WEDNESDAY 3RD FEBRUARY 2021

Relief as FG Extends SIM, NIN Linkage Deadline to April Telcos capture 56.18m persons, estimate 188m cards linked Emma Okonji in Lagos and Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja Another reprieve came yesterday for mobile telephone subscribers yet to link their

subscriber identification modules (SIM) with their National Identity Numbers (NIN) as the federal government extended the deadline by two months.

With the extension, the

fourth since December when the exercise began, the deadline for the telephone subscribers to comply or lose their lines has now shifted from February 9 to April 6, 2021.

However, the federal

government said so far, a total of 56.18 million NINs have been received by mobile network operators as at February 1; up from the initial 47.8 million NINs received as of January 18.

The federal government, at the expiration of the initial January 19 deadline for the submission of NINs had extended it to February 9 for all telecoms subscribers that have registered for NIN,

including those that were yet to register for NIN to submit their NIN for linkage with their SIM cards.

The April deadline was Continued on page 9

NESG Pushes for Reforms, Tough Policies to Revamp Economy... Page 8 Wednesday 3 February, 2021 Vol 26. No 9432. Price: N250

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TODAY'S WEATHER

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Despite Police Act’s Single Term, IG May Get Tenure Extension PSC fears service elongation may dampen morale of rank and file Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, who was billed to retire on Monday after spending the maximum 35 years in service, may stay longer in office, THISDAY learnt yesterday.

This, however, would be contrary to the provisions of the Police Act 2020, which

in Section 7 (6) fixes a single term of four years without an option of extension of tenure for the holder of the office of the Inspector-General of Police.

It reads: “A person appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for four years.”

Section 18 (8) of the Continued on page 9

FG Puts up Recovered Assets for Sale, Invites Bids

Vehicles, ships, land, personal effects, others to go

Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government is gearing up for the sale of recovered assets, including vehicles, boats, ships, plants and machinery as well as electronics and furniture, as part of efforts to raise funds to meet its obligations.

The assets were either recovered or forfeited by

suspects facing corruption charges.

A statement yesterday by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata (SAN), called on interested persons and or firms to look out for its publication and "make Continued on page 9

CONDOLENCES FROM EDO...

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left), and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during a condolence visit in Asaba…yesterday

Obi Tackles Presidency, Insists Corruption Worsening in Nigeria...Page 5

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NEWS

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

Obi Tackles Presidency, Insists Corruption Worsening in Nigeria Says COVID-19 management not transparent

Ejiofor Alike The vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has thrown his weight behind last week's report by the Transparency International (TI) that showed corruption still thriving in Nigeria despite the avowed commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to battle the menace.

Senior presidency officials had refuted the TI report, saying it failed to take an account of several efforts of the Buhari administration to tackle corruption.

But Obi, who featured yesterday on The Morning Show, the flagship breakfast programme on ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY, said corruption is worsening in the country.

He also faulted the management of COVID-19 by the federal government, saying it lacks transparency.

Transparency International last week released a damning report on Nigeria, which showed that the country dropped to 149 on the 2020 Corruption Perception Index, the worst ranking received by the country in recent times.

Nigeria, with a score of 25 out of a possible 100 points, was ranked 146th out of the 180 countries surveyed in 2019.

Nigeria was two steps worse off than it was in 2018 when it scored 27 points to place 144th out of 180 countries. According

to the latest ranking, Nigeria is now the second most corrupt country in West Africa with Guinea-Bissau the only country more corrupt than Nigeria in the sub-region.

Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, however, had faulted the report, saying it was blind to the areas where the federal government has “done extremely well.”

But Obi stated that Nigerians do not need the report of TI to know that corruption is worsening in the country.

He said: “Is corruption getting worse in Nigeria? Yes, we don’t need Transparency International to tell us that.

“We see it every day; we witness it every day; it is getting worse and we know it is getting worse.

“We have to respect and learn to listen when people are telling us the truth. It is not only when it favours us. In fact, one of the leadership tools is for you to listen and learn whenever you are criticised genuinely.”

as it should.

“When we talk about management from the onset, yes, they are trying to do it in the Nigeria way, which I think we should now be doing things differently. We now need to be doing things transparently and where people can see cost-effectiveness, savings and everything.

“That was why when you saw EndSARS people were going to break warehouses; nobody knew those things were packed in warehouses.”

Obi expressed concern over Nigeria’s efforts to procure COVID-19 vaccines, saying that Nigeria has grounded the national vaccine production facility established in 1940.

“Nigeria as a country in 1940 established what we called national vaccine production facility domiciled in Yaba, and that was able to produce virtually all the vaccines we used in the days of smallpox, yellow fever and that facility was shut down in 1991 to be refurbished and upgraded,

there was nothing wrong with it.

“And till today, that has been the case deliberately so that people can import vaccines and sell to the government.

“Now, I hear that we are looking for N400 billion. Well, I am lost. Our budget this year for health is N547billion. I don’t know if they are going to take this vaccine procurement from it, because if they do, we are left with N147billion. The other one is already low and you’re going to worsen it if you do

that and we say this year all we did in health is procurement.

“For the vaccine procurement also, we need to have transparency in the procurement. If they have a N400 billion budget to buy the vaccines, my suggestion, they don’t need to award contracts, let them just call Serum Institute in India and plead with them. I am sure they will even give us a discount. If they want, I can go for the negotiation,” he added.

Management of COVID-19 Not Transparent, Says Obi The former Anambra State governor also faulted the management of COVID-19 in Nigeria, saying it lacks transparency.

“I don’t want it to be as if I am always on the negative side, but the reality is that things are not going as transparently

BACK TO BEAT...

Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari (left), and President Muhammadu Buhari during his arrival from Daura in Abuja...yesterday godwin omoigui

NEF Urges Fulani Not to Resort to Self-help Tofa warns against reprisals Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna The Northern Elders' Forum (NEF) has advised law-abiding Fulani communities to seek protection where it is available, and resist the temptation to take the law into their hands.

It also warned those attacking law-abiding Fulani communities, particularly in some parts of the South, to desist from such.

This is coming as the presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in the 1993 presidential election, Mr. Bashi Othman Tofa, has alleged that tension was brewing in the North over what he described as attacks on the Fulani communities in the South, warning that any attack on Southerners in the North would be difficult to control.

In a statement yesterday in Kaduna, NEF’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, expressed concern over what he called reports of ejections and attacks on law-abiding

Fulani herders in some states.

The forum called on President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors to protect law-abiding Fulani communities from killers and criminals who think that Fulani have no rights in Nigeria.

It said it has been receiving reports of attacks on Fulani communities in the South “since the night of Sunday, January 31, and had taken the responsible step by drawing the attention of authorities to the dangers, which these attacks represent for all Nigerians.”

NEF expressed concern over reports of ejections and attacks on Fulani herders and communities in some states of the South.

It urged Fulani to resist the temptation to take the law into their hands.

“It is necessary to warn people who threaten lawabiding Fulani communities in all parts of Nigeria, but particularly in some parts of the South, to desist.

“The vast majority of Fulani is law-abiding and have rights to live lawfully wherever they can find means of subsistence.

Like all Nigerians who can be

found in every inch of Nigeria, the rights of the Fulani will not be abridged by criminals hiding behind ethnic interests to exterminate them,” the NEF said.

It added that citizens and groups who play the role of police and other lawenforcement agencies are committing crimes and must be stopped by leaders who have sworn to protect the law and security of all Nigerians.

“There are criminals in all ethnic groups, and the nation will be treading dangerous grounds if it continues to tolerate the demonisation of entire groups over particular types of crimes,” it stated.

The forum demanded the arrest and prosecution of Fulani attackers.

The forum reiterated its earlier position that “the Fulani will not be ejected from any Nigerian community only on the basis of being Fulani or herding cattle within the limits of laws and regulations.”

The NEF acknowledged that states, which seek to limit criminal activities, are perfectly entitled to do so, but they must

follow due process and avoid exposing innocent citizens to danger.

“The forum demands that the Nigeria Police must live up to its constitutional responsibility to detect crimes and arrest and prosecute criminals, whoever they are. No politician has the right to outsource the work of the police to local thugs and gangs.

“If communities in parts of the country insist that the lawful Fulani is unwelcome and has no right to their security, then the forum will advise them to relocate to the North,” it said.

It urged Northern governors to prepare to receive Fulani communities being ejected and appealed to Nigerians to exercise restraint and not to play into the hands of people who desire to achieve dubious political goals by pitting citizens against each other.

“Persons who inflame passions by circulating videos and other materials should also desist.

“The forum hopes that Nigerians will see firm, fair and responsible leadership from all elected leaders without delay,”

it stated.

Tofa Warns against Reprisals The presidential candidate of the NRC in the 1993 presidential election, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, has said tension is brewing in the North over what he described as attacks on the Fulani communities in the South.

Tofa, in a statement, yesterday, condemned the alleged killings and maiming of Northerners, especially the Fulani, in some other parts of the country.

“There is clearly a nefarious plan by the enemies of this potentially great country to initiate a violent crisis that may lead to its destruction. Tension is beginning to brew, and if revenge attacks on Southerners begin here in the North, it will be difficult to control. Our enemies from within and outside, some well-known by our security agencies, are more determined than ever to set us against each other, so that we may get to a point of no return when the conflagration

begins. There is no part of this country that is at peace.

“I, therefore, call on the president to take this insecurity and the tribal lynching happening very seriously and put up urgent measures to deal with them without any more delays. I am sure, there is a concern at the presidency and discussions are being held.

“But, urgent and decisive action is now necessary. If any Nigerian will not be allowed to live freely and conduct their lives and businesses in any part of the country without being disturbed or molested or even killed, then no one should be allowed to settle and prosper anywhere else.

“If that were to be the case, then, we have no country. That is how serious it is. And that is what our enemies desire. We must not allow them by our inaction. Those foolish leaders and their stupid hirelings who encourage the expulsion of other Nigerians from their states should remember that their own indigenes also live in other parts. They must stop, or the law should stop them, by all means, necessary,” he said.

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NESG Pushes for Reforms, Tough Policies to Revamp Economy Dike Onwuamaeze The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has urged the federal government to muster the political will to initiate economic reforms that will launch the country on a path of sustainable development.

The group also warned that Nigeria is at a crossroads and cannot afford the businessas-usual approach, which will only lead to further job losses, pull millions of citizens into poverty and worsen an already fragile economy.

These were the messages members of the NESG and other economic experts that included Chairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Dr. Adedoyin Salami, delivered to participants during the virtual launch of the group’s Economic Outlook for 2021.

The report predicted that the economy would grow by 2.9 per cent in 2021 under the best scenario environment.

The group, however, stated that the economy would grow by 0.9 per cent if the government continued with business as usual approach to governance and could even record a negative growth of -2.5 per cent under a worstcase scenario.

The worst-case scenario, according to the NESG, mirrored the path of complete economic and policy recklessness and negligence while the business as usual assumed that Nigeria will continue with the current path.

But the best case scenario, it said, marked a complete departure from business as usual approach to the higher path of vision, commitment and tough policy choices on investment.

The NESG also emphasised macro-economic stability, policy and regulatory consistency, sector reforms and

human capital development as four priority areas essential in delivering high inclusive growth for Nigeria over the next few years.

"The Nigerian economy needs more than a simple rebound - the economy needs a high, robust and sustained growth that delivers a significant reduction in unemployment and poverty,” it said.

The Chairman of the NESG, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, who delivered the welcome address during the event, stated that the economic outlook in 2021 will be epileptic and marked by uncertainties, which will be fuelled primarily by the threat of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

Ighodalo, therefore, urged the government and the private sector to work together in order to meet the challenges that would militate against the economy He said: “Policies that will lift us up must be designed and effectively implemented.

We must create a level playing field and an environment that attracts patient capital. The ongoing consideration of the Petroleum Industry Bill, and hopefully, its enactment soon gives us an opportunity to say to the world that we have put our foot strongly on the growth ladder.”

Ighodalo noted that a lot more needed to be done to get Nigeria on the positive inclusive growth that could deliver on reduction in unemployment, poverty and builds up infrastructure.

“In crafting policies and charting our growth, perhaps the government needs to take a step back and revisit those policies that have not worked or that have not worked properly in the past few years,” he added.

According to him, the impacts of well-thought and clearly-implemented

policies will be obvious as employment starts rising and poverty is reducing and jobs are created as non-oil exports begin to increase while inflation drops, culminating in exchange rate stability and rebuilding of critical infrastructure.

He listed other pointers of sound economic policies to include more children being able to go to school and receiving qualitative education, functional hospitals and the repositioning of the country as attractive investments destination.

Speaking during the launch of the economic outlook as one of the discussants, Salami said Nigeria needed investments to attain sustainable economic growth.

He said if the economy

must outpace the country’s current population growth of 2.5 per cent, it must grow at six per cent annually for people to feel it, adding that attaining this level of growth will necessitate taking difficult decisions to implement urgent reforms.

Salami said: “The reforms that are necessary should not be predicated on reforms that are costless. Reforms by their very nature mean a departure from where you are currently.

This implies that some cost must have to be borne. If we do not reform and reform deeply and sustainably, then we will not get the kind of growth that we need.

“Let us be very clear, we must not be satisfied as a country merely to exit recession. We will exit it

because that is what all the forecasts said, but we have to look at the level at which we exit the recession. So, there is a need for reforms, deep and sustained and sustainable reforms. And it has to go to resource utilisation.

“We really need to look at the effectiveness of our public spending. That for me is a very major element. It is extremely important. Giving where we are and where we are going, we really must take a look at how effective is the current spending profile that we currently have,” Salami said.

He also advised the federal government to review obstacles hindering investment inflows to Nigeria and set annual targets for foreign direct investments inflows.

The Head of Research at the NESG, Dr. Olusegun Omisakin, in the presentation of the outlook noted that significant reforms are expected to drive Nigeria to the path where “growth is driven by investments and address some of the policy concerns that have weakened the economy over the years.

Omisakin said the NESG looked at global developments, domestic oil production, capital expenditure, policy efficiency and investments to arrive at its projected growth rate for 2021.

He said: “This is good news because growth in the GDP means that businesses will rebound and the magnitude of contraction for sections that did not grow will reduce significantly.”

MOBILISING THE SOUTH-EAST...

Former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani (left), and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, during a meeting of South-east All Progressives Congress leaders in Owerri…yesterday

Fayemi: Nigeria Expects 140m Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines in 2021, 2022 Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said about 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines will soon be available in the country to immunise 40 per cent of the population this year.

This, he said, was part of measures being put in place to combat the deadly virus this year, adding that another batch of 60 million doses will arrive in the country in 2022.

Fayemi gave the details yesterday while delivering a paper: ‘The role of Nigeria’s State Governments in Recovery: Responses to COVID-19 -linked Challenges” at the Chatham House Africa Programme in London.

The conference was moderated by Elizabeth Donnelly, Deputy Director and Research Fellow, Africa

Programme, Chatham House.

Fayemi, at the virtual conference, which held via Zoom, said the number of vaccines being expected was released by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), during a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) last week.

He, however, said that beyond the government’s procurement of vaccines, the NGF has remained a strong proponents of the utilisation of public-private partnership in vaccines procurement as a means of closing the gap between what is available and what is necessary to achieve herd immunity.

He explained that the country has conducted about 1.3 million tests of which 131,242 persons (10 per cent) tested positive for the virus with a case fatality rate of 1.2 per cent.

He said: “As at today, Nigeria has tested 1.3m

persons for COVID-19, with 10 per cent (131,242) of these confirmed positive.

Compared with the global and Africa’s Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 2.2 per cent and 2.5 per cent, respectively, Nigeria has fared better with a CFR of 1.2 per cent.

“Six states (Lagos, FCT, Plateau, Kaduna, Oyo and Rivers) have contributed 70 per cent of confirmed cases, with Lagos the commercial nerve of the country, contributing about 40 per cent of the total burden. Data indicates that men appear to be disproportionately affected accounting for 69 per cent of the confirmed cases. Most cases occur in people aged 31-40 years.”

Discussing efforts of the government at minimising the effect of the pandemic on public health and economic growth, Fayemi said the private sector through Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) collaborated

with the state and federal governments in raising more than $75 million to provide medical supplies, equipment, isolation and treatment centres and food for the vulnerable.

This, he said, was in addition to the expansion of laboratories services across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory and training of about 45,000 health workers across the country on infection, prevention and control measures.

“On prevention, we continue to communicate and inform the public on the need to adhere to safety protocols and provide the necessary information to improve awareness about the disease. Both at the federal and state levels, messages to increase awareness about the pandemic, safety protocols to be taken and how/where to get treated are constantly published on print and electronic media.

“We are also on the offensive with respect to ensuring people comply with the safety protocols in place. Only last week, Mr. President signed the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations, which provided guidance on gatherings, operations in public places, mandatory compliance with treatment protocols, penalties and enforcement.

“When Nigeria reported its first case in late February 2020, only four laboratories in the country could test for COVID-19. By October 2020, testing capacity had expanded to over 70 laboratories across the 36+1 states. The scale-up of laboratory services was important given the size of the country and the need to rapidly obtain results for suspected cases. As at December 2020, more than 45,000 health workers have been trained across the country on infection prevention and control

measures,” he said.

Fayemi also stressed the need to shift the approach from emergency response to strengthening the sustainability of the country health system and the need to utilise the potential to produce approved vaccines in Nigeria and gain a better level of independence in the area of vaccine research.

He called for increased investment in health security and public health emergencies by state governments with recommendation on the need for each state to establish its own Centre for Disease Control.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is perhaps our biggest lesson around this, as the pandemic has affected all spheres of the economy. Nigeria now has a National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) that includes a multi-sectorial approach to prepare for and respond to disease outbreaks,” he added.

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Women Get Senior Executive Appointments at Tony Elumelu Foundation Oluchi Chibuzor The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy empowering African entrepreneurs, yesterday made a statement about its gender sensitivity, announcing the appointment of three women to its senior executive positions.

“It is particularly encouraging to see women at the forefront, demonstrating expertise in their fields and highlighting impeccable drive to succeed not just for their benefit but for ours, collectively, as

Africans. With their proven track record and enormous passion, I have no doubt that they will greatly impact the work that we do towards the development of Africa,” the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, said in a statement.

“We are extremely pleased with these appointments,” he added, announcing: “Somachi Chris-Asoluka becomes Director, Partnerships and Communications, from her prior role as Head of Policy and Partnerships.

“Titilope Akinola, who is

now Director of Operations, served as head of our platform, TEFConnect, Africa’s leading digital hub for entrepreneurs; and Nkem Onwudiwe, who newly joins our Marketing and Corporate Communications team, brings formidable corporate experience, across digital marketing, content creation, PR and strategy.”

This, according to him, followed the launch of the 2021 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, on www.

TEFConnect.com, which this year prioritises the economic

recovery of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and young African entrepreneurs, following the disruptive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation, which marked 10 years of impact in 2020, has trained, mentored and funded over 9,000 young African entrepreneurs from 54 African countries, through the $100 million TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, and provides capacity-building support, advisory and market linkages to over one million Africans through its

digital networking platform, TEFConnect.

He added that since 2010, the TEF has addressed key challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Africa, including lack of access to funding, mentoring, training and creating valuable networking opportunities on a global scale.

“The foundation is increasingly sharing its unique ability to identify, train, mentor and fund young entrepreneurs across Africa, through partnerships with institutions such as the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme,

the International Committee of the Red Cross and other global development agencies.

“Beneficiaries receive $5,000 non-refundable seed capital and skilled support as they grow, expand their businesses, and contribute to the creation of more jobs in Africa.

“TEF’s work is inspired by our founder’s economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent," he said.

he will formally thank him for a job well done and inform him of the choice of his successor.

Another top presidency official had confided in THISDAY on Monday that Adamu would have to continue in office pending when a new appointment is made to fill the position.

Presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, had also said on Monday when he appeared on a national television programme, that the president would not make a decision on whether or not Adamu would get a tenure extension or his successor would be named until he returns from Daura.

He had also dismissed agitation for the appointment of an IG based on ethnic consideration.

According to him, the president will not allow ethnicity to inform his choice

of a successor for Adamu as he will rather focus on the competence of the would-be successor, who should be someone that guarantees the protection of lives and property.

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

THISDAY had earlier reported that amid the uncertainties over the leadership of the police, the process of picking the next IG had continued as Buhari had ordered the PSC to expand its list of candidates from which he would pick the successor.

A top government official had told THISDAY that the president made the demand at a recent meeting with PSC officials, led

by the Chairman, Mr. Musiliu Smith, a retired IG, where he was presented a shortlist.

However, as the race to succeed Adamu hots up, influential blocs have intensified lobbying to ensure the emergence of their preferred candidate.

A source said Northern leaders, including a powerful emir in one of the states in the North-west, were rooting for one of the newly-promoted Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIG), Dasuki Galadanci from Kano State, to take over from Adamu.

If the president bows to their pressure, it was learnt, a total of 23 Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and AIGs would be retired.

However, should Adamu's tenure extension be formally approved, the 23 DIGs and AIGs will be saved from premature retirements.

the expedient disposal of all FGN forfeited assets and generate revenue for the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Accordingly, I wish to solicit the cooperation of all members of the InterMinisterial Committee in that respect.”

Apata, however, assured the public that the disposal of the assets will be carried out in a very transparent manner.

He stated that the committee had already kick-started the process on February 1, 2021, with publications in the Federal Tenders Journal

and two national newspapers, including THISDAY. Among the assets listed for disposal are landed property, plants, machinery, motor vehicles, electronics, furniture and equipment.

Others are canoes, boats, barges, ships, jewellery, ornaments and clothing materials.

The forfeited assets, Apata added, are currently situated in 25 locations across the country.

To achieve transparency, Apata told journalists in Abuja that the committee "intends to engage valuers and auctioneers

as part of the disposal process."

According to him, members of the committee have completed the conflict of interest and non-disclosure forms, while the committee has also adopted a communication and media strategy to keep the public abreast of its activities.

Responding to THISDAY’s inquiry on how much the federal government is expecting from the sales, Apata said: "We have just put up advert for estate valuers, it's after the valuation exercise that we can know in specific terms the figures."

application and issuance of a passport, opening of personal bank accounts, purchase of insurance policies, voter registration, obtaining credit, among others.”

On the perceived slow rate of NIN registration and issuance, which is put at 56.18 million as at February 1, compared to the 208 million registered SIMs across networks, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, said each of the 56.18 million NIN holders, has between three and four SIM cards that were registered under a single name and identity, which brings the number of registered SIMs attached to the 56.18 million NIN holders, to about 168.54 million.

He added that out of the estimated 208 million SIM cards from the 56.18 million NIN holders, about 20 million of the SIMs are used for machine interface devices like Point of Sales (PoS) and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), which would further add to the estimated 168.54 million registered SIM cards to reach an estimated 188.54 million registered SIM cards, a figure he said was close to the 208 million registered SIM

cards across networks.

Adebayo added that NIN registration and submission have not been slow as perceived by some Nigerians.

He, however, said the little margin between the 47.8 million NINs that was recorded in January 18, 2021, and the 52.18 million that was recorded as at February 1, was negligible since telecoms operators have commenced registration and issuance of NINs. He called on telecoms subscribers yet to register and obtain their NINs to take advantage of the registration points from telecoms operators and branch offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to do so and submit their NINs for integration with their SIM cards.

Chairman, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, commended Pantami and the NCC for the extension of the deadline to April 6, which he said was close to the June 30, 2021 date that NATCOMS proposed to the minister.

“The further extension of the deadline for NIN-SIM linkage from February 9 to April 6 shows that the minister has listening ears,

and we commend him for that.

We were already working to challenge the minister in court before this new extension. So, we are likely going to drop the idea of instituting a court case against the minister,” Ogunbanjo said.

DESPITE POLICE ACT’S SINGLE TERM, IG MAY GET TENURE EXTENSION Act signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 15, 2020, states the length of service of a police officer thus; “Every police officer shall, on recruitment or appointment , serve in the police force for 35 years or until he attains the age of years, whichever is earlier.”

Reliable sources at the Police Service Commission (PSC), which is saddled with the responsibility of recruitment, discipline and promotion of officers of the force, told THISDAY yesterday that these provisions have been brought to the attention of the president and that he has been accordingly advised against extending Adamu’s tenure.

“The PSC feels an extension of the tenure of the current Inspector-General may dampen the morale of the rank and file like it did in the military when

the tenure of service chiefs was extended for years,” one of the sources said.

The pointers, however, are that the president might have extended the IG’s tenure by an initial period of six months as a day after his scheduled retirement, Adamu was yesterday still carrying out the functions of his office, including presiding over a meeting of the police management team.

He was also part of top government officials who received President Muhammadu Buhari at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on his arrival from Daura, Katsina State, where he had gone on a four-day official visit.

THISDAY gathered from some top government officials that the body language of the president showed his inclination to extending the tenure of Adamu despite advice to the

contrary by the PSC. Sources said the PSC was not favourably disposed to a tenure extension for Adamu on the grounds that it could dampen the morale of officers whose promotion might be stagnated due to lack of vacancies the domino effect of the retirement would have created.

Besides, it was argued that extending Adamu's tenure will violate the Police Act 2020, which prescribes a non-renewable single term of four years for the incumbent IG. A presidency source said Adamu would, however, have to remain in office until after a farewell meeting with the president, which is not likely to hold so soon.

He explained that it is not in the character of Buhari to let go such a senior appointee without inviting him to a farewell meeting during which

FG PUTS UP RECOVERED ASSETS FOR SALE, INVITES BIDS submissions in the required format and within the specified timelines."

He added that the disposal of the affected assets was in line with the mandate of a committee approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to oversee the sale and the inherent prosecutorial powers of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Apata, who doubles as chairman, Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Disposal of Assets Forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria

promised to be transparent and accountable in the disposal of assets recovered from looters.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), had inaugurated the inter-ministerial committee in November 2020 in compliance with the president's directive that the committee should dispose of the forfeited assets within six months.

Malami had said that the setting up of the committee was borne out of the president’s directive in October 2018 following

recommendations of the Presidential Audit Committee on Recovery and Management of Stolen Assets and a need for efficient management of the assets.

He had said: “It is aimed at ensuring proper coordination of the disposal of the federal government’s assets and for promoting a uniform, harmonised and transparent procedure to safeguard the assets recovered by the relevant agencies in line with the anti-corruption drive of this administration.

“Your mandate is to ensure

RELIEF AS FG EXTENDS SIM, NIN LINKAGE DEADLINE TO APRIL conveyed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, during a meeting of the Ministerial Taskforce on NIN-SIM registration, which held on Monday.

In a statement yesterday by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and signed by its Director for Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Pantami stated that "the extension is to give Nigerians and legal residents more time to integrate their NIN with their SIM." The meeting where the new deadline was announced, was chaired by the minister and attended by key stakeholders, including the EVC/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta; the DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Aliyu Aziz; the DG/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Abdullahi Kashifu and the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo.

Others include the MD/ CEOs of MTN, Airtel, 9Mobile, Ntel, Spectranet and SMILE, as well as the COO of Globacom.

According to the statement,

a total of 56.18 million NINs have been collected by the mobile network operators.

Each NIN is usually tied to an average of three to four SIMs and this infers that the current figure accounts for a significant portion of the existing SIMs. The number of NINs collected represents a significant increase when compared with the 47.8 million reported by the technical committee on January 18, 2021.

The statement said: “Over 1,060 registration centres for NIN have been activated and made operational by NIMC across the country, while Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have opened hundreds of centres and are rapidly deploying resources to open thousands of other NIN enrolment centres across states of the country. This is in line with the policy of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to enhance security and make the process of obtaining NINs easier for Nigerians."

Pantami reiterated the need for Nigerians and legal residents who are yet to register for the NIN to be diligent and take advantage of the extension to enroll for their NINs and link with their SIMs. He said: “The federal

government applauds all Nigerians and persons of other nationalities for their understanding, cooperation and for enthusiastically participating in the exercise.

"The honourable minister also commended the efforts of NIMC, NCC, MNOs and all other relevant government and private sector organisations for their unflinching support towards the success of the exercise.”

He said President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his satisfaction with the progress made on the linkage and commended him and all stakeholders for their roles.

Pantami implored applicants to follow the safety guidelines at all the NIN enrolment centres and ensure compliance with the booking system in place.

“This protocol is in line with the Executive Order on COVID-19 2020 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 27th of January 2021, in keeping with the provisions of the Quarantine Act 2004,” he said, adding: “It is noteworthy that Sections 27 and 29 of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007 provides for the mandatory use of National Identity Number for transactions, including

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WEDNESDAY, ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

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Again, Mohammed Berates CNN over Lekki Toll Gate Shootings Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has condemned the Cable News Network (CNN) over its coverage of the riot at Capitol Hill on the United States and the Lekki Toll Gate shooting in Lagos.

Mohammed told THISDAY in an interview that CNN created division and concocted lies against Nigeria when the federal government insisted on regulating social media.

He said when a scenario similar to the Lekki incident occurred in the US on January 6, CNN categorised the US Congress attackers as “insurrectionists” while describing the EndSARS crowd at Lekki on October 22, last year as “peaceful” and “harmless” protesters.

The minister said CNN’s objection to the federal government’s attempt to regulate the social media ran against logic given that Twitter and Instagram also suspended the account of former US President Donald Trump for allegedly using the platform to spread fake news and make inciting remarks.

He said: “But when we said we must regulate the social media, the world took up arms against us. How come that the same CNN that invented lies against us

is suddenly championing the crusade in America that social media must not be used for fake news and disinformation?”

He accused the EndSARS protesters of spreading fake news that incited anger which led to the killing of 37 policemen nationwide, adding it was fake news reported by the media, using social media, that led to the looting, killing and arson by hoodlums who hijacked the peaceful #EndSARS protest.

Mohammed said until

the night of October 22, the EndSARS protest was peaceful until it became violent when hoodlums hijacked it.

He also described Amnesty International as an irritant and a purveyor of disinformation and fake news for castigating the federal government on its handling of the EndSARS protest.

Mohammed challenged the human rights group that said 12 protesters were shot at Lekki to appear before a judicial panel of inquiry

with evidence.

“Give the names and addresses. Three months or 100 days after the Lekki shooting, if anybody has lost a relation, a son, a daughter or a ward, won't she or he have come forward? Amnesty International is not a respecter of our judicial system. What it ought to do, if there is any judicial evidence, is to go before the judicial panel of enquiry or at least wait for the outcome of the judicial enquiry.

“Amnesty International

is reproving the federal government, but as we speak, the American government is arresting and prosecuting every person that took part in the invasion of the Capitol Hill.

They are also investigating the source of funding of those people. When Nigeria started it they went to court, forgetting that it is because Nigeria exists as a country that we are here. When one policeman was killed at the Capitol, it was an insurrection. If not because we were proactive,

they were coming to the National Assembly and CNN did not see anything wrong in that. Amnesty is guilty of double standards.

When the US refused a visa to ICC investigators, Amnesty did not find its voice. It should respect us as a sovereign nation and should stop vending lies, disinformation. Their purpose we don’t know, but this is very clear when it is Nigeria they find their voices when it is America, they keep mute," the minister added.

TALKING ENERGY...

L-R: Chief Commercial Officer/Group Vice President, Africa, Elsewedy Electric, Mr. Mohammed Atef; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; and Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olalere Odusote during a courtesy visit to the deputy governor by officials of the company in Ikeja...yesterday

Osoba, Gbajabiamila, Fayemi, NGE, Others Pay Tribute to Momoh Olawale Ajimotokan, Udora Orizu in Abuja, Peter Uzoho in Lagos, Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Kogi State Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello; former Governor of Ogun State, Mr. Segun Osoba; Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, yesterday paid tributes to former Minister of Information and veteran journalist, Mr. Tony Momoh, who died on Monday.

Osoba, who is also chairman, Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), joined the Nigerian media and political class to mourn the passing of former minister.

In his condolence message, he said Nigeria has lost a consummate

journalist.

Osoba described Momoh as a strong and powerful member of the intellectuals in the media, adding: "Great Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe gave him the sobriquet 'LawyerJournalist' and he lived up to the nickname."

According to the former governor, the former minister was seriousminded, deep in his thoughts and writings, through which he left an indelible mark in the media world.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Lanre Lasisi, the speaker said Momoh would be remembered for his selfless service to his fatherland.

Gbajabiamila said the APC chieftain was one Nigerian who contributed immensely to the development of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the country.

The speaker sent his condolences to Momoh family and the people and Government of Edo State, praying that God would give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,

even as he prayed for eternal rest for his soul.

The speaker also commiserated with Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa over the demise of her mother, Alhaja Sadiat Erogbogbo.

Fayemi in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, described Momoh as a prince of many parts, who started his career as a journalist at the Daily Times, rose to the position of editor and later general manger of the newspaper, before serving as minister of Information.

He said the elder statesman excelled in all his professional endeavours and made remarkable impacts when he eventually embraced partisan politics, becoming the national chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the major political parties that metamorphosed into APC, and as a respected leader of the party and a major supporter of the government till he breathed his last.

In a condolence message released by his Chief Press

Secretary, Mr. Onogwu Muhammed, the governor of Kogi State described Momoh’s death as a great loss to the media industry in particular and the nation at large.

According to him, the death coming a few weeks after the sad incident of another media guru, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, is one death too many for the Nigerian media.

The governor said that the late journalist would be remembered for his forthrightness and bluntness in speaking truth to power especially as it concerns the overall good of the nation.

