disagreed with the plan to introduce excise duty on telecommunications services.

Meanwhile, the Special Advisor to the President on Finance and Economy, Dr. Sarah Alade, has said that blended financing has assisted the country in bridging investment gap in the country.

She added that the federal government would continue to work towards blended finance.

Alade, said this yesterday at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Blended Finance Guidance virtual launch.

“Blended finance has helped in Nigeria to bridge investment financing gap by attracting commercial capital towards projects that blended finance has been used.

“Before COVID-19, we had a number of projects in Nigeria that had benefited from the use of blended finance. We have the World Bank partial risk guarantee, which had come in support of a power plant that we have called Azura which was intended to provide electricity for 14 million people in Nigeria.

“We also have to use of blended finance in the infrastructure sector where it is being employed in roads and railway corridor between Nigeria and Niger republic.

Although financing negotiations are still ongoing but we have a consortium of financing institutions which are the DFIs

as well as the commercial,” she stated.

On how to enhance more blended financing, she stated that consistent reforms and macroeconomic stability is important.

She said: “Policy reforms is ongoing and is very important.

First of all, macroeconomic stability is important in any country that attracts blended finance. If you don’t have macroeconomic stability or have issues with that, there would be problems attracting both DFIs as well as private sector funding.

“Finance plays an important role in ensuring that this reform comes in place and that they are able to attract both sides and then coordinate so that barriers are removed and they also need to be able to ensure that the portfolio of the investors aligns with the national priority of the country.

“Usually, it goes beyond making money or providing money; it must align with what you need and what is on your own front burner. So, we are able to then facilitate and then provide this kind of platform for the stakeholders to engage.”

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

10

NEWS

22 LGAs in 13 States Account for 95% of COVID-19 Infections, Says PTF Warns Nigerians against visit to Kogi

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF) has identified 22 Local Government Areas in 13 states of the federation as the hotspots of the new spike in COVID-19 epidemic in the last six weeks.

The PTF National Incident Manager, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, gave the affected local government areas yesterday at the weekly briefing by the PTF. The council area with high case load are: Nkanu West, Enugu; Abuja Municipal Area Council, FCT; Gwagwalada, FCT; Gombe, Gombe; Chikun, Kaduna; Kaduna North, Kaduna; Kaduna South, Kaduna; Nassarawa, Kano; Katsina, Katsina; Ilorin South, Kwara; Ilorin West, Kwara; Eti-Osa, Lagos; Ikeja, Lagos; Kosofe, Lagos; Lagos Mainland, Lagos; Keffi, Nasarawa; Lafia, Nasarawa; Ibadan North, Oyo; Jos North, Plateau; Jos South, Plateau; Port-Harcourt, Rivers and Wamako, Sokoto.

Muhammad also identified Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara and Kebbi states as those where data were notably not forthcoming to aid analysis of the level of epidemic in the states.

He also advised Nigerians against paying visit to Kogi State in the light of the failure of the north central state to report COVID- 19 cases and testing results to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

He noted that states that are not testing are probably of higher risk than the states already known as high burden.

“And Kogi State that has not been reporting at all – a state that is not

testing at all is an absolute high risk for Nigerians to go there because there is no testing facility. “If you fall sick, there is no isolation facility and they don’t even acknowledge that the disease exists. So, for that reason, epidemiologically, we put that state at the top of high risk state,” Muhammed said.

He said the PTF is working to provide support to all states to offer enforcement in form of risk and community engagement strategies, while also stressing that practical strategies will be adopted that will include mobile courts in strategic locations such as motor parks, markets.

He also said that the next batch of 100 travel defaulters that fail to subject themselves for test after seven-day of arrival through the international travel portal will have their names and passport numbers published this week in seven national newspapers and face a six-month travel ban.

Meanwhile, the federal government has threatened to suspend the operations from airlines from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Netherlands into Nigeria, unless the two countries drop their demand for additional tests for Nigerian passengers going to their countries.

The Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, issued the threat yesterday at the PTF briefing.

Nuhu accused both the UAE and the Netherlands of putting in extra requirements for passengers going into their countries, such

South-east Govs Reiterate Ban on Open Grazing Umahi wants criminals cleared from forests Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki South-east Governors have reiterated their ban on open grazing of cattle in the zone.

The chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi emphasised this yesterday during APC stakeholders meeting at the Christian Ecumenical Centre Abakaliki.

Umahi has also called for flushing out of all criminal elements from the forests in the south-east by security agencies.

Umahi also enjoined leaders to exhibit patriotism in their conduct to guarantee the unity of the country.

“We are living in a dangerous time; without patriotism to our nation Nigeria, it is very difficult to have a peaceful time” “Governors of South East have been calling on our leaders to speak out on the Security of the zone and unity of Nigeria, I read on paper where someone said he was giving Governors of South East seven days to ban open grazing; the Governors of south-east had banned open grazing and movement of cows by foot into South East, in each of states of the South East. We are managing ourselves well; what we discussed with the herdsmen is the system in place for a long time”

Umahi cautioned people of the zone against instigating crises in the country through the dissemination of fake videos alleging killing of Fulanis by IPOB in the South East.

“What our people must know is that security is not political; what is demanded of the leaders is to put up programmes that favours the people and foster national unity” Umahi announced his support for the call to flush out criminal elements from forests across the nation to boost the security of the country.

“In our forests today, we have the kidnappers, herdsmen, cultists, all sorts of criminals; anybody staying in the forest is taking a risk. When we say that people should move out of the forests, it is for their safety and security; so, I support that kidnappers, herdsmen, cultists, and bandits should be flushed out of our forests” The governor used the occasion to officially inaugurate the APC Revalidation and Registration Committee and charged the Caretaker Committees to ensure the successful conduct of the exercise.

He thanked stakeholders of the party for attending the meeting and observing the COVID-19 protocol, insisting that the state remains APC.

as adding extra requirements of having rapid test done four hours here before boarding.

He noted that some of the requirements were specific to Nigeria and were in addition to the requirements for PCR Test before departure from Nigeria

to their countries.

He said why the PTF recognised the right of all countries to put in measures to protect their citizens, the countries or the airlines cannot determine for Nigeria whom to approve and how these tests can be done.

“We are going to be having discussions with these airlines and these countries. And if they insist on having these additional tests being done then PTF has decided that their operations will be suspended into Nigeria until the time the PFT put in

the structure and deals with the logistics and how these second test can be done successfully within the four hours of departure to these two countries and to other countries that probably come up with something close to that,” Nuhu said.

WITH DEVELOPMENT PARTNER…

Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Mr. Oliver Stolpe (left), and Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, during Stolpe’s visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja …yesterday

FCT Court Shuts down Wuse Market forViolating COVID-19 Protocols Convicts 100 persons over facemasks’ violation

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) mobile court has ordered the shutting down of the popular Wuse market for breaching the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulation, signed into law seven days ago by President Muhammadu Buhari, and ratified last Friday by the FCT Administration.

The court order also affected UTC and the Murg Shopping Plazas both in Area 10, Garki,

Abuja.

The presiding Magistrate, Idayat Akanni, also convicted 100 persons, who were arrested by the enforcement team for walking in public places without using their facemasks.

She handed the violators a fine of N2, 000 each with an option of carrying out a two-week community service.

The magistrate said the convicts were handed lesser penalties as they were deemed as first offenders.

The Head of Media and Enlightenment of FCTA COVID-19 Enforcement Team, Ihkaro Attah, said the Wuse market and the two shopping malls violated some of the provisions of the presidential regulations that required them to make provision for the health safety requirements.

Attah said the breaches were so flagrant that no responsible government would tolerate them.

According to him, “The presidential regulations have given our enforcement team the teeth

to bite, and the FCT minister has also given his backing for the full implementation of the presidential regulations.”

He also added that the court pronounced that the shutdown order can only be vacated when the management of the facilities complies with the regulations.

The COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021 were ratified

by FCTA with the FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, authorising security agencies to arrest anyone violating the guidelines.

Gunmen Raid Two Kaduna LGs, Kill Three, Injure Others John Shiklam in Kaduna Some bandits were said to have killed three in separate attacks in Giwa and Zango-Kataf Local Government Areas of Kaduna, while three persons were left injured.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwa, in an official statement, said bandits raided some locals joints at Wawan Rafi village, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area where they killed one John Isah while injuring three other persons.

The commissioner gave the names of those injured by the rampaging bandits as Fidelix

Jacob, Abraham Isah and Philemon Adamu.

Aruwa also said security operatives recovered two AK47 rifles with over 40 rounds of ammunition from two persons in the area.

“The security agencies added that two AK 47 rifles were recovered along with over 43 rounds of ammunition from two individuals, Malachi Akut and Gabas Gaje. They were immediately arrested for further interrogation,” he said.

However, he noted with sadness that while the security operatives were on the trail of the bandits in the area, some restive youths violently protested against the

arrest of the two, thereby aiding their escape.

Also, an official statement by the commissioner said scores of bandits were neutralised by the Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi and Chikun LGAs. According to the Commissioner, scores of villagers including women and children were kidnapped by the bandits.

Aruwa said the state was briefed by security operatives that bandits attacked Garawa village of Fatika District, Giwa LG, killing one Alhaji Saadu, while some citizens were kidnapped.

He added that the bandits raided Doka village also of Fatika District in the same local government and abducted some residents.

“In Angwan Dan Yaya village of the same district, one resident Alhaji Suleiman Audu was shot dead by armed bandits,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner said while Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed concern over the latest killings in the state and commiserated with the bereaved family, the Governor was sad over the disruption of security operations by irate youths at Zango-Kataf.

Buhari Hails Morocco’s Support for Nigeria’s War against Terrorism DejiElumoyeinAbuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declared that Morocco has been very supportive of Nigeria’s fight against terrorism in the North East geo-political zone and violent extremism.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and

Publicity, Garba Shehu in a release quoted Buhari as saying this during a telephone conversation between him and King Mohammed V1 The President who spoke with His Majesty, the King of Morocco, from his country home in Daura, thanked the leader for his support in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

He

expressed appreciation for the Kingdom’s support in education through scholarships and training.

Buhari and the Moroccan leader also discussed joint efforts towards realization of strategic development projects that include Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and a fertilizer production plant. The two leaders welcomed the positive and dynamic

bilateral relations in all fields between the two nations since the King’s visit to Nigeria in December, 2016, and President Buhari’s visit to Morocco in June, 2018. President Buhari and King Mohammed expressed their determination to carry out, as soon as possible, the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and construction of a fertilizer production plant in Nigeria.

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COMMENT

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

A DISTINGUISHED OFFICER IN CHARGE

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Abdulrahman Sade pays tribute to the new Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Oladayo Amao

n recent years, experts have been making submissions that air power is the most important component of modern warfare. Their opinions cannot be far from the truth. Despite this viewpoint, more than a century after the beginning of “the age of air power” and nearly six decades after the creation of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF was established in 1962), the force was, until recently, nothing to write home about, even though Nigeria ought to have since been a clear leader as the “giant of Africa.”

But Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, the immediate past Chief of Air Staff (CAS), shifted the paradigm upon assuming office in 2015, fulfilling the promise he made at the beginning that he would “reposition the NAF as a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building for effective, efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives.”

On Tuesday, January 26, 2021, Air Marshal Abubakar went into retirement and President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao as his successor.

Consequently, pundits have been debating on the capability of the new Air Chief in wearing the big shoe left behind by his predecessor.

With my vast but humble knowledge of the affairs of the Nigerian Air Force, I can confidently declare that Amao is a worthy successor and that Nigerians are going to be proud of him the same way they are of Air Marshal Abubakar. He will surely sustain his predecessor’s tempo or even exceed it, considering the African notion that elders often want those behind to surpass them in achievements.

My opinion about Air Marshal Amao’s capacity is predicated on his antecedents as a person and also as an officer of the NAF since he enlisted into the force in 1984 and got commissioned as a pilot officer in 1986. Let me begin with the sought-after decorations and awards he has been able to bag over the years.

They are: Force Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished, Service Star (DSS), General Service Star (GSS), General Service Medal (GSM), River Benue Star (RBS), Passed Staff College (PSC), Fellow National Defence University (FNDU) and Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI).

Not every military officer gets these kinds of laurels. They are exclusively reserved for officers who distinguish themselves in discharging the responsibilities given to them. Getting them indicates that Amao has a history of distinguishing himself whenever tasks are given to him. He will certainly take that credential to his new office.

Military watchers believe that among the criteria the presidency considers when appointing service chiefs are sound leadership qualities, outstanding commanding attributes and remarkable administrative experiences. Amao, a recipient of the Chief of Air Staff Letter of Commendation for Good Leadership, has handled many frontline responsibilities. Among them are: Squadron Pilot at 99 Air Combat Training Group, Instructor Pilot at 301 Flying Training School, and Air Assistant to the Chief of Air Staff.

Amao was also at various times, Assistant Director Operations at Defence Headquarters, Abuja; Commander of 99 Air Combat Training Group; Commander of 75 Strike Group Yola; Air Component Commander of Operation Zaman Lafiya Dole; Deputy Theatre Commander (Air) Operation Lafiya Dole; Director of Policy at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force; Director of Training at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force; Director of Operations at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force; Air Officer

HE IS A GO-GETTER WHO NEVER FLINCHES BEFORE OBSTACLES ANYTIME HE WANTS TO ACHIEVE AN AIM

Commanding Tactical Air Command, Makurdi; Chief of Training and Operations Nigerian Air Force; Chief of Policy and Plans Nigerian Air Force; and, until he was appointed Chief of Air Staff, the Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Lagos.

The new Air Chief is also not new to diplomatic and international affairs, in view of the fact that his office would periodically require him to go into partnerships with other countries for weaponry, equipment or personnel trainings. He has served at the Nigerian High Commission in London at various times as Deputy Defence Adviser (Air) and later as Acting Defence Adviser. Those were, no doubt, fitting positions for this holder of Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy from Kaduna Polytechnic.

Other academic qualifications in Amao’s kitty are: Master of Science (MSc) in Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Madras, India; Master of Military Science and Strategy (MMSc); Advanced Diploma in Defence and Strategy Studies from National Defence University (NDU) China; National Diploma in Freshwater and Fisheries Technology from Federal College of Freshwater and Fisheries Technology (FCFFT), New Bussa; and Nigerian Defence Academy’s Certificate of Education.

The official profile of the new CAS shows that prior to his latest appointment, he attended nine capacity-building courses both in Nigeria and abroad. The courses were: Primary Flying Training, at 301 Flying Training School Kaduna; Basic Flying Training at 303 Flying Training School, Kano; Tactical Fighter Training at 99 Air Combat Training Group, Kainji; Instructor Pilot Course at 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna; Junior Staff Course at Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji; Senior Staff Course at Defence Services Staff College Wellington, India; National Defence Course at National Defence University, China; Aircraft Accident Investigation Course in Pakistan; and Aircraft Accident Investigation in Civil Airline at Nigeria Civil Aviation Training School. Zaria.

On the basis of my years of interactions with him and the opinions I sampled on him from both military and non-military circles, he is a go-getter who never flinches before obstacles anytime he wants to achieve an aim. Someone in the NAF family even confided in me that he was one of the top brains behind the resounding successes recorded in the air component of the counter insurgency operations of the Buhari-led administration.

It is worth repeating here that Abubakar resoundingly changed the narrative of the NAF and history will be fair to you. When a revolutionary like the former air chief exits, people would naturally be apprehensive about the capacity of his successor. I boldly say that the new helmsman was forged by the same school of thought that moulded his predecessor.

In fact, many insiders are of the view that some of the best policies of the Abubakar era came when Amao was the Chief of Policy and Plans at the NAF headquaters. Nigerians should, therefore, expect the new helmsman to prolong and build on Abubakar’s legacies.

Amao’s parting words to his former boss the other day corroborate that optimism: “Be rest assured Sir that we will work assiduously to consolidate on the already made gains while charting a new course to take the NAF to the next and higher place of pride.” I strongly believe he will lead the way.

Sade wrote from Abuja

BEYOND CBN’S RESTRUCTURING OF NIGERIA COMMODITY EXCHANGE Selective capital injection does not guarantee the turn-around of commodity exchanges, argues

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n Tuesday, January 26, 2021, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele addressed the first press conference in the year where he unfolded the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on the rates that will drive operations in the money market. Expectedly, all the key indicators were retained. Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) stays at 11.5 percent, Liquidity Ratio, 30 percent, Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Asymmetric Corridor were also retained at 27.5 percent and +100 and-700 basis points respectively. The rationale for retaining the monetary policy instruments rates is not a rocket science. It may be a costly gamble for the apex bank to adjust any of the rates while the economy is trapped in stagflation. The bank has chosen a path of honour through gradual synchronization of monetary and fiscal policies to rescue the economy from the pang of recession.

One of the high points of Emefiele’s address was the decision by the CBN to restructure the government-owned and embattled Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX) whose history dated back to 1998, when it debuted as Abuja Stock Exchange. The organization could not find its bearing despite the government’s ownership and consequently metamorphosed into a Commodity Exchange in 2001, perhaps the last option to remain in business. As a follow-up to Emefiele’s announcement of restructuring of NCX, he finally stated that the apex bank and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) would invest N50 Billion lifeline in NCX to revive the struggling premier commodities exchange.

There is no doubt that Nigeria needs viable

commodities exchanges if we must expand our sources of foreign exchange earnings in the wake of incessant external shocks from the international oil market. The government’s huge investment in agriculture will be further enhanced if we have structured commodities exchanges. They create platforms for price discovery and enable stakeholders in the commodities ecosystem to earn return through different value chains in agricultural commodities.

Food inflation is currently at approximately 20 percent in Nigeria while headline inflation hovers at 15.75 percent. The situation calls for more creative ways to reverse the trend.

It is against this background that the federal government through the CBN is deploying a combination orthodox and unorthodox economic policies to salvage the economy.

The uncertainties in the operating environment has prompted global institutions such as International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and top global rating agencies to put their ratings on Nigeria’s economic growth on the reverse gear. As the high priest of price stability in Nigeria Emefiele is daily sweating under his exotic blue jackets. The situation has almost turned our economists to pseudo experts as models are failing at frenetic pace across the globe.

After 23 years of existence, NCX is still floating like a rudderless ship. The Exchange has trained many professionals, including my humble self and many others who opted for the training as part of retirement plan. But sadly, over two decades after its formation, NCX remains a market without wares. Apart from government’s lethargic approach to managing the premier commodities exchange,

its operations are stifled by weak legal and regulatory structures such as absence of rules, issues of efficient delivery with counter parties and warehouse receipts.

In his justification for the government’s decision to recapitalize NCX, Emefiele blamed private commodities exchanges in Nigeria for hoarding agricultural commodities for arbitrage opportunities. “We have found in the market that activities of private commodities exchange have not helped our country and it is time for the Nigeria commodity exchange to be repositioned and restructured to perform the role which by law it has been empowered to.

‘We will be coming up with the agenda and framework for the restructuring and repositioning of the Nigeria Commodity Exchange and we will do so in a manner that prices must be stable in Nigeria. We will not allow some self-seeking private exchange commodity to be holding agriculture products and be creating problems for prices because price stability is the core mandate of CBN and we cannot shy away from the responsibility.”

Emefiele’s emotional outburst contains some administrative and technical inaccuracies that need to be cleared for the avoidance of doubt.

This may also help the public in understanding the basis for his sweeping accusation that private commodities exchanges are hoarding agricultural products. As of today, the only publicly known commodities exchanges that are registered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are AFEX Commodities Exchange Limited, popularly called AFEX and recently Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE).

Operationally, AFEX “is established in Nigeria with an overarching outlook to

develop a workable warehouse receipt system”.

The company at present thrives on buying agricultural commodities into warehouses for sale. AFEX may later graduate into full blown trading as a structured commodities exchange.

But as of now, the company has not announced its dealing member firms, settlement banks or depository which are all attributes of a structured exchange.

Late last year, in one of the Capital Market Committee’s (CMC) meetings hosted by SEC, the Commission stated that trading rules had not been approved for any commodities exchange. This is perhaps why LCFE is just planning to commence trading this year. More importantly, every structured commodities exchange sells electronic receipts and not physical products. Juxtaposing these scenarios with Emefiele’s reading of the riot act to private commodities and exchanges, he owes the Nigerian investing public and international communities some clarifications on accuracy of facts about the true position of private commodities exchanges in Nigeria today. This will minimize the damage that his condemnation of private operators of commodities exchanges may have caused the system.

The announcement of N50 Billion capital injection into NCX theoretically looks good but has an undercurrent of creating unhealthy competition in the commodities space. The N50 Billion is tax payers’ money and government can as well support other commodities exchanges even if not with the same quantum of money.

Oni, Communications Consultant, Chartered Stockbroker and Commodities Trader was a former Spokesman of The Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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EDITORIAL

JUSTICE IKPEME: THE TRIUMPH OF REASON At last, the lawmakers have done the right thing

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ith her confirmation last week by the Cross River House of Assembly, Justice Akon Ikpeme is now set to become the Chief Judge of the state. We are delighted that this unfortunate saga has finally come to an end and that reason ultimately prevailed. But it should never have happened and the assembly members recognise that. “It was a unanimous decision. We didn’t give room for voting,” said Hon. Efa Esua, who explained the WE COMMEND THE process leading to LAWMAKERS FOR FINALLY the confirmation.

“The first time we ABIDING BY THEIR OATH didn’t do it right TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE TO and having seen THE CONSTITUTION that there was an error, we needed to correct it.”

We commend the lawmakers for finally abiding by their oath to act in accordance to the constitution. For more than a year, Cross River State was without a substantive Chief Judge despite repeated interventions by the National Judicial Council (NJC) that Justice Ikpeme be confirmed and sworn in. Until last week, her elevation was thwarted because she hails from neighbouring Akwa Ibom State even when her husband is from Cross River State and where she has been working on the bench.

However, while the experience of Justice Ikpeme highlights the negative consequences of making citizens ‘foreigners’ in their own country, the case of the Nigerian woman deserves special attention. A woman who has lived, married and worked for over 25 years, paying taxes and performing her civic duties and responsibilities to the ‘host state’ suddenly discovered that she could not claim a position rightfully earned.

While the patriarchal nature of our society has engendered various forms of discrimination against Nigerian women, to now begin to exclude professionals among them from their

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rightful position simply for archaic and oppressive reasons is unconscionable.

This whole saga started in January 2020 following the retirement of the former Chief Judge, Justice Michael Edem. Although Governor Ben Ayade sent Justice Ikpeme’s name to the State House of Assembly for confirmation as prescribed by law, he was believed to have surreptitiously engineered the refusal by the lawmakers on the spurious grounds that Justice Ikpeme hails from Akwa Ibom State by birth, and would ‘pose a security risk to Cross River State’ should there be a conflict between both states. A day after the House declined confirmation, the governor swore in Justice Maurice Eneji as the acting Chief Judge, arguing that “law and nature abhor vacuum”. From that period until last week, all the interventions by the NJC were rebuffed by the State House of Assembly.

In saner climes, people claim the state where they reside and fulfil all legal obligations. But in Nigeria today, citizens could have their rights casually circumscribed on the pretext of being ‘non-indigenes’ in a state some of them had lived and worked all their life. It is a known fact that many Nigerians outside their ‘state of origin’ suffer all forms of discrimination and are denied certain rights and privileges. Women are the most discriminated against in this regard.

There must indeed be a way to accommodate all Nigerians wherever they may reside and give them a sense of belonging no matter their ‘state of origin’.

In 2019, the House of Representatives passed the Federal Character Commission (Establishment Act) 2004. Section 2, Part II of the principal act was substituted with new provisions which grant married women the option of choosing the indigeneship of either their father or husband.

The unfortunate aspect of this citizenship debate is the blatant denial of the full rights of women in their places of marriage and legal residence. Yet there is no way we can build a just, prosperous and egalitarian society if we continue to implement policies that are antithetical to the progress of Nigerian women.

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.

STILL ON EASTERN SECURITY NETWORK

he formation of Eastern Security Network (ESN) by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has continued to stir legal and moral reactions. Indisputably, ESN outfit contravenes Nigeria’s constitution and other extant laws. On the other hand, the Nigerian government is also guilty of this gross infraction. Both Nnamdi Kanu and the government often operate outside the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The unending assault on the country’s grundnorm by the institution which has the onus to promote and protect it, has rendered Nigeria as a lawless state.

This adoption of unguarded and discretionary norm in Nigeria’s political system therefore serves as a premise and justification for ESN. Moreover, the proverb that two wrongs don’t make a right won’t be adequate to nail the formation of ESN in the country where terrorism, kidnapping, indiscriminate killings have become the new normal.

Any national government that fails to protect its people through national security apparatus has created a lacuna for the latter to seek self-defense as an alternative to reliance on government security outfit.

Besides self-preservation, any interest groups or individuals could exploit the absence of law and order in a country to promote their goals. Whether Nnamdi Kanu purposely launched ESN as an instrumentality to further actualize his long-term agitation

for Biafra Republic, by waging war against Nigerian government, though contrary to his claim is another discourse.

What is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf is the state of anarchy in Nigeria. And Nnamdi Kanu has promised a safe haven to Easterners through ESN. Sooner than later, private security outfits and emergency freedom fighters would spring up in dimensions except the present lawlessness is arrested with alacrity.

Nigeria’s government could tackle the general insecurity menace through the establishment of state police. Likewise, the enactment and enforcement of the Forestry Laws in every state in tandem with the peculiarity of their geographical features to curb forestry offenses and regulate farmers and herders face-off.

Terrorism/insecurity is a global menace. It takes an ethnic colouration in Nigeria due to the existing fragile state of the federation and the government’s failure to keep the country as one entity beyond forceful cohesion mechanism. The government must create a feeling of belonging among the various people of the federation through its policy. With this, every challenge would take a national outlook with a common way forward.

Binzak Azeez, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife

TAX TO CHARITY

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here are reports that Barcelona is considering legal action in relation to a newspaper publishing details of a contract for Lionel Messi. There seems to be little worry that he is being paid US$600m (£492m) for three years work which is a little more than I earned as a teacher on about US$60k (£50K) with 35 years’ experience. I have no reservations about Lionel Messi who seems a brilliant player and a good person but with the pay he is getting.

At present the US minimum wage is $7.50 an hour, although it may soon double, which for a 40-hour week would take about 40,000 years to earn, I double checked that approximation! It takes him about three days to earn what I learnt in a life. Admittedly someone who is one of the best in the world will earn more but how much more? Lots of numbers to consider but that’s what comes from being a retired maths teacher.

Maybe there should be a maximum salary a person can keep, say a million a year and everything about that goes to charity. A few sportspeople, business executives and pop stars might not like it, but a lot of charities would.

Give to charity and tax to charity as well.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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POLITICS

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

Is the PIB Facing a Familiar Threat?

Udora Orizu writes that the long awaited Petroleum Industry Bill maybe jinxed for the umpteenth time, following altercation and divergent views between members of the National Assembly, oil producing communities, organised labour and various interests groups at the public hearings on the bill

Buhari

Lawan

Gbajabiamila

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Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, resuming work after their inauguration on June 11, 2019, pledged to break the ‘’jinx’’ around the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and bring about reforms in the oil sector.

President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila had at different fora assured that the 9th National Assembly would pass the Bill .

President Muhammadu Buhari on September 29, 2020 transmitted the new PIB to the legislators. The Bill passed through first and second reading without varying views from the lawmakers, and consequently an ad-hoc committee was set up by the House for the public hearings, while the Senate committees on petroleum upstream, downstream and gas handled that of the Senate.

The new PIB titled: “A Bill for an Act to Provide Legal, Governance, Regulatory and Fiìscal Framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, the Development of Host Community and for Related Matters,’’ amongst others seeks to scrap the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and replace them with a new agency to be known as Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDRA) which shall be responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of midstream and upstream petroleum operations in the industry.

The Bill proposes the establishment of Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission to be responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of upstream petroleum operations.

It further seeks the commercialisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to become Nigerian National Petroleum Company to be incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act by the Minister of petroleum.

Stakeholders Oppose Some Provisions in the Bill at the Public Hearings Both chambers of the national assembly held a two-day public hearing on the Bill to enable stakeholders make their inputs before its final passage. While the Senate held theirs on January 25-26th, the House on its part conducted theirs on January 27-28th.

At the hearing organised by the Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Downstream and Gas, some major oil producing companies and other stakeholders in the industry raised concerns over some provisions of the new Bill.

The Chairman of the Oil Producing Trade Section (OPTS), Mike Sangster who made his presentations on behalf of Total, Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Shell companies expressed dissatisfaction with some provisions of the bill.

Major concerns they raised included deepwater developments, which he said have contributed significantly in maintaining Nigeria’s oil production levels by offsetting the decline in the Joint Venture production.

The group complained that the PIB shows that the Deepwater provisions do not provide a favourable environment for future investments and for the launching of new projects.

They also proposed that PIB should remove Hydrocarbon Tax considering that companies will still be subject to CIT. The group said to ensure investors are encouraged to finance Deepwater projects, the PIB should grant Deepwater oil projects a full royalty relief during the first five years of production or a graduated royalty scheme as detailed in their submission.

They further said the bill does not address the key challenges facing gas development in Nigeria, such as inadequate midstream infrastructure, regulated gas pricing, huge and

t seems another Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) jinx is brewing, as both chambers of the National Assembly, last week held public hearings on the proposed legislation during which host communities, organised labour and civil society organizations opposed some provisions in the legislation, as well as engaged in physical altercation. The host communities and CSOs at the public hearing finale also rejected the Bill, vowing not to support its passage till various concerns raised by them are addressed.

For almost two decades, the country has been on the PIB journey, with a lot of anticipation and promises, which failed overtime in previous assemblies. With this latest development, most Nigerians are agitated, fearing the outcome, given the inability of the parliament in previous assemblies to pass the controversial Bill.

Previous Attempts to Pass the Bill Into Law The bill was first sent to the National Assembly in December 2008 by the then President Umaru Yar’Adua. A presidential committee set up in 2007 to look into the oil and gas sector came up with the idea of this bill, which aims to increase transparency at the NNPC and to increase Nigeria’s share of oil revenue.

The Bill was never passed into law due to objections from the International oil companies (IOCs) and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over certain contents in its draft. In 2015, the then Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu said the PIB was to be amended to speed up its passage. Consequently, the Bill was broken into different parts, to address various aspects of the oil industry.

