TUESDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2021

Citing Safety, FG Bars Private Sector COVID-19 Vaccination Expects 42m vaccine doses from AU Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has barred the private sector from administering COVID-19 vaccine, reserving the vaccination exclusively

for the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) for safety reasons.

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said at a media briefing by the

Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja yesterday that the government is restricting the deployment and implementation of the vaccination programme to NPHCDA and will not allow

private sector vaccination.

Ehanire explained that it is for purposes of safe and proper management of the COVID-19 vaccination, including dealing with any after-effects that the federal government has

banned the private sector from vaccination.

The federal government also said it would soon receive over 42 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for about 45 per cent of the country’s population

from the African Union (AU).

It said Nigeria subscribed to two multilateral vaccine access platforms; the first being the COVAX facility Continued on page 8

BUA Advocates Liberalisation of Cement Policy to Crash Price... Page 6 Tuesday 9 February, 2021 Vol 26. No 9438. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

INEC Commits to Equitable Distribution of Extra Polling Units To convert 57,023 polling points to units Inaugurates strategic committee for general election Chucks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday allayed fears of stakeholders, especially political parties, on the

distribution of new polling units it is planning to create ahead of the 2023 general election.

The commission ruled out favouring either of the political divide, South and North, in

allocating the polling units.

“The commission will be fair to all,” INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, told THISDAY yesterday.

The electoral body also yesterday inaugurated a strategic committee in preparation for future general elections.

INEC plans to create additional 57,023 polling

units (PUs) by converting the existing 57,023 polling points to PUs. However, politicians, especially from the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC)

and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have expressed concerns about how the polling units will be distributed between the South and the Continued on page 9

Analysts Foresee Faster Economic Recovery as Oil Price Hits $60 IMF urges FG to embark on aggressive revenue mobilisation Advises FG to raise VAT to 10% by 2022 Obinna Chima, Nume Ekeghe in Lagos, Emmanuel Addeh and James Emejo in Abuja Analysts yesterday forecasted a faster economic recovery for Nigeria as crude oil prices, at $60 per barrel, hit a new high since February 2020.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also stressed the need for the federal government to intensify revenue mobilisation in order to reduce fiscal sustainability risks.

The analysts, however, urged the federal government to be prudent in the utilisation of the extra revenue that may accrue to its purse.

They also cautioned that while the price appreciation could help in meeting and surpassing the $40 per barrel benchmark in the 2021 budget, thereby helping to fund the fiscal deficit, higher fuel price may increase inflation rate which is already at 15.75 per cent as at December.

Continued on page 8

Afenifere Seeks Foreign Intervention to Combat Herdsmen Crisis... Page 5

NUMBER ONE...

L-R: Principal Consultant, Floating Liquified Natural Gas facility, Dr. Yahuza Kassim; MD/CEO, UTM Offshore Limited, Mr. Julius Rone; and Managing Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Awwal Sarki, during the presentation of license to establish the first FLNG facility in the country to UTM in Abuja…yesterday

2

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 •T H I S D AY

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • T H I S D AY

3

4

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 •T H I S D AY

5

TUESDAY, ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS Afenifere Seeks Foreign Intervention to Combat Herdsmen Crisis Reiterates Soyinka's warning on imminent civil war Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Ejiofor Alike The apex Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere, yesterday urged the international community to intervene in the crisis between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria to stem the tide.

It also backed Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who warned of an imminent civil war if the herdsmen crisis rocking the Southwest region is not properly handled.

It also accused the presidency of always being the first to defend the herdsmen any time they kill people.

Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, while featuring on 'The Morning Show,’ a programme of ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, said the intervention of members of the international community will help stem the crisis.

In a recent interview with BBC Pidgin, Soyinka had said: “We may enter a phase of serial skirmishes, which may get more and more violent and develop – I hate to use the word – may develop into a civil war, and a very untidy and messy one at that. That is my biggest fear.”

Reacting to Soyinka’s comments, the Afenifere spokesman said: “The

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, is (well) known.

You cannot say that he is beating the drum of war or he is an alarmist. People are painting the reality that is on the ground. If what is happening in the South-west today, let’s say some Yoruba boys had gone to do one per cent of that in the North, there would have been a war in this country by now.

“So, when Professor Wole Soyinka is warning President Buhari now that if you don’t speak up now, what is going on will lead to civil war, he is not just talking in vain.”

Odumakin accused Buhari of maintaining ‘civil silence’ over the heinous crimes committed by renegade herders while the presidency continues to act as their mouthpiece.

“But the world and the international community should be interested in Nigeria at this moment and get Nigeria out of this mess.

“It is clear now that the possibility of internal solutions is getting limited, we don’t have an authority in leadership that can get us out of this mess. And the implication of war in Nigeria for the rest of the world is very serious.

“Therefore, they should get on their feet now and begin to get interested in Nigeria to get us out of this mess that we are in,” he said.

Odumakin accused the presidency of always being the first to defend herdsmen any time they kill people.

He also slammed some Northern leaders for only finding their voice when the victims of herdsmen attack rise up in resistance.

He said: “Because we don’t want a war situation, that is why we have been maintaining our calm. But (when) it gets to a point

where people will say enough is enough; when the victims are beginning to rise to say we’ve had enough of this, the first person that we’ll hear that will be talking is Nasir el-Rufai who openly defended the killings of Southern Kaduna people by funding Fulani herdsmen.”

He berated some Northern leaders whom he accused of being silent on the killings going on in the South-west.

“We have not heard anything about sorry from any of them, now they are talking because the victims are saying we have had enough of it.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have a government that is governmental. Instead of the government defending the right to life of the people, you see that any time these herdsmen kill people, the first line of defence is the

spokesmen of the presidency, they are the first to defend them,” he said.

Odumakin recalled that when the Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), gave a lawful order for herdsmen to vacate the forest reserves in the state, “It was Garba Shehu that first defended the rights of the herdsmen to the forest as if their animals are now human beings.”

CONDOLENCES FROM THE NATION...

L-R: Former Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Constance Momoh; wife of deceased former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh, Jane; and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, during a condolence visit by a delegation of the federal government to the deceased’s family in Abuja…yesterday

Buratai: I’m Not Bothered by Opposition to My Nomination as Ambassador Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), has dismissed criticism of his nomination as ambassador-designate, saying he performed creditably well during his tenure.

He cited the compilation by officers at the Army Headquarters on projects and infrastructural development he embarked upon all over the country as evidence of his good job.

He spoke on Sunday night in Abuja during a dinner organised in his honour by members of 29th Regular Course Association.

Commenting on his appointment as an envoy and that of his colleagues, Buratai said: “It’s an honourable retirement and also an honourable appointment. I’m not a politician, so, I have no word for the opposition. I have done well.”

On his tenure as chief of army staff, he said: “I am happy that in July last year, my officers at the Army headquarters compiled a compendium of my achievements.

“In fact, I can’t even remember all the projects that we have executed. Is it in terms of infrastructure?

Is it in terms of capacity building? Is it in terms of training?

“Since I was appointed, there was never a dull moment in terms of training. Remember the various exercises. These are training exercises from ‘Python Dance,’ ‘Crocodile Smile,’ and even the latest one ‘Exercise Sahel Sanity,’ “Is it in the area of medical?

In terms of education of our children and wards, the Nigerian Army University are all great achievements.”

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing him as chief of army staff and reiterated

that he discharged his responsibilities to the best of his ability.

He also praised Nigerians that supported him with prayers, advice and words of encouragement that made him achieve so much as COAS. “I must appreciate all Nigerians, my well-wishers, the youths, elders, men and women for their continuous prayers, goodwill and support to the Nigerian Army and me in the course of our duties to bring about peace and security in our country,” he added.

He also thanked the Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum, and his North-east counterparts, who have “all worked hard to ensure that the insurgency in the region has reached what we have today; a manageable state and the progress has been quite tremendous so far.”

Buratai said his appointment was a special price for his father, the late Alhaji Yusufu Buratai, a well-known staunch loyalist of Buhari.

Buratai’s father, a Second World War veteran, served as a non-commissioned officer in the Royal West African Frontier Force fighting in Burma.

He also thanked members of the 29th Regular Course Association for being such wonderful friends and course mates and organising such a befitting event in his honour, adding that he felt so happy to be celebrated.

He said the honour meant a lot to him and his family.

“It is also a mark of fulfilment and pride that you have been recognised for the service you have rendered to your nation and your people,” he stated.

He assured them that he would continue to do the nation proud and project Nigeria’s image in good light wherever he is posted.

Buhari Lauds Chinese Support for Nigeria Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has written formally to thank China for its support to Nigeria in defence matters and infrastructural development.

The president, in a letter dated January 28, 2021, addressed to the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of

China, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far and thanked China for its support in defence matters and infrastructural development of Nigeria, among others.

Buhari also rejoiced with Chinese across the world as they commence celebrations marking the new Chinese Year of the Ox on February 12.

The president's letter entitled "Letter of Felicitations," reads: “It is now 50 years since

the establishment of NigeriaChina diplomatic relations, and I am delighted that the bilateral ties have achieved far-reaching and fruitful results, on the basis of close coordination and mutual trust, bringing great benefits to our countries and peoples.

“As celebrations of the Chinese Year of the Ox by all Chinese across the world commence on February 12th this year, on behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I use this

opportunity to extend my warmest and most sincere greetings and wishes to you and the Chinese people for a promising and auspicious Lunar New Year.

"Nigeria is very satisfied with the progress of bilateral relations and we thank China for its support to us in various ways; in the building of rail, road, power, defence, and many other areas.

"Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has been working with Nigeria and other African countries to

safeguard the lives and health of our citizens, adding new dimensions to our friendship.

We acknowledge that Chinese support tremendously strengthened our effort against the pandemic.

"In recent years, Nigeria and China have also witnessed the steady development of their strategic partnership. In the face of significant challenges faced by the international community, the two sides are upholding a common position of

preserving multilateralism, not interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and safeguarding the common interest of developing countries.

"This year is vital for China-Nigeria relations.

The FOCAC has become a model of mutually beneficial cooperation between Nigeria and China, as well as between Africa and China.

Nigeria is ready to work with China to make the new session of FOCAC this year a success.”

6

TUESDAY, ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

BUA Advocates Liberalisation of Cement Policy to Crash Price Firm purchases 1m doses of COVID-19 vaccine for Nigeria Obinna Chima and Goddy Egene The Chairman and Founder of the BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, has called for the liberalisation of Nigeria’s cement policy to boost production and subsequently crash the price of the commodity.

Rabiu, however, attributed the high cost of cement in Nigeria to low production capacity.

He also said BUA, one of Africa’s largest conglomerates, has paid for one million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria through the AFREXIM Vaccine programme in partnership with CACOVID. The doses of the vaccine, which should be delivered by next week, will be the first delivery of vaccines to Nigeria since the COVID-19 vaccines became available.

Rabiu told reporters yesterday in Lagos that the price of cement, which presently sells for about N4,000 per bag, remains high in Nigeria because the few producers are not able to meet the country’s huge demand.

“That is a simple economics of supply and demand,” he said, just as he faulted the belief that the country is self-sufficient in cement production.

“That is a simple economics of supply and demand,” he said, just as he faulted the belief that the country is self-sufficient in cement production.

The billionaire explained: “Look at the numbers: Nigeria is over 200 million people today in terms of population.

If you look at the production of cement, last year, we were under 30 million metric tonnes.

“In fact, last year was higher than the year before, which means that in 2019, we were doing between 26 and 27 million metric tonnes. I am talking about production, and not installed capacity, which is another thing entirely.

“Nigeria’s 200 million people make it about 130 kilograms per head. If you check, you will see that most countries in Africa are doing between

170 kilogrammes to 200 kilogrammes per head.

“So, Nigeria is actually producing less than other countries in Africa, apart from maybe Niger Republic. So, that means that we do not have enough capacity.”

According to Rabiu, whenever any of the plants of the few players in the industry develops a fault, the impact is immediately felt on the price of the commodity, which is passed on to buyers of the product.

According to him, “The moment you have any problem in any of the plants in Nigeria and there is a shut-down or any challenge, immediately, you will see the impact in terms of price going up.

“That is because we do not have any buffer whatsoever.

So, it is like hand to mouth daily. The reason why the price of cement went up recently was simply because the was an issue at one of Lafarge’s plants and they had to stop production for few months to rectify that.

“So, as that had happened, the supply from Lafarge reduced by about 25 per cent in Ogun State. Also, one of the plants of Dangote Cement had a technical issue and briefly, they couldn’t load. But that has been resolved.

“But because that took about one month, the price of cement went up to about N4,000, from N2,800.”

According to him, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he had advocated for a review of the country’s cement policy.

Rabiu said he advised the federal government to open up the industry to allow for more players, expressing the belief that such would help to crash the price of cement in the country.

“Even though this cement policy is a good one, it must be done in such a way that a lot of players must come in and participate. There is no point in making a policy that only one, two, or three people are able to benefit from that policy,” he said, adding: “That does not

make sense. I am benefiting from this policy, but I know it is a bad policy. So, whilst the policy is good, the way it is being administered is not good. You can’t have a policy that restricts so many people from participating, at the end of the day, you are just creating a monopoly.”

He said although the policy had helped the country to put up so many plants, he argued that the government needs to take a second look at the policy, to see how it can bring in more companies to participate.

He described Nigeria’s cement sector as important to the economy, maintaining that, Nigeria has no business selling cement at N4,000.

“Our ex-factory price is still about N2,700 per bag, but cement is selling between N3,500 and N3,800. I had to stop my people from collecting money last week, simply because we are collecting money much more than what we can produce,” he said.

The BUA chairman said there are many other companies that have the capacity and access to funding to be able

to compete in the industry in Nigeria, adding that the entire country is sitting on limestone.

“Anywhere you go, there is limestone in Nigeria,” he emphasised and explained: “And the cost of production is probably the lowest in Africa.”

Rabiu urged the federal government to open up the cement industry for more competition.

According to him, the few players in the industry, “are making so much money in the industry and Nigerians are the ones paying for this.

I am part of it, but I know it is wrong.”

Rabiu pointed out that the same thing is presently happening in the sugar industry, with the Backward Integration Programme (BIP).

He stated: “In the sugar industry, you have a situation where you have only three players and there is the BIP policy, which states that unless you are seen to be doing a plantation you would not be allowed to do sugar refinery.

“Again, it is the same kind of policy where few people are benefiting and 200 million

people are suffering. The business is doing well, we are making money, but how much money do you really need.

“We have 200 million people and they are paying more than what other countries are paying for something that ought to be cheaper.

“Today, I am ready to reduce my cement and sugar prices, if other companies are ready and I challenge them. If you are posting 50 per cent as profit, and Nigerians are paying for that, why can’t you make 25 per cent profit, so that instead of N4,000, they would be paying N2,000 per bag of cement, and it can happen,” Rabiu said.

BUA Purchases 1m Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine for Nigeria In another development, BUA has paid for 1 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria through the AFREXIM vaccine programme in partnership with CACOVID. These doses of the vaccine,

which should be delivered by next week, will be the first delivery to Nigeria since it became available.

According to BUA, the doses will be distributed free to Nigerians at no cost.

Speaking on this development, Rabiu thanked the President of the Afrexim Bank, Dr. Benedict Oramah, for making the purchase possible and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for coordinating the process through the CACOVID Private Sector partnership.

According to him, “BUA decided to secure these 1million doses by paying the full amount today because these vaccines became available only last week through AFREXIM. “We expect the vaccines to be delivered within the next 14 days and hope priority will be given to our frontline workers who have committed their lives to manage the pandemic.”

He said BUA is committing to purchase 5 million more doses for Nigeria as soon as they become available through the same arrangement.”

REFRESHING MEMBERSHIP...

Chairman, All Progressives Congress Registration/Revalidation Committee, Dr. Kabir Matazu (left), Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, during the party's registration and revalidation exercise in Kano... yesterday

Petrol Retailers Raise the Alarm over Rising Depot Price Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) yesterday alerted the government to the rising rates its members were getting petrol products at the depots, noting that the situation may lead to nationwide scarcity if not resolved by the authorities.

In a chat with THISDAY, the National President of the association, Dr. Billy GillisHarry, who said that the body cannot unilaterally increase fuel prices contrary to reports that its members had pegged the pump price at N178 explained that the current situation was not sustainable.

The body urged the buying public and the Nigerian

government to take note that it is now getting the product at between N158-N160, stressing that it cannot continue to sell at N162.

Earlier, there were reports that the association had increased fuel prices and had directed its members to comply appropriately, having duly informed the federal government of the decision.

But Gillis-Harry, who said the organisation has no such powers, however stated that if the problem is not resolved soon, there will be product shortages as there will be no capital to restock.

He said: “What we have done is to bring the condition of the business to the knowledge of both consumers and

government that the retail outlets have been having very strenuous price pressure because we are buying products at depots at N156 to N159 and even N160, so we can’t sustain selling new products.

“We have not said we are changing our prices, what we said is that the buying public should understand that with the current reality, deregulation should be the focus of what we want to do so that the price of petroleum products can be defined by the forces of demand and supply. This is not anybody sitting down to give any price.

“We do not have the locus to increase unilaterally. There is no time that any of us can increase the price. We are only

bringing to the attention of the consumer and the authorities.

But the reality is that we are not too far. By the end of this week, all old stocks will be depleted.

“If the old stock is depleted and the depots are insisting that we should buy at that price, there’s no way anybody can sell at N162. Simple logistics from the depots to the filling stations will take over N4 and then thereafter you start incurring expenses in dispensing, running fuel, etc.

“So, there’s no way even the N12 to N14 margin can even keep the business afloat. So, what we pleaded is that all retail outlets should have a human face and be sympathetic.

When the situation comes we

should be able to do what we should do.”

The PETROAN national president also called on the federal government to give its members the go-ahead to import products since the market has been deregulated, noting that the body is ready to source its own foreign exchange.

He urged the government to act and avert the imminent nationwide fuel scarcity by wading into the crisis and ensuring that depot owners sell at the going market rates, rather than the current increased prices.

“We are alerting the government that we are buying products from the depots at a price that is alarming. That’s all we are saying and that we

are under pressure.

“Right now we are doing a full graphical representation to make sure that the government is aware and that they can’t just fold their arms and be looking, because right now we are buying at N158 and nobody is saying anything.

“So, who will bear the brunt.

But I have not said the price is increasing, what I am saying is that government should stop them from selling at those prices and that they should stop adulterating products.

“They should allow PETROAN to start importing our own products. We are even going to source our own forex and then they can work out the modalities for us,” Gillis-Harry maintained.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • T H I S D AY

7

8

TUESDAY, ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE EIGHT ANALYSTS FORESEE FASTER ECONOMIC RECOVERY AS OIL PRICE HITS $60 The analysts, in separate interviews with THISDAY, also advised the federal government to take advantage of the higher prices to boost capital spending as the country cannot guarantee that the price will remain high for a longer period.

The global benchmark crude, Brent rose yesterday, hitting $60.04 a barrel, a development that was last experienced by the global oil market on February 20, 2020.

Also, the United States West Texas Intermediate crude futures advanced 59 cents or one per cent, to $57.44 a barrel, the highest since January last year.

However, the rise in Brent price could mean bad news for many Nigerians who buy petrol from the pumps, with a likely inevitable increase in the retail price across the country.

In response to the new crude oil price, the pump price of petrol rose marginally in many filling stations in Lagos, the nation's commercial capital, from N159 per litre to N162.

Yesterday’s crude oil price increase was boosted by supply cuts among key producers and hopes for further United States economic stimulus measures to boost demand, according to Reuters.

Saudi Arabia's pledge of extra supply cuts in February and March on the back of reductions by other members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, including Russia, is helping to balance global markets and support prices.

Reacting to the oil price rise, the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Eczellon Capital, Diekola Onaolapo said: “Essentially, it is more revenue for the country hoping the volume of production doesn’t get hampered. Overall receipts from crude sale are price multiplied by volume. So, if price is going up and all things being equal volume remains the same, it would mean more revenue for the country. Budget performance and the deficit financing becomes easier.”

However, he said the rise in oil prices may lead to an increase in petrol prices and could also impact inflation and Nigerians' living standards.

An economist and Associate Professor at the Lagos Business School, Dr. Bongo Adi, said the development could translate

to full implementation of the budget and upward trend in the price of Brent crude price would be sustained in the medium term.

Adi said: “The increase in Brent price is massive leverage to the budget which is going to reduce the fiscal burden and deficit. It means that government can now meet its budgetary target.

“Nigerians should ideally look forward to full budget implementation and there ideally shouldn’t be any excuses for the inability to meet budgetary provisions.

“Demand for oil would keep going up and we would see oil in the highs.

It would not be a surprise if oil hits $100 per barrel or more in the years to come.”

Also, the Head of Research, United Capital, Mr. Wale Olusi, said: “The implications of the upwards trends in Brent makes everything brighter for the budget because if you are projecting $40 per barrel, and you have estimated your revenue based on that, it simply means you have a lot of surpluses.

“Government can now rake in more revenue and more revenue can go into the excess crude account as well as the external reserves.

So apart from the budget, it also makes Nigeria look good to foreign portfolio investors who I think the central bank is trying to attract currently.

“It is fantastic news and if the pricing sustains, the impact on reserves would continue to improve over time because the reserves have cruised on a daily basis.”

Speaking on the development, President, Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, said while the oil price increase is a welcome development considering that the 2021 budget is based on $40 per barrel, the government should apply the excess oil revenue prudently.

According to him, the new crude oil price provides a good opportunity to build fiscal buffers, increase the excess crude account and possibly invest some in the infrastructure component of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

"The government may also consider seizing this opportunity to cut down the budget deficit.

"It will also help external reserves accretion and put the CBN in a stronger position to defend the value of the naira.

"The knock-on effect should be positive for the economy because I see a stable exchange rate moderating inflationary pressure and further boosting the stock market.

So, economic recovery effort is made easier," he added.

Also, an economist and Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dignity Finance and Investment Limited, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, stated that the increase could trigger a rise in pump price of petroleum products, especially diesel and kerosene.

"This is so because subsidy does not exist anymore," he added.

He said though the increase in oil price will further improve the country's trade balance and balance of payment, "higher fuel price may increase the inflation rate already looking high.

"So, while the country celebrates the high price, the populace or ordinary citizens bear the negative impacts."

He, however, explained that higher oil price will reduce the budget deficit figure as well as cut borrowing projections and improve the value of the naira.

On his part, the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Credent Investment Managers Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, told THISDAY that it would amount to a travesty if the extra funds are not used judiciously by the government, especially as the country is facing some fiscal challenges.

He said given that the trickle-down effect of higher oil prices tends to boost GDP growth, potentially, the country may feel the positive impacts if the government funds key areas to stimulate the economy.

He said the federal government should also consider increasing funding to SWF so as to hedge against possible downturns in oil prices in the future.

IMF Urges FG to Embark on Aggressive Revenue Mobilisation Meanwhile, the IMF has stressed the need for the federal government to intensify revenue mobilisation in order to reduce fiscal sustainability risks.

The Washington-based institution advised the

government to rely initially on progressive and efficiency-enhancing measures with higher tax rates, while awaiting a more sustained economic recovery.

The IMF stated this in its latest Article IV Consultation on Nigeria, which was released yesterday.

It added that the report was prepared by a staff team of the IMF for the Fund’s Executive Board’s consideration on January 27, 2021, following discussions that ended on November 17, 2020, with officials of Nigeria on economic developments and policies.

It also highlighted the need for improved social safety nets to cushion potential negative impacts on the poor.

It restated the need for a market-based exchange rate policy to instill confidence.

“Staff recommends establishing a marketclearing unified exchange rate with the near-term focus on allowing greater flexibility and removing the backlog of requests for foreign exchange,” it added.

It advised the central bank to focus more on price stability and called for more financial system vigilance to contain stability risks.

On the upside, it pointed out that recovering oil prices, which hit $60 per barrel yesterday, as well as the expected completion of the Dangote oil refinery could catalyse more domestic crude oil production and boost growth.

The IMF executive directors also commended Nigeria over measures taken to address the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have exacerbated pre-existing weaknesses.

The IMF stressed “the need for urgent policy adjustment and more fundamental reforms to sustain macroeconomic stability and lift growth and employment.”

It added: “Directors welcomed notable reforms undertaken in the fiscal sector, including removal of the fuel subsidy and steps to implement cost-reflective tariff increases in the power sector.

“Directors noted that multiple rates, limited flexibility, and foreign exchange shortages are posing challenges. They recommended a gradual and multi-step approach to establishing a unified and clear exchange rate regime with the near-term focus on allowing for greater

flexibility and removing the payments backlog.”

The IMF directors observed that the accommodative monetary stance remained appropriate in the near- term, stating that tightening may be warranted if balance of payments or inflationary pressures were to increase.

In the medium term, they advocated that monetary policy operational framework should be reformed and central bank’s financing of budget deficit phased out in order to reduce inflation.

However, they welcomed the resilience of the banking sector and called for continued vigilance to contain financial stability risks.

They noted that COVID-19 debt relief measures for banks’ clients should remain time-bound and limited to those with good pre-crisis fundamentals.

The IMF directors welcomed recent progress in structural reforms and called for continued reforms aimed at promoting economic diversification and reducing the dependence on oil and increasing employment.

In addition, they stressed the need to strengthen governance and anticorruption frameworks, including compliance with Anti-Money Laundering/ Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) measures.

The directors also welcomed the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area and underscored that implementing tradeenabling reforms remains critical to rejuvenate growth.

“In the short run, the recommended policy mix is heavily tilted toward exchange rate adjustment given constrained capacity on the monetary and fiscal fronts.

“In the medium term, revenue mobilisation is a top priority. In the short run, fiscal policy should address economic and health impact of the pandemic in a transparent and efficient manner.

“Significant revenue mobilisation will be needed in the medium term to reduce fiscal sustainability risks arising from low debtservicing capacity.

“With high poverty rates, revenue mobilisation will need to rely on progressive and efficiency-enhancing measures, with higher value-added and excise tax rates awaiting a firm economic recovery,” the

CITING SAFETY, FG BARS PRIVATE SECTOR COVID-19 VACCINATION that will supply members, including Nigeria, vaccines free to cover 20 per cent of the population.

Giving an update on COVID-19 procurement, Ehanire said the country has subscribed to two multilateral vaccine access platforms, COVAX facility being brokered under the auspices of the AU. He added that the other multilateral platform is the African Union (AVATT) platform, the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, chaired by the President of South Africa, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa from which Nigeria expects to get a total of 44 million doses

of vaccines.

According to him, the first batch of the vaccines expected from the Covax facility, which is free, will cover 20 per cent of Nigeria's population.

Also, aside from the expected first batch of 100,000 vaccines from Covax facility, there has now been a change that now offers Nigeria 16 million vaccine doses in the first half of the year.

On the vaccine acquisition by the AU, Ehanire said there is positive development which showed vaccine doses being acquired by AVATT may increase to 400 million.

He said AVATT had

earlier provided 300 million doses of three types of vaccines which have been offered to African countries, based on population, such that no country is left behind.

"Nigeria subscribes to this whole-of-Africa approach that strives to ensure that we are safe and our neighbours are safe.

"We shall be offered over 42 million doses by AVATT. If all the projected vaccines are supplied, we estimate we should have covered over 45 per cent of the population," he said.

The minister stated that in addition to the proposed sources, Nigeria has bilateral

negotiations with Gamaleya of Russia over their Sputnik V vaccine, which they are willing to supply to Nigeria.

He explained that the Russian vaccine has an efficacy of 91 per cent.

"We are also in talks with the High Commissioner of India over the Covax vaccine of Barhat Institute.

Both vaccines dossiers are under evaluation with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Ehanire also spoke about the concerns generated by a report that Nigeria was disqualified from assessing Pfizer vaccines due to lack of storage capacity, saying:

"This is false, Nigeria has ultra-cold (minus 80 degrees centigrade) freezers in strategic stores in Lagos, Abuja and Bauchi, with space to hold over 400,000 doses of vaccines, more than the 320,000 doses WHO had offered.

He said that the 320,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines had been reserved for countries with very high burden, to which Nigeria did not belong.

The minister, however, said Nigeria is keeping abreast of global development on vaccine deployment and will support the WHO policy on fair and equitable distribution of vaccines.

IMF added.

It reiterated that Nigeria’s economy has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that following a sharp drop in oil prices and capital outflows, the country’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated to have contracted by 3.2 per cent in 2020 amidst the pandemicrelated lockdown.

IMF Advises FG to Raise VAT to 10% by 2022 In a related development, officials of the IMF have advised the federal government to increase Value Added Tax (VAT) in the country to 10 per cent by 2022, from the 7.5 per cent it is presently, once economic recovery takes root.

They also recommended that VAT in the country should be 15 per cent by 2025.

The IMF stated this in an article posted on its website yesterday, titled: “Five Questions About Nigeria’s Road to Recovery,” that was authored by some staff of its African Department.

They noted that Nigeria has one of the lowest revenue levels as a share of GDP worldwide, stating that a large share of the country’s revenue is spent on the country’s public debt service payments, leaving insufficient fiscal space for critical social and infrastructure spending and to cushion an economic downturn.

In this context, it noted that mobilising revenues through efficiency-enhancing and progressive measures ought to be a top near-term priority. “Revisiting tax exemptions and customs duty waivers, increasing and broadening the base for excise taxes, developing a high-integrity taxpayer register, enhancing digital infrastructure, and improving on-time filing and payment are important measures.

“Once economic recovery takes root, Nigeria will need to increase the value-added tax rate to at least 10 percent by 2022 and 15 percent by 2025—the average in countries belonging to the Economic Community of West African States—to create effective fiscal space,” they stated.

TOP GAINERS MCNICHOLS UPDCREIT MULTIVERSE FIDSON AFRIPRUD TOP LOSERS CHAMPBREW PZCUSSONS JAIZBANK

NGN NGN 0.07 0.80 0.50 6.00 0.02 0.26 0.46 6.00 0.55 7.25 NGN 0.27 2.50 0.55 5.10 0.07 0.65 CORNERSTONE 0.06 0.59 RTBRISCOE 0.02 0.20 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,450.00 Volume: 340.489 million shares Value: N2.641 billion Deals: 5,263 As at yesterday 8/2/2021 See details on Page 33

% 9.5 9.0 8.3 8.3 8.2 % 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.2 9.0

TUESDAY, ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

9

NEWS

Gambari Leads FG’s Delegation to Condole with Momoh’s Family Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has described the demise of the former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh, as a great loss to human kind.

The president, in a message delivered on his behalf in Abuja by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, who led a federal government

delegation to the bereaved family, said the deceased will be missed by many people.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by his media assistant, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari said: “We have lost a dear friend, a great Nigerian, a true patriot and a philanthropist. We have lost a valuable member of the human community.

But he has left tremendous

footprints. He has been a politician, a writer, a publisher and also a party man with a conscience and a servant of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Minister.

“He introduced many reforms in the ministry, introduced direct communication with people of Nigeria on issues in a patriotic and dispassionate

manner, always putting the interest of Nigeria above everything else.”

Buhari stated that Momoh would be greatly missed by the family and many others whose lives he touched as a publisher, writer and statesman.

He prayed that almighty God will receive him back in heaven as one of his favourite servants here on

earth, and grant the family the fortitude to bear the huge loss.

On the Chief of Staff's entourage were the Caretaker Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor of Yobe State, Mr. Mala Buni; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of State for Environment,

Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Shehu.

On hand to receive the delegation were the widow, Jane; son, Rasheed, and sister, Justice Constance Momoh.

They expressed appreciation to the president for sending such a delegation and urged him to immortalise the deceased.

Cosgrove Begins Construction of World-class Digital Hub for FG Peter Uzoho Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cosgrove Investment Limited, Mr. Umar Abdullahi has assured that the organisation will deploy its core competence in the construction of the National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, stating that apart from strictly adhering to the contractual timeline for project delivery, Cosgrove’s visionary team will implement the innovative designs proposed, as agreed with the federal government.

Abdullahi, who gave the assurance at the recent groundbreaking ceremony of the National

Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, said the twin towers of seven and eight stories respectively will be fully automated, adding that the public sector project will bear Cosgrove’s signature of incorporating technology in infrastructure development.

“I wish to reiterate that Cosgrove will bring to bear on the project, the organization’s core competence which is integrating technology into construction,” he said.

The Cosgrove Chief Executive shared the starting features of the centre at the groundbreaking ceremony which had in attendance key public sector dignitaries,

including the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, among others.

Speaking on the project, Abdullahi said: “By the grace of God, we shall again showcase our commitment to adherence to timeline of project delivery by completing this project within the stipulated contractual timeline, using the best construction expertise, technical knowhow of Cosgrove’s visionary team, and I look forward to welcoming you back here in to commission the National Digital Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre.”

Abdullahi, whose organisation has been

serially recognised for commitment to integrating technology in real estate, added that: “We are happy that this administration is recognising and engaging indigenous companies in its quest to provide critical infrastructure for the country.”

He noted that as one of “Nigeria’s leading real estate development and construction companies, Cosgrove will construct a world-class National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre for the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).”