NGE in a statement issued yesterday by its National President, Mr. Mustapha Isah, and General Secretary, Ms. Mary Atolagbe, NGE said Momoh's death came less than one week after the guild lost one of its fellows, a former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mr. Ben Egbuna, to the cold hands of death.

The statement described Momoh as a fellow of the

guild, a lawyer, politician, author and a former minister of Information and Culture.

“Prince Momoh is a recipient of many honours, including fellowships of the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria,” it said, adding: “Undoubtedly, Prince Momoh was a distinguished elder statesman, a patriot and a nationalist of the first order. He will be greatly missed by the guild, the entire Nigerian media industry and the country at large.”

Ngige also paid a glowing tribute to Momoh, disclosing that he played a pivotal role in the choice of Buhari’s running in 2015.

According to him, “His death has brought to an end, a beautiful chapter in defining national ideals.”

A statement issued yesterday from Ngige’s Media Office expressed shock at the passing on of the elder statesman, describing it as a colossal loss to the nation.

“I spoke with Momoh nearly a week ago on his upcoming birthday, but incapable of seeing through the plans of the maker of mankind! His was a long trajectory of excellence in professional journalism and deft, patient and principled political undertakings,” he said.

Mohammed lamented the death of Momoh, who was one of his predecessors.

In a statement issued yesterday, he said Momoh’s demise has robbed Nigeria of a rare patriot and a respected elder statesman.

The information minister expressed his profound shock at the death, noting that Momoh, in his lifetime, worked tirelessly with many like him for the merger of parties that gave birth to the APC. ''To ensure the success of the new party, Prince Momoh and his colleagues from the other merging parties ensured that the parties were not just dissolved, but also that their registration certificates were returned to INEC, which then cancelled them,'' he said.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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JOHESU Threatens Nationwide Strike over MDCN Bill Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA), have threatened to commence a nationwide strike if the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Repeal and Re-Enactment Bill, 2020 was not stepped down.

The unions decried the unfair treatment, injustice, lack of fair hearing and bias meted at them by the sponsor of the Bill, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, at the public hearing of five health Bills at the National Assembly.

President of JOHESU, Mr. Biobelemoye Josiah, who addressed reporters on behalf of other unions, faulted the moral

grounds for Oloriegbe, who is a medical doctor to preside over a Bill he sponsored.

He said rather than the senator to follow the list of presenters, he (Oloriegbe) had handpicked those to present their papers and displayed a high level of bias against other health professionals.

While demanding an “unreserved apology” from the lawmaker, the unions maintained that all litigations on the existing Act must first be decided and resolved before its repeal and enactment.

He said: “JOHESU condemns in its entirety the harassment and intimidation of health workers and professionals during the above public hearing by Senator Ibrahim Y. Oloriegbe; the Chairman,

Senate Committee on Health.

The action is not only unfortunate but undemocratic, discriminatory, and unparliamentary.

“It is a violation of our members’ rights to freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. JOHESU demands an unreserved apology on this unfortunate incidence from Senator

Oloriegbe or faces the wrath of JOHESU members through all possible means of legitimate means.

“JOHESU’s position is premised on the following: That the purpose of the public hearing was defeated because other critical stakeholders who submitted memoranda ahead of time were not allowed to make presentations even though sufficient time was given to medical practitioners and

affiliated bodies. Furthermore, he totally disregarded the arranged list of presenters during the public hearing and hand-picked presenters instead, while barring his perceived antagonists.

“That Senator Oloriegbe as a sponsor of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCAN) bill displayed high level of bias against other health professionals during the public hearing.

“That Senator Oloriegbe

as a medical practitioner and interested party in the bill is not eligible to preside over a public hearing of that nature on moral ground.

“That Senator Oloriegbe has not provided level playing ground to other health professionals; he had always given undue advantage Medical Practitioners at any Senate Committee legislative forum that has to do with the health sector.

FG, Labour Adjourn Talks on Petrol Price, Electricity Tariffs to February 22 Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government and the organised labour will reconvene on February 22 for the consideration of the reports of their technical committees on fuel price and electricity tariff.

One of the major recommendations of the committee is that the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) should collect their port charges in naira to reduce pressure on forex demand and petrol price.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, disclosed this on Monday night while briefing journalists after a bipartite meeting between the federal government and the organised labour at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa Abuja.

Ngige said the meeting received and adopted the report of the Technical Committee on Petrol Pricing Framework, while that of the Electricity Tariffs Committee

was expected in a week’s time.

Speaking on the outcome of the discussion, Ngige said that the organised labour has requested for more time to enable them subject the report on petrol pricing to their organs for further investigation.

“It is a technical report; so, they needed further investigation of the report by their own technical research team. The Technical Committee on electricity tariff has not finished. We expect the report in a week’s time. So, cogently, we are reconvening on 22nd of this month to take both reports,” Ngige said.

The report of the Technical Committee on petrol Pricing was presented at the meeting by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Onochie Anyaoku, a former Executive Director in charge of Refineries at the NNPC. According to Anyaoku, the report is 100 per centowned by the membership of the technical committee, adding that they all endorsed it.

Bandits Kill 21 People, Abduct 40 Others in Niger Communities Dipo Laleye in Minna No fewer than 21 people have been killed and 40 others kidnapped as bandits attacked four communities in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The attack, which occurred on Monday night had many other villagers injured.

Over 100 gunmen were said to have stormed the four communities of Kurebe, Sabon Gida, Sararai and Rafin Kanya at different times on Monday night.

The gunmen came in their usual style of riding motorcycles and shooting sporadically into the air causing the people to scamper away to safety.

An eyewitness said that there was confusion, especially as the bandits went from one house to another shooting and abducting people.

Secretary to the Niger State Government, Mr. Ahmed

Ibrahim Matane has confirmed the incident.

He however, said that the number of people killed or abducted is currently unknown, adding that government is putting in mechanism to bring an end to the incessant bandit attacks.

The Co-Convener of Concerned Shiroro Youths, Mr. Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki also confirmed the attack, saying it was a day of total blackout in Shiroro LGA. He lamented that terrorists have continued to have a field day in the council, sacking the communities with impunity.

“Arising from the nefarious activities of these bandits, Internally Displaced Persons are conspicuously littered everywhere, helter-skelter and scampering for peace and safety. Unfortunately, nothing is being done by the authorities concerned to salvage the ugly situation,” he added.

REWARD FOR EXCELLENCE…

L-R: President, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Nigerian Ports Authority, Branch, Mr. Ifeanyi Mazeli; Managing Director, NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman; and President General, MWUN, Mr. Adewale Adeyanju, during a congratulatory visit to Bala Usman on her re-appointment , at NPA headquarters, Lagos…yesterday

Alleged N7.1bn Fraud: EFCC Seeks Re-trial of Orji Kalu in Lagos Alex Enumah in Abuja The re-arraignment of former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu was yesterday stalled at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

The court had last year scheduled Kalu’s re-arraignment on charges of corruption, misappropriation, fraud amongst others for February 2, 2021.

His re-arraignment was sequel to the order of the Supreme Court, which had nullified his conviction and subsequent sentencing on

corruption charges.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had first arraigned Kalu in 2007 before the Federal High Court in Abuja on alleged fraud to the tune of N7. 1billion.

The case was later transferred to the Lagos Division of the Court where Justice Mohammed Idris at the end of trial handed down a 12-year jail term for the Senator representing Abia North senatorial district at the National Assembly.

However, after spending

about six months in custody, the Supreme Court in a judgment set aside his imprisonment on the grounds that it was illegal because the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris was no longer a judge of the lower court when he passed judgment on Kalu.

The apex court consequently ordered a fresh trial of the case.

When the matter was called on yesterday, prosecution counsel, Mr. Chile Okoroma, informed the court of a letter to the Chief Judge seeking the transfer of the case to the Lagos Division of the Court.

He said that the request is predicated on previous decision of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which held that “no element of defence in the charge took place in Abuja”.

Okoroma, accordingly urged the court to adjourned the matter indefinitely pending the decision of the Chief Judge.

However, trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo declined adjourning indefinitely and fixed June 7 for report on the decision of the Chief Judge.

Lawan: Electoral Offences Commission Underway Deji Elumoye in Abuja The recurring incidents of electoral violence during general election will soon become history once the Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute electoral offenders is established in the country, the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has said.

Fielding questions yesterday after delivering a lecture at the National Defence College Course 29 Programme in Abuja, Lawan also gave an assurance that the

National Assembly under his leadership will pass the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill by June, this year.

According to him, the Electoral Act due for amendment by the Ninth National Assembly will provide for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission charged particularly with the responsibility of prosecuting electoral offenders.

He said: “Electoral violence is largely a product of either genuine or misinformation of iniquity or

some kind of conspiracy against certain persons during elections.

“But I also believe – and that is the position of the National Assembly generally – that we should have the Electoral Offences Commission, so that people who are involved in electoral violence will be prosecuted.

“I believe that it will go a long way in reducing and minimising of all these tendencies of people taking the laws into their hands” Lawan expressed optimism that the 2023 general election will see a

drastic reduction in electoral violence after the passage of the amended version of the Electoral Act by the National Assembly.

He added that the piece of legislation when passed and signed into law would among other things, empower the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct transparent elections in Nigeria.

The Senate President praised the National Assembly for continuously working on the Electoral Act to provide for a better Electoral environment in Nigeria.

Ikpeazu Asks Security Agencies to Fish out Killer Herdsmen in Abia Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has charged heads of various security agencies in the state to fish out killer herdsmen in the state.

The governor in a statement issued on his behalf by the Commissioner for Information,

Mr. John Okiyi-Kalu said that the state government condemned in its entirety the recent destruction of farmlands by cows grazing openly in violation of extant laws of the state and Nigeria.

It also condemns, without reservations, the activities of criminal herdsmen suspected to have masterminded recent brazen

kidnap of innocent citizens around Abia North senatorial zone of the state.

According to Okiyi-Kalu, Ikpeazu has directed security agents in the state to bring to justice all those involved in the criminal activities.

He said further that the government also frowned seriously at the wanton destruction of cows

by yet to be identified individuals whose aim the Abia State Governor in the statement said was to exacerbate already existing tensions.

“Government has fully activated all relevant components of the state security architecture to ensure the safety of lives and property of law abiding citizens, residents and visitors to the state.

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COMMENT

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

THE ENCHANTING STORY OF THE AUCHI PRINCE Idang Alibi pays tribute to Tony Momoh, journalist, lawyer and former Minister of Information and Culture

O

n January 3 and 9, I lost two of my mentors and senior friends who also happened to be very prominent politicians in my home state of Cross River namely, Chiefs Wilfred Oden Inah and Linus Emonshe Okom. My friend, Dr. Peter Akpa Oti, of the Department of Management of the University of Calabar, called to commiserate with me. He said: ‘’Sorry oh, you have lost two of your masters in quick succession’’. His words of consolation sounded to me very much like those of Prophet Elisha’s companions in the school of prophecy who had told him of the impending departure of his (Elisha’s) master, Prophet Elijah: ‘’Knoweth thou that the Lord will take thy master from thy head today?’’ The death of the two men made me a half orphan. With the death of Prince Tony Momoh on February 1, I have become a complete orphan.

My harvests of sorrow actually began in 2013 when I lost Chief Timothy Ogbang Omang, my original mentor. With the death of my own biological father on November 11, 1971 when I was in Primary 4, the quartet of Omang, Okom, Inah and Momoh became my fathers, teachers and guides.

And now with their departure, I no longer have the privilege of the company, counsel and communion of these wise men and earthly giants whom God had ordained as my covenant connectors to help me realize my destiny.

I first met with Prince Tony Mcnonooh Momoh on April 8, 1984, when he was the General Manager of the Publications Department of the old Daily Times in Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

Two of my influential Bekwarra brothers who were working in Lagos and who knew me and knew that I wanted to be a journalist, took it upon themselves to help me get a journalism job. They took me to the late Dagogo Jack who was then the MD of the Daily Times conglomerate. His office was on the famous Kakawa Street in Central Lagos without which the story of the Daily Times will not be complete. Jack asked them to take me to Tony Momoh.

They moved with me that same day to Agidingbi to see Momoh. When I beheld the man, the emotions that came over me were like those that were said to have come over the English man who is said to have ‘discovered’ the source of the ‘’majestic River Niger’’. I had been reading the man on the pages of the DT and even when I was in the university, I had read of the battle he had fought and won against the Senate of the Second Republican over a journalism canon that a journalist cannot disclose the source of his information. And like many young ‘revolutionaries’ of my time, Tony Momoh’s victory against the Senate made him my hero. Beholding this famous and massive man in flesh and blood was, therefore, something else to me. The prospect of coming to work with, or even near, him was something I kept fantasizing about. I was salivating.

The man did not waste our time. I realized that Mr. Jack must have spoken positively about me to him and the job was nearly in the kitty for me if I impressed him in ways that he demanded. He asked that I should give him my Long Essay which I had written as part of my course requirements for graduation. I told him I brought it with me from my village when I came for job hunting in Lagos but that unfortunately, I did not come along with it to see him. He now said I should go back and bring it to him on any day I could make it. ‘’On any day I could make it?’’ I asked myself silently. How can an anxious job seeker be given such a luxury of deciding when it will be convenient for him to bring anything that could open the door to his possible employment? If it were possible I would

AS THIS TRULY REMARKABLE NIGERIAN HAS DIED, WE ARE MOST CERTAIN TO HEAR THAT MUCH ABUSED WORD ‘ICON,’ USED VERY LIBERALLY IN NIGERIA, TO DESCRIBE HIM. FOR ME, ONE OF MOMOH’S FIERCEST LOYALISTS, HE WAS MUCH MORE THAN AN ‘ICON’. HE WAS SOMETHING MORE ICONIC THAN AN ICON

have gone to Victoria Island where I was living with an uncle to bring that document to Agidingbi in order to land myself a dream job with the famous DTN. The day was a Wednesday.

The following day I brought it to him. He said I should come back on Friday the following day for his reply. Of course, by 10 am on that Friday, I returned to hear his verdict on my ‘’unusual interview’’ of the content and style of a thesis written two years earlier to enable me to graduate in June, 1982.

The moment I was ushered into his office, he told me, “Congratulations. You write very well as I could see in your Thesis’’. He then handed over to me an appointment letter and my Long Essay and asked me to resume on the following Monday. And on Monday, the 11th day of April, 1984, I started work with the great Daily Times.

I was posted to the book publishing unit of the flourishing newspaper empire headed at that time by the late Eddy Irohah, a thoroughly well-bred man who immediately took me into his wings and mentored me to master the craft of writing and book publishing techniques. From time to time Momoh will give me books to review for publications in many titles in the stable of the DT. Less than a year in the book publishing unit, Momoh promoted me to membership of the Editorial Board based on the quality of the writing he said he had seen in my book reviews and other pieces which I was contributing to the various publications of the Times.

If a man likes you, you will know and this does not hold true of man-woman relationship alone. Momoh liked me and I knew it and many of my colleagues and seniors knew this and some will use me to penetrate him and get favours for them and us as a collective that they could not have gotten directly if they had gone to him by themselves.

While in the Times, Momoh used to practice a management style I never knew at the time but which I learnt of much later in my life. It is called Management by Walking Around. A first rate manager of men and materials, Momoh was not a desk bound manager. At some time of each working day of his choosing, he will leave his managerial desk and take a walk to the various offices and workshops to see things for himself.

When he was on such rounds, you will hear a cry from voluntary and watchful spies who do not want their colleagues to be caught napping alerting them that ‘’GM is coming!’’ GM is coming!’’ and they should behave themselves. Some errant staff upon hearing such warnings, will dash back to their office and give exaggerate pretense of being serious with their work.

Of course, Momoh was never fooled by such pretenses because he knew the character and work rate of nearly each worker of the DTN under his direct supervision.

In 1986, Momoh was appointed Minister of Information and Culture by President Ibrahim Babangida. He wanted to appoint me his Personal Assistant to help him with his work but tremendous pressure was piled on him by some prominent Auchi persons who pleaded with him to give the job to an Auchi son who had just returned from the USA and was jobless. A completely detribalized Nigerian that I know of, Momoh succumbed to the powerful Auchi lobby not on the basis of tribe but because of the sheer power of the lobbyists.

But this did not stop his love for me neither was I annoyed at the development. From time to time, he will invite me over to his ministerial quarters then in Glover Street, Ikoyi, where I will be certain to eat ‘’ministerial diet’’ with him. On such days I will tell my madam not to bother reserving a portion of our ‘local dish’ for me as I was sure of a‘diet with a minister’.

JOE BIDEN’S FAULTY START (1) The US President’s stance on abortion is not right, argues

N

ewly-inaugurated U.S President Joe Biden has started badly.

Within his first three days in office, Mr. Biden wasted no time in lifting the ban on the use of American tax payers’ money in funding abortion in African countries including Nigeria. I don’t know why Mr. Biden is obsessed with abortion.

Ex-President Donald Trump stopped the abortion funding but President Joe Biden has reinstated it. This is evidence of the shape of Biden’s foreign policy in Africa. Why is Mr. Biden doing this to us? Why is he paying us back with abortion? One good turn, they say, deserves another. African-Americans including Nigerian-Americans voted massively for Biden in the last U.S Presidential election. Out of gratitude, Mr. Biden has appointed some Nigerian-Americans in his government. Now, the same Biden is turning round to sponsor an instrument of mass destruction; a horrendous white supremacist holocaust targeted at exterminating the so-called ”socially undesirable people” in Nigeria and other African countries.

Terrible. I will never forget what Dr. Alveda King, niece of former civil rights movement leader, Martin Luther King Jr, told me at a New York City Restaurant a few years ago. On learning I was a Nigerian, she turned, looked at me sternly in the face and said, “Don’t let what happened to us happen to you”. Obviously by “us” she meant black Americans, and by “you”, she meant Nigerians. In case you have forgotten your history, please permit me to refresh your memory once more. Ms. Margaret Louise Sanger (1879-1966), founder of Planned Parenthood of America, endorsed

the murder of Negros whom she branded as “socially undesirable people” who were unfit to live. She was out to exterminate the blacks.

Recall her famous statement to conceal her intention of exterminating the blacks: “we should hire three or four coloured ministers, preferably with social-service backgrounds and with engaging personalities. The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through religious appeal. We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population. The minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their moral rebellious members”.

Although Sanger is dead, her eugenic philosophy has outlived her. About 78% of the abortion clinics of the Planned Parenthood of America are located within the black population with blacks as targets. For instance, 45% of abortions carried out in America are among blacks. In fact demographic experts predict that if this trend remains unchecked black votes may be insignificant in the US by the year 2038. In New York City for instance, which is regarded as the abortion capital of the world, uncountable number of AfricanAmerican girls and single mothers besiege the abortion clinics every day to surrender their babies to be killed. This killing of AfricanAmerican babies in New York City and other American cities has been interpreted as the new genocide against black world.

Go back to your history books. Or, visit the website, if you like. Read G.K Chesterton on Margaret Sanger. Read the history of Planned Parenthood Federation of America founded by Sanger. Learn to ask questions. Don’t swallow hook, line and sinker the lies they have

been telling you. Think for yourself. Reflect.

An unexamined life, said Socrates, is not worth living. Read your books again. Don’t depend on the CNN, BBC, New York Times, social media as the only sources of acquiring knowledge. Permit me to recommend one good book for your reading pleasure.

Title: The Abortion Holocaust: Today’s Final Solution. Author: William Brennan. In the said book, Brennan persuasively argues that the propaganda for permissive abortion under the guise of protecting the health of women was formulated by Berlin Chamber of Physicians in 1933. It was the same Berlin Chamber of Physicians that was responsible for including the “health of the mother” as a camouflage for legalized abortion during the Third Reich.

Like the Berlin Chamber of Physicians the US Supreme Court in ROE V WADE interpreted the phrase: “health of the mother” or “maternal health” very loosely to encompass broad spectrum of abortion rationalizations. Later the World Health Organization’s (By the way, the WHO, funded by Bill Gates, has steadily been promoting abortion, teen safe-sex and prostitution among girls across the world since its foundation on April 7 1948) definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing” would be used as healthrelated reasons for sponsoring abortion. Today, “high maternal mortality”, is a subterfuge or a wedge used by the West to promote abortion under any possible justification in Africa.

Mr. Biden claims that he reinstated the funding of abortion (halted by Trump) in African countries because denying African women abortion amounts to an “attack on women’s health access”. I have never heard a more illogical and warped reasoning.

President Biden, tell that to the horse marines.

Is abortion food that African women must eat in order to stay alive? How can Mr. Biden claim that infanticide, that is, the killing of babies enhances women’s health? Abortion is the greatest violence to women. What is abortion, anyway? A doctor inserts some sharp instruments into a pregnant woman’s womb through her vagina, seeks out the baby, clutches the head of the baby, rips apart the baby’s body, draws out everything through the vagina with a large quantity of blood and empties all the dead baby’s broken parts into a container.

This is the gruesome murder which President Biden dubs “women’s health access”.

Tufiakwa! What is “healthy” in murdering an innocent baby in the womb? Why the international conspiracy to kill defenseless babies reminiscent of the slaughtering of innocent babies by Herod and the massacre of the Jews during the Nazi era? Life is live and let live.

The danger for Biden is that by sponsorship the killing of innocent babies in America and overseas, he is courting unnecessary hatred for himself. If my last check is anything to rely on, Biden’s approval rating had dropped to 29%.

African women are angry. Recently they sent him a video telling him that African women deserve the good things of life not abortion.

In case you have forgotten, 77% of Americans including 64% pro-choicers are opposed to using federal funds to support abortion both in America and overseas including African countries. As we speak, Catholic nuns called Little Sisters of the Poor are weeping. Why? Because Mr. Biden is forcing them to pay for abortion irrespective of their conscientious objection to the contrary.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͱ˜ 2021

EDITORIAL

N729BN FOR ‘SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME’?

It is another exercise in waste

A

t the inauguration of the emergency intervention database for the urban poor last week, the federal government hinted that about 24.3 million poor Nigerians would get N5,000 each for a period of six months through the National Cash Transfer Programme. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mrs Sadiya Farouq, said the new intervention would serve as cushion for those further impoverished by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given what has transpired in the past one year, THAT MONEY WILL MAKE not many Nigerians MORE IMPACT ON THE POOR would want to buy into the scheme.

WHEN APPROPRIATELY To be sure, the USED IN SECURING Cash Transfer ProTHE COUNTRY AND IN gramme, one of the major components REVAMPING SOME OF THE COUNTRY’S DECAYED of the social investment programme of INFRASTRUCTURE this administration, is full of good intentions. It was introduced by the federal government in 2016 in partnership with the World Bank to reduce extreme poverty among the populace. By the arrangement, a monthly stipend of N5,000 is paid to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerian households, mostly in rural communities. The objectives include improving the economy of communities, improved school enrolment and increased utilisation of health and nutrition services. Ultimately, the programme would help lift some 20 million out of poverty in the next two years and 100 million out of poverty in the next 10 years. As of December 2020, the programme reportedly was being operated in 33 states and the FCT with about 1.5 million beneficiaries covering 37,628 communities in 487 local government areas. All the states are expected to be covered by March 2021.

However, like the Buhari administration’s war on corruption, the programme has been poorly managed and half-heartedly executed. For one, the amount is too small to make any positive impact on the individual beneficiaries. Many have brushed it off

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as another futile exercise, used to siphon the people’s wealth to enrich some private pockets. Indeed, with inaccurate database, the programme has become another means by corrupt government officials to defraud the state. Even the National Assembly had cause to openly complain about the transparency of the programme during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic when millions were confined to their homes last year. In addition, many of the officials extort money from some of the beneficiaries lucky enough to get the cash. Last year, the Zamfara unit of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme threatened to dismiss 10 facilitators in Kaura-Namoda and Tsafe local councils for obtaining money from beneficiaries. The officials were found extorting between N1000 and N2000 from beneficiaries in areas assigned to them.

To worsen matters, there are accusations of nepotism, with majority of the ‘beneficiaries’ domiciled in the north. But the greater challenge is that of accountability which explains why billions of Naira were reportedly spent on ‘school feeding’ at a period pupils were home. Last week, the minister in charge was typically dismissive of the criticisms without explaining how such humongous amount of money would be transparently disbursed beyond a nebulous “Electronic disbursement is done to the extent of infrastructural capacity of any location.”

There is also the critical issue of money with which to drive the programme in a cash-starved economy, a reference aptly made by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo last week while virtually flagging-off the cash transfer scheme called the Rapid Response Register (RRR). “The only constraint,” said Osinbajo “of course, is the funding which we must look for.”

Where will the government seek N729 billion that is not budgeted for to run a programme harbouring plenty of qualms? Will it again head for the international market to borrow and distribute to the ‘poor’ aside the N3.5 trillion so far spent on managing Covid-19? This project requires special regime of scrutiny. It is a waste, pure and simple, and the timing is odd. That money will make more impact on the poor when appropriately used in securing the country and in revamping some of the country’s decayed infrastructure.

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.

NIGERIA’S SERVICE CHIEFS AND CHALLENGE OF SECURITY ON THE APC MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION

O

n the 26th January, 2021, Nigerians woke up with the surprising news of the resignation of the country’s service chiefs and the subsequent appointment of new ones by President Muhammadu

Buhari.

They were appointed on July 13th, 2015 after President Buhari assumed office amidst growing security challenges facing Nigeria, a development many attributed to the defeat of the then PDP-led administration under President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Olonisakin-led service chiefs spent between 36 to 40 years in office, far above their retirement age. The former Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, a general; Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff, Abubakar Sadique, former Chief of Air Staff and Ibok Ibas, former Chief of Naval Staff - their stay is said to be the longest in the history of the Nigerian armed forces. Their stewardship was of course in the period of one of the country’s enormous security challenges as over a decade, Nigeria has been battling insurgency in the North east and other parts of the country.

Nigeria’s security challenges however escalated to include kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling, among others, which further infuriated most Nigerians to call for the sacking of the service chiefs to allow for fresh blood and techniques so as to combat crimes and

criminality.

After about 40 years in service, the former service chiefs officially resigned from service.

The president has appointed new ones into the exalted but tasking positions particularly now that all eyes are on them to make the needed changes by degrading and ending the Boko Haram insurgency, and to enable Nigerians sleep with their two eyes closed.

The enormous security challenges facing Nigeria has no doubt crippled the critical sectors of the economy as huge funds are being spent on security alone by governments at all levels, instead of channelling such funds to infrastructural development in the education, health and agricultural sectors as well as job creation for the teeming unemployed youths.

President Buhari in his maiden meeting with the new service chiefs acknowledged the insecurity wracking the nation, as he urged them to “concentrate their efforts on helping his administration to deliver on its electoral pledge to make Nigeria a safer place for citizens to live”.

The task and challenges before the new service chiefs therefore is to strive hard and effect the needed changes by halting the activities of Boko Haram, kidnapping, banditry, among others, to be able to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the country’s security apparatus.

John Murai, Bauchi

T

he ruling APC has started fresh membership registration and revalidation exercise with the President, Muhammadu Buhari, travelling to his home town Daura in accompany with 10 governors and top party men including the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan to revalidate his registration. The ruling APC like any other political parties is allowed based on its constitution to register new members and revalidate the existing ones. However, the exercise has received knocks from Nigerians and other political parties who viewed and described it as waste of resources. The exercise has come at a wrong time when Nigerians are grappling with worsening insecurity and economic hardship.

Besides, President Buhari has recently signed a law against the violators of Covid-19 protocols which attracts six months in prison. While the president signed the law that would punish the violators of Covid-19 protocols, it seems the new APC members and existing ones who will go for the exercise are exempted from the law. You can imagine how the registration centres will become a beehive of activities and possibly spike the new cases of Covid-19 in the country.

The APC should have used this period for introspection and self-appraisal to find out the areas it performed below expectations. The discordant voices emanating from Nigerians craving for social, economic and political reforms are becoming louder by the day. Despite the changed of service chiefs by Mr President which was long overdue, the country is still experiencing Boko Haram and bandits’ attacks. Is the ruling party more concerned about boosting membership and how to win the next general election than protecting the lives of Nigerians? With the advent of technology, many Nigerians thought the APC will harp on new devices for its membership registration. Sadly, it has never. Let truth be told, the timing of the exercise is not convenient. The registration comes at a time when the failures of the ruling party are emerging every passing day. Instead of the wasteful and frivolous spending in the name of party registration, the APC should fullfil its campaign promises to Nigerians.

The party promised security, fighting corruption and fixing the economy. Are these promises fulfilled? I think not.

Lawal Adamu Usman, Kaduna State

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WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

An Undying Legacy of Service Worthy of Emulation Moses Frank Ekpo, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom pays tribute to the memory of Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd.), the first indigene to serve as Military Administrator of the state, while highlighting his different game-changing intervention in service of the state, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria

Nkanga

“The long night is past/The morning breaks at last/And hushed the dreadful wails/And fury of the blast/As o’er the golden hills/The day advances fast!”

W

hy did Air Commodore Otuekong Idongesit Okon Nkanga deploy all of the opportunity of his first and only political appointment as Military Administrator of AkwaI bom State in securing a head-start for the people of the state?

In a country where the chance to control the treasury of a state is akin to a green-light for a looting spree, how come the man went into the gamble of starting and completing a Secretariat Complex within a tenure which was hardly more than a “whistle stop”?

The answers to these questions reside in the above verse, the lyrics for the song “The Comforter Has Come” by Francis Bottome, the 19th Century British poet and hymn writer.

“Idongesit” is “Comforter” and “Okon” means “night” in our language. According to Bottome, “the long night is past”, because “the comforter has come”.

More than one century separates Bottome and Nkanga. Yet, there can be no better prophetic anticipation of the essence and life mission of the departed former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, whose deployment to the state in 1990 clearly sealed the fate ofAkwa Ibomites, indeed, a land of promise whose “long night had past” because “the comforter had come”.

Like all genuine prophecies, Bottome’s prophecy had an encore in contemporary time.

Before Nkanga’s regime, I had the unique privilege of serving in the first State Executive Council of our state as Commissioner for Information and Social Welfare. The first Military Administrator had timely located a site for a State Government Secretariat but unfortunately, accommodation arrangements for government offices during his successor’s tenure were built around the then prevalent rentier economy which was without any concern for enduring state structures and legacies.

I raised the issue during one of the Executive Council meetings but I was overruled. I had to stand down – but not without putting it on record that a “Daniel may come to judgment one day,”, and that I was no longer interested in continuing as a member of a government which obviously did not have the interest of Akwa Ibom at heart. Shortly after, that Executive Council was reconstituted and I was dropped.

Happily, my prophecy did not take long to come true. In September, 1990 the administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida appointed

Ekpo and posted Idongesit Nkanga to Akwa Ibom as Military Administrator in a move that was to become a game-changer for the destiny of Akwa Ibom State.

Conscious of the Military assignment nature of his posting, and activated by the sense-of-personal-stake of a son-of-the-soil, Nkanga immediately set about the job of giving the state a footing in the form of a Secretariat Complex.

To clearly see the genius and patriotism in Nkanga’s action, let us consider the relief we get as individuals, the moment we are able to acquire our own private building. Besides the positive social and emotional implications of being a house-owner, a personal building is the trigger for genuine liberation. And firing from all cylinders for the attainment of this goal, Nkanga was able to move the administration of the new state from rented apartments into its own permanent housing in a record time of just nine months which was later appropriately named Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat Complex.

In this, he stinted himself of the lucre built into the accommodation arrangements which existed before him. At the ground-breaking for the Secretariat, I had the unique privilege of being invited by Nkanga and I flew in from Japan where I was on an official assignment on behalf of the Federal Government, to be part of the fulfillment of our dream for the State. Apart from the rhapsody which greeted the state-creation itself, and the approval of the Ibom Deep Seaport Project by the Federal Government and the launching of Ibom Air,

I can say that I am yet to witness another occasion which generated the kind of jubilation that I saw at the Secretariat Complex ground-breaking event.

After his epochal outing as Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, Nkanga had been severally involved in other strategic assignments and engagements for the nation, where – true to the soldier in him – he was always at the head of the fray.

Within the year 1992 alone, he was Director of Inspection at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force; and Director, Research and Development, before his nomination for the National War College in 1993.

From the War College, he returned to the Executive Airlift Group as Commander in 1994. He was appointed the Commander, Presidential Air Fleet and Principal Staff Officer (Aviation Matters) to the Head of State.

When he retired in 1999, he joined Jet Support Services Incorporated of America, and was appointed its Regional Director for Africa. He was Chairman, Commodore Aviation Services, a Nigeria-Irish Joint Aviation Concern; and Chairman, Aero Link Limited, a Worldwide Aviation Consultancy outfit.

When Nkanga decided to join politics, he proved to be an invaluable war-horse in every respect. His first port of call was the National Democratic Party (NDP) under which he contested for the governorship of the state, with me as his preferred Senatorial candidate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

In the politics of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he was not only a caucus member,

To clearly see the genius and patriotism in Nkanga’s action, let us consider the relief we get as individuals, the moment we are able to acquire our own private building. Besides the positive social and emotional implications of being a houseowner, a personal building is the trigger for genuine liberation. And firing from all cylinders for the attainment of this goal, Nkanga was able to move the administration of the new state from rented apartments into its own permanent housing in a record time of just nine months which was later appropriately named Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat Complex. In this, he stinted himself of the lucre built into the accommodation arrangements which existed before him

but served consecutively as Director General, Godswill 2011 Campaign Organization; Udom/Moses 2015 Campaign Organization; and the Divine Mandate Campaign Organization in 2019, during which outings he proved his pedigree as a seasoned political strategist and prized combatant.