In 2016, the Senate showed signs of readiness to begin deliberations on the Bill, set to be moved for a second reading by the Chairman of Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Omotayo Alasoadura.

Ahead of the debate on the Bill, Senators from the Niger Delta area, who had moved for the suspension of the bill some months back, because they believed that the non-inclusion of the community demands in the first phase might aggravate the tension in the oil producing areas, concluded plans to meet to brainstorm on the resuscitation of the bill and ensure that the work on its passage moved faster. The plan to ensure that it was passed before the end of the legislative sitting, for 2016, never became a reality.

Again in 2018, a version of the bill, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), was passed by the 8th National Assembly, however, President Muhammadu Buhari refused to assent it.

The New PIB, 2020 Despite failed attempts by the previous assemblies, the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill is one of the priorities listed by the Ninth National Assembly in its legislative agenda.

The Commission supports fully the aims and objectives of this Bill. However, there are some areas we contend strongly. The Bill did not make reasonable provision on inflow of revenue to the federation. If we have NNPC Limited that is talking about dividends which may come once a year, how do we guarantee a continuous infow of revenue monthly into the Federation Account?

Secondly, we are aware that all revenue from Hydrocarbons is a revenue item of the Federation Account but where taxes are deducted from Hydrocarbon revenue, it is the same thing as encroaching on the Federation Account

Agba

long outstanding debts, etc., thereby potentially jeopardising the realisation of government’s aspirations for the domestic gas sector.

They suggested that PIB provide a clear path for transitioning to free market-based pricing, not add additional compliance conditions on domestic gas delivery obligations as a precondition for export gas supply and allow pre-existing contracts and agreements to run their course.

Also, HOSTCOM National President, Mr. Benjamin Style Tams, in his presentation, said it will 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.

It said: “This quest to take over complete control of all our national assets by a very unpatriotic few has to stop. In the case of the gas flare penalty funds, the host communities, which are the direct recipients of the negative effects, are the ones to receive the gas flare penalty.

“Regarding the environmental management and sustainable development of the host communities, it’s imperative that all laws and policies precedent to the commencement of any action must conform with the existing international standards inherent in our submission.”

In another presentation, Women In Energy Network (WIEN) also raised concern over the proposal in the PIB, which stated that “each settler, where applicable through the operator, should contribute an amount equal to 2.5 per cent of actual operating expenditure in respect of all petroleum operation.”

President of WIEN and Managing Director of Zigma Limited, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue, said the 2.5 per cent is too expensive.

They cited Sections 3, 14, 15, 18, 22, 26, 37, 41 and 71, among others as they asked the lawmakers to change words like ‘he’, ‘his’ and ‘him’ to ‘they’, ‘their’, and ‘them’.

At the hearing in the House of Representatives, stakeholders including oil producers, oil producing states, organised labour and various interests groups opposed some provisions in the law which they argued are not favorable for competition, investments and other activities in the petroleum industry.

In his own submission, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba countered some provisions of the PIB and proposed amendment to involve the labour and enhance productivity in the oil sector.

According to him: “Section 53 that creates Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited assumes that it should exist simultaneously with NNPC as a corporation. This presages an inherent tendency for confusion between the two entities. Hence, it is necessary to clarify the two entities. In sum, the operating arm or the holding company could benefit from the avoidance of the confusion of nomenclature.

“Section 53 (1) provides that the Minister shall within six months from the commencement of this Act, cause to be incorporated under the

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POLITICS

Is the PIB a Jinx on Host Communities, Other Stakeholders?

Kyari

Kalu

Mungonu

Ayuba

Companies and Allied Matters Act, a limited liability company, which shall be called Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited).

“Labour disagrees with this provision. There is ample grounds for worry in this provision.

Indeed, incorporation under CAMA of NNPC Ltd has potential implications for adverse business manoeuvres, including winding up of the incorporated company by a petition.

Therefore, creditors, hostile take over bids and even minority shareholders could scheme the extant rules to the disadvantage of the Nigerian people.

“We suggest that NNPC Ltd. should be incorporated in a more robust manner that would enable it to operate with minimum hindrance, free of potentially hostile encumbrances and be profitably managed. This robustness in the establishment of NNPC Ltd. should at least, ensure that no individual, a select few or hostile corporate bodies can disrupt its operations through petitions and take over manoeuvres.”

In its submission, National Union of Petroleum and National Gas, (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN) pushed for an Oil and Gas Regulatory Commission.

Presenting their joint position, the President of PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo argued that it would be counterproductive to duplicate commissions.

He also urged for independent regulator of NNPC asking the lawmakers to ensure that the PIB when passed must attract investments.

The public hearing however took a different turn on Day Two. Before the commencement, members of the host communities engaged in a physical altercation.

The fight broke out when the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) was called to the podium to make presentation by the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on PIB, Hon. Mohammed Monguno, but there was disagreement amongst them leading to exchange of blows until security operatives intervened.

To this end, lawmakers and other participants scampered for safety, and reconvened after the dust settled.

One of the men involved in the fight, who identified himself, as High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi, and President of HOSTCOM, speaking to journalists later said the fight was all about the demand for 10 percent equity shares by the host communities.

It will be recalled that the government had in the PIB proposed 2.5. percent as royalty for the host communities. But Tamaranebi said it was not enough for the people and therefore demanded upward increase of 10 percent.

Also speaking on the development, Barr.

Gouha Ukhorumah who represented the Offshore Gbaramatu and coastal Host Communities in Warri South Local Government of Delta State said the quarrel was basically between two factions of the a group who referred to themselves as Host Communities without a specific kingdom or Local government as area of coverage.

“They are paper tigers and racketeers who represent nobody but themselves. They are what we call political host communities, because our group has been having MoUs with oil companies and has been managing their Corporate Social Responsibility policies over the years.

“That’s why we said they don’t represent anyone because they can’t be identified with

any kingdom or ethnic group in region. But as God will disgrace them, they are now fighting amongst themselves because they are more about what they can get as individuals.’’

The Committee Chairman announced soon after they reconvened that henceforth members of the communities would only adopt their memoranda and exit the podium, assuring that the panel would visit various communities in the coast region to properly engage them.

to create a new section 240 (5) to create 50 percent of the penalties for gas flared in the particular licence or lease area for which the petroleum Host Community Development Trust is established just as it also asked for the creation of a new Section 240(6) to read “A take off grant equivalent of 20 percent of the licence fee paid on a new licence or sales price where the lease or licence is resold.”

most times not even members of the community.”

Speaking further, he said though they are in support of a speedy passage of the Bill, however they are more interested in such bill’s content and quality.

He asked the National Assembly to give ample time for host communities to make presentations, adding that the National Assembly can achieve this by working with the state houses of assembly in the various states to hold public hearings and reduce the burden of poor community members travelling to Abuja for hearings only to be denied participation.

Position of State Governments Similarly, in their various presentations, some oil producing states such as Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom pushed for inclusion into the boards of the various regulatory commissions.

Rivers State recommended that in view of the strategic position of Rivers State in the oil and gas production scale/contribution, the headquarters of the commission and all oil producing companies should be cited in Rivers State in line with presidential directives.

For Delta State, Section 238 of the bill which read “Failure to incorporate Petroleum Host Communities Development Trust”, should be redrafted to read “Failure by any holder of a licence or lease governed by this act to comply with its obligation under this chapter may be grounds for revocation of the applicable license or lease.”

The State represented by the Chief Economic Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Dr. Kingsley Emu also asked that section 238 of the bill be redrafted to read: “Section 238 ‘ failure by any holder of a licence or lease governed by the act to incorporate the petroleum host communities development trust within the time frame in section 236 shall make the holder or license to be liable to a penalty of $250, 000 to be paid to the trust whenever the trust fund is incorporated. In addition, a further of $50,000 for every subsequent month the trust remains un- incorporated. This penalty shall be in addition to the amount due to the trust fund under section 240.”

The government also asked the lawmakers

Rejecting the PIB Again After the altercation on the final day of the hearing at the House, coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta rejected the Petroleum Industry Bill, 2020.

Speaking, the spokesperson of the CSOs and host communities in the Niger Delta, Botti Isaac accused the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on PIB of ignoring the interest of host communities.

He also accused the National Assembly of not allowing a fair and adequate opportunity for vulnerable stakeholders in the region to have a say in the legislative processes towards passing the PIB, as both chambers denied their members access to the public hearing hall.

He opined that the manner the House handled the host communities and civil society contributions in the hearings was deliberately aimed at ensuring critical voices are not heard.

He said the current PIB will not protect the host communities as it leaves them at the mercies of the oil companies.

Isaac also said the bill when passed and signed into law will promote confusion in the Niger Delta and further expose the communities to environmental degradation and untold hardship, and that communities in the Niger Delta will not accept such a law.

He argued that placing the protection of oil installations on some unarmed host communities is unrealistic as “previous researches conducted

by Social Action reveals that oil theft which is the major reason for puncturing oil pipelines is carried out mainly by armed cartels who are

Barr. Gouha Ukhorumah who represented the Offshore Gbaramatu and coastal Host Communities in Warri South Local Government of Delta State said the quarrel was basically between two factions of the a group who referred to themselves as Host Communities without a specific kingdom or Local government as area of coverage. They are paper tigers and racketeers who represent nobody but themselves. They are what we call political host communities, because our group has been having MoUs with oil companies and has been managing their Corporate Social Responsibility policies over the years. That’s why we said they don’t represent anyone because they can’t be identified with any kingdom or ethnic group in region

FG’s Position Meanwhile, making its presentation at the hearing, the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Elias Mbam told the lawmakers that the bill may cut the flow of revenue to the Federal Government.

He said, “The Commission supports fully the aims and objectives of this Bill. However, there are some areas we contend strongly. The Bill did not make reasonable provision on inflow of revenue to the federation. If we have NNPC Limited that is talking about dividends which may come once a year, how do we guarantee a continuous infow of revenue monthly into the Federation Account?

“Secondly, we are aware that all revenue from Hydrocarbons is a revenue item of the Federation Account but where taxes are deducted from Hydrocarbon revenue, it is the same thing as encroaching on the Federation Account. So we expect that the Bill should not be to the disadvantage of monthly revenue to the Federation Account.

“On the host community funds, the Commission is totally in support of the establishment of community funds. Our concern is the source of the fund. There is subsisting law which has provided 13% to address issues that are related to community funding. We feel that source of fund should be from that 13%.”

Corroborating Mbam’s position, the Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba cautioned against losing tomorrow’s future for today’s gains.

He said, ‘’From the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, we are currently engaging our colleagues from the Petroleum sector to harmonize the government views on certain areas where we see some rooms for improvement. So, as one government when we are through, Honourable Chair, we will be giving you our memorandum.

“We are moving in the right direction with the PIB but it is important that as much as we want to protect today’s revenue, we should look at sustainability. We should look at how revenue streams will continue to flow over the years and these are areas that from the Ministry of Finance, that we are looking at because we don’t want to get all the money today and lose tomorrow’s money.”

Stakeholders Who Support the Bill Despite the rejection by host communities and other players in the industry, some stakeholders in the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy at the hearing took turns to highlight the significant good inherent in the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill.

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

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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2021•T H I S D AY

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LAWYER

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WEEKLY PULLOUT

02.02.2021

Governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (Ondo); Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Oluseyi Makinde, (Oyo), and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun)

Vacation Order to Herdsmen: How Legal, How Constitutional?

2/DASHBOARD

02.02.2021

LAWYER

C S 34 6 AMCON A

Governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (Ondo); Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Oluseyi Makinde, (Oyo), and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun)

PAGE 4

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT

02.02.2021

Vacation Order to Herdsmen: How Legal, How Constitutional?

SAN R I H R F SAN PAGE 5

QUOTABLES ‘I don't know who devised the Judge's salary. At the State level, for example, the basic salary and even the allowances of a Judge who has been serving for 20 years, is exactly the same as that of a ‘rookie’ Judge who was just appointed today......It doesn't make sense. You have to have a way of paying Judges, according to their experience.’ - Professor Fidelis Oditah QC, SAN ‘We are requesting that they recall Omolola.....

She has been dismissed from the Police based on the fact that she's not married and she's pregnant. But, we are saying that a woman has a reproductive right to be pregnant.....The same is not applicable to their male counterparts....This regulation is discriminatory. It is against Section 42 of the Constitution and Article II of the African Charter, and any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, is null and void.’ - Funmi Falana, Legal Practitioner, Chairman, Women Empowerment & Legal Aid

C A M E A N M PAGE 5

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02.02.2021

How Not to be Government Publicists Oftentimes, I wonder about many of the people who are in Government or the Opposition, Spokespersons and high ranking Officials, and I marvel at many of their actions and utterances.

Many of them come out and make the most mindless, bizarre comments and pronouncements on television and other forms of media while the world watches, or they are economical with the truth, or they simply tell outright lies. Do they not realise that we are now living in an age in which people are much more knowledgeable, and even if they are not well informed, they can always "google it”? Additionally, with the advancement in technology, their unintelligent statements can remain emblazoned in the “cloud” or wherever for all time, and may possibly come back to haunt them in future when they least expect it, or when they themselves may not be too keen on identifying with their witless statements of the past.

Recent Examples of Faux Pas/‘Boo-boos’ A ‘faux pas’ means “a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion”. When Alhaji Lai Mohammed was the Spokesman of the Opposition, he said it was unconstitutional to proscribe the terrorist group, Boko Haram. About five years later, he was part of a government which proscribed IPOB, a group which cannot be described as a terrorist group, but a separatist group that was fighting for self-determination/ secession of the Igbo people from Nigeria, a recognised and accepted international legal right - a ‘jus cogens’ rule, that is, a core principle of international law guaranteed by Article 1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Presidential Spokespersons Last week, I watched a television interview in which Presidential Spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina stated that the Federal character provisions contained in Section 14(3) & (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution), do not apply to the appointment of the Service Chiefs! I was shocked to hear him say that, and I absolutely beg to disagree with him. The Spokesman had started off by saying that the appointment of the Service Chiefs was based on their performance - exemplary performance I would imagine, and not Federal Character. It was when he may have realised that he had shot himself in the foot with his statements (since the clamour for the removal of the outgoing Service Chiefs was based on non-performance), that he then switched gear and said that the appointments were the President’s prerogative, based solely on his choices.

The Federal Character provisions apply to all Government Agencies, whether Federal, where positions must distributed between all States/ Zones of the country, or State, where all positions must be distributed across the various Local Government Areas within the State. Contrary to what Mr Adesina said in that interview, the Federal Character provisions go beyond Ministerial appointments which are distributed throughout the 36 States of the country - they are highly applicable to all Government Agencies, which the Police and Armed Forces are definitely a part of.

First of all, Section 217(3) of the Constitution provides that the composition of the Armed Forces of the Federation 'shall’ reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria. The word 'shall’ in legal parlance is a command; it is mandatory. In Animashaun & Anor v Ogundimu & Ors 2015 LPELR-25979 (CA), the Court of Appeal cited the case of Nwankwo v Yar' Adua 2010 12 N.W.L.R. Part 1209 Page 513 at 589 in which Adekeye JSC stated that the word 'shall' is a mandatory provision, and when used in a statutory provision, imported that a thing must be done.

Secondly , Section 219(b) of the Constitution goes as far as providing that "with respect to the powers exercisable by the President under Section 218 of the Constitution” (which includes Section 218(2) covering the appointment of the Service Chiefs), a statutory body "shall' be established to ensure that the composition of the

Armed Forces ‘shall’ reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria. As if the foregoing provisions are not encompassing enough, Section 1(2) of the Constitution prohibits any person or group of persons from taking control of the Government or any part thereof (the Armed Forces being the security part of the Government of Nigeria, having a good measure of control in governance).

How then could Mr Adesina or anybody say that the President, in making the Service Chiefs’ appointments, is not bound by Federal Character provisions, as the President has the prerogative to choose anyone he likes? If the Presidential Spokesman's assertion was indeed, true, that it’s the President’s choice alone, why then did the President write to the National Assembly (NASS) to seek for the confirmation of his nominees? See Section 18(1) & (2) of the Armed Forces Act which makes the appointment of the Service Chiefs subject to the confirmation of NASS, and the 2013 case of Festus Keyamo v President, Federal Republic of Nigeria in which the Federal High Court also decided that the appointment of the Service Chiefs without the approval of the Senate and the House of Representatives, is null and void. To the best of my knowledge, the Armed Forces Act has not been repealed, nor has this decision of the Federal High Court been overturned by a higher court.

My point? it is absolutely embarrassing, for a Presidential spokesperson to state categorically, as a matter of fact, such a blatant misrepresentation of true facts of an issue that concerns the primary purpose of our Government (the security and welfare of the people - Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution). Federal Character is applicable, while confirmation of the nominees by NASS is required to complete the Service Chiefs’ appointments and make them lawful.

Mr Adesina’s colleague, Mr Garba Shehu, had also misrepresented the statement of the Governor Akeredolu on the issue of the alleged expulsion of Herdsmen from Ondo State, just a few days prior this. While these two may not be Lawyers, one would imagine that because it is one of their duties to address Nigerians on behalf of the President on many crucial issues, they would take their time to ascertain their facts, before they speak out.

However, it is even worse when the Minister of Information, a Lawyer by training, makes statements that have no bearing on the law which we all studied. One then begins to wonder what the role of these Spokespeople are - whether it is simply to whitewash the image of the President and the administration that they serve even if it involves manipulating facts here and there, without consideration for Nigerians in general, without whom they would not be in those positions they presently occupy, in the first place.

Covid-19 and Governor Yahaya Bello’s False Assertions While Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State was doing his best to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in

Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

Lagos, and is possibly one of the most proactive Governors in the country with regard to devising an effective treatment regime for Covid-19 in his State, and remains so to date; Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, on the other hand, in March 2020, publicly stated something to the effect that the noise about Covid-19 was simply a hype, as the virus was nothing more than the common cold! Over 5000 Nigerians had already been exposed to the virus at the time Governor Bello made that brainless statement (a sentiment which he also seemed to share with his counterpart in Cross River State, at the time).

Since then, over two million people worldwide have died as a result of this deadly virus in a period of approximately one year (thankfully, less than 2000 deaths have been recorded in Nigeria so far, though many of us have lost loved ones). And now that vaccines have been discovered, Governor Bello, who is responsible for the security and welfare of the people of Kogi State (Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution) has rubbished the efforts of those who have burnt the midnight oil seeking a cure for this deadly killer virus, and finally come up with vaccines which offer protection against same, by showcasing his ignorance and publicly and falsely claiming that the vacancies are meant to kill people!

How did someone so thoughtless become the Governor of a State, in charge of millions of people? Last week, I saw on social media that some group had endorsed Governor Bello for President in 2023! Tragicomedy. Anyway, I hope they will be alive in 2023, if they have not been ravaged by Covid-19 by then, especially if they share the same idiotic sentiments that Covid-19 and the vaccines are a hoax like their Principal, Governor Bello. I fear that if the leadership of Nigeria continues to remain in the hands of such clueless people, we will never progress as a country.

Corporal Omolola Olajide Similarly, I was shocked that the level of gender discrimination in Nigeria is still so high. The story of the dismissal of Corporal Omolola Olajide from the Nigeria Police Force, broke a few days ago. She was dismissed because she’s unmarried contrary to Section 127 of the Police Act, and got pregnant less than a year after she joined the Police! The action of the Police, is highly condemnable, to say the least. When did the Nigeria Police Force become a moral compass?

Section 4 of the Police Act which outlines the general duties of the Police, does not include being a bastion of morality as one of them!

The outdated Police Act 1943/1968 (PA), should have been replaced eons ago with its discriminatory provisions contained therein. For example, most of the provisions in Sections 121-128 of the PA are inconsistent with Section 42(1) of the Constitution, which, inter alia, prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person’s gender, and are obviously null and void, and of no effect (Section 1(3) of the Constitution). Why must a Policewoman only be deployed to clerical type duties (Section 122 PA)? Why must a Policewoman have had to serve for three years prior, and then have to seek permission from the Commissioner of Police (COP) who will determine whether her suitor is acceptable, before she is allowed to marry (Section 124 PA)? These provisions have discouraged many women from joining the Police; and they constitute some of the most ridiculous provisions in a law, that I have ever seen. Do Policemen not impregnate ladies all over the place? Are they dismissed from the Force for so doing? Are Policemen also mandated to seek the permission of the COP before they get married? NO. In fact, there was an Inspector General of Police (IG) who was famous for being a Romeo and Lover Boy, publicly known for having numerous dalliances at every port like a sailor! Was he dismissed for that? NO. Despite his insatiable appetite for the opposite sex and immorality, he rose to become the IG. Thankfully, Section 138 of the new Police Act 2020 which does not seem to have come into operation yet because it has not been gazetted (or so), categorically prohibits gender discrimination as provided by Section 42 of the Constitution. I was therefore, disgusted and embarrassed, when I heard the COP, Ekiti State, Tunde Mobayo, instead of aligning himself with the 2020 PA,

“ IT IMPUGNS ON OUR CREDIBILITY AS A NATION, WHEN THE WORLD HAS TO LISTEN TO OUR NATIONAL SPOKESPERSONS AND THOSE WHO HOLD HIGH POSITIONS SUCH AS MINISTERS AND STATE GOVERNORS, BABBLING AND DRIVELLING”

trying to justify the dismissal of Ms Olajide in a television interview - a law enforcement officer who is obviously not conversant with the law, publicly displaying his lack of knowledge with gusto and aplomb. While the COP did admit that Ms Olajide had a right under Section 42 of the Constitution, his defence was that Ms Olajide was aware of the rules before she signed-on to the Police Force. Really? As we say in Yoruba, Mr Mobayo, ‘se òrò to mu lakaye ni yèn’ (‘is that sensible talk’)? Is Mr Mobayo not aware of Section 1(3) of the Constitution? Is the PA superior to the Constitution? Does the fact that Ms Olajide signed-on, supersede the provisions of the grundnorm? I think not.

Conclusion I call on the Nigeria Police Force to rescind this sickening discriminatory decision dismissing Corporal Olajide, with immediate effect and automatic alacrity (à la Chief Eleyinmi of of the Village Headmaster series of those days), and rather, concentrate their efforts on more useful endeavours like preventing and detecting crime, and protecting the lives and property of Nigerians. Our Government Officials and Spokespersons should venture to do a bit more research before they issue public statements, as it is rather awkward to say the least, when they disseminate impeachable, unreliable information, and then have the temerity to turn around to accuse others of spreading fake news. The world has become a global village, and we all watch ourselves. It impugns on our credibility as a nation, when the world has to listen to our National Spokespersons and those who hold high positions such as Ministers and State Governors, babbling and drivelling.

4/LAW REPORT

Constitutionality of Section 34(6) of the AMCON Act Facts The Appellant and the 3rd and 4th Respondents were parties to an action before the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/744/2017 - Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) v Knight Rook Limited & Ors. On 3rd October 2017, the trial Judge in the case, delivered judgement in favour of AMCON, which judgement was affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/L/698/2018 on 3rd June, 2019.

Upon the execution of the judgement, the Appellant took over the 3rd Respondent company and properties belonging to the company. The 1st and 2nd Respondent who had acquired interest in the property known as Block 6 Plot 4, Victory Park Estate, Igbokushu, Lekki, Lagos, lost possession of their properties. Consequently, they instituted the action resulting in this appeal against the 3rd and 4th Respondent qonly, at the High Court of Lagos State. They also filed an application seeking an Order of Interlocutory Injunction against the 3rd and 4th Respondents pending the determination of the suit. The Appellant sought to join the suit and was joined by an Order of the trial court.

The 3rd and 4th Respondents, as well as the Appellant, filed separate Preliminary Objections challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court. The trial court delivered a ruling dismissing the Preliminary Objections and granted the 1st and 2nd Respondent’s application, seeking an Order of Interlocutory Injunction. Dissatisfied with the ruling of the trial court, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal.

Honourable Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, PCA

Issues for Determination The following issues were determined by the Court of Appeal:

In the Court of Appeal of Nigeria In the Lagos Judicial Division Holden at Lagos On Friday, the 15th day of December, 2020

1. Whether the trial court ought to grant an order of injunction against the Appellant, in view of the provisions of Section 34(6) of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (Amendment No. 2) Act, 2019.

Before Their Lordships

Monica B. Dongban-Mensem Mudashiru Oniyangi Jamilu Y. Tukur Justices, Court of Appeal CA/L/1266/2019

2. Whether the trial court had the vires to make an interlocutory order to reverse an executed judgement of a competent court, which has been confirmed on appeal.

3. Whether the trial court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit, in view of the abuse of court processes and other numerous features robbing the court of jurisdiction.

Arguments On the first issue, counsel for the Appellant submitted that the provisions of Section 34(6) of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (Amendment No. 2) Act (“AMCON Act”) does not infringe judicial powers, particularly the inherent powers of the trial court guaranteed by Section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). This is because the inherent powers of the trial court are adjunct to the laws validly made by the legislative organs pursuant to the Constitution, and where a statute such as the AMCON Act expressly prohibits a court from making a certain order, the inherent powers cannot be introduced to side-track the legislation.

The Appellant relied on the case of METUH v FRN & ANOR. (2017)11 NWLR (Pt. 1575) 177. Counsel argued further that an Order of Injunction, being an equitable remedy, must follow the law, and not supersede the law.

He stated that there is uncontroverted affidavit evidence that AMCON took over the 3rd Respondent company, which owns a parcel of land inclusive of the land in dispute, in exercise of its power under the AMCON Act. In response, counsel argued on behalf of the 1st and 2nd Respondent that the trial court was right to reject the Appellant’s invitation to decline exercising its judicial powers on account of the provision of Section 34(6) of the AMCON Act, as any statute that seeks to regulate, obliterate and limit the judicial powers conferred on the courts by Section 6(6) of the Constitution is null and void.

Counsel submitted further that the case of METUH v FRN (supra) cited by the Appellant, is inapplicable in this case.

In addition, he contended that assuming the court does not have the requisite jurisdiction, the Appellant failed to place sufficient facts and documents before the court to establish that the properties belonging to the 1st and 2nd Respondent were eligible bank assets. Replying to the submissions above, counsel for the Appellant submitted that Section 6(6) of the Constitution only relates to the jurisdiction, and not powers of the court. He argued further that the power of the trial court to make Orders of Interlocutory Injunction is not constitutional but provisions of High Court Rules, and that he had shown that the claim before the court relates to eligible bank assets.

Regarding the second issue, counsel for the Appellant

Between Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria...... Appellant

And 1.

2.

3.

4.

Mr. Adedayo Mumini Shittu More & S.A. More Limited Knight Rook Limited Mr. Lanre Olaoluwa

........Respondents

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, PCA)

“......SECTION 34(6) OF THE AMCON ACT WHICH SEEKS TO CURTAIL THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT, AND ALSO SEEKS TO CURTAIL THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS TO SEEK REDRESS OR HELP FROM COURT, IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION, AND CONSEQUENTLY, NULL AND VOID”

argued that given the decision of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/744/2017 and Appeal No. CA/L/698/2018 respectively, in respect of the ownership of the assets of the 3rd Respondent, the trial court cannot sit as an appellate court over the decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. Counsel submitted that the 1st and 2nd Respondent should have commenced an Interpleader Proceeding, if they believed that their properties were wrongly attached during the execution of the judgement. In response to the submissions of the Appellant on this issue, counsel argued on behalf of the 1st and 2nd Respondent that in the suit leading to the instant appeal, they sought declaratory reliefs that they are the legal owners of their respective properties, but the Federal High Court was not called upon to determine the issue as to title to the land. Counsel also argued that the 1st and 2nd Respondent’s cause of action, is not suitable under the Interpleader Proceeding.

On the third issue, counsel contended on behalf of the Appellant that prior to the commencement of the suit leading to this appeal, the 1st and 2nd Respondent had commenced two suits before the High Court of Lagos State, which were withdrawn. He submitted that one of the suits was withdrawn on the same date the suit leading to this appeal was filed, and this constitutes an abuse of court process. Responding to the submission, counsel for the 1st and 2nd Respondent argued that the suit does not constitute an abuse of court process, as there was no live suit against the Appellant or the 3rd and 4th Respondents bordering on the same issues before the court as at the time the action was filed.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the first issue, the their Lordships held that Section 34(6) of the AMCON Act seeks to take away from the courts, discretion which is the core of their constitutional authority. The court found that the case of METUH v STATE (supra) relied on by the Appellant supports the 1st and 2nd Respondent’s argument that any act by a court or legislation inconsistent with the Constitution, is null and void. The grant of an injunction is one of the discretionary powers of the court by virtue of the provision of Section 6(6) of the Constitution; therefore, Section 34(6) of the AMCON Act which seeks to curtail the discretion of the court and the right of citizens to seek redress from the court, is inconsistent with the provisions of Constitution, and consequently, null and void.

Regarding the second issue, the appellate court decided that where a court of competent jurisdiction has reached a decision on the subject-matter of a suit, no action can be brought before the same court or court of co-ordinate jurisdiction on the same subject matter, except on appeal. The principle of res judicata serves as a bar to such suits - COLE v JIBUNOH & ORS. (2016) LPELR–40662 (SC). The court, however, found in the instant case that the principle of res judicata is not applicable, because the subject-matter differed and the 1st and 2nd Respondent who are aggrieved with the decision, should not be denied access to court based on the pronouncement of the Federal High Court.

On the third issue, their Lordships relied on the decision in R-BENKAY NIGERIA LTD v CADBURY NIGERIA LTD (2012) LPELR-7820 (SC), where the Supreme Court described abuse of court process as the improper use of judicial process by a party in litigation to interfere with the due administration of justice. Instances of abuse of court process were described to include instituting multiple actions on the same subject-matter against the same opponent on the same issues. In this case, the appellate court found that as at the time of the ruling appealed against, there was no other suit on the same subject- matter pending, as the other suits filed earlier were withdrawn. Therefore, there was no live suit before the court, which could constitute an abuse of court process.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Ifedayo A. Adedipe, SAN with Jide Olasite, Esq. and K.O. Atuchukwu, Esq. for the Appellant.

Kemi Pinheiro, SAN FCIArb with Thaddeus Idenyi, Esq. and Omotosho Alade, Esq. for the 1st and 2nd Respondent.

Olugbenga Dosumu, Esq. for the 4th Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR) (An Affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

02.02.2021

NEWS/5

SAN Rank Imposes Huge Responsibility, Fashola, SAN The six alumni of the University of Benin Law Faculty who were recently elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, were last week urged by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN that the rank brings not only fame and privileges, but that it also imposes a huge responsibility.