He described the project as one that “marks the

beginning of a progressive relationship between a visionary government and an innovation-inclined real estate development company – Cosgrove.”

Recalling the process that led to the selection of Cosgrove, he said: “Our journey started with putting in a bid for the construction of the project. The bid went through a highly competitive and transparent selection process, through the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and finally received the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Pantami,

said the construction of the centre became necessary in view of the commitment of the federal government to fast-track digital entrepreneurship and job creation in the country. He said the federal government will look beyond paper qualification in the quest for job creation, adding that emphasis is on developing skills, competence, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Cosgrove is a wholly indigenous company which employs hundreds of Nigerian youths and envisions an expansion beyond Nigeria in its quest to provide services that can only be considered as the best.

Strategic Committee for 2023 Elections

are three such elections, adding that, the first one, for which the commission has already issued, released the timetable and schedule of activities is the Anambra State governorship election taking place in November this year.

He said the next off-season governorship elections, would happen in Ekiti and Osun States next year.

The strategic plan and the election project plan, he said, would enable the commission to monitor all the processes through its election management system platforms.

"So, this is a very important exercise for the commission to be undertaken. The committee is made up of 17 members at the secretariat. We have three national commissioners, headed by AVM Ahmed Muazu (rtd), who will chair the committee in his capacity as chairman of the commission's committee on planning, monitoring and strategy," Yahaya.

He named members of the committee to include Prof. Okechukwu Ibianu, the chairman of the electoral operations and logistics committee, and Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, who is chairman of the outreach and partnership commission committee.

Others are two Resident Electoral Commissioners of Lagos and Adamawa States and eight directors, technical committee members, two consultants.

He said the committee, which will be guided by a 10-point terms of reference, has 40 days to submit its report.

INEC COMMITS TO EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF EXTRA POLLING UNITS North.

So far, the commission has received 5,000 requests for the creation of new polling units from 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

INEC had said it planned to create the new polling units because the extant 119,973 polling units and 57,023 polling points were grossly inadequate for the 84,004, 084 voters in the country as at 2019 general election.

The decision to create the new polling units is mainly due to the rapidly growing population and changing demographics as well as the registration of new voters, creation of new settlements, including camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the need to decongest crowded polling units in urban areas, especially given the COVID-19 pandemic.

But political parties and other stakeholders, at a meeting with INEC last week, had expressed worries about how the new polling units would be distributed.

They anchored their concerns on the earlier projection by the former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who in August 2014 sought to create 30,027 additional polling units ahead of the 2015 general election, with 21,615 in the North and 8,412 in the South.

Controversy had trailed the proposed plan due to its lopsidedness, forcing INEC to drop the exercise.

The latest concerns, according to stakeholders from both APC and the PDP, is how INEC will allocate the new polling units without necessarily giving an undue advantage to any of the

political divide, the North and the South, because of the high stake associated with 2023 general election.

Reacting to the stakeholders' concerns, Okoye, told THISDAY yesterday that the commission would be fair to all.

He said: "The conversion of voting points and voting point settlements to polling units will not confer any advantage to any section of the country but rather it will guarantee better access and safe voting environment to the Nigerian people.

"Our aim is a national consensus on the conversion and agreed guidelines of actualising the intendment of section 42 of the Electoral Act. Thereafter, the establishment of new polling units will become a routine."

According to him, the present leadership of the commission believes that its predecessor did not map out an adequate process of engagement and stakeholder mobilisation before embarking on the previous attempts to create polling units, adding that this led to misunderstanding of its true intent.

He explained: "In 2016, the commission conducted the FCT Area Council elections and created voting points and voting point settlements to serve new and unserved areas and settlements.

"For the 2019 general election, the commission used and created a total of 57, 023 voting points and voting point settlements as offshoots of the existing 119, 973 polling units.

These congested polling

units, voting points and voting point settlements are clustered in the same locations leading to congested polling units, low voter turnout, voter apathy, voting in an unsafe environment, disruptions and violence.

"In Mararaba Garage 1 and Mararaba Garage 11 in Karu, Nasarawa State, both have a total of 25, 275 registered voters and 70 voting points all clustered together. People come as far as 10 kilometres to these polling units and voting points on Election Day. "The surge of people wanting to vote sometimes leads to violence, over voting and cancellations. Because of this inability to exercise powers granted it by section 42 of the Act, the commission could not address this apparent anomaly."

Okoye said the expansion and access of voters to polling units is not about allocation that must be determined based on politically motivated and entitlement consideration.

Okoye said: "We must, therefore, discard allocation and palliative mentality and considerations in the expansion of access to polling units.

"The commission has used the 57,023 voting points and the voting point settlements and it has worked and the commission wants to convert them into polling units.

"Polling units must go to the people that deserve them rather than the people chasing polling units. “The commission will no longer allow overcrowding of

polling units and people trekking long distances to access polling units with all the restrictions on election day.

"The commission will no longer condone people travelling long distances from new settlements and over populated areas to assess polling units. The commission will no longer condone election disruptions and violence leading to inconclusive elections.”

He said the commission is, therefore, proposing the conversion of the 57,023 voting points and voting point settlements to polling units and the standardisation and routinisation of the establishment of new polling units through a veritable and inclusive process involving the key stakeholders in the electoral process."

He explained that INEC decided to engage in broad, nationwide, inclusive and consultative approach to the expansion of voter access to polling units, adding that this strategic and consensus approach to a national challenge is informed by a careful review of past reports and approaches at establishing enough polling units in response to the growing population, demographic shifts, safety and security concerns and response to regional and international standards in election management and organisation.

He expressed regrets that creating more polling units has not been possible since 1996.

INEC Inaugurate

The Chairman of the INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday inaugurated a strategic committee in preparations for future general elections.

He said the committee will review the strategic plan of the commission and to produce the election project plan “This is the third time in the history of the commission that such a committee is inaugurated since the beginning of the era of deliberate planning for elections," he said.

He added that the commission believes that it should not approach election management on an ad hoc basis, but rather, it must deliberately plan for elections.

He said: "The commission produced a strategic plan to cover the period of 2012 to 2016. And then we reviewed the plan to cover the period 2017 to 2021. And now we're reviewing the plan again, to cover the period 2022 to 2026.

"This plan will form the basis set for the full formulation of the election project plan for the 2023 general election. It will also help the commission to identify all events, programmes and actions that needed to be implemented before the 2023 general election.

"It will also help us to track the off-season, governorship elections taking place between this year 2021 and 2023 to ensure that these elections are also properly implemented."

He stated that there

10

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Insurgency: Again, Army Chief, Attahiru Visits Troops in Borno Promises to end war soon

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, has again visited Nigerian troops on the frontline in Borno State.

The Army chief had last week joined other service chiefs in accompanying the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen Lucky Irabor on their maiden visit to Theatre of Operation.

Attahiru who visited troops at Special Army Super Camp in Ngamdu, commended them for their loyalty and doggedness in the ongoing fight against Insurgency in the North-east.

The new COAS also promised to end the insurgency war soon by wiping out Boko Haram from

Nigeria.

He assured the troops of his support and robust welfare packages to boost their morale as they continue the war against insurgency.

He also extended greetings from the President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari to troops.

He also promised to address the problems of overstaying by some soldiers in the Theatre.

“I have met Commanders, I have received briefs and they told me what their critical requirements are with emphasis to the Military effectiveness.

“This we are working in tandem with the troops of the

Multinational Joint Taskforce towards the defeat of terrorists.

“On issues equipment and other logistics items, I have been briefed on it and we are making tremendous effort on it.

“As your Chief of Army Staff, I have reliably been told on the challenge of kitting. In the next

couple of weeks, you will have your uniforms and protective gears.

“Furthermore, I know the issue of over stay in mission area has been a major problem. Be rest assured that in the next couple of weeks and months we shall have a standard rotation plans

for replacements of troops who have overstayed with fresh hands.

“The President and Commander in Chief is interested on what is going on in this Theatre and other operations across the country.

“So first-hand information gets to him and he will strive and ensure that those problems are

resolved for the overall successes of the Nigerian military for the progress of the nation,” he said.

In his remarks, Major General Faruk Yahaya, the Theatre Commander commended the the Army Chief for visiting the Theatre twice within a week after his appointment.

Boko Haram’s Landmines, Informants in 13 LGs Threaten Military Operations in North-east Security sources have raised serious concerns over the indiscriminate planting of landmines and activities of Boko Haram informants in some Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the North-east, PRNigeria has learnt.

It was discovered that in some communities, the informants not only leak vital information to the terrorists but harbour them in their houses and settlements and assist in planting landmines against Nigerian troops.

The sources said the nefarious activities of informants which are rife in at least thirteen local governments, are sabotaging military operations in some parts of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, which have been held to ransom by the dreaded terrorists for over a decade now.

Despite the setback occasion by the landmines and informants, the troops have been able to surmount some of the obstacles as shown in videos obtained by PRNigeria.

Following a massive week-

long military onslaught on the notorious ‘Tumbuktu Triangle’ in the heart of Sambisa Forest and other axis, hundreds of militants and their families have since moved to some villages around surrounding local governments where they have strongholds and sympathisers.

It was further gathered that Boko Haram insurgents have also established camps and engaged in fishing, farming and other economic activities in some communities.

The source said: “The sabotaging activities of informants are so rampant in Guzamala, Abadam, Marte, Kukawa, Mobbar, Monguno and Gwoza Local Government Areas of Borno State.

Pockets of terrorists also established hideouts in Geidam, Tarmuwa and Yunusari local governments in Yobe State while Mubi, Madagali and Gombi Local Government in Adamawa State also harbour active sympathisers of Boko Haram terrorists.”

CONDOLENCE VISIT…

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (left), and a former President of the Senate, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, during Anyim’s condolence visit to Ekweremadu over the death of his younger brother, the late Hon. Mathias Ekweremadu, in Enugu …recently

Amaechi Outlines Buhari’s Economic Development Drive in Transportation Sector Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s strides in the transportation sector, describing them as key to unlocking Nigeria’s economic development potentials.

Amaechi said, linking different transportation infrastructure like rails to seaports and roads as is being done by the current administration will quickly drive the economy of the country upwards.

The minister said this yesterday

while delivering the Founders’ Day lecture at his alma mater, the University of Port Harcourt, ‘The role of Transportation in nation building.’

Amaechi said transportation is about logistics, adding that the role of transportation is to contribute to the different spheres of economic development.

He argued that its absence will cripple an economy and dwarf human and economic development.

“Transportation in Nigeria is a

means of economic and political growth in the development of Nigeria. The impact is felt in tourism, real estate development, agriculture and others. Transportation currently contributes about 3 percent of the gross domestic product according to the Nigerian Bureau for statistics”, he said.

He went down history lane to explain the importance of linking different transportation modes, stating that by 1916, the Port Harcourt port had been connected

to the Coal mines in Enugu, with the objective of evacuating coal to Britain.

Outlining the work being done in connecting the country for ease of transportation of products, goods and people, Amaechi said the Eastern rail line would be connected to the Western line via Karfanchan, while the Warri-Itakpe line would be connected to the same line via Abuja and onwards to Kaduna-Kano.

Lagos Demolishes Banana Island, DPR Licenses Firm to Establish LNG, Condensate Floating Plant He also said the move was to continue to create opportunities Public Affairs, DPR, Mr. Paul Peter Uzoho Ikoyi Houses overViolations Osu, said the agency’s Director, ensure that companies come to and enable business for Segun James

The Lagos State Government has warned residents that it would no longer condone any abuse of building laws in the state.

The warning followed the spate of buildings collapse and flagrant disobedience to the regulations guiding the erecting of buildings in the state.

The state government said it has noticed that many residents are building without due recourse to state agencies for approval and warned the people to desist from violating building regulations.

Speaking after the Lagos State Enforcement Team (LSET) has demolished some structures erected without compliance to the state building laws and regulations at Banana Island, Ikoyi, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, said the enforcement became necessary because the state government felt the need

to do something to halt the growing illegality.

The places visited by the LSET had been served the stop work notice by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LSBCA). Despite the notice, construction works were still going on.

At 102 Close, K Zone, a section of the lagoon has been reclaimed with just the provision of a narrow drainage for water to flow. As a result the concrete and perimetre fence erected facing the lagoon were pulled down while the building was sealed and the gate locked.

Also at 306 Close, three two-storey buildings under construction were pulled down for lack of approval to build as the development encroached on the state shoreline.

Apart from the buildings and fences that were pulled down during the enforcement exercise, two people caught doing illegal dredging activities within the area were also arrested.

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has issued Licence to Establish (LTE) the first floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production plant for the processing of 176 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and condensate to UTM Offshore Limited, an indigenous oil and gas company.

A statement by the Head of

Mr. Sarki Auwalu, presented the licence to the company yesterday at a presentation ceremony held at the DPR headquarters in Abuja.

Auwalu described the licence as a milestone and a reinforcement of the promise and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians to promote indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector.

Nigeria and do business in an equitable way to stimulate the economy and create jobs for Nigerians.

He added that the licence was a demonstration of governments resolve to harness safe and reliable technology for the development of the oil and gas industry.

Auwalu assured that DPR will

companies by providing the regulatory tools of licences, permits and approvals for investors.

The Managing Director of UTM Offshore Limited, Mr. Julius Rone, while receiving the licence, promised to abide with the terms of issuance within the 24 months validity period of the LTE from the date of issue.

Nurses in Ondo Protest Assault on Colleagues James Sowole in Akure Activities at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, Ondo State, were yesterday paralysed for many hours as nurses at the health facilities staged a peaceful protest over assault on three of their colleagues by relatives of an alleged COVID-19 patient.

The patient was said to have died last Sunday at the emergency ward but the relatives pounced on the nurses in the hospital blaming “their care free attitude for the

death.”

Sources said the three nurses are currently receiving treatment following injuries inflicted on them.

The protesting nurses said they have withdrawn their services until the management provides adequate security for them.

The Chairman of the nurses, Mr. Francis Ajibola, condemned the attack on his colleagues, describing it as barbaric attitude of some patients’ relatives. He said the management must provide

adequate security for them.

According to him, “A critically ill patient was brought to the hospital two days ago, and was suspected of COVID-19 with severe respiratory distress.

“The patient was brought too late, but the nurses and doctors tried all they could do to place the patient on oxygen but at around 4a.m. last Sunday, the patient died because the situation was worse, and had affected the respiratory system.

“You know, COVID-19 is

dangerous especially with patients with underlying ailment, so the patient died and the children of the patient said that the patient should not have died.

“We felt sorry for them. We care for life but we cannot give life.

We only care, but they refused to understand that.

“They took to violence, brutalising nurses, dragging nurses on the ground, pull off their hair, fractured their bones and stepping on them.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • T H I S D AY

11

12

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 •T H I S D AY

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • T H I S D AY

13

14

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͷ˜ 2021

COMMENT

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

IN SERVICE OF THE POOR

The social investment programme of the government is on course, writes Danliti Goga

T

he steady progress in the implementation of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) since it was moved from being one of several miscellaneous projects under the general supervision of the Vice President’s Office and upgraded into a core component of an entirely new ministry charged with humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development is remarkable, to say the least.

Just last week, at the flag-off training of 5000 independent monitors for the programme in schools, households, and market clusters towards ensuring achievement of objectives, it was revealed that 13 million citizens across 36 states and the FCT are benefiting from the programme, comprising NPOWER, National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCT), and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).

With so many federal government interventions to restore hope and empower the majority of unemployed youth population and other categories of Nigerians-in-need, it was hardly surprising that there was not much progress in implementation under the Vice President’s Office, already weighed-down by the number of agencies attached to it. This should have prompted a more decisive response towards a focused and efficient implementation of the programmes in view of the urgency of diffusing the tension over rising youth unemployment and restiveness.

Curiously, the period of bureaucratic lethargy that paralysed programme implementation went largely unnoticed by the cabal of media critics that descended on new minister, Hajia Sa’adiya Umar Farouq even as she took on the arduous challenge of setting up a new ministry from scratch and executing a smoothly-coordinated transfer and revitalization of the social intervention programmes and agencies with impressive results in a timely manner.

As if energized by the politics of media criticism, the new minister drew inspiration from the clamour from youths witnessing the rapid rise in enthusiastic beneficiaries of revived schemes like NPOWER and prospective beneficiaries of innovative initiatives like National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCT) and the Grant for Rural Women programme currently giving thousands of impoverished rural women in Nigeria N20,000 cash like manna from heaven! It’s all thanks and praises from beneficiaries for whom receiving is believing.

The fact that these programmes are jointly implemented

CONTRARY TO THE FREQUENT DEVALUATION OF THE CASH GRANTS BY ELITE CRITICS, A REALITY CHECK WILL CONFIRM THAT THE BULK OF THOSE WHO SEEK AND EVENTUALLY RECEIVE THE GRANTS ARE AMONG THE POOREST OF THE POOR WHOSE POVERTY CAN BE AMELIORATED BY THE GRANTS

with state governments and international development partners, involving hundreds of Nigerians in various stages is irrelevant to the media critics who persistently single out the minister for unsubstantiated corruption allegations to black out significant achievements. In addition to involvement of EFCC and other built-in measures to curb malpractices and uphold transparency in all transactions, the 5000 independent monitors now undergoing training represent yet another bold step to insulate programme implementation from avoidable abuse and sabotage which, at any rate, is not peculiar to the ministry and enhance optimum impact on target groups of beneficiaries.

It also worth restating that apart from the composition of stakeholders, including development partners, applying international best practices and anti-graft agencies, the introduction of hand-to-hand direct cash grants to beneficiaries in states without bureaucratic intermediaries is already eliminating “red-tape” opportunities for exploiting unsuspecting rural beneficiaries and other beneficiaries of cash grants.

Contrary to the frequent devaluation of the cash grants by elite critics, a reality check will confirm that the bulk of those who seek and eventually receive the grants are among the poorest of the poor whose poverty can be ameliorated by the grants ranging from N5,000-N20,000, particularly if invested in petty trading. Moreover, the genuinely-excited expressions of gratitude and fervent prayers for President Buhari by beneficiaries testify eloquently that the grants represent their first personal receipt of tangible direct dividend of democracy in two decades of democratic rule!

The historic decision to dedicate a ministry to humanitarian intervention by the Buhari administration is therefore a master-stroke that was strategically actualized by the well-considered appointment of Hajia Farouq, a career caregiver technocrat, with a passion for bringing succour to the homeless, helpless and hapless groups that the world leaves behind amid human and natural mishaps. The vision of Mr. President to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years is welcome, noble and achievable especially when we take cognisance of the fact that there has never been such a bold and focused government policy coupled with impactful and innovative programmes exclusively dedicated to touching the lives of our silent majority of poor and vulnerable citizens. Let it be!

Goga wrote from Kano

GATES’ INSIGHT ON COVID-19 canvasses the urgent need to invest more in the health sector

T

his year’s letter to the world audience by Bill and Melinda Gates, co-founders of the Gates Foundation, throws up a lot of inspiring and challenging perspectives on the global environment where health as a development issue is a major concern and by extension the future of humanity.

The annual letter, however, highlighted the Corona Virus (COVID-19) with its novel character and effects on mankind and indeed global health history, which in the words of Bill and Melinda Gates, hallmarked “the year global health went local.”

According to them, hitherto, “global health” was rarely used to mean the health of everyone, everywhere, rather, the term used to refer to the health of people in nonrich countries. But this characterisation, they stated, changed in the last year because the distinction between rich and poor countries collapsed since Corona virus had no regard for borders or geography.

Therefore, a major lesson from this position is the need for collaboration in development initiatives just as we need a more compassionate world where the rich (individuals, organizations and countries) also assist the poor on issues of development especially that of health concerns. This is critical in the face of growing inequalities, economic or otherwise, even before the large-scale disruption in the wake of Covid-19.

Elaborating on the theme of the letter, “The year global health went local”, Bill and his wife wrote passionately thus: ”We all saw first-hand how quickly a disease you’ve never heard of in a place you may have never been can become a public health emergency right in your own backyard.

Viruses like COVID-19 remind us that, for all our differences, everyone in this world is connected biologically by a microscopic network of germs and particles –and that, like it or not, we’re all in this together.

“We hope the experience we’ve all

lived through the last year will lead to a long-term change in the way people think about global health --and help people in rich countries see that investments in global health benefit not only low-income countries but everyone”.

Aside the various investments they have made on health concerns around the world and in spite of the ugly innuendo against Bill Gates on the virus (the Gates Foundation has invested $1.75 billion in the fight against COVID-19), the above messages by the couple speak to the big benefits of philanthropy and the challenge of our common humanity.

Philanthropy is invaluable in getting the necessary cooperation as the COVID-19 example has shown because arriving at vaccines in such a relative short time and in line with the rigorous process couldn’t have happened except for the cooperation garnered through pooling of global resources (even competitors shared research findings) in order to tackle the largest public health challenge in human history. This should be a long-lasting lesson for a peaceful and prosperous world, leaders at every level coming together to find a common ground for cooperation in arriving at solutions to save humanity.

Importantly, I think the Gates’ plea to wealthy countries to support the poor ones in making the vaccines available to the people is a rational decision, since “COVID-19 anywhere is a threat to everyone” and of course we must recognize the humanitarian utility. As Melinda Gates noted in a personal segment of the letter, the concern really would be that COVID-19 responses leave no one behind and this is clearly the crux of the matter.

The letter further raised some vital issues on whether the world can emerge from the pandemic more equal than we entered it and how prepared we are to deal with the next pandemic. Please, no scare here, the next pandemic is a possibility on account of history and fact of science. When, I don’t know. But looking at the trajectory, even

as a layman in recent history, from AIDS to ZIKA, EBOLA and now COVID-19, we just have to be prepared, the next pandemic could still come perhaps as a flu, Corona virus or some new disease we’ve never seen before, in the words of Bill Gates and we should think along this enlightened perspective.

Reports have indicated that Corona virus had disproportionate impact on people in different societies and in different forms, largely as a factor of economic considerations. We have seen this manifest highly in the developing countries where procurement of medical facilities had been a nightmare and thus affecting relevant responses. There are also situations where COVID-19 disruptions have caused job losses and affected education access on account of inability to afford virtual learning, cost lives, and the fact that it threw the global economy into a devastating recession.

Even in advanced countries, the same effect was witnessed among the less endowed segments of their societies where recurring economic inequality has had a marked effect on rate of infection and deaths.

These are major challenges especially in developing countries like Nigeria where in spite of the good responses by the various layers of government, there’s still more to be done and this will ultimately decide if Nigeria and other developing countries will be able to overcome the inequality challenge. Informed projections, however, show that inequality will likely persist to the extent that prevailing economic realities and classes will continue to determine where everyone stands on the ladder of progress and effect on the quality of life. Poignantly as Melinda Gates advocated in the letter, it would be a good thing if economic policies are made to favour the vulnerable ones, especially our women because of their peculiar challenges to avoid exclusion.

More specifically, and despite the relative lower infections in Nigeria and Africa generally, until vaccines get to everyone around the world, we cannot yet shout

Uhuru, because of the nature of the virus being capable of developing new clusters of disease and the cycle of inequality will likely continue. This is an important point to note as the world battles the pandemic.

In Nigeria, we never thought there would be a second wave until we woke up one day to realize that the number of cases was rising again and thus necessitating the new adherence to COVID-19 protocols backed by law. So no one should be deluded that the virus is a fluke.

As noted by the Gates and I concur, “everything depends on whether the world comes together to ensure that the lifesaving science developed in 2020 saves as many lives as possible in 2021” and that “demanding an inclusive response will save lives and livelihoods now –and create a foundation for a post-pandemic world that is stronger, more equal and more resilient”.

How prepared we are ahead of the next pandemic as posited by Bill Gates will depend on how much the world spends on medical and scientific innovations in research and outcomes with great optimism that the world will see huge advances over the next five years in the ability to develop new vaccines. However, he stated, “pandemic preparedness must be taken as seriously as we take the threat of war”.

According to him, the world needs to double investments in research and development and organizations like CEPI that have proven invaluable with COVID-19 as well as building new capabilities. In his opinion, the bulk of the funding needs to come from the rich countries, informing that the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to have cost the world $28 trillion.

The message back home is very clear: we need to do more in funding and upgrading our health facilities, enhance quality of the personnel to deliver on global best practices as we also rethink science education and research in our institutions.

Dallaji, founder, African Children Talent Discovery Foundation, wrote from Abuja

15

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍˇËœ 2021

EDITORIAL

JUSTICE FOR NIGER DELTA FARMERS The court victory is a warning to oil companies to act more responsibly

A

fter 13 years of legal wrangling, three Nigerian farmers last week secured justice for oil spills that polluted swathes of their land in the Niger Delta. An Appeal Court in the Netherlands ruled that the Nigerian subsidiary of the Royal Dutch Shell was liable for leaks which polluted three communities of Goi, Oruma and Ikot Ada Udo in Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States respectively. “Shell Nigeria is sentenced to compensate farmers for damages,� the court held.

THE RULING AT THE Helped by the Dutch arm of enHAGUE IS REMARKABLE vironment group AS IT CONFIRMS THAT Friends of the MULTINATIONAL OIL Earth, four farmCOMPANIES CAN BE ers first lodged the complaint in HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR 2008. The case had THE ACTIONS OF THEIR dragged on so OVERSEAS SUBSIDIARIES long that two of the four Nigerian farmers who initiated the case have since died.

While the court is yet to ascertain the amount of the cost of damages to be paid, it was nonetheless a remarkable victory, underlining the fact that people can get justice after years of devastation of their environment by major oil producers.

The judgment is also a victory for environmentalists. The Niger Delta is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, but it is also one of the most polluted places on earth. For decades, many energy companies have been conducting large scale oil extraction in the oil-rich area. Nigeria is one of the world’s major oil producers, pumping out volumes valued at billions of dollars annually.

In 2018 alone, the volume was valued at some $43.6 billion. But for decades, oil spills have been damaging the environment and devastating lives and sources of livelihoods of the local inhabitants. Many of the locals live below the poverty line.

In 2011, the United Nations Environmental

Letters to the Editor

O

T H I S DAY EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITOR

˜

˜ MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL

MANAGING EDITOR

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ˜

˜

˜ ˜

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS

˜ ˜

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

˜ CONTROLLERS

˜

˜

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION

HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT

Ě“

TO SEND EMAIL: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Programme (UNEP) submitted a report to then President Goodluck Jonathan recommending a scientific rectification of the environment in Ogoniland which is expected to take about 30 years to accomplish with an estimated take-off cost of $1billion. The three-year investigation leading to the report had come up with several revelations, including that the endemic environmental crisis in Ogoniland is as a result of the failure by Shell and other oil firms to meet the minimum requirements of their own environmental standards.

While submitting the report of what happened in Ogoniland, Mr. Achim Steiner, then Executive Director of UNEP, said the study “offers a blueprint for how the oil industry and public authorities might operate more responsibly in Africa and beyond at a time of increasing production and exploration across many parts of the continent.�

The much-promised environmental rectification of Ogoniland is yet to commence.

Meanwhile, Shell, Eni and other corporations working in the Niger Delta have continued to argue that most oil spills are caused by sabotage and theft, an argument the court said last week was not entirely correct. The court ruled that it could not be established “beyond a reasonable doubt� that saboteurs were to blame for all the cases except one. Indeed, some spills are known to have been caused by accidents, corrosion or poor maintenance. This is a vindication of the stance by environmental groups which have been calling on the oil companies to properly clean up the spills when they occur. Perhaps that is why the court also held that the Dutch-based mother company Royal Dutch Shell and its Nigerian subsidiary must fit a leak-detection system to a pipeline that caused one of the spills.

Friends of the Earth Netherlands director Donald Pols hailed the ruling as a victory for small communities hurt by energy giants. “Until this morning, Dutch multinationals could act with impunity in developing countries,� he said.

The ruling at The Hague is indeed remarkable as it confirms that multinational oil companies can be held to account for the actions of their overseas subsidiaries.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to speciďŹ c 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.

BADAGRY AND THE GREATER LAGOS TRAIN

n Saturday, January 23, 2021, the ancient town of Badagry literarily came to a standstill. But then, it was for a good cause.

On that fateful day, the ‘Greater Lagos’ train of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu administration berthed in Badagry to herald a new dawn at the historic town.

On that day, Badagry had a feel of the mission of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to transform Lagos into a 21st Century economy as Governor Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the Idale, Badagry, affordable housing scheme consisting 252 units of two-bedroom bungalows. The project, constructed by the state government in conjunction with Echostone Housing Development, Nigeria, was another befitting addition to the existing home stock in the state, especially since the inauguration of the current administration in Lagos State.

The event at the historic town of Badagry was quite important because the newly commissioned housing scheme is the first-ofits-kind, green Estate, built anywhere in Lagos State with technology that supports housing production within an optimal time frame. It is an eco-friendly housing scheme that is easy to maintain because the design supports energy efficiency in terms of power and water usage.

It comes with the convenience of low cost maintenance in terms of water usage and energy efficiency. It also boasts of infrastructure

such as street lights, water treatment plant, central sewage treatment plant, perimeter fence and good road network. No doubt, it has added great environmental and economic value to Badagry.

For Badagry, the beat did not stop there.

The beat simply goes on as Governor SanwoOlu, in furtherance of his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, also commissioned, on the same day, the 110-bed Badagry Maternal and Child Care Centre (MCC) equipped by the government to provide Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radiology, Paediatrics, Family Planning and Emergency Services to residents.

The Maternal and Child Care Centre also boasts of Laboratory and Immunisation facilities as well as a blood bank. With this development, residents of Badagry will no longer have to travel long distances for proper healthcare and are guaranteed top-notch medical services in the public health institution.

With the commissioning of the Badagry MCC, Governor Sanwo-Olu administration has inaugurated 3 MCCs in his 600 days in office.

That is quite some record! Recall that in his first 100 days in office, the governor completed and commissioned the Eti-Osa MCC, while the Igando MCC was also completed and commissioned toward the last quarter of 2019.

It should be stressed that between November, 2020, and the period when the facility was activated for operation, it had already delivered healthcare services to over 3,000

outpatients and 600 children and had successfully conducted 49 caesarean deliveries. Thus, the MCC is, no doubt, a good addition to the already existing 21 primary healthcare facilities across the three local government areas in the Badagry axis.

Yet, for Badagry, the ‘Greater Lagos’ journey continues, as Governor Sanwo-Olu, as part of efforts to ease the burden caused residents by bad roads along the Badagry axis, also flagged-off the reconstruction of the popular Hospital Road in Badagry. In addition to this, the government has also commenced dredging of the waterways to create a route that will facilitate transportation by boat and ferry from other parts of Lagos to Badagry.

While flagging-off construction work on the Badagry Hospital Road, Governor Sanwo-Olu declared that it would be expanded to a double carriageway and will be done in two phases, with the first phase spanning 3.2-kilometres. According to the governor, the second phase, comprising 2.3 kilometers, would commence immediately after the completion of the first phase.

Recall that the Imeke-Iworo road reconstruction was recently delivered by the present administration with street light, traffic signal light and other amenities. In the same vein, work is advancing on the Aradagun-Imeke road reconstruction. This is just to mention a few of other several road interventions in the Badagry corridor by the Sanwo-Olu

administration.

Although the list of areas of the government’s interventions in Badagry is not exhaustive, it is, however, imperative to underscore government’s presence in different sectors of the economy across the Badagry Division.

For instance, the Sanwo-Olu administration is already working on ways to exploit Badagry’s water transportation prospect. An integral part of this process is the construction of a modern jetty terminal at Marina, Badagry.

The jetty, which is presently undergoing construction, is slated for completion before the end of 2021. When completed, it would serve as an alternate and quicker means of linking other parts of the metropolis.

The government is also improving the quality of public schools in the Badagry axis, as it is doing across the state. Besides the Eko Excel initiative which positively impacted all public schools in the state, schools in Badagry are also benefiting from the SanwoOlu administration’s infrastructure renewal strides in public schools. For instance, some schools in Ajara, Badagry were recently given face-lifts by the Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA). Similarly, Governor Sanwo-Olu has granted approval for the construction of new schools within the Badagry axis.

Tayo Ogunbiyi is Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Information, Alausa, Ikeja

16

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 •T H I S D AY

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • T H I S D AY

17

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAYFEBRUARY 9, 2021

18

POLITICS

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

Politics of Entitlement Takes Centerstage in Benue George Okoh writes that the minority ethnic groups in Benue State, particularly the Idomas are mounting a sustained pressure to have the governorship position zoned in their favour

Shija

Ode

Orbunde

Lawani

T

Akume appealing to their conscience on the need for power shift to Benue South senatorial district.

AVM Morgan appealed to the Benue leaders to see reason with the group’s submission inferring that since the creation of the state 44 years ago a person of Benue South extraction has never been given the chance to govern the state.

He recognized the fact that the Tiv speaking part of Benue state which consists of Benue Zone A and B were the majority in the state and in a democratic setting numbers mattered a lot, not withstanding, he appealed to the Senators and Tor Tiv to see the plight of the people of Benue South and of cause help in pleading with their people and all stakeholders of Tiv land in general to help in entrenching the true meaning of democracy , void of tribal and ethnic divide and one which seeks to accommodate all in leadership and in service.