As the Chairman of the Board of Ibom Air Ltd, Nkanga brought his full pedigree as a pilot and a global aviation expert to bear in managing the first state government owned airline in Nigeria.

Within a period of two years of its inauguration in 2019 with just two aircrafts, Nkanga built Ibom Air into the preferred choice of air travellers on the domestic routes due to the several innovations he had brought to bear, while increasing the fleet to five aircrafts with plans to venture into international operations.

He was also the Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) a platform from where he waged an unrelenting battle for an equitable deal from the Federal Government for the short changed and traumatized people of the Niger Delta region. On the very day of his passage, the 24th of December, 2020, Nkanga was still vociferating from a broadsheet interview in THISDAY Newspaper: “The people preventing the relocation of the IOCs to the Niger Delta Region are in Lagos,” he said - in furtherance of the agitation, as if pointing a successor to where the fight should be taken next in the eventuality of his departure.

Call it a case of dying in active service; of posthumous durability; of a legacy of service which is undying and worthy of emulation - and you will not be wrong!

When our people balk at the prospect of dying, the plea is often that they are yet to move their “belongings” into a safe and permanent accommodation. The meaning is that accommodating one’s own is the ultimate mark of accomplishment. In the State Secretariat Complex, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga provided accommodation for Akwa Ibom when it mattered most, and though we would have loved to have him remain with us always, we can be consoled that he successfully joined the circuit of his service to his Creator and humanity. And as that THISDAY Interview rightly indicated, Nkanga was a true soldier – he died at his post!

As we commit his remains to Mother Earth this weekend, I urge his family, the people of Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, the PDP family and the entire state to equally draw consolation from the fact that Nkanga gave his utmost in his life time.

I pray that the soul of this great trail-blazer, liberation fighter, patriot, gentleman soldier and statesman, find rest in the bosom of the Almighty.

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T H I S D AY ˾WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021

POLITICS

As Sanwo-Olu Lifts the Profile of Badagry

GOVERNANCE IN PHOTOS

Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has fulfilled one of his election promises with the recent commissioning of three major people-centred projects and flag-off a road construction that’s meant to consolidate his administration’s efforts in putting smiles on the faces of the citizens in Badagry region of the state they came out in large numbers to ensure a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the commissioning of the various projects.

As early as 9am, residents had converged at the General Hospital and other places in Badagry, waiting for the governor. The arrival of Governor Sanwo-Olu was announced by loud ovation. Dressed in blue suit, white coloured T-shirt and a white branded Lagos face cap to match, Governor Sanwo-Olu, was accompanied by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde and other members of the State Executive Council.

Sanwo-Olu

T

housands of residents came out in their numbers to experience another history in Badagry, a city that many have tagged historic.

It is arguably one of the few cities in the West coast of Africa that boast of rich historical connection between the black race and the western world. It is therefore a city that has built resilience for more than three centuries. Badagry can boast of many firsts in different spheres of life. Little wonder why the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration chose it as the first port of call in its projects’ commissioning in year 2021.

Badagry, one of the five traditional divisions of Lagos State, recently reaped bountiful harvest of the development programmes of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration in the State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who has demonstrated leadership and commitment to good governance and lifting up the down trodden and less privileged on many occasions, brought smiles on the faces of the people of Badagry with the commissioning of three major projects and flagging-off a road construction in the historic town.

The projects are 110-bed Maternal and Childcare Centre (MCC) and School of Anaesthesiology in Badagry General Hospital and 252 units of two-bedroom housing project in Idale, as well as a 5.5 kilometrelong Hospital Road being rehabilitated to create easy access to the Badagry General Hospital and the new housing estate in the town.

All the life-impacting projects were meant to bring succor, relief and joy to the people of the historic town and its environs, who were direct and indirect beneficiaries of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government initiative.

The residents welcomed the Governor with excitement and fanfare. It was a heroic moment as traditional rulers led by the Akran of Badagry, Oba De Aholu Menu-Toyi 1, public office holders, chieftains and members of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as residents of Badagry, came out in thousands to welcome and familiarise with the governor as he commissioned different projects.

The governor and his team got more than what they expected as Badagry people came out in large numbers to express support and solidarity for the governor and his administration. The elderly, the youths and children in their hundreds lined up in different parts of the town waiving hands and shouting ‘Sanwo-Olu’ as the governor moved from one place to another. Different groups also entertained the Governor with traditional songs, drums and cultural dance.

Security agencies were also not left out as

Commissioning 252 units of twobedroom flats in Idale The first project commissioned by Governor Sanwo-Olu in Badagry was the Lagos State Eco-Friendly Affordable Public Housing Scheme, which has 252 units of two-bedroom bungalows in Idale, Badagry Local Government Area.

The housing project is a Joint Venture Agreement with Echostone Development on a 12.7 hectares of land in Idale. It was constructed under the supervision of the Lagos Ministry of Housing. The housing project was designed with eco-technology and EDGE Advanced protocol, which is a green building certification that makes buildings to be more resource-efficient.

Each home has two trees and a garden. It also has a water treatment plant, central sewage plant, and power generating plant, good drainages and very good interlocking road network.

Speaking during the commissioning of the housing scheme, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State Government acknowledged the effect of affordable housing on the socioeconomic wellbeing of the residents, which was why his administration went into a joint partnership with a private investor, Echostone Development Nigeria Ltd, to deliver the 252-unit two-bedroom terrace bungalows for low and middle-income families.

Sanwo-Olu said same technology would be employed to build the proposed Workers’ Village in Ipaja later in the year. This scheme, he said, will provide 600 affordable housing units to workers and their families.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, said the housing project was uniquely designed and came with the convenience of low cost maintenance in terms of water usage and energy efficiency.

He added that the project had security and comfort features, such as streetlights, water treatment plant, central sewage treatment plant, strong perimeter fence and good road network. “No doubt, the housing scheme has added great environmental and economic value to Badagry community,” he said.

L-R: Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State with Govenor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State when the Abia Governor paid a condolence visit to the Govenor a.d people of Akwa Ibom on the death of four of their very prominent sons, former Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (Rtd), who also served as the Director General of the Campaign Organization of Governor Udom Emmanuel in the 2015 and 2019 elections, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Nsikak Eduok (Rtd), the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party , Obong Udo Ekpeyong and the State Commissioner for Lands, Arc. Ime Ekpo, who all died within the month of January 2021

L-R: Coordinator, School of Anaesthesia, Badagry, Dr. Olaniyi Oladapo, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi during the commissioning of 110-Bed Maternal and Child Centre and School of Anaesthesia at Badagry General Hospital

L - R Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, Gov. Udom Emmanuel, Chief of Staff, Ephraim Inyang-Eyen, Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, MD, Hensek Integrated Services, Engr. Uwem Okoko during the inspection of the on-going construction of Ring Road 3 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

Governor flagged-off 5.5km Road Project Traffic Management and Transportation is the first pillar in the six-pillars THEMES Agenda of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration. And in line with his administration’s commitment to make life comfortable for the people of Badagry in term of traffic management and transportation, Governor Sanwo-Olu on Saturday flagged-off 5.5-kilometre Hospital Road. The Hospital Road is being rehabilitated to create easy access to the Badagry General Hospital and the new housing estate in the town.

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

L-R: Secretary to the State Government of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; Ekiti State Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Solomon Iyamu; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; and NSCDC Assistant Commandant General, in charge of (Zone J), Fasiu Adeyinka; during Adeyinka’s courtesy visit to the Governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

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FEATURES

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

Tackling Threats Posed by Porous Borders In a recent workshop on ‘Entrenching Peace; Assessing Community Resilience and Peace Initiative in North-east Nigeria’, organised by Nextier Security, Peace and Development in conjunction with Managing Conflict in Northeast Nigeria, porous borders were highlighted as a major threat to security efforts against Boko Haram and insecurity in general, Chiamaka Ozulumba reports

The participants and facilitators at the workshop

T

he incessant insecurity situations has been attributed to the porous borders of the country which have made it easy for the inflow of small arms infiltration and continue to be an issue and threat to the efforts of tackling insecurity, especially against Boko Haram insurgency in North East Nigeria. The above assertion was made by Professor Patricia Donli of the University of Maiduguri.

According to her, this has been the major cause of the unending security issues in Borno State, stressing that this is a state that share borders with Cameroun, Niger Republic and Chad with hundreds of unchecked entry route which has led to the movement of so many contraband.

Donli posited this at a project dissemination workshop in Abuja organised by Nextier Security, Peace and Development (Nextier SPD) with the theme: 'Entrenching Peace; Assessing Community Resilience and Peace Initiative in North East Nigeria’, in Conjunction with Managing Conflict in Northeast Nigeria

(MCN)and Funded by European Union (EU).

Donli stated that violence escalates as a result of long term neglect as the individual, due to the need to fend for themselves, make choices that may endanger the community.

According to her, “violence extremism thrive in society where there is neglect as it is a known fact that the north east has been neglected for a long period of time on issues of education, governing environment and more.

She said: "This violence has degenerated to issues of displacement, striping the people of the affected community of all valuables. They most times flee their Communities with nothing, with most women and vulnerable teenagers becoming bread winners. Also the stigmatising of abducted women in their Communities which is becoming a real issue.”

The Professor further disclosed that though presently Boko Haram no longer has control of communities in Borno state, these communities are still vulnerable to attack anytime.

Also speaking, Professor Haruna Dlakwa,

also of University of Maiduguri, stated the resilient nature of the women in these conflict stricken communities as they continue to strive even in difficult situation.

According to him " in this conflict situation, women who were not used to venturing into business has to do so to be able to fend for their family by venturing into petty business. As well, the Boko Haram spies use this medium also to wage intimidation and spy on the community, as sometimes the nuzzle of their guns are visible, so that the people will have that fear that they are not far away, this is to done to silence them.”

Speaking further, Dlakwa revealed that the military personnel who are manned to stop the flow of banned product end up engaging in the trade of these products and are cashing out at high prices.

The Partner/Chief Executive of Nextier SPD Dr. Ndu Nwokolo, stressed the need for continuous engagement with the people to understand how they are able to carry on.

Nwokolo noted that for a government to

work to sustain peace in these communities, they also have to understand the coping mechanism of these people.

“The resilient strategy they have engaged, cash in on them and use these strategies that are dear to them,” he stated.

On his part, Member, UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries, Dr. Chris Kwaja, reiterated the need to engage the people through various means of sensitisation.

Kwaja added that mass sensitisation is very important as today victim might become tomorrow's killers resulting to continuous vicious circle, just as he also stated the need for the involvement of women in decision making as this is very crucial in making progress.

According to him inclusion and involvement of women should not just be important in peace keeping, but insecurity as well as in Nigeria.

“The National security body, headed by the president does not have even a single woman on this platform,” he said, adding that the inclusion should be rectified.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

FEATURES

As Marwa Ignites Fresh War on Drug Barons As the new Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, resumes office with his laudable vision amidst high expectations, Ofoyeju Mitchell says so far it is indeed another sunrise in the anti-drug agency

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he sun has again risen in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following the recent appointment of Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The spectacular assumption of duty on Monday, January 18, 2021, by the charismatic army general coupled with his inspirational inaugural address clearly points to the fact that there is a strong political will to heal the wounds of officers, motivate them for optimum service delivery and reposition the agency for greater exploits in the nation's war against narcotics.

One secret that has kept the agency running over the years, despite the numerous drawbacks, is the hope that someday, God will send a Moses that will lead the Agency to the promised land. Besides, officers strongly believe that drug control is both a humanitarian and divine service that attracts blessings from God. This understanding has contributed immensely in sustaining their enthusiasm and resilience even in the face of career stagnation, poor remuneration, lack of operational logistics and dampened morale.

The problems bedeviling the NDLEA are neither insurmountable nor are they spiritual. They are purely administrative and political. All that are needed is the right leadership armed with the best approach and strategy. This is the reason, the appointment of General Marwa by President Buhari to lead the Agency at this critical point in the nation's chequered drug control administration has received unprecedented commendation from different sections of the country.

This is the time for both NDLEA officers and stakeholders to arise and build a better agency that will meet the aspirations of the founding fathers, Nigerians and our international collaborators. According to the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, "the secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new." Officers must therefore embrace the new dispensation with utmost sense of duty and optimism.

The decree 48 of 1989 that established the agency which is now referred to as NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 confers enormous powers on the agency, but hitherto the powers are grossly underutilized. Under section 3 subsection 1 P IV, the agency is expected to engage in the exchange of personnel and other experts.

However, while drug Attaches from other countries are working with the agency, Nigeria is yet to implement this crucial aspect of the Act in furtherance of our international collaboration.

The Act also empowers the agency within the purview of drug demand reduction to conduct campaigns, seminars, workshops, aftercare rehabilitation and social reintegration of people with drug abuse challenges.

Even the mandate of the Agency according to the Act covers promoting the welfare of convicts. The agency is set to maximise drug abuse preventive strategies as standard rehabilitation facilities will be constructed in all senatorial districts according to Marwa.

The expansion of drug demand reduction services with the establishment of standard rehabilitation facilities will drastically reduce the drug abuse problem thereby enhancing the image of the agency. In addition, locating the rehabilitation center away from the Agency's operational base with drug demand reduction professionals like doctors, nurses, psychologists, nutritionists, counsellors and vocational

Marwa

training instructors will facilitate easy interface with members of the public.

Another area of closer attention is assets and financial investigation. The Act empowers the agency to financially incapacitate drug traffickers by tracing their ill-gotten money and assets. Until the illicit proceeds of drug are taken away from drug trafficking cartels, the battle remains far from being won.

This is, therefore, another important aspect of the law that will be fully implemented in the coming days.

Interestingly, many factors have combined in lending credence to the choice of General Marwa in rejuvenating the NDLEA for optimum performance.

He is not just a voice but a compelling one that is respected by all and dreaded by drug barons. His wealth of experience and enduring legacies as a military administrator of Lagos and Borno States, as well as his splendid military career as a defense adviser in

the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, United States and to the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations remain a worthy reference point in our political history.

Similarly, his assignment as the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) that took him round the NDLEA commands in the country has exposed him to the diverse problems militating against the Agency's progress. Impressively, this has adequately prepared him for his current task.

In his maiden remarks, General Marwa left no one in doubt of his readiness to completely overhaul the Agency. He assured Nigerians that he will resuscitate and reposition the NDLEA to full active life, to be effective, respected and feared by concerned criminals. He described the agency as a moving locomotive that

Interestingly, many factors have combined in lending credence to the choice of General Marwa in rejuvenating the NDLEA for optimum performance. He is not just a voice but a compelling one that is respected by all and dreaded by drug barons. His wealth of experience and enduring legacies as a military administrator of Lagos and Borno States, as well as his splendid military career as a defense adviser in the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, United States and to the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations remain a worthy reference point in our political history

will crush any obstacle on its path to success. While assuring officers of better conditions of service and presidential intervention in addressing the problems of the Agency; he charged them as law enforcement officers to uphold discipline at all times.

Officers are excitedly hopeful of getting their promotion arrears cleared with the improved salary that will accommodate hazards and sundry welfare packages. They look forward to a comprehensive insurance package that will address unforeseen events in view of the occupational hazards associated with their assignment. Above all, General Marwa is going to change the face of the NDLEA by ensuring that the agency has a befitting National and State Command office buildings and barracks to address the problem of the infrastructural deficit.

In less than two weeks in office, the NDLEA boss has completely turned the tables against drug trafficking syndicates in the country. His body language, utterances and actions clearly amplify the fact that the days of drug trafficking syndicates are numbered.

General Marwa has made every second pleasantly memorable since assumption of duty.

The sparkle in the agency has been rekindled as the national headquarters now bubbles with vivacity as it plays host to high-profile guests like the American ambassador Mary Beth Leonard. Marwa signed a new Memorandum of Undertaking with the United States Government to strengthen Nigeria's war against illicit drugs. During the visit, he assured the United States Government and the international community of Nigeria's determination to eradicate drug trafficking as a top priority.

He inaugurated a committee to place officers properly in their career progression. This will lay to rest the issue of promotion arrears and rectify the seniority list in the Agency which is the bedrock of discipline as a paramilitary agency. During a meeting with the commanders, Marwa gave matching orders for the country to be swept clean of drug trafficking and abuse. The NDLEA boss has equally directed that henceforth, matriculating students in tertiary institutions shall be subjected to a drug test. This is part of the strategies to stamp out drug and substance abuse among students.

It is expected that General Marwa will further open up new vista of opportunities by posting officers as narcotic envoys to source, transit and consumer nations. The introduction of the zonal command structure in the Agency will also create vacancies at the top echelon. In addition, compliments of office like staff car and other benefits shall be presented to deserving senior officers while efforts are ongoing to make officers comfortable in retirement through a credible pension scheme.

Obviously, the stage is set for a new dawn in the agency. Drug barons are aware that the drum beat has changed and that the battle line is equally drawn.

Stakeholders are optimistic that the appointment of Brig. General Marwa has commenced a process of rebirth that will ultimately propel the anti-drug Agency for optimum performance.

The great Martin Luther King Jr., once said that "we must walk in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future."As the new Chairman is running with his laudable vision amidst high expectations, it is indeed another sunrise in the NDLEA. ...Mitchell is a former head of public affairs, NDLEA

22

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

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

Ͱ ͷ ˜ Ͱ ͮ Ͱ ͯ MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

REPO 11 10.50

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

6 8 9

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

608.54% -0.60% - 9.21%

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

- 9.21% - 9.21%

EXCHANGE RATE ͱ͵ͷ˹ͯ ̩ ̩

Quick Takes S&P Affirms AfDB’s Rating

STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT

L-R: Immediate past Managing Director, Dignity Finance and Investment Limited, Mallam Yahaya Yusuf; current Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim during a stakeholders’ dinner in Abuja... recently

Renaissance Capital Foresees N429/$1 by Year-end Obinna Chima Renaissance Capital, a research and financial advisory company has predicted that the naira exchange rate will depreciate to N429/$1 on the investors and exporters’ window before the end of this year, compared with the N398/$1 it was at the end of 2020.

The firm stated this in a report titled: “Sub-Saharan Africa in 2021 - A weak start,” that was obtained yesterday.

It expressed concern over what it described as Nigeria’s “authorities’ fixation on a stable and overvalued naira and the government’s enormous fiscal constraints.”

These, it pointed out spell a limp growth recovery over the medium term.

ECONOMY “As oil price has improved since its trough in 2020, we see even less reason for the authorities to devalue the naira,” it added.

It predicted one per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for Nigeria in 2021, up from its estimated -2.9 per cent for 2020, even as the firm expect services to continue to be a drag on growth, and little investment.

“This implies limited upside for government revenue, and a budget deficit that is likely to move sideways to about four per cent of GDP,” it added.

According to Renaissance Capital, monetisation of the budget deficit, structural bottlenecks and a weakening naira imply that inflation was likely to remain

in the teens.

“We think there is upside risk to interest rates, owing to elevated inflation and a strong naira. We do not expect Nigeria to change its forex policy stance in 2021. A stronger oil price of $54.3/bl is forecast for year-end 2021, according to Bloomberg consensus forecasts, versus $51.2/ bl at year-end 2020.

“This is positive for the overvalued naira, as this should lessen depreciation pressures.

The naira was nine per cent overvalued at year-end 2020, on our Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) model, with a fair value of N430/$1, versus a spot rate of N395/$1 on 28 January,” it stated.

The investment company however, pointed out that an upside of monetary tightening

was the pick-up in yields.

The yield on the 91-day Treasury bill (T-bill) plummeted to as low as zero per cent in November and December, compared with eight per cent and four per cent it was respectively, a year earlier.

This was triggered by the barring of corporates and individuals from investing in OMO bills. The result was a wall on liquidity going into treasury securities.

The firm predicted that yields would remain depressed this quarter as N2.5 trillion of OMOs mature in January and February.

“This liquidity will chase assets including US dollars. We expect naira depreciation pressure to persist and accelerating inflation to compel the central bank to withdraw liquidity. Yields are Continued on page 24

‘How Digital Tools Can Transform Africa’s Agri-food Systems’ Global management consulting, McKinsey & Company, has stated that digital technologies have the power to transform agri-food systems in emerging markets by accelerating the work of participants across the value chain.

The management consulting firm stated this in its latest report obtained yesterday.

It noted that governments could also deploy digital tools for important tasks, such as distributing subsidies to farmers or managing the inventories of emergency food-relief stocks in government storage facilities.

According to the report, when used as part of a national agricultural-transformation program, digital tools could help raise incomes of smallholder farmers, increase crop output, and support food security. “For example, an e-wallet can help increase

ECONOMY affordability of inputs by efficiently distributing subsidies to farmers. While governments can play a significant role in helping private-sector players and development partners to invest in digital projects by supporting policy and data infrastructure, they are also developing their own digital solutions to support their stated sector priorities,” it stated.

The COVID-19 crisis has forced many governments in emerging markets to accelerate the use of digital agriculture technologies to support emergency responses, making the issue especially topical— and Africa is no exception.

Throughout the crisis, publicsector decision makers sought more real-time data more

frequently to assess the state of food security and agriculture within their countries, particularly during lockdowns.

According to McKinsey & Company, it has also encouraged more data sharing between the private and public sectors in service of the public good.

It, however, stated that there was the potential to build on the momentum that could support a more systematic transformation of agri-food systems across the continent.

“In sub-Saharan Africa alone, more than 400 digital agriculture solutions are in use, including applications in financial services, market linkages, supply-chain management, advisory and information services, and business intelligence.

“Despite their abundance, many digital solutions struggle to scale and fail to improve the lives of farmers and other

end users. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, most applications have less than 30 per cent active users,” it added.

According to the report, 20 applications (about 5 percent) accounted for more than 80 per cent of farmer registrations and achieved scale of more than one million farmers, including the 8028 Farmer Hotline, a government-run advisory service in Ethiopia.

It noted that the availability of a digital agriculture solution does not guarantee smallholder farmer uptake and adoption.

To improve participation, it stated that three elements were necessary: Digital solutions must create value for end users so they have an incentive to adopt; farmers should receive some level of physical, in-person support, and that governments Continued on page 24

Ratings agency, S&P Global, has affirmed its “AAA/A-1+” foreign currency issuer credit rating of the African Development Bank (AfDB), with a stable outlook.

Theratingsagencysaiditsoutlookreflectedtheexpectationthatthe AfDB would, over the next two years, “prudently manage its capital while maintaining solid levels of high-quality liquidity assets and a robust funding profile. We also assume extraordinary shareholder support to the bank will remain unchanged.”

In a letter, dated January 29, 2021, S&P Global Ratings noted the Bank’s $115 billion capital increase, approved by its shareholders in October 2019. S&P said: “Our ratings on AfDB reflect its important role in Africa, marked by a long track record of fulfilling its policy mandatethrougheconomiccycles,combinedwithrobustshareholder support.“InOctober2019,thebank’sshareholdersapproveditsseventh general capital increase (GCI-VII), effectively increasing the bank’s capital base by $115 billion ... to $208 billion.”

The ratings agency added: “We expect the capital increase will enable AfDB to continue expanding its reach, particularly in light of the renewed focus on infrastructure financing and private-sector lending. “The bank has already been growing steadily over the years.

“The bank is in a good position to support increasing mobilisation efforts and crowd-in additional private-sector funds.”

Commenting on the rating, AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said: “The AAA rating by S&P Global Ratings affirms our prudent financial and risk management at the African Development Bank, and our strong governance systems.

BP Posts First Loss in Decade

BP plunged to a $5.7 billion loss last year, its first in a decade, as the pandemic took a heavy toll on oil demand, and the energy company warned of a tough start to 2021 amid widespread travel restrictions.

Despite the weak environment, however, CEO Bernard Looney told Reuters the company’s transition to a greener future remained on track. It is aiming to ramp up renewable power generation to 50 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 from 3.3 GW currently, while slashing oil output to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Capital expenditure is set to rise to $13 billion this year, of which $9 billion will still go to oil and gas, $2 billion to low-carbon projects and $2 billion to mobility, Chief Financial Officer Murray Auchincloss said.

That compared with a budget of $12 billion in 2020.

For the last quarter of 2020, BP reported a profit of $115 million, falling short of analysts’ forecasts due to weak oil and gas sales and subdued trading, it said on Tuesday.

“Atoughquarterattheendofatoughyear,”Looneysaidinananalystcall.

Its shares were down 3.5 per cent at 258.9 pence. Flagging a weak start to 2021, BP said: “We expect renewed COVID-19 restrictions to have a greater impact on product demand, with January retail volumes down by around 20 per cent year-on-year, compared with a decline of 11 per cent in the fourth quarter.”

Fitch: Ecobank Has Stable Outlook

FitchRatingshasassignedEcobankNigeriaLimited(ENG)along-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of ‘B-’ with a Stable Outlook, Viability Rating (VR) of ‘b-’ and National Long-Term Rating of ‘BBB (nga)’.

The rating agency noted that Ecobank Nigeria IDRs were driven by its standalonecreditworthiness,asexpressedbyitsViabilityRating(VR).

The VR reflects the constraint of Nigeria’s challenging operating environment and modest core capital buffers amongst others.This is balanced by company profile strengths as well as a solid funding profile and good foreign-currency liquidity, which is enhanced by prudent liquidity management by the Ecobank group.

According to Fitch, “the Stable Outlook on ENG’s Long-Term IDR reflects our view that the bank has sufficient headroom at its current rating to absorb moderate shocks from sustained downside risks to the operating environment, the heightened level of risk in doing banking business in Nigeria and the ensuing risks to its financial performance (particularly asset quality) over the next 12-18 months.

“The stable outlook also reflects our expectations that capitalisation willremainresilientoverthisperiodwiththebankmaintainingadequate buffers over the minimum regulatory requirements”.

“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 ICT infrastructure” GMD/CEO, Zenith Bank,

Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu

24

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ 2021

BUSINESSWORLD RENAISSANCE CAPITAL FORESEES N429/$1 BY YEAR-END likely to pick up on the back of this measure, in our view, which would be positive for the banks.

“The other factor that could drive up yields is an increase in domestic government borrowing.

However, we do not expect a pick-up in borrowing in 2021 versus the surge in 2020 (the government’s domestic borrowing was 28% above target, at N2.2 trillion, at 1H FY20), when external commercial financing fell away as an option.

Commenting on what would make the Central Bank of Nigeria change its tight monetary policy, it explained: “a sharp, durable fall in the oil price (to below $40/bl, as the Current Account deficit would widen beyond five per cent of GDP.) We believe this would compel the Central Bank of Nigeria to devalue the naira and tighten monetary policy.

“In accordance with this policy, treasury securities would be issued at higher interest rates to attract investors and in so doing remain competitive. We saw this in 2016, when the yield on the 91-day T-bill increased sharply following the naira devaluation to 15 per cent in August, from 8.3 per cent in June.”

‘HOW DIGITAL TOOLS CAN TRANSFORM AFRICA’S AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS’

should enable technologies to flourish.

“Governments, which often play a critical role in providing the core digital and data infrastructure and regulation, may invest in farmer registries, the base data that many digital solutions rely on. Farmer registration is an expensive public good that few want to pay for yet many benefit from.

“Beyond low adoption, governments often face broader challenges to scale. These include issues like uneven digital access and digital literacy in their populations, low data accuracy and usability, and limited tailoring of content for local contexts.

“Most germane for smallholder farmers is basic access to digital technologies. Half of sub-Saharan Africa does not have access to electric power.

NEWS

Restorium Capital Launches Products to Bridge Funding Gap Goddy Egene Restorium Capital Limited has introduced three products and services expected to bridge funding gaps in the financial market, make businesses more competitive and ensure job creation in the country.

The products are: trade finance and credit enhancement services, project and business financing services and stock loan funding for publicly traded stocks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE).

Unveiling the products in Lagos, Managing Director/ CEO, Restorium Capital Limited, Mrs. Omotayo Adeola, explained that the trade finance and credit enhancement services were for businesses, importers, manufacturers, through the issuance of Letters of Credit, bank guarantees and proof of funds, without collateral.

According to her, the project and business financing services to private and public companies would be through debt, equity or a mix of funding solutions, such as refinancing of existing loans and purchase of existing facilities.

“We looked at the landscape and we realised that there is funding gap for projects and infrastructure development in Nigeria and the whole continent.

If you look at the major problem Africa has, it’s funding, we have very low savings because in-

comes are low, which is affecting our disposable income as well as investment,” Adeola said.

She explained that there was the need to attract investible funds from Europe and other developed markets, adding that the company raises funding for projects, infrastructural development because it has relationships with network of investors.

“The traditional banking institutions cannot fund projects or infrastructure development by virtue of regulation you have

to get every loan you give out, you have to get it collaterised,” he said.

She said the company assists prospecting businesses, governments and corporate institutions to achieve their potential by linking them with various developmental and investment funds in Europe, America, Asia and worldwide.

According to the MD/ CEO, Restorium Capital Limited’s activities revolve round impacting the African

economies by providing the needed investments required to jumpstart various fields of endeavours.

She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the growth and performance of the nation’s economy occasioned by imported inflation and foreign currency illiquidity.

Adeola said: “Manufacturers and trade importers are facing difficulties in sourcing foreign exchange and opening of Letter Of Credit (LOC) for the im-

portation of much needed raw materials and finished goods.

In 2015/2016, we went through a recession, now pandemic and all its associated problems that brought us back into recession.

“So, Restorium has relationships with providers that are ready to issue Letters Of Credit for importers from Nigeria to be able to bring their goods in.

We are providing solutions to the problems manufacturers, importers, traders are having now,” she said.

WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS

L-R: Wife of the CEO, Simko International Hotel, Mrs. Maryam Chidinma Aziewa; President Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Solomon Ogbonna Aguene; CEO, Simko International Hotel Ifo, Ogun State, Simeon Aziewa Okorie, and Okente Nwalo, at the official opening of Simko International Hotel in Ogun State... recently ETOP UKUTT

Report: Skit Economy Will Boost Diversification Agenda James Emejo in Abuja The government and private sector players have been advised to fund and support the skit economy in view of its potential for economic diversification and poverty alleviation.

According to a new study by Abuja-based opinion research think-tank, Africa Polling Institute (API), lending support to skit comedians will further showcase the country’s massive talents and enhance digital content creative in the overall interest of the economy.

The report titled: “Skit Economy: An Assessment of Digital Content Creators in Nigeria”, however, lamented excessive taxes on social media platforms and decried the proposed regulation of the social

media. It further identified poor funding and lack of finance, high cost of production, lack of basic equipment, poor electricity supply as key concerns and bottlenecks hindering the growth and development of the comedy skit sector in the country.

Speaking at the launch of the report in Abuja, Executive Director Africa Polling Institute (API), Prof. Bell Ihua, described the study as extremely important given its academic relevance as there is no single scholarly literature on the subject in the country.

H said: “The study therefore, represents a novel attempt by the institute to understand a seemingly under-researched space, which is contributing significantly to the economic

growth of the nation and mental wellbeing of citizens.”

Nonetheless, operators in the lamented the lack of financial assistance from the government, high cost of production, poor electricity, and excessive taxes on social media platforms major issues stifling the growth of the comedy skit sector.

The study further identified the likes of Broda Shaggi, Mark Angel Comedy, Mr. Marcaroni, Taaooma, Lasisi Elenu, MC Casino, Nedu Mallam Musa, Woli Agba, Omo Ibadan, and Bosho as the top 10 skit comedians and digital content creators in the country.

Ihua said: “It is interesting to note that cumulatively these top five skit comedians have a fan base of over 53 million followers

on various social media platforms.

“In the same vein, this finding validates the platforms through which 67 per cent of Nigerians mostly watch comedy skits: facebook (50 per cent), instagram (34 per cent), youtube (18 let cent), whatsapp (15 per cent) and twitter (10 per cent) amongst others.”

According to him, the study found that 65 per cent of Nigerians consider comedy skits funny and entertaining, 20 per cent find them quite informative and 14 per cent use skits as an elixir to rest and relax.

The study also found that 91 per cent of respondents were of the opinion that comedy skits are useful in creating awareness about social trends; 83 per cent identified the role of comedy skits

in correcting societal ills; while 90 per cent acknowledge its potentials for employment generation in the country.

Ihua added: “Nigerians also lent their voice as to why comedy skits have become an ubiquitous phenomenon in the society today; identifying reason such as the rise in youth unemployment (37 let cent), the ever-present need for entertainment and relaxation (22 per cent), the innate talents and creativity of Nigerian youths (18 per cent), the spate of depression and mental health (10 per cent), the need for creative education of the citizenry (5 per cent), the seemingly lucrative nature of Skit Comedy (4 per cent) and the existence of social media (4 per cent).

Utomi Highlights Economic Benefits of Ehingbeti Oluchi Chibuzor 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)

Prof. Pat Utomi, has stressed the need for governments across adjourning states to start considering megalopolis cities’ growth pattern to drive development within their geographic locations.

Utomi stated this in Lagos, recently, while sharing perspectives on the forthcoming Ehingbeti, the Lagos Economic Summit, holding February 16th- 18th.

He described the summit as a strategic initiative and planning tool that has significantly driven the development of Lagos State.

This, he stated, was in line with the development agenda strategies adopted by developed climes where the government maintains discipline to attract venture capitalists to build

infrastructure.

“Think of Lagos-Ibadan megalopolis, develop in Ogere, a beautiful city, go to Abeokuta to develop a beautiful city. People can wake up and in 45 minutes they are in their office in Victoria Island and in the evening, they go back to Ibadan, Ogere, and Abeokuta. This is a megalopolis and you think of the BostonHuston corridor. But, this needed political will to collaborate with the adjourning state.”