Fashola who is also an alumnus of the University of Benin and an SAN made this remark while delivering a keynote speech a Special Luncheon to celebrate the six SANs last Thursday at the Banquet Hall of the University.

He said ‘In a world where consideration for self now takes pre-eminence over VHOÁHVVQHVV LQ D ZRUOG ZKHUH VHOÀHV DV LQ SKRtographs) now dominate our conversation, I urge that we seek to enthrone PRUH VHOÁHVVQHVV LQ RXU lives.

‘In this regard, I ask DOO RI XV WR UHÁHFW DQG ask whether we will be here to celebrate Senior Advocates, if there were ÀUVW QR /DZ\HUV DQG LI ZH could celebrate Lawyers without law graduates, and indeed, if they could have been law graduates without successful law students.

‘The extended question

Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

LQ UHÁHFWLRQ LV WKLV ZKHUH would we all have been without our teachers in primary and secondary schools, in the University and the Nigerian Law School?’

7KH QHZ 6$1V LQFOXGH 1. Chief (Dr.) Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, SAN 2. Mr. Adedapo Osariuyime Tunde-Olowu, SAN 3. Mr. Lotanna Chuka Okoli, SAN 4. Mr Peter Adogbejire Mrakpor, SAN 5. Mr. Nureini Soladoye Jimoh, SAN 6. Mr. Yusuf Asamah Kadiri, SAN Babatunde Fashola fur-

ther said ‘Many, including my humble self, have walked your path. If it ZDV GL΀FXOW DW WKH WLPH I was preferred in 2004, I can only now imagine KRZ PXFK PRUH GL΀FXOW it must have been. There DUH PDQ\ PRUH TXDOLÀHG Lawyers seeking the rank, and therefore, the competition is immensely PDJQLÀHG 7KH FRQGLWLRQV that I have looked at for SUHTXDOLÀFDWLRQ DUH PRUH stringent’.

‘For your dedication, hard work and ultimate VXFFHVV , GRͿ P\ KDW LQ admiration.

‘To all those in Uniben

Law Alumni who are still aspiring, the magnitude of HARD WORK and the span of dedication it requires to succeed is

not intended to deter, but to challenge you to aspire. Afterall, you are the products of the great Uniben.

‘As I understand it from history, the University of Benin is the product of the farsighted and visionary commitment of men and women who sought to develop Nigeria’s human capital. That vision KDV IUXFWLÀHG PDQ\IROG and it is still bearing fruit as is evident from the many products of this University who have, and are still occupying positions of leadership and responsibility in the private and public spheres of our nation.

‘That list is long and growing, and I doubt that there could be a better tribute to the vision of the founders than what we gather to do today; to

celebrate six products of University of Benin who ascend to leadership role in the legal profession in the year 2020 when University of Benin commemorated its 50th year of existence.

‘Of course, the rank brings fame and privileges, but it also imposes a huge responsibility of LEADERSHIP, to be used to improve the cause of justice and enthrone law and order for the peace, order and good government of Nigeria and her people.

‘You and I who are the EHQHÀFLDULHV RI WKLV UDQN must therefore, always remember that we are products of Uniben. We PXVW Á\ KHU ÁDJ SURXGO\ with our rank. We must not be afraid to break new grounds in the development of the law’, he said.

Court Admits More Evidence Against Naira Marley Peter Taiwo Justice Nicolas Oweibo of Federal High Court located at Ikoyi, Lagos admitted in evidence a compact disc (CD) containing expert analysis of the contents of an iPhone allegedly belonging to hip-hop singer, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley.

The evidence which was presented by second Prosecution witness, Anosike Augustine, on the ground among others that the iPhone itself had already been admitted in evidence.

Giving his ruling, Justice Oweibo overruled defence counsel Olalekan Ojo, SAN’s objection and admitted the CD in evidence, as Exhibit F. "l have considered the agreement of both parties, as well as the ground for the objection. I consider the CD to be admissible, in view of the nature of this case and the evidence of other Prosecution witness.

"Accordingly, it is hereby admitted in evidence and marked Exhibit F." However, further hearing could not continue, following Ojo's absence.

L-R: Mr. Nureini Soladoye Jimoh, SAN; Mr. Yusuf Asamah Kadiri, SAN; Chief (Dr) Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, SAN; Professor Lilian I. Salami, Vice-Chancellor, Univetsity of Benin; Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. Honourable Minister of Works and Housing and UNIBEN’s 2nd Senior Advocate of Nigeria; Chief Charles Uwensuyi Edosomwan, SAN, the Obasuyi of Benin Kingdom and UNIBEN’s 1st Senior Advocate of Nigeria; Mr. Peter Adogbejire Mrakpor, SAN, the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Delta State; Mr. Lotanna Chuka Okoli, SAN and Mr. Adedapo Osariuyime Tunde-Olowu, SAN

Naira Marley

An adjournment sought by his junior Akinwale Kola-Taiwo, was not opposed by EFCC counsel, Bilkisu Buhari.

Justice Oweibo adjourned the matter till March 8 and 11, 2021 for continuation of trial.

Naira Marley is standing trial on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering and internet fraud preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

(EFCC). In the charge, the EFCC alleged, among others, that some of the credit cards discovered in Marley's residence ERUH WKH ÀFWLWLRXV QDPHV Nicole Louise Malyon and Timea Fedorne Tatar.These, it indicated, were used in furtherance of Internet scams.

The Commission said WKH RͿHQFHV FRQWUDYHQHG the Money Laundering (Prohibition) and the Cyber Crimes Acts.

L-R: Chief (Dr) Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, SAN, Mr. Adedapo Osariuyime Tunde-Olowu, SAN, Mr. Lotanna Chuka Okoli, SAN, Mr. Peter Adogbejire Mrakpor, SAN, Mr. Nureini Soladoye Jimoh, SAN and Mr. Yusuf Asamah Kadiri, SAN

6/

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Analysis of Insolvency-Related Revisions to BOFIA 2020 (Part 3) agency or person, or where the offence relates to terrorism, rape, kidnapping, corruption, money laundering and human trafficking”.

Continued from last week.

Introduction The Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 (BOFIA 2020) was passed to law on 13 November 2020. BOFIA 2020 repealed the Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act, 1991 (BOFIA 1991). This three-part discourse examines revisions which BOFIA 2020 has introduced to Nigeria’s bank resolution and insolvency legal framework. This is the third and concluding part of the three-part discourse.

Banking Sector Resolution Fund 1. Purpose of the Fund BOFIA 2020 has established a Banking Sector Resolution Fund (Fund) to be domiciled with CBN: Section 74. The CBN Governor, with the approval of the CBN Board, is to determine a date for the commencement of the Fund. The Fund is to be exclusively used for: (i) payment of operating costs of bridge banks; (ii) payment of costs of transferring the business at a bank following a resolution measure; (iii) provision of loans, overdrafts or other credit facilities to a bridge bank or a bank under resolution; (iv) payment of any professional fees and costs incurred in the resolution measure; (v) other purposes in support of resolution measures prescribed by the CBN Governor; and (vi) payment of cost of administering the Fund: Section 78.

The so-called exclusivity of the purposes appears to be watered down by the CBN Governor’s power to prescribe other purposes in support of a resolution measure.

2. Contributions to the Fund The CBN is to contribute N10billion or a sum determined by CBN’s board to the Fund.

The NDIC is to contribute N4billion or an amount which its board determines. Each bank is to contribute an annual levy in an amount equivalent to ten basis points of its total assets as at the date of its audited financial statement for the immediate preceding financial year. These basis points may be varied by CBN from time to time. A bank which defaults in contributing is prohibited from paying bonuses or dividends during the period of default.

3. Fettering of Judicial Powers Section 93(2) disallows the issuance of injunction or similar orders against the Fund or its assets. It also disallows issuance of execution or attachment against moneys in the credit of the Resolution Fund. Section 93(3) makes it impermissible to subject the Fund, its Board or agents to any action, claim or demand by or liability to any person in respect of any act or omission done in good faith in execution of any power or function. These provisions risks being set aside for being in violation of Section 6(6)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution. They clearly preclude and/ or limit the judicial powers conferred on Courts: AMCON v Shittu - Appeal No: CA/L/1266/2019; NNPC v Fawehinmi (1998) 7 MWLR (Pt 559) 598 at 612E-F; Njikonye v MTN Ltd (2008) All FWLR (Pt 413) 1343 at 1369A-1369B. Special Tribunals for the Enforcement and Recovery of Eligible Loans BOFIA 2020 has established a Special Tribunal for enforcement and recovery of eligible loans: Section 102(1). Proceedings before the Tribunal are to be deemed to be judicial proceedings, whilst the Tribunal is to be regarded as a civil Court: Section 122(a).

Further, the Tribunal’s award or judgment is to be enforced as a judgment of a High

Court upon registration of a copy of such award or judgment with the registry of the High Court: Section 126(4).

1. Jurisdiction of the Tribunal The Tribunal is vested with jurisdiction throughout Nigeria and its President is required to divide Nigeria into divisions for administrative convenience: Section 106. The Tribunal has jurisdiction over any causes and matters pertaining to enforcement and recovery of eligible loans by banks and other financial institutions: Section 115(1)(a).

The Tribunal is also vested with jurisdiction over any causes and matters connected with or pertaining to enforcement of security or guarantee, or attachment of any assets under an eligible loan made by any bank or other financial institutions in Nigeria to its customers: Section 105(1)(b).

2. Reconciling with Constitutional Jurisdiction of High Courts

“IN SPITE OF SOME SIGNIFICANT (AND OTHER INSIGNIFICANT) FLAWS, BOFIA 2020 EMBODIES INSOLVENCY TOOLS AND PROVISIONS WHICH MAY BE EMPLOYED TO EFFICIENTLY FACILITATE BANK RESOLUTIONS, OR ORDERLY LIQUIDATIONS”

Section 115(2) provides that the jurisdiction conferred on the Tribunal in Section 115(1) shall not affect the jurisdiction and powers of the Federal or State High Courts to continue to hear and determine debt recovery and related financial consumer causes and matters before the courts “as at the date of the commencement” of BOFIA 2020 “provided that such matters before the courts shall be concluded timeously”.

Section 115(2) does not brazenly divest courts of record of their jurisdiction like section 284 of the Investments and Securities Act 2007. Nevertheless, it has its flawless.

First, its wordings suggest that, save for debt recovery and related matters pending in courts of record prior to the enactment of BOFIA 2020, the Tribunal’s jurisdiction may affect the jurisdiction of such courts of record over the stated matters. This plainly violates Sections 6(6)(a) and (b) and 272(1) of the 1999 Constitution. Second, Section 115(2) ends with a befuddling proviso (see above). The function of this proviso is unclear. Generally, a proviso qualifies, relaxes, restricts or limits the effect, or operation of a preceding part, of a provision: Ugwu v. PDP (2013) LPELR-21356(CA) at 57-58D-D. If the proviso suggests that the Tribunal’s jurisdiction in Section 115(1) may affect the powers of courts of records over debt recovery and related consumer causes where the matters are not concluded timeously, this is also unconstitutional.

Further, an appeal against the final decision of the Tribunal or an interlocutory decision on points of law only, is required to be filed at the Court of Appeal: Section 127(1). This provision, by implication, excludes State High Courts from entertaining actions relating to eligible debts, in clear violation of section 272 of the Constitution. Section 127(2) requires the Court of Appeal to hear all such appeals on an accelerated basis and “in priority to all other appeals”. In furtherance, of this purpose, the President of the Court of Appeal is mandated to issue an exclusive and special practice direction.

Instructively, Section 3(a) of the Court of Appeal Practice Direction, 2013 mandates the Presiding Justices of each division, in conjunction with the Deputy Chief Registrar, to ensure that registries give priority to the “listing, consideration and determination of all applications and substantive appeals” related to “all criminal appeals originating from or involving the EFCC, ICPC or any other statutorily recognised prosecutorial

3. Stay of Proceedings Where a party has, in a loan or security agreement, agreed to submit to the Tribunal’s jurisdiction, a Court may stay proceedings commenced in breach of the dispute resolution agreement. A Court would do so if it is satisfied that there is no sufficient reason why the case should not be referred to the Tribunal in accordance with the agreement: Section 116(1). Section 116(2) provides that the Court shall not stay proceedings where the financial institution has filed pleadings in the proceedings or taken any steps in the action other than applying that the Court should refer parties to the Tribunal: Section 116(2). This provision is analogous to section 5 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1988.

Further, the wording of Section 116(2) presupposes that an order for stay of proceedings and referral to the Tribunal may still be made even where a party other than the financial institution has filed pleadings or taken steps in proceedings in Court. Indeed, it appears that the framers of BOFIA 2020 did not contemplate the possibility of a party other than a financial institution commencing proceedings in relation to a dispute pertaining to a loan or security agreement. For instance, Section 118 provides for payment of case fees by “banks, specialised banks or other financial institutions”, which is 0.5% of the claim or a percentage determined by the Tribunal’s rules.

4. Powers of Tribunal Section 122(2) of BOFIA 2020 outlines several powers of the Tribunal for the purposes of discharging its functions. Notably, the Tribunal is empowered to (i) grant an injunction or appoint a liquidator in appropriate cases, (ii) make orders for the enforcement of security or guarantee, or attachment of assets, (iii) make an order of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari, (iv) upon ex parte application, before or after the filing of the action for debt recovery, grant custody and/or possession of debtor’s movable or immovable property to a financial institution pending the hearing and determination of a debt recovery action, (v) upon an ex parte application, before or after the filing of the action for debt recovery, grant an order freezing a debtor’s account(s) pending the hearing and determination of a debt recovery action.

5. Exemption from Statute of Limitation Section 122(5) of BOFIA 2020 excludes the application of any Federal or State statutes or rules of limitation on an action for recovery of eligible debt before the Tribunal. In effect, this means that such debt recovery actions may subsist in perpetuity. This approach flies in the face of the public policy (backed by laws and a plethora of judicial authorities) that legal rights are not perpetual and should not last for eternity for the public good. It ignores the fact that such unlimited or interminable threats of litigation over dormant or stale claims may have more cruelty to them than justice: Wema Bank Plc v Owosho (2018) LPELR-43857 (CA) Postscript In spite of some significant (and other insignificant) flaws, BOFIA 2020 embodies insolvency tools and provisions which may be employed to efficiently facilitate bank resolutions, or orderly liquidations.

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How American Strong Institutions Trumped Trump, a Strongman (Part 1) Democracy is a universal concept. Its practice differs from one place to another, as regards acquisition of power and institutional arrangements. Hence, one can talk of “American democracy”, “Nigerian democracy”, “British democracy”, “Irish democracy”, and so on. Wikipedia defines ‘democracy’ as a form of government in which the people have the authority to choose their governing legislators’.

The present Nigerian genre of democracy started in 1999 when Olusegun Obasanjo took office as the President of Nigeria in 1999, ending the multiple decades of military adventure in power that began in 1966. It was only interrupted by a brief period of interregnum from 1979 to 1983. The best definition of democracy is perhaps that given by Abraham Lincoln in his 1863 Gettysburg, Delaware speech. He said democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people.

In the world at large, there is nowhere democracy can be said to be a Republic of equals. Thus, socio-economic and political inequality is a prominent and permanent feature of democracy, particularly in Nigeria where democracy has widened the gap between those who have access to power and public funds, and those who do not. It is generally assumed that democracy is the most suitable form of government, leading to the pursuit of the welfare of the generality of the people. While this may be so in some democracies, the reverse is the case in others.

While democracy is synonymous with holistic development and aggregated growth in some jurisdictions, it is the representation of betrayal and inhuman deprivation in others. While some countries aspire to and do indeed, practice democracy for the socio-economic welfare and ultimate benefit of the generality of the people, or at least as many people as possible, others make their own brand of democracy government of the few (Oligarchy) by the few and for the socio-economic benefit of the few. Some variants of democracy are photocracy and corporatocracy.

Democracy in the United States of America The United States of America can be classified as a Federal Constitutional Democratic Republic, in which the President, also known as the Head of State and Head of Government, the Congress and the Judiciary, share powers reserved to the national government. The Federal Government shares sovereignty with the State Governments. The executive branch is headed by the President, and is independent of the legislature. Legislative powers, on the other hand, are vested in the two chambers of Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Judiciary is composed of the Supreme Court, and the lower Federal courts. Basically, the Judiciary's function is to interpret the United States’ Constitution and federal laws and regulations, which include resolving disputes between the executive and legislative branches. Powers are delineated by the Constitution.

Overtime, two political parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, have come to dominate American politics since the American Civil War of 1861-1965. Other Parties do also exist. There are major differences between the political system of the United States, and that of most other developed capitalist countries. These include increased power of the upper house of the legislature, a wider scope of power held by the Supreme Court, the separation of powers between the legislature and the executive, and the dominance of only two major parties (ibid).

The United States is one of the world's developed democracies, where third parties have the least political influence. The federal entity created by the U.S. Constitution is the dominant feature of the American governmental system.

During the evolution of democracy in America, two large processes were to be worked out, the utilisation of the resources of nature, and the organisation of civil affairs by means of a government. The industrial process has been coordinated with the civil, and democracy in America is the result. In Europe, since the heraldic summons of the Reformation, which came hard after the Columbian voyages, and in America, after the first quarter of the seventeenth century, the principles of government have shown a democratic application.

Nigerian Democracy It is glaring that the balance sheet of democracy in Nigeria, is less than satisfactory. But, all hope is not lost. Despite myriad of disappointment, denial and betrayal of trust by successive Nigerian governments, the desire for democracy amongst Nigerians has remained unassailably high. Since the commencement of the current democratic dispensation, Nigerians have consistently expressed their desire and preference for democracy by their active participation in the various transition programmes and electoral processes, despite their reservations and regrets over them. Today, there is a general realisation in the country, that the only acceptable and popular route to the acquisition of political power is the ballot box, as it is the only means by which leaders are elected.

A critical look at the political history of Nigeria, reveals that the current democratic dispensation has the largest number of political parties. It would be recalled that the First Republic (1960-1966)

strengthening of democracy in Nigeria, is probably the ability to transit from one civilian administration to another, even if through heavily flawed and widely flayed elections. Although Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960, it was in 2007 that the country, for the first time, successfully transited from one civilian administration to another. All earlier attempts generated suffocating political logjams, that ended in the misadventure of the military in the democratic process. Although, the results of the 2007 elections attracted widespread condemnations, the overall result was a rather smooth and peaceful handover of political power from one civilian government to another. There is no alternative to democracy.

Donald Trump was dominated by four major political parties: Northern People’s Congress, NPC; Action Group, AG; National Council of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC, and Nigerian National Democratic Party, NNDP. During the Second Republic (1979-1983), the political scene was dominated by five registered political parties: National Party of Nigeria, NPN; Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN; Nigerian People’s Party, NPP; Great Nigerian People’s Party, GNPP and People’s Redemption Party, PRP. In the Third Republic (1987-1993), there were two government founded and funded parties: National Republican Convention, NRC and Social Democratic Party, SDP. In the current political dispensation, prior to 6th December, 2012, when Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), deregistered 28 political parties, there were 50 registered political parties in the country.

However, in a country like Nigeria where the level of illiteracy is very high, confronting the electorate with too many political parties breeds confusion. It is important to note that, only very few of these parties present relatively strong and viable opposition to the Federal and the respective State governments.

The most important signal to the prospect of the survival and

“DESPITE MYRIAD OF DISAPPOINTMENT, DENIAL AND BETRAYAL OF TRUST

BY SUCCESSIVE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENTS, THE DESIRE FOR DEMOCRACY AMONGST NIGERIANS HAS REMAINED UNASSAILABLY HIGH”

Why Nigeria Should Borrow a Leaf from American Democracy Joseph Robinette Biden was, on January 20, inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States of America at a ceremony that created another milestone in American democracy. Even though American democracy has existed for hundreds of years (since 1776), its continued significance owes a lot to the presence of strong democratic institutions, without which it would have been as frail as other weak democracies across the world. America has had its developmental challenges, including governance issues, but its ability to resolve such challenges without the nation’s psyche suffering immense bruises, makes her a unique model. Specifically, the recently resolved President Donald John Trump-induced post-election insurrection and attempted coup, were made possible by the abiding faith in the resilience of the country’s democratic institutions, and respect for the rule of law.

This has further enlivened the argument that, only strong institutions sustain nation-building. In the course of her political evolution, Nigeria has encountered several difficult moments but has continued to wobble, stumble and fumble very badly, largely because of the weak democratic institutions, and failure to check abuse of power by the so-called ‘political godfathers’ who still dominate and control her socio-political and economic system. (J Guardian Saturday Magazine.

Trumping Trump through Strong Institutions Donald Trump is a man well-known for many reasons, albeit very negative. His ascension as the President of America only amplified and magnified his eccentricity, unconventionality, non-conformism, narcissism, sophistry, grandeur of delusion, grandstanding, brinkmanship, pathological lies, paranoid disorder, megalomanic behaviour and egocentric attitude. He was, however, humbled and humiliated, by age-long America’s Strong Institutions. Trump’s theatrics of sheer buffoonery to overturn the USA 2020 general election and the people’s will finally met their delayed end, when his horde of rabid right-wing and, presumably, mentally-deranged supporters, invaded and desecrated the sacred Capitol Hill. They broke down windows, doors, and invaded rooms; rummaged through, and videoed legislators’ files, official and private documents; sat on their chairs; and senselessly, killed five people, including a Police officer, whom they clubbed to death. The hysterical mob did this, ironically, with the America flag. The Strong Institutions of America weighed in and tossed out Trump, the Strongman, out of power, and into the cold and uncertain future. Trump had goaded, instigated and enabled his frenzied ‘red-neck’ white supremacists to invade the Capitol, so as to prevent a joint session certification of the Electoral College votes.

Nancy Pelosi, an octogenarian and Speaker of the US House of Representatives, was a ready target. Vice President Pence escaped death by the whiskers, in a most providential manner.

Never before has American democracy witnessed so much insults and expletives, so freely poured on a sitting President.

He has been variously described as mentally unstable, crazy, mad, racist, sexist, a xenophobe, fraud, unpresidential, clown, worst President America has ever had, Putin’s puppy, and more.

He doesn’t seem to care. Can you wake up a man who is pretending to asleep?

The Concept of Strong Institutions Strong institutions constitute an essential cornerstone and mechanism, for democracy to effectively and efficiently thrive in a society. Institutions are governmental systems saddled with the responsibility of making and enforcing the rules of a society, as well as regulating relations with other societies. Democratic institutions are in essence, a set of arrangements for organising political competition, legitimating rulers and implementing rules.

Therefore, Strong Institutions in a democracy will efficiently satisfy and ensure participation of the people, either directly or indirectly: independence of the judiciary; separation of powers; rule of law; entrenchment of fundamental human rights; free and fair elections; freedom of the press; governmental accountability; as well as transparency of government officials. (To be continued).

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “Africa does not need strongmen; it needs strong institutions” (Barrack Obama American President, 2008 – 2016).

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Vacation Order to Herdsmen:

It is no longer in doubt, that the nation is at war on several fronts. While that battle to reclaim the North Eastern part of Nigeria rages, bandits and kidnappers are perceptibly having a field day in the North Central and most other parts of Nigeria, including the Middle Belt. The South West which had hitherto remained relatively safe, seems to be losing its security with the invasion of gun-totting Herdsmen, some of Fulani extraction. The negative economic impact on the nation’s economy, has been debilitating. In an effort to protect his people, the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN was compelled to issue a seven-day notice to all Herders and occupants of the Ondo forest reserves, to vacate same. The order, which subsequently resulted in other States like Oyo and Ekiti taking similar steps to ensure the security of their citizens, is the subject-matter of this Special Edition in which Femi Falana, SAN, Dr. Sam Amadi and Festus Ogun delve into the complex issues that pushed our nation into this unfortunate situation, in terms of the clashes between the Herders and the Farmers, and the criminality which may be a spin-off therefrom, also proffering workable solutions to these problems

Violent Clashes Between Herders and Farmers: A Legal Panacea Femi Falana SAN Introduction From 1999 to 2021, thousands of people have been brutally killed in herders/ farmers' clashes in several States of the Federation. The mindless killings have continued, due to official impunity and negligence which have led to the virtual collapse of the security architecture of the neocolonial State. Hundreds of other citizens have been abducted by gangs of kidnappers and bandits.

While some of the abducted people were killed in gruesome circumstances, others were released after the payment of ransoms running into hundreds of millions of Naira by their family members. The hardened criminal elements, have subjected abducted women to sexual abuse. Over 100 school girls in captivity, have been forced to marry their abductors. In spite of the routine assurance of the security of life and property of every citizen, the Federal Government appears to have lost the monopoly of violence to the criminal gangs.

As a result of desert encroachment, the Fulani herders have been forced to seek fertile land for grazing of their cattle in the middle belt and southern parts of the country. Since the State has failed to address the challenge of desertification, the herders have continued to graze their cattle in the bush.

In the process, they graze their cattle without regard to State laws and the rights of the farm owners. In struggling to survive on fertile land, the herders attack farmers who resist the invasion of their land. They attack farmers with AK 47 rifles, which have been acquired to protect cattle from rustlers.

The violent clashes between herders and farmers have continued, due to the failure of successive governments to revive the ranches inherited from the regional governments of the First Republic, but which collapsed during

Governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (Ondo); Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Oluseyi Makinde, (Oyo), and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun)

years of the locusts under successive military regimes.

History of Ranching in Nigeria The point that I am struggling to

“..... THE HERDERS ATTACK FARMERS WHO RESIST THE INVASION OF THEIR LAND. THEY ATTACK FARMERS WITH AK 47 RIFLES, WHICH HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED TO PROTECT CATTLE FROM RUSTLERS”

make is that, ranching is not a new phenomenon in the country. It is on record that the regimes of Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe established ranches in the Northern, Western and Eastern regions respectively. The Obudu Cattle Ranch which was the oldest in the country, was established in 1951 by a Scot, but was later taken over by the Eastern Regional Government. The Northern Regional Government established a ranch in Mokwa (Niger State). In the West, there were ranches in Iseyin (Oyo State), Oke Ako (Ekiti State) and Akunu (Ondo State).

Under the Yakubu Gowon regime (1966-1975) , the Kano State Government headed by Police Commissioner Audu Bako, established ranches in the State.

All the ranches collapsed during the years of the locusts, under successive military juntas. The famous Obudu Cattle Ranch has since been turned to Obudu holiday resort.

In 2014, the Jonathan regime decided to establish ranches in the country. A team of young people were sponsored to learn animal husbandry in Botswana, while the sum of N100 billion was released to some State Governments to establish the ranches. In a recent probe, the House of Representatives confirmed that the money was diverted,

as not a single ranch was established.

In 2016, the Buhari regime also opted for the establishment of ranches, in order to end the perennial violent conflicts between farmers and herders. About 55,000 hectares were acquired in 11 States, for the project. The Federal Government also announced its plan to disarm the herders, and other armed bandits. But, instead of establishing the ranches and disarming the herders, the Federal Government has handled the violent clashes between farmers and herdsmen rather lackadaisically. The sudden embrace of cattle colony or RUGA policy by the Federal Government, was suspected by many citizens as a design to take over and turn over land seized from farmers to herders.

Clashes and Kidnapping Even though the dangerous policy has been dropped, the plan to establish ranches has equally been abandoned. In recent times, the clashes between herders and farmers has been compounded by many incidents of kidnapping that have been traced to some herders.

Owing to the failure of the Federal Government to bring the situation under control, some people have reported to self help and jungle justice. The various State Governments have come up with policies such as enactment

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How Legal, How Constitutional? of anti-grazing laws, and compulsory registration of all herders and farmers operating in forest reserves. The Umar Ganduje administration, once invited displaced herders in Benue and Taraba States to Kano state.

Instead of adopting knee jerk reactions to the crisis, the Federal Government and State Governments should encourage the immediate establishment of ranches.

Apart from ending clashes between herders and farmers, the policy will lead to large scale production of meat which will be distributed throughout the country, and possibly exported. Ranching is working in Botswana, Mozambique, Kenya and South Africa. It has worked before in Nigeria. It can work again.

Let the Authorities move speedily to end the violent clashes between herders and farmers, without any further delay.

Let the Authorities adopt proactive measures to end kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and ritual murder, as well as extrajudicial killing by security agencies.

State Governments and Security Challenges A few years ago, armed robbers launched violent attacks on banks in Lagos State.

The criminals killed many bankers, customers and security personnel, and carted away millions of Naira. The then Babatunde Fashola administration, sought the permission of the Federal Government to purchase and import some modern security equipment and gadgets. As soon as the licence was granted by President Umaru Yar’adua, the Lagos State Government brought in the equipment and gave them to the State Police Command. Armed with such equipment, the Police succeeded in securing the banks and other commercial institutions in the State. Shortly thereafter, about 20 well armed members of the Boko Haram sect sneaked into the State and concluded plans to launch bombing attacks on people, religious centres and schools. The terrorists were arrested and detained under the Terrorism Act, a Federal offence. The State Government requested the Federal Government, to try the dangerous suspects.

When it became clear that the Federal Government was foot dragging over the matter, the Attorney-General of Lagos State applied for the fiat of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation to enable him to prosecute the terror suspects. As soon as the fiat was granted, the suspects were tried, convicted and jailed.

In another development, the State Government faced fresh security challenges when another set of criminal elements embarked on kidnapping school children and other innocent people. Again, with the acquisition of more sophisticated equipment by the Lagos State Government, the Police Command has frontally attacked the crisis and brought the situation under control.

About three years ago, the InspectorGeneral of Police Monitoring Unit recently

Even though hundreds of suspects have been arrested in several parts of the country by the combined teams of Police and Army personnel for abducting several people including children, they have not been brought to book by the Attorneys-General of the affected States.

Majority of critics who are not aware that it is the exclusive constitutional responsibility of State Attorneys-General to prosecute suspects indicted for the offences of kidnapping, armed robbery and culpable homicide, have continued to blame the Federal Government for not prosecuting herders who have been arrested by security agencies.

Femi Falana, SAN

arrested a billionaire kidnap suspect, Mr. Chukwudimene Onwuamadike (a.k.a Evans). The suspect was alleged to have specialised in extorting millions of dollars and other foreign currencies, from victims of his criminal enterprise.