In his comment on the quest by the Benue South, a popular youth activist and All Progressives Congress Chieftain Honourable Anthony Adah said the TiV people of Benue North-east and west must consider the people of Benue south in their sharing formula.

He said the people of Benue south should dialogue, romance and possibly beg to be considered without being confrontational.

“The state stands to gain a lot if Benue south is giving the position as the two other zones with assembly member from 14 local governments council will be a check in the state assembly as against the 9 councils of Zone C. So far prominent persons in the Benue South have showed interest in the position.

Among those interested in the race is a former Deputy Governor of Benue State

Chief Steven Lawani.Many pundits are of the opinion that if the people in the zone rallied round Lawani they may have a chance to the Government House in 2023.

Others being touted are All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship running mate in the 2019 election Dr Samuel Ode,AVM Monday Morgan, former NTA director Maxwell Uloko and a youth activist Mr Anthony Adah

over all interest of the state.

Kyernum noted that a critical analysis of the contending blocks for the 2023 Governorship race puts Jechira ahead of the others given their positioning in the scheme of affairs in the state.

In their response, youth leaders of the two dorminant political parties in the state, PDP and APC from Makurdi and Guma LGAs said they are pleased with the unity of purpose exhibited by Jechira youth in their quest to occupy the Makurdi Government House from 2023.

Terngu Iornenge (APC/Makurdi), Stephen Datso (PDP/Makurdi), Vitalis Koryol (PDP/ Guma) and Isherev Yakubu (APC/Guma) said the approach of JGM (Youth Wing) is a reflection of the way of life of the Tiv. Speaking on behalf of Jechira aspirants, Tyoakura Member (for PDP) and Emmanuel Tyonum (for APC), said Jechira will not leave out Minda in the scheme of affairs when they make it to Makurdi Government House in 2023.

Before the talks began, JGM, paid homage on the Tor Lobi and Chairman Lobi Intermediate Area Traditional Council with his council.

His Highness Moses Anagende, Tor Lobi said the young people of Jechira have done the right thing. He said he was pleased see representatives from Jemgbagh on the team.

He noted that Jechira and Minda have a long standing relationship dating back to the olden days.

His Highness therefore blessed the movement on behalf of his council for luck and the achievement of their dream.

The movement equally has been going round to agitate for the position. An avalanche of possible winners have emerged from the unit such as Chief Barnabas Gemade, Professor Terhemba Shija,Honourable Herman Hembe Professor Dennis Tsvaryar, Achitect Bernard Yisa, Dr Paul Angya amongst others.

Another group from the Benue North-east known as the Kwande people also have launched a serious move for the position.

Top politicians like Terwase Obunde, Dr Paul Ubwa are being considered.

For the Benue North-west, according to pundits it will be a hercullian task for the zone to produce Ortom’s successor.This so so because the incumbent Ortom is from the zone.

There have been arguments from the Gwer section of the zone that the governorship position usually rotates between the five Tiv speaking traditional institutions which comprises of the Kwande, Jechira , Jemgba, Sankara and Minda which they claimed is wrong, arguing that it should have been among the six first class chiefs in the chiefdom. With the argument, Minda has two first class chiefs, the Lobi and Gwer.

Ortom is from Lobi and so it’s clear for a candidate from Gwer to contest.

hough 2023 is still very far for the conduct of governorship elections in Nigeria, agitation for who wl succeed the incumbent Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has started as several politicians across party line have started consultation and some have openly declared their intention to succeed Ortom even as some have cleverly erected billboards in strategic areas of the state.

However, despite the agitation by individuals to take a short at the position,the real battle appears to come from the senatorial zones in the state.

Benue like all states in Nigeria is divided into three senatorial zones which comprises of Benue South, Benue North-east and the Benue North-west.

The present Benue state governor Ortom is from the North-west. Despite this, some sections of the zone are still showing strong interest in the race in 2023. The zonal battle for the position has rather started very early as moves by very strong politicians showing interest in the race have come under the zones.

A keen observation of the political arena has shown that all the zones are interested in the race which has always rotated between the Benue North-east and the Benue North-west.

Since the creation of the state and from the 1979 election till date the two zones have dominated the position.

Those from the Benue South have continuously agitated for power shift to the predominantly Idoma speaking area but have not succeeded.The question on the lips of observers is will 2023 be different?

As the tenure of the incumbent governor begins to lurch towards 2023 the agitation has intensified.

It may sound ridiculous to talk about the governorship race two years ahead, but it is inextricably tied to uncertainties on which zone will produce the next governor Benue South Quest The move by the Benue South has started very strongly.

Pressure groups demanding for power shift are spring up across the state using social media platforms in galvanizing support for the project.

A group known as the Benue Rebirth Movement (BRM)and the Benue Patriots led by AVM Monday Morgan and Barrister A Ochojila respectively have been at the forefront demanding that power should shift to the zone in 2023.

These groups have been going round dialoguing with the other zones that the governorship position be zoned to Benue South.

Recently the BRM took its consultation to the Traditional ruler of the TiV nation the Tor TiV, former governors of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam and Senator George

Benue North East for 2023 A section of the Benue North-east known as the Jechira people have launched a strong force to ensure the zone produced the next governor of the state.

A youth wing of Jechira Gubernatorial Movement (JGM) on Tuesday, 2nd February, 2021 held talks with the young people of Lobi, comprising Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas (LGAs) over the position of 2023 governorship race Leader of the movement, Mr Dan Nyikwagh during the talks reminded the people of Lobi of the Benue North-west about the long standing relationship between Jechira and the people of Minda, saying, same would be sustained.

According to Nyikwagh, the youth wing of JGM is a forerunner movement that is beyond party consideration and assured the young people of Lobi that their interest in a Jechira governorship arrangement will be protected.

He called on the youth to support the Jechira governorship project in the interest of fair play and justice.

In their supporting remarks, Manasseh Kyernum and Terfa Chagba (all of Jemgbagh) and Terna Gile implored Lobi youth to support the Jechira Governorship ambition in the

Since the creation of the state and from the 1979 election till date the two zones have dominated the position. Those from the Benue South have continuously agitated for power shift to the predominantly Idoma speaking area but have not succeeded. The question on the lips of observers is will 2023 be different?

As the tenure of the incumbent governor begins to lurch towards 2023 the agitation has intensified. It may sound ridiculous to talk about the governorship race two years ahead, but it is inextricably tied to uncertainties on which zone will produce the next governor

T H I S D AY Ëž TUESDAYFEBRUARY 9, 2021

19

POLITICS

To the Workaholic Governor with an Amazing Network of Persons Sunday Aniyi writes Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State is a leadership who deserves all the accolades showered on him

T

oday, Tuesday 09, 2021, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, a complete Omoluabi par excellence has added another year. For a single life of his, Fayemi is a phenomenon, an achiever, a history maker and an unassuming gentleman.

Prior to August 16, 2013 everything I knew about Dr. Kayode Fayemi was through media accounts and testimonies of other persons. But providence brought me in close contact with him on August 13, when he requested that participants at the International Memorial Conference on D. O. Fagunwa in Akure where he had earlier been invited to present a goodwill address, should come for a dinner on the final day in Ekiti Government House.

At about 6.00 pm, two coaster buses arrived from Ekiti and we were conveyed to Ado Ekiti. Among us were Professor Niyi Osundare, Prof. Femi Osofisan, Prof. Wale Adebanwi, Prof.

Taiwo, Prof. Tola Badejo, Prof. Oyeronke Oyewumi, Prof. Karin Barber, Prof.

Tunde Babawale, Odia Ofeimu, Prof.

Dan Izevbaye among other distinguished scholars who attended the conference.

The conference was a home coming for a number of our diaspora intellectuals and their home-based counterparts.

Despite the stress of long hours of high level intellectual engagement of mainly Fagunwa’s works, and the stress of road transport, the chief host, Dr. Kayode Fayemi provided an atmosphere of tranquility that made the dinner a remarkable comfort.

The main organizers of the conference were his friends and himself being an intellectual, there was no doubt that he found our company that night refreshing.

In spite of the tight arrangement because we had to depart quickly, I still stole some minutes to have a word with him. I am not sure he can recall this. I spoke to him about my deep admiration for him and how I found him a distant mentor as we tend to share a lot of aspirations and values in common. I also spoke quite prophetically that I was scared of the possibility of him losing a second term bid as I indicated that despite his undeniable and trail blazing achievements as governor, there was that unexplainable level of lack of appreciation by Ekiti at home.

I noted that in contrast, Ekiti outside the state were generally overwhelmingly appreciative of his policies, programmes and ideas and that he should find a way to leverage it. My friend, Olumide Osagbemi, who also attended the dinner, and I continued to express our concerns whenever we met to discuss public affairs.

So, June 21, 2014 was one of my saddest days. We had won the two wards in Erinmope Ward 1 and 2, and I had thought it was going to be so statewide but, my fear came to past.

JKF lost! I lost! Ekiti lost!

The pain of that loss continued to pinch me endlessly. And then an opportunity came for me to meet him more in person on December 26, 2016 at his Isan-Ekiti country home. The meeting was brief but it left a deep impression on me. He has always reinforced my unconditional confidence in his capacity and character whenever I listen to him.

He marveled me as a mentor and talent hunter when he invited me to join his government and assigned me as his Principal Private Secretary, a position that is often occupied by long term confidants. Before this time, we had only met in close contact for four times and the total time spent was not more than 40-minutes in all, yet he trusted me to perform the role.

Fayemi

Dr. Kayode Fayemi is an unassuming gentleman, very tolerant, indulgent and appreciates individual differences. He appreciates and focuses on people’s strength than their obvious weakness.

A workaholic who hardly rests. For him, the job must be done. So, he is always on the move, engaging with organisations and institutions that can help Ekiti to exit her current status as poor and back water state. When he is on the desk, he could stay reading files and correspondences for 20 hours non-stop. For most times, he eats once a day and hardly has time for revelries.

He is always too busy for wining and dining.

As governor, he reads all his correspondences and insists that all must

be replied. For him, it is a show of indecency and arrogance that people write to those in authorities and they never get a reply. No matter how voluminous a document is, Kayode Fayemi will painstakingly go through them and commit every material detail to memory. He has this unphantomable photographic memory of events, people, decisions and issues. When you bring any matter to his notice, no matter how long and the number of people involved, he will simply recall effortlessly from where the discussion ended the last time. I am amazed at his network of persons. There is hardly any person of note in governance, politics and development partnership that JKF has not had an encounter with. There

As governor, he reads all his correspondences and insists that all must be replied. For him, it is a show of indecency and arrogance that people write to those in authorities and they never get a reply. No matter how voluminous a document is, Kayode Fayemi will painstakingly go through them and commit every material detail to memory. He has this unphantomable photographic memory of events, people, decisions and issues. When you bring any matter to his notice, no matter how long and the number of people involved, he will simply recall effortlessly from where the discussion ended the last time

is no donor agency or development partnership key figure in Nigeria, Africa and the world over that he has not met. He is a master of all the niceties, procedures and conditions for all manner of grants and financial assistance available, globally.

He is a multi-tasking leader who is able to coordinate multiple meetings, attend to a cluster of appointments, review policies with appointees and attend to national issues seamlessly.

The standard practice with him is that files must be out within 24-hours or at most 48 hours. His meetings are short but purpose driven. He has this resilient and rare gift of calm listening attention that is almost second to none and for every issue raised with him, he would ensure a lucid explanation.

He truly is a rare gem of a leader.

Working closely with him in the last two years or less has been a great school of advance studies in leadership and governance. I thank him for the privilege to learn directly from him! I have learnt hard work, honesty, dedication and acting in the best public interest even when it most inexpedient.

I have learnt paying attention to details, never acting to please mobs or taking actions on the spur of the moments; I have leant how to manage complex characters and balance conflict of interests. I have learnt how to maintain a still peace in the face of unwarranted provocation. I have learnt proactive leadership, deep intellectualization of public discourse and stubborn fidelity to vision without being distracted. All these he daily manifests.

As JKF clocks 56, I pray God to continue to grant him the courage and wisdom to think rightly, speak rightly and act rightly. May he continue to find favor before man and God. Happy birthday, dear mentor.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ 2021

20

FEATURES

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

Ibarapa Crisis in the Face of Media Abundance Tunde Akanni

N

ot known to be a protégé of any ‘big’ political dynasty in Oyo State as such, suddenly, SeyiMakinde manifested prior 2015 governorship election.

He began by handing out scholarships and other forms of empowerment to indigent people of Oyo State. From Ibadan, the reach extended inwards into other parts of the state. Branded vehicles ran everywhere announcing Makinde. Oyo people familiarized by the day.

For the rest of us not resident in Oyo State, the billboards probably did the magic. We were curious and sought to know more. The private radio stationsfor which Ibadan has since come to offer a supportive nursery bed of some sort, complemented the billboards. The people reckoned, and properly too. The then Ajimobi government knew clearly the people were reckoning.

It could not pretend too. Indeed, the government attack against the radio station owned by the Tungba dance maestro, YinkaAyefele, earned Makinde more sympathy, among other repercussions.

Whatever was the reductionist disposition of the ‘constituted authority’ folks in Oyo State finally fizzled out. SeyiMakinde swept them off. SeyiMakinde forces of the fringes have mainstreamed.

Media of all sorts, online and offline, coalesced in favour of Seyi. Seyi needs no further conviction on the power of the media. Media made him and filled his cup of joy, as they say. But for how long will this ecstasy endure? Will they wait till they pay double the price of their predecessors as warned by historian?

When he assumed the governorship position of Oyo State, many, including yours sincerely, was excited about SeyiMakinde in a way. I quickly moderated it knowing the usual ways of Nigerian politicians.

Maybe I should be particularistic with the politicians of the Southwest.

Be it known to them all: the people,and I mean their voters now have several derogatory names for them. And the labels are registering fast with us all. We shall come back to these labels in due course.

The Ibarapa crises have probably given the highest decibel to the discomfort deriving misgovernance and even lack of governance.

Unluckily for the political class, the internet technology, has liberalized peoples’ access to information. So what? A lot, really. Till date I haven’t encountered that story anywhere else. It was the story of a young agripreneur in Ibarapa area of the state. She recounted her tragedy to a an Ibadan based broadcaster who was farsighted enough to upload the video online. It goes thus: The female agricscience

Akanni graduate of the University of Ibadan still resident in Ibadan with the retired parents had set up a farm in Ibarapa area.

On a particular weekend the boyfriend joined her in Ibadan and they both travelled down to the farm. When they were done in the evening, they set out to return. The journey ended abruptly with some marauders’ violent intervention. The Fulani herdsmen signaled a violent stop order. But who would heed such? Trying to speed away, the daring devils dashed forth and hauled bullets on the couple’s car. The driver was the target and they got him. He fell leaving the car to drift uncontrollably.

The guy had died. The killers moved in and dragged the lady out of the car.

Thus began her kidnapping experience.

It didn’t matter to the Fulani herdsmen that this poor lady had just lost her partner who could probably have been saved. Her confessed malaria condition notwithstanding, the ultimate ransom was their concern.

She received beatings of her life as she was marched through forest thickets and rivers with her hands chained to avert any possible escape attempt.

This self-motivated farmer spent days

before the daredevils struck a deal with the father who had to personally bring the ransom in exchange for his dear daughter.

The follow-up burdens are better imagined: How will the tragic news of her boyfriend be broken? Will she go back to the farm?

Who can guarantee future safety?

So deeply, the tragedy sank into me.

It did so much as I ruminated over my recent trip through some section of Ibarapa stretch some months back. I needed to see a friend in both Oyo and Okeho same day.

Fate can hand out life and death challenges sometimes, just believe it. I had my share that weekend. I therefore left Lagos for Oyo and later headed for Okeho from Oyo. Returning to Lagos was inevitably via Igbo Ora to Abeokuta from where I could “easily” connect Lagos. If you plan to be in Abeokuta from Okeho and you don’t make up your mind by 4.00 pm. you may as well forgo it. The road from Okeho to Abeokuta through Igbo Ora is afairly good road even as it had been built by the government of the Awolowo premiership days. On both sides of the road were cultivated lands brimming largely with food crops like plantain, yams, cassava and

assorted vegetables and fruits. Once in a while, we encountered Fulani ladies selling ‘wara’. Their sight did not portend any fear or danger then. But the thought of those encounters these days…

How can you be emotionally strong after reading the supposed tribute written by one of the sons of Dr Fatai Aborode, an American returnee farmer, to the father after Dr Aborode’s gruesome murder, allegedly by the Fulani herdsmen. I got the said tribute after watching the video of Team Sunday Igboho’s threatening visit to the Seriki Fulani of Igangan. Dr Aborode’s son was painfully declarative asserting “…Nigeria is not home…Nigeria cut your life short, Nigeria ruined your dreams and didn’t let you reap the fruit of your labour!

Nigeria wouldn’t find your killers; Nigeria is not home!”

Any more damning or worse, hell remains to be let loose in Ibarapa, after the two tragedies cited here? Surely, Oyo State government officials couldn’t have missed all these. And if they did and chose to ignore it, their conscience must be out of this world. How can anyone predict who may be the next victim of the raging disturbance with its unpredictable space and time manifestations?

The submissions and subsequent interpretations including locally contextualized versions of the scholars who asserted the centrality of media and communications in the multi-track diplomacy are not farfetched. No stronger evidence of this was the timely public argument of a foremost peace and conflict resolution scholar, Prof Isaac Olawale Albert, published by Cable, an online newspaper.

The timely, multistakeholderist approach prescribed by Albert, perhaps, did not seem to bear any strong appeal for the SeyiMakinde government. The cost of the crises thus ballooned freely. Apparently preferring the populist option, the governor took his time to devise his own mitigation design.

But which crisis allows for vacuum? A parallel leader has since emerged in the person of Sunday Igboho. Igboho, unlike Makinde of the government house, has been feasting on the incidence of media abundance of this age, even with seeming territorial influence extending beyond Oyo, that they both belong.

Makinde can’t be luckier with Ibadan being home to Nigeria’s foremost conflict resolution scholars and practitioners well appreciated continent-wide and beyond.

His reckoning for experts in his neighbourhood unmistakably needs immediate reinforcement. ... Akanni, PhD, is a media and conflict expert based at the School of Communication of the Lagos State University and can be reached via: @AkintundeAkanni

Sahara Group Calls for Global Action with #Reachoutthisvalentine Campaign

T

he 2021 Valentine’s Day celebration calls for collective action from all citizens of the world to reach out and make life better for others as we combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrew Laven, Chief Operating Officer, Sahara Energy Resources DMCC, Dubai has said.

Sahara Energy is an affiliate of Sahara Group a multinational energy conglomerate with operations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Sahara recently initiated several activities to mark its 25th anniversary this year.

Speaking while unveiling ‘#Reachoutthisvalentine’ as Sahara Group’s focus for the 2021 Valentine celebration, Laven said cushioning the impact of the pandemic and ultimately defeating the virus required intervention by a “global coalition of responders”.

“What we are witnessing across the globe is unprecedented in terms of the scale of grief and loss on account of

the pandemic. When you add to this the fact that simultaneously, the world also must combat hunger, other diseases, and huge human development index gaps, it becomes clear that we must all support of one another.

“At Sahara Group, we believe that this year’s Valentine celebration presents the perfect platform for us to reach out and give others a reason to smile,” he stated.

Laven said the ‘#Reachoutthisvalentine’ campaign will be celebrated across Sahara Group’s locations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. This will include employee volunteer activities in the areas of education, health, environment, capacity building, and sundry donations to reinforce the fight against the pandemic.

“Sahara Group is delighted to promote this campaign and we urge global participation, ultimately hoping that reaching out to others will be a way of life for individuals, businesses and nations across the globe."

“In Dubai, we will be supporting the local communities and organisations who are focused on those in greatest need,“ Laven noted.

The #Reachoutthisvalentine campaign will be coordinated by Sahara Foundation, the corporate responsibility vehicle for Sahara Group. The Sahara Foundation has over the years implemented and supported many projects with over 2,000,000 beneficiaries and operates as a global promoter of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Global updates show that COVID-19 cases currently stand at over 106,000,000 while more than 2,000,000 people have lost their lives tonthe pandemic.

Sahara Group’s contribution to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic includes donation of personal protective equipment (PPE), driving COVID-19 awareness and education in sub-Saharan Africa through educational literature in indigenous languages across various

countries and leading the delivery of the 300-bed THISDAY Dome Isolation and Treatment Centre in Nigeria and donation of medical equipment, including fully equipped world-class Intensive Care Units, to the centre and other medical facilities.

Sahara Group had since 2018 commenced a corporate initiative geared towards devoting the month of February every year to a cause that promotes global well-being. The initiative began with the “GreenLove” campaign in February 2018.

The focus then was on safeguarding the well-being of the planet earth that is home to almost 8 billion people.

In 2019, the energy conglomerate celebrated #PinkLove to increase cancer awareness. The focus for 2020 was #CleanLoveFeb” where Sahara shed light on the dangers of substance abuse, with an overarching zero-tolerance narrative to make living and staying clean a way of life for everyone.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ 2021

21

FEATURES

Female Genital Mutilation: A Crisis Within a Crisis Nora Ubek-Agbakhamen

“I

t prevents sexual promiscuity,” the first woman said. The second said: “It is a rite of passage; it prepares our girls for marriage. Yet another, the one that intrigued me the most said: “it needs to be cut out because it is a mannish organ”.

The above were some of the reasons advanced for the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) when I visited a community in Borno State in 2005 to interview a number of opinion leaders on the practice of FGM. Although this interview was conducted over 15 years ago, FGM is still an issue globally as well as in a number of communities in Nigeria. According to a 2013 UNICEF report about 20 million girls and women in Nigeria aged 15-49 are estimated to have undergone FGM. This represents 10% of the global total who have been cut. It further reveals that worldwide, about 3 million girls are at the risk of undergoing FGM every year, majority of who are cut before they turn 15.

Although a 2016 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey shows some decline in the incidence of FGM in Nigeria (18.4% of women aged 15-49 years now undergo FGM; a decrease from 27% in 2011), UNICEF is concerned that the covid-19 pandemic could hobble the gains so far attained. In fact the agency notes that because of the impact of the pandemic about two million girls worldwide may not be protected from FGM. To this end, the United Nations (UN) has identified the practice as “a crisis within a crisis.”

Thus as part of efforts to stem the tide of gender-based violence, the UN General Assembly designated February 6 as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This day aims to give girls and women a voice, choice and control over their lives as well as celebrate global wins in the elimination of the practice.

This year the day will be marked with the theme: "No Time for Global Inaction, Unite, Fund, and Act to End Female Genital Mutilation."

This article defines FGM and proposes a number of timely interventions that stakeholders can adopt in the midst of a pandemic to rescue vulnerable girls and women in Nigeria as well as provide support for those who have undergone FGM. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines FGM as “the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons”. It further identified four types of FGM all of which are a gross violation of fundamental human rights.

Incidentally, Nigeria has a number of laws that criminalize the practice. For example Section 34(1) of Nigeria’s constitutions states: “No person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment.”

Further in May 2015, Nigeria’s federal government passed a law criminalizing FGM in the Violence Against Persons Prohibition

PHOTO: GOOGLE

Act (VAPP). This Act needs to be ratified by all 36 states. Other legal instruments that make FGM illegal have been passed at various levels.

These legal instruments are relevant because experts have proven that the physical and psychological effects of the practice are very extensive, affecting the reproductive and mental well-being of cut girls and women. FGM has been implicated in shock, bleeding, acute urine retention, risk of blood borne diseases, recurrent urinary tract infection, sexual dysfunctions and

vesico-vaginal fistula.

From the foregoing, FGM is clearly a gross violation of a number of rights and the pandemic only serves to heighten the risk.

More girls and women are at risk because Governments as well as humanitarian aid agencies have prioritized COVID-19 preparedness and response to the neglect of FGM awareness. Further a number of girls are not in school, making them more susceptible to the practice.

Stakeholders should therefore unite and act quickly to end FGM by adopting the

following interventions: r %FWFMPQNFOU $PNNVOJDBUJPO TIPVME CF contextualized as there are no one-size-fits all approach in eliminating the practice.

Communicators must understand the motives that drive the practice in their given communities and build a communication cocktail accordingly. r $PNNVOJUZ EFDJTJPO NBLFST BOE UIPTF at risk should be involved in dialogue, advocacy, and social mobilization; this is because focus groups tend to trust these key players in their communities as well as members of their peer group. r )FBMUI DBSF QSPGFTTJPOBMT TIPVME EFTJTU from “medicalizing” FGM as this serves to give a false sense of security; carrying out the practice in a sterile environment does not make it any less a violation of fundamental human rights. r 5IF 'FEFSBM .JOJTUSZ PG )FBMUI TIPVME integrate FGM risk mitigation and response in COVID-19 preparedness at all levels. r .BTT NFEJB BEWPDBDZ TIPVME CF XJUIJO the socio-cultural and religious context of communities where FGM is practiced. r %POPS BHFODJFT NVTU QSPWJEF RVBMJUBUJWF and quantitative capacity-building, support and funding not only for COVID-19 response plans but for FGM intervention efforts as well.

It is hoped that these interventions would serve to mitigate the risk of FGM to girls and women in Nigeria as well as provide support for those who live with the effects of the practice because the female genital is not a mannish organ after all! ...Ubek-Agbakhamen a fashion entrepreneur wrote in from Lagos.

YouTube Celebrates Inaugural #YouTubeBlackVoices Creator Grantees from Africa

Y

ouTube recenlty released its inaugural class of African content creators set to receive a grant for the development of their channels from the global #YouTubeBlackVoices Fund.

In addition to the grant earmarked for content development, the 23 YouTubers (from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa) will also take part in an intensive three-week incubator programme followed by bespoke training, workshops and networking programmes.

These creators are part of 132 creators from across the world who are participating in the Class of 2021.

YouTube also announced that top African artistes; Fireboy DML, Sauti Sol and Sho Madjozi have been selected as part of 23 artists to join the #YouTubeBlack Voices Class of 2021.

The artists join others selected from the United States, Brazil, and Australia, whose music spans generations, and locations.

The Artist Class of 2021 will receive dedicated partner support from YouTube, seed funding invested into the development of their channels, and participate in training and networking programs focused on production, fan engagement, and wellbeing.

“We’re excited to spotlight Black creatives from the African continent and amplify their voices as they create original content on our platform,” says Alex Okosi, MD, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA. “African creators on YouTube are reshaping the power of our platform by providing a unique perspective on all manner of topics from fashion and comedy to politics, learning and wellness. Through their content, these

creators continue to raise the bar for how others engage with their audiences and build community on our platform,” Okosi concludes.

This announcement comes after the October 2020 call for African creators to apply for #YouTubeBlackVoices funding as part of YouTube’s global, multi-year commitment aimed at nurturing Black creators and artists on YouTube.

Over the next few years, YouTube plans to invest directly in more than 500 creators and artists from across the world in order to fulfil this commitment.

The #YouTubeBlackVoices Creator Class of 2021 includes Akah Bants, Dimma Umeh, Dodos Uvieghara, Lade Owolabi, Mitchelle Adagala, Eric Okafor, Oscar Frank, Tomike Adeoye, Winnie Emmanuel, Fireboy DML all from Nigeria while Kaluhi Adagala, Sauti Sol,

Patricia Kihoro, and Mumo are from Kenya; Kay Ngonyama, Lasizwe Dambuza, MacG, Owamie Hlongwane, Sho Madjozi, Thato Rampedi and Naledi Monamodi, Ofentse, Nelisiwe Mwase and Nicolette Mashile are from South Africa.

Launched in May 2005, YouTube is the world’s most popular online video community allowing billions of people to discover, watch and share video. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube is a Google company. www.youtube.com. For more information, visit our Google Africa Blog: google-africa.blogspot.com. You can also follow Google's Africa team on Twitter: twitter.com/googleafrica.

22

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 •T H I S D AY

LAWYER

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT

Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

09.02.2021

2/DASHBOARD

09.02.2021

LAWYER

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT

09.02.2021

Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

Cogent Circumstantial Evidence Required to Sustain a Murder Conviction PAGE 4

LawPavilion Law Reports Introduces WhatsApp Version PAGE 5

QUOTABLES ‘In the eye of the law, Adamu is a retired Police Officer.......What we have, is a retired Inspector General of Police acting illegally in the office.....We do not have an Inspector General. The last one has retired by effluxion of time, statutorily and constitutionally. Mr President cannot, by an executive fiat, recreate the law.....’ -Chief Mike Ozekhome OFR, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer and Activist 'Nigeria is a Sovereign State, and will not surrender its sovereignty to any organisation.

ICC, Amnesty International and their cohorts, should desist from threatening our troops and putting the security of our country in jeopardy. Enough is enough.’ -Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Lawyer, Minister of Information & Culture, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Landlords Cry Out Over AMCON Harassment, Despite Court Order PAGE 5 Pregnant Unmarried Policewoman: Ekiti AG Sues IGP PAGE 5

/3

09.02.2021

Before the Anti-Cultism Bill Becomes Law LSHA’s Anti-Cultism Law Let me start by saying that I have not seen the full and final text of the Cultism (Prohibition) Law of Lagos State 2020 (CPL), but I have seen a version of it dated 17/4/20; and while some of its provisions may have been amended, its aims and objectives remain unchanged - to stamp out cultism in higher educational institutions.

The CPL lays emphasis on the eradication of secret/unlawful/illegal societies, cultism and criminality in educational institutions. This menace has not only pervaded our society, but also tertiary, and even some secondary institutions. A couple of years ago or so, we featured a secondary school in Delta State, where the culture of cultism is already rampant. In that school, a girl was raped multiple times by cult members, in order to be initiated into the cult, while others were harassed and threatened when they attempted to quit the cult.

Though the Criminal Code Act (CCA) in Chapters 8 & 9, namely Sections 53-54 & 62-68 and Chapter 7, Section 40-43 Criminal Law of Lagos State (CLLS) provide for offences bordering on unlawful societies and cultism generally, prescribing various terms of imprisonment for different offences (up to life imprisonment for capital offences in the case of the CCA), the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) has gone the extra mile in crafting its own law specially for educational institutions, particularly tertiary institutions, in a bid to come down more heavily on students, going as far as prescribing punishments like suspension and dismissal from school of any student who contravenes the CPL, and the transmission of the name of such erring student to other institutions, in order to forestall the student from gaining admission anywhere else. This is provision is commendable, as it is not unusual to find a student who has been rusticated from University in Ibadan, resurfacing in Maiduguri to continue his education, and spread more bile in his new school.

Undoubtedly, the present-day University/School Cults in Nigeria do not have much to do with any altruistic religious devotion, but rather fit the definition (and worse) of a "secret society" as envisaged by Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution), especially in terms of their list of members being unknown, their oaths of secrecy, secret meetings that are held in the dead of night in the bushes and other remote locations, and of course, their secret activities which are usually violent and criminal against their fellow students or the public at large, resulting in rape of females/ female students, grievous bodily harm, murder and destruction of property.

Due to space constraints, I will not regurgitate the definition of a cult/unlawful society. See Section 62(2)(i)(b), (c), (e), (f) & (g) of the CCA and Section 40(2)(b), (c), (e), (f) & (g) of the CLLS for a more detailed definition of an unlawful society, which fits into the description of our present-day University Cults as provided by the CPL. Also see Gbenga Stephen v The State 2013 LPELR- 20178 (SC); Registered Trustees of Amorc v Awoniyi 1994 7 N.W.L.R. Part 355 Page 154 at 178 per Wali JSC. Stories abound about how students, especially new comers are coerced, threatened and intimidated into joining cults. This is one of the aspects which the LSHA has focused its attention on, prohibiting such actions and making offenders liable to a term of imprisonment without an option of fine. This is certainly cheering news.

Of course, there is also a prison sentence for anyone found guilty of engaging in cult activities.

While it is good to have the new law to reinforce Lagos State's zero tolerance for such criminal activities in educational institutions, let us hope that the punishments prescribed therein serve as a deterrent to Cultists. We are all aware that Nigeria is not short of laws, but the problem is that we still have some distance to go in the detection of crime, and the enforcement of these laws.

Parents’ Liability What has however, stood out in the ongoing discussion of the CPL, is the issue of it

purportedly holding Parents responsible for the crimes of their children. Could people be referring to the provision that mentions that those in a fiduciary relationship with a student as a trainer or character moulder, who knowingly or unlawfully protects cultism in any guise, shall be guilty of an offence punishable upon conviction with a term of imprisonment of five years? If this is the provision being referred to, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

A Parent who unlawfully protects cultism, aids and abets a criminal offence in one way or the other, and this is a punishable offence.

It is doubtful, as people have been speculating, that a Parent would simply be held liable, because their child is a cultist; and the authorities would translate that to mean that the Parents did not impart the right moral values into their child, and are therefore, somehow culpable for their offspring’s cult crimes. This would be ridiculous and untenable in law. The first thing that we were taught in Jurisprudence, is that though sometimes law and morals may intersect, not all immorality constitutes illegality or an offence.