He added: “The idea of Ehingbeti came from the need to provide infrastructure and social services to the citizenry after the return civil rule in 1999. Aside from the huge infrastructural deficit, Lagos had issues with waste management system, social planning and transportation. Everything, in

fact, was somewhat chaotic.

“Government needed to quickly address these challenges, even with its limited resources. With the crop of technocrats drawn into serve in government, plans and roadmaps were easily developed, working with their private sector colleagues”.

Reports showed that the developed roadmaps were turned into implementable agenda for the government. The private sector was hugely involved in this process beyond the intellectual and professional contributions of the likes of Christopher Kolade, Bummi Oni, Dayo Lawuyi, Bode Agusto, Mazi Ohuabunwa, Ben Akabueze, Wale Edun, Funke Osibodu, Bola Adesola and other notable private sector figures, keenly drove developments in

certain areas of the State.

Ehingbeti, a private sector-led participatory forum has been the driving force of infrastructural and socio-economic development in Lagos State since 1999. To the credit of the initiative is Lagos State gradual transition to a multi-modal transport system, with manifestation in building a rail system, water transportation and introduction of mass transit for easy community with the State.

Similarly, the initiative has helped increase the private sector confidence in government and created a formidable ground for collaboration towards building modern and functional state.

The increased confidence and shared ideals between government and the private sector have translated to accelerated growths

in the state.

“Over the last two decades, with Ehingbeti, Lagos has witnessed huge infrastructural development.

Most of the major road constructions, bridges, medical facilities and social innovations that made Lagos attractive originated from discussion at Ehingbeti,” Hakeem Cole, a retired Permanent Secretary, who had attended some of the grueling deliberations preceding the Ehingbeti conferencesaid.

“It is good that the 4th Mainland Bridge in on the table now. It was a presentation topic of the Traffic Management Committee of the Ehingbeti in 2004. It was revisited under Governor Fashola and slated for execution by the subsequent administration for better management of traffic in the state.

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A Good Start for Stock Market Goddy Egene writes that the 5.3 per cent gain recorded by the equities market in January is a positive development that is capable of attracting more investors

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n line with the expectations of most analysts, the Nigerian equities market ended the first month of 2021 on bullish note.

While Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 5.3 per cent to close at 42,412.66, market capitalisation gained N1.124 trillion to be at N22.187 trillion.

Having appreciated by 50.03 per cent in 2020, many analysts had expected the positive sentiments to continue January. The factors that drove the market in 2020 remained throughout the first month of 2021, hence the positive close.

For instance, the inflow of funds from the fixed income market, oscillating oil price, corporate earnings expectations and other factors, which had supported the recovery last year, were prevalent in January.

Apart from 5.3 per cent gain recorded by the NSE ASI, traded volume for the period was up 31.73 per cent at 11.79 billion shares compared with 8.95 billion shares recorded in the preceding month. Similarly, market breadth for the month was positive with advancers outnumbering decliners in the ratio of 87:22 to extend the seven months of bull market.

In terms of sectoral performance, all the indexes and other NSE indices were bullish.

It is only the NSE Growth Index depreciated by 3.22 per cent.

The NSE Insurance led the performance with 29.77 per cent driven by expected merger and acquisition of smaller insurance companies by big names in the sector and banks currently seeking approvals to adopt the holding company structure that may acquire operators in the underwriting industry.

The NSE Oil/Gas index garnered 12.43 per cent, while the NSE Banking Index went up by 7.89 per cent. The NSE Consumer Index and NSE Industrial Goods Index added 7.04 per cent and 1.41 per cent in that order.

Apart from 5.3 per cent gain recorded by the NSE ASI, some stocks delivered significant gains in the first month of the year. However, the best-performing stocks for the month were predominantly low and medium caps across the consumer goods, insurance, agribusiness and oil marketing sectors. Champion Breweries Plc led with a gain of 261.6 per cent following increased demand by investors on the news that institutional investor had increased its stake to 84 per cent.

Livestock Feeds Plc gained 85.6 per cent while Linkage Assurance Plc chalked up 73.08 per cent. Mutual Benefits Assurance garnered 59.26 per cent, while NCR Nigeria Plc chalked 59.18 per cent. Other top price gainers for the month included: BOC Gases Plc ( 57.9 per cent); Regency Insurance Plc ( 54.55); Royal Exchange Assurance Plc ( 53.85 per cent); Japaul Gold& Ventures Plc ( 46.73 per cent); Northern Nigeria Flour Mills Plc (43.6 per cent); Ardova Plc (40.5 per cent); Lafarge Africa Plc (33.9 per cent); NEM Insurance Plc (31.6 per cent) and Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc (31.6 per cent).

Explaining the performance in January, analysts at Investdata Consulting Limited, said there was also the impact of the betterthan-expected third quarter (Q3) numbers from March year-end accounts and unaudited 2020 full year earnings released so far in the midst of a lingering economic downturn resulting from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the lingering second wave.

According to them, irrespective of ongoing recession, positive buying sentiments for blue-chip and growth stocks continued to wax strong as the earnings reporting season draws closer.

They said the positive responses to the mixed numbers release dates and positioning in mispriced stocks by investors haves pushed many equities to new 52-week highs, confirming the high liquidity and confidence in the market.

They said the possibility of prices rallying further from here is high, amidst portfolio reshuffling on the strength of the Q3 and unaudited 2020 full year numbers, just as investors would be assured of reward in the form of dividends when the audited full-year score-cards begin to flow into the market,

NSE Building despite the possibility of dividend cuts.

Investdata Consulting explained that the market is still trading within the V-shape recovery pattern, despite the likely mixed trend on profit taking and price correction, any moment from now, depending on market forces.

“The benchmark index has entered the overbought region on a weekly and daily time frame, reflecting an increased inflow of funds that pushed stock prices up in the first month of 2021, going against the age-long January effects tradition, while maintaining the pattern of uptrend during the month in recent year,” they said.

According to them, the trading patterns and momentum going forward are likely to change, as investors react to the expected audited full-year earnings news, portfolio rebalancing and repositioning, with early filers kicking off the season in February with dividend news.

But the growth recorded in the first month of 2021 was not unexpected because most market and investment analysts had predicted a sustained bull run in the greater part of the first half of the year.

For instance, analysts at Norrenberger Financial Group, a leading financial services group, had said equities market are likely to remain favoured in 2021.

“The Nigerian equities market in 2021 will be shaped by system liquidity, corporate earnings, attractive corporate dividends, foreign exchange and foreign portfolio investors. The fixed income market may likely return to higher yields on the back of overbought in the equities securities market, local borrowings, and monetary policies,” they said.

Analysts at Cordros Securities Research stated that the market performance would be primarily determined by domestic participation which will be supported by the low fixed income yield environment,

liquidity surfeit, investors positioning for dividends and stronger corporate earnings growth (mostly on the low base in 2020).

“We expect the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) to record a positive performance in 2021, albeit substantially lower when compare to 2020. ASI currently trades at a P/E (x) of 12.5x, making it just about fairly valued compared with its seven years average of 12.2x, but still cheaper compared to frontier market peers of 15.1x,” they said.

In the last week of January alone, the market appreciated by 3.3 per cent with analysts at Greenwich Merchant Bank envisaging a continuous uptrend.

According to them, increased bargain hunting across top counters was witnessed in the course of last week, as investors positioned across fundamentally sound counters in anticipation of the full year corporate earnings releases.

“We also note the key policy rate was left unchanged at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee’s meeting in week, alongside the other policy parameters.

Hence, we expect factors like the kick-off in the earnings season, and the persistently low yields in the fixed income space should drive activities next week. We envisage the market will maintain its uptrend, countered by pockets of profit-taking by contrarian investors,” they said.

Similarly, analysts at Cordros Securities said with the outcome of the MPC meeting aligning with market expectations amid negative real returns in the fixed income market, they expect risk-averse investors to recalibrate their portfolio towards fundamentally sound stocks with attractive dividend yields.

“However, we advise investors to take positions in only fundamentally justified stocks as the fragility of the macroeconomic environment remains a significant headwind for corporate earnings,” they said.

In their assessment, analysts at Meristem Securities Research had said the equities

market recovered from deep selloffs to finish as the best performing equities market last year. According to them, unattractive yields in the fixed income market, excess liquidity and relatively resilient corporate performance in the middle of a pandemic were the major factors which drove the market.

They said they expected this to continue, thereby sustaining the positive momentum of the market through the better part of the year.

“We see a correction on the horizon given the overbought status of the market, especially for major bellwethers. Nevertheless, the first half is expected to be dominated by attractive dividend yields and the low yield in the fixed income market, which we expect to persist through the first half of the year at the very least,” Meristem Securities said.

Looking ahead, the analysts Investdata Consulting said volatility was expected to continue in the new month, even as the outlook remains mixed due to likely price corrections, or pullbacks for a few days due to profit taking and portfolio reshuffling ahead of year-end and 2021 corporate actions.

“The anticipated correction in the new month will strengthen recovery. Despite the rising inflation, insecurity and the second wave of coronavirus, as this wave will further boost the healthcare sector due to government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) commitment to enhance public health.

Investdata advised that investors at this point should not be greedy, but let their decisions be guided by their investment goals and exit strategies, even as the healthy inflow of funds into the equity assets due to prevailing low rates in money market is likely to continued even as the last MPC meeting has reduced fear of funds leaving the market in the interim.

“Again, the current breakouts of resistance levels offer traders opportunities to position for the short term, while investors should target fundamentally sound, and dividend-paying stocks for possible dividend income and capital growth,” they said.

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Oke: Why there is Stunted Growth in Advertising Sector Aformer President of theAssociation ofAdvertingAgencies of Nigeria, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, in this interview reviews the state of the nation’s advertising sector, arguing that the current challenges facing the industry is as a result of the poor state of the nation’s economy. Raheem Akingbolu brings the excerpts. he need for Marketing Communications agencies to merge and form strong synergy that would enable them have strong competitive advantage has always been on the front burner at various fora.

Don’t you think the time for merger and acquisition is now, when the industry is facing challenges?

Much as I agree that there are challenges, I don’t want us to single out marketing industry as the only sector being troubled. What we are witnessing now is a global issue that cut across all the sectors. If you look at the history of advertising around the world, the growth is synonymous with the growth of such country’s economy. Advertising is going through that phase where there is a bit of stunted growth because of the recession of the economy. Advertising and marketing communications are offshoots of the brand-building process for a company and a country that is growing. But when a country is stunted in terms of its economic growth, the advertising and marketing communications industry will be stunted. But you know, a stunted growth has solution, you start taking different vitamins.

and public sectors should look at new areas to give new impetus to business. So just the same way the economy is evolving, the industry is also evolving. It’s also going through its own metamorphosis, and there will be new players emerging, new mergers emerging, new platforms and new opportunities emerging, and there will be those that will go with the wind.

What is the way out of the current situation?

There will be different solutions but it takes a while. You find out that different segments of the marketing communications industry are being addressed differently. There are some stunted growths that are never reparable. Go and look at the global advertising history, even in the UK and America, the moment the economy is buoyant, you find the marketing communications industry in these countries become buoyant.

Up till now we are finding it difficult to find local manufacturing companies that are buoyant with viable products and services. So the ones that are there are still the same ones that were there 10 years ago

What form do you think the M&A approach can take in Nigeria to run it successfully?

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So, what you are saying in essence is that what the industry is passing through now is a reflection of the bigger national economy?

As stated earlier, experts have consistently recommended mergers and acquisition as a way of bringing the industry back to its feet. Is M&A feasible in Nigeria’s ad industry, especially now that COVID-19 and other challenges are killing businesses?

No doubt, the nation’s advertising industry is going through rough patches, especially with the advent of the COVID 19 pandemic and the not-so-bright fortunes of the nation’s crude oil in the global market. Now to answer your question; it’s possible. There had been collaboration in the past. I believe when it gets to a point when people realise that it is possible to collaborate with people of complementary services, they’ll have no choice than to do that. Don’t forget everything in life is evolving

Oke Yes, it is. Just like anywhere, the industry is a reflection of the economy. If the economy is depressed, the industry is going to be challenged.

In fact it’s almost stagnated due to the advent of COVID-19 and that is why it appears there is so much inactivity. I agree with you that as time goes on, people are going to come together to find out what options are available to get the industry going. You know Nigeria

Canadian High Commissioner Harps on Clean Energy Solutions Goddy Egene The Canadian High Commissioner, Nicolas Simard, has said solar energy provides some level of predictability, transparency and productivity.

He stressed the need for the private sector to take leadership in the provision of clean and sustainable energy to power businesses among others.

Simard stated this during a facility tour of the assembly line of Arnergy in Victoria Island, Lagos recently.

Objective of the tour was to showcase how Arnergy delivers reliable energy solutions for productive use, the products and services that power business operations and improve economic outcomes for clients.

“Arnergy is in the right segment towards meeting the country’s demands for energy. We need the private sector to take leadership in such conversations. What Arnergy is doing is good not just for businesses, but for families and the climate,” the high commissioner said.

Also speaking, the Chief

Executive Officer, All On, Dr. Wiebe Boer, addressed one of the pain points in this part of the world which borders around the constraints of power supply, and how financing the renewable energy sector would better lives and make power more reliable for productive use.

In his remarks, the CEO of Arnergy, Femi Adeyemo, explained how far the company had come from being the first African startup to receive equity investment from Breakthrough Energy Venture (funded by Bill Gates, Jack Ma, Jeff Bezos and other World business leaders), to partnering with several impact sectors to optimise their energy consumption and cut their power cost.

According to him, plans are in the works to power more businesses in resilient sectors including healthcare - primary health centres and telecom towers.

Speaking in the same vein, Vice President, Strategy Growth & Business Operations at Arnergy, Sinmi Akinsanmi, said: “To drive the kind of growth we desire, we seek partnerships

that can help us scale fast in the areas of technology, innovation, financing, and the likes.

“We are very excited about the prospects of working with the Canadian government and businesses and we believe these kinds of partnerships can help support more businesses and homes in meeting their energy needs.”

During the visit, Simard was shown the modularised Arnergy solar solutions, and how they could either work completely off-grid with the sun powering load and charging the long term lithium batteries for night use or how it interoperates with the grid especially at night if the need arises.

He expressed excitement about the prospects that Arnergy’s products had, its impact on businesses and the country’s GDP. He was particularly impressed by the Solar Base component of the product, which allows users to monitor and control their energy consumption from their mobile devices and leading to significant cost savings and energy reliability.

is in a recession now and there is no way we can come out with flamboyant campaigns because the consumer is also challenged. We can’t be delusional about it. So what I’m saying in essence is that the industry is evolving, it’s moving to new platform. Our platforms are evolving. So let’s understand what is going on. Let’s stop misrepresenting it. We need to watch and observe. Hopefully both the private

Don’t forget some of today’s big agencies collaborated to come together. There were mergers of different interests, maybe in a sector, like the media. Definitely with digital technology, it’s going to get to a point where new skills are required in some agencies’ where a lot of content management is required, where a lot of new digital platforms-created communication skills would be required. Some of the agencies that we have today came out of necessity. Some came out of the need to just survive. I think that very soon, for our industry to remain buoyant and lively, as well as attractive to good talent, there is the need for agencies to absorb and merge together and also bring in very brilliant, experience and inexperience hands to move the industry forward.

French Companies, Wazobia, EdoJobs Train 3,000 Edo State Skills Development Agency (EdoJobs), LAFAAAC, SUMMVIEW, Teach on Mars, Wazobia, and WebForce3 have partnered to launch Edojobs Online Academy.

The initiative was to empower over 3,000 job seekers in Edo State with the required expertise and skills to boost local entrepreneurship and self-dependency in growing the creative industry.

The global pandemic which impacted economies around the world, caused the urgent need for progressive governments and private institutions with an innate drive for development to re-evaluate their strategies and adapt to the current realities of online learning and engagements.

According to a statement, with the Africa set to become the next hub of creative industries and with a keen global spotlight on the rapid growth of its audiovisual and cinematographic production, it was imperative to empower the rising industry with required trainings such that meets international standard.

“It is in this context that the Edojobs Online Academy was developed in one of Africa’s leading economy.

“Edojobs Online Academy which is partly funded by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in France, aims to serve as a catalyst in boosting the employability of young Nigerians, whilst also upgrading them with the skills and trainings to excel and raise the standards of the creative industry in Nigeria and Africa,” the statement added.

Speaking on the project, CEO of Wazobia, Tatiana Moussali, stated that, “It is imperative for leadership in times of crisis to always provide ingenious solutions that provide succour to the people in times of need.

“The partnership with Edo State Government is one driven by the commitment of the Wazobia Media Group in joining forces with the government to reducing unemployment, improving self-dependency, and fighting the scourge of modern slavery faced by most of the vulnerable members of the society whose only hope lies on the sojourn abroad for a better life.

“Edo State has a lot of young and budding talents that require the right guidance and mentorship to channel their energy into productive use in the state. “Through

the Edojobs Online Academy, we hope to empower these youths with the skillsets that would make them see value in their talents and in return contribute to the development of the creative industry in their community and Nigeria at large.”

According to Managing Director of EdoJobs, Ukinebo Dare, “We are glad to be partnering to kick-off this ground-breaking project in Nigeria, starting with Edo State.

We say thank you to the French Government and all sponsors. As a home of rich culture in Africa, this project will enable job creation for our young creatives.”

For the co-founder and CEO of LAFAAAC, Olivier Pascal, “This project allows us to validate a key milestone in our development on the African continent: upstream, it allows us to federate the dynamic forces that are today united around this platform, in France as well as in Nigeria, in the public and private sectors.

“Downstream, this platform allows us to deploy our educational model on a large scale, to evaluate its social impact, but also to promote French expertise and have a knock-on effect on the EdTech and culture sectors.

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Ibekwe: How GivingNg is Impacting Lives, Communities Inthisinterview,theheadoftheinitiative,Mrs.OlapejuIbekweshedslightonwhyGiving.ngwascreated,thefocusareas,andmonthly grants to non-profits in the areas of education, health, food sufficiency and much more. Oluchi Chibuzor brings the excerpts. vision to be a significant driver of social impact in Nigeria. It is doing this by creating sustainable solutions for youth empowerment and job creation in critical sectors of the economy. Giving.ng is one of the solutions designed to tackle the root causes of poverty in Nigeria. The Foundation’s sectors of interest are health, education, youth empowerment, food sufficiency, gender development, and renewable energy.

Can you tell us the problem that Giving. ng was designed to solve?

Giving.ng is a crowdfunding platform that bridges the gap between donors and fundraisers.

It is a fund-raising platform that enables donors in Nigeria and from anywhere around the world to give to causes they care about while making it easier for fund raisers to access the funds. Often, donors do not have the time or resources to take on humanitarian projects alone. Giving.ng eliminates this challenge and every other obstacle that can prevent potential donors from supporting causes they are passionate about. Giving.ng makes it convenient to give and get help. It provides a transparent platform for individuals, non-profits, alumni associations, and social enterprises to raise funds for social causes transparently.

What are the areas of focus of Giving.ng?

The solution was designed for any organisation interested in making a positive impact and reducing poverty as we all journey towards the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030. We know that the first goal is: No Poverty but poverty is in different areas: health, education, sanitation, food sufficiency. We are partnering with individuals, corporate organisations, not-for-profit, alumni associations or even a group of family and friends interested in executing a project in line with this goal. Public sector institutions that want to raise funds, for example, to provide health care or insurance for the people can partner with Giving.ng to achieve this objective.

Implying that the Giving.ng crowdfunding platform is for everyone?

Yes. It is for everybody. We hope that everybody can come to Giving.ng either as a donor, a fund raiser or as a beneficiary. A beneficiary today can be a donor tomorrow. Like the proverb says, ‘It takes a village to raise child’. The child today can be part of the village tomorrow.

How is Giving.ng different from every other crowdfunding platform out there?

Most crowdfunding platforms charge a fee. Two per cent of the funds raised is the lowest charge by crowdfunding platforms in the country. This is where Giving.ng is different, fundraising is free.

All donations go to the fundraiser. We are the only

Ibekwe crowdfunding platform in Nigeria that is currently doing this. Deductions, if any, would probably be bank transfer charges. I would like to emphasize that we are the only crowdfunding platform in Nigeria currently doing this. Secondly, Giving.ng will be launching a grant programme in the first quarter of 2021, which empowers at least five projects on our platform every month. We call this grant the Finishing Grant or Completion grant. Fundraisers focused on health, education, renewable energy, or food sufficiency sectors can benefit from these grants. These sectors require significant investment and are critical to the achievement of the reduction of poverty in the country.

If Giving.ng is not charging commissions like other platforms to funds its operations, where is the funding coming from? Is it a Foundation?

Giving.ng gets its funding from the Sterling One Foundation. Sterling One Foundation has the

Are there communities, individuals, professional associations, or groups that have benefitted from Giving.ng?

I will speak to a very recent experience, the Health Workers’ Fund. It was established in early 2020 just before the lockdown. The fund was established to raise hazard allowances for frontline health workers battling the pandemic. The fund paid 2,000 percent of the statutory hazard allowance of N5,000 due to health workers. Over 150 frontline health workers battling the pandemic across the six geopolitical zones have been beneficiaries of the fund. A beneficiary, Dr. Femi Akinpeloye, whom I had the privilege of meeting works at the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi araba. He was glad, and emotional and expressed his surprise that people that do not know him personally contributed to a fund, he benefited from. He broke down in tears because people displayed humanity and appreciation for the work being done by health workers to save lives at a most challenging time.

It was not the money that made him break down, it was the care shown to them by Nigerians that contributed to the Fund. The experience renewed my faith in the work we are doing at Giving.ng.

We are making impact and touching lives in ways that we would never ever know or understand.

Also, earlier in the year, we went to the Kutara Tataradna Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Karu, Nasarawa State and it was all joy for the beneficiaries and volunteers. People are the Camp received us with delight. They were elated, dancing and making music. They were happy with the gifts we brought. Everywhere we meet beneficiaries, it is always an outburst of joy expressed differently.

What would you say is the biggest challenge facing Giving.ng as we speak?

Well, I would say that it appears some people

still need to build trust. Like we experienced for the Health Workers’ Fund, some of the beneficiaries were in doubt when they were called, congratulated, and told they will get hazard allowances. They did not believe it. One of them did not release her account number initially. She probably thought it was a prank or scam. But she was shocked after her account was credited with the hazard allowance eventually. If beneficiaries could react in such a way, you can imagine a potential donor’s state of mind.

And this is because there are several fraudulent platforms and people around. We are building trust through our transparent process and have success stories to show for it.

Has working for Giving.ng changed your worldview or outlook in any way?

Problems and challenges I never knew existed have been coming to my attention. It has enlarged my scope and helped me appreciate the different challenges people face in their lives. I think everybody should get on board to effect positive change. Even if they do not want to come on Giving. ng, some people need help on their streets in their communities. We all need each other and can lend a helping hand to others wherever we are. Giving. ng makes this easier and more convenient as this can be done from the comfort of their homes just from their phones as Giving.ng is digital.

What excites you about the future of Giving. ng?

I am excited about the possibilities of joy, happiness, and hope to many families and communities across the country. Looking at the past year, I am thankful for the opportunity to work with excellent partners like the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Sterling Bank, Hygeia HMO and Trace TV. I am very optimistic about the future. I am also excited about the impact we will continue to make through life-changing projects working with our existing partners and other partners that will join us as we continue this journey of positive impact. I look forward with optimism and confidence that we will make progress in transforming various lives and communities with both corporate and individual partners across the country including Nigerians in the diaspora. We believe collaborations and partnerships are critical to transform our country sustainably.

How Stanbic IBTC is Empowering Female-led Startups Hamid Ayodeji Michelle Obama, the former United States first lady, once said: “No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.” This speaks to the incredible potential that can be brought to bear in a society that promotes female tech-led initiatives.

Stanbic IBTC, known for its commitment to driving Africa’s growth, is focused on fostering inclusive education, the empowerment of small and medium scale enterprises, and gender equality.

Through its empowerment initiative, the Stanbic IBTC Fellowship, it is actively playing an advisory, mentorship, and guidance role while creating an investment opportunity to aid in the development of female tech startups.

The organisation’s partnership with the largest pre-seed accelerator, The Founder Institute, supports female entrepreneurs in setting up business goals and upscaling operations in the Nigerian educational ecosystem.

The Founder Institute is developed to help tech-enabled startups, at the pre-seed stage, to build and expand their ecosystem. The institute also aims to empower communities of talented people in creating impactful tech businesses.

The programme, which runs for 16 weeks, empowers high achiever business founders with the right tools to excel in their endeavours and be a part of the story of change in Africa.

According to a report, Stanbic IBTC prioritises innovative solutions and sees a growth pattern in the tech industry, which is why it is leveraging its partnership with The Founder Institute to create success stories in female tech startups.

Remy Osuagwu The firm registered two female-driven startups, The KNOSK N100-a-day Secondary School and the KidsReadArt, into this year’s Cohort III programme, to underscore its desire to empower women.

The programme has impacted these startups with the right tools and skillset they would need to grow their businesses in these economically challenging times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on the rationale for investing in these female-led businesses, Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Remy Osuagwu, said this was driven

by the organisation’s sustainability approach, which aims to identify and support female startups that are working towards having a more sustainable future and providing positive solutions to communities around them.

According to him, “we have provided these EduTech startups with unique opportunities to garner knowledge in business structure, increase their business capital, as well as grow a strong network. The startups’ success stories would not be complete without the robust learning garnered at The Founder Institute through the Stanbic IBTC Fellowship.”

“Through the Stanbic IBTC Fellowship, we are encouraging the participation of women in the Africa educational startup ecosystem by facilitating equal access to tech accelerators, funds and networks,” he said.

Narrating their experiences, the two Stanbic IBTC Fellowship beneficiaries, Irene Bangwell and Ogechi Ogaragu, offered insights into The Founder Institute Cohort III programme.

Bangwell is the co-founder of The KNOSK N100-a-day Secondary School, a startup initiative which is Nigeria’s first crowd-funded subsidised school. Bangwell said the startup is aimed at helping to break the poverty cycle in Africa by giving every child access to quality education through technology.

The N100-a-day, pay-what-you-can enterprise provides children with sound and quality action learning educational experience, while imparting them with the right knowledge and skills that prepare them for the future of work. The children also have access to school uniforms, books and lunch, while girls are provided with sanitary pads on monthly basis.

Bangwell stated that her interest in the educational sector in Africa was borne out

of the need to introduce an effective classroom learning experience for young children, and to redress the poor educational system in the country.

She stated that the learning experience was fundamental to the growth of her initiative, as it has helped her to evaluate the vital aspects of starting a business and company building.

Ogaragu, Founder of KidsReadArt, described her learning experience as intensive, lifechanging, and impactful.

KidsReadArt is a literacy solution provider designed for young African kids aged 2 to 7 years old. It serves to reduce the increasing rate of illiteracy among young African kids, thereby aligning with the UNICEF SDG4 goals.

According to Ogaragu, knowledge could be imparted online with the same effectiveness as it could in a physical class. This trend has impacted the educational system positively as kids now enjoy learning. She disclosed that her motivation for establishing the business was to help struggling kids overcome their studying problems while providing an easy solution for parents. She added that the poor teaching techniques in the educational system have led to kids cramming rather than understanding.

Ogaragu noted that benefitting from the Stanbic IBTC sponsorship with The Founder Institute has enabled her to understand the aspects of setting up and running a business with a sustainable growth strategy that would last a decade.

These founders are contributing to the growth of their communities and nation at large. Following the success with Bangwell and Ogaragu, Stanbic IBTC has expressed its willingness to empower more female-led tech initiatives through the Stanbic IBTC Fellowship.

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L-R: Chairman, Security Committee, ParkView Residents Association (PVRA), Chief Olu Okeowo; Chairman, ParkView Residents Association (PVRA), Chief Kofi Kartey; and GMD/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe at the presentation of two Toyota Hilux security vehicles to the PVRA by Access Bank plc, in Lagos …recently

L-R: ICT Officer, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Ibadan, Dele Oyediji; Public Relations Officers, Olusegun Oluwole and Oyo State Commandant, Iskilu Akinsanya, during a press conference on the activities of the Corps in Ibadan...recently

L-R: Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) Lagos State Chapter, Bishop Stephen Adegbite; Secretary to the Government of the Federation/ Chairman Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19, Mr Boss Mustapha and Executive Director, Nigerian Interfaith Action Association (NIFAA) Bishop Sunday Onuoha during a sensitization meeting on covid-19 Vaccine introduction for Christian leaders and Scholars in Abuja... recently PHOTO: AYO AJAYI

L-R: Commissioner for Transportation, Ogun State, Gbenga Dairo; Corps Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps, Bisi Kazeem; Corps Marshal, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi; and Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, Edward Ajogun, during a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders on the Presidential order to evacuate trailers and other heavy duty trucks from the expressway at Ogere in Ogun State...recently

L-R: Former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr Iyiola Ladokun; former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala; Chairman, APC Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke and Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, during the APC Stakeholders meeting ahead of Party’s membership registration in Oyo State at the Party Secretariat OkeAdo Ibadan...recently

L-R: Medical Director, Ace Medicare Clinics, Ota, Ogun State, Dr Wole Kukoyi; Committee Chairman, Rotary District 9110 Committee on Blindness Prevention; Dr Basirat Giwa; Chief Matron of Ace Medicare Clinics, Mrs Olusola Kukoyi; District Governor, Rotary District 9110, Governor Bola Oyebade and Committee member, Dr Dele Balogun, during the Free Cataract Surgeries on 100 Residents of Lagos and Ogun States organized by Rotary District 9110 Committee on Blindness Prevention at Ace Medicare Clinics, Ota, Ogun State...recently

L-R: Managing Director, Electronics Development Institute (ELDI) Awka, Anambra State, Dr Patrick Okwu; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; his wife, Chinyere and Director Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, Dr Agata Rasheed, during the visit of the Minister to ELDI Office in Awka, Anambra State...recently

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

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L-R: President, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Nigerian Ports Authority, Branch, Mr. Ifeanyi Mazeli; Managing Director, NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman; and President General MWUN, Mr. Adewale Adeyanju, during a congratulatory visit to Bala Usman on her re-appointment...recently

L-R: Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ari Muhammed Ali; His Royal Majesty, Obi of Owa Kingdom/ Chairman of Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, Obi Emmanuel Efeizomor II and Deputy Commissioner of Police Operation, Faleye Sunday Olaleye during CP visit to his palace in Agbor...recently

L-R:Commander, Sector 1,Operation Delta Safe, Colonel Sani Ahmed; Commodore Semiu Adepegba, NNS DELTA; Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Commander, 371, Nigeria Airforce Detachment, Warri, Commodore Augustine Edwin Vunombagai,, during a condolence visit by the service Commanders to the Governor in Asaba....recently

L-R: Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha; Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Edet Akpan, during the visit of the Governor to the NABDA Headquarters in Abuja..recently

L-R: Brand Manager, Goldberg Lager Beer, Olufunmilayo Ogunbodede; Goldberg brand ambassador, DJ Kaywise and Finance Director, IMS, Benson Okenyi during the unveiling of DJ Kaywise as brand ambassador for Goldberg in Lagos...recently

L-R: Chairman, NUJ Oyo Oyo State, Mr Ademola Babalola; Chairman League of Veterans Journalist, Mr Banji Ogundele; Father of the Day, Dr Yemi Farunbi; Chairman Fresh FM, Chief Yinka Ayefele; Chairman of Occasion, Dr Oludare Akande; and Guest lecturer, Mr Raphael Akpan; during the Yinka Ayefele Public Lecture on the Roles of Broadcast Media at NUJ Press Centre Ibadan ...recently

L-R:Chairman of the registration committee, Aminu Abba Tukur, giving new membership card of All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva at ward 4 Agadama, Brass LGA, in Bayelsa state... recently

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ, 2021

EDUCATION ‘Oyetola’s Education Review Policies Have Brought About a Structured Governance in Osun’ The Special Adviser on Education to the Osun State Governor, Hon. Jamiu Babatunde Olawumi, recently, visited Ilorin, Kwara State capital for a dialogue on the state of education in Nigeria with other stakeholders. He explained to Hammed Shittu the efforts taken by the Oyetola administration to review the education policy in Osun State, saying that it has brought about a structured governance, among other issues. Excerpts:

W

hat have been the feedbacks in Osun state since the reversal of some policies in the education sector?

In 2020, Osun State government faired excellently well in the area of education, and by the way, one of the indices that qualified my governor to be nominated as Governor of the year by BusinessDay Newspaper, was because education was very prominent among the three issues they considered where he excelled among his peers to be the best governor in 2020. That award was very instructive because this was the same newspaper that earlier published that Osun spent over N90 out N100 million, to pay debt. If a state like that ,almost becoming insolvent and no longer sustainable as a state, now emerged the best governor of the year from the perspective of that newspaper, it is very good for us because it means the governor here, knows what he has set out to achieve and he is achieving that.