At the end of the Police investigation, the Lagos State Government took over the matter and has since charged the suspect and his cohorts with armed robbery and kidnapping, before the Lagos high court.

Before then, the Ondo State Government had invoked its sovereign powers to deal with the challenge of insecurity. On September 21, 2015, Chief Olu Falae, a former Secretary to the Federal Government was kidnapped by a gang of kidnappers on his farm

“ALL THE RANCHES COLLAPSED DURING THE YEARS OF THE LOCUSTS, UNDER SUCCESSIVE MILITARY JUNTAS. THE FAMOUS OBUDU CATTLE RANCH HAS SINCE BEEN TURNED TO OBUDU HOLIDAY RESORT”

at Ago Abo in the outskirts of Akure, Ondo State. The criminals demanded a ransom of N100 million, for his release.

President Muhammadu Buhari who was embarrassed by the report of the incident, directed the Inspector-General of Police to rescue Chief Falae without further delay. The Chief regained his freedom three days later, after the payment of an undisclosed ransom. The seven kidnap suspects (Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibrahim, Masahudu Mohammed, Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar and Babawo Kato) were arrested and paraded by the Police at Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory.

As soon as the investigation was concluded by the Police Headquarters, the then Ondo State Government decided to take over the case in exercise its constitutional powers. Since the case had disclosed that the offence of kidnapping was committed in Ondo State, the then State Attorney-General, Mr. Tayo Jegede, SAN requested the Police to transfer the suspects to Akure, together with the case file and the exhibits recovered during the investigation of the case. As soon as the suspects were brought to Akure, they were charged with conspiracy and kidnapping before the Ondo State High Court. At the end of the marathon trial, the presiding Judge, the Honourable Justice Williams Olamide found the Defendants guilty as charged, convicted and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

No doubt, by prosecuting the dangerous kidnappers and armed robbers, both Attorneys-General of Lagos and Ondo States have demonstrated that State Governments are not encumbered from maintaining law and order in their areas of jurisdiction. It is my strong belief that it is the failure of other Attorneys-General to enforce relevant criminal and penal codes, that has led to a breakdown of law in several States of the Federation.

Welfare of the People Since a country cannot be secured by a Government that is not prepared to attend to the welfare of the people, the Constitution has outlined the socioeconomic rights of the people and embodied them in Chapter two of the Constitution. The said socioeconomic rights are otherwise called, the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy. Even though the ruling class has made them not justiciable, the workers in alliance with other progressive civil society organisations have compelled the Government to enact a number of laws to promote the welfare of the people. But, the welfare laws have not been implemented due to alleged lack of ,funds in spite of the nation’s enormous wealth. On account of the failure of the Government to fund welfare programmes, Nigeria is said to have the largest number of poor people in the world.

The economic paradox has been fuelled by large scale looting of public funds, by the ruling class. Most of the problems at the root of insecurity in Nigeria, are traceable to the implementation of neoliberal policies imposed on the nation by imperialism. Over 25 million young people including university graduates, are in the unemployment market. In addition to that figure, there are over 10 million children of school age who are roaming the streets, which is said to be the highest figure in the world.

Not unexpectedly, such street kids are easily recruited by terrorists, bandits and other criminal gangs to unleash mayhem on the people. The hijack of the recent #EndSARS protests by hoodlums and other criminal elements, has confirmed that the nation is sitting on a keg of gunpowder.

Conclusion Since armed robbery, kidnapping and murder or culpable homicide are State offences, we have pointed out that State Governments ought to be blamed for failing to end impunity, by prosecuting the herders and other criminal suspects arrested and indicted for kidnapping and killing of innocent people. Instead of engaging in ethnic profiling, concerned citizens should be organised to prevail on the Federal cont'd on page 10

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and State Governments to discharge their constitutional duty of protecting the life and property of every citizen. The Governments should also be compelled to put an end to the perennial violent conflicts between farmers and herders, which have needlessly claimed many lives and the destruction of properties worth several billions of Naira in many States of the Federation. As a matter of urgency, herders and bandits should be disarmed by the Federal Government. Having embraced ranching as a permanent solution to the clashes between herders and farmers, the Federal Government and State Governments should proceed to establish ranches in a number of States.

Femi Falana, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer, recipient of the prestigious Bernard Simmons Award of the International Bar Association

Can Ondo State Quit Criminal Fulani Herdsmen?

Analysing State Power to Regulate Residence and Commerce under the Constitution Sam Amadi Introduction A few weeks ago, the Nigerian Government faced a volatile situation that threatened to swell into a major national conflict. The crisis has many constitutional implications. The main issue is the continuing criminality and violence, of the Fulani herders. For many years, conflicts between herders and famers and, sometimes, outright attack by Fulani herdsmen on farming communities across Nigeria, have been a major cause of insecurity in the country. These violent attacks and other forms of criminality, like kidnapping and banditry, result in huge economic losses. The nation loses an estimated N300 billion from this conflict. But, the graver result of violence by Fulani herdsmen, is how much it is weakening national unity and encouraging ethnic profiling, hate speeches and deterioration of State autonomy. The Nigerian State has come under much strain, especially since the Buhari administration, for failure to respond to the terrorism and criminality of Fulani herdsmen in the logic of rule of law. Because the Federal Government has been thoroughly inefficient and manifestly biased in controlling the criminality of Fulani herdsmen, many State Governors are taking extreme actions to manage the crisis. One such action is the quit notice Ondo Government issued to Fulani herdsmen, to leave the forests of the State. This notice has generated much controversy, and even threatened to become a matter of national crisis. The Presidency that has been generally slow to respond to these criminalities, quickly jumped into the fray and countered Ondo State Government.

Clarifying Issues in Contention There is a bit of confusion, about the facts of the crisis. The report is that Ondo State Government, reacting to the spate of brutal killings by Fulani herdsmen, issued a quit notice to herdsmen to

Dr Sam Amadi

vacate the forests within seven days, or get registered with the State. This order has been interpreted, as an order to Fulani people to leave the State. The Presidency did not allow the ink dry on the order, before it reacted to the quit order. In a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the President on Media, Garba Shehu, the Presidency described the action of the State Government as unconstitutional. The statement argues that the order is targeted at an ethnic group, and whereas, the State has a right to fight criminality in the State, it has no powers to discriminate against the Fulanis. Prominent Yoruba leaders, under the platform of Afenifere, lambasted the Presidency, for always defending

“...... THE GRAVER RESULT OF VIOLENCE BY FULANI HERDSMEN, IS HOW MUCH IT IS WEAKENING NATIONAL UNITY AND ENCOURAGING ETHNIC PROFILING, HATE SPEECHES AND DETERIORATION OF STATE AUTONOMY. THE NIGERIAN STATE HAS COME UNDER MUCH STRAIN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE BUHARI ADMINISTRATION......”

the criminal Fulani herdsmen. Ondo State Government has maintained the legality of its order, and expressed its determination to enforce the order.

It is clear that the order is for the herders to leave the forests, and get registered in order to practice their trade. The problematic aspect of this order, is the fact of pastoralism. These Fulani herders have been reputed to live with their cattle, and basically move and live in the forests. The nature of their trade and the cultural lifestyle of pastoralism, means that they would not readily live in the cities like other tradesmen. So, the order to leave the forests seems to impose an existential challenge to the herders. It imposes a grave burden to them. But, does the State have the power to impose such additional and grave burden on herders? Does the action of the State Government violate the citizenship rights of Fulani herdsmen, and does the Federal Government have the right to preempt such orders?

Federalism and State Rights under the Nigerian Constitution The controversy on the legality of Ondo State quit notice, unravels under the shadows of Federalism. Nigeria operates a Federal Constitution, that establishes the powers and immunities of various levels of Government. The choice of a Federal system of administration grounded in a written Constitution

by Nigeria’s founding father, is based on the understanding that it is only a Federal system of Government guaranteed by a written Constitution that can enable unity in diversity.

In adopting Federalism, Nigeria’s founding fathers also considered the views of the US founding fathers, and borrowed some of their institutional prescriptions. Arthur Lewis who was one of the intellectual architects of Nigeria’s political economy, argued that Federalism is the best model for a plural society like Nigeria to attain and maintain unity and development.

He built on the views of Professor K.C. Wheare who postulated that

Federalism is “the method of dividing power, so that the general and regional governments are each, within a sphere, coordinate and independent”. When Nigeria adopted Federalism, it was a Federation of Regions. Today, it is a Federation of States.

Building on KC Wheare’s thesis of division of power so that ‘the general and regional governments are each, within a sphere, coordinate and independent’, the Nigerian Constitution divides power between the Federal Government and 36 States. This division relates to executive power (Section 5), legislative power (Section 4) and judicial power (Section 6).

Federalism is both a political and constitutional law concept. In both conceptions, the US constitutional history plays a key role in shaping the structure and culture of Federalism. The relationship of the centre and federating units, be they States or Regions, is determined by the actual text of the Constitution. In the US, the articulation of Federalism has changed through the storied history of the country. In his authoritative text, Constitutional Law and Politics: Struggles in Power and Governmental Accountability, David M, O’Brien argues that “Federalism in the US conceals complex and ambiguous connections” because the concept has changed its meanings and implications throughout the history of the US. But, generally, the conception of Federalism has oscillated between the concept of ‘state sovereignty’ and ‘sharing of power’. Before the US constitutional conference, the prevalent notion is that the States are sovereign, free, independent, coordinate, equal and co-extensive. This concept granted the States power to nullify Federal legislations. This concept divided the federalists and the antifederalists over the character of the new Republic. The Supreme Court itself was divided on the nature of the Federal Government, introduced by the constitutional convention. At various times and in different cases, the court upheld the concept of States as sovereigns (Dred Scott v Sandford 60 U.S. 393 (185) and Re the Civil Rights Cases 109. U.S. 3 (1883).

Later, the Supreme Court abandoned the concept of Federalism requiring States to be sovereigns, and emphasised federalism as ‘shared power’ under the Federal legislative preemption. See Brown v Board of Education 347 U.S. 483 (1954).

After surveying the history of Federalism in US constitutional law and politics, David M. O’Brien concludes that “…the constitution expressly grants plenary powers to the Federal Government and sharply limits States’ power… In creating a new form of Federalism, the constitution presumed the existence, not the sovereignty of the States. Indisputably, the States have a crucial role and responsibility to play in the administration of social services”.

The same conception applies to Federalism under Nigerian Constitution. Just as the 1999 Constitution recognises the existence of the State and grants powers to govern and provide social services, it denies it the power of sovereignty and subordinates the exercise of State power to the preemption of Federal legislative and executive power. Furthermore, unlike the US constitution that reserves powers not expressly conferred on the Federal Government on the States, the Nigerian Constitution grants States only express cont'd on page 11

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Vacation Order to Herdsmen: How Legal, How Constitutional? cont'd from page 10

power. There are no reserved or implied powers of States under the Nigerian Constitution.

Relevant to the arguments in the paper, we refer expressly to Sections 4 and 5 of the 1999 Constitution which limit the exercise of both executive and legislative powers of the State to both the doctrines of ‘covering the field’ and ‘preemption’.

Those sections also require that exercise of State executive power, should never undermine the effectiveness of Federal executive power. Also, exercise of State legislative power, where the State has concurrent powers with the Federal Government, should be subordinated to exercise of Federal power.

Therefore, the proper provinces of the power of States vis-à-vis the Federal Government under the Constitution, is that the States are not sovereign. Although they are co-equal and coordinate amongst themselves and have extensive legislative power in many subject matters, such legislative and the executive competence that derives from it are not limitless, but subject to Federal preemption and the limitations of constitutional due process.

Let us now examine such power as it relates to citizenship rights, and the regulation of commerce.

Citizenship, Citizenship Rights, and the Regulation of Intrastate Trade The first issue of the controversy, borders on whether the State Government can order a citizen or citizen group to leave the State. The antagonists of the Ondo order, interpret it as a quit notice to citizens of Nigeria to leave part of the country.

If this order is interpreted in that sense, then it raises the question whether any State Government can deny any Nigerian citizen residence in any part of the country, and under what conditions.

Chapter 3 of the Constitution provides for Nigerian citizenship. Primarily, a Nigerian citizen is any person born in Nigeria before independence, either of whose parents or grandparent belongs to an ethnic group indigenous to Nigeria.

Furthermore, a person is also a citizen if he is born in or outside Nigeria after 1960, provided any of his parents are citizens of Nigeria. The regulation of citizenship is not within the legislative competence of the State legislature and therefore, not a derivative responsibility of the executive government of a State. Only the National Assembly can make laws about citizenship, and only the President is authorised by the Constitution to grant or annul some sorts of citizenship (Sections 29 and 30).

Flowing from citizenship, are citizenship rights which are subsumed under Fundamental Human Rights in Chapter 4. These rights include, the right of a Nigerian to reside in any part of Nigeria.

The right of residence and the freedom of movement, are strengthened by the freedom from discrimination. Therefore, as long as these ‘criminal’ herdsmen are citizens of Nigeria, they cannot be forcefully removed from any part of the country.

Such forceful removal will amount to a denial of right of citizenship. These rights are protected, except under the strict provisions of Section 45 of the Constitution.

Attempts by politicians to deport their opponent on the basis that they are non-Nigerians, have been nullified by the courts. A prominent example is the Shugaba case, where the Federal High Court nullified the deportation of an

Festus Ogun

opposition politician by the ruling authority.

There is no doubt that any order asking citizens of Nigeria of any ethnic or social identity to cease to live in any part of Nigeria, is a violation of the right of citizenship. This violation cannot be validated by exercise of legislative or executive power of the State under the Constitution. The powers of the States as a level of Government, do not extend to authorising abridgement of the rights of citizenship. In Director of SSS v Agbakoba (1999) 3 NWLR (Pt. 595) 340, the Supreme Court reiterated that these citizenship rights cannot be abridged by administrative procedures through the denial of incidences necessary for the enjoyment of these rights.

So, if the purport of the Ondo order is to forcefully remove Fulani herdsmen who are Nigerian citizens (not Nigeriens) from Ondo State, then it is an unconstitutional order which neither the State legislature, nor the executive can make. But, carefully considered, the order is not an order to remove citizens of Nigeria from Ondo State. It is an order prohibiting them from inhabiting the forest, and requiring them to undergo some kind of registration. It is an order regulating commerce, determining how a trade would be undertaken

“THE PRESENT ORDER IS DIRECTED AT HERDERS TO LEAVE THE FOREST, BECAUSE OF A CONSIDERATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS A VALID EXERCISE OF STATE POWER”

in a State. Does a Nigerian State have powers to impose such burdens on a trade undertaken majorly by a particular Nigerian ethnic or social group? This is the proper lens to view the Order, and not as a removal of persons from Ondo State.

From the foregoing reframing of the controversy, is the order of the Ondo State government compatible with the Constitution? To answer this question, we have to review the development of the US constitutional law on the power of the States to regulate commerce. The starting point of the US constitutional law on the power of States to regulate commerce is Article 1(5) of the US Constitution which states that: “The Congress shall have power to regulate Commerce with Foreign Nations, and amongst the several States and with the Indian tribes”. This provision is famously known as the ‘Commerce Clause’. So much constitutional law jurisprudence has flowed from it. The relevant question arising from the Commerce Clause is, what can States validly do to shape trade and commerce within their territory?

In Gibbons v Ogden 9 Wheat. 1 (1982) Justice Marshall laid the defining principle of constitutional law in this regard, by asserting that Congress’s power to regulate commerce does not end at State lines because ‘commerce’ is an “intercourse that affects more States than one”. Cattle rearing is one such intercourse, that potentially affects more than one State.

The constitutional law jurisprudence of the commerce clause has been one that tends to privilege the power of Congress (in the Nigerian case: the National Assembly) to exclusively and extensively regulate interstate commerce, but allows significant (and in some circumstances, controlling) power to States to deal with intrastate and local content of interstate commerce. As Justice Marshall observed in the Gibbon case, although Congress has power over interstate commerce, “The completely internal commerce of a State may be considered as reserved for the State”. Subsequently, Chief Justice Taney in Mayor of New York City v Miln 11 Pet. (36 U.S.) 102 (1837) while upholding a State refusal of immigrants based on indigence, offered a more sympathetic view of State power over commerce.

In his view, “We think it is competent and necessary for a State to provide

precautionary measures against the moral pestilence of paupers, vagabonds and possibly convicts, as it is to guard against the physical pestilence which may arise from unsound and infectious articles imported from the ship, the crew of which may be labouring from an infectious disease”. This is an extreme articulation of State power.

But, the development of the extent of State power in the matter of regulation of commerce has settled on the view that in matter of intrastate commerce, the State has almost limitless power to regulate commerce, as long as it does not outsource fiscal burdens on other States (Wyoming v Oklahoma 502 U.S. 437 (1992) and does not hinder the effective exercise of Federal power. In this evolution, several heuristics like ‘concurrent power’ ‘dormant power’, ‘mutual exclusiveness’, ‘selective exclusiveness’ have been applied to demarcate between valid and invalid exercise of State power. But, the conclusion is, as David M O’Brien puts it, “State regulation is valid if the activity is basically local, and the Court determines there is no need for a uniform national standard”. This means where the Federal Government has established a uniform standard, the State law may not undermine or detract from such standard.

In the current case in Ondo, the management of forestry is actually a State responsibility. The State has powers to make laws for the effective management of the forest, as a resource and management of cattle rearing commerce. The State Government does not have exclusive right to determine movement of cattle across State lines. It has power to regulate local components of such interstate trade, if it concerns itself only with the aspects of the trade that impact only the State.

Also, in regulating intrastate or interstate commerce, Ondo cannot make laws or issue executive orders that violate the fundamental rights of citizens involved in any such trade, whether intrastate or interstate. It cannot also make laws or issue executive orders that undermine the ability of the Federal legislature or the Federal executive to exercise its powers under Sections 4 and 5 of the Constitution.

Outside these restrictions, Ondo is free to make laws or issue executive orders that regulate intrastate and interstate commerce.

The present order is directed at herders to leave the forest, because of a consideration of public safety. This is a valid exercise of State power, as long as it does not determine interstate commerce that escapes fully local control or contradict Federal standards set by law. Although the order is a valid exercise of constitutional power of the State to regulate internal commerce and protect citizens of the State, the order can still be challenged in court on the usual administrative law principles of legality, reasonableness and rationality (Council of Civil Service Unions v Minister for the Civil Service (1985) 1 AC 375, Onyekwuluje & Anor v Benue State Government & ors. LER [2015] SC.189/2005 and Chevron, Inc. v Natural Resources Defence Council 467 U.S. 837 (1984). But, it will pass constitutional muster as a valid exercise of constitutional power of Ondo State under the Constitution.

Conclusion The order quitting Fulani herdsmen from cont'd on page 12

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the forests in Ondo State and requiring them to register with the Government to continue with their trade, is not an order to remove them from the State and deny them residence right in the State. The Nigerian Constitution guarantees Nigerian citizens’ basic citizenship rights, which a State cannot abridge. Citizenship and citizenship rights are exclusive matters for the Federal legislature and executive to manage under constitutional due process.

State interference on such matters, is unconstitutional.

But, the order of Ondo State government does not relate to management of citizenship. It relates rather to management of commerce. Even if the order regulates interstate commerce, as long as it relates to matters that are exclusively local, as long as it does not violate citizenship rights (fundamental human rights) and does not impose fiscal or other burdens on other States, it is constitutionally valid. The only option for those affected would be to challenge the validity of the order under administrative procedure on the principles of legality, reasonableness, and rationality.

Dr. Sam Amadi, Human Rights Lawyer, immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission

Legality and Constitutionality of Akeredolu’s Vacation Order to Herdsmen Festus Ogun The seven-day ultimatum given to Fulani herdsmen to vacate forest reserves within Ondo State by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN has since generated heated controversies. While the Federal Government declared that the Governor lacks the constitutional power to issue quit notice to anyone in the State, the Governor and some other socio-cultural groups like Afenifere insist that the vacation order remains valid. The purpose of this intervention, therefore, is to attempt a legal dissection of the constitutional validity of the vacation order, vis-à-vis the public interest concerns arising from the policy.

Constitutionality and Legality of the Vacation Order First, the right to freedom of movement without hindrance anywhere within Nigeria is guaranteed under our constitutional jurisprudence. Thus, Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (amended 2011) provides that “every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom”.

Indeed, all citizens of Nigeria are constitutionally entitled to settle, live and move freely anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria, without any fear of rejection, ostracisation or discrimination.

However, the rights to freedom of movement and personal liberty enshrined in the Constitution are not absolute.

Section 45 of the Constitution provides that there could be a legal instrument providing for the derogation to these rights in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health or for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other persons. The Court of Appeal in KALU v FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA & ORS (2012) LPELR-9287(CA) succinctly held that: “the rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement, guaranteed respectively by Sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution, are not absolute”. The court further explained that Section 41(2)(a) of the Constitution says that the right to freedom of movement may be deprived under a law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society imposing restrictions. Therefore, no argument of constitutional or human rights breach can be maintained, “when it is apparent that the right has been deprived of in accordance with the procedure permitted by law.”

So, does the Ondo State Government have any law reasonably justifiable in a democratic society that provides for the derogation of the right to freedom of movement?

The answer is a “Yes”.

By virtue of Section 1 of the Land Use Act, 1978 all lands within the geographical territory of a State in Nigeria is vested in the Governor. The section provides thus: “all land comprised in the territory of each State in the

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN

Federation are hereby vested in the Governor of that State and such land shall be held in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians in accordance with the provisions of this Act”. On the usage of the land, Section 12(1) of the Act empowers the Governor to grant licence or permits to anyone entering or using a land. Interestingly, Section 12(5) the Act vests upon the Governor the power to cancel any such licence, if it fails to comply with the conditions of the licence. Instructively, Section 28 of the Act provides that “it shall be lawful for the Governor to revoke a right of occupancy for overriding public interest”.

Second, by virtue of Section 2 of the Trade Cattle Tax Law of Ondo State, 1969 (amended 2006), the imposition of “movement permit” of cattle traders is established. In fact, Section 9 of the Law empowers the State Executive Council to make regulations for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the law. It is also important to note that, Section 9 of the Law criminalises failure to pay the trade cattle tax or failure to take such trade cattle to the appropriate control post for inspection purposes.

Furthermore, under the Ondo State Forestry Law regime (Forestry Law of Western State and National Forestry Policy, 2006), it is a criminal trespass for an individual to occupy a forest reserve without obtaining permit from the State Government through the State Forestry Department. When an individual, whether an indigene or

“......UNDER THE ONDO STATE FORESTRY LAW REGIME (FORESTRY LAW OF WESTERN STATE AND NATIONAL FORESTRY POLICY, 2006), IT IS A CRIMINAL TRESPASS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO OCCUPY A FOREST RESERVE WITHOUT OBTAINING PERMIT FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE STATE FORESTRY DEPARTMENT”

otherwise, enters into the forest reserve without permission consequent upon which such a person is capable of tampering with the forest produce and ecosystem, it is an act of trespass punishable under the law. In fact, in cases of forests and open lands that are not “reserved”, no individual can invade such a land without lawful permit from the private owner, communal authorities or the government as the case may be. Anything short of a lawful permit before occupying a land that does not belong to you, is a criminal trespass.

From the foregoing, it can be safely deduced that the Governor of Ondo State was right in law to have issued a vacation order to illegal occupiers of the State’s forest reserve. Does this mean the right to freedom of movement is breached? Absolutely not: the derogation to the enjoyment of the right is backed up by law. It must be emphasised that the rights to freedom of movement and personal liberty of the herdsmen have not in any way been breached, as those who wish to continue occupying the forest reserve are entitled to make an application to the Forestry Department under the Ministry of Agriculture in order to obtain the lawful permits. Disobedience to the lawful order by the Governor, exposes one to arrest and prosecution.

Governor Akeredolu took an Oath of Office under the Seventh Schedule of the 1999 Constitution to protect, preserve and defend the people, through unalloyed submission to the spirit of our laws. If indeed, Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution makes it a duty of the Government to provide adequate security for the people, exploring the relevant provisions of the law to protect the people from the clutches of kidnappers, bandits, murderers and terrorists should not only be regarded as a courageous move, but equally a rare display of patriotism.

It is common knowledge that the forest of Ondo State, is the hiding place of those terrorising the peace of our people. It is not expected that the Governor folds his arms and watches, till his State gets completely destroyed by an inferno. Thus, the eviction policy is only a commendable move to beef up the security situation of the State. Anyone opposed to the vacation order is either in love with the terrorists, or simply an enemy of the Nigerian people.

In the final analysis, the Governor must be told that the power to impose a vacation order in this regard does not extend to outrightly evicting anyone from the geographical territory of the State, bearing in mind the fact that all Nigerians have the right to move freely everywhere and anywhere in Nigeria. As laid down by Supreme Court in the popular case of MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS v SHUGABA ABDURRAHAMAN DARMAN (1982) 3 N.C.L.R. 915 at 1009, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu lacks the constitutional power to outrightly and totally evict anyone from the four walls of Ondo State, as that would amount to an unpardonable infraction on the Constitution which shakes the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria. But, his legal might to enforce obtaining of permits before occupying forest reserves, is unimpeachable.

Festus Ogun, Human Rights Activist

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MEDIA BRIEFING

L-R: Vice President/ Chairman Public Affairs and Advocacy Committee, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Gbenga Ismail; Director General, Dr. Muda Yusuf; President, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje; and Deputy President,Dr. Michael Olawale- cole, at the chamber’s first media briefing on the state of the Nigerian Economy in 2021, held in Lagos...recently ETOP UKUTT

TCN: We’re Not Responsible for Incessant Load Shedding Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has exonerated itself from any blame in connection with the incessant load shedding and power outages in the country.

General Manager, Public Affairs of the organisation, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, in a statement in Abuja, explained that the TCN does not also switch off consumer power feeders, contrary to misconceptions in certain quarters.

She maintained that offtaking 12MW through an 11kV distribution feeder for onward delivery to customers,

ENERGY remains the responsibility of power distributors like the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and not the TCN. “For the purpose of clarification, TCN does not distribute electricity to electricity consumers and cannot also switch off consumer feeders.

Its jurisdiction on the network is from 330 kilovolt (kV) to 132kV power lines. The company cannot switch off consumers’ feeders as it is not within TCN’s jurisdiction.

“The fact is that electricity cannot be stored; therefore,

power generation, transmission and distribution occur simultaneously. What determines what is put on the grid, is what the distribution companies are ready to off-take.

“This equally regulates what the generator would generate, which is why the Discos are required to nominate what they would off-take a day ahead. It is important to note that whatever happens on the downstream network, impacts on transmission and generators.

“The TCN grid network has the capacity of 8,100MW even as it continues to work towards completing ongoing projects to further increase its

capacity,” she stated.

The TCN explained that it would be wrong to attribute most localised outages and load-shedding of consumers’ feeders to it, insisting that Discos can only off-take what is generated, while Gencos can only generate what Discos can off take.

“Each of the 11 Discos has its own challenges which may necessitate outage in certain places per time. Under Abuja region of TCN, GwagwaladeKaru line does not exist as has been mentioned in some quarters. There is no direct link between Gwagwalada and Continued on page 24

FG to Concession 12 Roads Under New Highway Initiative The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said with the receipt of certificate of compliance, the federal government is now set to officially commence the procurement process for concessioning of 12 roads under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

The roads are Benin-Asaba (125km), Abuja-Lokoja (193km), Kano-Katsina (150km), OnitshaOwerri-Aba (161km), ShagamuBenin (258km), Abuja-KeffiAkwanga (122km), Kano-Shuari (100km), Potiskum-Damaturu (96.24km), Lokoja-Benin (270km), Enugu-Port Harcourt (200km), Ilorin-Jebba (129km), LagosOtta-Abeokuta (80km), and Lagos-Badagry-Seme (79km).

Fashola noted that the initiative would facilitate further development of Nigeria’s federal highway network by attracting investment to improve efficiency and account-

ECONOMY ability in the maintenance of all assets within the Right of Way (RoW) on the highways.

Speaking at the official handover of the certificate of compliance by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission’s (ICRC), the minister noted that the HDMI was a home-grown idea that would deliver a safer and enjoyable travel experience, shorten travel time, reduce cost and stimulate commercial activities.

He noted that the government’s infrastructure development plan was being driven by the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme Order of 2018, the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) being managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority

(NSIA) and the SUKUK Fund.

According to him, the HDMI is an indigenous land value capture scheme conceived by the ministry to develop Nigeria’s network of federal highway corridors and boost economic development along the right of way.

He added that it would be executed in two parts comprising Value Added Concession (VAC) and Unbundled Assets Approval (UAA).

“Apart from infrastructure and assets development, thousands of jobs will be created for Nigerians as the initiative will open up the highway economy with opportunities in various economic activities.

“These include fabrication of gantries and directional signage with advertising opportunities, towing van operations and auto repair stations, operation of rest areas and emergency services, among others.

“When fully operational, road users will now enjoy first-class facilities on federal highways with directional signage, well-equipped rest areas, round-the-clock security patrol, and ambulance services for emergencies,” he stated.

He commended the ICRC for the diligent appraisal of the initiative and for validating the programme with the issuance of the certificate.

In his welcome address the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Babangida Hussaini, said the development, expansion and maintenance of federal highways have increasingly become a herculean task to government due to dwindling revenues and other compelling public service obligations. ‘’It is to mitigate this challenge that the ministry has adopted Continued on page 24

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Plc (EEDC) has cautioned its customers against activities of unscrupulous individuals who are already taking advantage of the just commenced National Mass Metering Program (NMMP) to swindle unsuspecting customers of their money.

EEDC in a statement, lamented that barely a week after the commencement of the free mass metering programme, the company have started receiving reports of customers who have been scammed in their bid to get metered quickly.

The Disco had in a statement explained that the modalities for deployment of meters would be according to feeders and distribution substations, and that information on this will be made available to customers as the exercise progresses.

It had said about 400 customers had so far been metered in less than two weeks of the commencement of this metering exercise and appealed to customers to be patient as this metering programme which comes at no cost will definitely get to all customers.

It emphasised that unlike the arrangement with the MAP metering scheme where customers had to apply and pay to be metered, there was no online or offline application in this mass metering exercise.

SON Alerts Gas Plant Owners, Dealers

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has issued an alert to members of the public on recent complaints received on underdispensing of oxygen and other medical gases by plant owners in some parts of the country.