For example, the Bible abhors homosexuality, referring to the practice as "unnatural relations". Leviticus 20:13 declares that homosexuality is abominable, and both partners should be put to death. In Nigeria, the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2014 criminalises homosexuality, and in several instances, prescribes a 14 year prison term for breaching this law.

This is an intersection between law and morals.

On the other hand, while the Bible denounces a man marrying a mother and a daughter or two sisters as an abomination, to the best of my knowledge, this is not an offence in the statute books of Nigeria - in this case, what constitutes immorality, does not qualify as a criminal offence.

Similarly, failing to impart the right moral values into your child (so much so that they become cult members and engage in heinous activities), is not, and cannot be a crime. Therefore, any attempt to make Parents vicariously liable for the crimes of their children which they play absolutely no part in, in my humble opinion, is repugnant and cannot pass the test of being a good law - see Section 4 of the Constitution.

About 20 years ago, we only discovered that a young man we knew was one of the leaders of a Cult in his tertiary institution, when he and his group members were arrested by the Police and his Parents were informed. It came as a shock to everyone who heard, because at home, the young man’s behaviour was exemplary. He was one of the most gentle, polite, respectful and well- mannered young men you could ever come across. My point? No one, not even his Parents, had any inkling that their son was a revered cult leader in school. How then, could they be held liable for whatever crime their son had committed on campus? Beats me. Even if they had drummed it into their son not to join any cult in the University and yet, he chose or was constrained to do so, how would they know? They were not in school with him.

Vicarious Liability Any attempt by the LSHA to extend the principle of Vicarious Liability into the cultism scenario,

I submit, will not hold water in law. They are two completely different concepts.

Simply put, Vicarious Liability is making one person liable for the tort of another. It is defined as “a concept used to impose strict liability on a person who does not have primary liability", for example, an employer being held liable for the negligent acts of his employee occasioned during the course of his employment. See FBN Plc v Onukwugha 2005 16 N.W. L.R. Part 950 Page 120 at 155-156; T.O.Kuti & Anor v Oludademu Jibowu & Anor 1972 6 S.C. Page 147 at 167-168 per Fatayi Williams JSC. But, in the case of a crime, for another to be held liable in a crime involving another, they must be accomplices, co-conspirators or accessories.

They play a part in the crime, in some way or the other, even if it is an accessory after the fact, like helping a murderer to dispose of the body of the victim, or just knowing about the crime and not reporting it to the Police. A Parent, who is not awarwe that his child is a cult member (especially since membership is mostly secret, only fully known to fellow cult members), and has no knowledge of the children's activities on campus, let alone criminal activities, plays absolutely no role in the crime - how then does the Prosecutor discharge the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt required to secure a conviction in criminal matters? See the case of Sterling Bank v Falola 2015 5 N.IN. L.R. Part 1453 Page 405 at 429 that: Burden of proof is the duty to offer evidence in proof of a party's assertions or counterassertions- per Amina Adamu Augie JCA (as she then was). In this situation, l wonder what offence the Parents would be charged for, let alone proving the essential elements of the offence! Would they be charged for their child’s offence, or for simply being the Parents of a cult member? In that case, Parents of all criminals, should also be charged! For example, those whose children are armed robbers, should be charged for not teaching their children the fifth and seventh Commandments of the Bible, “Thou shalt not kill” and “Thou shalt not steal”!

It is patently clear that, in a charge against the Parents, if it was a civil action the statement of claim would disclose no reasonable cause of action against the Parents; and in a criminal charge, either a No-Case Submission (an acquittal without presenting a defence, based on the fact that the Prosecution has failed to prove a prima facie case against the Parents) made by the defence would certainly be upheld by the court, or the court of its own volition, without any application from the defence, would record a finding of not guilty without calling on the Parents to enter a defence to an offence, which has absolutely no elements/ingredients. See Section 302 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and Ajiboye v The State 1995 8 N.W. L.R. Part 414 Page 408 at 414- 415.

“IT IS DOUBTFUL, AS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SPECULATING, THAT A PARENT WOULD SIMPLY BE HELD LIABLE, BECAUSE THEIR CHILD IS A CULTIST; AND THE AUTHORITIES WOULD TRANSLATE THAT TO MEAN THAT THE PARENTS DID NOT IMPART THE RIGHT MORAL VALUES INTO THEIR CHILD, AND ARE THEREFORE, SOMEHOW CULPABLE FOR THEIR OFFSPRING’S CULT CRIMES”

Conclusion Nevertheless, it is good that the LSHA is playing its own part in trying to exterminate this evil that has plagued our institutions for several decades. The issue of punishment of Parents for their children’s crimes in the CPL however,

remains unclear; but it would be expedient for the LSHA and Mr Governor to consider the foregoing analysis, if indeed, the speculation of people that punishment of Parents would be on the ground of their failure or neglect in their duty to impart the right moral values to their children. We are no longer in ancient times, where law and morals were one. Today, the schools of thought range from John Austin’s extreme that law and morals aredistinct and independent, to that of Oriental Cadi that they are one, and those in-between who believe that they sometimes intersect. Law are rules enacted by the State, while morals are actually rules/a way of living accepted by the people generally (ethics). We look forward to seeing the CPL at the earliest opportunity, when we can confirm the actual Parental provision.

4/LAW REPORT

Cogent Circumstantial Evidence Required to Sustain a Murder Conviction Facts The Appellant was arraigned before the High Court of Abia State for the offence of murder contrary to Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Eastern Nigeria, 1963, as applicable to Abia State.

It was the case of the Respondent that on 25th December, 2009, PW1 – the mother of the deceased and the Appellant, had suddenly woken up in the middle of the night and found the room of the deceased in flames. It was alleged that PW2, a brother to both the Appellant and the deceased, had also come out of his room about the same time and witnessed the deceased’s room being gutted by fire. PW1 and PW2 purported to have seen the Appellant prancing around undisturbed by the raging fire consuming the deceased’s room, and he made no effort to rescue the deceased. PW1 and PW2 raised alarm and the fire was eventually extinguished. They were however, unable to save the deceased who had been burnt beyond recognition.

The case of the Respondent was that few days preceding the fire incident, the Appellant had requested for the sum of N1 million from the deceased (the Appellant’s younger brother) to enable him purchase a second hand vehicle (bus), but the deceased who had assisted the Appellant with money in the past informed the Appellant that he did not have such amount. PW1 testified that the Appellant reported the deceased’s refusal to accede to his request to her, and he threatened to kill someone if his demand was not met.

In her testimony, PW1 stated that the Appellant became so irritated with the deceased, that he abstained from eating at home for about three days preceding the inferno. PW1 and PW2 further testified that the Appellant confessed to them that he had set the deceased’s room ablaze, and that if PW1 divulged the information to anyone, he would kill her. The Appellant who testified in his own defence denied setting the deceased’s room ablaze, or confessing having done the said act to PW1 and PW2.

At the end of the trial, the court found the Appellant guilty as charged and sentenced him to death by hanging.

His appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed. Thereafter, the Appellant filed a further appeal to the Supreme Court.

Issue for Determination Counsel for the Appellant distilled four issues for determination of the appeal, while the Respondent distilled a single issue for determination. In its determination of the appeal, the Apex Court considered the sole issue formulated by the Respondent Whether the Court of Appeal was right when it affirmed the conviction of the Appellant, having regard to the evidence led by the Prosecution.

Arguments Counsel for the Appellant argued that the decision of the trial court was not supported by the kind of circumstantial evidence which the law insists can sustain a conviction, and the affirmation of the same by the Court of Appeal was not tenable. He submitted that it was not enough for the Prosecution to establish the death of the deceased only, the proof of the other ingredients of the offence, by whom and why the deceased was killed, must also be proved beyond reasonable doubt. He argued that none of the three witnesses, PW1, PW2 and PW3, linked the cause of death of the deceased, or the ignition of the fire that led to his death with the Appellant. He argued that all the evidence of the Prosecution witnesses was nothing more than suspicion, which does not amount to proof of the offence. Counsel posited further that if the courts are to rightly convict the Appellant based on circumstantial evidence, the evidence must point at the Appellant alone as causing the death of the deceased. Relying on the decision in ONAH v STATE (1985) 3 NWLR (Pt. 2) 236; CHUKWU v STATE (2013) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1343) 171, he submitted that in the absence of direct, positive and conclusively compelling circumstantial evidence nailing the Appellant to the commission of the offence, his concurrent conviction and sentence by the trial court and the Court of Appeal, was a complete travesty of justice.

Countering the argument above, counsel for the Respondent contended that the circumstantial evidence which the lower courts based their concurrent findings of the Appellant’s guilt upon, satisfied the requirement of law. He submitted that there was evidence, showing that the Appellant had confessed to his mother – PW1 that he set his late brother’s room ablaze, and PW3 – the Investigating Police Officer also testified that the Appellant admitted committing the offence.

He argued that this evidence was in addition to evidence adduced of the Appellant’s actions and behaviour prior to the fire incident that killed his brother, which evidence were complete, unequivocal and led to the irresistible conclusion that the Appellant alone set the deceased’s room ablaze and caused his death. Counsel argued that the Prosecution having established a prima facie case against the Appellant, the law required credible explanation from the Appellant and the Appellant’s failure to lead evidence in rebuttal was fatal to

his case. He relied on UDEDIBA v THE STATE (1976) 11 SC 133; AKPAN v STATE (2001) FWLR (Pt. 56) 735 – 749.

Honourable Musa Dattijo Muhammad, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 5th day of June, 2020 Before Their Lordships

Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili Musa Dattijo Muhammad Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun Chima Centus Nweze Ejembi Eko SC.692/2014 Between NDUBUISI DIKE THE STATE

And

APPELLANT RESPONDENT

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Musa Dattijo Muhammad, JSC

“..... BEFORE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE CAN BE RELIED UPON TO CONVICT A PERSON ACCUSED OF THE OFFENCE OF MURDER, IT MUST BE SO COGENT, COMPLETE, UNEQUIVOCAL AND COMPELLING, THAT IT LEADS TO THE IRRESISTIBLE CONCLUSION OF THE GUILT OF THE ACCUSED PERSON, AND LEAVES NO DEGREE OF POSSIBILITY OR CHANCE THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE COMMITTED THE CRIME

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the sole issue, the court held that before circumstantial evidence can be relied upon to convict a person accused of the offence of murder, it must be so cogent, complete, unequivocal and compelling, that it leads to the irresistible conclusion of the guilt of the accused person, and leaves no degree of possibility or chance that someone else would have committed the crime. There must not be co-existing circumstances, that would weaken the evidence. Circumstantial evidence should be as cogent and compelling as to convince the court that, upon no rational hypothesis other than the offence of murder, can the facts be accounted for. It must be incompatible with the innocence of the accused person, and incapable of any explanation upon any rational basis than that of guilt - ABIEKE & ANOR. v STATE (1975) 9-11 SC 97 at 104; CHUKWU v STATE (2013) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1343) 171 at 211; OLADOJO v STATE (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt. 61) 419; OGBA v STATE (1992) 2 NWLR (Pt. 222) 164. Applying the principle above, the court held that mere circumstances of suspicion would not amount to cogent circumstantial evidence which is sufficient to justify a conviction, as a suspicion, no matter how strong, cannot take the place of legal proof.

The court held further that, where a person is accused of the offence of murder, the Prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that (a) the deceased died; (b) the death of the deceased resulted from the act or omission of the accused; and (c) the act or omission of the accused was intentional. and done with the knowledge that it might result in the death of or grievous bodily harm to the deceased. These three ingredients must be jointly established by credible evidence, and the Prosecution’s case will fail where proof in respect of any of these ingredients of murder is not attained, or where the evidence is destroyed by cross-examination and is rendered manifestly unreliable for any reasonable tribunal to convict upon - ABIRIFON v STATE (2013) LPELR- 20807 (SC); DABOH v STATE (1977) 5 SC 197 and OKORO v STATE (1988) LPELR – 2494 (SC).

In this case, the only evidence on record is the fact of the death of the deceased occurred from the fire outbreak.

Although PW1 and PW3 had in their evidence-in-chief testified that the Appellant admitted starting the fire that killed the deceased, PW1’s extra judicial statement recorded by PW3 did not contain this fact. PW3 too, never reflected the fact of the Appellant’s confession in his report as the Investigation Officer, and under cross-examination, he stated that PW1 told him the Appellant confessed to her but he did not include it in the statement because when he got to the Police station, the Appellant denied making any confession to PW1. On the other hand, under cross-examination, PW1 denied telling the Police that the Appellant had confessed killing the deceased.

These were material inconsistencies in the testimonies of PW1 and PW3 as to the fact of the Appellant’s confession, and the court should have exercised caution in relying on the purported confession to convict the Appellant.

Their Lordships held that, it was evident from the record that the Appellant had been very consistent in his outright denial that he had confessed to either PW1 or PW3 that he caused the death of the deceased. The trial court, thus, ought to have subjected the said confession to scrutiny against other available evidence, before rushing to accept the oral evidence of PW1 and PW3 that the Appellant had confessed to killing the deceased. Apart from evidence of the deceased’s death through the fire outbreak, there was no iota of evidence led by the Respondent to show that the fire was deliberately set, or that it was the Appellant who did so. The second and third ingredients of the offence of murder as to who killed the deceased and the intention to kill, were left unattended to by the Respondent. The evidence relied upon in convicting the Appellant was, at best, a mere suspicion that the Appellant had murdered his brother, and no matter how strong suspicion is, it does not constitute evidence of the fact the law requires in securing and sustaining the conviction for the offence the Appellant was convicted for.

With the above, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal; while His Lordship, Ejembi Eko, JSC gave a dissenting opinion.

Appeal Allowed on a ratio of 4:1.

Representation C.C. Elele with others for the Appellant Dan Uruakpa for the Respondent Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An Affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

09.02.2021

NEWS/5

LawPavilion Law Reports Introduces WhatsApp Version In a bid to ensure that no Lawyer in Nigeria is left behind in adopting technology in this new normal, LawPavilion has characteristically further elevated Law Reporting and Electronic Legal Research in Nigeria, by releasing an application that allows Judges and Lawyers to carry out their electronic legal research seamlessly with minimal internet connectivity, using WhatsApp. In a media chat with Ope Olugasa, the Managing Director of the company, he explained how the company is helping stakeholders in the legal industry to attain optimal productivity in this new normal.

According to Mr. Olugasa, LawPavilion chose to integrate RQH RI LWV Ă DJVKLS SURGXFWV with WhatsApp. He said ‘This is because, in addition to the wide acceptance that WhatsApp enjoys (as it is used by almost all Legal Practitioners in Nigeria), it requires minimal internet access to function, and is easy

MD, Infotech Limited, Ope Olugasa

to operate. LawPavilion is now giving users access to search judgements of the

Supreme Court and Court of Appeal from 1960 to date, through WhatsApp’.

He explained that LawPavilion Business Solutions Ltd. has been around for over one and a half decades, providing LegalTech Solutions to stakeholders in the legal industry.

Olugasa, while highlighting KRZ VRPH ODZ Ă€UPV ZHUH able to achieve more despite the lockdown and subsequent remote working last year, observed that indeed in the words of Malcomn X, ‘the future belongs to those who prepare for it today’. He H[SODLQHG KRZ WKH ODZ Ă€UPV who were able to upscale despite the unprecedented challenges brought by the pandemic, are those who KDYH HTXLSSHG WKHLU ODZ Ă€UPV with the appropriate technology. He however, stated that upon a survey conducted by LawPavilion, it was observed that the advantages brought E\ WKH H΀FLHQW XVH RI DSpropriate technology seems to be enjoyed and accessible only to Lawyers/Law Firms in the urban areas or areas

Landlords Cry Out Over AMCON Harassment, Despite Court Order Residents and landlords of Victory Park Estate, Lekki, Lagos State have accused the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) of harassment over their properties, despite pending court cases and orders.

Two of such cases were filed

by Mrs. Bose Ibude and Mr. Okechukwu Okoli and his wife against AMCON and its Receiver/Manager, Mr. Lanre Olaoluwa.

The Plaintiffs obtained injunctions against the Respondents.

AMCON and Olaoluwa appealed.

The Estate spans almost 50 hectares, and is one of the gated communities in the Igbokushu area of Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1.

The Residents are accusing AMCON and its Receiver/ Manager of outright disregard for law and order, and illegal use of official powers.

They claimed to have bought plots of land in the Estate from Grant Properties Ltd, a company promoted by the late Rev Olajide Awosedo and his family, and obtained the relevant title documents. According to them, in 2003, Grant Properties and Knight Rook approached some of them individually and offered them plots in the Estate, following which they invested their hard-earned money and life savings; others obtained mortgage loans. The Residents said before paying, they carried out checks to ascertain that there were no caveats or encumbrances at the Lands Registry or the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Assured that the coast was clear, they purchased their various plots legally from Grant Properties/ Knight Rook, the only companies authorised to sell plots of land in the Estate.

The Home Owners said from 2003 till June 2017, they continued to buy into theEstate; some developed their properties and started living in the Estate without harassment. They also registered their titles, obtained the consent of the Governor, and

Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba

paid their Land Use Charge as and when due.

Issues arose when AMCON moved to recover alleged credit facilities granted to the late Awosedo, the Chairman of Grant Properties Limited and Knight Rook Ltd, which executed the title documents to the property in the Estate.

To the Residents’ shock, sometime in June 2017, they woke up to a publication that Knight Rook, the owner of the global certificate of occupancy over Victory Park Estate, was in receivership with other companies over a loan Grant Properties Ltd allegedly took from Sterling Bank, Skye bank (now Polaris bank), Wema Bank and FCMB. The shares of Knight Rook Ltd were said to have been used as security for the loans. The banks allegedly sold the unpaid loan as eligible bank assets, to AMCON. The Residents said it was very puzzling that from 2006 until AMCON’s publication of putting the companies in receivership in 2017, members of the public were made to believe that the Awosedos were executing the banks’ instructions.

AMCON appointed Mr. Olaoluwa as Receiver/Manager to take over the assets of Knight Rook Ltd and its parent company, Grant Properties Ltd.

AMCON and Olaoluwa said, are not only taking over unoccupied and undeveloped properties, but the ones in occupation, with residents being forced out with thugs and the Police.

They Plaintiffs said many of the plots targeted by AMCON were already sold to third parties before the take-over by the banks, and the eventual transfer of the assets to AMCON. To them, these properties cannot form part of the assets of Knight Rook Ltd. AMCON is laying claims to all the land in Victory Park Estate, whether already sold and developed. The Victory Park Homeowners and Residents Association met with both AMCON and the Receiver/ Manager in a bid to amicably resolve the issue. Efforts to settle out of court, however, failed.

Some were asked to revalidate their title to plots of land they legally acquired from Knight Rook Ltd, for a sum more than what they had bought the plots for.

Many of the residents have instituted court actions seeking declarations, injunctions and orders preventing AMCON, Olaoluwa and his agents from trespassing on the plots of land, pending the court’s decision. One of the Plaintiffs, Mrs. Ibude, said she bought her property in 2014 and obtained the Governor’s consent on February

15, 2015.

According to her, the property is registered as No. 64 at Page 64 in Volume 2493 of the Lagos State Land Registry.

She filed a suit numbered LD/9769LMW/2020 against AMCON, Olaoluwa and three others at the Lagos State High Court. She obtained an order directing the parties to the suit to maintain status quo.

The order also restrained the Receiver/Manager and his agents from taking any other steps or actions on the properties, until the court makes a final determination on the rightful owner of the property.

Mr. and Mrs Okoli filed the suit numbered LD/8277LMW/19 against Olaoluwa and AMCON. They are challenging their forceful ejection from their property, which they claim has been purportedly sold to third parties by AMCON and Mr. Olaoluwa. According to them, the property was sold despite the restraining order against AMCON and Olaoluwa.

Last December, the Court of Appeal, while upholding the powers of the court to make the restraining orders and injunctions, held in AMCON v Adedayo Mumini Shittu (CA/L/1266/2019): “The provision of Section 34(6) of the AMCON Act seeks to curtail the discretion of the court and also seeks to curtail the rights of citizens to seek redress or help from the court�.

But, the Home Owners said the agency has continued to disregard the sanctity of court by selling the legally-owned properties to third parties, while the court is yet to determine the rights and obligations of the parties.

They are also urging President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, AMCON Chairman Edward Lametek Adamu and its Managing Director, Ahmed Kuru, to intervene as the Corporation is not above the law.

with relatively stable internet connectivity. According to the survey, majority of the Lawyers/Law Firms that were able to cash-in during the pandemic, are those that have access to good internet connection. Regrettably, the internet connectivity in Nigeria still has low coverage, and is particularly slow outside the major cities.

Following this discovery, Olugasa said the organisation couldn’t help but empathise with Lawyers and Judges outside the urban areas, ZKR DUH DͿHFWHG E\ YHU\ unreliable internet access, \HW QHHG WR RͿHU SUHPLXP legal services to their clients and litigants at all times. He reminded us that the need for Lawyers and Judges to keep defending the rule of law and ideals of the society, regardless of lockdown or economic hardship, is not limited to the urban areas alone, as it is the mainstay of the justice system. Thus, it felt like the Lawyers and Judges in the not-so-urban areas are short-changed, as they are somewhat not placed on a level playing ÀHOG ZLWK WKHLU FRXQWHUSDUWV in the urban areas who have access to high speed internet connection to power their LegalTech solutions and augment their legal practice.

Motivated by the need to

DͿRUG /DZ\HUV DQG -XGJHV in places outside the urban areas access to electronic legal research to ensure a more productive legal service delivery, Olugasa said LawPavilion, as the preferred ICT partner of the legal industry, has innovated the solution called PrimSol Lite, to ensure that no Lawyer is left behind in this technology driven new normal. What this means, is that all Judges and Lawyers – be it those in the city with high speed internet connection, or those in the suburbs with restricted access to the internet - can now carry out their electronic legal research on their phones, using their WhatsApp application.

When asked if PrimSol Lite is available for subscription, Olugasa replied that the solution will be available to the general public from this week. He urged Judges, Lawyers, Law Students and other stakeholders in the legal industry, to ensure they take advantage of this easy and DͿRUGDEOH VROXWLRQ WR PDNH the best out of their legal research. He concluded by reiterating LawPavilion's commitment as the preferred ICT Partner for the legal industry, to consistently provide superior technology solutions to make legal service delivery PRUH H΀FLHQW DͿRUGDEOH DQG seamless for all.

Pregnant Unmarried Policewoman: Ekiti AG Sues IGP The Ekiti State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda, has instituted a civil suit against the Inspector General of Police, seeking an order of court declaring Section 127 of the Police Act and Regulations which provides for the discharge from the Police Force, ZRPHQ SROLFH R΀FHUV ZKR become pregnant while unmarried, unconstitutional.

Joined as co-Defendants in the suit, are the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police and the Police Service Commission.

Fapohunda in the suit ( FHC/ AD/ CS/ 8/ 2021) ÀOHG DW WKH )HGHUDO +LJK Court, Ado Ekiti, is asking the court to determine amongst others, whether the provisions of Section 127 of Police Act and Regulations are not in violation of the combined provisions of Sections 37 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and Articles 2,3, 5, 18(3) and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, and therefore, unconstitutional, null and void.

The suit also seeks an order nullifying Section 127 of Police Act and Regulations, as well as an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Inspector General of Police, the Ekiti State Commis-

Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda

sioner of Police and the Police Service Commission, from implementing the regulation.

It would be recalled that recently, the Nigeria Police purportedly acting under Section 127 of the Police Act and Regulations, dismissed an unmarried Policewoman, an indigene of Ekiti State, from the services of the Nigeria Police Force on the ground of getting pregnant before marriage.

Section 127 of the Police Act and Regulations provides that "an unmarried ZRPDQ SROLFH PD R΀FHU who becomes pregnant shall be discharged from the Force, and shall not be re-enlisted except with the approval of the InspectorGeneral".

6/

09.02.2021

Covid-19 and Employer Loyalty Introduction Lately, I have been thinking a lot about loyalty - Maybe it’s the Covid-19 blues or something more? Is Covid-19 exacerbating workplace loyalty? It is common knowledge that work will not be the same after the Covid-19 crisis. Employers will be different. Employees returning to work will be different. People have had a lot of time to think deeply, and to interrogate their priorities. Employees will be looking out to see that things are done differently in the workplace. Staff would want employers who truly care about their development as individuals, and not just about the business. And this goes beyond bonus payouts, sending goodwill messages and disseminating health and safety advices.

These are good, but beyond these, devotion to the growth of your people is essential. It is usual for employers to demand loyalty from staff, but how can employers show loyalty to staff? What was the measure of workplace loyalty before the pandemic? Is it any better now or worse? As I sat down to write this piece, my mind drifted to my Country’s 33-word pledge of loyalty - “I pledge to Nigeria my country, to be faithful, loyal and honest. To serve Nigeria will all my strength, to defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory, so help me God.” – A strong expression of allegiance to my nation.

Rendered by standing at attention with the right hand placed on the heart, and the other held high. As children, it used to be fun to scream it out every day at the School Assembly in front of the National flag. The words were a persistent admonition of the allegiance we owe to our country. It was not clear then, as children, what the nation owed us. With time what the nation owed us became clearer. As we observed citizens of other nations, and the way the world works. As we understood the resources we had, and the responsibilities of the government entrusted with the guardianship of those resources. Freedom?

Security? Education, Basic Infrastructure? All these took on new meaning.

of sickness, disability and unemployment due to economic forces beyond their control, earns allegiance in quantum.

It is common knowledge that the first five years of the life of children are particularly essential, as the brain development in those years determines how well children will be able to learn and process what they learn for the rest of their lives. We observed as some of these governments – determined to “catch them young” - finance an entire infrastructure of child development from pregnancy to the beginning of formal schooling, including child nourishment and health, even parenting classes, home visits and appropriate early education

Loyalty to Country According to the World Economic Forum – governments primarily exist as a protector; providing security of lives and property, protecting citizens from violence. When a nation becomes fragile, and increasingly have ungoverned and insecure regions – it depicts the failure of government. Much as when employers ensure employees’ health and safety (HSE). Also primal, is the concept of government as a provider. Government as a provider of infrastructure, to enable citizens to flourish socially and economically. Providing the means of physical travel, such as good roads, modern bridges and functional ports of all kinds, and even the means of virtual travel, such as broadband – 3G, 4G, and the notorious 5G. Note that Countries such as Norway, Netherlands, Hungary are already providing faster internet speed like 7G or 8G. At best, these are public goods governments provides, that are necessary to ensure a well-functioning society and a competitive economy to enable citizens create their own economic haven.

Much as when employers provide training, and functional work tools to employees. Anne Marie Slaughter, an American international Lawyer and foreign policy analyst, author of “The New World Order,” puts it well by saying “wherever possible, governments should invest in citizen's capabilities to provide for themselves.” Anne-Marie is described as “a think and action tank dedicated to renewing the promise of America, calling it to live up to its highest ideals”. Shouldn’t we all have these same appellation after our names? We read of governments making huge priority investments in research, and in the education of their citizens - programs described as “cradleto-grave Education.” A government that can bolster the ability of its citizens to provide for themselves, particularly in the vulnerable period of youth, old age, and circumstances

“EMPLOYERS CANNOT EXPECT MUCH LOYALTY FROM STAFF IF THEY INDISCRIMINATELY DOWNSIZE, SHOW FAVOURITISM, TOLERATE POOR PERFORMANCE, SKIMP ON TRAINING, OR DON’T PROVIDE ROOM FOR ADVANCEMENT. COMMITMENT IS A GIVEAND-TAKE”

programs with stipends for their infant citizens.

Focus is also given to harness the potentials of their youth. These governments provide special developmental programs accessible to all. I may be guilty of painting an ideal picture of a government that believes in the talent and potential of its citizens, and develop a strategic blueprint (actionable blueprint, not left in the archives, gathering dust); a government that is applying a large portion of its tax revenues to investing in its citizens to help them reach their potential, is really raising an army that may be willing to lay down their lives in defence of such a nation. And with several foreign governments offering these incentives and more to young productive immigrants, plus citizenship, the result is the immigrants’ divided loyalties. How do you maintain allegiance to a country or an organisation, when these have been brought to question - promises broken, and expectations dashed repeatedly?

At the risk of sounding like a desperate, jilted ex-girlfriend, I ask – “How do you remain loyal to somebody who just keeps on taking from you and demanding more, and never gives back commensurately?” What will be a proportionate relationship between citizens and a country that will produce deep seated loyalties? How do you keep faith? What would a synergised relationship with my country or workplace look like? As you begin to expect less and less from a country or a workplace, do you also feel loyalty wearing off?

The American Dream Several pointers and anecdotal evidence suggest that, Covid-19 turned the tide to Biden’s advantage in the recently concluded US election – a lot of “trumpeters” jumped ship over Covid-19 and Mr. Donald’s handling of it. Are employees jumping ship because of Covid-19 and our organisation’s handling of it? So, I watched as the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden took his oath of office. Forgive me, I don’t know why I am taking Panadol for another man’s headache.

I watched it repeatedly on YouTube. I heard the baby crying in the background, and tried to decipher the expressions on the faces of everyone around him – including his wife, son, and daughter as he took his oath of allegiance. I noted particularly, the tension on the face of his daughter. What is this oath of allegiance that he is taking? What is the import? Incoming Presidents in the US raise their right hand and place the left on a Bible, while taking the oath of office. I understand that the George Washington Inaugural Bible, the Bible that was sworn upon by George

Washington himself when he took office as the first President of the United States on April 30, 1789, is the Bible that has subsequently been used in the inauguration rituals of several other U.S. Presidents. I stayed glued to the screen watching Joe Biden recite the following 35-word or more oath of office administered

by Chief Justice John Roberts, —"I (with his full names inserted) do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States – so help me God" - with his hand on the five-inch thick Bible, that has been in his family for nearly 130 years (a big deal right?) held by his wife Jill Biden during his swearing in. With the swearing over, I heard, “Congratulations Mr. President!” Followed by the loud cheers, the band playing, hugs, kisses, applauds, etc. My mind fast-forwarded to the work ahead – his next 100 days in office – Covid-19, the Economy, Police Brutality and the #BlackLivesMatter Movement, Climate Change Issues, China, Iran, Russia, Israel, the Taliban, the 2,500 US troops still in Afghanistan etc. - The next 1,460 days of his work in office. What will help him succeed? How will he leave office?

What will the changing indices for success look like in four years’ time? To my mind, the United States of America had always been an epitome of loyalty to a country, and a country’s loyalty to citizens. We were used to seeing the pride and confidence the Americans exude in themselves, and in their government. Over the past couple of years that has changed. Joe Biden is coming in as President of a country with deeply divided loyalties – which he aptly described as “… uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.”

How would he work to gain the loyalty of the other divide? How will he demonstrate loyalty to a section of the country, who admittedly are still loyal to his predecessor?

A Workplace Pledge of Loyalty I thought of all this, and I thought of the workplace. What exceptional actions can employers take, especially in this period of Covid-19 that demonstrates fidelity to staff?

Employers cannot expect much loyalty from staff if they indiscriminately downsize, show favouritism, tolerate poor performance, skimp on training, or don’t provide room for advancement. Commitment is a give-andtake. How would employers show care to staff and demonstrate that the organisation is genuinely vested in their success? What does it mean to be a loyal employer? Is it by tending to employee’s every whim? Or by being all things to all staff? By trying everything possible to make an unwilling horse stay with you? During a crisis like Covid-19, people are even more critical to your surviving. You want your required staff to stay with you through thick and thin; be proud ambassadors, boasting about your firm – and even if they leave the firm, you want them to remain loyal. And to go to extraordinary lengths when needed, to help the firm succeed. To get this kind of loyalty, employers must demonstrate constant support for staff’s well-being. Even when they become ex-staff, show genuine interest in what they do, and provide support when needed.

Would it be weird to have a workplace pledge of loyalty, apart from the employment contract? A 15-20-word document? What will the document contain? Does leaving a workplace call to question staff loyalty?

Maybe not. Maybe it is a question of how ex-staff leave? Maybe the loyalty of those still in the workplace is indeed, more questionable than those who leave. There may be some still at the workplace today, but their hearts have left ages ago. Therefore, it is wise to carefully manage exits – so staff who leave will remain loyal to the employer even after they exit. In Part 2 we shall examine more practical ways of keeping staff loyalty during an economic downturn. (To be continued).