The newspaper itself is not a walk over,when it comes to Newspapers in Nigeria,so we want to thank every Nigerian that has supported us to achieve that feat. The education that was very pivotal in winning the award, is what we sit down here to manage on his behalf and I think we have faired very good and excellently well in the course of the year. If we look at the reviewed policy, the new uniform, name change, 6-3-3-4 marred issues, the pre school issue, the Early Childhood Education Development ,all these are the corner stones about what the education policy was all about. In terms of the school uniform, you cannot imagine the economic consequence of the uniform that every school got its own uniform restored. That has generated close to N3 billion business for both the tailors and cloth sellers.Those people at Idiseke in Osogbo, Odoogbe in Ife, in Atakumosa and Ilesa, that parents went to and bought those uniform from, have actually turned the economy of Osun around for better. That’s why when National Bureau Of Statistics (NBS) categorises states, we have a lot of wealth we generated to the economy of Osun state, we have a lot of wealth that is going round because of the dynamism introduced by Governor Gboyega Oyetola, so that fetched the state interms of injection into the economy, about N3 billion from one hand to another, buying clothes, sewing it from tailors and tailors also buying materials. So, that much we did and we are very happy with that. The tailors association and other stakeholders have been coming here to pay thank you visits and I know that very soon, they will hold the governor to a rally to display their support for him. Secondly, when you look at the names of the schools, let me give you an instance, Ilesa Grammar school was founded in 1934, if we now call Ilesa Government High school established in 1934, are they the same? No. That’s one of the reasons one of the old students associations went to court and the number of vice chancellors Ilesa Grammar School, has produced, is more than any other secondary school in Osun state. So, they went to court, but the names of all those schools have been reversed to their original names, Oduduwa Grammar school, is back, Ilesa Grammar school is also back.

The importance of this and the mileage we have gotten from all of these is that we have a high net worth of people coming to endorse the performance of the governor. They owned their schools, now we have constituted Board of Governors of those schools, old students of those schools are chairmen of board of governor, they have been coming to pay courtesy calls on the governor and thank you visit. We have Board of Governors of schools in Osun who are professors, retired permanent secretary.

There is a particular school retired permanent

Olawumi secretary, Federal Ministry of Defence who is now the Chairman Board of Governor and what is the composition of the board? We have two alumni members, a former principal of that school and the current principal, two representatives of the parents, one from the two religions, Muslim and Christianity and a school teacher will be their secretary. So, where you have Board of Governors like that, those petty things that normally come to the government to take money off our pockets, are being taken over by the board. They now have influence to look at what the teacher teaches, and adjudge whether that teacher is fit or not.

They also have influence to look into the school governance and also look at the competence of the school principal who manages the school.

The era of having cluster of principals in school that will make school administration difficult is over. We only have one super principal in the school, whether the students or pupils of the school are more than 1,000, 2,000 or 3,000, he is the principal. You have a vice principal who assists in governance, but you cannot create principal school one, principal school two, how many schools? It makes discipline difficult. It makes governing confusing. If you challenge a student in a school uniform, he can say he doesn’t belong to your school that he is in school two. By the time you bring his case to principal of school two, you have spent the whole day. We decided to have a well structured governance and that is what we have achieved. If you look at it, by and large, the issue of cultism has gone down. When last did you find students throwing stones or carry out any violent act? So our review has brought a lot of dividends such that you only imagine that the taste of the pudding, is in its eating. For us running the schools, we know how relieved we have become as compared to when we got to this office.

What should be the expectations of the people of the state for the education sector in 2021?

Reviewing the policy is a very big achievement for Governor Gboyega Oyetola because something that cuts across every home is education whether you attend private or public school. The private schools are service providers, they are doing it under our supervision, they obtain license from us. They are also helping the government educate the people, that is why they are very critical stakeholders so education cuts across. If you are doing well in public school and you are not doing well in private school, you are not doing well. In terms of governance, supervision, cooperation with service providers, things are going on well and that is a very huge achievement for

the Oyetola administration. Nonetheless, we are not resting, we want to actually leave a mark that will be peculiar to this government.

Let me share this with you. There was a committee from the vice president office, just in December, they came to check critical areas of social service in the state. They looked at our education, agriculture, infrastructure and health.

When they got to this place, I said we have something that other states in Nigeria do not have, they couldn’t believe it and I was just coming from the annual national education conference in Abuja where I also showed what we were doing in Osun State that stood us out there. I said they can get to my class now on their phones and watch Mathematics, English and agriculture class, they couldn’t believe it.

The website there is www.osun.csm.ng. One of those who came from Abuja opened it and he got into Mathematics class. I told him to go to English class and it was audio visual and you can also do assessment and obtain mark, that’s what we have done in Osun. We are also going to face digital literacy squarely this year. It is one of the new normal occasioned by Covid-19. If the global economy had envisaged that we would have coronavirus, everybody would have moved to the so called new normal.

But as we speak today, anybody coming into the new normal now, will meet Osun at the forefront and that is what we are going to focus on. Osun education will become a tourist attraction this year and I know a lot of states will come here to learn what we have been able to do. It is based on cloud system and we are doing excellently well. Very soon, my governor will be inaugurating this aspect of education and what he will do is going to be legendary. I won’t let the cat out of the bag now, but I know that in no distant time when we launch it, everybody will want to come here to learn what we have been able to do.

What efforts does the government intend to make in the area of infrastructure this year so that your desire to improve the quality and standard of education in the state can be fully achieved?

This year, we are going to embark on renovation of schools. We have quite a number of schools that are begging for attention because of the state of disrepair they are. Despite those gigantic buildings we have around, we still have a lot of deficit . Even though no government can easily complete every school, we will put everything into a better shape. But we are going to start and we have close to 100 schools to renovate as there are some that are roofless.

We will then move on to investing heavily in digital literacy which are the infrastructures.

We are also going to invest in training which is human capacity development, we are going to train principals, teachers, and sponsors from Canada are also joining us for the training. Also this year, the governor is looking to remodel certain aspect, especially the pre school age.

We want to make sure that we key into the UNICEF agenda which we had earlier jettisoned because of non implementation of the early childhood care education. Most of our schools that have facilities have started and we are going to be running them.

How have these developments impacted positively on the students?

The students are beneficiaries and they are happy. No longer will a boy attend Baptist Girls High School, which used to be the case.

That has gone forever and we have restored normalcy. If it’s a Girls Grammer school, we only have girls there, like St.John Grammar School, Ife. It’s boys only , now you can no longer find girls there. Also, you can’t find boys at St. Margaret, Ilesha. St. Charles, Osogbo, is an all boys school, you can’t find girls there.

The students are now seen in their uniform.

It just like when you go out of Nigeria and you see your flag, meaning that the patriotism and heroism will be renewed and that is what we have among the schools. The areas where we are working harder, is to ensure that those schools progress. For instance, for schools that were running senior secondary schools alone before we reviewed the polices, we cannot just manufacture JSS one, two and three to join them.

We have the senior secondary school classees and we now have students in junior secondary school one. We also promote during the session such that the school that was running junior secondary alone, has now admitted students into the senior secondary school one. So the restoration is going to be progressive and we are sincere about that.

Considering the second wave of Covid-19, how prepared is the government for school resumption?

The government is prepared, other than observing the Covid-19 protocols, there is nothing any other government can add to it, the benchmark has been set by NCDC. These are the use of nose mask, observing social distancing and washing of hands with soap and water, as well as using hand sanitizer.

One thing that has worried every government, Osun state inclusive, is that people are not complying with the Covid-19 protocols. What the government is trying to do is to ensure compliance with the protocols in the four walls of our schools. We have made sure that no student comes to school without using a nose mask and we have also provided facilities for hand washing in the premises. However, we urge our parents to also cooperate with the government in ensuring that these protocols are complied with, even when the students are outside the school. With the upsurge in cases, Nigerians should observe the protocols.

Resumption of schools in the state has commenced. An inter administerial committee was set up comprising the Ministry of Health and that of education. The committee looked at the daily profile of the NCDC since schools vacated. When we looked at the challenges confronting the state in terms of managing the virus, we advised the governor on what to do and when to open schools. So far so good, the state has done fairly well in combating the virus. We are not too exposed and the pandemic is not prevalent here.

How does your administration intend to improve tertiary education this year?

We plan to give tertiary education adequate attention and ensure industrial harmony among lecturers and other staff. We are currently looking at capacity building in the schools and very soon, new teachers will be recruited into our tertiary institutions. Osun State University is currently doing very well, we have adequate lecturers. We are looking at other institutions and auditing their figures to know when and how many people to employ there. The recruitment will be done in the first quarter of the year.

What major challenge did the Oyetola administration face in 2020?

The major challenge was funding. From the business point of view, we were spending over N90 million out of N100 million to service debts. However, the governor is a financial expert who knows that there is no point embarking on a project if there’s no money and as a result, he is not adding to what we are trying to refrain from. A number of holes have been blocked,so there are no leakages. Before funds are released, he makes sure that the money is actually needed. Salaries including the new minimum wage, have been paid. Also, the promotion list is currently being compiled.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ, 2021

EDUCATION

Int’l Day of Education: NGO, EkoExcel Call for Uninterrupted Learning, Public Expenditure Allocation Funmi Ogundare in Lagos and Michael Olugbode in Abuja Some Organisations and government bodies, recently joined their counterparts, the world over, to mark the 2021 International Day of Education which holds yearly on January 24, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.

With this year’s theme, ‘Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation’, Action Aid Nigeria, a nongovernmental organisation, called on the federal government to increase allocation for education to between 15 and 20 per cent of public expenditure.

The Coordinator, Ms Lola Ayanda in a statement made available to THISDAY, said there is the need to revise

and increase allocation for education to between 15 per cent and 20 per cent of public expenditure.

According to her, “there is need to increase the tax base by capturing the informal sector to increase resources, working towards a minimum tax to GDP ratio of 20 per cent, provide free quality education for all and halt the dangerous trends of privatization and commercialisation of education.

She called for inclusive educational systems and institutions; improved quality of teaching through adequate recruitment, renumeration and continued teacher training and re-training.

She said there must be evaluation of existing safety measures in schools to identify gaps and take corrective measures followed by regular risk

Abia Moves to Abolish Underage Schooling, Skipping of Classes Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia Abia State Government has come up with a new policy guideline that requires children to attain a specific age to qualify for admission into nursery, primary, ànd junior secondary school, the level where the 9 years of basic education ends.

Speaking at a stakeholders educational summit held, recently, at Umuahia, Abia State, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kanelechi Nwangwa who announced the new policy, noted that in the new guideline, a child is requited to attain the age of three before being admitted into the nursery school which must run for three years(nursery 1, 2 and 3) between the age of three and five years.

“No child would be admitted into any primary school in Abia State till the child is at least six years old,” he said, adding that every child must compulsorily conclude primary schooling which terminates at prImary six before proceeding to junior secondary.

He said parents and school proprietors needed to understand the benefits of allowing children to pass through every stage of their education at appropriate age without forcing them to jump classes.

“This is to remove the pressures that force the child to learn so much educational materials that the child is not mentally prepared to understand,” he said, adding that “children must be mentally ready before we feed them with academic materials they can grasp.”

The commisoner pointed out that it has become common practice for parents to force their children through education as if they in a race thereby subjecting them to undue pressure without regard to the fact that “learning especially at

the earliest stages are related to age for maximization.”

“There is need for us to put in place an education that will place real emphasis on acquisition of knowledge, the use of the knowledge to create a positive change in attitude and emphasize on the quality of products, performance and the application of the knowledge for visible outcomes and attitudes,” he said.

Nwagwa regretted that a lot of things had gone wrong in the school system, hence the need to sanitise it and streamline standards in both public and private schools.

He further stated that there will be no fully approved primary school that will end in primary five in Abia State, while all pupils moving from primary to junior secondary school (both public and private), must write and pass the GPT as a standard admission requirement.

Nwangwa frowned at the attitude of private schools that place little or no importance on the Basic Education Certificate Education (BECE) and therefore do not usually encourage their students to write the exam.

“This is very disappointing and must change,” he said.

In his address the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu noted that Abia has been doing well in external exams and government would not allow any thing that would affect such performance.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, commended the ministry of education for coming up with the stakeholders summit to discuss and profer lasting solutions to the problems affecting the school system.

He appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts and join hands with government and other stakeholders to wipe out cultism from the school system where its negative impact is already being felt.

assessment at the federal, state and local government levels; providing leadership and funds to support logistics of monitoring teams at all levels; and enforce compliance to COVID-19 safety rules and measures.

The statement reads in parts, “As a developing nation, education is a vital tool for transformational change and is critical for sustainable development. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that led to a global disruption of learning, this has affected the lives of many children due to the closure of schools, universities, and other institutions of learning in year 2020. Other factors such as insecurity challenges, socio-economic factors, infrastructural deficit have continued to affect education in the country.”

“With less than a decade to 2030, and in a world thrown into turmoil by COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that the federal government takes concrete actions to recommit to honoring the UN commitments and mobilize all available resources to deliver on SDG4 thereby ensuring no child is

left behind.”

On its own part, the Lagos State Government has been intentional in its efforts to mitigate the impact of school closure on learners through an array of remote learning programmes introduced to facilitate continuity of education. Through the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, (LSUBEB), the EkoEXCEL@Home was introduced as an immediate educational support initiative to further facilitate continuous learning and increased engagement for pupils while at home. This is in addition to the Classroom in your Home TV program on (LTV) and the interactive radio instruction (on Radio Lagos 107.5FM and Eko FM 89.7) programmes put in place by the government to ensure school children of all grade levels are learning while at home.

The Chairman of the board, Wahab Alawiye- King said the programme has been carefully designed to make learning fun and engaging for the pupils and to ensure that there are no learning gaps. He appealed to parents and guardians to

continue to utilise the remote learning programmes to keep their children productively engaged as well as keep them home and safe.

“With the LSUBEB’s mandate to leave no child behind, EkoEXCEL@Home ensures that pupils have access to academic digital content that has been crafted to ensure that they are actually learning while at home. This comprehensive remote learning programme includes the EKOEXCEL Radio Programme (on Eko FM 89.7), self-study activity packs, learning guides, interactive audio lessons, digital storybooks and innovative WhatsApp quizzes that help parents and caregivers test what their children are learning, “ he said.

The Director, School Management, Mrs. Sonia Ivie explained that implementing effective remote learning programmes such as EkoEXCEL@Home are the easiest ways to ensure that children can freely access learning resources, that effective learning is not interrupted and no child is left behind as a result of the devastating impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had in the education sector.

“Education delivery should not only be comprehensive and sustainable, but must continuously evolve to meet the challenges of the fastchanging and unpredictable globalised world. Innovation in education should be systemic, such that even when schools reopen, we should continue to explore ways to ensure effective learning, teacher support and broader access to quality education.”

A parent who resides in Ikorodu, Mrs Bolanle Olawale having gone through the interactive quizzes said the questions were well prepared in accordance with the online lessons, adding that she found the quizzes very useful and event learnt a lot from them. “I took the quizzes myself to see if they worked before giving them to my child. Now I can’t stop using them.”

Mr. Johnson Chukwu said, “With the WhatsApp quizzes, now I can test my child. For each question taken, the quiz provides a response indicating whether the answer provided is right or wrong. We get immediate feedback. I can now test my child at home.”

A teacher, Mrs. Nwokeji Oghali of Lagos State Model Primary School, GRA Ikeja, with her pupils, during the International Day of Education held recently

Greensprings Students Shines at Int’l Human Rights Essay Contest A student of Greensprings School, Lagos, Miss Oluwatoni Adesanya, recently, won the second prize in this year’s Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation (KHREF)’s essay competition.

The international competition received about 100 essays from 17 countries, but Adesanya’s essay titled ‘Human Rights Violations Masquerading as Covid-19 Interventions: The Nigerian Experience’, was adjudged second best, and she received the $500 prize.

Sharing her experience about writing the essay, she thanked all her English teachers who have helped in developing her composition skills.

“First of all, I want to say a big thank you to my English teachers in Greensprings School, for teaching me how

to conduct proper research and hone my writing skills.

I also want to thank my mother, father and aunt for their constant support.

“This winning came as a pleasant surprise to me because it was a bit difficult to write the essay at first. My inspiration came from the problems that surfaced in Nigeria during the pandemic and the looting of palliatives donated by the private sector. To do the writing, I had to carry out a research on human rights, the origin of Covid-19, and how governments across the world responded to the pandemic.

“Websites of credible international organisations such as the UN, WHO, and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) were valuable for my research. I also read reliable

Nigerian newspapers, and consulted the websites of CACOVID and human rights organisations in Nigeria,” she added.

Adesanya also stated that her essay was written to enlighten the public on how some of the country’s Covid-19 policies breached human rights, and how lowincome and poor Nigerians have been badly affected by these policies. She said her aim is to call attention to the issue and hope that people in authority take appropriate actions.

The Secondary School Principal at Greensprings School, Anthony Campus, Mrs. Magdalene Okrikri, expressed satisfaction with Adesanya’s achievements, saying, “I am very proud of Oluwatoni and

her achievements. She was the valedictorian of our elementary school’s class of 2020, and I am happy that she continues to perform exceptionally in everything. She has shown that all the quality education she has received from Greensprings Preschool, Elementary and now Secondary School, is paying off extremely well. I know she will win many more awards both locally and internationally.”

The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation (KHREF) is a non-profit corporation established in 2008. It seeks to motivate students to contribute their effort towards creating a world where everyone’s human rights are realised, by sponsoring human rights essay contests and other human rights-oriented academic activities.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ, 2021

EDUCATION

USAID, NERDC Inaugurates Early Grade Learning Books in Local Languages Funmi Ogundare in Lagos and Michael Olugbode in Abuja United State Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), has inaugurated the Early Grade Reading (EGR) Teaching and Learning Materials (TLM) in Igbo and Yoruba Languages:’ Ka Anyi Guo’ and ‘Je Ka Kawe’.

The material were developed to improve reading outcomes amongst Nigerian children from primary one to three and promote the use of mother tongue in early grade education .

Speaking at the public presentation held recently, via Zoom, the Chief of Party USAID Northern Education Initiative (NEI) Plus, Mr. Nurudeen Lawal expressed delight about the initiative noting that children across the country, will be able to read in their mother tongue.

The development of the materials, he said, follows the successful implementation of Ma Karanta! and Let’s Read! EGR Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMS) across northern Nigeria.

According to him, “Like the Ma Karanta and Let’s Read, the Ka Anyi Guo! and Je Ka Kawe!, pupil books and scripted teacher’s guides, reflect evidence -based practices for EGR and align with the national curriculum.

These materials are developed to improve reading outcomes and promote the use of mother tongue among Nigerian children.”

He said he believes that once the reading culture of children are increase, you have reduced poverty level across the world.

The Edecutive Secretary, NERDC, Professor Ismail Junaidu recalled how the materials were developed through a joint collaboration of different stakeholders in the education sector, adding that it was designed to impact positively on the improvement of reading ability among Nigerian children, thereby boosting educational development.

“With the mandate for curriculum development, NERDC led a team of consultants, writers and representatives of key parastatals in the education sector to develop the Igbo and Yoruba reading materials. They have

no doubt come at the right time. After all, the aim is to improve children’s reading performance and Nigeria is a committed partner in this effort. They were developed through global best practices following the guidance of seasoned education experts in teaching curriculum and language development, “ he stressed.

He said it is critical for all education stakeholders to ensure that teachers at the primary level receive the support they needed to help our children learn to read, adding that teachers must guide pupils to learn and practice reading using this text inside and outside the classroom. “Parents must also support their children to read and practice at home every day and ensure that they have access to this material in the affected states, as well as be lifelong learners.”

The Mission Drector, USAID, Dr. Anne Patterson said the development of this resources has presented her office with an opportunity to build foundational reading skills among children thereby contributing to developing a new generation of leaders equipped to help Nigeria

meet the challenges ahead, adding, “with the quality of these materials, I have no doubt that more Nigerian children will have the literacy skills to fully understand the information to read and easily put it into good use.

She commended the Ministry of Education for its leadership as well as the contributions of education practitionals who were involved in the process of the development of the materials. “ We all know the importance of education and no country can rise above the quality of its education. An investment in the quality of education of the children is an investment that secures a bright future for the nation, “Patterson said.

The Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajuba who inaugurated the reading materials commended the laudable achivements of USAID, NERDC and those who have contributed towards the succesful development in line with the national policy on education, adding that his ministry will continue to partner with USAID to provide basic education to promote self reliance.

KEHINDE OMORU www.kayomoru.com

THE DISTINCT PURPOSE OF BEGINNING I made reference to Julies Andrews’ song track in one of my articles in 2016 entitled ‘Let’s start from the very beginning, the very good place to star’ . In that song track, she made a profound statement that cuts across anything anyone might want to do and do successfully.

FornationswithhighratesofTuberculosis(TB),toeradicatethisdisease, it’s people’s must start from the very beginning.The BCGVaccine given tobabiesprovidetheneededprotectionagainstTBinchildren.Weknow from theWorld a Health Organization (WHO) that the BCG vaccine currently reaches up to 80 per cent of all newborn children and infants in countries that have high levels of tuberculosis. Is the BCG vaccine easily available in your area?

Currently, countries with high rates of tuberculosis are: Africa-GenerallySub-SaharanAfrica.It’simportanttonotethatNigeria and South Africa were listed amongst the 6 countries accounting for 60 percentofthetotaldeathsgloballyfromtuberculosisin2015,according WHO Reports online.

Also experiencing incidences of tuberculosis are: South East Asia including India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

Russia China South America TheWestPacificRegion-towestofthePacificOceanincludingVietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.

Pregnantwomenintheseregionsneedtoconsiderseriouslygettingtheir newbornbabiesvaccinatedwiththeBCGvaccinesoonafterthey’reborn.

TheBCGvaccineiscurrentlytheonlyvaccineavailablefortheprevention of tuberculosis in human beings.

What’s it with Tuberculosis (TB), you might ask.

Presently globally, Tuberculosis (TB) like many bacterial infections, is trudgingonasanobstinatemulti-drug-resistantinfection.Accordingto theWorld Health Organization (WHO), in 2015 world-over, an estimated 480,000 sufferers developed multi drug resistance to the infection.TB is a serious infection caused by a bacterium known as mycobacterium tuberculosis. Its complications can kill if not quickly treated.

Thisbacteriaiscontainedwithinthedroplets,inthesneezesandcoughs of infected persons. Uninflected people inhaling these contaminated droplets, after prolonged contact with the infected, may acquire the bacteria. Symptoms (see below) develop within a few weeks or months and can be very ravaging for the affected individual.

TB mainly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB). It is contagious when the bacteria is located in the lungs. In its active state, where a person’s immune system has failed to kill or contain the infection, its sufferers are Infectious to other people. They need to be urgently seen and treated with effective antibiotics prescribed by a doctor that’s able to treat the infection.

Tuberculosis can affect other parts of the body namely glands in the stomach, the nervous system and the bones.

Doyouknowanyone:coughingfor3weeksormore;bringingupphlegmy sputum; coughing up blood, experiencing tiredness & fatigue; losing weight,withanaccompanyinglossofappetite;experiencingnightsweats, chills, fever and high temperatures; having swellings in the neck, then do something quickly!

Get them seen by a competent doctor.

Omoru is a freelance writer, education, health and social care advocate

The Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, during the inauguration of the Early Grade Learning books in local languages, held recently

Economic Growth: Nigeria Must Invest $2b in Research Yearly, Says Bogoro Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), Professor Suleiman Bogoro, has said that Nigeria needs to invest about $2 billion yearly in Research and Development (R&D) to improve its current economic outlook.

Speaking at the 9th convocation ceremony of Veritas University, Abuja, Bogoro expressed concern that the country is suffering from low economic growth, due to inadequate investment and commitment to research.

According to him: “The yearly budget of an Agric institute in Brazil is about the same as TETfund’s yearly budget. The reason why research has not taken its rightful place and not contributing to the economy is because there is no fund and there is adequate commitment of funds. That is why at TETfund, we decided that one of the main recommendations is the emergence of a national R&D foundation for Nigeria.

“Presently, TETfund has been increasing its funding volume for research. It was N3 billion, but two years ago,

it moved to N5 billion and last year, we increased it to N7.5 billion. Hopefully, we will raise it to N8.5 billion and yet, it is the largest research grant in Nigeria, but it is inadequate.”

He noted that the research grants, which would be used to support bachelors, masters and post-graduate studies, would also assist in helping poor undergraduate students.

“If that happens, it is the only way Nigeria can be seen to be competitive on a sustainable basis,” he said.

Bogoro observed that most of the challenges confronting

the nation today were due to the inability to inject science and technology for value addition.

The TETfund boss noted that Nigerian tertiary institutions only conduct research for awarding degrees, saying, “If outcome of those researches are not problem-solving, we have failed our generation.”

The Vice-Chancellor, Veritas University, Abuja, Professor Hyacinth Ichaku, who disclosed that 32 out of the 421 graduates were awarded first class certificates, urged them to be good ambassadors of the institution.

Council Chairmanship Aspirant Gives Scholarships to 2,074 Students Kayode Fasua All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmanship aspirant for Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Dr. Oladipupo Okeyomi, has granted tuition-free scholarships worth over N20 million to 2,074 students in various tertiary institutions.

Okeyomi, who disclosed the gesture, in a chat with THISDAY, said the scholarship programme, which has no political undertone, was a regular charity gesture under his Change Agent Foundation International (CAFI), which he founded 12 years ago.

Lamenting the plight of indigent students dropping out of school owing to their parents’ inability to pay their tuition fees, Okeyomi said it was high time the well-to-do citizens rose up

to the occasion.

The politician, who is a security consultant and largescale farmer, said, “bearing my humble background in mind, and propelled by my Christian faith on the importance of charity, I resolved way back in 2007 to set up the CAFI, under which I mobilise funds to help the less-privileged.

“Every year, we assist students through scholarships and artisans through requisite tools and training empowerment. Only last month, we disbursed over N20 million to the managements of various tertiary institutions in the country, as tuition-free scholarships and it covered a total of 2,074 students. We are determined to do more and are using the CAFI as a rallying point, to draft in other well-to-do Nigerians into the charity train.”

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ, 2021

St. Gregory’s College @ 139: Total Education Defines Ideal Gregorians, Says Abebe

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former President of the St. Gregory’s College Old Boys Association (SGCOBA), Dr. John Abebe, has highlighted academic, moral, spiritual and sporting formation and polishing as the qualities imbued in past and current students of the college.

Abebe, who was President of the association between 2012 and 2018, was speaking at the 139 years anniversary of the college, noted that the impartation of those qualities under wonderful tutors, led by the visionary and committed Catholic missionaries who were the principals over the years, stood Gregorians out of the crowd and made students regard obstacles as mere challenges that would eventually help to bring out the best in them.

According to him, “on my return from my postgraduate studies abroad, in 1979, I attended a meeting of the Old Boys association and I was one of the youngest at that gathering. It was at that meeting that I resolved to make my modest contributions towards the development of my alma mater.”

Dr Abebe, a member of the 1964 set of the school, had during his stewardship as president of the old boys association galvanized other old boys, the college authorities and the Catholic Archdiocese to bring about the massive improvement to facilities and infrastructure that occurred in the college during his tenure.

The rehabilitation of the Col-

lege Chapel, Football Field, and Cricket pitch, as well as the erection of a Grotto and the Monsignor Pedro Martins Laboratory Complex, were some of the many projects carried out at Saint Gregory’s College, during the Abebe-led leadership of the association.

He is also a former President of the Nigerian Cricket Association and a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award of the International Cricket Council for 2006/2007and remains the only African so highly honoured. The 2017 distinguished alumni awardee of the University of Lagos, is highly sought-after by alumni of other colleges for his views and acumen in running Old Boys Associations (OBAs).

Established on March 12, 1882, at Igbosere, Lagos, as St. Gregory’s Grammar School, it was later relocated to Obalende, South-West area of Ikoyi, also in Lagos, on January 27, 1928, and renamed St. Gregory’s College Lagos.

According to Dr. Abebe, there were talks to move the school’s founder’s day from the current January 27 to March 12, which was the day St. Gregory’s was actually founded.

At Obalende, the college was sited on a sprawling land with the luxury of space to engage in the multiplicity of academic, spiritual, physical and sporting activities that would lead to the education and transformation of man into a civilized being.

A preponderance of observers were unequivocal that

as an academic institution, St. Gregory’s College had excelled greatly in its primary responsibilities.

Over the years, the college has recorded splendid performances in school certificate examinations, one of which was the 2015 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) when the college, recorded between 97 and 100 per cent credits and distinctions in about 18 subjects including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Biology, Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK), Government, History, Literature, Chemistry, and Further Mathematics.

The college repeated its splendid performance in the 2016 SSSCE by recording between 98 and 100 per cent credits and distinctions in about 10 subjects.

The school has no doubt, made invaluable contributions to the different sectors of human endeavours within and outside the country, and not a few reckoned that sports was one of the areas where the college had shown more than a million stars. The college has produced students who have not only excelled in school sports competitions but also in national and international sports contests.

For instance, in athletics,

St. Gregory’s College had produced the likes of Rafiu Oluwa, P.V. Sho-Silva, Ibisi, I. Ekpeti. Oluwa, Charles Njoku, Benji Ohaeri, Asenuga, Lawson, Funsho Williams, Bode Rhodes-Vivour, King Pau, while the Akerele Brothers, Delu Karunwi, Alex Quist, Eddie Hughes, and Tete Silva were all distinguished cricketers.

The college, record revealed, was one of the educational institutions that blazed the trail with the playing of hockey in Nigeria in 1928, and no account of the growth and development of football in Nigeria may be considered worthy of accep-

tance without reflections on the prodigious contributions of Saint Gregory’s College.

Some of the prodigious football talents from the stable of the college were; George Amu, Patrick Ekeji, Akpala, Lati Gomez, and Geraldo Ibe, among others.

St. Gregory’s also had the likes of Joe Ugochukwu and Hilary Cardoso in tennis.

Also noteworthy were the exploits of St. Gregory’s College students in music and the arts. The college produced the likes of Geraldo Pino, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Bob Agim, The Ofeges, David Dale, Vector and General Pipe.

L-R: Board Member, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Hakeem Shittu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Bose Adelaja, Commissioner, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, Executive Chairman, SUBEB, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King, Country Director, KOICA Nigeria, Mr. Woochan Chang and Deputy Country Director, Evngin Kwon, during a meeting held in Lagos...recently

Gov Emmanuel Committed to Education LSUBEB Partners KOICA on Smart Model School Reform in Akwa Ibom, Says Commissioner Funmi Ogundare

Okon Bassey in Uyo Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State is committed to reforming the education sector in the state in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet has said.

Accordingly, the commissioner said the Governor expects all hands to be on deck towards the realisation of this goal.

Mrs Etiebet also disclosed that the Governor has approved the resumption of public and private primary and secondary schools in the state for second term 2020/2021 academic session on February 1, 2021.

In line with the fight against the second wave of the dreaded Covid-19, she appealed to parents and guardians to ensure their children and wards are properly kitted daily with facemasks in line with COVID-19 safety protocols.

“Parents are also expected to provide their children and wards with all the necessary textbooks and writing materials.

School authorities are charged to ensure provision of handwashing facilities including

running water, hand sanitizers and thermometers while ensuring that students, pupils and teachers comply with physical distancing within the school premises.”

She warned that students or teachers who feel sick should not come to school, but seek medical help.

“Government will not tolerate lateness on the part of the students or teachers just as students caught loitering during school hours will be punished,” she said.

The Commissioner reminded the school community that the State’s Education Monitoring teams are committed to ensuring that these directive are not flouted.

“School authorities are advised to ensure teachers complete their scheduled curriculum for the term in compliance with the State Government’s directive. The second term will be concluded on April 1, 2021. The Akwa Ibom State Government encourages school children to be serious with their academics in order to make their parents and the State proud,” Etiebet said in a statement.

Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), recently partnered with Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in the deployment of state- of -the art equipment, capacity building for teachers, provision of technical expertise and online portal in the UBEC Model School, as part of efforts aimed at improving quality teaching and learning in basic education.

The UBEC Model School project which is currently undergoing construction at Iworo-Ajido, Badagry, Lagos State, is a prototype model

school initiated by UBEC under the FGN/UBEC direct intervention.

Speaking at a meeting held, recently in Lagos, the Executive Chairman, Wahab AlawiyeKing, thanked the KOICA group for their partnership and the willingness to provide state-of the art ICT facilities upon project completion.

He explained that Iworo -Ajido community in Badagry, was chosen for the project due to its vast expanse of land, good terrain and serene environment.

“Mr. Governor is massively contributing to the digital transformation of the education sector, in line with the THEMES agenda of his administration, particularly with the EKOEXCEL

initiative,” Alawiye-King said He said the board is ready to partner with the agency as it has considered three factors; commitment of its partner, integrity and capacity to handle the project .

“For us in Lagos, community engagement, partnership, cross sector relationship is very important to us. Education for us is an ecosystem, where you need relationship with both local and international organisation to thrive.”

Mr. Woochan Chang, Country Director of KOICA Nigeria, said the agency is committed to satisfying the developmental needs of the Nigerian government.

He said Lagos State was

chosen as one of the states in Nigeria to replicate the Nigeria/ Korea Model School that was established by UBEC in Abuja, due to its capacity and commitment, adding that the agency wants to disseminate digital education in the country.

The State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo later received the UBEC/ KOICA delegation on behalf of the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and pledged the support and readiness of the state to take ownership of the project upon completion.

Mrs. Abosede Adelaja, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education thanked KOICA Group for the huge collaboration and support for education.

NIStructE Appoints Yabatech Deputy Rector as President The Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE) has elected the Deputy Rector (Academic) Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Dr. Kehinde Osifala as the 20th president of the institute.

The investiture held recently, at the college, attracted experts in the field of engineering field.

Speaking at the investiture, the Rector, Mr. Obafemi Omokungbe congratulated NIStructE and the newly elected president, noting

that for Yabatech community, this is a laudable and worthy of celebration, to have one of the institution’s best brain, an erudite scholar, a renowned teacher and a seasoned administrator as head to run the affairs of the NIStructE. Omokungbe hinted that Osifala who had served meritoriously in the college for 36 years, had also contributed immensely to its academic and administrative development. He assured NIStructE that Osifala will bring

in the desired development to the profession and will also raise the quality of service of the institution, and this is a call to service and great responsibility to the association which the new president has so much passion for.”