A statement from the office of the Director General, Farouk Salim, described oxygen as a critical product in the treatment of respiratory ailments in emergency situations, particularly in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. It stressed that its use by certified medical personnel was strictly in recommended volumes and dosages for effectiveness in treatment.

According to the SON Chief Executive, the inadequacy in volume and dosage of oxygen and other medical gases has been reported to have consequences on the treatment of patients in the country resulting to loss of lives in some cases.

He,therefore,warnedgasplantsacrossthecountrytoensureaccurate volume in the sale of oxygen and other medical gases to customers as a matter of responsibility.

Salim, admonished health institutions and practitioners to carefully and regularly check the pressure of oxygen and other medical gas cylinders for strict compliance with labelled specifications.

He disclosed that SON’s offices across the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory have been directed to ensure close monitoring and strict compliance with standards of volume in the sale of oxygen and other medical gases to customers by gas plants The SON Director General warned that any gas plant or dealer found to be under-dispensing oxygen or other medical gases would be made to face the full weight of the law as enshrined in the SON Act No. 14 of 2015.

Midea, Football Group Expand Partnership

Midea, one of the world’s leading home appliance producers, has announced its global partnership expansion with City Football Group.

According to a statement, Midea’s relationship with City Football Group started in January 2020, when it became an Official Partner of Manchester City, adding that after a highly successful first year of partnership, the decision was made to expand the relationship by adding the Manchester City Women’s team and New York City FC. Thehighlightofthe2020partnershipwasthe#MideaHomeChallenge -asix-weekcampaignwhereplayers,coaches,legendsandfanstookpart inaseriesofchallengesandtrick-shotsusingtheirhouseholdappliances.

It stated that the social media campaign, which generated millions of engagements, was a creative solution to engage and inspire football fans all around the world who were stuck at home during lockdown.

SVP of Global Partnerships at City Football Group, Stephan Cieplik, said: “Our partnership with Midea has been extremely successful since we launched in January 2020.

“We have commenced the review of the NAIDP to address the existing shortcomings and include the right levers required to attain our expectations for the automotive industry in a country like Nigeria” Minister of Industry,Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

TCN: WE’RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR INCESSANT LOAD SHEDDING

NNPC Restates Commitment to Transparency

Karu Transmission Substation.

“On the Gwagwalada – Apo line however, there is a tee-off on the line which feeds Kukwaba Transmission Substation through Apo Transmission Substation.

TCN does not have any problem at its Kukwaba or Apo Substation that would require cutting supply to any of Abuja Disco feeders.

“Electricity customers are connected directly on 33kV lines which TCN operators have no control over, except during extreme emergency requiring operations crew to quickly open such feeder to enable maintenance service,” the company noted.

TCN further stressed that it had in recent times taken a more responsive approach serving the Gencos in its upstream and the Discos in its downstream, while optimising its available resources to through effective maintenance of the existing grid network.

Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

FG TO CONCESSION 12 ROADS UNDER NEW HIGHWAY INITIATIVE the option of exploring the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, which seeks to employ the private sector’s technical competencies, managerial capabilities and financial resources to salvage the federal roads networks.

“The PPP arrangement in the management of our highways will bring order, efficiency, accountability and profitable entrepreneurship to the operation, management and maintenance of all assets within the nation’s right of way,” he stated.

Director-General of the ICRC, Mr. Chidi Izuwah, who was represented by Mr. Joel Ohiani, presented the certificate to the minister, saying the initiative would enable private sector participation in the management and maintenance of road assets.

“The ICRC is charged with the responsibility of developing guidelines for monitoring contract compliance during construction, operation, and contract termination and supporting MDAs like the ministry of works and housing in achieving such compliance.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

ÒÓØÏÎß äÏ (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

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

major impetus towards our unflinching efforts to change the narrative around the NNPC brand, and will surely imbue us to take the transparency drive to new and enviable heights,” Kyari said.

He expressed delight that efforts of the management to entrench the culture of transparency in the system have begun to receive recognition within and

outside the corporation.

Presenting the award in Abuja, the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the New Telegraph, Mr. Ayodele Aminu, disclosed that the emergence of NNPC as the most transparent government agency in 2020 was based on the corporation’s recent openness and accountability to the public.

Aminu noted that the notice-

able efforts to deepen transparency in NNPC as evidenced by the publication of its 2018 and 2019 audited financial statements was a major factor in considering the corporation for the award by the management and board of the New Telegraph.

“Before now, the accounts of the NNPC had been shrouded in secrecy. But Mele Kyari was brave enough to say this is the

way we are and let the public see that there is nothing hidden,” the newspaper boss stated.

Present at the award ceremony were: the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, Mr. Umar Ajiya, Chief Operating Officer, Ventures and Business Development, Mr. Adeyemi Adetunji, and the Group General Manager, Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC), Mr. Chris Akamiro.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has once more expressed its commitment to moving the national oil company from its opaque past towards a more transparent global organisation.

Speaking when he received the “Government Agency of the Year 2020 (Transparency)” from the New Telegraph Newspaper, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, said the company had since realised that it pays to be transparent and accountable at all times.

He reiterated management’s resolve to drive the corporation along the line of Transparency, Accountability & Performance Excellence (TAPE) agenda, noting that the media interest in the activities of the corporation and the oil and gas sector was a welcome development.

A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Dr Kennie Obateru, quoted Kyari as assuring that given the value of the award, he would do more L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke to justify the trust.

Benson-Awoyinka and Managing Director, Echostone Limited, Mr Sammy Adigun, during the inauguration of of Affordable Public Housing “This award would be a Scheme, at Badagry, Lagos State... recently ETOP UKUTT

MASS HOUSING PROJECT

‘Why FG is Moving DPR Headquarters to Abuja’ The Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr Sarki Auwalu, has said that the federal government is moving the headquarters of the industry regulator from Lagos to Abuja for the sake of centrality.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Abuja, Auwalu, noted that the organisation would continue to work hard to defend the confidence reposed in it in the industry.

According to him, the choice of Abuja as the location of the headquarters was to ensure the centrality of the regulatory work of the agency and closeness to all the major stakeholders.

“Establishing the headquarters in Abuja is the best for the sector, because the entire DPR

stakeholders that need to work closely with the operations are in Abuja.

“We are looking for petroleum resources all over the nation with already seven existing basins which would be better managed from the central point,” he stated.

Auwalu added that as a forward-looking organisation, the DPR would continue to innovate and fully prepare for the challenges of the times.

“As a department, we will continue to justify the confidence reposed in us by government. Rest assured that this building will support DPR’s enabling businesses and creating opportunities for the industry to thrive, using our robust regulatory framework and service instrument.

“This DPR is the DPR of the 21st century, a century we use big data and artificial intelligence. Our work requires data to enhance and maximise revenue for the country.

“Those things that are available to us, especially IT facilities are exactly what the building represents, we make it a 21st century building whereby technology will rule and we will use intelligence to make our country proud,” he stated.

In his comments, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said that the construction of the headquarters was another milestone in infrastructure development efforts of the federal government.

“The construction of this building tagged: ‘The Bar-

rel‘ is yet another milestone achievement by President Muhammadu Buhari in the area of infrastructure development and its commitment to reposition the oil and gas sector for effective service delivery.

“DPR as a critical agency of government, regulates, monitors activities of the Nigerian oil and gas industry which drives all other sectors of the economy,” he said Sylva said the edifice, when completed would provide a conducive environment to support oil and gas businesses across the value chain for operators, service providers, investors, international collaborators among others.

According to him, the design of the building reflects an innovative and timeless architecture

that honours the Abuja Central Business District landscape, adding that the project will be completed in 24 months.

The Managing Director, Julius Berger Nigeria, Dr. Lars Richter, in his remarks, said the building would be completed within the time frame.

He noted that the building upon completion would represent a world class one that would meet global standard, stressing that Julius Berger has had a great record in infrastructure development in Nigeria since 1965.

“The building has office facilities, auditorium, clinic, restaurant, energy house among others, we will deliver the project within the timeframe,” Richter stated.

NCDMB, NNPC Stake $670m on $3.5bn Brass Methanol Plant The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and DSV Engineering have signed the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the construction of 10,000 tonnes/day methanol production plant by the Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical Company Ltd (BFPCL), committing equity investment of US$670m.

The facility would be the largest methanol plant in Africa and the first in Nigeria. Its construction phase is expected to create 30,000 direct and indirect jobs and additional 5,000 permanent jobs during the operations phase, the NCDMB said in a statement.

According to the financing plan, the project was estimated to cost about $3.5 billion and aside the equity from NCDMB, NNPC and DSV, the lenders which includes a consortium of Chinese banks led by the China-Exim Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), international commercial

banks, regional banks and African institutions, were expected to raise 70 per cent of the project cost.

Other agreements firmed up, according to NCDMB include a Gas Supply Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) led joint venture, offtake agreements and contracts for Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) and technology provider.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote; the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, and Executive Vice-Chairman of BFPCL, Chief Ben Okoye signed the FID on behalf of their respective organisations.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva said the project was part of the strategic efforts to maximise value and monetise the country’s vast gas endowments.

He stated that President

Muhammed Buhari had in July 2020, “approved the development of the Brass Gas Company with the sole aim of aggregating and monetising all stranded gas in the Brass area, which amounts to over 10 trillion cubic feet of gas, into the processing facilities to be built in the hub.”

He expressed confidence that the project would have significant economic and developmental impact on the country, including support for gas-based industries, revenue generation and import substitution for methanol needs of the nation that is currently 100 percent imported.

Other economic benefits include foreign direct investment, economic diversification, acceleration of Nigeria’s march to zero gas flaring and community development through the company’s plan to offer one percent equity to host communities.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary NCDMB underscored the significance of two federal government agencies - NCDMB

and NNPC catalysing investments in the country, adding that the project would place Nigeria in the world’s map as one of the top 10 producers of methanol.

He emphasised that local content could only grow sustainably when there are oil and gas projects, stressing that a mega project of the size provides opportunities to utilise local capacities and capabilities built over the years.

He further explained that opportunities provided by the project in job creation, gas utilisation, local availability of methanol for primary and secondary users, formed part of the basis of the board’s decision to partner with Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemicals Company Ltd to enhance delivery of the project.

Wabote also commended Chief Sylva for recording huge achievements in the energy sector, at a time when most nations are unsure of decisions to make amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He listed some of the minister’s accomplishments to include the signing of Train-7 FID, Gas Flares Commercialisation, Marginal Field bid rounds, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Refining Roadmap, and others.

The GMD NNPC in his comments described the BFPCL as the third most important project that had taken FID in the last five years.

He stated that achieving FID for the project was proof of the federal government’s commitment to monetise the nation’s gas resources, notwithstanding the challenging investment environment and pledged the commitment of NNPC to ensure the delivery of the methanol plant on schedule by 2025.

“The country is blessed with abundant gas resources, over 200 trillion standard cubic feet of gas (tscf) proven, with potential of over 600 tscf. As energy transition processes go on, you must monetize these gases as quickly as possible.

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Sports Betting: Separating Wheat from Chaff

In Nigeria, sports betting is proving to be a business window with quick return on investment at a period of rising unemployment and biting poverty. As betting companies continue to engender a sense of hope for patrons, there are concerns that the industry is being taken over by operators who are not ready to play by the rules, writes Festus Akanbi

Gbajabiamila

T

he inclination to sports dates back to thousands of years ago, the world over, and this has increased tremendously in the 21st century. This in early pre-historic times led to the idea of betting, which was common in Ancient Rome where bets were placed at chariot races or the circus.

At first, it was a simple betting between spectators, when the only question was who would become a winner but its complexity started changing over time as it began to take the shape of gambling.

The act of betting, which is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome could also be traced to the early 1800s in England, when horse racing gained a high level of popularity and became known as “The Sport of Kings’. This trend on the outcome of horse races quickly spread from England, across Europe and eventually to America. Later, wagering on sporting events expanded to other typically British sports including football, rugby and cricket.

In the US, bettors concentrated on the American version of football, basketball and baseball. As more far-sighted bookmakers recognised the trends, they began to offer odds on other sporting events including tennis and croquet, with Las Vegas, in Nevada, being the centre of sport betting in the US. As time progressed, significant public interest in sports increased in the early 19th century with the formation of many sports governing bodies and thus more organised sporting events. This increased wagering naturally and punters began to focus on more sports options, particularly ice hockey, darts and boxing.

The market grew to $203 billion in 2020, with approximately 197,000 employees and a total of almost 31,000 businesses. The surge in revenue and its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) has contributed to its regulation by various countries.

Projection shows that sports betting in the US will grow to about $8 billion by 2025, while the global gambling market will be valued at around $565.4 billion by 2022, representing 5.9 percent annual growth rate, a situation that would be fuelled by the rise of online gambling activities and advancement in technology.

Also, over the next five years, the demand for online games will also continue to attract new players in the gambling industry, and its lucrative nature would be spurred with

Njonjo the increasing penetration of mobile apps in the UK, US, China, Italy, and the South America region.

In Africa, sports betting has not reached its peak yet, but few countries have made giant strides in this regard, such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. Presently, it is mainly in football and horse racing, with Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa recording a revenue base of $40 billion in 2018.

Factors that have led to the surge on the African continent includes its young population, enthusiasm in sports among the people, increase in mobile penetration, lenient gambling laws and the advent of mobile money, which has greatly enhanced huge participation.

Sports Betting in Nigeria In Nigeria, about 60 million people between the ages of 18 and 40 are involved in active sports betting. On average, these punters spend around N3,000 every day on bets, while in South Africa, over 50 percent of the country’s adults engage in it routinely.

However, the sports betting industry in Nigeria, regulated by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission ((NLRC), has experienced an explosion in recent times, with the emergence of over 50 betting sites such as Nairabet, Bet9ja, Betway, Melbet, Bet365, 22bet, SportyBet, Betking, 1XBet, Wakabet, among others, the first being Nairabet, founded in 2009.

These betting sites have contributed to the Nigerian economy through employment opportunities and agents with physical outlets.

They have also aided the Nigerian economy through partnership and sponsorship deals with organisations in the sports and entertainment industry.

Bet9ja, which is one of the most popular, had a multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with popular reality TV show, Big Brother Naija, and other funding shows and events on broadcast stations.

It is estimated that Nigerians plough about $5.5 million into sports betting daily, totalling an incredible $2 billion a year. Bet9ja, arguably, the biggest betting brand in the country, made a monthly turnover of $10 million as at 2016, according to KPMG accounting firm.

The money generated from betting necessitated the engagement of advertising, media buying agencies and marketing consultants, in order to deepen penetration for a substantial share of the lucrative market.

An All Comers Affair

Adebayo However, like every new business window with great returns in Nigeria, betting seems to be attracting all manners of promoters in the country. Some with little or no knowledge of the business, lack of proper funding or technical know-how, and they are only attracted by the success of early entrants.

This has led to the influx of the good, the bad and the ugly. Some of the players are not only distressed but are leaving chains of service providers with huge liabilities.

A classic case for example is that of a company called Camlake Limited, owned by a foreign investor, Mr. Peter Njonjo, from Kenya, operating under the betting brand name, Wakabet.

Wakabet owned by Camlake had engaged a media buying agency to broker a sponsorship deal that will enable the betting company sponsor and advertise its betting business on DSTV special programme.

On trust, the media agency leveraged its credit window with DSTV, relying on its contract with Camlake, not knowing that the entire business set-up was already failing.

Why this transaction subsists, the betting company promoter without the knowledge of the media agency and DSTV allegedly bolted, leaving a liability of about N200, 000,000 (Two Hundred Million Naira).

It is being speculated that Wakabet was one of the sport betting companies flagged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as an illegal operator at a time, but whether this was brought to the knowledge of partners is unclear.

Industry observers said the implication is that the betting business promoted by Camlake and the owner, Peter Njonjo, may have never been properly conceived, structured and operated in line with regulatory expectations.

As at the time of writing this report, all efforts to get to Njonjo has been futile, as he now lives in Kenya, by our investigation.

According to a financial analyst, Dennis Ayodele, the betting industry which has become very attractive to many unemployed youths, has now become an all comer’s affair, as far as they meet the NLRC guidelines, without due diligence on their financial capability.

He stated that if due diligence had been taken to access their financial wherewithal; the case of Camlake Limited would have been averted.

A further look at the Camlake sponsorship deal with DSTV shows that it was meant to run for a full football season which started

in August 2018 to May 2019.

Our investigation into enquiries about the plan to resolve this from the media partner had not yielded any official response.

But a source who pleaded not to be mentioned, however, said that legal proceedings may be the last resort if Camlake, promoted

by Peter Njonjo, fails to meet their contractual obligation.

It was gathered that the services of Interpol (International Police) is being considered as the man now lives in Kenya. This story is just about one partner, as we are told that there are other partners who have the same obligation yet to be settled by Camlake, including punters who have been unable to get their wins redeemed.

The question therefore, is how can consumers in the betting industry be protected in a country where betting seems to be a major attraction to unemployed youths and fortune seekers.

And by extension, how can the economy be insulated from unscrupulous operators who now find betting as a new sector of exploitation.

In this horrible situation, media agencies have advocated for a thorough screening of sports betting sites in the country, especially by the EFCC and the regulator, NLRC, and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment where they are registered, to avoid the sudden dearth of media agencies in the country.

This, according to the media buying organisations would go a long way in saving Nigerians from the dishonest act perpetuated by Njonjo, who claims to be very smart in his nefarious activities.

A source from DSTV said the matter is a bit complex due to the good corporate image of the media buying agency who have been a worthy partner, a reputable media buying agency, which has had no issue on many transactions with other clients.

It is clear to us that the media partner has not acted out of convention, indeed, they acted in good faith but had fallen victim of an organisation that obviously is in violation of corporate governance and international business ethics.

Wakabet promoter, Mr. Njonjo did not respond to THISDAY enquiries sent through his email address. His Kenya phone number couldn’t go through either.

As at the time of writing this story, the companies involved are still making efforts to get the promoter of Wakabet in the name of Peter Njonjo to fulfil his obligation. How this is achieved will depend on options available to the parties.

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Idowu:HowNigeria’sGovtCanCreateMoreJobsinAviationSector United States-based Nigerian aviation safety and management expert, Mr. Alaba Gabriel Idowu, in this interview, speaks about how the Nigerian government can create more jobs in the aviation industry, and turn the airports to tourist centres. Sunday Okobi brings the excerpts:

R

ecently, you analysed how the Nigerian aviation industry could create over 40,000 jobs if the government is willing to do the right thing. How can that be achieved?

I remember that vividly. The truth is that we are under-utilising our resources. I will give you a few tips on how the industry can create such number of jobs. Let’s start with the airports. We all know that an airport is a complex transportation facility designed to serve aircraft, passengers, cargo, and surface vehicles, but the usefulness and advantages of airports are far greater than that. Time will fail me to talk about all the economic, social, and political roles of an airport.

Airports stimulate economic growth by providing employment and income to individuals, taxes to the country, states, and local government areas, and revenue to local and national firms engaged in producing goods and services. Nothing stops each state in Nigeria from having a functional airport. When I say a functioning airport, I’m not referring to an airport that is only available for departure and arrival of aircraft. Airport’s role is holistic. If each state has a well-developed airport, numerous jobs will be created. Besides, there are other aviation businesses that the government needs to encourage to increase the productivity of the industry. Some of the airports will be too close. Don’t you think that that might create a lot of challenges?

I don’t think so. I once heard that Ibadan airport in Oyo State could not become an international airport because it is too close to Lagos (international) airport. If we want to grow as a country and also develop our aviation sector, we should stop thinking that way. Let’s take a look at other nations.

There are two main airports in Dallas, Texas in the United States of America (Dallas Fort Worth airport and Dallas Love Field). There are also two international airports in Houston, Texas (Houston hobby airport and Houston intercontinental airport).

In Washington, we have different international airports not far from one another. A similar trend occurs in European countries; you will see airports not too far from one another. If we begin to compare ourselves with other African nations that are barely developing, we can never grow. We are not even advocating for each airport to become an international airport. Obviously, that’s impossible, but a well-developed airport in each state. You will be amazed at the economic benefits that will follow the development of each airport in Nigeria.

Besides, this will enhance aviation safety. Is it not sad that most international flights choose Kotoka international airport in Ghana as their alternate airport? If each state in the country has a well-developed airport for local operations, do you think there would be enough travelers using these airports? Nigerians travel a lot. You will be amazed to find out the number of people traveling from Ondo State, Osun state, Ekiti State, and other cities in the western part of Nigeria to Lagos daily to board flights to other parts of the world. Many of them spend more than six hours on the road. I have heard of many who missed their flight because they were stuck in traffic. This happens to other travelers in other parts of the country.

The truth that the Nigerian government might not want to hear is this: to grow the economy of any nation, the government must develop a means to solve the problem of the masses continuously. In solving the problem of the masses, the government generates revenue and creates jobs for the unemployed. Why do you think there are job opportunities in most advanced nations?

The reason is that they are solution providers to the problem of the people. I just identified one of the major problems travelers in Nigeria experience every day. Providing solution to this problem will create a lot of jobs for the masses.

Don’t you think that the Nigerian government is not ready to improve the state of any of the under-developed airports in country?

I think that if the government knows the benefits that come with improved and well-developed airports, they will be eager to do something positive to the airports. Hong-Kong international airport

such circumstance?

Many factors could have caused that. I know corruption and mismanagement might have contributed to the discontinuance of some of the operations. However, some airlines don’t do their due diligence. A suitable feasibility study is required to sustain flight operations, which includes determining how frequent people travel to such destinations and how to cope with competitors. If you are launching a flight to a destination being serviced by other airlines, the services you render would determine your operations’ sustainability.

Most passengers like to stick to their preferred airlines, perhaps because of the mileage membership, so for these types of passengers to switch to your airline, the services you render must surpass the services of the current airlines servicing the route.

One of the essential services is being on time. I know an airline that used to service Lagos to New York in USA, but discontinued the operations after a while. Before they ceased flight operations to New York, passengers complained a lot about flights being delayed. Many passengers missed their connecting flight and had to pay heavily for that. Will these passengers fly with such airline company again or recommend you to such airline?

No. There is no way you won’t cease operations when travelers are not willing to fly with you anymore. We noticed this trend in the operations of almost all the airlines that ceased operations to international destinations. Sadly, this trend is still common with domestic flights till date

Idowu is the sixth best airport in the world. Their airport authorities have often expressed commitment to the continuous improvement and timely development to meet the growing demand for aviation services and enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness.

They understand the importance of continuous improvement and make the airport more of a tourist attraction than a travel necessity. They all have amenities to make you feel comfortable.

Funny enough, passengers prefer to have a delayed flight or longer layover so that they can explore the airport. If we are committed to excellence, we won’t have difficulties developing our airports. It is high time we (Nigerians) started doing the right thing to get meaningful and beneficial results.

What other ways do you suggest the government can create jobs in the aviation industry?

There are many ways in which jobs can be created. As I said earlier, the first step to take is to provide solutions to the current problems. Jobs will be automatically created in the process of solving the problems of the masses. Our aviation educational system should be a source of revenue for the government, and also a source of direct and indirect employment for the masses, but the whole educational system is in shambles. Many students expressed their frustration to me about

In solving the problem of the masses, the government generates revenue and creates jobs for the unemployed. Why do you think there are job opportunities in most advanced nations? The reason is that they are solution providers to the problem of the people

how difficult it is to get admission into Nigeria College of Aviation Technology. I will never blame the school because they cannot admit more than they can train. This is a problem that needs to be addressed. I know we have another flying school in Ilorin, but they cannot meet the demand. So, if we have difficulties admitting our citizens, how on earth can we admit international students like they do in South Africa? Besides, the system doesn’t encourage entrepreneurs (investors). I heard of a Nigerian captain who wanted to set up a flight school in Nigeria, but got frustrated. He had to go to Ghana to set up the flight school. If you know how much Nigerians spend on flight training outside the country yearly, you will realise why our economy is in this pathetic state. Let’s even assume we have enough training centres; do we have enough resources? I don’t think so. We need enough general aviation airports that allow students to shoot different kinds of approaches and have better training experience. My major concern is that we are used to the status quo, and until we break out from that kind of mindset, it won’t be easy to move the industry forward, and to create employment opportunities will be a mirage.

I’m sure the Nigerian government would fancy the idea of improving and developing the airports, but where would they source to fund to such huge project?

I understand such situation. When it comes to airport improvement and development, there are two types of expenses-capital improvement expenses and operation and maintenance expenses (O&M). In a developed country, airports are funded through grants, airport improvement programmes, passenger facility charges, federal funding, state grant funding, private funding, and airport funding. Perhaps the federal government is not buoyant enough to fund airport developmental and improvement projects, but we can still consider other sources of funding. I’m sure if the government is willing to sign a few years contract with one or two private entities to develop the airports and run them for a few years, we won’t have any problem funding these projects.

Many Nigerian airlines launched direct flights to destinations outside the country but discontinued the operations after a while.

What do you think might be responsible for

Recently, you won another award in the United States. What does it mean to you?

Well, I give glory to God for winning the Lauber Safety Award from the University Aviation Association in the United States. It is an award of excellence based on my contributions to aviation safety in the USA. I couldn’t have achieved this without the help of God. He strengthened me to work hard to embark on some projects in the industry that led to this recognition. I have an undying passion for the aviation sector, especially aviation safety and business management. This award is a push and an encouragement to do more in the industry.

As an inspiration to young people mostly in your field as aviation safety and management expert, what’s your message(s) to the youths and the industry?

I would like to encourage the youths to work hard and pursue purpose instead of money.

Money is a reward that comes as a result of destiny fulfillment. There is no way you won’t make money if you are fulfilling your purpose, but you stand a chance of missing destiny if you pursue money. I give God the glory for helping me to be focused and pursue purpose instead of money. Many of my friends left the industry and ran after money because they could not endure it. The love of money is a distraction that hinders people from attaining the uttermost height in life.

So, any youth who is willing to fulfill a purpose should see money as a reward and not a goal.

Also, I would like to encourage our youths to be willing to embark on projects their peers are not willing to go into. Exceptional works require hard work, but it pays off in the long run.

In what way can you assist interested Nigerian youths who are willing to join the aviation industry?

I already have a mentorship programme to help those who are willing to become aviation professionals. We are working on projects that will bring solutions to some of the current problems in the industry.

What are the benefits of this mentorship programme, and how can interested persons be a part of it?

With this programme, every candidate will get guidance on professional development and advancement; develop new skills and knowledge; be part of research projects, and explore hidden opportunities in the aviation industry. Our mentorship areas are aviation safety, piloting, flight instruction, aviation research, and aviation business management.

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Immanuel: Nigeria Cannot Continue Burning Hydrocarbons to Generate Electricity The Co-founder and Managing Director of Chappal Petroleum Development Company, an oil and gas industry entrant focused on developing large upstream brownfield assets in the Niger Delta, Mr. Ufoma Joseph Immanuel, in this interview, provides insights on the vision and mission of the company. Peter Uzoho brings the excerpts:

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to execute. Chappal is the sum of our shared experiences, objectives, and future goals and as a team, we all bring unique skillset, experience, and perspectives into this venture. Working with these gentlemen who I am fortunate to call my partners, we have articulated a detailed business plan that falls to me as CEO to execute, however it will be a collaborative effort in the coming years to build the company into the entity that we envision.

ecently, you co-founded Chappal Petroleum Development Company.

Can you give us key insights on the company -its purpose, organisational vision, and mission?

We founded Chappal as an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) centric independent that would focus on disciplined project execution and embrace technology in developing upstream assets. We identified a gap in the industry that we can address via long term investment through the commodity cycle, we are focus on mature brownfield reservoirs, building and/or rehabilitating associated infrastructure, and the development of ancillary gas projects. Our vision is to build a company that works the complete hydrocarbon value chain in a sustainable manner that emphasizes people, planet, and profits in the process of facilitating energy transition for Nigeria.

You said that Chappal is an ESG centric independent. What exactly does that mean?

ESG refers to the three central factors in measuring the sustainability and societal impact of an investment in a company or business. Chappal in placing ESG at the core of its operating philosophy is very different from having ESG compliance as an ancillary requirement to doing business.

It means that in everything we do as a firm, we seek to equalise the objective of the community, the environment and profitability for investors. It means for instance that we may take an altruistic view of certain sectors like gas, for example, we will have a different perspective on the investment cycle and how we allocate capital.

As a firm, we will also prioritise time and resources in ventures that facilitate energy transition in Nigeria because it is good for the country and will be good for our investors in the long term, even though the immediate returns might be lower than alternative investments.

Who are your Co-founders and initial directors in the business, and how can this collaboration be synergised in building the brand ‘Chappal’?

I co-founded the company with Abayomi Awobokun, founder and CEO of Enyo Retail and Supply, one of Nigeria’s newest entrants in the downstream oil and gas space and already one of the best brands in that sector in only three years of existence. Awobokun has the unique distinction of having run two successful downstream businesses in Nigeria in simultaneous succession. He has led a business with over $1billion in annual revenues for many years, led business expansion from Nigeria to West Africa, Europe, Southern Africa, and even the Middle East. He brings critical experience in organization building, optimization, and change through the implementation of technology, as World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, he has represented the very best of the next generation of Nigerian Corporate Management international for several years.

Abayomi is tasked with overseeing organization culture and structure, ensuring that we are building an institution that is efficient and innovative.

Our third Director, Mr. Victor Imevbore, is one of the most experienced and accomplished ESG professionals in Nigeria. He has worked with or has been part of every major study into the development, impact, and management of hydrocarbon-related activity on the geography and people of the Niger Delta. His work with the World Bank, IFC, and United Nations are reference points in the industry. He is also driven towards innovation and has worked closely with Industry regulators in Nigeria where he also brings a wealth of experience. We invited Mr. Austin Avuru as a shareholder and to become our Chairman. Austin has built arguably the most successful indigenous company in Nigeria and pioneered the implementation of several initiatives in the utilisation of natural gas in Nigeria. Frankly, he needs no introduction, his accolades are well articulated in numerous journals. He has the benefit of having experienced

Immanuel what we call the “other side of the fence,” given his time at NNPC before crossing over to build businesses in the private sector. This juxtaposition of perspectives makes him an honest broker in building a framework whereby business and government co-exist and thrive. At Chappal, his strong governance credentials, years of experience, and passion to see the sector develop will be very key to our becoming a consistently successful organization. Together, we complement each other with the right balance of skill sets, diverse experiences but common unifying trait, in that we want to build a unique organisation.