09.02.2021

/7

Tribute to Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim CON, SAN The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) Abuja Chapter and Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN pay tribute to Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim CON, SAN, FNIALS, FCIArb (1939-2021) former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Federal Republic of Nigeria (1997 - May, 1999), Life Bencher and former Chairman Emeritus of BOSAN, who died on January 24, 2021 at the age of 82. May Allah, in His infinite mercy, grant him Aljannah Firdaus “......HE FOUND FULFILMENT IN LIFE, NOT IN PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT IN SERVING THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH, LIVING SIMPLY, AND SHARING HIS GODGIVEN ENDOWMENTS WITH OTHERS.....HIS CHAMBERS IS REPUTED TO HAVE PRODUCED, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FEMALE SENIOR ADVOCATES OF NIGERIA”

Tribute to Alhaji Ibrahim BOSAN The Consummate Bridge-Builder

The Body of Senior Advocates (BOSAN) Abuja Chapter, mourns a quintessential community leader, seasoned and distinguished advocate, astute administrator, consummate bridge-builder, humane and thoroughbred professional; former Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, former Minister of Education, Science and Technology, former Minister of Transport and Aviation, former Minister of Science and Technology, former Chairman Emeritus of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), Life Bencher, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (FNIALS), Fellow, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Member, National Committee for the Reformation of the Judiciary, etc. He served meritoriously in these and several other capacities, and made sterling contributions to the social, legal and political evolution of the country. As a recognised international personality, he was conferred with the highest honour (Gran Cruz de la Order de la Independence de Guinea Equitorial), by the Government of Equitorial Guinea.

Biography A scion of Igala, he was born In 1939, at Okaba, Ojoku District, Ankpa Local Government Area of the present day Kogi State, to humble parents, and Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim rose through difficulties to reach the stars. He reached the pinnacle not only of his profession, but also established one of the foremost law firms in the country, Abdullahi Ibrahim and Co, Legal Practitioners and Chartered Arbitrators, with offices in Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna. One unique feature of this firm is that, Alhaji had handed over the management of the practice to his lieutenants several years before his demise even though he continued to provide advice and support for the firm. The firm has resolved countless legal puzzles and produced several Judges and Justices, as well as Senior Advocates and other accomplished professionals.

Highly revered in his profession, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim played a leading role in resolving the crises which engulfed the Nigerian Bar Association several years ago. He and a few others deserve the accolades for the continued existence of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), as a single professional umbrella for all legal practitioners in the country today.

A quiet philanthropist, he committed huge resources and sacrificed personal comforts to provide education and succour for countless colleagues, relations, members of his staff and others who came across his path. He made immense contributions to the social development of his community by establishing a secondary school and other social infrastructure, while also supporting worthy causes which have rescued many from the pangs of ignorance, illiteracy, and poverty. Those who knew him would readily agree that, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim found fulfilment in life, not in personal achievements, but in serving the Almighty Allah, living simply, and sharing his God-given endowments with others. He made immense contributions to the improvement of Hajj Operations, with a view to improving the welfare of Muslim pilgrims.

His biography, which was commissioned in 2012 and supervised by his bosom friend, nay brother, Hon. Justice M.L. Uwais, GCON, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, is aptly titled, ‘Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, A life shared’.

The first Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from Northern Nigeria, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim left indelible footprints on the sands of time. His achievements include, but are not limited to transforming the Ministry into an engine of justice sector reform, and advancement of human rights. Notably, he was the one who secured for the Ministry,

Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim CON, SAN the plot of land on which its headquarters sits majestically today in Maitama, Abuja, next to the Federal High Court. What great foresight! More importantly however, he will be remembered as the Attorney-General who facilitated the all-important transition from military to civil rule in 1999.

Family Life A man of modest taste and superb family life, he maintained excellent relationship amongst his two wives, Hajiya Bilikisu and Hajiya Sa’adat, and their children. He also adopted several others as his children, and connected them to great opportunities in life and profession. He generously poured out his life into others, in his unrelenting bid to ensure that his numerous ‘children’ attained success in their career. Thus, several of them can be found in important positions in their different callings in the justice sector and beyond. His, was truly a life shared.

Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim CON, SAN is widely acknowledged and will be remembered as a perfect gentleman, a giant in the legal profession, quiet philanthropist, noble statesman of high esteem and a God-fearing Muslim, who believed that the best way to serve God is to enrich the lives of fellow human beings.

Adieu Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim. May Allah grant you Aljannah Firdaus.

Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), Abuja Chapter, Nigeria

Tribute to a Quintessential Leader, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, SAN Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN On Sunday, the 24th day of January, 2021 Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim OFR, CON, SAN breathed his last at the age of 82 years, and slept.

There erupted cries, noises and latter voices of glory and thanksgiving for a great man that had passed in our country, our profession and our families.

Alhaji Ibrahim: He Sowed Seeds of Goodness While he was here with us, he toiled, sowed seeds, harvested, gave to the poor and needy, and kept little for his family and future as inheritance.

He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest men who contributed immensely towards building bridges of love across religion, tribe and nations. He was a statesman, who used his knowledge of law to make Nigeria a respected Nation.

As a former occupier of the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of Federation

during the Military regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), he laid the foundation for the modern institution that is meant to secure the principle of separation of powers.

He was one of architects of the National Judicial Institute, through the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as now amended).

He secured the land upon which the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Federal High Court Headquarters are built today.

A Man of Principles Alhaji Ibrahim, SAN was an exemplary legal practitioner who believed in the rule of law, and practice of law with the highest level of integrity.

He was very disciplined, both in his private and public lives. He abhorred corruption, and detested misuse of public trust in whatever form.

As a member of the Body of Benchers his voice was formidable in the debates of very crucial issues of legal education, professional ethics and judicial reforms.

He was noted for excellence, in the practice of law. He reformed the approach to the functionality and impactful, Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee of the Body.

It was during his time that the practice and antics of frustrating and stalling of the Committee’s proceedings by ex parte orders of injunction freely given under the pretext of enforcement of Fundamental rights by errant legal practitioners, was stopped.

He was a man trusted and relied upon, for the truth. Through the Committee, brought to book many legal practitioners who routinely committed acts of professional misconduct and got away with them. His Committee restored a high level of discipline, to the practice of law. Rules of the Committee were reformed and redesigned to protect the rights of clients, legal practitioners and the integrity of the legal profession. Most decisions of the Committee were affirmed by the Supreme Court.

The Conciliator Alhaji Ibrahim was a man of character, courage, peace and love. He loved the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), like his baby. He did all within the law to protect and preserve the existence of the Association, when the Association ran into a stormy crisis that nearly drowned it.

At the Annual Conference of the Association in 1992, there were disagreements that made the election of officers then impossible, and there was no provision in the Constitution of the Association to take care of such a vacancy in management of the Association, because it was not envisaged.

There were series of court orders obtained by different interests from different jurisdictions, as to who should manage the Body of the largest number of Lawyers in the Continent of Africa (NBA).

The Body of Benchers, the highest body of the Profession constituted a Committee of eminent Lawyers under the Chairmanship of late Chief

Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams QC, SAN, CON. Alhaji Ibrahim, SAN, was next to Chief Williams in the Committee. He used his vast knowledge and experience in Government and wide goodwill at the Bar to facilitate the conduct of an election of officers for the Body in 1998, working and monitoring closely the Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries of the 44 Branches of the NBA then. As Chairman of the Chairman and Secretaries of the 44 branches, I attest to the fact that he was a generous to us in good will, financial and moral support.

Very recently again when the NBA had a very serious crisis following a dispute election of officers, Alhaji Ibrahim as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the NBA, with Dame Priscilla Kuye, and Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN as Trustees, hosted several meetings in his chambers in Asokoro where all the disputes were resolved amicably.

Alhaji Ibrahim was the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN). He was also the Leader of the Body in Abuja.

A De-tribalised Nigerian He was neither a religious bigot, nor tribalistic in his dealings with people. In his Law Firm today, Christians and many tribes other than Igalla, his native tribe in Kogi State, operate and function freely and effectively as a family.

He encouraged industry, recognised and rewarded excellence and loyalty. He deliberately encouraged and promoted the advancement in learning and elevation of many practitioners to attain the highest rank in the Legal Profession, irrespective of gender. He was a trustworthy and reliable leader. His Chambers is reputed to have produced, the highest number of female Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

Alhaji Ibrahim, SAN will be remembered for the seeds of love he sowed, food for the weak and lonely. The schools he built, water he provided.

He made available for the poor in Okabba his village, the weak he lifted and the numerous lives he touched with his hard earned substances. He will forever not be forgotten. He was generous and kind. He will forever live in our hearts, for the truth he told and stood for. May Allah forgive his sins, and grant him Aljannah Fidaus. May his friend of over 50 years Honourable Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais GCON (former Chief Justice of Nigeria) and members of his family, be truly comforted.

Asiwaju Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo, SAN, FNIALS, FCIArb, JP, Life Bencher, Member Board of Trustees of BOSAN

8/COVER

09.02.2021

‘We are Working on Over The state of our road infrastructure, has been a matter of great concern to both the citizens and Government of Nigeria. It has also been the perennial cause of disputation, between States and the Federal Government. That is one of the reasons why the appointment of Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN as Works and Housing Minister elicited so much applause and commendation for the Buhari administration. How has BRF fared in the past five years, managing such a complex and herculean portfolio as Works Minister? In a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, the former Lagos State ‘Action Governor’, recounted what can easily be described as some of his achievements in building and rehabilitating Nigerian roads, and providing affordable habitation for Nigerians Learned Silk, Nigerians have had to cope with infrastructure decay for many years now. Regarding our roads, how far have you gone in bridging the gaps in the infrastructure deficit in Nigeria in your ministerial capacity? In our interview with you over three years ago, we discussed the East West Road (which you said was under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Niger Delta and not yours), Lagos- Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge and Odukpani Road in Ikot Ekpene. How far have you gone with the rehabilitation of those roads? Are any of the works completed? If not, why? We know that certainly, Lagos-Ibadan is still incomplete.

I think that is a well rolled up question.

First is to understand that our roads are very long roads, very long. Some of the shortest are about 20 or 30 kilometres, while some of the longest are about 560 to 570 kilometres.

So, the way we even construct requires us to also understand what completion means. Our roads require that we close certain sections of maybe, five or 10 kilometres, build them and divert traffic to another section. So, by the time you are driving through what we’ve built, you are driving through what we’ve completed.

Our roads also connect States, so they are interstate roads. They are not like city roads that you can lock up for six months or one or two years, and when you finish you come and cut the tape.

As you build, people are using them.

So, I think it’s important for people to understand that concept.

In terms of numbers, we are working on over 13,000 kilometres of Federal roads today. We have finished over 4,000 kilometres, and many more are being completed in phases with certificates coming daily from across the 36 States.

So, it’s ongoing progress and development.

Specifically, you speak to CalabarOdukpani Road, for example. If you go back there now compared to what you saw last year, you’ll see one section which they are mainly working on now. We feel it is better that instead of doing the two lanes at the same time, focus on one section. If you have 10-15 -20 kilometres of work done, it is more completed road works, than trying to do dual carriage way of three or five kilometres. That is how we are approaching it.

Again, we have different contractors.

Julius Berger is there, and CCEC is there.

We are also trying to award one more section, to complete the whole length. But, things have moved on from last year to now, and SUKUK is helping in that area.

On Lagos-Ibadan, I can be more specific because I have more recent updates, because I visited there in December. Out of 127 kilometres, we have done over 70 kilometres of roadwork. Work is still

Odukpani?

Odukpani, I don’t have the actual percentage of completion because I just resumed.

This is my first day at work. I am giving you some of the data that I still have in my memory, from when I went on leave.

But, work hasn’t stopped anywhere.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

“WHAT HAPPENED ON EKO BRIDGE.......IS THAT WE JUST DODGED THE BULLETS; BECAUSE BEARINGS HAD COLLAPSED UNDER THE BRIDGE AND SECTIONS OF THE DECK HAD MOVED. AT ONE TIME, WHAT WAS HOLDING THE BRIDGE WAS BARELY AN INCH......IT WAS AN EMERGENCY AND WE WANTED TO PREVENT ANY ACCIDENT, ANY LOSS OF LIFE”

going on. On the first section between Lagos and Shagamu where Julius Berger is, you will see that out of 44 kilometres, they have done almost 30 kilometres now.

They are almost rounding up. They are now building the pillars, the structures for the interchanges, the pedestrian bridges and so on. On the other side with RCC, they are also making progress heading towards Ibadan.

On the Second Niger Bridge, one side of the deck of the bridge is almost completed, the Onitsha-bound side. Hopefully, we should complete that early this year and start the other side, the Asaba-bound side.

Simultaneously, the link road from the Onitsha and the Asaba-bound sides are also being constructed; a total of about 20 kilometres of road network. We have now awarded what we call the Phase 2A and B, which are additional extensions to connect the road to Owerri on the Anambra side and to connect it to other parts on the Delta side too. So, work is going on.

In terms of percentage, what would you ascribe to Lagos-Ibadan with regard to completion?

Lagos-Ibadan as at December was about 55 percent completed, but we intend to finish in 2022.

What about the Second Niger Bridge?

The Second Niger Bridge is also well over 50 something percent completed, and is on schedule to be delivered in 2022.

What was the problem with the Third Mainland Bridge and Eko Bridge?

Why did the works have to be done simultaneously, thereby causing so much inconvenience to Lagos commuters?

Okay, perhaps, before we go to the Third Mainland Bridge, this is a list. I don’t know if it will be useful to you. These are 23 projects across different parts of Nigeria that have already been completed. So, we have seven in the North-West, four in the South-West, two in the South-South, three in the North-Central, five in the South-East and three in the North-East; and all of these are already completed, but work is still going on the others as I speak to you.

Now you speak about the Eko Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge. Two different reasons. Third Mainland Bridge is a scheduled maintenance that should have been done; that was done in parts in 2010 and 2016; again due to budget constraints, and now needs to be completed once and for all. It involves the changing of expansion joints on the bridge and the changing of bearings under the bridge.

Also, repair of columns and piles inside the water, which have to be protected with epoxy, welding for protection and jacketed to protect them from the elements, salt, chemicals and all the other things. So, we also have welding work that is going on under the Third Mainland Bridge.

The other point about Eko Bridge is that the last time there was rehabilitation on the Eko Bridge was, I think in 1991 during the Babangida administration when Eko Bridge was closed for rehabilitation.

That rehabilitation was perhaps the major one on that bridge since 1974 when the bridge was opened. So, you can see the long spans.

What happened on Eko Bridge, I always tell my Team, is that we just dodged the bullets; because bearings had collapsed under the bridge and sections of the deck had moved. At one time, what was holding the bridge was barely an inch. Several tons of concrete could have come down. But, our inspections showed it, and that’s why we urgently had to close it. We would have preferred to do it later, but it was an emergency and we wanted to prevent any accident, any loss of life.

So, that has been done, one side has now been completed. The other side is being done, and we now have a full rehabilitation contract for the Eko Bridge that will take about a year; that is being done in phases, just to renew the bridge

COVER/9

09.02.2021

13,000km of Roads’ and prolong its lifespan.

We are working on 37 bridges across Nigeria, at the moment. There are many more that we will also add this year. So, there is a lot of rehabilitation going on.

Incidentally, whilst you are here, it might be useful to let you know that we will close the Falomo Bridge once we finish the Third Mainland Bridge. We kept it open, because of the sensitivity to the inconvenience of the Third Mainland Bridge. But, there is no good time to do maintenance work. This is done all over the world. Tower Bridge in London was closed for six months. At one time, we will do it. We regret the inconvenience, but the main purpose is to serve people.

There has been buck-passing between the Federal and State Governments over which roads are supposed to be rehabilitated or fixed and by whom?

This has left many roads in a state of disrepair, with the resultant consequences of lives continuously being lost through ghastly road accidents.

What is the panacea to this avoidable loss of lives?

Again, I think you rolled many things into one place, and some of them, in my view, just don’t connect. So, let us start with what you call buck-passing.

It’s not buck-passing. That is the essence of our Federation. There are three levels of government, State, Federal and Local Governments. They have different responsibilities. As you’ll see in the Constitution, if you go to item 63 of the Exclusive Legislative List, you’ll see that the Federal Government is responsible for only federal trunk roads. Federal trunk roads are roads that connect one State to the other. Federal Government is the repository of power over the territory of the Republic of Nigeria. The States also have their own boundaries and borders, and they are the repository of power over their local governments. So, they have inter-local government roads, just like Federal Government has interstate roads.

We have been talking about Lagos-Ibadan, Odukpani-Calabar, those are our own roads. But, there will be Yaba to Mushin, Asokoro to Maitama roads, those are the responsibilities of the States.

Then there will be roads between Wards, Ward A to Ward B, those are the local government roads. It is the totality of these roads that give Nigeria a road network of 200,000 kilometres. Total! Out of that, the Federal road network is about 35,000 kilometres. The local governments have the largest of the network.

So, it’s not buck-passing. It is the real essence of our federalism. Every level has its own responsibilities; just like you have primary health, secondary health, and tertiary health, and for education, primary, secondary and tertiary.

Now, why are the roads in some state of disrepair? Many reasons. One, our population, our businesses, our economy have grown faster than the rate at which we have invested in our roads. That is one point. And by our investment, there is a problem. That is why I continue to ask why in 2005, when we had $12 point something billion, we chose to go and use it to negotiate debt forgiveness, instead of investing it. Those roads were there at the time. The bad roads were there. $12 billion could have done a lot in terms of road construction, infrastructure at the time. But, the policy of the Government at the time was ‘lets go and pay our debt, so that we can be credit worthy for more debts.” So, here we are.

You then move on to talk about the quality of roads, as a result of the accidents and loss of lives. The accidents are

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

regrettable. They are a source of concern for our Government. But, I disagree that it is essentially the quality of roads that cause the accidents. It is not supported by the evidence we have. The evidence we have, because we get monthly reports from the FRSC who report on every accident on our roads; the evidence suggests that less than one percent of accidents (and that is bad enough, I must say) is caused by the bad roads. The major cause of accidents, because I have the data, is over speeding, dangerous driving, loss of control, driving under the influence of substances. This is documented. This is monthly data, so you can see the pattern every year.

There was a road, for example, in Kogi State, where there was an accident last year and a lot of people unfortunately died, and it was caused by a petrol truck. The default response was ‘oh it’s because of the road.’ But, when the accident investigation report came, it was excessive speeding and loss of control.

The point we always make is that, if the road is bad, logic, common sense and

“WE ARE WORKING ON 37 BRIDGES ACROSS NIGERIA, AT THE MOMENT. THERE ARE MANY MORE THAT WE WILL ALSO ADD THIS YEAR ......WE WILL CLOSE THE FALOMO BRIDGE ONCE WE FINISH THE THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE”

experience tells you that you cannot speed on that road! And if you actually do, it means that you are an irresponsible driver.

That is just the whole truth.

So, there is a lot of work to be done in terms of human behaviour, training of drivers. I have asked FRSC, because they don’t report to us, they report to the Presidency through the Secretary to the Federal Government, to start Patroland-Stop programme on the highway.

When anybody exceeds the speed limit, flag him down, check his driver’s licence.

Is he authorised to be on the road? This will start, I believe, this year. These are some of the things we are trying to do, to reduce the loss of life and property on the roads.

We are also investing in resourcing the FRSC. Just today, Council approved more patrol and recovery vehicles. We are also working with the Ministry of Health. No matter how we try, there will be accidents. So, we are also trying to ensure that there are trauma centres, so that at least there is medical response and rescue at the earliest opportunity, and that can also be very defining for whether people are saved or not.

Before I let you go into the issue of the Apapa road/gridlock, I wanted to point out to you the road between the Carter Bridge before you climb Eko Bridge, there is a huge crater there which causes so much traffic, especially during rush hours It’s a drainage problem there. We have a contract there. But, we are waiting to complete some, because it is part of the relief for people diverted from Third Mainland Bridge. So, we cannot work on Third Mainland Bridge and lock down that one. We already have a contract to repair it. We tried to do it before, it failed.

We need to reconstruct the entire drainage.

There is a lot of materials already dumped in the drainage, so we must excavate and rebuild. So, we have to lock up that place when that is happening. We are holding off until there is an alternative route. That is why we have not done it. That is Otto, Ijora Olopa.

What exactly is the problem with the Apapa roads? Why has it continued to be a problem? The Apapa Port is crucial to our economy as we all know. Why

does it seem that Government is not taking taking the road repairs there seriously, when it is alleged that due to the gridlock, the country is losing over N200 billion annually?

Well, I like to be scientific and to ask ourselves, ‘what is the cause of the gridlock?

Is it the road, or the Port?’ Because, if we don’t identify the cause of a problem we are likely to misdiagnose the problem, and if we misdiagnose, our corrective prescription will be wrong and the problem will not be solved.

I say emphatically, the road is not the cause of the Apapa gridlock. It may be contributory, but it is not the cause. The cause is a Port management problem first of all, and also a Port capacity problem.

Our economy has expanded beyond the size and capacity of that Port.

So, we are 45 years older than our Port, if you go to Tin Can. If you go to Apapa, we are 99 years older than our Port. Apapa Port was actually built in 1921! This year is the centenary of Apapa Port. It hasn’t been expanded. The first expansion after 1921 was in 1975, and that was the construction of the Tin Can Island Port. And we didn’t do that as a proactive gesture. It was reactive to the Cement Armada, when we were dumping goods in the sea because we couldn’t evacuate them through our ports! Since then, what has happened? No port expansion, until we started the Lekki Port when I was Governor.

Secondly, contrary to what people think, Government is not the one running the Port. It has been concessioned to private operators, AP Muller and NTPNL. So, they should do their work. In terms of the road, yes the road was bad. 27 kilometres, we finished 20 kilometres of the main carriageway in concrete, financed by the Dangote Group under the Presidential Tax Credit Initiative. We are going to complete that road this year. But, the point is that the gridlock there, the trucks don’t want to park on the road, they want to go inside the port. Let’s understand it. That is why I say it is an understanding. The trucks are not itinerant, and cannot say ‘let’s just park!’ They want to enter the port. How long does it take to get cargo in and out of the port? So, what spills out onto the road as a result of the inability to get goods out of the port, is what you see people now gaming. Of course, there is arbitrariness there. People are now gaining from the disorder.

So, in solving the problem, whilst we are building road, and we are almost done, even if we finish the road, the problem won’t just disappear unless it is addressed.

That is the point I just sought to make, and I don’t know if that answers your question.

It answers the question, to a large extent.

Many African countries now resort to China for loans with heinous conditions to develop and finance their infrastructure. Would you consider this option with regard to roads and housing?

You know, first of all, we already have China loans for some of our projects. One of them is the Akwanga-Keffi to Makurdi Highway which is about 200 and something kilometres. The loan process was started in the previous administration. We completed it, and we are now constructing the road.

But, I think China can defend itself, I am not a China defender. It’s not just African countries who are borrowing from China, other countries are borrowing from China.

So, let us get that correctly. The whole world is borrowing from China, especially for cont'd on page 10

10/COVER

09.02.2021

‘We are Working on Over 13,000km of Roads’ cont'd from page 9

infrastructure. United States is borrowing from China. It’s a fact which you can Google to check it. The UK is borrowing from China. Fact. Google-check! In fact, there is a project, the Hinkley Point Power Plant in Somerset, England is being constructed by the EDF, and partly funded by the China Development Bank. So, it’s not only African countries that are borrowing from China.

Then, let’s understand also that there are different types of borrowing. There is development borrowing, which is something like the China Development Bank. There is commercial borrowing, and China has most of the commercial banks which are able to lend for development financing. But, more importantly, there is export credit, and every country, including Nigeria, has an Export and Import Bank. Export credit like China Exim, just like you have the US Exim Bank, and the Nigerian Exim Bank is for financing international trade. Under international trade, in the way that you can buy Agro produce, which we use our Exim finance for, you can import equipment, you can import machines and you can import technology to build your roads which is what we are doing. Again, it is not only Africa, it is not only Nigeria, but the whole world. And, we also use Exim loans from other countries.

As a subnational then, we used US Exim loan to finance Lagos Fire Service.

All the fire engines that are running in Lagos State today, were financed by the US Exim loan. What it does, is that it helps the US companies or the funding country to grow its own manufacturers or suppliers to ship things to other countries for sale.

That is really what it is all about. As a Lawyer you know this and so you should help explain to our people who have this attitude of ‘don’t borrow from that, don’t touch that, don’t borrow from that’.

It is important to make this point about borrowing, because last year and this year, Government particularly in its Finance Acts reduced taxes on small businesses, on certain cadre of Nigerians. So, that Government essentially is reducing some of its own sources of revenue, without abandoning its responsibilities. So, it must fund it somewhere. This is an important part of Government funding sources.

How far have you gone with your affordable housing programme which you were meant to implement in 33 States of the country? Have you completed the first pilot? If you have, how successful has it been?

Well, it was meant for all the States, but as you know two States didn’t give us land when we started. But, we finished Phase One - Housing, Infrastructure, electricity, and all of that. Phase Two is still at the completion of infrastructure stage, most of the Housing is completed - painting, roofing and so on. But, this year definitely, before the second quarter is over, we are going to launch a portal for the allocation.

That’s what was delaying us.

Which States did not give you land for the programme?

Well, all the States including the FCT have Phase One and Phase Two, except Lagos and Rivers. We have since been given land by Lagos and Rivers. But, the land they gave us requires us to sandfill.

So, we asked them to change those lands, because if we sandfill we will pass the cost to the beneficiaries and it will make it less affordable, so we are still going through that process.

But, what is going to happen this year is that we expect to see the first set of off-takers once we launch the portal. We want people to do that online, we want to reduce human interference. People will be expected to access the form online, put your National Identity Number, your passport number or whatever identification document you have, show that you pay your taxes

if I gave you N1trillion five years ago, can the same amount buy the same number?

If we don’t invest it, how do you build it, with inflation? So, let us understand it.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

and be eligible.

What are the price ranges for the different types of accommodation?

The prices range from N5 and N9 million for the One-bedroom, depending on what part of the country and depending on the type of building. Some are bungalows, and some are blocks of flats. The Two-bedrooms range between N10 and N12 million, and the Three bedrooms run from between N13 to N18 million. I give those numbers with some reservation, that is the general range.

So, if you have a bungalow, you have more land. So, your Three Bedroom in

“I SAY EMPHATICALLY, THE ROAD IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE APAPA GRIDLOCK. IT MAY BE CONTRIBUTORY......

THE CAUSE IS A PORT MANAGEMENT PROBLEM FIRST OF ALL, AND ALSO A PORT CAPACITY PROBLEM..... WE ARE 99 YEARS OLDER THAN OUR PORT. APAPA PORT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT IN 1921!IT HASN’T BEEN EXPANDED”

your bungalow has more land area, than the Three Bedroom in a block of flats.

Those are the price differentials we are seeing. Also, we are adding the cost of the infrastructure like water, electricals and road. We are sharing these costs round.

So that, at least, even if the project doesn’t make profit, it should be able to recover and repeat itself.

Some finance pundits now see unclaimed dividends and pension funds as the lowest hanging fruits for Government loans. This administration recently stated that they are considering borrowing from those sources to finance the current budget. Do you subscribe to such a move? Is it right to fiddle with other people’s funds, especially those of workers who have worked most of their adult lives and require their pensions to fall back on in their old age?

Okay, of course you will know what my answer is. The biggest problem we have in this Ministry, for example, is how to finance our contracts, to pay contractors on time, and to keep the economy going.

Obviously, you know where my sentiments lie, but beyond the sentiment I think it’s important for Nigerians to understand how critical government borrowing and private borrowing is to the whole of the economy.

There is a sector of our economy, called the Finance Sector. Some of their major business is to take everybody’s money - banks, venture capital players and so on. But, they can’t keep that money and be looking at it. They must lend it to somebody, otherwise they too will be out of business, and they will lay off people.

That sector contributes N3.64 trillion as nominal GDP to our national economy.

That is 2.5% of our total GDP. So, you can see how big and impactful it is. They have a deposit size of N39.41trillion. Deposits that they have received.

They can’t sit of those deposits. It’s impossible, unless they want to go under.

So, we must stop seeing borrowing and lending as if it’s a sin. It’s an essential service for the survival of the finance sector, making capital work. Then, that sector employs 1.3% of the total employment in Nigeria.

Let’s start from there. Let’s assume nobody borrows and they are sitting on N39 trillion. What if the owners of the money want to collect their money? So,

You can build it through Fixed deposits with a lot of interests?

Yes. But let us understand. Some people take their interest upfront. Some take it at the backend. So, if that money is not working there is no interest coming in, if you are a backend collector. Let’s just understand this. We need to educate people about this.

Then the pensions funds. The whole essence of pension funds all over the world, is not to keep them and lock them up like money buried under the sand. It’s to make them work! This borrowing of pension funds is making the money work, and keeping the value. The One Naira deducted from your pension six years ago is not the same One Naira again today, with inflation and so on. The money you are expecting down the line, you better let them put it to work so that it earns income, the capacity builds, otherwise you’ll be getting change later.

So, let us understand this. What is important, is to understand that the investments are safe. They are lent to projects and to beneficiaries who have a demonstrable capacity to pay. And, there is no bigger entity like a national government who has a sovereign capacity. If a nation fails, then everything has failed. So, that sovereign capacity to borrow is a comfortable basis for accessing the pension fund. But, beyond that, the Federal Government doesn’t just go and grab peoples’ pension funds. What the Federal Government does, is that it issues Debt instruments, bonds like the Sukuk, infrastructure bonds, treasury bills.

Instruments that cannot fail.

It is the pension funds managers who make the independent decisions and say, for example, ‘let me put Onikepo’s pension fund here, let me put BRF’s pension fund here, it is safe.’ That is how Government borrows. Government doesn’t force them.

So, when we raised Sukuk I, Sukuk 2 and Sukuk 3, it contains pension funds. The pension funds have not been sitting idle.

It’s not that anybody is just going there now. When I raised bonds as a Governor in Lagos, there were pension funds in it.

So, the pension funds have been working, nothing new is happening.

Learned Silk, you must avert your mind to the fact that such bonds or treasury bills failed in a particular country, in Greece I think To their local investors or to the IMF and the World Bank? But, you see, you also need to understand that our pension fund law was enacted to prevent failures.

I am not saying failures are impossible, don’t misunderstand me. I am saying that most of the debts under the pension funds, are secured under our sovereign strength.

The Government of Nigeria will pay. The Government of Nigeria cannot disappear as an entity. It can’t evaporate! That, I am confident about.

It’s not one private corner shop, that can file liquidation. If the Government of Nigeria files liquidation, let us all go home and go and join another Heavenly Republic from somewhere. That is a point I want to make. I think you should talk to the pension funds managers. All their treasury bills operations have been well met, and fully discharged.

In closing on this matter, my own position is that it is uneconomical and not sensible to just leave money somewhere.

Money must work.

But, there is an option in the possibility of going to a Bank to put one’s funds there for a fixed period and be certain about a return on the investment cont'd on page 11

COVER /11

09.02.2021

‘We are Working on Over 13,000km of Roads’ cont'd from page 10

that also has a cost impact. But, we are adapting and we are working, but certainly we’ve been impacted.

That is it! That is one option. You are talking about pensions fund sitting down.

They can go to any Bank if it’s approved, because there are approved investment portfolios under the pension law. There are things that you can do with the money.

So, why are the dividends idle, somebody should make them work. The joke is on all of us, if we think anybody is keeping those dividends idle. In the banks and the institutions in which they, some people are working with them and keeping the proceeds to themselves. The plan here is, let’s use it to build our collective infrastructure.

Don’t forget that where we started this conversation, was under investment in infrastructure and it is infrastructure that delivers the greatest good to the greatest number of people.

The perennial complaint of Federal Government owing contractors for various works done has continued.

What are the challenges that prevent contractors from being paid? Some of them groan under the heavy burdens of bank loans.

Well, we just answered the question. It is insufficient resources, missed opportunities. I have talked about the $12.5billion that we used to repay debts. That was an opportunity lost to have renewed our infrastructure, at fully resourced payment.

We also lost opportunity when oil prices were very prolific, between 2008 and 2014.

But, the infrastructure gap won’t go away.

Population size is still a matter about which we must have a very serious conversation.

Because, if we are living in a Two Bedroom house and you and your wife are producing twins every two years, then you need to upgrade your infrastructure very rapidly.

That is what is happening. So, there has to be a kind of slow down on one side, and a ramp up on the other side.

But many Nigerians are of the opinion that the people are the ones that have always been called upon to make the sacrifice. While we are telling the people to tighten their belts, there is recession and so on, the National Assembly was taking delivery of hundreds of state-ofthe-art vehicles for its new and returning members. Government or officials and politicians spend lavishly, while asking the people to bear the burden of taxes, increases in petrol prices and so on; and therefore, people get alienated and often doubt the sincerity of government That debate will never go away, whether in Nigeria, whether in the UK or the US. Every time Parliament resumes, in the Congress you’ll see chairs and other furniture out there in the corridor and new ones coming in. I have seen it before, I wasn’t told. It’s what they do there, that is happening here. It happens everywhere. That is the constant challenge of large governments, and the need to reduce and minimise waste. So, it’s a debate that is global, it’s not local.

On the Nigerian side, I can only speak for the Executive arm of government and say, because I can’t speak for the Legislative arm, that the point to make first is, since 2015 to date for example, those of us appointed as Ministers, our wages have not changed. We haven’t had a salary review, and we use the same markets.

We contributed some part of our salaries during the Covid-19 lockdown. We did something, but the question is, who is the Government really? The Government is not only those of us appointed or elected.