He said the role of NIStructE is critical to our national and economic development as well as our safety, adding that there is need to regulate the profession to ensure that only qualified and

competent hands are engaged.

“It is important that the necessary partnership with the government and other relevant organisations must be formed by the institute to checkmate the activities of quacks. Emphasis must be laid on professional development which the Institute is highly committed. With the right leadership the challenges facing the institution will be reduced to the barest minimum or eradicated completely.

38

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

CITYSTRINGS

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Again, Nigeria Gets It Wrong on Tobacco Control Funding Philip Jakpor

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igeria’s 2021 national budget has not disappointed pessimists. Like previous years public health was relegated to the back seat in terms of priority and funding. The breakdown of the approved budget shows that the health sector received only N547 billion(five hundred and forty-seven billion naira), representing about seven per cent of the budget’s total of N13.58 trillion.

This meager allocation falls far short of the 15 per cent recommendedby African governments in the Abuja Declaration in 2001 in which they agreed that such allocation on a yearly basis can go a long way in addressing deficiencies in their health systems.

Ironically, the approved budget will see a whopping N380.21 billion go to recurrent expenditure, and N132 billion for capital projects. N35.03 billion captured under the Basic Health Provision Fund, will go to managing emergencies and infectious diseases such as the COVID-19, salaries of health workers, and logistics involved in the day to day running of the health ministry and tertiary health facilities.

It will also go into the purchase of personal protective equipment for health workers fighting COVID-19, interventions against diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, meningitis, and HIV/AIDS. It will also address the construction and rehabilitation of primary health facilities, purchase and maintenance of cancer machines, and a pool of funds for health insurance packages.

Despite the clamor for sustainable funding for tobacco control by public health advocates since the passage of the National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act in 2015, there has been no budgetary allocation to support implementation of the Act. Part 3, Section 8 (1) of the Act provides for the creation of the Tobacco Control Fund which “shall consist of monies made available by the Federal Government from annual budgetary allocation approved by the National Assembly”. Another source of funding recommended in the Act are subventions from any of the governments of the Federation to meet the stated Objectives of the Act. Owing to dearth of funding for tobacco control, it is no longer in

Jakpor contention that a host of Ministries and Departments of Government now accept sponsorship of their activities from the tobacco industry and their front groups. In Lagos, the annual Food Fair held on October 18 is partly bankrolled by the tobacco industry. The Federal and State Ministries of Agriculture are also in an open partnership with the tobacco industry through their FADAMA and extension programmes. Such interactions are regularly displayed on thetwitter, Instagram and facebook pages of the tobacco multinationals.

But these engagements are not restricted to agriculture. In the education sector, the Foundation for A Smoke-free World is cashing in on the Nigerian government’s poor funding for research and innovation and initiating appealing programmes that grab young minds. One of such initiatives is the

Conrad Nigeria Challenge, described as “an annual, multi-phase innovation and entrepreneurial competition that encourages young adults to leave their mark on the world. The participating pupils usually between the ages 12-18 years are described by the promoters as “entrepreneurial problem-solvers”, addressing challenging social, scientific, and societal issues through creativity, and critical-thinking.

Some of the schools that have “benefited” from the Challenge are in Lagos and Akwa Ibom States. The 2018 winners were flown from Nigeria to the final summit which held at the Kennedy Space Centre, Visitor Complex, Florida, USA. The kinds of engagements above are among the many that informed the verdict in the Tobacco Interference Index 2020 Report supervised by the

Global Centre for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC) at the School of Global Studies in Thammasat University, Thailand which established that the Nigerian government has fallen short of several critical standards of transparency and probity in engagements with the tobacco industry.

The report exposed how the tobacco industry in Nigeria has been interfering in tobacco control policies through their so-called corporate social responsibility activities or through front groups in contravention of the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC).

The findings would seem to point to unseriousness in Nigeria’s fight against the tobacco epidemic.

It is therefore imperative that Nigeria helps itself by exploring options for funding tobacco control which must not rely solely on foreign donations. Nigeria must learn from countries that have identified and now explore indigenous options for adequate and sustainable local funding for tobacco control. Vietnam is one of them. Vietnam is one of the 15 leading countries with highest smoking prevalence (45.3 per cent in male and 1.1 per cent female).

Owing to the strong political commitment, in 2012, the government passed a comprehensive tobacco control law. Its implementation draws funds from a 1.5 per cent compulsory surcharge tax from the tobacco industry. This innovation in tobacco control funding is now viewed as a model of the fight against the tobacco epidemic. Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia also have local funding mechanisms for tobacco control andhealth promotion. The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) is currently working with these countries on tobacco taxation policy and mechanisms to earmark or surcharge tobacco taxes for tobacco control.

The lesson for Nigeria is that tobacco control is not sustainable through foreign grants alone. The sooner the Nigerian government understands this and starts exploring other reliable and sustainable options such as the national budget and innovative tobacco taxes, the better for the health and wellbeing of Nigerians. ... Jakpor works with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa

Ekiti State to Partner IVLP Alumni Association The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has expressed his administration's readiness to partner with the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumni Association in improving the quality of lives of Nigerians by impacting positive change in young students through its mentoring programs.

Governor Fayemi; an alumnus of the IVLP, which is aimed at fostering mutual understanding between the United States and other nations through short-term visit to the US, stated this when he received executive members of the association in his office in Government House, Ado-Ekiti.

According to IVLP Alumni Association Publicity Secretary, Richard Edoki, the governor while commending the association for upholding the values of the IVLP program through its activities comprising the mentoring program for senior secondary school student of government schools where they are equipped with leadership skills, exposed to proper decision making process and motivated to students for excellence both personally and academically, Waste to Wealth, Teachers Training, Online Food and Grocery Training, Drugs Abuse and Crime Workshops, said his state is open for such initiatives.

He said: "The philosophy on which IVLP is built makes it easy for the state government to collaborate with the association in instilling values that will shape the future into the young ones."

Governor Fayemi added that the IVLPAA’s giveback to the society can also help the state's chapter of Fashion Designers Association in promoting its clothing products to the world, and also to introduce young and middle aged people into the Online Food and Grocery sector.

He directed relevant agencies of the state government to liaise with the IVLPAA in areas of partnership to enable the Ekiti people benefit from the wealth of experience of members of the association.

Speaking earlier, President of the IVLP Alumni Association Nigeria, Mrs. Adetoun Tade, said the visit was to felicitate with Governor Fayemi as one of its member and to commend him for what he was doing as Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria's Governors Forum.

Mrs. Tade added that the visit was also to extend the activities of the association to Ekiti state to enable more people benefit from the experiences, knowledge and skills of its members.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and Mrs. Adetoun Tade, President, International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumni Association Nigeria

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

CRIME&SECURITY

A New Order at NAF Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that with the recent appointment of Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao as the 21st Chief of Air Staff, a new order has begun at the Nigerian Air Force

Handing/taking over at NAF headquarters, Abuja

L-R: Newly appointed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Oladayo Amao and his predecessor, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd)

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or five years, six months and 13 days, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar held court as the 20th Chief of Air Staff (CAS). In that time frame, he took the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to soaring heights through germane platform acquisitions, welfare boosts, trainings, as well as Research and Development (R &D).

Appointment But on January 26, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari set off a flurry of change with the appointment of a new Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Oladayo Amao. With his appointment, Amao became the 21st CAS in the long line of succession, thus setting off a new order at NAF. Change of Baton Three days afterwards, a change of baton occurred at the Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF) in Abuja. The handing and taking over started off with Inspection of the Quarter Guard by the incoming and outgoing CAS on arrival at HQ NAF Complex as well as the laying of wreath by the new CAS at the HQ NAF Memorial Arcade.

Other highlights of the event included the signing of the handing/taking over notes and the handing/taking over of NAF colours. The event was climaxed with the Changing of the Guard ceremony and lowering/hoisting of NAF flag in front of the HQ NAF Complex, which symbolised the end of one era and the beginning of another.

Deliverables In his inaugural address, the 21st CAS pledged that the NAF would sustain and effectively employ Air Power in the protection of Nigeria's people and interests, against all enemies of the state, just as he assured Nigerians that the NAF in synergy with sister services and other security agencies, would do its best to provide the support and security necessary for the nation’s development, whilst sparing no effort in discharging its constitutional responsibilities to the government and law-abiding citizens of the country.

Acknowledging that the NAF had recorded tremendous successes in the past few years, especially in enhancing the service’s operational efficiency and the welfare of its personnel, AVM Amao assured his predecessor that we would work hard to maintain his records while hoping to attain greater heights.

Also admitting that his appointment was a challenge and call to national duty, especially at this crucial stage in Nigeria’s development, he further noted that, though bedeviled by various forms of insecurity in the country, ranging from the Boko Haram insurgency/terrorism in the North-east to the criminal activities of pipeline vandals, crude oil thieves, sea robbers and militants in the South, the nation was also facing increasing threats from kidnappers, cattle rustlers and militarised herdsmen.

Thus, he restated the NAF’s resolve to bring such threats to an end in order to ensure the nation is safe and economically attractive, just as he added that the NAF will continue to do its best possible by leveraging credible partnerships, focusing on enhancing professionalism for high performance as well as motivational initiatives to create an enabling environment for its operations

The newly appointed CAS receiving the Nigerian AirForce ensign and personnel to thrive.

He therefore charged all officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF to give their best by exhibiting unparalleled professionalism, patriotism and ingenuity to ensure the security of the country.

Thanking President Buhari for the honour, he also appreciated the Ninth National Assembly, the officers, airmen and airwomen of the service for the support given to his predecessor without which, he noted, many of the successes recorded would not have been possible. He implored them to extend the same support to his administration as it opens a new chapter in the NAF’s history.

Valedictory Remarks Earlier in his remarks, the former CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, noted that at the outset of his five years, six months and thirteen days in office, his vision was to reposition the NAF into a highly professional and disciplined force which was clearly defined through capacity building initiatives to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and timeliness in the employment of Air Power to address the security challenges facing the country.

He expressed satisfaction that he had not only restructured the service substantially, with the expansion of its structure and recruitment of about 10,000 additional personnel, but that the service had also embarked on massive air operations in different parts of the country; especially in the North-east, North-central and the North-west, adding that in the North-east alone, the NAF flew over 37,000 hours of air operations.

Speaking on manpower development, he noted that due to the critical personnel requirements for the effective projection of Air Power, about 133 pilots had been trained and winged under his watch. This, he said, represented “about 49 per cent of the total active pilots conducting air operations to defend Nigeria today”.

He also disclosed that, while in office, he embarked on an elaborate effort to bridge the gap between force projection and force protection.

This had been premised on the fact that Air Power cannot be effectively projected when there are no proper means to protect the bases, air assets and air crew.

In the area of Research and Development, he

disclosed that the NAF, under his leadership, entered into Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 15 Nigerian universities, which have continued to contribute significantly to addressing some of the aircraft maintenance challenges facing the service.

He also noted that, while building the human resource base of the NAF, concerted efforts were also made to significantly address personnel welfare issues with the provision of new, as well as upgrade of existing, accommodation, medical and educational facilities in NAF units across the country.

While expressing confidence in the abilities of AVM Amao, he noted that the new CAS had played very crucial roles in ensuring that the NAF attained its present status. According to him, “he was here as Director of Operations and later as Chief of Training and Operations.

He also served as Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command and as Chief of Policy and Plans here at HQ NAF before he moved to the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi as Commandant.

“I am very confident, that you have all it takes to move the Air Force to a much higher level than you met it. My prayers are with you and my prayers are with all the officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF.” Thanking the president for giving him the opportunity to add value to what he inherited from his predecessor in 2015, he also expressed his gratitude to members of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate and House Committees on the Air Force, as well as officers, airmen and airwomen of the Service who, he said, stood by him to ensure that the NAF moves to a much higher level.

Background According to information made available by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, AVM Amao was born on September 14, 1965 at Enugu. He hails from Oshogbo Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. He enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on January 19, 1984 as a member of 35th Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course and was commissioned as Pilot Officer on December 20, 1986.

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

AVMl Amao has attended the following courses at Primary Flying Training, at 301 Flying Training School Kaduna Nigeria; Basic Flying Training at 303 Flying Training School Kano, Nigeria; Tactical Fighter Training at 99 Air Combat Training Group Kainji Nigeria; Instructor Pilot Course at 301 Flying Training School Kaduna Nigeria; and Junior Staff Course at Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji Nigeria.

He also attended the Senior Staff Course at Defence Services Staff College Wellington India; National Defense Course at National Defence University China; Aircraft Accident Investigation Course at Karachi Pakistan; and Aircraft Accident Investigation in Civil Airline at Nigeria Civil Aviation Training School Zaria Nigeria.

Appointment-wise, AVM held positions like Squadron Pilot at 99 Air Combat Training Group, Instructor Pilot at 301 Flying Training School, Instructor Pilot at 303 Flying Training School, Air Assistant to Chief of Air Staff at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Deputy Defence Adviser (Air) at Nigerian High Commission London, and Acting Defence Adviser at Nigerian High Commission, London.

Others include Assistant Director Operations at Defence Headquarters Abuja Nigeria, Commander of 99 Air Combat Training Group, Commander of 75 Strike Group Yola Nigeria, Air Component Commander Operations ZAMALAFIYA and LAFIYA DOLE. (North East Nigeria Operation), Deputy Theatre Commander (Air) Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Director of Policy at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Director of Training at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, and Director of Operations at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force.

He was also the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command Makurdi, Chief of Training and Operations Nigerian Air Force, Chief of Policy and Plans Nigerian Air Force, and he was currently the Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Lagos.

For AVM Amao, his awards and decorations are as follows- the 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) China and Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI).

Asides being a fighter instructor pilot with over 1500 jet and instructional hours, he is the recipient of the Chief of Air Staff letter of commendation for good leadership.

Over the years, he has participated in operations like the Draw Down of AFISMA operation in Mali, Operation ZAMAN LAFIYA (North East Nigeria operations), Operation LAFIYA DOLE (North East Nigeria operations) and other internal security operations in Nigeria.

40

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FG Vows Support for Proposed N2bn Animal Husbandry Centre James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran ÓØ ÌßÔË The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo has said the federal government will support the plan to establish a N2 billion centre animal husbandry as well as local and foreign investments in the country.

Speaking when he received a delegation from the Daniel Franco Institute, which paid him a courtesy visit, the minister said the federal government would continue to do its best to make the country a safe destination for investors.

In a statement by his media aide, Ifedayo Sayo, Adebayo, he said his ministry has the mandate of facilitating the development of viable non-oil commodities, in line with quality management systems, geared towards boosting indigenous

food and animal production, consumption/sustainability, as well as acceptability at targeted international markets for foreign exchange earnings.

He pointed out that it was imperative for the ministry to engage the institute to deliberate on the nature of strategic partnership and level of collaboration.

However, the institute has sought the minister’s support for the setting up of the Rabelat Entrepreneurship Centre for Animal Husbandry (RECAH) in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Rabelat, Dr Ahmed Raji, said RECAH was structured to run both training and commercial outfits for the animal husbandry subsector.

He explained that the training arm would focus on the basic studies in animal husbandry and entrepreneurship, and provide the platform for trainees to

select, breed, care-for, process and market livestock and small animals.

He put the cost of the project at N2 billion, adding that the amount would be spent on the construction of administration block and lecture halls, hostel, purchase of teaching aids, and construction of other infrastructural facilities.

He listed the benefits of RECHA to include aiding and fast tracking development of agribusiness in the country, creation of 50,000 jobs and solving the problem of herdsmen-farmers clashes that had become a common occurrence in the country.

Raji, therefore, solicited the support of the minister towards the setting up of the institute, stressing that the project will greatly enhance the growth of the agricultural sector of the economy.

… Inaugurates Storage System to Boost Yam Export James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran ÓØ ÌßÔË The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono has commissioned the yam storage facility at the Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

He said the facility has capacity to store between 45 – 50 Metric Tonnes of yam seed and is estimated to cover 16 hectares of land when planted.

Speaking during the ceremony, the minister noted that the huge output of using clean seed yam would boost production, increase earnings of yam farmers and enhance the export of yam from

the state.

He said the location of the facility inside the university would immensely add value to teaching, research and income generation for farmers in the state, adding that the facility will generate about 200 jobs to the value chain.

However, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Suleiman Bala Mohammed, commended the minister and his team for commissioning the facility.

He pointed out that the sum of N35 million was released by the state government to establish an aeroponics system for seed production - a component of yam value chain.

He added that the facility would be harnessed to support the federal government’s efforts towards improving agricultural productivity, promote research and enhance the economic diversification agenda of the federal government.

Separately, Nanono, also visited Shabu Integrated Farms, Kokona where he expressed satisfaction with the storage facilities displayed by RIELA International, an organisation that specialised in manufacturing high quality storage and processing equipment, planning, engineering, assembling and services for efficient and cost effective solutions of grain handling and preservation.

Premium,ARM, Stanbic PensionsLead in CPS’Returns Premium Pensions Limited, ARM Pensions Limited and Stanbic IBTC Pensions have continued to show leadership in the country’s Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in terms of returns to contributors as well as in unit price of active contributors called Retirement Savings Account (RSA) Fund 11.

The RSA Fund II is also called default fund for all active contributors who are below 50 years of age.

According to a report, an analysis of performance of the Pension Fund Administrators(PFAs) from data obtained in the industry showed that Premium Pen-

sion’s cumulative returns since inception was 433.75 per cent, above industry average of top eight PFAs of 368.45 per cent; while the unit price as at year end 2020 was 5,3375.

ARM came second with 404.06 per cent cumulative returns since inception, also above average of 368.45 per cent and unit price of 5.0406 at the end of 2020, while Stanbic came third with 392.42 per cent and 4.9242 unit price.

The order of performance included FCMB Pension, PAL pension, TRUSTFUND pension, Leadway Pension and Sigma Pension.

On the RSA Fund IV, that

is retiree fund, Stanbic IBTC Pension, ARM Pension and PAL Pension led in retiree fund otherwise called RSA Fund IV. RSA FUND IV is also called Fund for Retirees only. That is people who are already retired and collecting their pension from the PFAs on monthly basis Stanbic Pension is leading with 374.09 per cent cumulative returns since inception with a unit price of 4.7409, followed

by ARM Pension with 323.49 percent cumulative returns and unit price 4.2349, while PAL Pension came third with 295.51 percent cumulative returns and unit price of 3.9551.

Azubogu: Onitsha Can Jumpstart South-east Economy David-Chyddy ELekÏ ÓØ áÕË The lawmaker representing Nnewi North, NNewi South and Ekwusigo Federal constituency, Hon Chris Azubogu has said the commercial city of Onitsha has the capacity to jumpstart the economy of the south east zone of the country.

The lawmaker who is the vice chairman house committee on finance and appropriation in the country’s lower chambers, who is also running for the governorship position of Anambra State

said if elected governor, he will execute a Strategic Urban Renewal programme that would return Onitsha as catalyst for economic transformation of the state and the zone.

Azubogu made the statement in Onitsha when he met with members of PDP in Onitsha South and North Local Government Areas over his intention to run for the governorship of Anambra State. He added, “We must reopen the conversation on the need to return Onitsha as a catalyst for a strong Anambra economy and the South east.

“My promise is that if elected as the Governor of Anambra State, we are going to pursue a Strategic Urban Renewal programme for the Onitsha cluster, which will enhance the commercial, residential and industrial potentials of Onitsha as a catalyst for a thriving Anambra economy of our dream.”

Azubogu who met with party leaders of the two local government areas at separate venues, appealed to members to support his aspiration which he said is about the future of Anambra State’s development.

Buhari

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 AS AT MONDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2021

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $55.13 a barrel on Monday, compared with $54.41 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

41

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

UAC of Nigeria Recovers from N9.3bn Loss, Records N4.3bn Profit Goddy Egene UAC of Nigeria Plc has recorded a profit of N4.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020.

This represents a recovery from a loss of N9.3 billion posted in 2019.

Earnings per share for year stood at 106 kobo, up from negative 183 kobo in 2019, thereby raising the prospects of a higher dividend for shareholders.

Details of the unaudited results

showed that turnover increased three per cent to N81.6 billion from N79.202 billion recorded in 2019. According to the company, the revenue was supported by sales growth in the Animal Feeds & Other Edibles segment (+4.6 per cent), the Packaged Food & Beverages segment (1.8 per cent) and the Quick Service Restaurant Segment (1.9 per cent).

UACN explained that these segments were deemed essential services during the period of

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

stringent restrictions to movement of people and goods to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

Total profit for the period was N4.3 billion in 2020, a reversal from the N9.3billion loss reported in FY2019. Earnings per share for FY2020 was 106kobo, up from negative 183 kobo in FY2019.

Commenting on the performance, Group Managing Director, UACN, Fola Aiyesimoju, said: “FY 2020 was challenging, with operational disruptions related

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

to COVID-19 and ENDSARS protests. I thank my colleagues across the group for their courage, sacrifice, and dedication in navigating complexity. We focused on executing our strategy, implementing initiatives relating to UACN Property Development Company Plc (UPDC), significantly reducing leverage and increasing cash, strengthening management, and driving profitability.”

According to him, operat-

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

ing performance for the year was negatively impacted by disruptions as well as input cost escalation.

“Our efforts resulted in net income of N4.3 billion in 2020.

We benefited from N1.2 billion in non-recurring gains from investments in associates, MDS Logistics Limited and UPDC. In the fourth quarter, our businesses rebounded and profit after tax increased 136 per cent to N2.4 billion (N1.4billion, adjusting for

O F

non-recurring items) from N1.0 billion in 2019, supported by cost management initiatives that reduced operating expenses

by N1.4billion(30 per cent).In December 2020, UAC received 649 million units of UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust , valued at N3.6 billion as part of the partial exit from UPDC. This is in addition to the N6.6 billion received in H2 2020 for the sale of a 51 per cent stake in UPDC.

0 2 / 0 2 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

42

˾ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021

Wednesday, February 3, 2021 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Fell 1.2% dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ϭϭϱďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

ϭ͕ϴϳϰ͘Ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ ŝŶ GUARANTY (-2.2%), ZENITH (-3.1%), and WAPCO (-6.7%).

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϮϬ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶͲ dex.

dŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ŽŶ Ă ĚŽǁŶƚƌĞŶĚ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ĚŽǁŶ ϳϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ϰϮ͕Ϭϰϯ͘ϳϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ƐĞůů-ŽīƐ ŝŶ WAPCO (-6.7%), ZENITH (-3.1%), and GUARANTY (-2.2%). ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϰ͘ϰй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĨĞůů ďLJ േ164.3bn to ƐĞƩůĞ at േ22.0tn. ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂŶĞĚ as ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϱ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮϬ͘ϲй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ϱϴϲ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϰ͘ϴďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚͲ ĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ UBN ;ϳϵ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕

Price Change Index to Date

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,874.26

-1.15%

930.00

0.0%

32.2%

79.00

0.0%

10.8%

2.1%

2.1%

33.75

-2.2%

9.1%

4.3%

4.3%

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Cement Plc

The Sell-ŽīƐ ŽŶƟŶƵĞ͙ 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

ROE

ROA

27.7%

87.4%

19.7%

3.8%

9.2%

9.2%

7.9%

2.8%

27.9%

4.7%

P/E

5.4x

P/BV

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

0.6x

5.0%

7.6%

1.2% 37.9x

7.2x

2.3%

2.6%

4.9x

1.3x

8.3%

20.4% 26.3%

26.30

-3.1%

6.7%

6.0%

6.0%

22.8%

3.1%

3.8x

0.8x

10.4%

236.00

0.0%

5.5%

-3.6%

-3.6%

30.8%

14.6%

15.8x

5.0x

6.8%

6.3%

181.00

0.0%

4.9%

6.5%

6.5%

189.4%

11.9%

18.7x

31.4x

3.8%

5.3%

1,450.00

0.0%

3.6%

-3.7%

-3.7%

83.0%

20.5%

28.2x

27.5x

4.8%

3.5%

28.00

-6.7%

4.2%

33.0%

33.0%

6.5%

4.6%

19.5x

1.3x

3.6%

5.1%

8.90

-2.7%

2.8%

5.3%

5.3%

16.8%

1.5%

2.9x

0.5x

7.3%

34.6%

10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc

8.80

-3.3%

2.6%

1.7%

1.7%

13.9%

1.3%

3.7x

0.5x

10.7%

26.8%

7.35

-2.0%

2.4%

2.8%

2.8%

11.2%

1.1%

4.1x

0.4x

5.2%

24.4%

12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

61.00

-3.2%

2.1%

8.9%

8.9%

6.6%

2.5%

45.2x

3.0x

2.9%

2.2%

44.90

-0.2%

1.9%

1.9%

1.9%

24.3%

3.7%

6.0x

1.3x

5.3%

16.7%

14 International Brew eries PLC 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C 17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

TRANSCORP ;ϱϮ͘ϳŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ĂŶĚ FBNH ;ϰϵ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc

ZENITH (േ1.0bn), UBN (േϰϱϳ͘ϯŵͿ ĂŶĚ SEPLAT (േϰϱϯ͘ϬŵͿ

21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc

6.40

0.0%

1.6%

7.6%

7.6%

1.1x

33.00

-1.8%

1.2%

26.9%

26.9%

0.9x

-27.1% 4.2%

495.00

0.0%

1.2%

23.0%

23.0%

-0.3%

-0.2%

0.4x

7.8%

-2.8%

228.00

0.0%

0.8%

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

2.62

-3.3%

0.7%

4.0%

4.0%

10.5%

1.1%

2.9x

0.3x

7.5%

35.0%

8.9%

6.20

-8.1%

0.7%

3.3%

3.3%

0.6%

0.0%

48.8x

0.3x

21.00

-3.2%

0.7%

19.3%

19.3%

30.8%

15.6%

7.4x

2.1x

5.2%

13.4%

3.36

2.0%

-0.3%

0.5%

0.9%

0.9%

10.3%

1.2%

3.2x

0.1x

4.2%

31.3%

23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.94

-1.0%

0.4%

-4.9%

-4.9%

9.2%

0.9%

4.8x

0.4x

1.5%

20.8%

16.20

0.0%

0.4%

11.7%

11.7%

18.4%

5.8%

10.6x

3.5x

2.3%

9.5%

1.03

-1.9%

0.4%

14.4%

14.4%

-3.5%

-0.8%

0.6x

1.0%

-5.6%

74.50

0.0%

0.3%

5.0%

5.0%

18.5%

7.7%

2.4x

2.7%

>ĂĐŬůƵƐƚƌĞ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

14.20

5.2%

0.2%

2.2%

2.2%

-2.4%

-1.6%

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǁĂƐ

29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC

ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ Ăůů ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ save the AFR-ICT index ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶĐŚĞĚ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůůLJ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ďLJ ϭďƉ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ and /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϯ͘ϭй ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƐ ŝŶ

ZENITH

(-

3.1%), GUARANTY (-2.2%) and AIICO (-ϱ͘ϵйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƐĞůů-ŽīƐ ŝŶ DANGSUGAR (-3.2%) and FLOURMILL (-

31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 Total Nigeria PLC 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

1.3x

5.85

0.0%

0.2%

10.4%

10.4%

-12.2%

-5.6%

5.71

-2.7%

0.2%

21.2%

21.2%

85.7%

8.7%

19.00

-0.8%

0.2%

0.0%

0.0%

-17.8%

-9.0%

6.05

0.8%

0.2%

3.4%

3.4%

13.9%

4.8%

5.6x

0.8x

1.28

-5.9%

0.2%

13.3%

13.3%

21.4%

3.3%

2.9x

0.6x

143.00

0.0%

0.2%

10.0%

10.0%

21.00

0.0%

0.2%

18.0%

18.0%

3.2%

0.4%

7.8x

-4.3%

-4.3%

6.8%

0.5%

3.8x

0.66

36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC

14.2x

2.2x

0.7x

1.8%

1.7x

8.7%

0.6x

-4.3%

0.1% 0.0%

3.15

0.0%

0.1%

-14.9%

-14.9%

14.5%

2.6%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-29.7%

-8.5%

55.40

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

10.3%

7.2%

3.60

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-100.0%

-151.0% 45.9% -34.1%

7.4%

17.7% 34.8%

21.6x

-5.0%

7.0% -2.0%

4.7%

4.6%

0.7x

7.9%

12.8%

0.5x

6.1%

26.1%

6.7x

4.3%

1.4x

0.2x

7.8x

0.8x

14.8% 73.7%

1.8x

-18.4% 3.0%

12.8%

1.9%

-25.7%

1.8%) ĚƌŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůŽǁĞƌ ďLJ Ϭ͘ϵй͘

ĂƉŝĞĐĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ǁĞĂŬŶĞƐƐ ŝŶ WAPCO (-6.7%)

and ARDOVA (-10.0%).

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ĨĞůů ƚŽ Ϭ͘Ϯdž ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ 1.2x ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ ĂƐ ϴ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ϰϵ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ and ǁŚŝůĞ

CHAMPION

ETRANZACT

;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕

UNILEVER

LINKASSURE

(-10.0%),

BOCGAS

(-10.0%)

and ARDOVA (-ϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĞŶĚ ŝŶ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞƐ ƚŽ ƐŚĂƉĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ this week.

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

C H A M P ION

3.76

9.9%

UB N

79.5

-5.0%

UN ILEVER

14.20

5.2%

T R A N SC OR P

52.7

-1.9%

ET R A N Z A C T

2.45

5.2%

FB NH

49.5

-2.0%

T ic k er

0.22

4.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

38.6

-3.1%

SOVR EN IN S

0.26

4.0%

UB A

35.5

-3.3%

H ON YF LOUR

1.45

1.4%

A C C ESS

22.7

-2.7%

C UST OD IA N

6.05

0.8%

H ON YF LOUR

20.7

1.4%

LIVEST OC K

2.55

0.8%

UC A P

17.6

-2.7%

T R IP P LEG

0.75

0.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

15.5

-3.3%

T R A N SC OH OT

3.60

0.0%

M B EN EF IT

13.6

-7.0%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er LIN KA SSUR E

P ric e 0.81

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

-10.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

1032.8

-3.1% -5.0%

P ric e C hg %

B OC GA S

13.61

-10.0%

UB N

457.3

A R D OVA

17.15

-10.0%

SEP LA T

453.0

0.0%

B ER GER

7.25

-9.9%

GUA R A N T Y

384.8

-2.2%

NNFM

8.75

-8.8%

FB NH

361.6

-2.0%

R EGA LIN S

0.32

-8.6%

UB A

314.8

-3.3%

P R EST IGE

0.44

-8.3%

A C C ESS

203.8

-2.7%

-8.3%

F LOUR M ILL

174.0

-1.8%

153.6

-0.2%

137.5

-6.7%

A C A D EM Y

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

T ic k er

VER IT A SKA P

(+5.2%)

;нϱ͘ϮйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ

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

The /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ Ϭ͘ϱй

0.33

ET I

6.20

-8.1%

ST A N B IC

C A D B UR Y

8.50

-7.6%

WA P C O

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

43

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Berger Paints Appoints Gbadebo, Umar as Independent Directors Goddy Egene

appointed Mrs. Ereomajuwa non-executive directors in professionals. Gbadebo is years while Umar is a legal Gbadebo, and Mrs. Aisha a strategic move to boost a chartered architect and practitioner, notary public as independent its board with top notch chartered surveyor with 34 and social entrepreneur with Berger Paints Nigeria PLC has Umar 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 01- NAV: Is value per share of the real estate shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Feb-2021, unless otherwise stated. assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

vast experience in the public sector, private sector and the academia.

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 3.57 3.72 0.31% 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 140.94 141.42 5.11% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.20 1.20 -10.83% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.26 19.84 6.18% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 404.58 416.78 1.05% ARM Ethical Fund 35.84 36.92 6.32% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.22 1.22 -0.17% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.08 1.09 -3.40% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.36% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 134.64 135.59 6.71% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.25% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.09 2.09 -30.83% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.30 2.35 32.74% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.83% Paramount Equity Fund 17.22 17.56 7.74% Women's Investment Fund 139.16 140.81 4.58% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.27% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 135.04 135.98 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.51 108.51 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 0.56% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.56 1.56 -1.29% 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 1.07% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,186.21 1,187.70 -1.24% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 190.77 192.23 1.65% FBN Halal Fund 110.99 110.99 -0.48% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.00% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 123.28 123.28 1.39% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 123.42 123.42 1.38% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 158.06 160.36 4.55% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,951.39 4,003.80 5.21% Coral Income Fund 3,322.14 3,322.14 1.72% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 2.95% 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 0.44% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 130.46 129.93 21.03%

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 N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 2,521.35 2,532.80 2.26% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.32% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 3.81% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.40% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 2.06% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.28% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 1.32% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.23 1.23 0.46% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.42 111.42 0.31% 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 6.46% United Capital Bond Fund 1.90 1.90 0.40% United Capital Equity Fund 0.93 0.96 7.84% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.50% United Capital Eurobond Fund 117.65 117.65 0.48% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.12 1.13 2.97% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.67 12.81 6.89% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.99 14.12 14.55% Zenith Income Fund 24.13 24.13 0.64% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.89%

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

13.49 129.66 102.55

13.59 129.66 104.48

2.02% 6.51% 3.21%

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

14.64%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

6.03

6.11

5.99%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

18.38 1.00 20.71

18.48 1.00 20.91

12.16% 0.97% 0.94%

184.63

186.63

-16.70%

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.