As an economist by training and having held several positions in Finance and Strategy, can you specifically highlight your key industry expertise and experience in the oil and gas sector?

As an economist, you are taught to be curious. So, by default, one is always looking at gaps in a value chain and how best to manage scarce resources.

At Eroton E&P, I was a pioneer member of the team that led the transition post the acquisition of the OML 18 interests from SPDC, setting up the business systems from scratch and making Eroton the successful and efficient cost producer JV in our divestment class within our first year of operations. The work we accomplished in that inaugural year remains an industry benchmark for the post divestment integration of an indigenous player to date.

As Head of Corporate Finance & Strategy for Eroton E&P, I held multiple roles that straddled operations, finance, and strategy which included managing a consortium of eight local and international Lenders through a sudden oil price crash and subsequent currency devaluation while overseeing a delicate price hedging programme that meant we were the only Upstream company in Nigeria that did not default or restructure its obligations that year.

At the Joint Venture level, I was fortunate to work alongside various teams within NAPIMS /NNPC in developing the alternative funding structures, long-term development plans for the asset, and initiatives to monetize gas where we collaborated extensively with the team at Notore

Chemical Industries.

Perhaps the achievement I find most noteworthy was the origination of the concept, development, funding, and execution of the Alternative Crude Oil Evacuation System (“ACOES”) for the OML 18 JV and other JV’s along the eastern corridor. This project eventually became a standalone entity of its own, called Energy Link Infrastructure, which is the first indigenous company in Nigeria to hold an Oil Pipeline License and Terminal Establishment Order as a standalone entity for the evacuation of crude oil.

From my initial pitch to the Eroton Management and then walking into NAPIMS / DPR with a concept paper, ACOES was an ambitious project to build a 50.2km subsea pipeline that takes hydrocarbons offshore to a dedicated FSO with 2.0 million bbls storage capacity; it required us to build consensus across the board, creating an inter-agency working group that involved the NPA, Federal Ministry of Environment, NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, NAPIMS, NNPC, and the DPR to execute the project. Suffice to say that the ACOES template will not only form the bedrock of crude evacuation for all the injectors across the eastern corridor of the Niger Delta creating an alternative to the Nembe Creek Trunk Line and Bonny Crude Oil Terminal which will benefit the industry and the nation long term.

How do you plan to leverage your expertise in driving Chappal to the expected position in the industry?

Perhaps, the greatest advantage one can take from past experiences is the conviction that things are possible in Nigeria and one must at their core beliefs in this country, trust in its system, and work hard despite the challenges to affect change.

Expertise and skills are ancillary compliments to this core conviction without which nothing is possible. As CEO of Chappal, I am persuaded by the idea of Nigeria: that she, as a country, can and will be prosperous and that we in the business community must work hard to bring this about, to thrive despite the challenges that come our way. That to impact change, we must be prepared to take bold innovative steps, challenge old norms and customs and work diligently

Chappal Petroleum Development Company was established to focus on deep value and mature brownfield upstream opportunities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Why this focus?

Across the Niger Delta, the body of hydrocarbons that we produce today was largely discovered, developed, and hooked up to production between the late 1970s and 1980s. This body of hydrocarbons (and its associated infrastructure) have begun to deplete and depreciate over time to the point that we are now as an industry facing challenges with rapid reservoir depletion, increasing base sediment & water production, and the management/disposal of produced water in an environmentally sustainable manner.

We urgently need to finance the drilling of new wells that will go deeper into the subsurface incorporating more technology into our development and operating methodologies and finance new evacuation infrastructure. At the same time, the wider industry has seen a seismic change in its costs structure with capital now being deployed to structurally lower costs over time and transition from heavy hydrocarbons to lighter fuel sources like gas. We focus on this area because it is where we can have a meaningful impact that goes beyond the profitability and return, we generate for our investors, are seeking to influence the philosophy and psychology behind how hydrocarbons are developed.

Despite advancement in technology that has seen the emergence of new players on the continent, why is Nigeria still unable to fulfill its potential in this sector?

The important thing is to focus on how best we as a country can cover the ground and make up for the lost time and l am persuaded that the imminent passing of the PIB will be the fulcrum that positions us towards that goal.

There are structural advantages that Nigeria has which position us very well, we see this period of lower oil prices as an advantage to allow one to build out ancillary businesses that feed off the core upstream for the next cycle but in a way that creates a natural hedge to avoid future vulnerability to oil prices.

Most industry observers believe that the future of energy belongs to new tech. In specific terms, what is Chappal doing to capture the benefits of these tech advances?

I believe this statement is true, but it is also incomplete. Technology in itself cannot be the solution in a vacuum as it must come hand in hand with structural reform and the execution capability to implement technological change.

It is also inevitable that the energy mix for the future must change, Nigeria cannot continue to burn expensive/heavy oil-based hydrocarbons to generate electricity to power our homes and industries, provide mobility for our vehicles and vessels. The economics barely work today and will not work when we are a nation of 300m+ people which the United Nations predicts will happen in our lifetime; some of the solutions to these problems are structural and for others, technology offers the answer. In Chappal, we are very focussed on the wider theme of energy transition and more narrowly on the technologies that will facilitate that transition along the hydrocarbon value chain. So, everything, from how we drill cheaper wells, build for efficient infrastructure, lower operating costs so we can recycle that capital into developing downstream projects and harness all the hydrocarbons in a more meaningful and profitable way reducing waste.

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T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Adegoke: Reduction in Rice Production Cost Will Lower Prices Mr. Seun Adegoke is the Managing Director of SGL Farms, a company that cultivates 5,000 acres of rice. He tells Bennett Oghifo that it will make economic sense for the federal government to do all that is necessary to reduce the cost of rice production, rather than engage in unsustainable border-closure policy produced at cheaper rates. Research would also help boost returns relative to investment.

Thus, increased production or supply will force prices to drop. This goes across board for everybody. This is the way I see it, makes economic sense. In speeding achievement of the national objective of food self-sufficiency, and going forward, food independence, the country really has to support the farmer.

The federal government has been talking about boosting local production of rice, while shielding growers from foreign competition. What else can be done?

There is a lot that the government can do.

The government has to be consistent with policies. This is very important. Then, of course, there is need for more investment in agricultural research. For instance, in some nations, it is possible to attain 12 to 14 tonnes of rice per hectare. Here we attain about 4 tonnes on research fields. Unfortunately, most of us as farmers cannot invest in research. It has to be the government coming in to help.

It is important that government shoulders research because of the long term goal of benefitting the people. There also has to be some sort of subsidies available for farmers. For us, the subsidy can come in the form of machinery. It is important to have installmental payment packages available.

It would make farm financing easier if the schedule of payment is convenient.

What is your opinion about border closure and its impact on rice production?

Quite a number of people have been asking about this. Policy consistency is important.

Inconsistency will give investors shocks. No matter how much you try, if the market is flooded and you can’t sell your products, everybody will have headache.

Policy consistency is most important. Even when government shuts the borders, there was still smuggling. Actually, I don’t personally believe in border closure. I believe that market forces should dictate. If we produce

Adegoke more at less cost, we will counter the low cost of foreign rice. The problem is that cost of production is very high in this country. If local rice is affordable and are good in quality, foreign rice will disappear to oblivion. If we have eyes on a philosophy of stimulating increased local production through less stress in production, we would be better for it. Instead of the unsustainable policy of closing the borders, we should aim at getting rice to be

Besides the required intervention from the government, do you have any corporate social responsibility plans?

Right now, we are committed to breeding new generations of rice farmers. We are setting up a boot camp. Young minds can live with us on the farm, where we all live for three to four months. They’ll understand the dynamics of rice production. The practical aspect is different from what you read in books. We want to encourage people. We are looking to having about 1,000 people with us on the farm. We are commencing this in January 2021. We’ll train them; we try to reach out to organisations that can support them. The more we have these kinds of people taking to rice cultivation, the better for the country.

Tell us about SGL Farms We have farmlands in Anigbado – Yelwa North Local Government, Ogun State. We also have at Wasimi. Currently we have operations going on at Anigbado farm. The current capacity is 5,000 acres. We are working towards expanding this acreage. We’ve have done majority of the land clearing. Right now, we are at the stage of land preparation and

nursery establishment. In the next couple of weeks, we should be transplanting.

What are your challenges?

So far, so good, we have a few operational challenges which are normal in farming but we are on course. So far, we have not had any but we have structures in place.

What do you want from your investors?

We appreciate the confidence they repose in us. We appreciate their sustained support and encouragement. By God’s grace, we shall keep meeting our obligations to them.

What is your current employment strength?

We have about 400 people in our employ.

Most are farm labourers. We have 17 supervisors and support teams attending to welfare, health, security, etc.

How do you sustain this large number?

We are putting in our best. Our pay is competitive relative to the sector. I believe we have been fair. We pay more than the average labour rate. Many of the workers live on the farm. We have a suitable accommodation for them. We take care of their health and do other necessary things.

What are your projections?

We hope to increase production by more folds to the point where we can contribute reasonably to rice availability for consumption in Nigeria.

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

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T H I S D AY ˾ UESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT PEIWA Accuses its former Surveyor-Turned Enugu Commissioner of Land Grabbing Bennett Oghifo

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rivate Estates International West Africa Limited (PEIWA) Limited, developer of Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City, a.k.a Centenary City, has sued a Surveyor it engaged to work on the project for allegedly selling its land using forged documents.

PEIWA said this in a statement, where it also alleged that the Surveyor, Dr. Surv. Victor Chukwuemeka Nnam, who is now Enugu State Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, encouraged the government to revoke their Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) without due process.

PEIWA is into Real Estate development and other sundry businesses both within and outside Nigeria, and has business partnership with Private Estates International, a South African company and has Prof. Pat Utomi as the Chairman of its Board of Directors, with other notable Nigerians and South Africans as Directors.

The statement said the board members of the company are concerned that their investment in Enugu is going awry because the C of O the government issued for the development of the high-profile community seems to be worthless, since it could be revoked without due process on the recommendation of their angry former consultant.

The Chief Executive Officer of PEIWA, Mr. Kingsley Eze stated what transpired after they acquired the land from the Enugu State government and what led to the allegation of land grabbing against the commissioner.

Meanwhile, Surv. Nnam has denied these allegations, stating that he did the bidding of the state government, which directed him conduct proper land administration and that PEIWA was affected in the process. He also stated that he was not a staff of PEIWA, prior to joining the state government, a claim that the real estate company countered with letters of engagement and acceptance, as well as that of severance of relationship.

Eze said, in his statement titled, ‘When Government Becomes Perpetrators Of Land Grabbing – PEIWA Vs Enugu State Government,’ that “On 8th of December 2020, Surveyor Victor Nnam, the Enugu State Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, was arraigned in the Federal High Court Enugu on an eight count charges (Charge No: FHC/ EN/CR/33/2020 FRN v. Dr. Surv. Victor Chukwuemeka Nnam) bordering on forgery and fraud. The Commissioner, while he served as an employee (Project Principal Surveyor) of Private Estate International West Africa (PEIWA), had plotted a grand scheme in which he connived with certain elements to parcellate some portions of land belonging to PEIWA and sold them to unsuspecting public in the name of his company Geosynergy Services Limited.

“Not only had Surv. Nnam

gone ultra vires the powers of his office as an employee and against every professional code of conduct, he has also gone ahead to deny having had any form of engagement as an employee of PEIWA. “Meanwhile, Surv. Nnam’s letters of engagement and acceptance as the Project Principal Surveyor of PEIWA are all available. The first letter dated 6 March 2014 offered Nnam an appointment as the “Project Principal Surveyor’’ of the Centenary City Project. In the second letter, dated 7 March 2014, he accepted the offer, and pledged to “exercise an enviable cadre of professionalism and character in discharging my duties in the team.”

Consequently, PEIWA wrote a letter of introduction to the Surveyor General of the State, introducing Surv. Nnam as the Project Principal Surveyor, Eze said.

Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City, also known as Centenary City was established on the 18th May 2009 during the administration of former Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State as a result of an agreement executed by the state government with PEIWA to establish a new township or model city. This visionary agreement had the potential of creating thousands of jobs for the teeming youth population and positioning the State as a model for modern metropolitan planning and urban management, some of which are already being realised.

In line with the obligations of the parties under the agreement, Enugu State Government by a Building Certificate of Occupancy dated 10 November 2009 and registered as No. 20 at Page 20 in Volume 1622 in the Lands Registry, Enugu, granted PEIWA a statutory right of occupancy over land situate at Obeagu/ Amechi Awkunanaw, Enugu ‘the Land’. The Land granted to PEIWA was acquired by the Government in 1985 from the Obeagu/Amechi Awkunanaw, the notice of revocation of the community’s interest in the land was dated 10 June 1985 and published in the Anambra State Government Gazette No. 12 Vol. 11 gazette of 27 March 1986.

Eze said, “Following the grant of the statutory right of occupancy, PEIWA raised equity from their shareholders and also secured a loan facility from Diamond Bank (now Access Bank) of N2,000,000,000.00 for the purpose of financing the first phase of the development of Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City project which includes the construction of key roads, provision of treated water, electricity and development of the Golf Course. The loan was backed by a Deed of Legal Mortgage dated 2 January 2013 and registered as No. 76 at Page 76 in Volume 1637 in the Deeds Registry at Enugu.

“PEIWA took immediate possession of the land and opened the area by creating an access road, constructing link roads, drains and culverts.

The company also constructed a 15 MVA injection sub-station,

Centenary City’s layout

commenced underground power reticulation, built a water supply system with ultra-modern water treatment plant and commenced water reticulation, installed street lights and commenced construction of the Driving Range and 2 holes out of the proposed 18 holes golf course and built an ultra-modern Police post with accommodation for Policemen.

“In fact, PEIWA has invested billions of Naira on this project of which the ripple effect has added tremendous value to the surrounding lands and the entire community.”

He said in the course of the project execution, “the services of Surv. Victor Nnam was secured

by PEIWA in March, 2014 and he was assigned the task of conducting perimeter surveys, preparing survey plans, plotting lands, registering layouts and liaising with staff of the Enugu State Ministry of Lands and Urban Development on behalf of PEIWA. “Consequently, a formal letter of introduction was written to the Surveyor General of the State introducing Surv.

Nnam as PEIWA’s Consultant Surveyor. Surv. Nnam was rewarded handsomely with both financial packages and landed properties. “In fact, he was granted a concession to purchase about 130 plots of land at a highly discounted rate using the company, Geo-Squaremeter Innovative Limited.”

Eze alleged that “Regardless of his enormous benefits from PEIWA, in January 2019, PEIWA discovered that leveraging on company information privy to him, Surv. Nnam had connived with various land grabbers to forge documents with which they registered two layouts – Community Expansion Layout Ugwu-Orie Obeagu Awkunanaw, Enugu State measuring about 478.28 hectares and Aruga Layout Offia Aruga Obinagu Obeagu, Enugu State measuring approximately 106.182 hectares.

“Surv. Victor Nnam also used his company - Geosquaremeters Innovative Ltd, to sell these illegally registered layouts to unsuspecting members of the public. Available documents show that the Federal Inland

Revenue Services (FIRS) were among the numerous unsuspecting organisations and individuals that bought plots of land from Geosquaremeters Innovative Ltd. “On the discovery of Surv Nnam’s escapades by PEIWA, his employment was immediately terminated and a complaint of professional misconduct was filed against him to the Surveyors Council of Nigeria.

A criminal complaint which borders on fraud and forgery was also made to the Nigerian Police Force against Surv. Nnam, which culminated in an eight count charges of forgery against Surv. Nnam in the Federal High Court after thorough investigation by the Nigerian Police Force. On 17 January, 2019, PEIWA further wrote to the Surveyor General of Enugu State, informing him of the termination of Surv. Nnam’s appointment and requesting to verify all the works he has done on behalf of the company to ascertain the level of fraud he perpetuated while he was working for PEIWA. “It is surprising to say that shortly after the management team of PEIWA met with the Enugu State Government in September 2019 to complain about the fraudulent activities of Surv. Victor Nnam, he was subsequently appointed the Hon. Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development.”

Eze said immediately Nnam assumed office as commissioner, he “acted with the fiat conferred on him by state powers to ensure that the CofO of his former employer (PEIWA) was revoked.”

He alleged that “With the full support of the Enugu State Government, on the 27th of November 2019, barely two months of his appointment, Surv.

Nnam went ahead to secure a kangaroo revocation of PEIWA’s Certificate of Occupancy. The purported revocation of C of O did not follow any legally established procedure. First, there was no clear reason stated for the revocation and, secondly, PEIWA was not given any notice of intention to revoke as required by the law,” contrary to Nnam’s claim that the company

was notified.

However, Eze said, “When his actions were challenged in court, Surv. Nnam in his usual manner produced a forged document allegedly showing that PEIWA was given a notice of intention to revoke. The letter he produced was written on a plain white sheet without any government letterhead and contains the forged signature of a PEIWA staff. It is not surprising however that on 9th December 2019; the High Court of Enugu State quashed the revocation on the basis of a suit (Suit No. E/ 1081/2019: Private Estates International West Africa Limited v. Governor of Enugu State & 2 Ors.) filed by PEIWA. The Enugu High Court made an order of interim injunction in the said suit restraining the defendants in the suit as well as their servants, privies and agents from entering into or disturbing the Plaintiff in its possession of the said land.

According to him, the Centenary City project has so far created thousands of jobs for the unemployed youths of Enugu State, created expansive social amenities and brought massive development around the geography where the project is cited.

He said “Unjustifiable discontinuation in government policies and projects has been the bane of development in Nigeria and it appears that the Enugu State Government now desires to be the new champions in such retrogressive activities.”

In his response, Nnam said, “How does a company registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission employ another company registered by the same body as a staff of their company? Are they suggesting that Geo-Synergy Services Ltd became insolvent and its liabilities were bought over by PIEWA or that both our companies went into a merger at any point? PEIWA sought and secured the professional services of my Survey firm, in the course of my private practice.

We consulted professionally and parted ways when we did.”

“For the records, PEIWA never employed me as their Principal

Surveyor, I had no contract or MOU with PEIWA and was never a staff of PEIWA. I carried out subdivision surveys for PEIWA on a pro-rata basis and my firm was duly remunerated for her services.”

The Government of Enugu State, he said revoked the allocation, “following which a notice of revocation was served on the Private Estate West Africa International Ltd. which company never in any way reacted to the notice,” but the company denied seeing any notice.

He said, “In all of my years of practice, I have never been and will never be open to committing forgery. All the documents and affidavits used for the survey were submitted to my office by the community representatives. The question that any sane person should be asking is – why would a surveyor forge documents in order to authorize himself to survey community land?, if he carries out the survey, who will pay for his services?”

He said, “On 9th December, PEIWA indeed filed a suit against Enugu state Government challenging the revocation. I have also been made aware that the host communities applied to join the suit as interested parties and understand that the Court advised the parties in dispute to settle out of court.

“PEIWA, instead of embracing peace and engaging alternative resolution mechanisms have instead, engaged in a full blown war against the indigenes of the community, including against their traditional rulers using the Police architecture and whatever else he can lay his hands on.”

Nnam said he was not in court at the last hearing in December 2020, because of ill health. Following his absence from court on 8th December 2020 based on the claims of ill health, Nnam would be re-arraigned in the Federal High Court on 24th February 2021.

“I was not in court on Tuesday 8th December because I was seriously ill. I was on sick leave receiving treatment at Niger Foundation Hospital, Enugu,” he said.

31

T H I S D AY ˾ UESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

U.S. Launches Air-Quality Monitors to Track Pollution in Lagos, Abuja Bennett Oghifo

U

.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard on Monday unveiled the U.S. Consulate General’s reference-grade Air Quality Monitor, effectively linking Nigeria to air quality index information and health messaging from the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The monitor supplies data to the ZephAir app, which is free to download on Apple and Google Play Stores.

Ambassador Leonard, who is optimistic that the new equipment will enhance the Consulate’s capacity to provide reliable data on

air quality, highlighted the United States’ commitment to environmental sustainability.

“Through a team effort, we have successfully procured air quality monitors for Embassy Abuja and Consulate Lagos through the Greening Diplomacy Initiative’s Department of State’s Air program. This will strengthen our ability to collect and share reliable data on air quality as it corresponds to the time of the day and the seasons of the year.” Ambassador Leonard observed.

“We are proud to contribute to Nigeria’s efforts to protect the environment and improve human health. The Mission will continue to promote environmental policies that

balance environmental protection and economic growth,” she said.

The U.S. Department of State’s 65 -plus air quality monitors, which are housed at U.S. Embassies and Consulates across the world, are made in the United States to Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) specifications, as delineated by the Clean Air Act. Nigeria now hosts one monitor each in the U.S. Embassy, Abuja and the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos. Air quality information from the monitors is available on the ZephAir app, and at https:// www.airnow.gov/international/us-embassies-andconsulates/#Nigeria$Lagos

L-R: U.S. Consul General, Claire Pierangelo; Facilities Manager, U.S. Consulate General Lagos, Ibraheem Muhammed; and U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard unveil the U.S. Consulate General’s Air Quality Monitor in Lagos… recently

Eko Atlantic City Attains 65% Reclamation Fadekemi Ajakaiye Eko Atlantic City has been able to reclaim 65% of land initially lost coastal erosion, the developer, South Energyx Nigeria has said.

During a tour of the new city recently, the managing director, Mr David Frame stated that a sustainable solution to the consistent loss of land needed urgent attention that was created by South Energyx and Royal Haskoning.

“There was need for the reclaiming of the land that had been lost to 100 years of

coastal erosion and erecting a sea revetment to protect Victoria Island permanently from the onslaught of the Atlantic Ocean,” he said.

He stated that the design and testing of a sea wall, which could stand the worst storms in 1,000 years, was tested to its limits in Copenhagen at the Danish Hydraulic Institute.

He stated that the genesis of the interruption to the littoral drift came with the construction of the rock moles at the entrance to the Port of Lagos.

Also, before the moles were built, large vessels delivering

goods to Lagos were required to drop anchor some distance offshore due to the shallow waters in the Commodore Channel, this channel led to the pre-existing Port in Lagos.

“To enable delivery of cargo to Lagos Port, smaller vessels would then be dispatched to the larger vessels anchored offshore and convey the cargo into the Port, this was rather a painstakingly tedious and extremely inefficient exercise, as a major upgrade of the Port of Lagos, was apparent and much needed to expand trade and economic growth”, he stated.

He said in order to improve access to the then Port of Lagos, Marine engineers built the East and West Moles.

The construction of these two moles began in 1905 and was completed in 1912. It allowed for the dredging of the Commodore Channel which allowed larger vessels to enter the Port of Lagos. With this, larger trade ships could freely enter and exit the Port and discharge their cargo directly, increasing the volume of trade through this vital new trade hub; clearly the development and extension of the Port of

Lagos played a major role in establishing Lagos as one of the major economies on the African continent.

Frame stated, however, that the construction of these moles interrupted the littoral drift. Sand and sedimentary materials which were previously deposited on the shores of Victoria Island and Lekki were now being trapped on the West side of the Port of Lagos. Erosion therefore ensued to the East of the Commodore Channel which is Bar Beach and the coastline of the Lekki Peninsula.

“By 2005, some 100 years after the construction of these moles, 2km depth of beach front, being the entire Bar Beach, was lost to erosion leaving Victoria Island directly exposed to heavy ocean surges and with no protection from the Atlantic Ocean, which exposed Victoria Island and Lekki’s businesses, residents and properties to severe threat and, urgent action was required to avert an ecological disaster and the potential loss of the busy commercial hub of Lagos Victoria Island, he said.

ESVARBON Tribunal Suspends Estate Surveyor for Alleged Misconduct Fadekemi Ajakaiye The tribunal of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) has suspended a registered estate surveyor and valuer from practicing in Nigeria for a year for allegedly not delivering a project paid for by a 73-year old lady.

The affected estate surveyor,

Mr. Bode Araba, allegedly “collected a sum of N3.5 million from one Mrs. Oluwaranti Williams, a 73 year old woman, to deliver a construction work in 2013, but he neither delivered the project, nor refunded the money,” according to a statement by ESVARBON Tribunal, which was established by the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The ESVARBON Tribunal,

which is empowered to, among others, examine infractions and enforce discipline among estate surveyors and valuers in the country, directed that Araba should not practice in the country for a year Although Araba had earlier, through his counsel, Mr. Oladapo Adewunmi, protested the powers of the Tribunal to hear and determine the matter, but

“at a later date, the respondent wrote to Tribunal of his readiness to settle the matter.”

This made the Tribunal to adjourn the matter to 12th December, 2020.

At the resumed hearing, the petitioner, Williams, told the Tribunal that Araba was yet to reach her for settlement.

After confirming that the respondent and his lawyer

were served, Chairman of the Tribunal, Sir Nweke Umezuruike said, “After weighing the evidence of the complainant, Mr. Bode Araba was directed to refund the said sum with interest calculated at the rate of 13 per cent P/A from January 2014 to date.”

He added that such payment should be made not later than 30 days from the date of the

ruling, and that if he failed to do so, his name should be struck off the register of ESVARBON and his registration be cancelled.

The Tribunal also said that, if the respondent fails to comply with its directive, it shall report him to the police for criminal prosecution and to the Council of Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) for any further action.

FCTA Partners AfDB to Urbanise Eight Satellite Towns Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it is collaborating with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to undertake urban improvement projects in eight FCT satellite towns of Jikwoyi, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Dutsen-Alhaji, Abaji, Orozo, Zuba, and Kwali.

FCT Minister of State Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu made this disclosure in Abuja during the 13th investiture of the Nigeria

Institute of Town Planners, FCT Chapter.

Represented by the Director, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Zalihau Ahmed, Aliyu expressed the desire of the Administration to providing increased budgetary allocation to support critical infrastructure development outside the city centre, notably roads and bridges, water supply and sanitation, primary healthcare and renewable energy solutions, amongst others.

“The onus is on us to continue to find solutions to the attendant multi-dimensional consequences of rapid urbanisation as we strive to provide liveable spaces both within and outside urban centres,” she said.

The minister also charged members of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP) to tackle the attendant multidimensional consequences of rapid urbanisation in most cities across the country and partner

the FCTA towards improving legislation on physical planning and urban development in support of the regeneration of Nigerian towns and cities.

“To the FCT Chapter of the NITP, this challenge is even more significant. We are witnessing the evolution of the territory at a breath-taking pace. While we appear to be grappling with finding solutions to the problems of the past, new ones are cropping up almost daily and we must, as

a necessity, be in a position to anticipate future problems and seek solutions to them. This is the charge before the members of the Executive.

“The FCTA shall be looking forward to working with you to find innovative solutions that guarantee the right development balance between the city centre and the satellite towns and hinterlands. Something must be done urgently to address the challenges of urbanisation especially in the Federal Capital

Territory,” Aliyu said.

In his inaugural speech, the chairman, Mustapha Mubdiyu, assured members of the institute that steps would be taken to digitise all records and processes of the chapter in line with global standard, adding that a website design was already underway.

He further assured that his leadership would embark on capacity building and development for members especially in areas of best practices and standards.

FG Set to Procure Concessions under HDMI, Says Fashola Bennett Oghifo Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has said with the receipt of the Certificate of Compliance, the federal government would officially begin the procurement process for the highway concessions under

the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

According to the Minister, the HDMI would facilitate further development of Nigeria’s federal highway network by bringing in investment to improve efficiency, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship

to the operation, management, and maintenance of all assets within the Right of Way on the highways.

Fashola said the initiative has further affirmed the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s commitment to infrastructure development funding which has been driven

by the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme Order of 2018, the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) being managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the SUKUK Fund.

He noted that through such

initiatives the federal government has been leveraging private sector funding and participation in the development of critical infrastructure across the country and the HDMI is another innovation developed to attract the private sector.

The minister, who spoke at

the official handover of the Certificate of Compliance by ICRC, explained that the HDMI was a fully home-grown idea that would deliver a safer and enjoyable travel experience for Nigerian road users as travel time would be shortened, cost reduced, and commercial activities stimulated.

32

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FG to Establish Power Training Centre in Taraba Emmanuel Addeh ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government said that it has concluded plans to establish a regional power training centre in Gembu, Taraba state to assist in the development of manpower in the sector.

Minister of Power, Mr Saleh Mamman, who spoke during the inauguration of the project on erosion and ecological challenges in Taraba, also stated that the multi-billion dollar mambilla project will soon take off.

Mamman noted that the establishment of the regional national power training centre in Gembu, would be in full swing very soon as modalities have been completed for its commencement.

He also announced the immediate kick-off of training of youths in the state by the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) in the areas of solar PV installations, electrical instal-

lations, and metering to make them self-reliant Speaking at the event which took place at the Federal University, Wukari, the minister also disclosed that the Jalingo works centre for the effective management and control of power transmission assets of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is now fully operational. He reiterated that the government was embarking on other projects as part of the power infrastructure improvement efforts of the ministry in the north-east zone, and particularly in Taraba state.

He listed them as the 2X7.5 MVA, 33/0.415kV Substation at Kashimbila town, the 2X60MVA, 132/33kV Substation at Wukari town, the 2X60MVA, 132/33kV Substation at Takum town, the 2X7.5MVA, 33/11/0.415kV Substation at Donga town and the 2X7.5MVA, 33/0.415kV

Substation at Rafin Kada town.

Mamman, stated that the projects would significantly improve the reliability and quality of power supply to the communities and environs, saying that the people of Jalingo and its environs will soon enjoy a major boost in electricity supply as work for the upgrading of the Jalingo 2x60MVA, 132/33kV to 2x150MVA, 330/132/33kV and 2x100MVA, 132/33kV transformers have reached an advance level of completion.

“Let me also intimate you that a holistic survey of the electricity distribution challenges in Jalingo and environs have been conducted, and very soon a major overhaul of the distribution infrastructure will be carried out to enhance adequate power distribution, using funds provided under the ministry’s 2021 appropriation.

Investment One Enhances Customer Service with Toll- Free Line Investment One Financial Services Limited, a financial and investment services provider in Nigeria, has created a toll free communication line to further enhance customer satisfaction.

In a statement, the company explained that the new initiative was a value added service to its existing and prospective clients.

The initiative according to the company, was also to cater for the wellbeing of its clients as they will not need to visit its offices physically to do their business transactions in this era of Covid-19 pandemic.