The Government is all of us! That is the essence. That is why it is Government of the people, by the people and for the people. You are part of government!

I am not!

You are part of Government. Because, what you are doing now is part of what

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

makes Government function. Government is also about duties, it’s not only about rights. It’s a two-way traffic. It’s not only those of us.

Government starts from the home, the Community. We are just representatives of those Communities of the real owners of Government. So, the question to then ask yourself is, when you isolate what it takes to run Nigeria’s Government in real terms : When you isolate it and put it together, how many roads can you build, really and truly? I have done the Maths.

It’s a lot of money, don’t misunderstand me. But, it doesn’t solve the problem we want it to solve. Let us say we take all the salaries of Government officials in the Executive, all that of the Parliament, how much does it amount to? Do the Math, and let’s discuss it and put it against our need for rail, pipelines, refineries, airports, seaports, roads and bridges. Let us match the numbers. You’ll see that it won’t take

“IT’S NOT JUST AFRICAN COUNTRIES WHO ARE BORROWING FROM CHINA....

THE WHOLE WORLD IS BORROWING FROM CHINA, ESPECIALLY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. UNITED STATES IS BORROWING FROM CHINA. IT’S A FACT WHICH YOU CAN GOOGLE TO CHECK IT. THE UK IS BORROWING FROM CHINA”

us too far. But we need to manage waste, I agree.

I disagree Do the numbers! It’s not an abstract thing.

I see some of the numbers, I can see the salaries of the National Assembly members How much are they? Let’s total The amount being collected by the lawmakers as given by Senator Shehu Sani There are 109 Senators.

Yes. The figure I came up with at N30,000 minimum wage will pay 50 million Nigerians and at N60,000 which is more of a living wage, it will pay 25 million Nigerians. Compare that number to 109 Senators Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying it won’t make a difference. You are just talking about the consumables, and you are not going to build a nation based on consumables. You can only build a nation based on investments in infrastructure. That is the point I am making. If you look at the consumption side, yes it looks like a lot of money. But, if you look at the investments side, which is our biggest problem, which is why our competitors in the 1970s have left us behind, they have invested more in infrastructure, it won’t take us far, that is the point I am making.

To what extent has the Covid -19 pandemic affected your work in the Ministry of Works and Housing?

The Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down the whole world. It has affected everybody. It has affected our work, because we first need to comply with the safety guidelines in terms of masking, social distancing, frequent sanitation and all that.

So, we’ve had to retrain all our staff. The photographs and videos you will see in the period before March 2020, were of people working without masks. Post-March, from June when we opened the first ease of lockdown till today, on every site you will see people with masks, you will see people with sanitisers. You see them changing shifts to clean steering wheels, to clean levers, all the equipment they use jointly.

All of that is taking place. We now have much more extensive medical facilities on each site. We have changed how our contractors who supply nourishment to their workers, in terms of feeding habits.

There is no longer a supply of reusable items in terms of cooking utensils. A lot of disposables are now in place. People even bring their food from home.

So, a lot of things have changed, and

There has been a raging debate about the ultimatum issued by Governor Akeredolu to Herdsmen to vacate the Ondo State forest reserves. As a Lawyer and Senior Advocate, kindly, comment on this vis-a-vis the position of the Constitution and laws like the Land Use Act, and whether Governor Akeredolu’s ultimatum is in order, bearing in mind the deterioration in security in his State and the South West.

You know the point I’ll make is that, I haven’t read the exact text of what was said or credited to Governor Akeredolu.

So, it would be inappropriate of me to render an opinion as to its constitutionality or otherwise. The only thing I will say and that is my training as a Lawyer; unless you have the full facts, you can’t venture a responsible opinion.

But, let me say, we have come too far to endanger our own interconnectivity and interrelationship across this space called Nigeria. What I found ironic about it, is the fact that we have an Inspector General of Police, because I read in some of the stories that the IG had asked that somebody should be arrested and some things like that.

I found all of that very interesting.

There is something that struck me. The Commissioner of Police that was asked to go and effect the arrest, has an Igbo and Yoruba name, Ngozi Onadeko. I found that interesting. The IG that is giving the order has a Northern Hausa-Fulani type name. So, essentially, it’s Nigeria really rubbing against herself in a very ironic way.

For me, the lesson is that we are much more connected. We are much more integrated than we were 30 years ago.

We are not yet a perfect union. And, we must just be careful in our choice of language to one another. Essentially, we have integrated more than we care to accept. I have looked at so many marriages and I always tell people, if you want to know how integrated Nigeria is, go to the marriage registry on a Saturday and see the generation of Nigerians who are of marriageable age today, they are marrying across ethnic lines, they are weaving the fabrics of this country together in blood union and family ties. So, you can’t put that at risk. But, at the same time, we must fight criminality. There must be a way to do that. You have to build consensus and say, ‘crime is crime.’

I don’t know how people see themselves. I can’t apologise for how people see themselves. I just see Nigerians, and that is all. You are the one who will now tell me, you are from this or that place.

That is not my business, and I can’t take responsibility for how you see yourself. I take responsibility for how I see you. ‘You are a Nigerian, oya let’s talk.’ Those are my own thoughts about all these things, but we can do without all these conflicts and sabre rattling that is going on, and deal with crime. Crime must be dealt with.

In conclusion Learned Silk, this is 2021 and with 2023 around the corner, what do you think the future holds for you?

Well, the future I hope will be bright.

I am getting on in my years slowly, and my major desire now, is to advance this undertaking of the mandate of the President in our Ministry as far and fast as possible, before our tenure ends.

Will there be more governance for you after 2023?

Most unlikely. I have done a lot in Government, so it’s time to go back home.

Thank you Learned Silk Thank you very much, most learned of all learned!

12/

09.02.2021

Extending Adamu’s Tenure Amounts to Waking the Dead Introduction The just announced extension of the tenure and reappointment of the Lafia, Nassarawa State-born retired 20th Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, is patently and outrightly unconstitutional, illegal, and even immoral. Adamu had already served Nigeria for a 35 whopping years when his tenure expired on 1st February, 2021, by effluxion of service years in accordance with extant laws. He had given his very best, which though hardly above average, was miles apart, and far better than the better forgotten service years of his disastrous and highly political and politicised Niger State – born predecessor, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris.

Adamu duly retired on 1st February, 2021. He was born on 17th September, 1961. He had enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force in 1986, after graduating with a B.Sc in Geography from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. He also holds a Masters Degree in International Criminal Justice System from the University of Portsmouth, UK. From his position as AIG, Zone 5, Benin City, he was made the IGP. Upon appointment, many Police Officers who were senior to Adamu, but who had become junior by virtue of his new rank of IGP, were forced to retire. They were seven DIGs, and many AIGs. During the appointment of Adamu’s predecessor, IGP Ibrahim Idris Kpotun, 22 highly trained Senior Officers of the rank of DIGs and AIGs, who were senior to him, were compulsorily retired. I am told this wastage of experience, resources, training, energy, retraining, etc, is the tradition. Incredible, I dare say. Is Adamu the only qualified Nigerian to be the IGP in a country of over 208 million people (UNO, June, 2020), to have his term extended? Didn’t the President and the Presidency know very well before now that his term was due to expire by effluxion of time on 1st February? Why was this self-imposed and needless simulated sense of urgency, that is now also listed in the fire brigade approach for which this government has become famous? This extension of Adamu’s tenure, is patently unconscionable and unfair to servicing Police Officers who legitimately look forward to occupying the now vacant position of IGP. Same Forces at Work This was how the same people promoted and egged on Mr Ibrahim Magu, ex-Acting Chairman, EFCC (by the way, where is he now?). They told us that it was only him that could be EFCC Chairman, and that he could therefore,remain in office in an Acting Capacity forever, till thy Kingdom come! They did not mind his two-time rejection by the confirmatory authority, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The rejection was not arbitrary. It was based on a damning report by the same Government’s Secret Police (the DSS), to the effect that Magu failed the “serious integrity test”. It is now Adamu being promoted by the same hawks and power bloc in Government circles. The same forces - the sectionalistic, prebendalistic and nepotistic forces - are again at work. They have already flown the kite that, the President will appoint the next IGP based simply on merit. Oh, really? Of course, Nigerians now know that “merit” is a cruel euphemism for a Northern Muslim. Shi kena! Is this how to grow and nurture a pluralistic country of different nations, languages, tribes, religions and variegated tendencies that are at once centripetal and centrifugal? Didn’t they see the rainbow coalition and “Dolly Parton’s ‘Coat of Many Colours” represented by Joe Biden’s cabinet which he gathered together long before he was sworn in as the US President on January 20, 2021? Didn’t they notice how Biden hit the ground running, rolling out 30 Executive Orders in his first three days in office?

The Law Sections 214, 215 and 216 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 7(6) and 18(8) of the Nigeria Police Act are quite clear that any action taken by Adamu after 1st February, 2021, is null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

Section 215 (1)(a) provides: “An Inspector-General of Police subject to 216 (20 of this Constitution shall be appointed by the President on the advice of Nigeria Police Council from among serving members of the Nigeria Police Force.”

Section 215 (3) provides: “The President or such Minister of the Government of the Federation as he may authorise in that behalf may give to the Inspector-General of Police such lawful directions with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order as he may consider necessary, and the Inspector-General of Police shall comply with those directions or cause them to be complied with.”

Section 7(6) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, provides thus: “A Person who is appointed as the Inspector General of Police Shall hold office for four years”.

Mohammed Adamu Section 18(8) of the same Police Act 2020 states: “Every Police officer shall on Recruitment or Appointment, Serve in the Nigeria Police Force for a period of 35 years or until he attain the aged of 65 years”. This means whichever one is earlier. The Use of the word “SHALL” by the above Statute makes it impossible for the tenure of I.G.P be extended by any person. The word “Shall” in law means must.

It enjoins a mandate; a compulsion. In BRAHIM & ORS. v AKINRINSOLA (2010) LPELR-4144(CA), the court held that “shall” conveys a peremptory and compulsory meaning. See National Bank of Nigeria v Alakija (1978) 9-10 SC. 59, Achineku v Ishagba (1988) 4 N.W.L.R. Pt. 89 p. 411- Ishola v Ajiboye (1994) 6 N.W.L.R. Pt.352 p.506.” Per RHODES-VIVOUR, J.C.A (as he then was) (P. 5, paras. F-G).

The Effect An IGP’s tenure is therefore, 35 years’ service or 65 years of age. Not a day more. Adamu was born in 1961. Though, he

“THEY HAVE ALREADY FLOWN THE KITE THAT, THE PRESIDENT WILL APPOINT THE NEXT IGP BASED SIMPLY ON MERIT. OH, REALLY? OF COURSE, NIGERIANS NOW KNOW THAT “MERIT” IS A CRUEL EUPHEMISM FOR A NORTHERN MUSLIM.....ADAMU HAD FULLY RETIRED.....IN THE EYE OF THE LAW, NIGERIA CURRENTLY HAS NO IGP”

is 60 years old, he has served for 35 years. That makes him ineligible to continue in office, in whatever form or manner. You cannot build something upon nothing, and expect it to stand.

It will collapse. See Macfoy v UAC (1962) AC 150. Even under the Civil Service Rules which peg the retirement at age 60 years or 35 years of service, Adamu had fully retired. Adamu’s appointment as Acting IGP is therefore, dead on arrival. As dead as dodo. In the eye of the law, Nigeria currently has no IGP. One more point. The IGP or other Police Officers are not subject to the usual Civil Service Rules. Their enlistment, service, promotion, discipline, retirement or dismissal are governed by the provisions of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020. This law is “sui generis” and special, for the NPF (like electoral matters that are wholly governed by the Electoral Act and Guidelines, rather than the usual courts’ Civil Procedure Rules).

See AMBODE v AGBAJE & ORS (2015) LPELR-25667(CA); OGUNSAKIN & ANOR. v AJIDARA & ORS (2007) LPELR-4733(CA) and SA'AD & ANOR v MAIFATA & ORS (2008) LPELR-4915(CA), etc. An IGP office created under Section 215(i)(a), is quite different from presidential appointments which can be made under Section 171 of the Constitution. The President can appoint and remove such appointees. He can also reappoint them to act in such offices. These are the SGF, Head of Service, Ambassadors/High Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments (MDAs) and other personal staff.

The President cannot therefore, administratively alter, amend, reconstruct or elongate the provisions of the Police Act 2020, by purportedly extending the IGP’s tenure. The Executive cannot make laws. It only executes laws made by the National Assembly, as captured in Section 214(2) (a) of the Constitution. The laws are then interpreted by the Judiciary. This is what we call the doctrine of separation of powers, as ably propounded in 1748 by the great French Philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu. It enhances checks and balances, so that absolution or dictatorship is averted.

By the way, when last did we hear Mr. President convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to advice him on the appointment or removal of an IGP, as provided for in paragraph 27 of the third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution? That Council comprises of Mr President as Chairman, all the Governors of the 36 states of Nigeria, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission and the IGP himself. I did not hear. Or, did you?

What we have seen all along, is a situation where Mr President solely appoints and elongates the tenure of an IGP. That is a most unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful, unconscionable, capricious, whimsical and arbitrary act. We must learn to be a country of laws and not of men; a country of strong institutions and not strongmen.

Compensating the Ex-Service Chiefs as Ambassadors President Muhammadu Buhari has just nominated the ex-Service Chiefs for Senate approval, as non-career Ambassadors-Designate.

They are Gen Abayomi Olonisakin (Rtd), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd) and Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (Rtd).

President Buhari had earlier congratulated the former Service Chiefs for their “efforts” towards “enduring peace to the country.”

Most Nigerians had laughed; nay guffawed. I was one of them.

Which peace? Genuine peace, or peace of the graveyard?

The former Service Chiefs had been appointed by President Buhari in 2015. In spite of the stringent clamour for the President to replace them with better products, he demurred. They had served for 36 to 40 years, despite the Civil Service Rules which provide for 60 years of age or 35 years service period before retirement.

It is okay for Buhari to give jobs to the “boys” not minding their dismal performance, which actually saw insecurity, armed banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, herdsmen menace and other vicious crimes increase geometrically, during their tenure.

After all, it is the President’s right and prerogative to rehabilitate them. It is also his right under Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers him to appoint persons of his choice as Ambassadors or High Commissioners. So, ‘nothing spoil’! But, Mr President Sir, do Nigerians one favour: post these retired (hopefully not tired) men to sensitive neighbouring countries that share common borders with beleaguered Nigeria.

I have in mind countries like Chad, Niger Republic, Cameroun and Benin Republic, that share borders with Nigeria. Also in mind are Equatorial Guinea, Ghana and Sao Tome and Principe, that share maritime borders with Nigeria. In these countries, our ex-service men will be able to display their usual talismanic abracadabra “gallantry” that helped them “defeat” Boko Haram “technically” for five years; though never physically, mentally, psychologically, psychically and spiritually. Ha, Nigeria, we hail thee!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “Illegality will never solve the problem of political lawlessness”. (Emanuel Celler)

9.2.2021

/13

14/

9.2.2021

9.2.2021

/15

16

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Union Bank’s Board Meets to Approve 2020 Financial Results Bank of Nigeria Plc will meet to approve the audited financial ended December 31, 2020. “ may buy and or sell its shares Goddy Egene The Board of Directors of Union on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, statements (AFS) for the year Consequently, no insider of UBN from February 8, to 24 hours 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 05- 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.

after the filing of the AFS with the exchange, “the bank said.

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 1.06 1.08 18.70% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 -13.44% 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 0.31% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.57 3.72 0.33% 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 136.92 137.72 2.32% 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 N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.09 2.09 -25.28% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.26 2.31 13.06% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.92% Paramount Equity Fund 16.76 17.08 4.83% Women's Investment Fund 137.27 138.88 3.16% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.25% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 133.13 134.10 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.77 108.77 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 1.04% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.07% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,187.88 1,189.58 -1.06% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,358.88 1,358.89 -2.90% FBN Balanced Fund 189.08 190.50 0.75% FBN Halal Fund 110.78 110.78 -0.67% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.96% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 123.50 123.50 1.57% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 123.64 123.64 1.56% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 3,895.56 3,943.61 3.68% Coral Income Fund 3,323.68 3,323.68 1.76% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 2.99% 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 0.60% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 128.51 129.04 19.94%

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 2.83 2.90 21.87% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.78 156.30 0.26% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.46 1.48 1.38% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,131.93 1,131.93 0.80% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.65 1.68 7.15% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.20 12.32 8.71% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.66 1.68 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.97 111.54 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 133.56 136.51 12.29% 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 0.65% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 1.48% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.39% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 2.97% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.48% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 0.81% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.28% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -0.63% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.23 1.23 0.55% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.49 111.49 0.37% 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 1.43 1.45 4.33% United Capital Bond Fund 1.90 1.90 0.59% United Capital Equity Fund 0.91 0.93 4.69% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.63% United Capital Eurobond Fund 117.74 117.74 0.56% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.10 1.11 1.21% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.02 1.02 1.81% 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 12.55 12.68 5.83% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.78 13.90 12.81% Zenith Income Fund 24.14 24.14 0.69% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.97%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

121.32 52.52

0.48% 0.23%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.36 126.47 100.72

13.46 126.47 102.62

1.05% 3.89% 1.37%

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund 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

4.26

4.30

12.28%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.90

5.98

3.65%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

18.09 1.00 20.28

18.19 1.00 20.48

10.43% 0.90% -1.15%

185.52

187.52

-16.33%

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.

23

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

Íł Ëœ Í° ÍŽ Í° ÍŻ MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

REPO 18 17.50

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

14 14 14.50

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

601.30% 0.05% 0.85%

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

̋ ͎ͯ˛Ͱ͡Ϲ ̋ ͎ͯ˛Ͱ͡Ϲ

EXCHANGE RATE ͹;͡˚ͯ ̊ ̊

Quick Takes ATCON Holds Stakeholders’ Forum

MASS HOUSING PROJECT

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka and Managing Director, Echostone Limited, Mr Sammy Adigun, during the inauguration of of Affordable Public Housing Scheme, at Badagry, Lagos State... recently ETOP UKUTT

LCCI Calls for Urgent Resolution of Security, Policy Challenges in Oil Sector Peter Uzoho The Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf, has emphasised the need for Nigeria to hasten up and holistically address the security and policy issues stifling investments in the oil and gas sector, especially the upstream segment.

Yusuf, said the federal government should as a matter of urgency provide an enabling environment that guarantees protection of investments and commensurate returns on investment for investors in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

The LCCI DG spoke to THISDAY at the weekend on the heels of the recent pronouncement by the Royal Dutch Shell that it would, “take another hard look� on their onshore operations in Nigeria, citing problems of sabotage and oil theft as reasons for such decision.

Admitting that the possible exit of such multinational oil company like Shell from the country would

ENERGY have negative effect on Nigeria, Yusuf, however, contended that companies reserve the right to decide where to remain or leave, based on their analyses of the business environment and the risks in a country.

He said: “This is not an emotionally issue. It’s not a sentimental issue. It’s a business issue. If you want them to remain onshore, you have to create the environment for them to remain onshore. You know what the security problems have been for so many years, for over a decade. “Do you have to be asked to be settling people and all of that, community challenges, pipeline vandalisation, all sorts of problems. This kind of thing doesn’t happen in any other clime in terms of oil production; it doesn’t happen. And you know that these investors are multinational investors. “They have other opportunities in other parts of the world in terms of spreading their

investments and they do a lot of comparative analyses to know where they should put more resources, where they should reduce their resources, where they should reduce exposure to risks and all of that.

Yusuf further said: “So, the problem is with us as a country.

What kind of environment are we creating for them? What kind of security are we giving them? What kind of protection are we giving to them? So, it is the environment that will determine the decision that businesses should take. “They are business people and they have to manage their risks. They have to review their business model for a better return.

You can’t blame them for that.

What you can do is to see how you can create a more conducive environment for them to be able to stay onshore. “If the environment is good, they will stay. If they don’t stay, other people will come and stay.

But what is paramount is the quality of investment environment that you create for those who

are in the oil and gas sector�.

He said investors in the upstream oil and gas sector in Nigeria have been facing enormous challenges over time, which have been affecting investments, pointing out that for some time, Nigeria has not been having major new investment in the upstream sector. “You can see that even generally in Africa, we are not doing well when you compare our performance with some other countries like Angola and the rest of them. We are not attractive.

I’m just hoping that the PIB, if it is properly put together, will address some of these concerns.

We are not attractive and the time is going,� he said.

Yusuf, stated that fossil fuel and fossil energy is fast running out of fashion, saying Nigeria should urgently reposition to take advantage of the opportunities in its hydrocarbon resources now. “So, if we are still dependent Continued on page 24

NNPC Negotiates Terms with Oil Majors to Retain Investments Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is renegotiating commercial contract terms with major oil firms, the Group Managing Director of the national oil company, Mallam Mele Kyari, has disclosed.

Kyari told Reuters that he hoped the move would keep investment flowing into the sector which is crucial for the Nigerian economy at a time when spending is being slashed.

Africa’s largest oil exporter

ENERGY and biggest economy relies on the oil sector for half of its budget and 90 per cent of its foreign exchange. It wants to raise revenue but also attract investment.

Oil companies meanwhile, including Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, Total and Eni, are cutting billions in spending after taking hits to their profits, shifting money to renewable fuels and focusing only on the most cost-effective markets.

Kyari stated that new commercial terms were being negotiated and would be finalised before a pending oil overhaul bill is passed. “No company will invest where they cannot get the appropriate margin,� Kyari said in a video interview with the news medium, declining to say specifically what was being renegotiated. “We’re very conscious of the fact that people have choices, companies will make choices to leave countries when they have to,� he added.

Nigeria’s federal lawmakers have promised to pass the long-awaited oil overhaul bill

by May. It will define the sector for decades to come, but companies have criticised the draft for not doing enough to attract development dollars and have raised issues over taxation, royalties and local community obligations.

Kyari said companies would have the option of the newly negotiated commercial terms or Continued on page 24

TheAssociationofTelecommunicationsCompaniesofNigeria(ATCON) is set to host the maiden edition of Virtual Structured Engagement with key stakeholders in the Nigerian telecom and information communicationandtechnology(ICT)sectoronthenewNationalBroadband Plan (2020- 2025) with the theme – Realising the New Set Target of 70 per cent of Broadband Penetration.

The forum is slated to hold March 25, 2021.

In a statement signed its President, Mr. Ikechukwu Nnamani and its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Wole Abu, ATCON said: “The buy-in of the various sub-groups under the membership of ATCON would be leveraged upon to ensure and guarantee that the new Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025) is adequately positioned to deliver its ultimate purposes for the generality of Nigerians more quickly and strategically. “Traditionally,ATCONasanorganisationusuallygiveitsmembersthe opportunity to review and provide insightful approaches and solutions along with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy; the NigerianCommunicationsCommission(NCC);theNationalInformation Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and State Governments as to what needs to be done to support various programmes and projects that are earmarked for the successful implementation of the previous National Broadband Plan under past ministers.�

Amazon Plans AI-powered Cameras

Amazon.comhasrevealedplanstoinstallAI-poweredvideocamerasin itsbrandeddeliveryvans,inamovethattheworld’slargeste-commerce ďŹ rm says would improve safety of both drivers and the communities in which they deliver.

The company recently started rolling out camera-based safety technology across its delivery eet, it said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. “This technology will provide drivers real-time alerts to help them stay safe when they are on the road,â€? Reuters quoted the company to have explained in the statement.

The company’s plans were earlier disclosed in an instructional video about the cameras, reported earlier in the day by technology publication the Information.

Amazonsaidinthevideothatthecameras,developedbytransportation technology company Netradyne, use artiďŹ cial intelligence (AI) to provide warnings about speeding and distracted driving among other things.They have been shown to reduce collisions and improve driver behavior, Amazon’s Karolina Haraldsdottir, a senior manager for last-mile safety, said in the video.

Amazon has come under some scrutiny in the past for accidents involving delivery drivers.

China Issues New Anti-monopoly Rules

China’s market regulator released new anti-monopoly guidelines on Sunday that target internet platforms, tightening existing restrictions faced by the country’s tech giants.

Thenewrulesformaliseanearlieranti-monopolydraftlawreleasedin Novemberandclarifyaseriesofmonopolisticpracticesthatregulators plan to crack down on, according to Reuters.

The guidelines are expected to put new pressure on the country’s leading internet services, including e-commerce sites such as Alibaba Group’sTaobao andTmall marketplaces or JD.com.They will also cover paymentserviceslikeAntGroup’sAlipayorTencentHolding’sWeChatPay. The rules, issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR)onitswebsite,barcompaniesfromarangeofbehaviour,including forcing merchants to choose between the country’s top internet players, a long-time practice in the market.

SAMRsaidthelatestguidelineswould“stopmonopolisticbehaviours in the platform economy and protect fair competition in the market.�

ThenoticealsosaiditwillstopcompaniesfrompriceďŹ xing,restricting technologies and using data and algorithms to manipulate the market.

In a Q&A accompanying the notice, SAMR said reports of internetrelated anti-monopoly behaviour had been increasing, and that it was facing challenges regulating the industry.

“We have commenced the review of the NAIDP to address the existing shortcomings and include the right levers required to attain our expectations for the automotive industry in a country like Nigeria�

Minister of Industry,Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo

24

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2021

BUSINESSWORLD LCCI CALLS FOR URGENT RESOLUTION OF SECURITY, POLICY CHALLENGES IN OIL SECTOR on this fossil fuel and our environment is not conducive either from the security point of view or from the policy point of view, then it’s not good for the country because we will not attract the needed investments in the oil and gas sector. So we need to look at all these things holistically. â€œâ€ŚIf you go to Europe, you go to US, even in Asia, a lot of focus is now moving to renewable. They are talking of electric cars and those are the kind of things that are now becoming popular and gaining a lot of traction. So we need to make hay while the sun is still shinning as far as our oil and gas sector is concerned,â€?

Yusuf said.

On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the fresh hurdles facing its passage, notably, the diverse interests at play, Yusuf advised the National Assembly to find a way of balancing those different interests to enable the passage of a good legislation.

He said the lawmakers have a duty to ensure that they protect the interest of oil companies for increased investments in the country while also ensuring that the interest of host communities are also promoted and that all parties should be ready to make some compromise for the passage of the bill.

NNPC NEGOTIATES TERMS WITH OIL MAJORS TO RETAIN INVESTMENTS moving to the updated terms outlined under the new law.

By the end of June, the NNPC is planning to have found $2 billion of financing to overhaul its Warri and Kaduna refineries, Kyari said.

Talks are underway on financing repairs to the Port Harcourt refinery after a prefinance bid for more than $1 billion was oversubscribed, he said, noting that the money will be repaid in profits and fuel cargoes from the refineries, rather than in oil cargoes.

While the refineries have not operated at full capacity for years, NNPC had to shut all of them completely last year as they await much-needed maintenance, repair and upgrades, leaving it with a hefty fuel import bill.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

NEWS

FG Distributes Free Inputs to Smallholder Farmers in Gombe James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

“Under our World Bank assisted nutrition programme, we have provided multiple trainings and homestead farming input packages including tomato, pepper, pawpaw among others in five local government areas in the state as well as irrigation kits designed to improve the household nutrition.�

He said: “The small holder farmers in the state will receive the following free inputs; 10,000 Gum Arabic Seedlings, 15MT of rice seed, 2.5 MT groundnut foundation seeds, 1,000 KG of Castor seeds, 1,500 KG of cashew nuts as well as Ratkin and Liptol – organic insecti-

cides to combat army worm infestation and Equipment like water pumps, maize threshers among others. “So far, the ministry has performed similar exercise in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Oyo, Cross River and Imo states, with this being the 8th edition, assisting smallholder farmers with quality inputs to ensure sustainable food security, job creation and revenue generation to grow the nation’s economy.�

He added that at least 35 per cent of the inputs are targeted at the women farmers, in line with the targets set in the national gender action plan and policies aimed at ensur-

ing increased opportunities for women.

He also stated that in order to alleviate the effect of flood on farmers, inputs were distributed to farmers in Jigawa, Kebbi, Nasarawa and Benue state.

Shehuri tasked the beneficiaries to make judicious use of these inputs to produce food for the nation while calling on other stakeholders to provide similar support to farmers, “so that together we can defeat COVID-19 pandemic and become self- sufficient in food production�.

The input distribution was kicked-off with two physically challenged people being the

first beneficiaries to receive the packages from the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Hajia Karima Babangida.

In his remarks, however, the Executive of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Yahaya commended the Buhari- led administration for the flag-off of the distribution of agricultural inputs and quality seeds to smallholder farmers in the state, stating that it would cushion the effect of the pandemic, promote dry-season farming, boost production and generate income for the farmers and the state at large.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri has flagged-off yet another distribution of free agricultural inputs and quality seeds to smallholders farmers in Gombe State.

He said the move will enhance food and nutrition security, create more jobs for teaming Nigerian youths and boost dry-season farming.

While performing the exercise at the ministry’s office complex in Gombe, the minister said the exercise was part of the mitigation measures against the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the flood disaster that wrecked havoc on the farmlands.

Shehuri also pointed out that the ministry would support breeder and foundation seed production and link up with the private seed companies to ensure that certified seeds are available to local farmers nationwide.

The minister maintained that improved rural infrastructure and other value chain support would invariably contribute to the attainment of President Muhammau Buhari’s desire towards ensuring easy access to quality food and nutrition for Nigerians.

According to him: “The ministry has supported Gombe State with subsidised inputs with over 350 3HP and 30 7HP irrigation pumps, multipurpose threshers, over 70 L-R: Brand Manager, Hollandia Yoghurt, CHI Limited, Tony Ogbonna; Marketing Director, Oluwatoyin Nnodi; Brand Ambassador Hollandia motorized and dual powered Yoghurt, Zainab Balogun-Nwachukwu; Assistant Brand Manager, Hollandia Yoghurt, CHI Limited, Morolake Macaulay and Category Manager, sprayers amongst others.

Amitabha Das, during the unveiling of Zainab Balogun-Nwachukwu as Brand Ambassador for the Hollandia Yoghurt in Lagos...recently

UNVEILING BRAND AMBASSADOR

Equinor Reports Victory Over Agbami Oil Profits Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Equinor ASA has said the Nigerian Supreme Court overturned a ruling that had threatened to divert 1.5 per cent of the company’s profits from one of the country’s largest oil fields to a former consultant.

The Supreme Court decision that the lower court had no jurisdiction over the case should conclude a dispute that has played out in the West African nation for more than a decade, Equinor spokesman Erik Haaland said. “We are pleased with the court’s decision, which is in line with our position,� he said in an

emailed statement.

Bloomberg reported that John Abebe, the former consultant who sued the Norwegian oil producer, was also on trial in a separate case where he was accused of forging documents submitted as evidence during his original claim, according to a statement on the website of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency.

The judgment removes the risk to Equinor of losing a portion of proceeds from the company’s 20.2 per cent interest in the Agbami oil field, which is located about 70 miles from the Nigerian coast.

The deepwater acreage currently produces about 130,000 barrels per day.

Haaland said the Supreme Court voided a ruling issued in 2010 that found Equinor inherited BP Plc’s commitments in Nigeria when the latter company exited Africa’s largest crude producer in the late 1990s, ending a commercial partnership between the two firms.

Among the transferred obligations was a contract between BP and Abebe entitling the businessman to 1.5 per cent of profits once the oil giant’s Nigerian offshore assets started producing, a federal judge ruled 11 years ago. An appeal court dismissed Equinor’s previous attempt to cancel the decision in 2012. “It’s a tough decision,� Abebe’s

lawyer, Uche Nwokedi, said by text message. “We will study it when we get a copy of the judgment and decide on our next course of action.�

BP had retained Abebe in the 90s to assist the company’s re-entry to Nigeria more than a decade after the government had nationalised its assets. Equinor, which is controlled by the Norwegian state, made its first foray into the country alongside the U.K. oil major as part of a “strategic alliance�.

Abebe signed an agreement with BP concerning future production profits in 1993.

The consultant asserted an, “understanding� existed that

Equinor “would automatically endorse,� the arrangement and sign its own matching deal, the federal court ruling said.

Equinor said it struck a different kind of contract with Abebe and wasn’t bound by BP’s agreement.

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had charged Abebe with forgery in 2018, for allegedly modifying a letter BP sent him 25 years ago and using the, “fabricated evidence� in his lawsuit against Equinor, according to the agency‘s website.

Abebe has pleaded not guilty and the trial will resume this month, Bloomberg quoted Nwokedi as saying.

FG Hands Over 2.5km Internal Roads to Maiduguri Varsity A total of 2.5 kilometre internal roads rehabilitated at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, have been handed over by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

Fashola, who was represented at the handing over ceremony by the Federal Controller of Works, Borno State, Mr. Amos Tongman, explained that the interven-

tion by the government in the development of infrastructure in the tertiary institutions was to boost quality of education “It is undebatable that the quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment and those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedbacks from the students of the schools where this type of intervention has taken place,� he said.