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WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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48

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3,2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

UN Security Council Holds Emergency Meeting on Myanmar The UN Security Council began an emergency meeting on Myanmar Tuesday during which it was due to discuss a

draft text calling for a return to civilian power following the country’s military coup.

The behind-closed-

House Accuses Trump of Personal Responsibility for Capital Riot Donald Trump must be convicted because he is “personally responsible” for the riot at the US Capitol, House Democrats have said.

They detail the former president’s “incitement of insurrection against the republic he swore to protect” in a pre-trial brief released Tuesday.

It calls for him to be disqualified from ever running for office again.

Mr Trump has repeatedly denied his words led to the riot on 6 January.

Prior to the armed insurrection, thousands gathered at a “Save America” rally near the White House and listened to Mr Trump, who urged his supporters to “fight like hell” because “we won [the election] by a landslide”.

House impeachment managers said the former president’s repeated refusal to concede the election to Joe Biden encouraged the riot.

Trump’s “statements turned his ‘wild’ rally on January 6 into a powder keg waiting to blow”, the brief says.

Impeachment managers plan

to use Mr Trump’s own words and video footage of the riot to say that “the furious crowd” was “primed (and prepared) for violence if he lit a spark”.

“The evidence is clear. When other attempts to overturn the presidential election failed, former President Trump incited an attack on the Capitol,” it reads.

Lawyers for Trump will argue in next week’s impeachment trial that convicting a nowprivate citizen would be unconstitutional.

In response, the impeachment managers from the House say the Senate has jurisdiction to act because “a president must answer comprehensively for his conduct in office from his first day in office through his last”.

“This is not a routine corruption charge,” they wrote.

“Trump has committed an impeachable offense of historic proportions.”

Unlike in the case of Mr Trump’s first impeachment last year, Democrats have not indicated that they will call any witnesses.

doors discussions, held by videoconference, started at 10:00 am in New York (1500 GMT) and was expected to last two hours.

The text, drafted by Britain and seen by AFP, calls for Myanmar’s military to “immediately release those unlawfully detained.”

It would also call for the one-year state of emergency to be repealed and “for all sides to adhere to democratic norms.” The draft does not mention sanctions.

To be adopted, it requires the support of China, Myanmar’s main supporter at the UN and

the shooting took place around 6:00 am in Sunrise, Florida, when agents arrived to execute a search warrant at the suspect’s home.

“Two FBI Agents are deceased and three are wounded,” the FBI said.

Two of the wounded agents were taken to hospital and are in stable condition, it said.

Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged Tanzania to consider inoculating its population.

Tanzania is one of the few countries in the world to not publish any data on Covid-19 cases. It last did so in May, when about 500 cases and 20 deaths were recorded. The following month, Mr Magufuli declared Tanzania “coronavirus-free”.

Last month, the president said some Tanzanians had travelled abroad to take the vaccine but “ended up bringing us a strange coronavirus”. The comments were seen as an apparent admission that the virus may be circulating in the country.

At a news conference on Monday, Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima said: “For now the government has no plans to receive the Covid vaccine being distributed in other countries.”

Democracy party won November elections in a landslide, but the military now claims those polls were tainted by fraud.

On Monday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: “What is important is that the international community speak with one voice.”

China’s foreign ministry called for all sides to “resolve differences.”

The last Security Council meeting on Myanmar was in September and was also behind closed doors.

US demands his immediate release A Moscow court on Tuesday granted a prosecutors’ request for Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to serve prison time for violating the terms of his parole.

Judge Natalya Repnikova ordered a suspended three-anda-half-year sentence Navalny received in 2014 to be changed to time in a penal colony, an AFP journalist at the courthouse said.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has condemned the sentencing of Navalny, demanding his release.

“We reiterate our call for the Russian government to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Navalny, as well as the hundreds of other Russian citizens wrongfully detained in recent weeks for exercising their rights, including the rights to

A law enforcement source told the Miami Herald that the suspect had shot and killed himself after barricading himself in his home for several hours.

The newspaper said the FBI agents had been seeking to seize the suspect’s computer and other evidence in a child pornography case.

Covid-19: Tanzania Has No Vaccination Plan, Minister Says Tanzania’s government, which has been criticised for its handling of the pandemic, has no plans to rollout Covid vaccines, the health minister says.

The comments come days after President John Magufuli warned officials against acquiring vaccines saying they could harm people, without giving evidence.

Critics have accused him of playing down the threat posed by the virus.

Millions of people have already been inoculated in many countries after the vaccines were given emergency approval.

Vaccines are rigorously tested in trials involving thousands of people before being assessed by health regulators. They look at all the data on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines before approving them for use on a wider population.

Swiss diplomat Christine Schraner Burgener, the United Nations’ envoy to Myanmar, was to brief the 15-member council on the latest developments at Tuesday’s meeting.

China had called for the discussion to take place in private, diplomats told AFP. Britain, which holds the rotating Council presidency for the month of February, had long planned to hold a meeting on Myanmar this week but brought it forward given the circumstances.

Suu Kyi’s National League for

Court Sentences Russian Opposition Leader, Navalny

Two FBI Agents Dead, Three Wounded in Florida Shooting Two FBI agents were shot dead and three were wounded on Tuesday while serving a search warrant on a suspect in a child pornography case in the southern US state of Florida, the FBI said.

The suspect is also dead, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.

The FBI and media reports said

a veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council.

During the Rohingya crisis in 2017, China thwarted any initiative at the Council to meet on Myanmar or issue joint statements.

Beijing insisted the brutal military crackdown of the Muslim minority was an internal issue.

Myanmar’s military seized power on Monday in a bloodless coup, detaining democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top politicians — sparking an international outcry.

The minister urged Tanzanians to take precautions and to use traditional medicine as a way of dealing with coronavirus, although their efficacy to combat the virus has not been scientifically confirmed.

A blogger shared photos of Dr Gwajima and other officials inhaling steam and taking a herbal concoction. px transparent line Gwajima also warned media outlets not to report unofficial information on coronavirus or any disease. The warning comes after the Catholic Church said it had observed an increase in requiem masses, blaming funerals on a spike in coronavirus infections.

The US Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised against all travel to Tanzania and updated its alert to level four, meaning transmission of coronavirus in the country is “high or rising rapidly”.

freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly,” Blinken said in a statement. .Repnikova said time Navalny previously spent under house arrest in the sentence would count as time served, and, according to his team, that would mean at least two-and-a-half years in prison now.

Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Fund (FBK) immediately called for supporters to protest in central Moscow.

“We’re going to the centre of

Moscow right now,” it wrote on Twitter, urging supporters to join them.

The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner was detained on January 17 when he returned to Moscow from Germany, where he had spent months recovering from a nerve agent poisoning in August that he blames on President Vladimir Putin.

He was charged with violating the terms of his parole under the 2014 suspended sentence on

fraud charges, because he did not check in with the prison service while in Germany.

The European Court of Human Rights in 2017 condemned the ruling in the fraud case as “arbitrary and manifestly unreasonable”.

During Tuesday’s hearing Navalny said the case was meant “to intimidate a huge number of people”.

“They are putting one person behind bars to scare millions,” he said.

49

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

NCFront Outlines Strategies to Rescue Nigeria from Leadership Failure Chuks Okocha in Abuja The leaders of the National consultative Front (NCFront) yesterday said that the leadership failure in the country has necessitated it’s desire to form a mega political party before the next general election.

They group, better known as ‘Leaders Conscience in Nigeria’, also marshaled out comprehensive

programme of action to rescue Nigeria from further drifting into criminal enterprise and failed state.

The leaders in a Zoom meeting monitored in Abuja, lamented that those who are in positions of authority do not really appreciate what leadership means.

They added that instead of self-sacrifice for the advancement of the common good, the leaders are enmeshed in acute narcissism,

extreme self-love that leave little or no resources to cater for the welfare of the people.

Eminent personalities, who signed the agenda to recsue Nigeria include, Prof. Pat Utomi; Hon Ghali Umar Na’aba; Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); Dr. Hakeem Baba –Ahmed; Prof. Kingsley Moghalu; Dr. Obadiah Mailafia; Prof. Remi Sonaiya; Comrade Issa Aremu; Prof. Chidi Odinkalu; Chief Precious Elekima; Mr. Ezekiel

Nya-Etok; Dr. Tanko Yunusa and Mr. Peter Ameh.

They further lamented that the “Cost of governance and of winning elections and political power in Nigeria is outrageous and out of proportion with common sense. A comparison with prosperous countries reveals frightening relativities.

“Public service institutions have become public disgrace in all ramifications. Nigerians go through

daily pains to secure service from public institutions that have been set up to serve them.

“Again, when the boundaries of official conducts cannot be ascertained, people cannot anticipate the outcomes of transactions. That is the case of Nigeria right now.

“Whether it is the pensions of Retirees, Certificate of Occupancy and effectiveness of Land Registry in ensuring property rights, the report is negative and calls desperately

for urgent sustainable change.”

Lamenting on state of corruption, the leaders said, “Nothing is more troubling to us than the cancer of corruption, which has imperiled progress in Nigeria. Ironically, the current government rode to power on the mantra of war against corruption; yet, a simple observation of the same government today will reveal that corruption is much worse under its watch.

FG,Varsity Workers’ Negotiations End in Deadlock Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The negotiations between the federal government and the Joint Action Committee comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) ended in a deadlock yesterday.

However, a committee was set up to resolve the dispute over the N40 billion earned allowances and complaints about the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

This was agreed during a meeting held yesterday between the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; SSANU National President, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary, Mr.Peters Adeyemi, in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after the talks, Ngige described the meeting as fruitful and expressed the hope that the dialogue would encourage the unions to suspend their strike.

He said, “The deliberations were fruitful, government side responded to issues concerning

IPPIS and what is being done to assist university workers, who have had some complaints in that direction, especially some of the allowances they said were chopped off by IPPIS system.

“We were satisfied that reasonable progress has been made. It’s a work in progress.

We have put up a joint Committee of the Union, members of government side from Ministry of Education, Salary, Wages and Income Commission, Office of Accountant-General and the National University Commission to work handin-hand to make sure that all the anomalies that were complained are treated and we do hope that it will be done to the satisfaction of everybody.”

But the NASU General Secretary said the issues had not been concluded, adding that they asked for time to report back to their members.

He said, “We are favourably disposed to dialogue and after discussing with our members, we will come back and continue with the discussion. So far, nothing has been concluded.

Kwara Govt Wins as Court Rejects Saraki’s Claim to Ile Arugbo Land Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Government yesterday got a legal green light to proceed with building on the controversial Ile Arugbo land in Ilorin, with the court striking out the Senator Bukola Saraki’s case challenging government’s takeover of the land.

Justice Abiodun Adewara of the Ilorin High Court struck out the Saraki’s case for “lack of diligent prosecution.”

The judge struck out the case after the appellants — Saraki’s Asa Investment Limited — again failed to call any witness to support their claim that the choice land belonged to the firm said to be owned by the late Dr. Olusola Saraki.

After many years of using the land, which is located in the heart of the capital city, the government reclaimed the land in December 2019 and went ahead to clear the land ahead of its use for construction of another government secretariat.

The government had said the land originally belonged to the public but was controversially transferred to a firm owned by

Saraki without any payment made to the government or document issued for that purpose.

The Saraki family in turn challenged the government’s decision by filing a court case to keep ownership of the land, claiming they have documents to prove ownership of the property.

After many months of legal back-and-forth, Justice Adewara yesterday struck out the case after the claimants again failed to call their witness or tender documents to prove ownership of the land.

Earlier on Monday when the case came up for hearing, Counsel to the claimants Abdulazeez Ibrahim had told the court that a joinder to the case, Alhaji Sanusi Babaeleku has suddenly died, leading to the court striking out the name of the deceased.

When the case resumed yesterday, Ibrahim said they were replacing Alhaji Babaeleku with one Alhaji Abubakar Oluwatoyin, a request that the court granted and then asked them to proceed with their case by calling their other witnesses.

DISCUSSING SOKOTO BASIN …

Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari (left), and Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during the First Quarter Public Lecture of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto…recently

Bandits Kill Five People, Set Houses, Shops Ablaze in Sokoto Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the killing of five persons by armed bandits in Adamawa village of Sabon Birni Local Government Area of the state.

The command Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Abubakar Sadiq, told

journalists that: “Over one hundred suspected armed bandits on motorcycles invaded Adamawa village in Sabon Birni LG, raided houses in the village and in the process five persons lost their lives.

“The bandits burnt down six shops and eleven houses while five other persons sustained gunshot

injuries all in Adamawa village.

“The bandits also visited Samaye village and rustled unspecified amount of livestock and stole other valuables belonging to the villagers.”

Sadiq further explained that the attack took place by twelve midnight on January 31st and

lasted about two hours into Monday morning.

He disclosed that the police in the area reacted swiftly as soon as the report got to them, but were unable to make any arrest, adding however, that investigation is ongoing.

Army Denies Alleged Secret Execution of Six Soldiers Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Nigerian Army yesterday described as “fake news,” a trending report that the it secretly executed six Igbo soldiers in Abuja.

The report said the soldiers were secretly executed after a hasty secret trial at which they were denied legal representation of their choice.

A coalition of rights activists had alleged that it was informed of the shocking development by human rights lawyer, Mr. E R Okoroafor, who also alleged that he was denied the right to defend his client at the secret trial.

“We have received with rude

shock and deepest dismay the Monday, 25th January 2021 secret execution of six Igbo Christian soldiers, attached to the Amoury Department of the Nigerian Army, Abacha Barracks in Abuja”, the coalition said while further alleging that “the slain Igbo Christian soldiers; namely Prince Ukwuoma, son of a traditional ruler; Ebube Isaiah, Amos Azubuike; Ekene Ebere; Moses Anyim and Godwin Uchendu were secretly executed under the instruction of the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), a day before he left office on Tuesday, Janaury 26, 2021.

“This shocking news was disclosed to us by ER Okoroafor, an international human rights lawyer, who is very conversant with the matter and was also contacted by one of the slain soldiers through his family to defend them in the trumped up charges, executed using hazy and clandestine military court martial.

According to the rights lawyer, “sometime in Sept 2020, an allegation of missing weapons was made at Abacha Barracks and it was immediately traced to a senior Colonel of FulaniHausa Muslim origin and instead of the COAS to issue query and sanction

the Colonel, he exonerated him on the grounds of his tribe and religion.

“The COAS turned around and ordered for the arrest of 12 soldiers guarding the armoury, comprising six Igbo soldiers, three Yoruba soldiers and three Fulani-Hausa Muslim soldiers.

“In the end, the latter soldiers were shielded and exonerated under questionable circumstances and the six Igbo soldiers made to face secret court martial during which they were blocked and prevented from having access to their families and defense lawyers of their choice”, it said.

Katsina to Release White Paper on Police Brutality Committee Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Katsina State Government has concluded plans to inaugurate the White Paper committee on the report submitted by the state judicial commission of inquiry on excess and extrajudicial killings by members of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The state Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, who disclosed this when he received

the report of the commission at Government House yesterday, said the white paper committee would come out with modalities to implement the recommendations of the commission.

He said highlights of the report and recommendations of the judicial panel have shown that the commission has conducted thorough investigation and made far-reaching recommendations for consideration.

According to Masari, “I am highly delighted that the Katsina State judicial commission of inquiry has become the first among all the states commissions to submit its report within the stipulated period.

“Highlights of the report and recommendations have indicated that the commission has conducted thorough investigation and made far-reaching recommendations for consideration. Implementation of

the recommendations also calls for inter-government and the inter-agencies collaboration.”

He stated further that: “I will therefore, with immediate effect, set up a white paper committee to come out with the modalities of implementing the recommendations that affect Katsina State and forwarding to the presidency and the Police Service Commission (PSC) the aspect of the recommendations that affect them appropriately.”

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NEWSXTRA

Obasanjo, Babangida, Sanwo-Olu, Sultan Hail Oyinlola on 70th Birthday Ejiofor Alike Two former Nigerian leaders, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), have described former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye

Oyinlola as a dependable ally who performed his duties to the nation and to friendship with utmost diligence and loyalty.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has also congratulated former military

NDLEA Nabs Another Cocaine Trafficker at Lagos Airport Raids cannabis warehouse, black spots in Nasarawa, Abuja Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday disclosed that few days after three cocaine cartels were busted at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, another trafficker, Ukaegbu Bright Onyekachi, has been nabbed with 3.30 kilogrammes of the illicit drug.

The suspect, it was disclosed, was arrested on February 1 during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline at the E arrival hall of the MMIA. According to the Commander of MMIA Command of the NDLEA, Mr. Ahmadu Garba, Onyekachi arrived in Nigeria on board Ethiopian airways from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa.

Garba said the hard drug was cleverly concealed in T-shirts stickers, but that the suspect could not escape the eagle eyes of their detectives.

This is even as operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the agency have raided a number of drug spots in Abuja, where 14 persons, including three men in military uniform suspected to be fake soldiers, were arrested, and different quantities of cocaine, codeine, rohypnols and Indian hemp were recovered.

A statement made available to journalists in Abuja by the Principal Staff Officer, Public Affairs of NDLEA, Jonah Achema,

noted that: “In FCT, some of the drug spots raided at the weekend included Wuse Zone 4 and 5; Wuse by Banex plaza and Garki

by Torabora.

“Also raided were Area 1

by Gwagwalada park; Dagwa village and Abattoir in Karu. The 14 persons arrested are being investigated in connection with the recovery of 34.8kg cannabis sativa.

“Also seized were other quantities of cocaine, codeine and rohypnols. Three of the arrested persons, who were in military camouflage, are still being profiled, but are suspected to be fake soldiers.”

Meanwhile, the Nasarawa Command of the agency has also discovered a cannabis warehouse in Lafia, the state capital, where 45 bags of illegal drug weighing 474kg were recovered.

According to the state Commander of the NDLEA, Justice Arinze, the recovery was the biggest singular seizure since the inception of the command in 1999.

He said: “We are grateful to our new Chairman, Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), who made the feat possible for us by empowering us with the needed logistics to go all out.”

He said the command is continuing with its operation in Hana Kwaya, in collaboration with other security agencies to raid drug joints and markets.

Senate Committee Rejects Voting Rights for Married Underage Girls Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Kabiru Gaya, has said suggestion that married underage girls should have the right to vote has been rejected.

The senator spoke on the issue while fielding questions at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja yesterday.

The matter had generated widespread criticism when it was brought up in the senate in December 2020.

According to Gaya, a memorandum on the matter was “submitted by a group of people” during a public hearing but it was dropped by the senate committee.

He said: “One of the people who came to the public hearing submitted the memorandum, and argued that the word underage was not his, but that any woman or man that is married should be considered as an adult.

“That was his reason. Our own resolve is that if a woman is at the age of 16 and she gets married, she should not be allowed to vote.

“Generally there was a lot of noise about. It was in a memorandum submitted by a group of people and they have their rights as Nigerians.

“But when we came to the committee, we discussed a lot on that and at the end of the day, we felt we could not go along with that suggestion and it was dropped.”

Gaya said there was another suggestion not to hold elections on Saturdays as some faithful observe the day as their holy day.

He added that the same argument would be made if elections were fixed for Fridays or Sundays.

“If we move elections to Fridays some people will say it is their worship day; if we move it to Sundays, some other people will say it is also their worship day. So, that suggestion was also thrown out,’’ Gaya said

administrator of the state, Oyinlola, on his 70 years birthday celebration Also, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has described the military and political service of Oyinlola as glorious and deserving of commendation.

Obasanjo and Babangida gave their verdicts in their separate goodwill messages sent to Oyinlola on his 70th birthday coming up to today, February 3.

While Obasanjo said he was placing on record his “personal appreciation” to Oyinlola “for being a very dependable and loyal comrade with integrity,” Babangida said he was thanking Oyinlola for being over the years, a man who could “take bullets” on his behalf.

Obasanjo said: “l also place on record my personal appreciation to you for the intimate rapport you have established with me and members of my family. I have found comfort, delight and satisfaction in sharing with you my vision and mission for our dear country and the challenges of lifting the nation up to greater heights. You have been a very dependable and loyal comrade with integrity in whom I have considerable confidence. In the traditional Nigerian sense, you have become a member of my family and one of my own.

“Indeed, your life has been a practical demonstration of patriotism, professionalism, commitment and diligence in public service. You will be recorded by

history as a Nigerian who embodies almost all the high points of our national achievements, and one of the very rare breed of citizens wo have combined total dedication, commitment and excellence in all national endeavours they have engaged in,” Obasanjo explained Babangida, in his own goodwill message, eulogised Oyinlola who was his student at the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna between 1971 and 1972, describing him as a bold, courageous and loyal officer.

The former military president said: “It is a rare opportunity to say thank you for being there for me. It is a privilege to be associated with a man like you who is not only reliable, dependable but who can take bullets on my behalf.

Those wonderful moments we shared, in our commitment to make Nigeria a better place, remain evergreen in my heart of hearts”.

On his part, Sanwo-Olu in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described Oyinlola as an elder statesman worth celebrating for his life of consistent commitment to public service in different capacities as military officer, administrator and politician.

The governor said Oyinlola remains one of the few Nigerian leaders who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of several states and the country at large as a military officer, politician and elder statesman.

PROBING POLICE BRUTALITY…

L-R: Representative of the Nigeria Bar Association, Prof. Oluwole Akintayo; Representative of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Mr. Nasir Olumide; and Chairman of Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Victims of Police-related Abuse and Other Matters, Justice Badejoko Adeniji (rtd), at the sitting of the panel in Ibadan...yesterday

Hoodlums Kill One Person, Set ablaze Seriki’s House in Ogun Suspected hoodlums on Monday night set ablaze the house of Seriki Fulani in Eggua, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Alhaji Adamu Oloru, killing one person and many cows.

The attack was allegedly carried out by angry youths who converged after the visit of the Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, to the community.

Igboho had on Monday, visited the state and vowed to flush out killer-herders.

The Seriki’s son, Suleiman Adamu, who disclosed this to

journalists yesterday, said one Alhaji Jiji was burnt to death, while his father’s settlement was razed down.

He added that over 40 cows were killed in the attacked.

He said, “right now there is tension everywhere. We managed to get our father escape during the attacks,” Adamu said.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun had visited the place and sued for peace.

The State Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Abdulmumin Ibrahim also confirmed the development.

Speaking on the development,

the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident, saying the mob took advantage of Igboho’s visit to launch the attack.

He also said the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun had visited the area for on the spot assessment. Oyeyemi said: “He (CP) had the meeting with the community and Fulani settlers. We have a very robust session and the two parties have resolved to work together to fish out those that are perpetrating crime therein. “And the CP has appealed to everybody, including Sunday Adeyemo that

we cannot fight crime with illegality.

“He should allow justice to prevail and everybody to calm down pending when the whole issue will be resolved. Though, everybody has agreed to work together.

“All the places we visited aside Eggua where we have this carnage every other place. I think it is only in Eggua where maybe some people are aggrieved before his arrival took the opportunity to vest their anger. So, we have appealed to him to tread softly.

Peace has finally returned,” the PPRO said.

INEC to Engage Stakeholders on Voter Access to Polling Units Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that it is planning to engage stakeholders to expand voters’ access to polling units across the country The commission said that in its meeting held yesterday that it deliberated on a number of issues, including the finalised arrangements for the upcoming engagements with stakeholders on expanding voter access to Polling Units in Nigeria.

In a statement issued yesterday by INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, the electoral body said it

has been preparing for these national engagements to address the inadequacies of Polling Units in Nigeria and the challenges they pose to election management.

According to Okoye, “Some of these challenges include overcrowding, numerous unserved populations and poor locations, which are potentially disenfranchising millions of Nigerians, and also pose health risks in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is a national problem that calls for national consensus.”

Okoye also said that, “For several years the commission has tried to address this fundamental challenge to democratic consolidation and election

administration with minimal success.

“This has been mainly due to inadequate engagement between the Commission and stakeholders. Consequently, the Commission has had to resort to interim measures such as creating Voting Points at Polling Units nationwide and establishing Voting Point Settlements in the Federal Capital Territory.

“These engagements will afford an opportunity for the Commission to consult with stakeholders in order to build a genuine national consensus to address the problem of declining voter access to Polling Units.”, he said.

Accordingly, Okoye said, in the next few weeks, “the

commission plans to engage with diverse stakeholders including political parties, civil society organisations, religious leaders, traditional institutions, labour unions, socio-cultural organisations, various arms of the federal government, as well as state governments.

“Among the burning issues to be addressed at these consultations are the challenges that declining access to Polling Units pose to democracy and election management in Nigeria”, Okoye stated. .

The commission appealed to stakeholders in the electoral process and Nigerians at large to work with it to address this major issue.

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SGF: Nobody will Spend Billions of Dollars on COVID-19 Vaccines to Kill Africans Gambari condemns indifference of Kwara residents to pandemic

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, has urged Nigerians to disregard conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 vaccines.

This is coming as the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof.

Ibrahim Gambari has condcemned the non-challant attitude of the

residents of his home state, Kwara, to the pandemic.

Speaking yesterday during the inauguration of the state house clinic COVID-19 isolation centre, the SGF said the COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and beneficial.

Mustapha, who is the chairman of the presidential task force on COVID-19, said the federal government will continue to encourage Nigerians to get

vaccinated when the time comes.

The Cable quoted the SGF as saying that the state house clinic will soon get a COVID-19 testing laboratory We will appeal and explain to our people that if you do not take the vaccine, the danger of falling terribly sick and eventually dying is there,” the SGF said.

“We will be blunt to them that if you don’t take the COVID-19 vaccine, you may not be able to go anywhere in the world, very

soon. Even when you want to go and perform your spiritual obligation, that will be subjected to your COVID-19 status.

“I don’t believe anyone will spend billions of dollars in manufacturing vaccines in order to kill us in Africa “From just two molecular laboratories for the testing of COVID-19 in Nigeria, we now have over 100 molecular laboratories, public and private, across the 36 States of the federation

“I want to commend the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Tijjani Umar and the State House management under whose leadership this beautiful edifice is being commissioned.

Also speaking, Gambari condemned the non-adherence to the COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical intervention by the residents of Kwara State.

He said:‘‘It may interest you to know that since my appointment

into this position in May 2020, I have not been to Ilorin, Kwara State, my hometown. ‘‘Unfortunately, the nonpharmaceutical intervention is not being taken seriously there.

The people in Ilorin and upwards think COVID-19 is a rich-man and powerful-people disease. ‘‘But as Mr. President often says, COVID-19 is not a respecter of nobody. Rich and poor, powerful or weak, all of us must respond to this very effectively.

Lekki Gardens’ Residents Allege Attack By Thugs The residents of Lekki Gardens in Lagos have alleged that some staff of an estate developer led a band of suspected thugs to break into the Premier-1 Residential Estate in the early hours of Monday.

The attackers, it was gathered, were however resisted by the residents.

THISDAY learnt that the Monday incident was a fallout from the long-drawn battle between the developer and the residents’ association on the management of facilities in the estate and the developer’s alleged willful alteration of the estate layout to the detriment of the residents.

According to a resident, the thugs and staff of the property development company arrived the estate by 5.30 am to forcibly create access to the estate’s utility area and the residential area.

“The thugs came with some dangerous weapons with which they had attempted to break in before the residents’ association mobilised its members to resist the invasion.

The hoodlems were said to have claimed that they were engaged by two top officials of the developer to break into the estate.

Investigations revealed that the developer had insisted on electric power resale to the estate residents and control over the utility area housing the estate

generators, sewage treatment plant, estate flood control pumps and holding tank.

“We have made a criminal complaint to the police against the developer for illegal power distribution and resale business.

We have made it clear that estate assets should be run by the estate association or their appointed facility management company.

These are the issues for which the developer has resulted to violence.” Secretary of Premier-1 Owners and Residents Association (PORA), Dotun Adekambi, told journalists.

Adekambi added, “We had written to the police to notify them of the plan by the association to self-manage the estate and we had also written to the developer, who rather than engage with us for a smooth handover, issued us threats and called our bluff.”

The police, it was learnt, visited the estate on Sunday and advised the parties to report by Wednesday (today) for a meeting between the association and the developer.

However, the developer allegedly ignored the police intervention by launching a dawn raid on the estate on Monday.

It will be recalled that a sixstorey building at Ikate Elegushi area of Lekki belonging to the developer had collapsed on March 10, 2016 during construction, killing over 30 people and injuring many others.

Ganduje Challenges Court Jurisdiction on Suit against N300bn Loan Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Government and the state House of Assembly are challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Kano to hear a case filed against the proposed N300 billion loan from China Exim Bank.

A non-governmental organisation, Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA), is challenging the state Governor, Dr. Abdullah Umar Ganduje’s government from collecting the loan, which they considered a white elephant project.

Also joined in the suit are China EXIM Bank, China Embassy in Nigeria, the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Debt Management Office (DMO) and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Although, Senate president and China Embassy did not appear before Justice Sa’adatu Ibrahim, the court had granted an ex parte order application filed

by CAJA to compel all parties to stay action till the determination of substantive suit.

CAJA has criticised the decision of the state government to obtain the $1.85 million equivalent credit facility from China EXIM Bank, projected to execute the monorail capital project in the state, asking the court to halt the process.

The plaintiff also requested the court to compel respondents’ parties to reject the state government planned loan. The Justice had granted CAJA’s motion on ex parte order directing all parties to maintain status-quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive applications on the matter.

GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY…

L-R: Secretary to Abia State Government, Mr. Chris Ezem; Deputy Governor of Abia State, Mr. Ude Oko Chukwu; and Golden Jubilee ICAN President, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, during the inauguration of the Chidi Ajaegbu ICAN Resource Centre, donated to ICAN by Ajaegbu, in Umuahia…recently

Cultists, Sponsors in Lagos Now Face 21Years in Jail Lagos House of Assembly has passed a Bill banning the activities of cultists and illegal societies across the state into law.

The new law stipulates a 21year jail term for anyone found guilty of engaging in the act and 15 years jail term for anyone convicted of abetting cultists or who allows his premises to be used by cultists as a meeting point.

After its passage, the Speaker of the House, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, directed the Clerk, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the Law Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu

for assent.

The Bill entitled “A Law to provide for the prohibition of unlawful societies and cultism in Lagos State and for other connected purposes,’ says a society shall be regarded as unlawful if its members are engaged in illegal, destructive activities contrary to public policy, safety and peace of members of the public.

In Section 3, it read: “Any person who is a member of an unlawful society or cult, identifies as a member or solicits for members of an unlawful society

or cult, attends a meeting of an unlawful society or cult whether as a member or an intending member of the unlawful society or cult commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 21 years imprisonment.

“The jail term also concerns anyone who attends such meetings or does any illegal act which may probably cause a breach of peace, disturb public peace or conducts activities in such a manner as to pose a threat to life and property.

“Anyone who forms,

organises or combines and agrees with anyone to form or organise an unlawful society or cult, manages and assists in the management of an unlawful society or cult or knowingly allows a meeting of members of an unlawful society or cult to be held in any property under his control commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 15 years imprisonment.

“The 15-year jail term further applies to anyone who intimidates or compels people to join a cult group.

Insecurity: Advise Buhari to Protect Nigerians, PDP Urges US, Others Chuks Okocha in Abuja Ahead of its proposed conference on security, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the United States and other members of the international community to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to take decisive steps to protect Nigerians and curb escalating violence, terrorism and banditry ravaging the country

under his watch.

The party also tasked President Buhari to respond to widespread cry for credible elections in the country by making personal commitment towards accelerated amendment to the Electoral Act, to among other things, give statutory force to simultaneous electronic transmission of results and use of card readers in elections.

In a statement issued by the

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, presented the position of the party at a crucial meeting with the Political Officer of the United States Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Jerry Howard, at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja yesterday Secondus lamented the ‘horrible’ level of insecurity in the country;

increased terrorism, wanton killings and kidnapping in the country “with the Buhari administration failing to demonstrate the capacity to protect the citizens.”

The national chairman disclosed that that is the reason the PDP, as a party that has the interest of Nigeria at heart, is putting together a non-partisan national conference on security.

Zulum Removes Health Commissioner Michael Olugbode Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum has removed the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Salihu Kwayabura.

The reason for his sack remained unknown, though it has become a source of speculation among those in government.

Some government officials, who spoke to THISDAY anonymously, said his removal was long overdue as the former commissioner’s allegiance to his principal was in doubt.

Kwayabura before his sack was the Secretary of the high- powered committee on COVID-19, which is chaired by the Deputy Governor.

According to the statement announcing his sack, the erstwhile commissioner is to be replaced in the interim by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Professor Isa Hussani Marte, a Professor of Pharmacology.

The statement issued yesterday

by Governor’s Special Adviser on Public Relations and Strategy,

Malam Isa Gusau said: “Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has relieved the state’s commissioner for health, Dr. Salihu Kwayabura, of his position.”

Gusau said the directive was part of necessary measures to reposition the ministry of health.

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Kyari Commends Buhari’s Non-Interference in NNPC Operations Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the corporation’s management free-hand to deliver on its mandate, saying that he remains the only president that has never interfered in the operations of the Corporation.

Mallam Kyari stated this on Monday in Sokoto while delivering the Usmanu Danfodiyo University’s 2021 First Quarter Public Lecture Series titled, “Navigating Energy Transition and the Imperatives of University-

Industry Collaboration.”

He said the current crop of NNPC Management was so privileged to have a President who never interfered in what the NNPC does as a Corporation.