“We want our clients to keep safe by keeping a social distance while they stay at home to

transact business with us at no cost,” a source in the company disclosed .

The toll free line 0800-INVESTMENT or 0800-4683786368 is dedicated for the purpose of communication with the company with no charges incurred by the customer. Since it was founded in 2007, following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s initiated reforms in the banking industry, Investment One (then GTB Asset Management Limited), has offered and continues to offer innovative investment options coupled with value added services in Nigeria’s financial services space.

“We pride ourselves in providing first class services in the

industry. Our strong expertise at understanding clients’ needs and mapping them against a wide range of superior products gives us a comprehensive edge in the market share.

“We are endowed with a team of investment professionals poised to provide clients with premium services founded on in-depth market insight, innovation and service excellence.

“Be it advising, executing, managing or transferring wealth to future generations, our clients will find the full complement of investment solutions in our one-shop location – simply put, the 360° Investment Partnership,” it added.

RenCap Launches Emzor Pharmaceutical’s Debut N13.73bn Corporate Bond Renaissance Capital has disclosed that it led the successful launch of an inaugural Series 1 Bond Issue for Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, under the company’s N50 billion bond issuance programme.

According to the financial advisory company, the transaction represented the largest bond issuance from a Nigerian pharmaceutical company.

It further explained that the transaction saw strong demand

from domestic institutional investors primarily pension funds and asset managers allowing the issue to close at a coupon rate of 10 per cent.

“The bond also benefited from Emzor’s solid credit profile evidenced by its debut ratings of A- and A by GCR and DataPro, respectively - Renaissance Capital acted as Ratings Adviser to the Issuer and Issue.

“The successful outcome of the transaction further accentuates the strength of Renaissance Capital’s

franchise as well as its solid sales and distribution platform,” the statement added.

Speaking on the transaction, Director at Renaissance Capital, Mr. Samuel Sule said: “The transaction comes as another recognition of Renaissance Capital’s solid capital markets franchise and further showcases our ability to support first-time issuers on their ratings journey as well as position their credits with key domestic investors irrespective of underlying market conditions.”

FG Issues Backward Integration Certificate to Gospell Digital The federal government has formally issued a certificate of backward integration for the manufacturing of set top boxes and electricity smart meters to Gospell Digital Technology, a DTV and triple-play solution provider.

The certificate was in recognition of the company’s pioneering effort as the first indigenous company to produce the Set Top Boxes (STB) otherwise known as decoders for Nigeria’s digitisation of the broadcast industry since 2015.

Gospell, according to a state-

ment, was among the pioneer companies licensed by the federal government under the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in its desire to ensure that all Nigerians go in digital before the deadline of June 17, 2015 Digital Switch Over (DSO).

This is coming just as the company which is an indigenous STB licensed manufacturer in West Africa with a production capacity of 1.2 million boxes annually also signed a formal meter service agreement with Eko Disco for the manufacture and supply of

smart electricity prepaid meters under the National Mass Meter Project The Group managing Director of the company, Godfrey Ohuabunwa, said it was not an easy task attaining the status after series of tests by government to ensure the quality and suitability for Nigeria.

Ohuabunwa also disclosed that GOSPEL Digital had also keyed into the National Mass Meter Project to alleviate the problems faced by households and industrial outfits in procuring smart meters.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

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 ˜ Ͱͷ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $54.41 a barrel on Friday, compared with $54.36 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela) SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

33

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Stanbic IBTC Records N234bn Earnings, N83.2bn Profit after Tax Goddy Egene Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has reported a profit after tax (PAT) of N83.211 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020, showing an increase of 109 per cent compared to N75.035 billion in 2019.According to the unaudited results, Stanbic IBTC ended the year with gross earnings of N234.446 billion as against N233.808 billion in 2019. Impairment charges

soared from N1.632 billion to N9.935 billion in 2020.

Profit before tax stood at N94.717 billion in 2020, up from N90.925 billion, while PAT printed at N83.211 billion as against N75.035 billion in 2019. Stanbic IBTC ‘s deposits to customers improved from N819.944 billion compared with N637.840 billion, while loans and advances improved from N532.124 billion to N625.139 billion.

Assessing the numbers, analysts

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

at FSDH Merchant Bank Research said Stanbic IBTC reported a 6.6 per cent increase in total income to N198.9 billion in 2020 primarily driven by a 14.7 per cent jump in non-interest revenue to N124.7 billion. Non-interest revenue ascended 14.7 per cent powered by a 43.4 per cent increase in trading income to N52.1 billion. “ As the bank continues its disciplined approach to treating delinquent assets, the credit impairment on financial assets

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

was a charge of N9.9 billion in 2020, compared to N1.6 billion in 2019,” they said.

The bank reported a decline in the effective tax rate to 12.7 per cent from 17.5 per cent, due to change in tax basis for the banking subsidiary. Hence, it reported a 10.9 per cent growth in net profit to N83.2 billion and earnings per share stood at N7.29 versus N6.92 in 2019. “ Looking at the financial performance by segments, in

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

the Personal & Business Banking segment, the net interest income sank 25.5 per cent to N26.9 billion. Simultaneously, non-interest revenue slumped 27.9 per cent to N11.7 billion, resulting in a 26.2 per cent fall in total income to N38.6 billion in 2020. In contrast, in Corporate & Investment Banking segment, the net Interest income jumped 23.7 per cent to N43.6 billion, while non-interest revenue climbed 28.8 per cent to N68.4 billion in 2020.

O F

The 3.1 per cent increase in the Wealth segment’s income was driven by a 9.9 per cent growth in the non-interest revenue to N53.0 billion, slightly offset by a 42.6 per cent decline in net interest income to N3.7 billion in 2020,” they said.

Meanwhile, the stock market opened February on negative note as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index fell by 0.13 per cent to be at 42,357.90 yesterday.

0 1 / 0 2 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

34

˾ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021

Tuesday, February 2, 2021 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Declined 0.1% dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ϭϮďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

1,896.023 points. This was on the back of sell-ŽīƐ ŝŶ ZENITH (-0.2%), NESTLE (-3.7%), and ACCESS (-1.6%).

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘ϭй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶͲ dex.

The market resumed this month's trading on a bearish note as the benchmark index

declined 13bps

to 42,357.90 points as a result of sell-ŽīƐ ŝŶ NESTLE (-

3.7%),

ACCESS

(-1.6%),

and

FLOURMILL

(-

Price Change Index to Date

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,896.03

-0.12%

29.2%

89.6%

19.7%

3.8%

5.6x

930.00

0.0%

31.8%

9.2%

9.2%

7.9%

2.8%

15.5x

79.00

0.0%

10.7%

2.1%

2.1%

34.50

0.0%

9.2%

6.6%

6.6%

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Cement Plc

The Bears Resume͙ ASI down 0.1%

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

Ticker

3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC 4 Zenith Bank PLC 5 Dangote Cement PLC 6 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC 8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC

ROA

27.9%

4.7%

P/E

P/BV

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

0.6x

4.9%

7.2%

1.2%

6.4%

38.0x

7.4x

2.2%

2.6%

5.0x

1.4x

8.1%

20.0% 25.5%

27.15

-0.2%

6.8%

9.5%

9.5%

22.8%

3.1%

3.9x

0.8x

10.3%

236.00

0.0%

5.4%

-3.6%

-3.6%

30.8%

14.6%

15.8x

5.0x

6.8%

6.3%

181.00

0.0%

4.8%

6.5%

6.5%

189.4%

11.9%

18.7x

31.4x

3.8%

5.3%

1,450.00

-3.7%

3.5%

-3.7%

-3.7%

83.0%

20.5%

28.2x

27.5x

4.8%

3.5%

30.00

0.0%

4.4%

42.5%

42.5%

6.5%

4.6%

20.9x

1.4x

3.3%

4.8%

9.15

-1.6%

2.8%

8.3%

8.3%

16.8%

1.5%

3.0x

0.5x

7.0%

33.7%

9.10

0.6%

2.6%

5.2%

5.2%

13.9%

1.3%

3.9x

0.5x

10.7%

25.9%

7.50

-1.3%

2.4%

4.9%

4.9%

11.2%

1.1%

4.2x

0.4x

5.1%

23.9%

63.00

0.0%

2.1%

12.5%

12.5%

6.6%

2.5%

46.7x

3.1x

2.9%

2.1%

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Brew eries PLC

45.00

0.0%

1.9%

2.2%

2.2%

24.3%

3.7%

6.0x

1.3x

5.3%

16.7%

6.40

6.7%

1.6%

7.6%

7.6%

1.1x

to ƐĞƩůĞ at േ22.2tn. ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂŶĞĚ ĂƐ volume and

15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

33.60

-3.2%

1.2%

29.2%

29.2%

0.9x

ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϭϮ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϴ͘ϲй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ

17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

3.2%). Consequently, the YTD return declined to 5.2% ǁŚŝůĞ

ŵĂƌŬĞƚ

ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ

ĨĞůů

ďLJ

േ28.6bn

586.8m units and േ6.0bn. The most traded stocks by volume were UBN (79.6m units), TRANSCORP (61.8m units) and UBA (44.3m units) while ZENITH (േ859.0m),

NESTLE (േ791.6m) and GUARANTY (േ779.0m) led by value.

10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc 12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

ROE

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC

Mixed Sector Performance Performance across sectors under our coverage was mixed as 2 indicators advanced, 2 lost and the AFR-ICT Θ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌͲ ance ĂŶĚ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞͲ

ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ NEM (+6.6%),

31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 Total Nigeria PLC 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC

495.00

1.0%

1.2%

23.0%

23.0%

-0.3%

-0.2%

0.4x

7.8%

-2.8%

228.00

0.0%

0.7%

0.0%

0.0%

16.4%

7.6%

12.4x

1.9x

3.7%

8.1%

93.00

0.0%

0.8%

2.2%

2.2%

24.6%

16.0%

11.3x

2.6x

2.71

-0.4%

0.7%

7.5%

7.5%

10.5%

1.1%

3.0x

0.3x

7.4%

33.9%

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

8.9%

6.75

3.8%

0.7%

12.5%

12.5%

0.6%

0.0%

52.2x

0.3x

21.70

2.1%

0.7%

23.3%

23.3%

30.8%

15.6%

7.7x

2.1x

5.1%

13.0%

3.37

-0.3%

0.5%

1.2%

1.2%

10.3%

1.2%

3.2x

0.1x

4.2%

31.2%

1.96

-2.0%

0.4%

-3.9%

-3.9%

9.2%

0.9%

4.8x

0.4x

1.5%

20.6%

16.20

0.0%

0.4%

11.7%

11.7%

18.4%

5.8%

10.6x

3.5x

2.4%

9.5%

1.05

2.9%

0.4%

16.7%

16.7%

-3.5%

-0.8%

0.7x

0.9%

-5.5%

2.4x

2.7%

74.50

0.0%

0.3%

5.0%

5.0%

18.5%

7.7%

13.50

0.0%

0.2%

-2.9%

-2.9%

-2.4%

-1.6%

5.85

3.5%

0.2%

10.4%

10.4%

-12.2%

-5.6%

5.87

-0.5%

0.2%

24.6%

24.6%

85.7%

8.7%

19.15

0.8%

0.2%

0.8%

0.8%

-17.8%

-9.0%

14.2x

2.2x

0.7x

1.8% 8.5%

0.6x

0.0%

0.2%

2.6%

2.6%

13.9%

4.8%

5.6x

0.8x

-2.9%

0.2%

20.4%

20.4%

21.4%

3.3%

3.1x

0.6x

143.00

0.0%

0.2%

10.0%

10.0%

21.00

-7.3%

0.1%

18.0%

18.0%

3.2%

0.4%

-2.8%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

6.8%

0.5%

-0.8%

0.0%

-100.0%

3.15

-4.0%

0.1%

-14.9%

-14.9%

14.5%

2.6%

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-29.7%

-8.5%

10.3%

7.2%

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

7.4%

4.0x

0.5x

1.4x

7.8x

44.7%

17.9% 32.7%

7.1x

62.50

3.60

0.7x

-151.0%

-33.9%

21.6x 7.8x

7.0% -2.1%

1.8x

6.00

55.40

1.9%

1.2x

1.36

0.69

36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC

-27.1% 4.2%

4.8%

4.6%

7.9%

12.8%

5.8%

24.9%

4.1%

14.1%

0.2x

73.7%

1.8x

-18.4%

0.8x

3.0%

12.8%

1.9%

-25.7%

WAPIC (+9.3%) and SEPLAT (+1.0%). Conversely, the

Ϭ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ following sell-ŽīƐ ŝŶ NESTLE (-

3.7%), FLOURMILL (-3.2%) and ACCESS (-1.6%).

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ &ůĂƚ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ Ăƚ 1.2x as recorded previously

as

34

stocks

gained

against

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

Consumer Goods and Banking indices lost 1.0% and

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

H ON YF LOUR

1.43

10.0%

UB N

79.6

-0.8%

C H A M P ION

3.42

10.0%

T R A N SC OR P

61.8

2.9%

M C N IC H OLS

0.56

9.8%

UB A

44.3

0.6%

WA P IC

0.59

9.3%

A C C ESS

40.2

-1.6%

J A IZ B A N K

0.71

9.2%

FB NH

37.5

-1.3%

31.5

-0.2% 10.0%

T ic k er

T ic k er

A C A D EM Y

0.36

9.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

UN IT YB N K

0.73

9.0%

H ON YF LOUR

25.1

M RS

13.40

8.9%

GUA R A N T Y

22.6

0.0%

N IGER IN S

0.25

8.7%

F ID ELIT YB K

22.3

-0.4%

M A YB A KER

5.02

8.0%

UA C N

15.7

7.2%

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

28 losers. HONYFLOUR (+10.0%), CHAMPION (+10.0%) T ic k er

and MCNICHOLS (+9.8%) were the top gainers while

ROYALEX

(-10.0%),

GUINEAINS

(-9.1%)

and AFRINSURE (-8.0%) were the top losers. We expect the trend in corporate releases to shape performance this week

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

R OYA LEX

P ric e 0.36

P ric e C hg % -10.0%

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

Z EN IT H B A N K

859.0

-0.2% -3.7%

GUIN EA IN S

0.20

-9.1%

N EST LE

791.6

A F R IN SUR E

0.23

-8.0%

GUA R A N T Y

779.0

0.0%

J B ER GER

21.00

-7.3%

UB N

469.6

-0.8% 0.6%

M ULT IVER SE

0.21

-4.5%

UB A

406.7

C H IP LC

0.42

-4.5%

A C C ESS

371.7

-1.6%

C OR N ER ST

0.65

-4.4%

WA P C O

338.0

0.0%

P R EST IGE

0.48

-4.0%

FB NH

282.4

-1.3%

247.5

0.0%

203.0

-3.2%

OA N D O

3.15

-4.0%

M TNN

SOVR EN IN S

0.25

-3.8%

F LOUR M ILL

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com Taiwo Ogundipe | togundi-

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

35

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Access Bank Board Approves 2020 Financial Results, Final Dividend Goddy Egene

of Access Bank Plc has consolidated and separate 2020 and the payment of Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In a considered and approved financial statement for the a final dividend subject to notification to the Nigerian group’s audited year ended December 31, the approval of the Central Stock Exchange (NSE), Access The Board of Director the A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an ETF are bought by investors.

Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Bid Price: The price at which Investors Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that return an investor would have earned on An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. his investment. Money Market Funds report of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, Yield while others report Year- to-date Total bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: Return. etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 29- NAV: Is value per share of the real estate shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Jan-2021, unless otherwise stated. assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

Bank said audited results to the investing public upon the approval of the CBN.

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 0.32% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.56 3.72 0.22% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.54% Anchoria Equity Fund 141.38 141.86 5.40% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.21 1.21 -9.92% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 134.63 135.57 6.70% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.24% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.12 2.12 -39.82% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.30 2.35 36.35% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.83% Paramount Equity Fund 17.22 17.56 7.74% Women's Investment Fund 139.16 140.81 4.58% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.26% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 135.26 136.21 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.47 108.47 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 1.45% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.21 1.22 0.48% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.57 1.57 -0.98% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 1.03% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 0.93% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,199.46 1,200.80 -0.14% 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 1,358.28 1,359.61 -2.94% FBN Balanced Fund 190.97 192.43 1.75% FBN Halal Fund 110.94 110.97 -0.53% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.92% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 123.04 123.41 1.19% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 123.18 123.55 1.18% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 158.51 160.82 4.85% 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 N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.81% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 130.24 130.78 21.05%

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 2.89 2.96 0.17% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.84 156.37 0.30% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: 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 1.68 1.70 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.80 111.34 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 135.88 138.93 12.85% 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 1.01 1.01 0.55% 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 N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.45 1.48 6.27% United Capital Bond Fund 1.90 1.90 0.36% United Capital Equity Fund 0.93 0.96 7.63% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.49% United Capital Eurobond Fund 117.59 117.59 0.44% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.12 1.13 2.93% 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 12.68 12.82 7.00% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.98 14.10 14.42% Zenith Income Fund 24.11 24.11 0.58% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.90%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

121.32

0.48%

52.52

0.23%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.49 130.03 102.26

13.59 130.03 104.19

2.02% 6.81% 2.92%

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

4.36

4.40

14.73%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

6.10

6.18

7.10%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

18.41 1.00 20.71

18.51 1.00 20.91

12.32% 0.97% 0.94%

183.79

185.79

-17.04%

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.

36

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 2, ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

IG Orders AIGs, CPs to Enforce Buhari’s New Regulation on Facemask Ejiofor Alike The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammad Adamu, has ordered the Assistant Inspectors General of Police in the 17 zonal

commands and their constituent commissioners of police in the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT, Abuja, to carry out full enforcement of the COVID-19 Health Protection

Regulations 2021 signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, January 26, 2021.

The IG gave the order to the Strategic Police Managers following the directives by the

Court Filings Show Seplat Used Cardinal to Obtain Bank Loan, Says Lawyer Davidson Iriekpen Court documents filed by Access Bank in the case between it and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, have shown that the oil firm may have benefitted and indeed utilised the loan obtained

by Cardinal Drilling from the banks, its lawyer, Mr. Kunle Ogunba (SAN), said yesterday.

He said the documents show that Cardinal Drilling, is a subsidiary of Seplat and may have been used as a front for the deal.

However, Seplat insists that Access Bank could not hold it liable for a loan obtained by a third party (Cardinal Drilling), alleging that Ogunba misled the court in obtaining an order for the bank to take over the oil firm’s office at 16A Temple Road, Ikoyi as receiver/manager over the multimillion dollar debt.

Seplat has also reportedly written a petition against Ogunba to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) and the

Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), accusing Ogunba of unprofessional conduct.

Despite the indigenous oil firm’s insistence that it wasn’t complicit, Ogunba who responded to questions by THISDAY, added that the court processes filed by Access Bank showed that the plaintiff provided proof of Seplat benefiting from the loan, with Cardinal Drilling and passing the obligation to Seplat after obtaining the loan and disbursing it.

The company’s statement of account, which Access Bank exhibited in court, has details of Seplat transferring funds into Cardinal Drilling’s account, which in turn would transfer it to Diamond Bank (which was later acquired by Access Bank), as loan repayment.

He insisted that Seplat is the real debtor, which was why they joined Seplat in the debt recovery suit, obtained and executed the order against it, which is now a subject of appeal.

Ogunba noted that both himself and the bank acted based on a ruling by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, who, despite objections by Seplat’s lawyers, granted bank’s application.

“In my view, all these issues touch the substance of the case and should therefore be reserved for substantive trial…

“An attempt to delve into any of them at this stage has the potential and danger of determining substantive issues at this interlocutory stage, a tendency which has been frowned upon by the appellate courts.

“There is no evidence of suppression of any material facts by the plaintiff in this application,” the judge had noted.

It was further learnt that the petition against Ogunba was written even before the ruling on Seplat’s application to discharge the order made by Justice Aikawa was given, because while Seplat’s petition was submitted on December 18, 2020, Justice Aikawa delivered his ruling on December 24, 2020.

Buhari Condoles Dabiri-Erewa over Mother’s Death Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over the demise of her mother, Alhaja Sadiat Abeke Erogbogbo, a retired teacher and businesswoman, who was aged 90.

The President in a condolence message, according to his Media Adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, equally sent words of comfort to the other children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of the departed, who was known as ‘Kind Teacher’ in the early part of her professional life.

Buhari recalled that Alhaja Erogbogbo was a well-rounded Nigerian, born in Kano,

schooled in Lagos, and later taught in Kano, Lagos and Jos, where she impacted positively on the lives of students who passed through her tutelage, hence the sobriquet, ‘Kind Teacher.’

The President also prayed for the repose of the soul of Mama Erogbogbo and that God will comfort all those she left behind.

Peace Returns to Zamfara APC as Buni Reconciles Yari, Marafa Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The peace that has eluded the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) returned yesterday following the reconciliation of the former Governor of the State, Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Kabiru Marafa.

The reconciliation of the two party chieftains was brokered by the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party and the Governor of Yobe State, Mr. Mai Mala Buni.

The peace meeting also had in attendance the former Governor of the state, Mr. Mahmud Shinkafi.

The supremacy battle between Marafa and Yari led to the loss of all the elective positions in the state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), due to the inability of the party to conduct party primaries at a stipulated period before the 2019 general election.

But after the reconciliation meeting, which took place at the party secretariat in Abuja and lasted for about three hours, both

Yari and Marafa decided to give peace a chance.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, Buni said the committee has been able to reconcile the major actors in the Zamfara APC crisis.

“As you can see today, we are able to achieve reconciliation of our stakeholders in Zamfara State and by extension is the reconciliation of the entire Zamfara APC as a family. With this we have achieved a milestone as Caretaker Committee of this great party, our primary mandate being reconciliation of our members across the country and rebuilding and repositioning of this party at all levels,” Buni said.

On his part, Yari noted that the coming together of himself and Marafa was paramount to the success of the party in the state.

He stated: “We are here on this important mission, which I need not tell you what happened in Zamfara State in the past two years but you can see where we are.

This meeting lasted for not more

than two to three hours and a lot of things have been discussed.

But the most important of what is being discussed - understanding our coming together is paramount for any success now and in the future.

“We have built this party from zero level to where we are and Zamfara has ever remained ANPPAPC state and what led to that success is our coming together. So, that togetherness is what we’re working to achieve in the future and this is the starting point”.

Also speaking, Marafa said he was happy about the reconciliation, stressing that it was an integral part of every human endeavour.

He added: “Like the previous speaker (Yari) said, we are all human beings and we make mistakes and when mistakes happen, it is left to you to use it either as a source of strength or weakness. I hope our own mistake will serve as a source of strength for all of us and for APC itself especially and the country in general”.

President as contained in the Health Protection Regulations 2021, which mandates the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies of Government mentioned therein to ensure compliance.

The IG, while noting that the uncertainty and risks

engendered by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic have placed additional responsibilities on the general public, called on Nigerians to voluntarily comply with the provisions of the Regulations for the safety of all.

He further cautioned officers

enforcing the Regulations to show tact, compassion and empathy with the citizens.

He reiterated that the officers must be firm and professional and at the same time remain polite, civil and respect the fundamental rights of the citizens.

FG, Labour Committee on Petrol Pricing Seeks 50% Reduction on Port Charges Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The committee of federal government and the organised labour has recommended a 50 per cent cut on all charges on imported petrol as part of measures to reduce the cost of fuel in the country.

The committee also recommended the adoption of a unified exchange rate for all players and product importers in the downstream petroleum sector.

It further proposed that the federal government should stop the current practice whereby marketers and importers are compelled to pay port charges in foreign currency, suggesting that instead, such payments should be made in Naira.

It pointed out that the existing practice of collecting port charges in Dollars has pushed markers to source foreign exchange from the parallel market for settling bills thereby resulting in high and varying costs.

The Chairman of of the Technical Committee on Petrol Pricing Framework, Mr. Onochie Azubuike Anyaoku who presented the report of the committee at the meeting between federal government team and leadership of the organised labour yesterday night at the Bouquet Hall of Presidential Villa in Abuja, said that basically there is nothing wrong with fuel price monitoring mechanism of the Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Aggency (PPPRA) which is based on liberalised market.

According to the report of the committee, a unified exchange rate will guarantee a fair and more transparent pricing for imported petrol.

It recommended that the authorities at Lagos ports should carry out proper dredging of the shallow waters to facilitate easy and faster evacuation of products.

The federal government and labour leaders later went into closed door meeting to deliberate on the various recommendations by the Technical Committee.

Earlier while welcoming the labour leaders, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige expressed the hope that the new year will witness a more fruitful engagement between government and the labour unions.

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Soldier, Three Brothers Arrested for Alleged Kidnapping in Delta Sylvester Idowu in Warri A soldier and three brothers were last weekend arrested for their alleged involvement in kidnapping in Ughelli, Delta State.

The soldier, identified as Private Miracle Johnson, was arrested last weekend along with Godwin Okpara, Mathew Okpara, and Pius Okpara, all siblings from the same parents, and indigenes of Igbuku-Orogun community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

THISDAY learnt that the suspects were apprehended at Agbarha-Otor community in Ughelli North LGA by operatives of Operation Delta Hawk, a joint security team put in place by the government to curtail violent crimes in the state.

Security sources disclosed that the suspects were apprehended while on a mission to collect a ransom from one of their victims, Mrs. Tina Etameta, a mother of three.

Mrs. Etameta was allegedly

kidnapped by the suspects on January 4, 2021, at Agbarha-Otor junction, and an undisclosed amount of money was paid as ransom to secure her release.

“After the release of our sister and mother, one of her kidnappers was sending her messages that she should be paying him N200, 000 monthly, else she would be killed next time,” family source disclosed.

It was gathered that it was in the course of picking the monthly ransom that one of them was apprehended, who in turn helped security agents to arrest his accomplices.

The arrested soldier, aside supplying the group with arms and ammunition, was also alleged to have participated in the kidnapping.

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Onome Onowakpoyeya, could not be reached for comment, as she did not answer her phone calls.

However, a senior security officer confirmed the arrest, saying: “One army private, Miracle Johnson, deployed from

Adamawa Police Kill Two Armed Robbers, Arrest One Suspect Daji Sani in Yola The Adamawa State Police Command has reportedly killed two suspected armed robbers, who blocked the Numan-Jalingo highway to rob innocent travellers of their valuables last Sunday.

The spokesman of the state police command, DSP Suleiman Ngoruje, who confirmed the incident in a statement signed by him, said the command received a distressed call from a good Samaritan that some gunmen suspected to be armed robbers had blocked Numan-Jalingo highway and were robbing innocent travellers of their belongings.

Ngoruje said on receiving the report, the state Commissioner of Police immediately deployed police operatives who were accompanied by local vigilantes and hunters led by DPO of Numan Police Division to the area.

He said the suspected armed robbers, on sighting the police, engaged them in a shootout, and luckily, two of the criminals were killed, others escaped, while one identified as Ashidu Bakari, a resident of Lafiya in Lamurde Local Government Area of the state, was apprehended.

Nguroje said the suspect arrested sustained bullet wounds, and is now receiving treatment at a hospital in Yola, the state capital.

“The police also recovered Dane guns, knives, cutlasses, and charms from the suspected robbers,” the police spokesman said.

He said the suspect was being investigated on criminal conspiracy and armed robbery.

Nguroje said: “Meanwhile, the police command commended the police operatives of Numan Division for their immediate response, which resulted in the successes recorded.

15 Persons Infected by Strange Illness in Bauchi Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi About 15 persons in Bara village on the Gombe road in Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State have been infected by a strange illness that causes swollen legs.

The Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, who disclosed this while briefing journalists on the commemoration of the 2021 World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day celebration held yesterday, said last Sunday evening, the agency got a report that some people’s legs were swelling up in Bara village.

According to him, “I have directed the disease control department of the agency to mobilise to the village to find out what the problem is .We

are suspecting Onchocerciasis or Lymphatic Filariasis, considering that the local government area is one of those that have the cases of those tropical diseases.

As soon as we get the results of the investigation, we will take prompt action to curb it.”

On the NTDs, the chairman of the health agency said over 1 billion people are suffering from the NTDs globally while in Bauchi State, the number is over 1 million.

He listed some of the NTDs to include Onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil transmitted helminths, trachoma, shistosomiasis, buruli ulcer, snake bite, leprosy, human African tryphanomiasis, Guinea worm, yaws and loiasis, adding that with good sanitation and proper hygiene, the diseases can be checked.

22 Brigade in Ilorin, Kwara State, but currently on attachment at 222 Battalion, Agbarha-Otor,

was also arrested.

“He supplied the ammunition for the operation and also

participated in the kidnapping, and he is currently with the Military Police undergoing

interrogation at 3 Battalion in Warri, he will be transferred to Asaba soon.”

PEACE AT LAST…

L-R: Former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdul’Aziz Yari; former member of National Assembly representing Zamfara Central senatorial district, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa; and the Yobe State Governor/ Chairman of APC Caretaker Extraordinary/ Convention Planning Committee, Mr. Mai Mala Buni, after the reconciliation of Zamfara State APC stakeholders, at party’s secretariat in Abuja … yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

Kano Begins Evacuation of Hawkers, Almajirai, Others from Streets Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Government is set to commence the evacuation of street hawkers, beggars, and others roaming the streets and making a nuisance of the state.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Kano, the state Commissioner for Women Affair, Dr. Zahra’u Muhammad Umar, revealed that the state government has since met with stakeholders

before the commencement of the exercise.

According to her, among the stakeholders already met are community and religious leaders as well as the traditional institutions in the five Emirates of the state, to brainstorm on the best approach of ridding the streets of the nuisance.

The commissioner also stated that effectively, the state government had already released

funds to effect the operation across the state.

Zaharau said: “We have concluded plans to clear the streets of Kano of hawkers and beggars in order to ensure sanity and achieve a crime-free society.

“The project is due to begin next Wednesday, and will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the streets are sanitised.

“This is also part of the steps to enhance the fight against

COVID-19, and a task force has since been inaugurated to that effect.”

The ministry also disclosed that it received two batches of Almajiris from Kaduna State recently.

She further stated that the state government was undergoing the rehabilitation of 47 homeless men and women discovered roaming in the streets.

Masari Cautions APC Members against Plot to Destabilise Party Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, yesterday warned members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against plot to destabilise the party in the state, adding that he will not tolerate any factionalisation of the party.