He said the 2.5 kilometers

road network was a laudable project as it would ease movement of both students and staff of the institute within the campus.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of the institution, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, commended President Muhammadu Buhari, and the ministry for selecting the institute as a beneficiary of the intervention programme. “We are fortunate to be able to witness this handing over

occasion of roads rehabilitated by the ministry. We thank you for your tremendous support in bringing out our landmark project which is being commissioned today,� he said.

The four rehabilitated roads were renamed: Former Ring Road now Babatunde Raji Fashola Road, former Kidney Centre to Engineering Road now Mohammed Bukar Road, former Engineering Junction to Polio

Laboratory Road now Professor Jibrin Aminu Road and lastly, School of Nursing Road to Babangida Hussaini Road.

Ahidjo said the roads were renamed in recognition of the contributions such persons made to the success story the school was celebrating.

On the impact of the road, the President of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institute, Hakuri Tamus, said the students were happy that the roads had been fixed.

25

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2021

Examining NARTO’s Role in Nigeria’s Economy Registered in 1988, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), is an amalgam of three hitherto region-based transport associations, whose business is to fight for a conducive environment for its members’ operations to thrive. Emmanuel Addeh writes that at its Annual General Meeting which held last week, the body, an umbrella of all commercial vehicles owners in Nigeria, renewed its vow to continue serving the country through its services, especially the haulage of petroleum products around Nigeria

F

ormed from the Northern Association of Licenced Buying Agents and Transporters (NALBAT), the Nigerian Transport Owners Association (NTOA) and Eastern Road Haulage Association (ERHA) for the north, west and eastern regions, respectively, NARTO, has recently gained prominence, following the important role it plays in getting fuel and other commodities to Nigerians.

NARTO is the umbrella organisation of all commercial vehicles owners in Nigeria engaged in the haulage of petroleum products, general cargoes, and movement of passengers, within the country and the entire West-Africa sub-region.

It is an association of all investors in the road transport business in Nigeria whose membership cuts across race, religion, ethnicity and geographical differences.

One of its objectives, the organisation says, is the protection, promotion, defence, articulation and representation of the views of all transporters and transport operators sub-sector of the Nigerian economy.

Now led by Alhaji Yusuf Othman, the body boasts of making significant contributions to the national economy as even a little sneeze by the organisation could effectively ground the country.

Aside accounting for a large percentage of revenue to government through taxes, rates and levies, NARTO, according to its members, remains the biggest employer of labour next to the federal government.

The body notes that for every sided truck, for example, about twenty people derive their livelihoods excluding their dependants i.e. from origin to destination.

Being the mouthpiece for the projection and articulation of transporters’ problems, the organisation has several times, set up machinery for the periodic review of freight rates with the federal government for the interest of all transporters in Nigeria.

As part of its achievements, NARTO maintains that it has successfully reacted against obnoxious policies in the past such as failed attempt by government to introduce obnoxious policies inimical to the operations of its members.

At a point, it posits that an attempt by the military junta of General Sanni Abacha to impose tools on the use of bridges in Lagos State was successfully resisted by the association. “It has fought against multiple taxes, rates levies and extortion by local government in the country which led to the promulgation of decree No.21 of 1998 now Act,� NARTO notes on its website.

Taking this to a whole new level, in conjunction with NUPENG, NARTO has instituted a joint welfare insurance scheme for its tanker drivers so as to take care of drivers and their dependants in the event of accident during services and post services periods.

As a government partner, the body adds that it provides statistics to government, its agencies and parastatals on vehicle cost, operations and data and numbers of vehicles in circulation in the country from time to time.

At the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), the highest decision making body of the association whose resolve is final on all issues, held at the Zuma resort in Niger State, NARTO, again recounted some of its achievements in the previous years and how its challenges can be sorted out by the government.

Aside the AGM, the structure of the organisation also includes the National Executive Council (NEC), the policy formulation and action implementation level, which meets quarterly and reach consensus by means of ordinary resolutions.

At the lower level, NARTO has organised its members at the oil installation, depots and refineries, industrial complexes, ports and other loading points into unit officials which serve as the last tier of administration of the association, directly under the state branches.

National President,NARTO, Yusuf Othman At the well-attended event in Niger, following the request of NARTO, the federal government indicated that it was considering an increase in petrol freight, that is, the rate of transporting commodities, goods and cargo by land, sea or air, from N71.51 per litre of the product.

It noted that talks were already ongoing with representatives of organised labour to hike the rate to N9.11 for a litre, accounting for roughly 21 per cent increase in order to enhance the revenues of transport owners in the country.

In an address at the event, the 21st in the series, Othman, urged the government to implement the new N9.11 freight rate to enable the transport owners improve their services and increase the wages of their staff including the truck drivers.

He assured that NARTO would continue to work to improve the safety of their trucks and drivers.

They supplied fuel throughout the Covid-19 period.

It would have been difďŹ cult to move without them because if they had shut down fuel, even the medical ofďŹ cials won’t be able to move from place to place

“With the promise of the increase in freight rate, there will be more income that will allow more investments in the facilities and at the same time, our drivers will be happy because there is clamour from them to increase their package and allowances from now to next month. “I believe if that freight cost is reviewed, we are going to assent to their clamour and things will be fine by the grace of God,� he stated.

He noted that the association had made significant contributions to the national economy, stressing that apart from accounting for a large percentage of revenue to government through taxes, NARTO remains the biggest employer of labour, apart from government.

In his response, the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Equalisation (Management) Board (PEF), Mr. Ahmed Bobboi, noted that what was delaying the implementation was the federal government’s approval as well as the expected reversion of labour on the issue.

The plan if implemented, will amount to 21.30 per cent hike in freight, that is, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) component of the total cost of petrol.

Bobboi also revealed that the federal government was expecting the labour unions to revert to it on the agreement it reached with the joint committee set up to negotiate the hikes in petrol and electricity prices. “Two days ago, labour requested for three weeks, for them to go and study the technical report, so that when they agree with the technical report , they will come back and then get approval. So, we pray that labour will do what’s needful,� he stated.

Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director (GMD), Mallam Mele Kyari said upon the conclusion of the deliberations with labour, the government would announce the effective

implementation date in line with the pricing template.

Kyari was represented by the Chief Financial Officer, NNPC, Mr Umar Ajiya, at the event which was attended by major stakeholders in the petroleum sector.

Kyari added: “The Executive Secretary of PEF made a statement that there is ongoing engagement between the federal government and the labour, and at the end of that process government will make adequate pronouncement as to the effective date of that figure as contained in the pricing template�.

The GMD also lauded NARTO for continuing to work despite the daunting challenges in the country. “We are not unaware of the conditions of our roads, the insecurity, the highways, and also a number extortions do take place along these highways,� he told the union.

The NNPC boss urged the association to ensure that its trucks and drivers comply with safety standards always, for hitch-free operations at the depot and on the highway.

He promised that the NNPC will continue to cooperate with the association to resolve all the challenges impacting in the distribution of products in the country. “We will continue to make payment to PEF for deductions of dues due to you so that PEF will continue to pay your members as at when due,� he assured.

On the occasion, there was also a flurry of goodwill messages, all of them eulogising the giant strides made by the body in the last couple of years.

Former General Secretary of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as well as two-term Federal House of Representatives member, Joseph Akinlaja, highlighted the role played

by NARTO in the country. “They supplied fuel throughout the Covid-19 period. It would have been difficult to move without them because if they had shut down fuel, even the medical officials won’t be able to move from place to place. “That underscores their importance and I pray NARTO’s relationship with NUPENG and PTD will not sour. Today, everybody is here and praising you,� he stated.

In his comments, Chairman Logistics Committee of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Olusegun Ogunaike, expressed delight that despite all the challenges, NARTO had continued to ensure unity within its ranks and among its partners’. “We are happy to be part of this. There can’t be us without you, so we are happy with the cordial relationship that we have with NARTO. We hope for a better future,� he noted.

Also speaking, Manager, Reconciliation and Collections, Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), Theresa George-Obe, explained that NARTO had been a reliable partner to the fund. “I use this opportunity to congratulate NARTO. This is a laudable one, especially in this season with the current reality that we are living in. NARTO has been a strong stakeholder and they have a strong relationship with us. It is our hope that this relationship will get better because we are all in the same business of oil and gas� she said.

A representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yusuf Yila, who further spoke on the role of NARTO in moving the economy, urged the body to continue to serve the country through its services. “Our relationship is quite a fruitful one.

NARTO came at a time we were having some difficulties. We needed to move some fertilizer across the country and NARTO came in and delivered. Dangote refinery is coming on stream, they are going to be using NARTO. NARTO is also helping with movement of agricultural commodities into the various silos,� he stressed.

26

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2021

Need for Contract Transparency in Nigeria’s Extractive Sector Dieter Bassi Mineral exploration and exploitation are always governed by certain terms that are agreed upon prior to the commencement of their operations.

These set of terms determine the operations, revenues and other conditions and are contained in the contracts between companies and governments on behalf of their citizens.

A contract is a legally binding document between, at least, two parties that defines and governs the rights and duties of the parties to the agreement. It is legally enforceable because it meets the requirement and approval of the law.

To enter a contract, the mutual consent of the parties involved are needed/necessary. It is for this reason that it is important to make the terms of contracts, especially those entered into on behalf of the people on the exploitation of their natural resources, public.

The 2019 EITI standards which Nigeria is required to implement through NEITI stipulates in section 2.4 that implementing countries are required to disclose any contracts and licenses that are granted, entered into or amended from January 1, 2021.

Implementing countries are encouraged to publicly disclose contracts and licenses that provide the terms attached to the exploitation of oil, gas and minerals.

Based on these commitments, Nigeria is expected to make all contracts entered into for the exploration and production of oil, gas and mining from January 1, 2021 public.

Nigeria had made efforts towards making contracts public, especially in the oil and gas sector.

In 2015 there was the public statement by the then Minster of state for petroleum/ Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as part of his seven big wins agenda and in 2016 during the anti-corruption summit in London and the open government partnership accord.

In the words of Kachikwu, the `7 Big Win will bring about massive development in the sector. The major focus of the road map would be on Niger Delta and security, Policy and Regulations, Business environment as well as investment drive.

Others, include Transparency and Efficiency, stakeholder Management and International coordination, Gas revolution and refinery and local production capacity�

All these commitments were meant to encourage transparency and accountability in Nigerias oil, gas and mining industries.

Despite these efforts of the Nigerian government, there are numerous challenges and obstacles towards making contracts publicly accessible in

Adio Nigeria. Some of these challenges include but are not limited to a lack of legal framework to mandate/facilitate contract transparency.

Presently, the extant legal framework does not require companies or any agent of government to make contracts public.

There is also the issue of confidentiality clauses which are embedded in some of these contracts with many of the companies citing commercial sensitivity for non-disclosures.

It is however imperative to note that there are some positive strides towards achieving contract transparency in Nigeria. In the draft 2020 Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the principles of contract transparency are contained in Section 83 of the Act under the heading Confidentiality.

Subsection (3) relates to contracts that are in existence or coming into force of the proposed law. It provides that: The text of any existing contract, Licence or Lease and any amendment or side letter with NNPC shall (a) Not be confidential;

(b) Be published on the website of the Commission within one year after the effective date; and (c) Be provided to the Commission by a contractor of NNPC, licensee or lessee within 1 year after the Effective Date.

Sub-section (4) proposes an administrative penalty of $10,000 per day of default to be imposed on a contractor, licensee or lessee who does not or partially provides the Commission with the required information within the stipulated time.

Sub-section (5) relates to the disclosure of new contracts to be executed after coming into force of the proposed law.

It provides that the text of any new licence, lease or contract or amendment to it shall not be confidential and shall be published by the Commission immediately following the granting or signing of such texts.

The benefits of making contracts open are numerous for each of the stakeholder groups in the EITI circle.

For the citizens, contract transparency allows

them to understand the agreed terms for extractive projects in their communities; to check that every party is following them; and to determine who is accountable for non-compliance. Contract disclosure also allows communities affected by extractive operations see how revenue from royalties and taxes flow to their national, regional or local governments.

They get to understand what subsidies and tax incentives are awarded to companies and what obligations are placed on companies to protect their communities and the environment, make social payments or provide local employment.

Knowing about all these obligations as contained in the contracts enables citizens to monitor compliance to these commitments. Contract disclosure also allows for comparison of different contracts, creating a better level playing field which enables citizens to call on their governments to negotiate better deals.

Contract transparency also has its advantages for companies. Disclosing the terms of contracts supports open, fact-based dialogue that can help build trust, reduce conflict and reinforce a company’s social license to operate in any given locality or host community.

Contract disclosure makes it easier for companies to show that they have complied with their financial and social obligations, helping them to address reputational risks.

For governments, the benefits of contract transparency include the opportunity to compare contracts. Contract disclosure therefore incentivises government officials to arrange fair deals, deterring them from signing off on shady contracts that are disadvantageous to the citizens. Contract transparency therefore helps to support stronger and more capable management of the extractives sector. Contracts that are disclosed can be more easily enforced, since all agencies and ministries within government are aware of the contract terms and can collaborate more effectively and in a timely manner to ensure that the terms are respected and maintained. Disclosing contracts also helps governments confirm if the contract terms are in-line with the countrys legal framework and increase the capacity for consistency, culminating in good corporate governance.

It is safe to say that contract transparency is a win-win for all major stakeholders in the extractive sector in Nigeria - government, companies and civil society particularly the citizens.

There is therefore the need for government and its agents, companies and citizens to work towards achieving the set goal of making all contracts in Nigeria’s extractive industries, transparent and publicly accessible by 2021.

Bassi is the Director, Technical at Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

FG Targets 5m Jobs in Agricultural Sector Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The federal government has said it is targeting five million jobs in the agricultural sector.

The initiative is to engage youths, women and the vulnerable in order to integrate them into the nation’s economy.

The Minister of State Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Baba Shehuri stated this at the weekend, when he led a delegation of executives of the ministry on a courtesy visit

to the Bauchi State Governor at Bauchi.

According to the Minister, so far, 1,138,000 farmers have benefited through the initiative on job creation in agriculture, in all the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT, under the first phase in the 2020 farming season. He said owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers across the country received massive support from the government in terms of funding, agro-chemicals and small

scale equipment in all the states extension services outreach to farmers. “In partnership with the state governments, the federal government is employing one million youths to serve as village agents. In Bauchi state, over 15,000 youths were employed to serve as enumerators. The plight of poultry farmers and the high cost of poultry feeds was a source of concern to the government. Thus, the federal government has directed the release of 5,000 metric tonnes

of maize to the poultry industry from the strategic food reserve. “I am aware that Bauchi State has potentials in the cultivation of rice and the state should expect more of federal government intervention to assist farmers. “As a follow up support, the aggregation centers were established to support the rice farmers. “In all, a total of 234 aggregation centers have so far been established nationwide and

five aggregation centers are in operation in Bauchi State� he said Responding, the State Governor commended the federal government initiative in boosting agriculture and rural development, saying the minister’s ministry is so critical in the diversification of the economy as well as enhancing growth and development in the country. “Mr. President has done so much to show that the way to

go is to develop agriculture and rural development because majority of our people are engaged in agriculture and those who voted him into power are living in the rural areas. “Your ministry is so critical in developing the GDP in a manner that we can exit over dependence on government contracts and patronage and therefore your youth empowerment support to Agriculture, extension services that you are giving is so critical to us in the state� he said.

PTI to Reorder Priorities to Meet Global Challenges Sylvester Idowu in Warri The management of Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State has put together a two-day retreat as part of efforts to reposition the school for the daunting global economic challenges as well as meet up with its statutory role.

The retreat, put together by the Principal of PTI, Dr.

Henry A. Adimula, involved proactive agenda of creativity, innovativeness and re-ordering of priorities were identified for the institute’s sustainability in the years ahead.

Speaking to THISDAY on the sidelines of the two-day retreat, Adimula said participants, including managers, directors, heads of depart-ments, management staff, unions and others who are critical stakeholders to

the achievements of the goals and objectives of the instiÂŹtute were brought together to brainstorm on the way forward with a view to putÂŹting all hands on deck to turn around the fortunes of the school and move it to greater heights.

He disclosed that issues and challenges such as poor funding, bureaucraÂŹcy among others that were identified would be tackled proactively,

adding that all viable equipment would be identified and put to optimum use through private public partnership business to boost the institute’s internally generated revenue.

According to Adimula, “our goal is to make PTI the best delivering on its statutory roles and increase our Internally Generated Revenue. What we are doÂŹing now is to set the tone and agenda for the year

and pursue it with vigour to deliver worthwhile services to the petroleum industry.�

The Principal/ Chief Executive, further disclosed that the way forÂŹward was for the institute to be more creative, improve on its revenue profile, look inward, commitment to set goals and ensure that all viable facilities are takÂŹen advantage of to become revenue yielding. “We shall be more creative in

the delivÂŹering of our services to our clients, services that are customised to make our clients to yearn for more, services they cannot get anywhere. “We shall also improve on our drive for more clients. In doing this, we shall follow all the ex-tant rules of government, carry out regular trainings, and ensure equipment are maintained for optimal use,â€? he said.

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2021

27

PIB and Balancing Stakeholders’Interests Chijioke Nwaozuzu

T

here is a fundamental interdependence between host countries and the international oil companies (IOCs) in the development of natural resources.

The interests of these two parties differ much but mainly converge on resource production-sharing. Two other major stakeholders are the National Oil Companies (NOC’s) and the host communities, and traditionally these two stakeholders’ interests have been subsumed under the host country interests.

The fact that oil and gas resources are vested in the Federal Government of Nigeria does not exclude the host communities as major stakeholders.

These communities bear the brunt of environmental degradation (acid rain, oil spillage, foul air and water) that usually attend resource extraction and refining processes.

These call to question the urgent need for environmental remediation in host communities and environmental justice for those that bear the brunt! A successful negotiation of the PIB will take into account the contending interests of stakeholders, which I will briefly narrate here.

Let us commence with the host country’s interests. Nigeria is characterised by high population growth, excessive unemployment, low per capital income, a low level of economic development (reflected in a lack of social services and resources), a low quality of education, low electric power supply, poor infrastructure development and maintenance, and short life expectancies).

Given this setting, the critical concern of government should be economic growth. As a major oil exporter, oil E & P activities should secure a reasonable tax base for the government, revenue from the world oil market, capital for economic expansion, and employment and income for individual workers. There are other economic, social, and political factors of interest to the host country. These include acquisition of technology and expertise from foreign oil companies, increasing local content in supplies and other forms of contracting, access to foreign markets, infrastructure development in the course of E & P activities, such as roads, communications, port facilities, etc.

Few developing countries have the capital, technology and trained personnel necessary to develop oil reserves, and so must rely to varying degrees on foreign investment by the IOCs. The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) offered by the IOCs provides the host country with technology, managerial and technical expertise, and a reduced vulnerability to downturns in the world’s economy, and with capital.

FDI also provides the opportunity to shift the responsibility of building and maintaining the requisite support services and infrastructure facilities to the IOCs. Therefore, it is in the interest of host countries to maintain this historical interdependence with the IOCs. The IOCs interests are principally driven by the characteristics of petroleum E & P operations.

There is a considerable lag between an investment in a petroleum prospect and the realisation of any profit from the enterprise.

E & P operations are capital – intensive and frequently entail the creation of a robust infrastructure before actual extraction can take place. These operations are also high- risk in nature (the existence, extent and quality of oil reserves; production costs; and world crude oil prices are all difficult to determine well in advance). Therefore, profitability is never assured.

Generally, most IOCs tend to improve their profitability by improving the crude oil which accounts for why they get involved in the entire value chain of the industry.

Also hydrocarbon reserves are finite, so IOCs must continually acquire new reserves which again are capital – intensive. The fiscal incentives available in different oil producing countries tend to determine where the IOCs sink their oil rigs.

IOCs are compelled to be far more concerned about government policies and regulations than most other businesses. These companies have to deal directly with the government (through their agencies) being the custodian of national oil reserves, but also must deal with the political and legal hazards associated with extracting the reserves that in most cases is the host country’s

Senate President, Ahmed Lawan major source of revenue.

The primary interest of the IOCs as with any other business are maximisation of profits and minimisation of risks or at least ensuring that unavoidable risk are factored into the potential ‘upside’ of the enterprise.

For the IOCs the principal risks are geological, economic, and political. Political risks include a sudden increase in taxes, uncertain fiscal terms, unfavorable alteration of the production- sharing ratio, government instability, agency – in-fighting, outright confiscation of production, and nationalisation of foreign oil assets.

These interests and risks have to be factored into the PIB debate and negotiations to ensure the IOCs are not discouraged from making further investments in the host country.

Else, they would be encouraged to move away and invest in other countries with more stable and better fiscal regimes.

NOCs (e.g. NNPC) are created to develop petroleum resources within the host country and in most cases are typically multi – layered in structure, and organised into subsidiaries in accordance with function, such as E & P, refining, marketing, petrochemicals, retail etc.

The corporate forms of NOCs mimics that of the IOCs, but the overall objectives of NOCs are less clear than the purely –for- profit IOCs. NOCs are basically government agencies, and as such are responsive to government pressures and policies. Examples are: capping prices to domestic

My best advice is for the National Assembly to consider these contending interests in the course of reviewing the current version of the bill. ModiďŹ cations can be made along the implementation route, as common sense would dictate that such changes may be necessary from time to time in the interest of all stakeholders

purchasers, purchasing from local suppliers (i.e. increasing local content) whose materials may be inferior and costlier, paying high wages that are not co-related to profitability, adopting inefficient labor- intensive production methods to increase employment, making uneconomic investments to promote political goals, etc.

The NOCs can afford to carry-on in this manner, confident in the belief that when and where necessary, the government is likely to grant the company better tax treatment than private companies.

Additional State Aid or bail-out measures may come in the forms of providing access to capital on favorable terms, including low-cost government loans, government loan guarantees, and direct capital infusions from the government coffers.

In a situation where the NOC is economically threatened, the government will most likely step in as ‘savior of last resort’ and take remedial steps to prevent the NOC from collapse, or from defaulting on its domestic and foreign obligations.

The widespread dissatisfaction with the efficiency levels of NOCs has led many oil- producing countries to gravitate towards privatisation.

This trend is more evident in South America than in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. For example, Argentina began to privatize its NOC, YPF (Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales) as early as 1989, and most other South American countries have at least partially privatised their NOCs. Some of these NOCs have broadened their role into international downstream activities, which includes building transnational pipelines to transport petroleum and natural gas to the marketplace, acquisition of refineries in the US & Western Europe, and also retailing directly to consumers in these foreign countries.

For example, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A (PDVSA) owns CITGO Petroleum Corporation through which the NOC carries out extensive refining, marketing and transportation operations in the US. Conversely, countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Nigeria, Angola, etc. have made no significant efforts toward privatizing their NOCs which still enjoy monopoly control.

However, countries like MÊxico, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia have reorganised and restructured their NOCs and introduced diverse cost –cutting measures and audit controls to make them operate more efficiently and competitively in the global marketplace.

To arrive at this minimal point is part of what the PIB should seek to achieve. The suggested restructuring of NNPC in the PIB would ensure that the Nigerian petroleum industry at the least operates efficiently and an eventual privatisation of NNPC assets would ensure competitiveness

in the global marketplace.

Host communities are often disregarded but together they constitute a powerful interest and pressure group. It is a recognised fact that economic gains from petroleum reserves development outweigh the attendant social costs brought about by both upstream and downstream operations.

The social costs include population displacement, cultural changes, and environmental effects.

The environmental effects are not limited to the immediate impact on land, water, and air around the host communities but include effects on traditional economic activities that are dependent on water, natural wildlife, and vegetation.

Claims by, and on behalf of, indigenous host communities around the world to participate in the decision-making process on whether to incur such social and environmental costs, and if so, how to allocate them are advancing with increasing frequency.

Where such claims are suppressed, it has often led to emergence of militant groups with full intent on impeding or crippling oil operations and engaging in hostage takings as a means of raising funds for arms. In a mono-product economy such as Nigeria, successful militant activities in oil- producing locations spells disaster in terms of government revenues.

Crude oil/fuel theft and pipeline vandalism are becoming regular features of the Nigerian petroleum sector. This is partly attributable to militancy activities, and nefarious criminals who ride on the back of the attendant confusion to achieve personal economic gains.

The federal government can ill-afford such activities, particularly now that the price of crude oil has taken a downturn and the economy has headed ‘south’. Militancy in the oil-rich Niger Delta region in Nigeria remains a clear and present danger to oil operations.

The federal government has over a period of time made some concessions to the host communities who bear the social costs associated with oil production and refining, e.g. by setting up the Niger Delta Ministry, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Amnesty Deal, extra- budgetary allocations to oil producing State governments.

There have been some contributions too from the IOC’s under corporate social responsibilities.

Regardless of these palliatives, a visit to the Niger Delta Region still reveals insignificant human and infrastructural developments at the moment.

Besides, who can tell how much of these benefits end up in individual possessions, and the proportion that in actually channeled towards real infrastructural development e.g. quality schools, markets, clean water plants, road and bridges, port facilities, etc. Nevertheless, more still needs to be done to ameliorate the social and environmental costs in host communities in Nigeria.

The PIB should make additional concessions to host communities in the interest of environment equity and justice.

Furthermore, the PIB should more importantly incorporate strategies into the Bill that ensure that the benefits incorporated in the Bill accrue in real terms to all peoples of the host communities.

In Nigeria, as previously stated, the ownership rights to oil and gas are vested in the federal government.

However, it would be a mistake in the course of negotiations to subsume the interests of host communities and the NOC under those of the host country just because the latter holds the ownership rights.

The social costs of oil extraction and processing are not equally felt across the country. The concept of environmental justice is applicable here.

My best advice is for the National Assembly to consider these contending interests in the course of reviewing the current version of the bill. Modifications can be made along the implementation route, as common sense would dictate that such changes may be necessary from time to time in the interest of all stakeholders.

Alternatively, the bill can be passed in three or four tranches provided the aim is not to bye-pass critical stakeholder interests. t1SPG /XBP[V[V JT UIF &Y #SJUJTI $IFWFOJOH 4DIPMBS &Y 15%' 1I% 4DIPMBS BOE %JSFD UPS &NFSBME &OFSHZ *OTUJUVUF GPS 1FUSPMFVN &DPOPNJDT 1PMJDZ 4USBUFHJD 4UVEJFT 6OJWFSTJUZ PG 1PSU )BSDPVSU

28

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2021

Censorship as Order of the Day Onuwa Lucky Joseph

D

onald Trump’s leadership of the free world was abysmal and atrocious.

And so say some of us. Nevertheless, not everyone would rank it as such.

For not an insigniďŹ cant number, he was the best thing that happened to the world.

So much so that Trump’s percentage win in the US presidential elections was all of 46.9 per cent (74,223,744). Joe Biden eventually carried the day by winning 51.4 per cent (81,283,485) of the popular vote. As it turned out, more people wanted change than didn’t.

The farcical storming of the Capitol which was supposed to mirror the French storming of the Bastille, precursory to the French Revolution, was a last ditch attempt by disgruntled right wingers to impose their will on the majority who wanted an America that lived up to its ideals of liberte, egalite et fraternite, again the rousing cry of the French Revolution which overthrew the monarchy and planted the seed in the western world, of people power.

Trump, in truth, wanted a comeback of sorts of the ‘royalty’ or as with many things Trump, a pseudo monarchy with himself crowned as the unquestioned commander in chief. He didn’t deny calling African countries sh--hole, had a disparaging word for everyone including, it must be said, not a few Whites; even though for his own entirely selfish reasons, he did lean overwhelmingly to the rather unsophisticated poor Whites who thought their patrimony disappearing before their very eyes as other races swamp them in sheer numbers.

But it still needs be said that in the Trump voter mix, are Blacks, Latinos, Asians, Muslims and others who saw in Trump, salvation for their different positions, including religious, financial, moral, and ethical.

On the balance, though, Trump was the bad

guy. As Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor in Chief of The Atlantic Journal, said recently, “America under Trump became less free, less equal, more divided, more alone, deeper in debt, swampier, dirtier, meaner, sicker, and deader.�

Here was a man who believed Covid-19 a non-issue until it became the issue. He fought his NATO allies, fought the WHO, fought his country’s security agencies, discrediting their intel at every point. He was a sore thumb to millions of Americans who had been shell shocked at his eventual emergence as president after they’d thought him a joke for most of the campaign.

In his relationship with the media, the fourth Estate of the Realm no less, he was condescending and downright disrespectful. Their job description, he believed, was to be tail wagging lapdogs of the American President.

But the media balked at this expectation that bore no resemblance with the proud American media tradition which had seen it bring down an American presidency through its resolute revelations and reporting of the Watergate scandal.

Trump, they believed a small fry, and they played no small role in bringing him down at the end of the day. They don’t seem done with him yet.

Trump’s tenure is over, however, and millions worldwide are happy. But the world is not now inhabited by only the happy ones. There are millions terribly unhappy as well by Trump’s departure.

Their token stand on the Capitol was to ensure the stage still had some space for him. And so the question now is how does the world treat these renegades. We trust the American justice system will take care of that matter. But the media, the social media especially, must tread a lot more cautiously.

The business of muzzling or ratcheting up voices now seem fallen into the hands of social media owners who are wielding the big stick,

and goaded by a triumphal liberal back force.

This has seen Twitter can Trump permanently while Facebook has banned him indefinitely. Some of Trump’s right wing acolytes are also snagged in the ban. It’s a good thing, no doubt about it, to ban speeches and materials that incite to violence.

The world needs more of that. However, the job of social media owners is not to ban individuals based merely on political affiliations and on positions now not considered politically correct.

Social media was negotiated as the vastest and freest platform for the expression of ideas; and so, deliberate constriction of this space can only drive some people underground to foment plans that catch us napping at point of their execution.

While most of Trump’s outbursts were clearly vile and with a mind to rile, how about leaving readers and viewers to decide? After all, despite using Twitter as his bully pulpit for all of four years, he still lost the elections. For as long as ideas are countered by superior ideas, and people on both sides of the aisle engage actively for the attention of the audience, individuals (citizens) have the power to decide what to believe. Isn’t that the libertarian theory upon which the modern free press was predicated?

Take Trump out of the equation, and issues of ideology begin to loom quite large. Free expression of viewpoints and ideas seem frowned at by the new global media czars, leading to an obliteration of cherished age long traditions in different crannies of the world. It is for this reason that conservative societies e.g. China, Iran, and countries in the Middle East forcefully police the internet as they believe the ideas promoted there are largely at variance with their own ways of life.

Those societies would rather not risk the potential for upheaval as the newer generation exposed to the ideology espoused online seeks change from what obtains while seeking to hitch their social wagons to ultra liberal ideas that are contrary

to local mores. It does seem a small point, but it’s one that would widen on a global scale as the Biden presidency, in concert with social media enforcers, decide the agenda of the day.

Social media cannot forever deny individuals with differing viewpoints the room to vent.

The social responsibility theory of the media holds that people ought to self-censor, and they should. However, when one ideological side holds all the aces with regards to ownership and regulation, no amount of self-censorship would seem enough. As long as idea is not considered an ideological fit, it’s quickly shown the knife. A herd mentality is being cultivated by default or as some would say by design.

Let this be strictly about a redline. At what point do you go past the line? What do you do that gets you canned? Let’s debate it. An instigation to violence and bloodshed? Clear redline! But even that, in context. If social media were available in the apartheid era, Nelson Mandela and his people would be banned, not because they were wrong to call for an uprising, but because the powers that be would have cast their struggle in the mould of a blood thirsty affair.

We must therefore watch the unraveling new world information order which comes with more questions than answers.

CSR HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK Enforcement has begun with regards to The Coronavirus Health Protection Regulations (2021) recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It is good that government seems woken up to the dangers of Covid 19 on a largely ignorant population. Bad is that that millions of Nigerians are unaware and not much us being done by way of awareness creation to help them be on the right side of the law. The PTF needs to find creative ways to get the message across in order to prevent it becoming another exercise in extortion.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ 2021

29

IMAGES

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

President Muhammadu Buhari during the virtual Opening of the 34th ordinary session of the African Union held at the State House, Abuja...recently

L-R: Newly appointed Permanent Secretary, Ms. Shola Shasore and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu, after her swearing in at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja...recently

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma (5th right); Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (4th right); Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (6th left); Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, Amb. Prof. George Obiozor (2nd right); National Secretary General of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders of Nigeria (MACBAN), Baba Othman Ngelzarma (right) and others during a South-East Christian-Muslim peace pact with Jigawa, Kebbi Governors at the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers, Owerri...recently

Wife of former Governor of Ogun State, Mrs.Olufunsho Amosu(left) and Dr (Mrs) Remi Abeere; at the 8th day Fidau prayer for mother of Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, late Alhaja Sadiat Abeke Erogbogbo, in Ikorodu, Lagos.. recently PHOTO: KOLAWOLA ALLI

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (right) receiving his APC membership validation slip from the APC Caretaker Chairman for Ikeja Ward F, Koworola Gomez, during the revalidation process in Lagos...recently

Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Mr. Leye Ajayi (left) and Assistant Comptroller General, Zonal Co-ordinator Zone ‘A’ Nigeria Customs Service, Mrs. Kathleen Chinwe Ekekeze during the visit of the council chairman to the Assistant Comptroller General office in Lagos...recently

L-R: Former Councilor for Udi Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, Mr Philips Chiaha; Igwe of Eke community in Udi LGA, Igwe Harold Onuoha; and Legal Adviser to Igwe in-Council, Nze Godwin Onwusi, during a media briefing on the 429.6 million Naira approved Ecological Fund for Oma-Eke Road Project that was allegedly not executed in Oma-Eke community in Enugu State ...recently

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021

30

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Nigeria’s Wetlands Disappearing 3 Times Faster than Forests, Says FG Bennett Oghifo

T

he federal government has said there is urgent need to ease pressure on the nation’s wetlands from human activities because estimates show that these rare ecosystems are disappearing three times faster than forests.