“That is very unprecedented, and it has gone a long way to help us deliver on our mandate, especially the drive towards domestic gas utilization,” Kyari stated.

The GMD tasked Governments and institutions on the African continent to adopt technology and innovation to achieve energy sufficiency and its economic multiplier effect on their people.

“African Governments and institutions must rise to the

occasion to leverage technology and innovation to support energy sufficiency, industrialization, job creation and economic growth,” Kyari emphasized.

He revealed that the NNPC as Africa’s biggest national oil company which is already

building on the convergence of new technologies and innovative business models, was set to play an important role in the future of energy.

“NNPC has set the necessary machineries to lead Africa in transition to low-carbon energy

and renewables. We are taking firm position in this transition by institutionalizing the necessary enablers for success,” he stated.

The GMD added that in line with this drive, NNPC has established a Renewable Energy Division and completely

transformed the NNPC Research and Development (R&D) Division to NNPC Research, Technology and Innovation Centre as part of its key initiatives to transit to an Energy Company of Global Excellence.

Akeredolu Blames Foreign Herders for Crimes in Ondo Insists on state police J ames Sowole in Akure Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, yesterday said some foreign herders were responsible for many criminal activities in the state forest reserves, lamenting that they have almost remained permanent in the government reserve.

Akeredolu has also said that the protection of lives and property of the people must take priority, adding that now is the time for state police.

The governor spoke during a courtesy visit to his office by the Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘F’ of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), comprising Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states, Mrs. Dora E Amahian The governor, who charged the officers of the immigration service to heighten security at the land borders, said the rate foreigners are coming into the country through the land borders was alarming.

He charged the NIS to do more in securing the land borders so as to prevent unknown individuals from coming into the country without record and identity.

He said: ”We all know what this service is established to do.

It’s clear to us . The number of people who come into Nigeria

through the land border is becoming alarming.

“Knowing your efforts to secure our borders, we are worried about some foreigners that come in and are almost permanent in our forest reserve. I know a number of criminal activities that are being perpetrated in our reserves that are done by foreigners.

“Yes! Foreigners! They might be Fulanis but they are not Nigerians. I think there must be collaborations - collaborations with other security agencies. That way you can function well and achieve more result. Collaborate with security agency like Amotekun.

“Peace is very important to us, not only in the Southwest or Ondo state but peace in the country. All over the country we are being ravaged by foreigners.”

Earlier in her address, Amahian appreciated the governor for the cordial relationship between him and the immigration service.

She said the passion of the governor for good governance and delivery of dividends of democracy has been seen in his ability to maintain peace as evident in the peaceful co-existence of the diverse people of the state.

Ekiti Begins Implementation of Anti-grazing Law The Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture, Olabode Adetoyi, said yesterday that the state government had begun the implementation of the state anti-grazing law with a view to avert farmers’ herders crisis and as well ensure security of lives and property.

Adetoyi said that the state government would next week begin the registration of herdsmen and farmers to be able to identify them in order to check influx and illegal activities.

The commissioner said in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, that the much touted destruction of multi-million maize farm at Ago Aduloju forest, Ado Ekiti, last week was an exaggeration by the farmers to draw sympathy.

Speaking on his discovery at the farm, he said, “How will

cattle overrun a farm worth N10million? On my enquiries, I found that the farmers borrowed money through a medium and they acted funny when the loan was due for repayment.

“Ekiti State has anti-grazing law in place, which we have just dusted and begin to use. We are still going to follow it; no night grazing, no underage cattle rearing, no grazing on government restricted land like forest and our farm settlements and farm centres.

Apart from these, there will be registration of the herders and farmers now in all our centres.”

He added that Amotekun Corps had been moved to some of the areas that government believed would pose problem.

FIGHTING PANDEMIC...

L-R: Director of Primary Healthcare, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Dr. Modupe Adeyinka; Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Primary Healthcare Board, FCT, Dr. Vatsa Isa-Yahaya; Director of Economic Planning, FCT, Malam Muhammad Lawal; and Focal Person, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), FCT Office, Mrs. Karima Bungudu, during a donation of some personal protection equipment

by UNPFA to FCT, in Abuja... yesterday

CNS Warns Naval Personnel against Collusion with Drug Barons Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo, yesterday warned Navy personnel against collusion with drug barons, economic saboteurs, kidnappers and armed robbers.

He gave the warning at a meeting with Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), Flag Officers Commanding (FOCs) and commanders of autonomous units where he unveiled his mission for the Nigerian Navy.

At the meeting, which was held at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja, Gambo said his administration would

not condone indiscipline and criminal activities.

A statement issued by the Director of Information and Publicity, Commodore Suleiman Dahun, said “the established policies and measures to sanction identified Nigerian Navy personnel that collude with economic saboteurs, drug traffickers/barons, bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers shall be overhauled and strengthened”.

The new Navy boss warned personnel to avoid any act capable of tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Navy.

“Such acts would be met with

heavy sanctions to act as deterrence to others. On the other hand, Nigerian Navy personnel that exhibit high integrity and positive attributes that portray the NN in good light shall be rewarded handsomely”, he said.

Gambo stated that his vision was “to leverage on all factors of national location, technology, training, teamwork and synergy to re-energise the Nigerian Navy and enhance her as a well-motivated and ready naval force in the discharge of her constitutional mandate and other assigned tasks in fulfillment of national security objectives.”

The CNS noted that to achieve

this vision, his administration would focus on some key drivers to ensure personnel welfare is accorded high priority towards enhanced patriotism, integrity, productivity, innovation, commitment and dedication.

“It will also focus on human capacity development through result-oriented training for enhanced professionalism and as well strengthening logistics support and maintenance capabilities to sustain equipment serviceability and platform availability”, he said.

Ebonyi PDP Faction Calls for Arrest, Prosecution of Invaders of Party’s Secretariat Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki Factional Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Mr. Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute all those involved in the foiled attempt to attack the party’s secretariat in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

It was alleged that some youths loyal to the factional Chairman, Mr. Fred Udeogu, reportedly invaded the party’s office at the early hours of Monday in a bid to take over

the office from Nwebonyi.

The Nwebonyi led executive of the party was alleged to have been dissolved by the National Working Committee of the PDP on alleged anti-party activities after the defection of the Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi, to the All Progressives Congress.

However, during a press briefing in Abakaliki, Nwebonyi alleged that his factional counterpart, Udeogu and other suspended members of the PDP in the state were plotting to create crisis in the party.

He said: “Ebonyians and the security agencies should note with apprehension the incessant and repeated calls for crisis and upheavals in the state by the Udeogu led guerillas, their utterances regarding the Effium crisis, and their several attempts to cause breach of public peace.

“For the records, the PDP as an opposition party in Ebonyi State, is concerned with strategies to sustain public trust respecting future elections and as such, has no time to indulge in frivolities or join issues with hooligans

who have no locus standi. The party is formidable and is in no way deterred by the defection of the governor. Neither are we distracted by the shenanigans of the suspended members of our own party who have become fugitives in Abuja.

“I, therefore, call on the police to arrest and prosecute all those who were involved in the attempt to attack the PDP secretariat, and all those making inflammatory statements and social media posts regarding the Effium crisis.”

Anambra JSC Secretary Kicks against Expulsion from Council of Chiefs

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Executive Secretary of Anambra State Judicial Service Commission, Mr. Stanley Mbanaso, has denied stories in the media that he has been expelled from Amorka Council of Chief.

The Amorka community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State issued a press statement, claiming that Mbanaso who is a cabinet chief had been expelled, following gross

misconduct on his part.

But Mbanaso, who spoke to THISDAY yesterday, said he decided to react to the story because trouble makers in the community have taken it to conventional media to deceive the people with his purported expulsion.

He said: “For clarity purposes, till this moment, I have not received any communication regarding my purported expulsion from Amorka Council of Chiefs.

“I remain unaware of any action of mine, whether in our Amorka community or anywhere else that amounted to ‘activities aimed at destabilising Amorka’s unity’ or the gross misconduct they quoted.”

Mbanaso said he neither committed any indiscretion anywhere, including in the community, nor was he invited or informed of the existence of any disciplinary committee hearing anywhere against him.

He accused the monarch of the community, Igwe K. O. Obiriolemgbe, of not giving him fair hearing before announcing his expulsion, stating that the grouse of the monarch might have stemmed from his appointment by the Anambra State Government as chairman of Amorka Caretaker Committee, in which he went ahead to conduct a credible town union election for the community.

53

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY3, ͺ͸ͺ͹˾ T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor ßÜÙ ÕÒËäßËÑÌÏ Email ÎßÜÙ˛ÓÕÒËäßËÑÌÏ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ× ͸΀͹͹ ͹΀͹ ͻ͸΀ͻ

TOKYO 2020 BASKETBALL

D’Tigress Draw World Number One USA, France and Host Japan Nigeria’s men’s team, D’Tigers, in Group B with Australia,others Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigeria’s opponents in the men and women’s basketball events of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan next summer have emerged with the D’Tigress paired along side world Number 1, USA, European powerhouse, France and hosts Japan in Group B. At the draw ceremony for both the women and men’s competitions which took place at FIBA headquarters, the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball, D’Tigress are billed to renew their rivalry with the American ladies who narrowly escaped with 76-71 victory the last time they met at the 2018 World Cup in Spain.

Although both France and Japan are no pushovers in the game, the D’Tigress have the chance to prove that their dominance of the game in

the continent in the last couple of years, resulting in back-to-back Afrobasket titles have given them the edge to be amongst the best in the world.

Another opportunity beckons for D’Tigress to avenge their 2004 Athens Olympics Games 73-79pts loss to Japan currently ranked 10th in the world.

Despite a great outing

by Mfon Udoka with 19pts and 16 rebounds, a poor second half saw the Japanese outscore Nigeria to nick the game where the team only managed one win out of 6 games to finish 11th.

Interestingly, yesterday’s draw also saw Nigeria’s men’s team, D’Tigers paired in Group B against Australia and winners of the Olympics Qualifying Tournaments from Croatia and Belgrade.

Host- Croatia will battle against Tunisia and Brazil (Group B) Germany, Russia and Mexico (Group A) for

Ighalo Agrees Personal Terms with Saudi’s Al-Shabab Nigerian international, Odion Jude Ighalo, who was on loan at Manchester United for a year, is having a medical ahead of a permanent deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab.

The 31-year-old is undergoing a medical after he agreed personal terms on a two-anda-half-year deal with Al-Shabab.

The Saudi transfer window does not close until February 7.

Ighalo’s loan spell at United from Shanghai Shenhua came to an end last week.

He was due to return to his parent club but they have given him permission to speak to the Saudi Arabian side.

Ighalo scored five goals in 23 appearances across all competitions for United after arriving 2020 winter transfer Deadline Day but made only two starts this season since Edinson Cavani joined in October.

Ighalo confirmed his departure from Old Trafford in an emotional farewell message penultimate Tuesday.

“It’s so hard to see this dream come to an end,” he wrote on social media.

“But I give God the glory for helping me fulfil this lifelong dream of putting on a Manchester United shirt as a player and represent this great club.

“To the manager, I say thank you for trusting and believing in me when many did not.”

Puerto Rico, Italy and Senegal will complete the list.

The wait for the last two oppositions will finally be

over when the OQT comes to an end on the 24th of July.

The Olympics games will be held between

23rd of July and 8th of August, 2021 after its initial postponement due to Covid-19 pandemic outbreak last year.

Nigeria’s D’Tigress celebrating when they booked the ticket to the Games

Ooni Backs Revival of National Principals’ Cup The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has thrown his weight behind the revival of the National Principals’ Cup competition, saying it is a national asset for building the character of future leaders and uniting the nation.

He revealed that he played in both the Headmasters and Principals’ Cup in his primary and secondary school days. The monarch declared that the experience contributed to making him what he is today.

The Ooni gave his commitment to the success of the ongoing revival of the event in Ile Ife on Monday when a delegation of the Organising Committee led by the Director of Grassroots Sports at the

Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Dr Ademola Are, paid him a courtesy call to seek his royal blessings.

“The reason why I am excited today is that I played in the Headmasters Cup and I played in the Principals’ Cup. They are the greatest assets to cultivate the subconscious nature or mind of the average Nigerian youth. It is very important that you are bringing the Principals’ Cup back. It will solve idleness, it will solve youth unemployment.

It will provide opportunity for a lot of people to display their talent. I am a living testimony.

“The Principals’ Cup was one of the greatest programmes organise by

the Federal Government. It goes round every corner. The dedication and commitment from all corners was a lot.

That time there was very few crime rate because you are preparing the mind of the youths to be responsible. Football is all about responsibility. You must be responsible with the ball you are holding and careful not to lose it to the opponent. So, psychologically, you are preparing future generations that must be responsible.

“It takes care of the children from ages 12 to 17 years many of whom today do not know that there is a programme that brings them together.

Let us use this programme to unite our nation and I

really commend the ministry led by Sunday Dare for the initiative.

Earlier, Dr Are informed the Ooni that though the Principals’ Cup is traditionally a football event, the Minister of Sports has considered it necessary to include other sports including boxing, badminton, athletics, swimming and table tennis so as to provide opportunity for youths who are talented in other sports.

Also speaking at the occasion, Tony Pemu, the Managing Director of Hideaplus, the consultancy firm for the event, informed the Ooni that the award of the Most Valuable Player of the Principals’ Cup has been instituted in his name.

Klopp Rules out Injured Van Dijk for Rest of Season Odion Ighalo on arrival in Saudi Arabia...on Monday

NPFL: LMC Reschedules Three Matches The League Management Company (LMC), has rescheduled some of the matches involving six teams in the ongoing 2021 season due to some circumstances.

According to the press release from the league organiser, the changes will involve from Match-day 8 and 9 fixtures of the league.

Six teams including Nasarawa United, Katsina United, Akwa

the sole ticket.

Winner from the Belgrade centre comprising of Dominican Republic, New Zealand, host-Serbia,

United, FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Rivers United and Heartland FC were all affected.

The original date of the match 3rd and 4th of February 2021 were moved to 7th and 8th of the same month.

The matches include Heartland FC v IfeanyiUbah, Rivers United v Nasarawa United and Akwa United v Katsina United.

Liverpool Manager, Jurgen Klopp, has admitted that Virgil van Dijk is unlikely to return before the end of the current season.

Van Dijk suffered a torn ACL back in October, and although a return to action this year always seemed unlikely, Liverpool have refused to state that the Dutchman’s injury was season-ending like that of Joel Matip.

There is still some hope as Klopp confirmed in his press conference that he plans to include Van Dijk in his 25-man Champions League squad, but he is not optimistic about the defender ’s chances of playing.

“Whatever happens, I

think we have space for Virgil on the Champions League list,” Klopp said.

“I think he was on the Premier League list.

Nobody told me I have to change something with that. If we have space in the Champions League list then Virgil will be on the list.

“In the moment, I don’t know where these things are coming from – nobody really, no doctor, nobody really told me there’s a chance for Virgil to play in this season again. I don’t want to say that’s absolutely impossible but it’s not likely. It’s not likely.

We don’t have to discuss these things really.

“If we have space we

would put them all on, even when all the medical people tell us there’s no chance. We put them on because we believe in miracles from time to time.

“But if there’s no place then we have to consider these kind of things and say, ‘The chance is not too big so we have to make the decision.’ But if they are on the list then it’s only because we hope for nearly a miracle. That’s it.”

Liverpool finally dipped into the transfer market to sign some replacement centre-backs, bringing in Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak from Preston and Schalke respectively, but Klopp warned fans not to expect to see the pair

starting together anytime soon.

“The good thing is it’s football still,” Klopp said when asked if the pair ’s lack of Premier League experience was behind his decision. “They played in Germany, they played in the Championship, so that’s not a problem.

“Coming into defence, we’ve had 12 or 13 different centre-half pairings, and that makes it more difficult for the l i k e s o f N e c o ( Wi l l i a m s ) a n d K o s t a s ( Ts i m i k a s ) a s w e l l . K o s t a s i s n e w, Neco is still young, you search for stability in the team, and when you change that often ( i t i s h a rd e r ) . ”

54

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS

One Week to Aussie Open, Nadal Pulls out of ATP Cup Opener Rafael Nadal yesterday pulled out of Spain’s opening ATP Cup tie with a lower back problem less than a week before he bids for a record 21st men’s Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

The world number two, 34, was scheduled to face Australia’s Alex de Minaur at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.

Nadal said he hoped to play for 2020 runners-up Spain against Greece on Thursday.

Novak Djokovic earlier gave

defending champions Serbia a winning start.

World number one Djokovic beat Denis Shapovalov 7-5 7-5 as Serbia claimed a 2-1 win over Canada in their opening Group A match.

Milos Raonic had put Canada ahead with a 6-3 6-4 win over Dusan Lajovic but Djokovic and Filip Krajinovic won the doubles match against Raonic and Shapovalov 7-5 7-6 (7-4).

Defending Australian Open champion Djokovic has won all

10 singles and doubles matches he has played at the ATP Cup, which was introduced to the tennis calendar in 2020.

US Open champion Dominic Thiem had a disappointing day as Austria lost 2-1 to Italy.

World number three Thiem, who reached the final of the Australian Open last year, was beaten 6-2 6-4 by 10th-ranked Matteo Berrettini.

Compatriot Denis Novak beat Fabio Fognini 6-3 6-4 but the Italians paired up for the

doubles match to beat Novak and Thiem 6-1 6-4.

The men’s team event, which has been reduced to

12 teams from 24, is being played at the same time as five other tournaments at Melbourne Park this week

after a strict quarantine for all players who arrived in the country for the Australian Open.

Liverpool’s Champions League Clash with Leipzig ‘Under Threat’ Liverpool’s last-16 Champions League match against RB Leipzig is reportedly under threat after the German government imposed a flight ban until February 17.

On Friday, chancellor Angela Merkel’s government announced entry restrictions for travellers from the UK, Ireland, Brazil, Portugal and South Africa, to try to stop the spread of the more contagious coronavirus variants.

Liverpool are due to take on their Bundesliga opponents a day before the current ban is due to end in the first leg of their round-of-16 encounter.

Now, according to the

Liverpool Echo, that could mean the fixture is switched to a neutral venue if Jurgen Klopp’s side are not allowed to travel to the Red Bull Arena.

The report adds another alternative could be for the locations of the first and second legs to be reversed with Liverpool hosting Leipzig first before travelling to Germany for the return fixture on March 10.

Julian Nagelsmann’s men would be allowed to travel to and from Anfield because German passport holders and residents can travel to Germany, given that they would be tested immediately

on arrival.

However, this solution would counter the second-leg home advantage the Reds had gained by topping Group D. The report also adds that Liverpool are yet to receive any official confirmation that the game will be switched.

But this is not the first time this season in Europe that Liverpool have faced such difficulties.

Borussia Dortmund were on standby to host the Reds’ final group game against FC Midtjylland, because a travel ban meant alternative arrangements had to be made.

Rafael Nadal...pulls out of ATP Cup

Wiltshire: PwC Deepening Cricket’s Grassroots Devt in Nigeria The revolution taking place in cricket development in the country has caught the attention of a former Nigerian international, George Wiltshire.The former Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Cricket Federation believes the grassroots programmes for Under-17 boys and girls sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) will definitely create the next generation of super star cricketers in the country. DURO IKHAZUAGBE was there when Wiltshire recalled his adventure in the game...

Background in cricket right from college days at St. Gregory’s in Lagos I attended St. Gregory’s College in Lagos, a foremost cricket playing institution, which has a solid cricket tradition and where the noble game is still played till date. I was introduced to cricket in my Form 1, and coached by Legendary Ewa Henshaw (Lagos State Cricket Coach) and late John Gbojor (National Coach), by 15, I started playing for the school team.

I participated at Lagos State Sports Festivals, National School Sports and National Sports Festival. It was a great honour to Captain St. Gregory’s College to win Gold in Lagos School competition and qualified for the National School Sports and won Bronze. With the national exposure, it was a good experience meeting cricketers from other parts of the country, built a long lasting friendship till date.

We travelled by road from Lagos to Calabar and were able to see other parts of the country. Calabar left a lasting

impression as I experienced a clean and serene city, very warm people and a good memory of Hope Waddell Secondary School where we played our entire cricket matches.

Also, we travelled to Kaduna by rail for the National Sports Festival in ‘77, it was an experience stopping at the Rail Stations we read about.

What did the experience teach you?

Youth cricket brought about genuine friendship, which I have maintained since the 1970s.

Cultivation of friendship is very dear to me. Even though we competed fiercely, we never hated ourselves.

Can you recall some of the structures that made grassroots cricket to flourish when you played as a youth?

The cricket playing schools in the country were well equipped.

They had games masters who encouraged us to play and uphold the tradition of the noble game. Coaching was top quality.

We learnt from the very best.

Coaches were sent to schools to train the students. We had

Ekiti State’s female Under-17 team won the South-west regional playoff at the Ibadan centre

the School Sports Structure and the National Sports Festival; which had Intermediate team comprising of secondary school students.

Did Cricket in anyway affect your Education?

I started attending National trials in 1980 at the age of 20 while in University of Lagos, I will say I was gifted because I was also involved in playing music. I did not find it as a problem at all combining cricket, academics and music.

Even when I was a Ministerial Aide and when I worked in the banking industry, my cricket never suffered.

How was your experience as an administrator when compared with what obtains now?

I was the first appointed Chief Operating Officer/ GM of Nigeria Cricket Federation.

I was able to introduce operations manual, policies and a blueprint for successive administrations to develop. The then Administration developed a template for preparation of national teams for international competitions. We established Regional Development Officers as well (RDOs).

The present Administration has done very well by taking Nigeria cricket to greater heights with the milestone of competing at the Under-19 World Cup level.

We have also moved from being a power house in West Africa to being amongst Africa’s top cricket nations.

The development structure has been expanded to include development officers assigned to specific states and particularly, to help develop women’s cricket.

Administrative structure is also an area where there has been

George Wiltshire...thumbs up NCF’s cricket development significant improvement with more departments created and staff base tripled.

How about the growth at the grassroots?

The growth is indeed exponential with the aggressive School Programmes embarked on by the NCF in collaboration with Corporate organizations like PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The Naija Kids Cricket sponsored

by PwC which looks to introduce 40,000 news kids into the sport annually is the biggest grassroots programme in the history of the sport in Nigeria and currently in Africa besides the likes of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

What do you make of PwC Partnership with the Federation?

We have really gone back to the basics. The ICC is giving Nigeria the support required.

They are encouraging us to do more and this administration is

performing its role satisfactorily.

We are lucky that the Head of PwC, Mr. Uyi Akpata is the current Vice President of NCF. He has first-hand knowledge of what is required to develop the game from the grassroots level and he has been able to get his PwC team to back the development programmes of the NCF. Government is fully backing the development programme. Other bodies such as, PETS Foundation and individuals are supporting the Federation as well, but the PwC partnership is a hallmark achievement for Nigeria.

What has been your impression of the ongoing National Under-17 championships?

Very impressive, well organised with the Covid-19 protocols adhered to. We can see new talents emerging. A young girl, Lucky Piety from Edo State, representing South-south, scored 106 runs off 54 balls! That is a record. At 14 years, such talents are rare and we might have to wait for another decade to see that happen again. The Under-17 championship gave us that opportunity to witness such history-making moment and that is what the genuine partnership between the NCF and PwC can achieve. We also saw a couple of half centuries and wicket takers. The Boys’ tournament provides the pathway for the next generation of super stars for the country and more talents will be discovered.

In your opinion, in what other areas do you think the Federation can still do better?

During the PWC games, I was shocked at the number

of extras conceded. The NCF should arrange coaching courses for the coaches at the grassroots level. Still on the U17 tournaments, the world is monitoring our matches on Cricheroes App, scoring is as important as the game. Scoring needs to be done properly. I monitor the matches and see things like Lucky, 30 runs.

In cricket you write the names in full, Lucky Oghene, Kabir Ibrahim or initials and surname.

Secondly, NCF should show tables so that we can know at a glance the status. Lastly, match reports should be written and sent out to the press daily. This way, the game is publicized.

In general, the Federation has commenced the establishment of turf wickets, which is the acceptable international surface to play cricket on. The ongoing projects should be completed and new ones built.

Kudos to the Federation for hiring a National Coach, Asanka Gurusinha from Sri Lanka who has played the game at the International level and with international experience as a Manager. I am sure our coaches will benefit a lot from him and Nigeria cricket will continue to reach more milestones in the game.

What future do you see for Nigeria Cricket?

In four years of involvement of PwC, the company is part of the giant strides we are witnessing today; we have made history by playing at the U19 World Cup. I am certain that more youths will be involved in cricket. PwC has created a pathway for the kids to compete and work their way up to represent Nigeria at both the Female and Male categories.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021 • T H I S D AY

55

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Bakare to Buhari

“As far as I know and I have said it before, the expectations of Nigerians including the gentleman interviewing me and everyone who rose up at that time to say we need a breath fresh air by bringing President Buhari, I think whatever it is, the expectations have not been met and so, therefore there is a feeling of disappointment everywhere” – Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, says there is nothing to show that President Muhammadu Buhari has met Nigerians’ expectations.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

The Museveni Irony I

n his younger days, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, who was re-elected a fortnight ago for a sixth term in office, was widely acclaimed as an agent of change.

Today, the 76-year old former guerrilla fighter is widely seen as an obstacle to change in his 35th year in power.

The obvious irony in Museveni’s political personality is, perhaps, exemplified in a statement he made when he was barely two years in office : : “The problem of Africa in general and Uganda in particular is not the people, but leaders who want to overstay in power.” Ironically, this statement more or less encapsulates the position of his main challenger in the Jan 14 presidential election, Robert Kyagunlayi , better known by his stage name as a pop star, Bobi Wine. In the books of Wine and his supporters, the problem of Uganda today is squarely Museveni.

The Uganda president led the National Resistance Movement (NRM), waving the flag of freedom and progress as he got to power in 1986 when Wine was four years old.

This transmutation from being a solution to becoming the problem is what may eventually define Museveni’s place in history.

The story of the January 14 election is another indication of a progressive promise turned tragedy.

Museveni’s actions are reminiscent of the story of President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, a liberator turned dictator at the twilight of his political career. Soon after independence in 1980, Mugabe set forth with building his nation freed from the shackles of the most pernicious form of colonialism on a progressive foundation. Imbued with political savvy, he embarked on progressive policies such as the land reforms (which were later perverted) economic planning and aggressive democratisation of access to quality education and healthcare. Even at a point the West even pointed to Zimbabwe as a model political economy in Africa. Tragically, however, by the time he died two years ago, Mugabe left his country in virtual ruins. No thanks to the cumulative effects of series of political errors especially the repression of opposition and resistance to the widening of the democratic space.

Although as a revolutionary, Mugabe was more ideologically grounded than Museveni, yet the situation in Uganda bears some semblance to the condition of Zimbabwe in the last days of Mugabe.

On January 16, Museveni was declared the winner of the election with 59% of the votes while the runner - up, Wine, who remarkably captured the imagination of the youths, secured 35%. What with the violence and intimidation of the opponents before and during the election, the results are being fiercely disputed by the opposition. There was a horrific video of a lady being brutalised by security men in presence of her son. Such assaults on human dignity were prevalent during the election.

Mr. Wine himself wore bullet-proof vest and helmet in the course of his campaigns.

His home was invaded by state agents and the supporters were frequently attacked.

While the public health climate already made campaigns problematic for Wine, who calls himself the “ghetto president,” Museveni’s police practically chased him out of the political field. The opposition was denied media access.

Museveni The internet was shut down. More often than not, Wine relied on foreign media to tell his own side of the story.

The matter was worsened by the bloodletting that marred the electoral process. Soon after Wine submitted his nomination forms last November he was arrested and detained for two days. His supporters trooped out to protest. No fewer than 54 of them were reportedly killed by the police. The situation was less bloody on another occasion when all members of his entourage to a campaign ground were arrested. The whole atmosphere was militarised. The opposition was under siege.

Observers have, therefore, questioned the credibility of the Ugandan election. With the electoral dispute taken the court, even western commentators have compared the Ugandan assault on democracy with the violence inspired by former President Donald Trump in the United States. Violence and manipulation were employed by the incumbents in both cases. But unlike America where the system is resilient against attack, the institutions in Uganda are too weak to withstand assaults on the democratic process by the state under Museveni. Little surprise, Wine calls the election “the worst rigging” in the country’s electoral history.

It is now clear that like Mugabe, Museveni has no succession plan. Critics and opponents are already projecting that his exit from power might be not be a smooth transition to another generation of Ugandan leaders to whom Wine is boldly giving a face.

Museveni should learn the lessons of almost 60 years of Ugandan postindependence story so that history would not repeat itself tragically

Yet it has not always been a tale of woes for Museveni in power.

So, Museveni should learn the lessons of almost 60 years of Ugandan post-independence story so that history would not repeat itself tragically. Wine said that if Museveni made peaceful and fair elections impossible, he might end up like Muammar Gaddafi, another leader who was once popular with his people, but ended his political career in tragic circumstances.

Libya is yet to recover from the ruins that followed the fall of Gaddafi.

In a different context, like Mugabe, Museveni was once praised for progressive governance.

He was a poster boy of liberal political and economic reforms in Africa in the late 1980s and 1990s. He brought sanity and stability to the war-torn Ugandan political space. This was barely a decade after the monumental chaos caused by the brutish dictator, Idi Amin.

Museveni also embraced the mixed-economy model with the empowerment programmes for the poor people. He fought the HIV/ AIDS epidemic in an exemplary manner. In return, he got generous aids from development partners and his reforms were supported by western agencies. He was immensely popular with his people. Even the western media were generous in reporting his successes. He was described in the 1990s as the “African other statesman,” the first one being the venerable Nelson Mandela. Other called him the African Bismarck in the light of the reforms and nation-building efforts associated with his government. The administration of former American President Bill Clinton saw Museveni as “a beacon of hope.” Indeed, the West saw in Museveni a solid ally in the “war on terror” in east Africa.

Today, however, young Ugandans call Museveni Napoleon, in comparison with the ruler in George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

The promise of Museveni was evident early in life, decades before he fought his way from the bush to power. He developed a clear revolutionary consciousness in his formative years. When he studied economics and political science at the University of Dar es Salam in the late 1960s, the institution was a citadel radical thinking. He became a Marxist with particular interests in the ideas of Frantz Fanon and Pan- Africanism. Museveni was a leader of the student movement, the African Revolutionary Front. He was part of the rebellion that terminated the poltical brutality of Idi Amin in 1979 and the subsequent second coming of President Milton Obote.

Museveni and his comrades formed the Popular Resistance Army (PRA) to fight the government of Obote. It was estimated that in the crisis of the Obote era, more than 100, 000 civilians were killed. In the course of prosecuting the insurgency against the government of Obote, Museveni’s army attacked the formations of Uganda National Liberation Army. Museveni later forged a political collaboration with former President Yusuf Lule. As result, Lule’s Uganda Freedom Fighters merged with Museveni’s PRA to form the National Resistance Army, the military wing of the political formation, National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Interestingly, after 35 years in power as a political party, the name has not changed from that of a “resistance” movement. You wonder what the NRM is still resisting now it is facing a formidable resistance from the post-Idi Amin generation of Ugandans.

Meanwhile, as the fighting in the bush intensified the NRM actually developed a vision of the society for which it was fighting and which it hoped to actualise if it got power. On its agenda were national unity, democracy, security, African unity, economic independency, anti-corruption, struggle against inequality and the development of the social sector.

In contrast, 4o years later Wine’s political party and other minor parties have not clearly articulated their programmes and vision the way Museveni’s party did decades ago with a dream to reshape Uganda.. That’s no indication of political development among the younger generation of Ugandans.

The struggle of Museveni and his comrades attracted attention of political forces within Africa and beyond. Solidarity was reportedly extended to him by formidable forces within the continent. You couldn’t discuss progressive politics in Africa in the 1980s without mentioning Museveni and his reforms in Uganda.

Almost 40 years later, this still remains a worthwhile agenda for any African country to pursue to be on the path of progress. Is it safe to say that Uganda is on that progressive path today? This question makes it another African irony.

It is worth emphasising that freedom, justice and human dignity were elements that Museveni and his comrades made their battle cry as they fought battles in the bush and the city. In fact, here is what Museveni said at his inaugural speech 35 years ago: “Every person in Ugandan must have absolute security to live wherever he wants.

Any individual, any group who threatens the security of our people must be smashed without mercy. The people of Ugandan should die only from natural causes which are beyond our control, but not from fellow human beings who continue to walk the length and breadth of our land.”

This vision appears to have been dimmed by the violations of human rights and killings of protesters and opponents in Museveni’s Uganda. The experience of the January 14 election was certainly not consistent with this vision.

Museveni should be wary of what would be the denouement of his noteworthy political career. He should avoid being another Mugabe who dented his shining revolutionary credentials with the mismanagement of his exit from power.

Mugabe’s own comrades had to manoeuvre him out of the presidential villa. And that was not the way to anchor an otherwise great revolutionary career.

It was a big error for Museveni to have tampered with provisions for presidential term limits in the constitution.

Ugandan is another lesson for African countries whose constitutions lack limits for presidential terms. They are taking a risk with power mongers. Those countries having the important provisions in their constitutions should preserve them for stability.

Mandela declined to run for a second term as South African president. African leaders are yet to see the logic in the Mandela example: the demystification of power and its allure.

All told, it is grossly unfortunate that given his progressive background and 35 years running, Museveni has not deepened popular democracy in Uganda. The verdict of history may not be kind on him for this failure.

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