Masari, who stated that all those working to destabilise the party would be shown the way out in line with the party’s constitution, spoke at the APC stakeholders’

meeting on the registration and revalidation exercise of the party in Katsina.

THISDAY gathered that the warning from the governor was not unconnected with the recent developments in the state, where some APC stalwarts are holding closed-door meetings ahead of the 2023 general election.

The governor, who was visibly disturbed about the activities of the APC members in the state, said he would not allow any faction of the party to emerge in President

Muhammadu Buhari’s home state.

He explained that the party in the state under his leadership would not hesitate to sanction any member found violating its constitution irrespective of his or her political position in the state and at the national level.

According to him, “I will not allow faction to emerge in Katsina State APC, especially now that the party is undergoing revalidation of its members. I urged all party members to take the ongoing revalidation and registration

seriously.

“If APC ward chairman can expel a national chairman of the party and his decision would be obeyed, we should follow the party’s constitution and live in peace. Anybody who violates the constitution will be punished.”

Earlier, the state Registration and Revalidation Committee Chairman, Hon. Ali Kumo, had said the committee would conduct a free and fair exercise in the state.

Two Edo APC Lawmakers Defect to PDP Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Two All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the Edo House of Assembly on Monday resigned from the party and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The two lawmakers are the

former Deputy Speaker of the House and member representing Akoko-Edo I, Yekini Idaiye; and the Member representing Orhionmwon East Constituency, Nosayaba Okunbor.

The defection of the two lawmakers has brought the number

of PDP lawmakers to nine with only one APC lawmaker in the 10-man house of assembly.

Edo State Speaker of the House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun read their letters of resignation from APC on the floor of the House.

The resignation letter by Yekini

Idaiye reads: “May I use this medium to inform you of my resignation as a member of APC. “I took this decision because of internal crisis in the party from my ward to the local government level which led to the factions in the party for some time now”.

Borno to Establish 27 Islamic Colleges Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum, has indicated the state government plan to establish diploma-awarding Islamic college in each of the 27 local government areas of the state.

The governor disclosed the plan yesterday during the opening of a three-day public hearing on the complete reformation of the Almajiri traditional Islamic education system.

The meeting, held at the multipurpose hall of the state Government House, brought together a collation of stakeholders which inputs would be used in drafting an action plan for the proposed Almajiri traditional Islamic education system.

In attendance at the public hearing organised by a highpowered committee established on November 19, 2020, by the governor, with the mandate of reforming the Almajiri system, are Islamic clerics, who either

founded, manage or teach in the traditional Almajiri system.

The governor, while declaring open the gathering, said his administration has a plan to construct 27 higher Islamic colleges, with one in each of the 27 local government areas of the state with the mandate of providing opportunities for eligible adults with adequate Islamic knowledge to acquire diplomas in western education after meeting laid down academ He explained that the higher

Islamic colleges would be designed to also serve as Islamic research centres in addition to teaching and learning.

A Director of the Qur’anic Education Centre, Ado Bayero University in Kano, Professor Ibrahim Muhammad, who was a guest speaker at the public hearing, eulogised Zulum for his ‘rare focus and leadership style that involves adequate planning’, adding: “Borno State is very lucky to have Zulum as its leader.”

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Insecurity: Makinde Visits Ibarapa, to Set up Peace, Security Committees in LGAs Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan In his efforts towards finding lasting solution to the security crisis in Ibarapa area of Oyo State, the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, last Sunday night met with selected stakeholders, local government areas chairpersons and political office holders from the area, where he declared that the problems of the people are his problems.

The governor, while speaking during the meeting held in Igbo

Ora, said he felt the pains of the people of the area, and that the visit would enable him find lasting solutions to the lingering insecurity issues in the area.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said the meeting was attended by local council chairpersons and political office holders from Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East and Ibarapa North.

Makinde disclosed that the state had approved the setting up of Peace and Security Committee

at the local government levels, adding that the state government would put in place other security measures to ensure peace in the area.

He also disclosed that the government had directed the immediate take-off of an identity management programme to enable it to know the people in the communities.

According to him, “The takehome from the interaction for me is that it is a collective problem, and I can see the commitment

from everybody to find a solution to this.

“And, at least, I am glad that some of the initiatives that the government is trying to put in place to stem insecurity are coming to fruition.

“We will ensure that our identity management programme takes off as quickly as possible.

We will also ensure the setting up of peace and security committee that is all-encompassing in all the local councils.”

The governor also urged

political office holders to always call the attention of the government to the happenings within their localities, saying he decided to sleep over in Ibarapa to feel the pulse of the people.

Makinde said he could not sleep with his two eyes closed in Ibadan if the people of Ibarapa are unable to sleep with their too, adding that the problems of insecurity in Ibarapa need to be tackled collectively.

On the enforcement of antigrazing law, the governor said

such is the area where state police would have to help out.

He said: “Quite frankly, the governors are at the mercy of the federal security agencies to implement certain laws.

That was why we asked for a state police. In the first instance, it is a constitutional issue, and in the absence of having that, governors in the South-west region came together and formed the Amotekun Corps as a stop gap.

Sunday Igboho Storms Ogun,Vows to Sack Killer Herdsmen Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta A Yoruba rights activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho yesterday stormed some parts of Ogun State and vowed to flush out killer herdsmen in the troubled areas in the state.

However, the Ogun State Government yesterday refuted reports insinuating that it had enlisted the help of Igboho, to combat crimes in the state Igboho had a brief interaction with his supporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, before he later proceeded to Ketuland where some soldiers allegedly connived with herdsmen to flog some farmers for not allowing them grazing their cattle on their farms in Yewa-North Local Government Area of the state.

While addressing his followers in Abeokuta, the activist said, “I observe there is an injustice from the herdsmen because they know the power that they have in the federal government. So, they behave as if Yoruba people are nobody. They kill our people, they kidnap our people, and they rape our women.”

“Any Fulani herdsman who engages in kidnapping would be flushed out,” Igboho vowed.

When asked whether he would

limit his activism to Igangan, his hometown in Oyo State, Igboho said, “Not only Igangan, we are going to visit all Yorubaland and ensure there is peace everywhere.”

The activist lauded the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for allowing him in the state.

Appreciating the gesture, the activist said, “We have not visited the governor, we will do that after we have flushed the Fulani herdsmen out of the state.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government yesterday refuted reports insinuating that it had enlisted the help of Igboho, to combat crimes in the state.

This was just as it reiterated its commitment to the security of all residents and properties.

The government made its position known in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile, in Abeokuta.

Refuting the news report credited to the Special Adviser on Public Communication to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Mr. Remmy Hazzan, Odusile noted that his (Hazzan’s) virtual interview with a reporter “had been quoted out of context and twisted to achieve sensational effects”.

Alleged N7.1bn Fraud: EFCC to Arraign Orji Kalu Today Davidson Iriekpen The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will today arraign former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The ex-governor will be docked before trial Justice Inyang Ekwo on money laundering related charges.

It will be recalled that Kalu, who piloted affairs of Abia State from 1999 to 2007, was earlier found guilty and handed a 12-year jail term by the Lagos Division of the court.

The trial court convicted him alongside his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and a former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu, for allegedly stealing about N7.1billion from the state treasury.

However, the Supreme Court, in its judgment on May 8, 2020, quashed the conviction and ordered retrial of the defendants.

In a unanimous decision by a seven-man panel of Justices, the Supreme Court, nullified the entire proceedings that led to Kalu’s conviction, stressing that the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, was already elevated to the Court of Appeal, as at the time he sat and delivered judgement against the defendants.

It noted that Justice Idris was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as at December 5, 2019, the day the former governor and his co-defendants were found guilty of the money laundering charge against them.

According to the Supreme Court, Justice Idris, having been elevated to the Court of Appeal before then, lacked the powers to return to sit as a High Court Judge.

It held that the Fiat that was issued to him by the Court of Appeal President pursuant to section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, was unconstitutional.

HAPPY WEDLOCK…

L-R: Commissioner, Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB), Major General Emmanuel Bassey (rtd); Comptroller-General Fire Services, Mr. Ibrahim Liman; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shauib Belgore; and the Bride, Faizah Yakmut Saleh; during the wedding Fatiha of Faizah Yakmut Saleh and Ahmad Dauda Ibrahim Gambo at State Lowcost Mosque, Jos … recently.

DNA Confirmed Our Three Kids are Not My Biological Children, Judge Cries Out A judge at the High Court of Delta State, Justice Anthony Ezonfade Okorodas, has said the three children he thought he had with his ex-wife, Celia Juliet Ototo, are not his after a Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test.

In a press statement signed and dated January 28, 2021, the judge said his wife, Celia, had been deceiving him all along with the three kids he thought were his.

Justice Okorodas said he got to know about it 11 years after his separation from his estranged wife.

“I have taken the decision to address the press in respect of certain traumatic developments that have arisen between me and my ex-wife, Celia Juliet Ototo of the Ototo family of Ovom in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“It is now nearly 11 years since our separation and divorce. This press statement is important in order to prevent damaging speculations, half-truths and

outright lies from persons who may want to cash in on the tragedy that has befallen my home.

“Sometime during the Coronavirus lockdown early last year, I received information from an anonymous source that indicated that the last of the three children from my previous marriage was in fact not my biological child. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time, I had to wait until August 2020 to carry out a DNA test. The DNA test result which came out in September 2020 confirmed that I was not the biological father of the child.

“Consequently, I convened a joint meeting between my extended family on the one side, and Celia’s paternal and maternal families (that is, the Ototo family of Ovom Town and the Agbagidi family of Yenagoa Town) on the other side, where I confronted her with the paternity fraud allegation.

Although she initially strongly

insisted that I was the biological father, she has since confessed to having the child with another man during the course of our marriage.

“This repulsive act of my exwife prompted me to conduct DNA tests in respect of the two other children. A few days ago, the results came out. Sadly, none of them is my biological child.

“This abomination has caused excruciating mental trauma to me; my present wife, Mrs Ebi Okorodas and all of the innocent children involved. This is particularly so for Ebi, who has had to agree to having DNA tests on the four children of our own marriage. Thankfully, the test results confirm each of them to be my biological child.

“It is important to state that Celia walked away from the marriage when her youngest child (who is now 17 years of age) was just six years old. Since then, all of her children have lived with my wife, Ebi and I, and we

have been wholly responsible for their wellbeing and education.

Friends who are close to my family would readily attest to the fact that unless specifically informed, no one could tell that the children were not the biological children of my present wife.

“Ebi and I would continue to support the children in any way that we can. Indeed, even after the release of the first DNA test result, which proved that I was not the biological father of the last child, we have continued to pay for his education in a private boarding school. The two other children are University undergraduates. The first, a female, will be a graduate later this year, and the second will soon enter his 4th year of study. We pray for them to overcome the trauma and become responsible citizens of our country.

“For Celia and her boyfriend or boyfriends, we leave them to their conscience. Thank you very much”, the statement read in full.”

Imo Court Strikes out Suit Seeking to Nullify PDP Congresses Amby Uneze in Owerri A High Court in Owerri, Imo State capital, yesterday struck out a suit filed by Mr. Patrick Agukwe and two others against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 17 others, who sought the nullification of the state PDP congresses conducted between March and August 2020.

Delivering his ruling in suit number: HOW/220/2020,

Justice E. F. Njemanze held that the suit is centred on the allegation that they and their supporters were denied access to buy nomination forms to participate in the PDP ward congresses held in March14, 2020, as it affects Oru East, Orlu and Orsu federal constituency.

The court held that the grievances of the plaintiffs were intra-party matters, which the court has no powers to delve into. The learned Judge ruled

that the courts have decided in plethora of cases held that they have no business adjudicating on matters relating to the internal management and leadership of a political party unless where a party goes against its own constitution.

The court further held that in the extant case, the plaintiffs did not show from their statement of claim that there was any serious breach of the PDP constitution in the conduct

of the congresses, rather, they were disputing matters within the purview of the party to decide and determine.

Citing various provisions of the PDP constitution, the court found that the constitution provided adequate remedies for any member who is aggrieved by the decision or action at any level of the p a r t y t o a p p e a l t o the upper level of the p a r t y.

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TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

S’Eagles’ Captain, Ahmed Musa, Lands in UK for West Brom Deal Femi Solaja with agency report

Former Leicester Citywinger and Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa, is set to return to Premier League as he will be arriving England this morning ahead of agreeing a deal with West Brom.

Musa is a free agent after he was released from his contract at Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr last October.

Uk’s Sportsmail reported that he has been invited by Sam Allardyce to bolster West Brom’s attacking options.

The 28-year-old was initially expected to arrive England last week but there was a mix up over his travel arrangements from Nigeria.

He’s due to arrive in the early hours of today to speedy up the process ahead of his formal unveiling later on Wednesday.

As a free agent he can sign out of the window

but West Brom want to be convinced of his condition and fitness before they agree a contract.

Aside West Brom, Musa also has interest from Fulham and his former club CSKA Moscow.

The 95-cap Nigerian international made 33 appearances in all competitions and scored just five goals for the Foxes between 2016 and 2018 after joining for a then-club record fee of £16.6million.

He was loaned back to CSKA Moscow for the second half of the 2017/18 campaign.

Musa was then sold to Al Nassr in January 2019 and played 62 times in all competitions before being released by the Saudi club.

Boss Sam Allardyce insisted there could be more incomings before the transfer deadline but they would have to improve the squad for him to sanction a move.

He said: “We have until

11pm, we will try between now and 11pm to try to find two more players who are available.

“It’s not just the player, it’s also what finances are left. Time is running out but we have spent quite a considerable

amount of our budget that was available.

“If we can’t get the right player in then there’s no

point getting a player in who won’t improve the first team,” concludes Big Sam last night.

Ahmed Musa is expected in England today ahead of joining West Brom tomorrow

Amuneke Named Brand Ambassador of Soccer Scouting App Leading soccer scouting and marketing application, Al Haddaf, has named former African Footballer of the Year, Emmanuel Amuneke, as its ambassador.

The innovative Al Haddaf was designed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in order to expose budding talents across the continent via the app to affiliate clubs across Europe and other parts of the world.

Based in Cairo where Amuneke made name with Zamalek during his heyday, Al Haddaf, according to the erstwhile Super Eagles forward, is a good platform to market players and coaches with ease without the exigencies of travelling for trials.

“Al Haddaf is a genuine platform and one of the reasons I’m partnering them is due to the fact that it offers many young African players unrestricted access to foreign scouts since travelling is becoming a major issue across the world as a result of Covid-19,” stressed the former

Barcelona winger.

“There are millions of talents on the continent but very few have the chance of travelling out for trials with clubs in Europe particularly at this period.

“By registering on Al Haddaf, many players would have the opportunity to be seen without even stepping outside their community. This is a big advantage for them and I can only enjoin them to take the opportunity since they are going to register with just a token,” concludes the FIFA U-17 World Cup winning coach.

According to the promoters of the App, all interested players and coaches need do is to upload their profiles, images and videos once their registration is completed.

“The management team of Al Haddaf will select five players with best videos on a monthly basis and recommend to top European clubs for consideration.” The Al Haddaf app in the meantime, would be up and running from this month.

D’ Warriors Host Friendlies in Honour of Joe Erico Mary Nnah Nigeria Premier Basketball League side, Dodan Warriors in conjunction with D’Tigers star, Michael Eric, will today honour late Super Eagles Assistant Coach Joe Erico at the team’s home court situated in the Ilupeju area of Lagos State.

Programme of activities, according to the Committee working with D’ Warriors, will at 4:00pmwith a line up of matches between Friends of Michael Eric and Warriors Academy, Team Eric Jr against Warriors and a basketball exhibition game by the national Wheelchair Basketball team.

Erico, a former national team goalkeeper, contributed

in all the 18 local government areas of the state.

“We want to make the state the sports destination of the nation once again.

The Deputy Governor who is a registered player of the state’s owned Bendel Insurance FC, stressed that any visitor to the state now will see the new trend in sports development.

“Anybody who comes to Edo today would see for himself what we are doing in the area of sports facilities.

“We are also working seriously to bring the state owned clubs to professional status, Bendel Insurance and Edo Queens are enjoying enhanced package and the best of welfare.

“This model we want to replicate in other sports, especially with attention

Speaking about the honorary event, Micheal Eric said, “I want to use this event to shine light on the legacy of Joe Erico. The man he was, the uniqueness of his personality and also continues what he instilled in me as a person and young man. He taught me to be thankful and give back and that’s what I’m going to do. If he had 20 of something and someone was in immediate need, he was willing to give it all. Erico Jr Foundation aims to give a lot of opportunity to the kids and a hope for a brighter future.”

Expected at the event are friends and associates of the former coach in the Aspire Football Dreams Project where he worked with Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd), Uthman

Okunnu, Godwin Malu and Ajani Abogun, basketball players as well as sports administrators.

The late Joe Erico died on January 21 in his sleep.

Late Joe Erico

Inter Host Juventus in Coppa Italia Live on StarTimes Today Inter Milan will today host Turin giants, Juventus in the first leg of the semifinal of the Coppa Italia at the San Siro Stadium.

Juventus will be without Paulo Dybala while Inter will be missing the services of both Romero Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez.

Shaibu Pledges Sports Will Remain a Priority In Edo State The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, has assured stakeholders that sports would continue to get quality attention in the state.

Shaibu who spoke while receiving Sportsville Recognition Award at the weekend in Lagos noted that the Gov. Godwin Obaseki administration has since coming into office paid special attention to sports development, insisting that it would be sustained in the next four years of the administration’s second term.

“We are passionate about returning sports to its pride of place in the state.

That is why we have started upgrading our facilities to world-class.

“The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium has come to life again and we are building another 20 mini stadiums

immensely to the development of Wheelchair basketball through donations, encouragement and motivating players by tasking them to remain steadfast while insisting during his lifetime that there is always ability to succeed despite their situation.

The Jogo Bonito football exponent held close ties with the Warriors Basketball Programme from where his son, Michael Eric horned his basketball skills with the Warriors Basketball Academy before heading out of Nigeria to study and play professional.

Michael represented Nigeria at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup held in China where Nigeria picked a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games due to hold in July.

to athletes welfare,” the sports loving Deputy Governor added Hon Shaibu described the award from Sportsville as “credible one coming from a credible outfit.

“I am happy to receive this award from Sportsville which has been in the forefront of sports development in the past 20 years.

“This award is a big challenge for me and the other receipients to do more . This is one award, I truly cherish,” he stated.

The Deputy Governor was represented at the event by Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Barrister Kingsley Ehigiamusor and Musa Ebomhiana at the well-attended ceremony.

The match will air live in HD on StarTimes’ World Football channel at 8:45 pm.

Both clubs have emerged victorious against the other at the semi-final stage twice in the past, with Inter winning the last two encounters (in 2003/4 and 2015/16) on penalties – even overcoming a 3-0 defeat from the first leg in 2016.

Juventus are the record-holders in the competition, having won 13 times, while Inter have held the trophy aloft seven times.

Pirlo can also count on striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who already has cup winners’ medals from England and Spain hanging in his trophy cabinet and is now looking towards adding an Italian one to his collection.

Napoli, who beat Juventus in last year’s final, are meanwhile hoping to stay on track for a seventh title. They are at home to Atalanta in their first leg match on Wednesday at 8:45 pm In Spain, Copa del Rey quarter-finals will air live on StarTimes’ Sports Life channel from 2 to 4 February.

Barcelona are facing Granada in Andalucía on Wednesday at 9

pm. Sevilla and Villarreal are also away against Almeria and Levante on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

The last game will see Spanish Super Cup winners Athletic Bilbao taking on Real Betis.

“Subscribers can pay-per-day to enjoy the fixtures. Non-StarTimes subscribers can also stream the matches live on StarTimes-ON mobile app at N400 weekly, with an option to subscribe with MTN airtime.

“Active StarTimes subscribers

can also stream the matches live on their mobile phones via the StarTimes-ON streaming app at no extra cost by linking their smartcard numbers to StarTimes-ON apps on up-to three mobile devices.

Thus, access can be shared with loved ones to watch their favourite content simultaneously.

“This handy application provides users with over 100 TV channels which include live sports, replays and highlights,” Lazarus Ibeabuchi, PR Manager, StarTimes Nigeria said.

Cristiano Ronaldo (right) will be aiming to shoot Juventus into the final

Tuesday February 2, 2021

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Price: N250

MISSILE Atiku to FG “You hardly can drive 10 kilometres in any part of the North without being kidnapped or attacked by armed bandits. This is not acceptable, this is not the time to massage the ego of the nation leadership. This is the time to cry out for help.”

– Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar urging the federal government to urgently rescue Nigeria from various ills plaguing it.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Buhari and The New Service Chiefs M

any Nigerians were understandably shocked, surprised, if not alarmed last week, when they suddenly heard the news that the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari had finally decided to relieve the service chiefs appointed in 2015 of their appointments. The popular response was couched in such phrases as “oh… at last... finally”, “better late than never” – general expressions of relief about a security team that many Nigerians concluded could not deliver on the President’s promise to make Nigeria a safer and better place for all or at best, tackle the menace of insurgency, terrorism and banditry.

The Service Chiefs led by General Abayomi Olonisakin (Chief of Defence Staff) – Lt. General Tukur Ibrahim as Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar were generally considered inefficient and incompetent by many Nigerians. This has to be put in context.

When President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015, and during the Presidential elections that preceded his emergence, his managers sold him to the Nigerian electorate as a man who would put an end to Nigeria’s security woes especially in the North Eastern corridor where the Boko Haram and the Islamic State held sway.

Buhari had been an Army General, a civil war veteran, a soldier. He talked about fighting corruption and fixing the economy, but his unique and strongest selling point was the proposition that he would address the country’s security challenges. Even his most ardent critics had great expectations in that regard. He appointed Olonisakin and co. and gave them the assignment of stamping out terrorism and insurgency. But this would soon turn out to be a major source of frustration for Nigerians. Rather than abate, insecurity worsened.

It became cancerous. Every measure that was introduced only brought more problems, and the cancer of terrorism assumed new forms, mestasizing, mutating like corona virus, from terrorism to banditry, worsening insurgency, kidnapping, communal strife, and open madness on the part of criminals who were determined to sabotage the country. The government and the service chiefs adopted the strategy of telling Nigerians that the Boko Haram had been “technically defeated”. Later, the narrative was that they had been “degraded” or “decimated”.

This was sustained by unending public perception management schemes that amounted to nothing more than motion without movement, empty rhetoric and the overt politicization of military strategy. More military operations were launched in the last five years than at any other time in Nigerian history, including the Nigerian civil war: These include Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Crocodile Smile I and II, Operation Python Dance I and II, Operation Sharan Daji, Operation Harbin Kunama I and II, Operation Dokaji, Operation Egwu Eke, Operation Karamin Goro, Operation Ayem Akpatuma, Operation Last Hold, Operation Ugwu Eke, I – III, Operation Cat Race, Operation Positive Identification, Operation Atilogwu, Operation Rattle Snake, Operation Ruwan Wuta I- III… In all, there were over 40 such Operations under the watch of General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin and his team. Whoever was in charge of the naming of the Operations enjoyed himself so much, there was nearly no animal in the forest that he didn’t blackmail as part of the government’s attempt to find a solution to the crisis of insurgency in

Buhari the country. I must say this though: they cleverly managed to avoid naming an Operation after the Tortoise! The Nigerian military even set up what it called “Super Camps”. The truth is that there was nothing “Super” about those camps.

Nigerians saw through it all. They saw images of killings and insecurity, and waste and wanton destruction. They saw Governors like Professor Babagana Zulum of Borno State openly challenging the Nigerian Army for adding to the people’s woes. In the Middle Belt, the Governors cried out for help. In other parts of the country, herdsmen wreaked havoc as they destroyed farms, lives and livelihoods. In the South East, the Nigerian Army was labelled an army of terrorists. Within the military itself, the stories were sordid. In the course of five years, many soldiers deserted the war-front.

In one famous case, a soldier said he was tired of service and he would rather go and take up a traditional rulership position! At the war front, soldiers reportedly fled in the face of superior Boko Haram fire-power. Generals complained about the realization that terrorists fighting the Nigerian state had better equipment and appeared more motivated than Nigerian troops. The rank and file recorded videos in which they abused their Commanders and Generals. In another notable video, a General was recorded complaining about the weakness of the Nigerian Army. Nobody is even sure how many soldiers Nigeria has.

For five years, the same Nigerian military that had issues at the battle-front, was very vocal on social media. At a point, I was tempted to think that the Nigerian military was more of a social media army rather than a critical force on the battle-field. You only needed to make a critical comment and their trolls would descend on you, with lies and blackmail. As a form of military strategy, that was a terrible demonstration of sloppiness and I hope the first thing that the new Army Chiefs would do is to get rid of the loafers in charge of military communications who have reduced anti-insurgency operations to Twitter tittle-tattle.

The Nigerian Army’s comeuppance came with the #EndSARS protest of October 2020, and the abduction of the Kankara Boys. Before then, Nigerians, stupefied, overwhelmed, and bewildered, had called on President Muhammadu Buhari to change his security team. From the groundnut seller by the roadside, to leaders of socio-political and cultural groups, and the two Houses of the National Assembly, Nigerians demanded that the security chiefs should be

sacked. The people wanted new ideas. They talked about a new security architecture – in fact that phrase became a cliché as every Nigerian became a security sector bricklayer. It was up to the President to listen and act. He alone has the power to hire and fire. The Constitution gives him broad powers to choose his own team as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Now and then, the President would invite the Security Chiefs and give them “marching orders”. Now and then, the Presidency assured Nigerians of the determination of the government to put an end to terrorism and impunity. The statements were so frequent, so formulaic, the people no longer thought anything of them. I have been accused of putting in place a Rapid Response, automatic answer Robot in the Presidency when I led the Presidency’s Communications team.

My critics say so. I plead not guilty.

And so, in the statement announcing the exit of General Olonisakin as Chief of Defence Staff along with other Service Chiefs, we were told that the President had accepted their offer of resignation and retirement. Truth is they were fired. Sacked!

As recently as November 2020, the President had expressed confidence in their abilities. For 5 years, he kept them beyond their retirement, exit date. And he didn’t disgrace them out of office though. He talked about their “overwhelming achievements”. “Overwhelming” is a two-sided word. It can be positive or negative. Was the President “overwhelmed” by the performance of the service chiefs in a positive sense? Were the people of Nigeria, overwhelmed by their under-performance? We have it on record that during the handing-over ceremonies last week, former Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin said that under his watch, the Nigerian military rescued 20 out of 26 Local Governments that had been taken over by the Boko Haram. The then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai was also quoted as saying he transformed military operations and improved professionalism in the military.

I think the former Service Chiefs are in a hurry to assess themselves and control the narrative.

They should relax. They should learn to enjoy their retirement. They have been to the war-front and back. Many who started the journey with them died at the battle-field, but they got to the very top and have been pulled out of service alive. They are going home in one piece. Not every soldier enjoys such grace. Concerning their performance, they should leave that to us, the Nigerian people, history and posterity to judge.

They have the option of writing their memoirs, of course, when public service rules permit, and they can tell us all the stories on earth, including that undisclosed story about how Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai was almost sacked by President Olusegun Obasanjo 21 years ago, when he was just a Major in the Army. Buratai made it to the very top, spent 40 years in the Army, but as he handed over the flag to his successor – Major Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the true irony of the moment was lost on him. He talked about Obasanjo. He missed the irony of the moment. In 2017, he had also tried to push Major General Ibrahim Attahiru out of the Nigerian Army. The guy survived. He took the flag from him. How truly ironic!

But it is not enough to move the flag from one pair of hands to another. Nigerians have very strong expectations. They expect that the change of personnel will bring new dynamism and better results. There is now a new team in place: Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor as Chief of

Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo as Chief of Navy Staff, and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao as Chief of Air Staff. I am told that some rigour went into the selection of this new team. Okay. I am also told they are tested hands within the system. We can all see that.

They are also friends who may not have any problem working together. I hope so. When they met with the President last week, Lucky Irabor was reported as having said that he and his team are determined to “add value”.

And as it happened, on Sunday, January 31, Irabor and his team went on a visit to Borno State and they engaged with stakeholder-communities.

Irabor must have been watching Western movies, and what it means to “hit the ground running”.

Good James Bond move! Except that in this matter, Nigerians are not looking for actors and movie addicts. They want action and real performance. This is an important assignment and I assume we do not need to give Irabor and co a tutorial on the politics of power seeing that they have paid their own dues in their chosen line of work. President Buhari says they must pay attention to the welfare of the rank and file.

We have seen videos of Navy and Army rank and file celebrating the exit of former Service Chiefs. Those videos may have been isolated, sponsored, video-shopped attempts at blackmail.

But the new Service Chiefs must be attentive to their environment. They cannot make any difference if they are leading a demoralized, trigger-happy, undisciplined and unprofessional military that is likely to take to its heels in the face of Boko Haram only to escape to the nearest pepper-soup joint or short-time joint!

Nigeria deserves a disciplined military, that is well-motivated, well equipped and energized to deliver on its constitutional mandate.

The public perception of the Nigerian Army has been created by the Army itself: Do you expect anyone to respect soldiers who discredit their own institution? Soldiers who lie openly to the people? Generals who run away from the war-front? Military commands that spend more time on twitter, wasting resources on mentally challenged trolls, fighting ghost enemies? MajorGeneral Irabor needs to change the orientation of the Nigerian Army. We also need to know the actual capability of the Nigerian military? If we were to put up a fighting machine tomorrow to confront any form of external aggression, do we have the wherewithal? Irabor and his team must start with a very honest audit.

The military must also withdraw from police work. This was a shameful legacy from the recent past. It got so bad Nigerian soldiers joined the police at checkpoints to extort money and oppress citizens, especially vulnerable women.

If the Nigerian Police is weak, and yes it is, the Nigerian government must address that challenge and make the institution more credible and useful. For General Irabor and his team, there is also the unresolved matter of the military’s refusal to appear henceforth before the judicial panel of inquiry on the #EndSARS protests in Lagos. Justice Doris Okuwobi, Chairperson of the panel, has given the Nigerian Army a new date of February 27 to respond to already served summons. Maj. Gen. Irabor should look into that and make it clear that the Nigerian military is not above the laws of Nigeria! Finally, President Muhammadu Buhari has one more Service Chief to appoint: the Inspector General of Police as the incumbent IGP Muhammed Adamu ended his tenure on Monday, February 1. He must choose wisely. We wait. We watch.

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