This dire situation was presented at a webinar to commemorate this year’s World Wetlands Day (WWD), held recently by the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Wetlands are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems. They provide essential services and supply all fresh water. However they continue to be degraded and converted to other uses.

According to ministry, “Wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment. They protect our shores from wave action, reduce the impacts of floods, absorb pollutants and improve water quality. They provide habitat for animals and plants and many contain a wide diversity of life, supporting plants and animals that are found

nowhere else.”

The Niger-Delta is the largest wetland in Africa and the 3rd largest mangrove forest in the world, according to the Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, stating that commemorating the WWD would raise a voice for the restoration of wetlands, especially in the country.

Nigeria has 11 wetlands of international importance (Ramsar Sites). The total area is about 1,076,728 hectares. These sites include: Lake Chad wetlands in Borno State; Dagona Sanctuary Lake, Yobe State; Hadejia-Nguru Lake, Jigawa and Yobe States; Maladumba Lake, Bauchi State; Baturiya wetland, Jigawa; Foge Islands, Kebbi State; Apoi Creek Forests, Bayelsa State; Padam and Wase Lakes, Plateau State, Upper Orashi Forests, Rivers State; Oguta Lake, Imo State and Lower Kaduna-Middle Niger Floodplain, Niger State.

The theme of this year’s event was “Wetlands and Water” and it reflected on challenges of and solutions to the conservation of wetlands in Nigeria.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Environment Dr. Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar, said the functions

and importance of wetlands cannot be overemphasised.

He said: “Wetlands contribute immensely to tackling climate change challenges by enhancing the adaptation and resilience capacity of the ecosystems, provide nature-based climate solutions and address socioeconomic challenges such as water pollution, erosion, food security, human health and disaster risk management by restoring water catchments.”

He observed that the resources attributed to the wetlands in Nigeria are highly valuable as they contain a variety of reptiles, mammals, amphibians and bird’s species.

“Unfortunately, these rich ecosystems are being threatened and lost at an alarming rate due to population pressure; poverty; deforestation; intensive cultivation; oil and gas exploration, industrial waste pollution; coastal and marine erosion; overgrazing, as well as climate change. We must all recognise the need for urgent intervention,” he added.

Director General of NCF Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano, in his presentation titled “Inseparable: Water, Wetlands and Life” identified some basic

environmental importance of wetlands as capturing and storing rainwater; replenishing ground water aquifers; regulating water quantity and supply by releasing water at the right time to the right place in the right amounts; improving water quality by removing and absorbing pollutants.

He said, “Wetlands sustain life and keeps us healthy. Healthy watersheds provide natural, safe drinking water and support food production. Wetlands give us much of the fish we eat and is used in cultivating rice for 3.5 billion people globally. Wetlands are important for biodiversity as 40% of world’s species live

in wetlands, with 200 new fish species discovered in freshwater wetlands annually.”

He proposed interventions such as awareness creation, habitat restoration, and livelihood improvement as part of solutions to stop further degradation of wetlands and help in their restoration.

L-R: Chairman, Committee on Housing, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebisi Yusuf; Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka; and Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Planning, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, during a 2-day retreat to deliberate on the amended Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority Bill, at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja… recently

Gashaka Gumti National Park Receives a Boost Michael Olugbode in Abuja Gashaka Gumti National Park, the nation’s largest park has received a boost with a donation of accessories from Africa Nature Investors.

The park, which is located in Taraba and Adamawa states, hosts wildlife such as chimpanzees, monkeys, antelopes, buffalo, pangolins and leopards, received the

donation of items such as uniform materials, firearms and ammunition and anti-poaching patrol equipment, worth N74.5 million.

Receiving the items, the Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood, recalled that his ministry on November 5, 2018 inaugurated the local organising committee made up of members from the National Park Service, Africa Nature

Investors, Staff of the Ministry and a representative from the local community of Gashaka Gumti National Park to enhance proper implementation of the partnership agreement as provided for under the joint responsibility among the parties in the agreement.

He said, “The role of Public-Private Partnership in conservation activities cannot be over-emphasised,

particularly with the deficit in infrastructural facilities, technical and financial support in the area of conservation, research and tourism activities in our conservation enclaves.”

He said, “This no doubt informed the decision for this collaboration between an Agency under my Ministry (National Park Service) and Africa Nature Investors, (ANI).”

Earlier, the Conservator

General, National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni said, “Realising the importance of this innovative idea in ensuring sustainable funding to improve infrastructure and make Gashaka Gumti National Park a global tourist heaven, and coupled with the desire of the federal government to partially commercialise some of our National Parks, the Service favourably considered

the proposal for partnership agreement as submitted by the non-governmental organisation.”

He noted that: “The collaboration was conceived and entered into through proper consultation with relevant stakeholders such as the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE), the Legal Unit of Ministry of Environment before the agreement was signed.”

Knight Frank: International Travel Restrictions Continue to Injure London Luxury Home Prices International property consultant Knight Frank reported this week that prime central London property prices continued their annual decline for the third consecutive month in January 2021 at 4.3%, indicating a holding pattern while international travel restrictions remain in place.

Knight Frank, in its findings published in World Property Journal, stated that “While prices are broadly flat, the number of transactions in PCL (Prime Central London) was

12% higher in January 2021 than the same month last year, highlighting how the release of pent-up demand after the market re-opened last May 2020 is translating into exchanges.”

The impact of international travel restrictions can be seen when comparing price changes in PCL and the wider London market, as the chart below shows.

The spread between the annual price growth in Greater London (9.6%) and PCL (-4.3%) in November was 13.9

percentage points, underlining the extent to which domestic demand has sprung back in the capital, accelerated by a stamp duty holiday.

The last time annual price growth in the mainstream London market was this far ahead of prime central London was in September 2003, a time when stock markets were in recovery mode after the dotcom crash and the Gulf War was affecting investor sentiment.

PCL prices were down 6.2% in the year to September 2003

compared to a rise of 8.1% in Greater London.

This relatively weaker performance in PCL comes ahead of a 2% stamp duty surcharge for overseas buyers in April and may limit any downwards pressure on prices when the hike is introduced.

“The absence of international travellers means we are in the unique situation of having a stamp duty surcharge that is largely baked into the price before it is introduced,” said Tom Bill, head of UK residential

research at Knight Frank.

“Overseas buyers will need to take this weaker performance into account once restrictions are lifted and price negotiations restart.”

Meanwhile, in prime outer London, average prices fell 2.9% in the year to January, which was the smallest decline since the first national lockdown last March. Suburban London markets have benefitted from the hunt for more space since the pandemic struck and annual growth was recorded in

markets including Dulwich (2.9%) and Wandsworth (1.7%).

There is an emerging supply/demand imbalance in prime London markets that is keeping upwards pressure on prices, as we have highlighted here. The number of new prospective buyers was 14% higher than the five-year average in January. Meanwhile, the number of market appraisal valuations was 27% below the five-year average as more sellers than buyers hesitate during the third national lockdown.

Poll Finds Biden’s Priorities on Climate Change Match Actions Global Public Wants A majority of the people in the world want climate action to focus on the land.

This is the finding of the world’s largest poll conducted to gather the public’s opinion about climate change and the actions governments’ should take, according to a statement by the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Conservation of land and

forests and adopting climatefriendly farming techniques are the public’s top two policy priorities. About 54 per cent of those surveyed want conversion of natural land or forests eliminated.

They also want a switch to renewable energies and to climate-friendly farming techniques. Ranked second and third, respectively, these options received 53 and 52 percent of the vote.

Over 1.2 million people in 50 countries with over 56 percent of the global population responded to the poll, known as the Peoples’ Climate Vote. It is the largest survey of public opinion on climate change ever conducted.

The survey results came out Wednesday, the same day that President Joseph Biden of the United States released an Executive Order “to tackle

the climate crisis at home and abroad while creating good-paying union jobs and equitable clean energy future, building modern and sustainable infrastructure, restoring scientific integrity and evidence-based policymaking across the federal government, and re-establishing the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.”

President Biden’s Executive

Order prioritizes, among other actions, an energy revolution, conserving natural resources and leveraging them to help drive the nation toward a clean energy future, and delivering justice for communities who have been subjected to environmental harm.

Welcoming the decision and the President’s offer to host a Leaders Climate Summit in April, Ibrahim Thiaw,

Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification said, “this is a time like no other” and called on “all world leaders to heed the public’s call for bold policy actions on the land…. We know what needs to be achieved and where, and the framework for action exists.”

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021

31

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

Berger to Construct DPR’s 10 Storey new Headquarters Building Bennett Oghifo Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has been chosen to construct the new headquarters building of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

Located at the strategic Central Business District of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, the iconic 10-storey building design also called “The Barrel”, is a challenging foretaste in magnitude and technical standard. But Julius Berger says it is a welcome challenge.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Dr. Lars richter, a well-recognised consummate engineering practitioner who, amongst other professional qualifications, holds a doctorate degree in civil engineering, said: “The building itself reflects an outstanding barrel design, drawing inspiration from the physical oil barrel itself. It is a modern office building, thoughtfully designed to include and balance the re-

quirements of today’s contemporary work environments”.

The building, he further said “features a mix of open floor workspaces, individual private offices, conference rooms and an auditorium… along with additional amenities and social facilities, such as a clinic, restaurant, gym and library”, adding that “sufficient space has been allocated for parking to ensure efficiency in every detail.”

Speaking to the scope of the project, the Julius Berger boss described the building footprint as spanning 4,150 sqm with the main building itself occupying a total Ground floor area of approximately 48,400 sqm. The project, Richter said, also consists of a basement, ground floor, levels 1-10 and a penthouse He added that the DPR head office building will stand approximately 60 meters tall to beautifully accentuate the growing architectural landscape and brilliant skyline of the Abuja Central Business District. Richter confidently promised that:“…the finish-

ing’s of the building will meet the highest quality standards, and include state-of-the art technical fixtures, which further reinforce the building’s stand-out design.”

Richter, who has to his professional credit an inspiring industry reputation for beating project delivery deadlines, gave a reassuring insight into Julius Berger’s technical, operational and administrative strategies which are all targeted towards timely and successful delivery of “The Barrel” project. According to Richter: “…to successfully construct this building, Julius Berger will implement a concrete frame with flat slabs and steel construction for the building shell structure. To meet the required, highly challenging timeframe for construction, the company will partly employ 24-hour shifts and integrates an equipment plan that makes use of six tower cranes working together to accelerate construction….

There is no doubt that a building of this magnitude

and standard, to be delivered in such a short timeframe, is a challenge, but for Julius Berger, this is a welcome challenge.

Julius Berger has been constructing major projects across Nigeria since 1965.

The company has a proven

and proud track record of successfully completing work, on time, no matter the challenge. According to Dr. Richter, Julius Berger “… continues to set standards for technological leadership in the construction sector and

seek to pioneer state-of-the-art construction methods and technologies to ensure that value-driven innovations are prioritized for the benefit of our clients… and our quality of works continues to stand the test of time”.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipreye Silva; Director./CEO DPR, Auwalu Sarki; and Managing Director of Julius Berger, Dr. Lars Richter, after unveiling the project commencement plaque for the new DPR headquarters building in Abuja… recently

Firm Unveils N1.4b TM Meadows Housing Units Oluchi Chibuzor Tetramanor (TM), a major player in the nation’s real estate sector, has unveiled its latest TM Meadows project, comprising 37 housing units at about N1.4, even as inflationary trends continues to impact the business.

This, according to the company is part of solving the problem of inadequate shelter and the need to build one million housing units per year over the next 20 years.

TM Meadows is a midluxury residential project, it consist of 37 houses, commercial spaces, shops, supermarket, bakery, sporting area, a mini orchard and a gym, basketball.

Speaking at the unveiling of its latest TM Meadows residential project in Lagos recently, the Managing Director and CEO, Tetramanor, John Beecroft, said then delivery of the apartments was a clear indication of the sheer resoluteness of the firm commitment to its subscribers.

He said the industry wit-

nessed a drastic impact of several economic forces, “When dollar goes from N360 to N480 now what happens to building materials? Most of our building materials are imported. Cement went from N2,300 to about N3,500, iron rod went up to about 20 percent, POP went up by over a 100 percent, and everything went up like that.

Our doors went up to about 100 percent, but cost of labour did not improve that much but in this industry material cost are the main thing.

“It typically affected us, but in reaction to this you cut down on the quality of what you want to do or you increase your price; we increase our prices not much but we did not cut down on the quality of what we want to do. If you go to our project you will find out that out quality is consistent and we try to maintain that quality and that is what we did here. Our profit went down a little bit.”

On the need for developers to continue to play a critical

role in housing challenges facing the country, he explained that it was an issued that would linger for a while as government cannot does not have money to fix meets this obligations.

“If you go out there you will see some solar light system we bought them, the paving on this road we did it, and we have our own water system, a 24 hour plant and are paying for our own security. Do I think things will be better in five years time I do not think and

developers will have to keep on doing these things for a while; this keeps impacting on the cost of housing in Nigeria,” he said.

Commenting on the project in their community, the traditional ruler of OkoBaba, Ebute-Meta, High Chief Musibau Jinadu, acknowledged the company’s efforts in transforming their environment with the projects that would more investments, “I am happy to witnesses this commissioning today,” he said.

we have to put every resource we have to achieve this. We want to change the mindset of people to stop pollution and know how to manage their wastes properly”.

“We need to teach them creative ways of doing this.

That is why we are building their capacity, to give them some skills of what they can achieve with plastic bottles and other waste materials. Let them know that the waste is not waste until it is wasted.

This is why we are building the capacity of teachers and community members. After this

training, the teachers will step down the knowledge gained to their pupils”, she added.

The Lead facilitator, Mrs. Temitope Okunnu, CEO of FABE International Foundation, an NGO that champions environmental sustainability issues, noted that if the ‘waste to wealth initiative’ is massively adopted by governments across the country, using school children as major target group, would help to effectively mitigate the impacts of climate change and tackle hunger and poverty among Nigerian citizenry.

Oando Foundation, NCF Empowers 100 Teachers Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Oando Foundation, Nigeria, Sumitomo Chemical, China, with the technical support of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) organised a 3-day capacity building on recycling and environmental sustainability for some public primary school teachers in Lagos State, themed “upcycling and composting in schools and communities.”

The workshop held on 21st, 25th & 27th January, had 100 participants drawn from Dele Ajomale Primary School,

Ilasamaja; Metropolitan Primary School, Orile-Iganmu and Dada Olisa Primary School, Papa Ajao, Mushin in Lagos. Aside the teachers, other participants were parents and community members.

The organisers consider business of wastes recycling to be a viable means of revenue generation for schools, communities and families. School pupils will in the long run benefit from the knowledge and could join in the campaign drive.

The workshop exposed participants to diverse areas of

waste recycling, which include the use of plastic bottles to manufacture furniture materials like mattresses, duvet, chairs and tables.

Knowledge gained at the workshop also include the production of organic fertilizers using plants and animals wastes products such as leaves, saw dust, chicken and rabbit materials and so on.

In her remark, Mrs. Abidemi Balogun, Project Lead, NCF said the overall objective of the project is to sustainably manage wastes that has become a menace across the world,

with a particular focus on Lagos which generates 30,000 metric tons of waste daily.

She explained that in order for NCF to achieve it vision of ‘a Nigeria where people prosper while living in harmony with nature’, the Foundation has consistently partnered different organizations with similar vision and hoped that this would become another success story at the end of the day.

“The path that we have chosen this time is the path of waste management. It is a menace across the world. So

Experts: Protect Natural Habitats to Prevent Future Pandemics Pandemics such as COVID-19 can be averted in future by restoring and protecting natural habitats, experts have said.

This was an outcome of the Fourth African Conference of Science Journalists, a virtual event with the Theme: Bolstering the Role of Science Journalism during a Pandemic and an ‘Infodemic’ The Head of Conservation Programmes at WWF-Kenya, Nancy Githaiga, said there is a need to address loss and deg-

radation of habitat to minimise vulnerability to pandemics. The loss of nature is estimated at 68 per cent.

“As habitats reduce, animal species are coming into more contact with humans. This is leading to zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19. We may continue looking for vaccines against the pandemic, but if we continue living the way we are, more risks will come. We have to solve these issues upstream to reduce vulnerability by striking

a balance with nature,” Githaiga told the ongoing Fourth African Conference of Science Journalists.

Coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, has been linked to bats. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the limited close contact between humans and bats means transmission of the virus to humans likely happened through another animal species, handled more closely. Though not yet identified, the WHO

suspects the intermediate host could be a domestic animal, wild animal or a domesticated wild animal.

Githaiga explained, “Nature is declining, together with its benefits. We have taken it for granted and it is treating us the same way. That is why diseases are being brought from animals to humans; and we have to live with the consequences of our actions. Therefore, we have to start healing our relationship with nature and striking a

balance to prevent this.”

Infrastructural development, illegal wildlife trade and unsustainable food production have been singled out for enhancing humans’ vulnerability to pandemics.

“Whereas we need to continue developing the continent, we also have to consider right development planning to maximise its benefit and minimise its impact. Development pathways need to strengthen resilience of ecological infrastructure,” said

Drew McVey from WWF-Kenya.

McVey said naturally functioning ecosystems should be maintained while building physical infrastructure, without necessarily putting them into competition.

“Unregulated wildlife trade increases humans’ vulnerability to pandemics. There is also a need for sustainable and efficient production of food without endangering the natural capital that the environment provides,” Githaiga said.

32

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Moghalu Urges CBN to Reconsider Ban on Cryptocurrency Transactions Dike Onwuamaeze A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has advised the CBN to reconsider its recent decision to ban cryptocurrency transactions in the country banking and payment systems.

He also suggested that the central bank could come up with effective regulation of the evolving digital currency revolution and possibly launch its own virtual currency as being done in some countries.

Moghalu, said this during an interview on Arise Television yesterday.

He argued that it would be preferable to regulate the cryptocurrency by either restricting its usage or subjecting it to some form of surveillance that would alert the CBN when abuses that could affect the financial system stability arise.

He said: “I think that there is need for a very serious study about this thing because many Nigerians are involved in cryptocurrencies. If your country is number 10 in the world usage of

cryptocurrencies, I do not think that it is a wise approach to either ignore or banish it. “My recommendation to the CBN is to really take a deep look of this whole thing and perhaps look at the possibility of the issuance of its own digital currency as China, Sweden and Uruguay and other countries are doing.

What you do not know can be scary for you. “If you think that you are too scared of what you do not know, then you will lose many opportunities and a lot of things will be happening under your nose because you pretend that it is a bad thing and you do not like it.�

Moghalu also emphasised the need for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch an investment education campaign to educate Nigerians about the risks associated in trading in cryptocurrency. “I think the CBN should be imaginative and deploy risk management approach to cryptocurrency. Investments are risks that are personal to

the investors as long as they do not affect systemic stability. “I think this is the attitude we should take in respect of crypto currency,� he said.

Moghalu, who was the former Presidential Candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the 2019 election, called on the CBN to be mindful of the fact that Nigeria is in a depressed economy and lot of Nigerians, especially the youths, are making their living from trading on the virtual currency.

He also debunked the argument that digital currencies are channels for fraud and money laundering, insisting that no payment system is devoid of fraudulent and criminal practices. “They (cryptocurrencies) are not so large in volume that they could have a significant impact on the country’s financial system. It is just a question of policy framework. I do not see the reason why there will be a declaration of a ‘third world’ war between the central bank and the crypto currencies traders,� Moghalu said.

PIB Passage Will See Changes to Oil Companies’Taxes, Says Ahmed Nume Ekeghe The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed has said the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently being considered by the National Assembly will lead to changes to taxation in the industry and generate more funds to the federal government.

She said this yesterday in her welcome address at the virtual public consultation for the Finance Act, 2020.

She also disclosed that economic activities in the country had started recovering gradually, saying the federal government has adopted appropriate counter-cyclical fiscal policies to accelerate economic recovery.

Ahmed explained: “It is important to note that the tradition of enacting annual Finance Bill does not preclude the need for more fundamental legislative reforms to our key taxing statutes. “These laws are being reviewed and efforts to reform them are ongoing. For example, the PIB currently being considered by the National Assembly will fundamentally change the way in

which our petroleum producing companies are currently being taxed under the extant Petroleum Profits Tax Act.�

Also speaking on efforts to stimulate economic activities, she said: “In response to ongoing health and economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have adopted appropriate counter-cyclical fiscal policies to accelerate economic recovery from the recent recession, as well as to stimulate economic growth in key sectors of the economy. “As we are aware, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered an economic downturn across most economies of the world.

By the end of 2020, the world’s economy fell into recession with the contraction estimated at - 3.5 per cent, compared to global growth of 2.8 per cent in 2019. “The Nigerian economy was also impacted by the pandemic, reflected by the contraction in economic growth in the second and third quarters of 2020, respectively. “Economic activities in the country are recovering gradually, reflected by a reduced contraction of 3.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2020, compared

to the 6.1 per cent contraction in the previous quarter. “Given the impact of the pandemic on the domestic economy, there was a clear need for proactive implementation of macroeconomic strategies that would support domestic revenue mobilisation, enhance investment inflow, stimulate job creation and restore the economy on the path of sustainable, diversified and inclusive growth.�

She further said the Finance Act 2020, provides fiscal relief for minimum wage earners who are exempted from Personal Income Tax, as well as commuters and other consumers of road transportation goods and services who will now pay lower levels of duties and levies on imported vehicles.

She further said: “The Finance Act 2020 also consolidates on the fiscal reforms introduced in the Finance Act 2019. The Act has introduced 80 changes to about 14 different tax laws including the Company Income Tax Act, the Capital Gains Tax Act, Stamp Duties Act, Oil & Gas Export Free Zone Act, Customs & Excise Tariff Etc. (Consolidated) Act, Value Added Tax Act, amongst others.

DPR Licences Firm to Establish Condensate Floating Plant Peter Uzoho The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has issued Licence-to-Establish (LTE) the first floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production plant for the processing of 176 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and condensate to UTM Offshore Limited, an indigenous oil and gas company.

A statement by the Head of Public Affairs, DPR, Mr. Paul Osu, said the agency’s Director, Mr. Sarki Auwalu, presented the licence to the company yesterday, at a presentation

ceremony held in Abuja.

Auwalu, described the licence as a milestone and a reinforcement of the promise and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians to promote indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector.

He also said the move was to ensure that companies come to Nigeria and do business in an equitable way to stimulate the economy and create jobs for Nigerians.

He added that the licence was a demonstration of governments resolve to harness safe

and reliable technology for the development of the oil and gas industry.

Auwalu, assured that the DPR will continue to create opportunities and enable business for companies by providing the regulatory tools of licences, permits and approvals for investors.

The Managing Director of UTM Offshore Limited, Mr. Julius Rone, while receiving the licence, promised to abide with the terms of issuance within the 24-month validity period of the LTE from the date of issue.

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

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

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

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ Íł Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŻ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $58.92 a barrel on Friday, compared with $58.25 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

33

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2021

NSE’s Demutualisation Excites Corporate Affairs Commission DG Goddy Egene The Registrar-General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Alhaji Garba Abubakar, has expressed excitement at the demutualisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), saying the commission is eager to see the new entities that would emerge from the exercise and how they would support the economy and investors.

Abubakar, stated this when the NSE hosted him to the digital Closing Gong Ceremony in Lagos yesterday. “We are glad that the demutualisation of the exchange is coming to a close and we are eager to see the brand new entities that will act with different mandates to support the economy and investors,� he said.

He added that it was the responsibility of the CAC to provide an enabling climate that supports the efforts of the

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

government to improve the ease of doing business not only in registering new businesses but in fulfilling post-registration activities. “To this end, we began the implementation of CAMA 2020 on 1 January 2021 and we have deployed a new technology solution that supports the full implementation of the law. Our enlightenment on the new CAMA is ongoing and we will continue to engage our stakeholders,� he

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

said.

In his comments, the CEO, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said the exchange has remained a committed partner to the CAC over the years. “We are particularly proud of our collaboration during the legislative process of the Company and Allied Matters Bill which led to the signing into law of CAMA 2020, and our recent collaboration with the CAC – along with other stakeholders – to

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

host a public presentation of the newly upgraded CAC Online Registration Portal. We note this success and commend the CAC for its reform initiatives even in challenging times. The exchange is also grateful for the dedicated support of the CAC in the final stages of the ongoing NSE demutualisation exercise which will see the exchange unfolding into a structure that takes full advantage of business opportunities in line with its growth strategy into the

O F

future,� he said.

Meanwhile, the stock market continued its bearish trading as the NSE All-Share Index declined 0.34 per cent to 41,564.31, while market capitalisation shed N74.4 billion to be at N21.7 trillion.

Consequently, the year-to-date (YTD) return declined to 3.2 per cent. Activity level waned as volume and value traded fell 29.4 per cent and 52.7 per cent respectively to 340.3 million shares and N2.6 billion.

0 8 / 0 2 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

34

˾ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Down 0.7% dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ϲϳďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

1,855.36 points. This was on the back of price declines in GUARANTY (-8.8%), FLOURMILL (-1.4%) and DANGSUGAR

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

(-Ϭ͘ϯйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϭ͘Ϭй ŽĨ the index.

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,855.36

-0.67%

26.4%

85.5%

19.7%

3.8%

930.00

0.0%

32.6%

9.2%

9.2%

7.9%

2.8%

76.35

0.0%

10.6%

2.1%

-1.3%

32.85

-8.8%

9.0%

1.5%

1.5%

27.9%

4.7%

>ŽĐĂů ŽƵƌƐĞ KƉĞŶƐ ƚŚĞ tĞĞŬ EĞŐĂƟǀĞ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϯй ƚ ƚŚĞ ĐůŽƐĞ ŽĨ ƚƌĂĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉŽƐƚͲ

3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC 4 Zenith Bank PLC

ed a bearish performance as the All-Share index declined

5 Dangote Cement PLC 6 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

in GUARANTY (-8.8%), PZ (-9.7%), and CHAMPION (-

7 Nestle Nigeria PLC 8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC

9.8%). ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϯ͘Ϯй

10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc

ǁŚŝůĞ

12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

ŵĂƌŬĞƚ

ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ

ĨĞůů

ďLJ

േ74.4bn

to ƐĞƩůĞ at േϮϭ͘ϳƚŶ͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂŶĞĚ ĂƐ volume and ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĨĞůů Ϯϵ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϱϮ͘ϳй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ 340.3m units and േϮ͘ϲďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůͲ ume were UBN (78.8m units), FBNH ;ϱϰ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ and ACCESS

(34.0m

units)

while

UBN

(േ457.1m),

FBNH (േ396.4m) and ZENITH (േ368.6m) led by value.

Performance across sectors ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌͲ ish as 4 of 6 indices closed southward. The ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶͲ dex ůŽƐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϯ͘ϳй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ in GUARANTY (-8.8%), JAIZBANK (-9.7%) and WEMABANK (-5.8%). Similarly, sell-ŽīƐ ŝŶ CORNERSTONE (-ϵ͘ϮйͿ͕ //Ͳ CO

(-Ϯ͘ϱйͿ͕

PZ

(-9.7%)

14 International Brew eries PLC 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C 17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc

and

CHAMPION

(-9.8%)

dragged the Insurance and Consumer Goods indices lower ďLJ Ϭ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ Oil & Gas index also

Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϱďƉƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ WAPCO (+0.8%).

Lastly, the AFR-/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ /ŵƉƌŽǀĞƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϯdž ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ

ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ ŚŝŐŚ-priced stock.

0.6x

5.1%

7.3%

1.3% 36.7x

7.2x

2.4%

2.6%

4.8x

1.3x

8.5%

21.0% 26.6%

26.00

0.0%

6.7%

4.8%

4.8%

22.8%

3.1%

3.8x

0.8x

10.8%

0.0%

5.4%

-6.1%

-6.4%

30.8%

14.6%

15.3x

4.9x

7.0%

6.5%

181.00

0.0%

4.9%

5.9%

6.5%

189.4%

11.9%

18.7x

31.2x

3.9%

5.4%

1,450.00

0.0%

3.6%

-3.7%

-3.7%

83.0%

20.5%

28.2x

27.5x

4.9%

3.5%

26.85

0.8%

4.0%

27.6%

27.6%

6.5%

4.6%

18.7x

1.2x

3.7%

5.4%

8.60

0.6%

2.7%

1.8%

1.8%

16.8%

1.5%

2.8x

0.4x

7.6%

35.9%

8.80

4.1%

2.6%

1.7%

1.7%

13.9%

1.3%

3.7x

0.5x

11.0%

26.8% 24.4%

7.35

1.4%

2.4%

2.8%

2.8%

11.2%

1.1%

4.1x

0.4x

5.2%

61.00

0.0%

2.1%

8.9%

8.9%

6.6%

2.5%

45.2x

3.0x

2.9%

2.2%

45.00

0.0%

1.9%

2.2%

2.2%

24.3%

3.7%

6.0x

1.3x

5.3%

16.7%

6.21

0.2%

1.5%

4.4%

4.4%

1.1x

31.00

-1.4%

1.2%

19.2%

19.2%

0.8x

-28.0% 4.5%

529.00

0.0%

1.3%

23.0%

31.5%

-0.3%

-0.2%

0.4x

7.3%

-2.8%

228.00

0.0%

0.8%

0.0%

0.0%

16.4%

7.6%

12.4x

1.9x

3.8%

8.1%

93.00

0.0%

0.8%

2.2%

2.2%

24.6%

16.0%

11.3x

2.6x

2.60

4.0%

0.7%

3.2%

3.2%

10.5%

1.1%

2.8x

0.3x

7.7%

35.3%

5.6%

14.2%

8.9%

0.0%

0.6%

0.0%

0.0%

0.6%

0.0%

47.2x

0.3x

0.6%

13.4%

11.6%

30.8%

15.6%

7.0x

2.0x

3.21

0.3%

0.5%

-3.6%

-3.6%

10.3%

1.2%

3.1x

0.1x

4.4%

32.8%

23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

1.90

2.7%

0.4%

-6.9%

-6.9%

9.2%

0.9%

4.7x

0.4x

1.6%

21.3%

16.20

0.0%

0.4%

11.7%

11.7%

18.4%

5.8%

10.6x

3.5x

2.5%

9.5%

1.03

3.0%

0.4%

14.4%

14.4%

-3.5%

-0.8%

0.6x

1.0%

-5.6%

2.4x

2.7%

27 Unilever Nigeria PLC 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 Total Nigeria PLC 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC

75.00

0.0%

0.3%

5.7%

5.7%

18.5%

7.7%

14.30

-2.1%

0.2%

2.9%

2.9%

-2.4%

-1.6%

5.10

-9.7%

0.2%

-3.8%

-3.8%

-12.2%

-5.6%

5.70

-0.7%

0.2%

21.0%

21.0%

85.7%

8.7%

19.85

4.5%

0.2%

4.5%

4.5%

-17.8%

-9.0%

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

M C N IC H OLS

2.2x

0.6x

1.9% 8.7%

0.6x

-0.8%

0.2%

1.7%

1.7%

13.9%

4.8%

5.6x

0.7x

0.2%

4.4%

4.4%

21.4%

3.3%

2.7x

0.5x

142.00

0.0%

0.2%

9.2%

9.2%

19.70

0.0%

0.1%

10.7%

10.7%

3.2%

0.4%

0.65

-5.8%

0.1%

-5.8%

-5.8%

6.8%

0.5%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.1%

-100.0% -19.5%

0.7x

3.8x

0.4x

7.6%

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%

3.25

0.0%

0.0%

-9.7%

-9.7%

0.2x

7.8x

0.8x

4.7%

8.5%

13.6%

6.2%

26.5%

1.8x

-18.4% 3.1%

12.8%

2.2%

-28.4%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

0.80

9.6%

T ic k er UB N

78.8

0.0%

54.2

1.4%

UP D C R EIT

6.00

9.1%

M ULT IVER SE

0.26

8.3%

A C C ESS

34.0

0.6%

F ID SON

6.00

8.3%

T R A N SC OR P

16.7

3.0%

A F R IP R UD

7.25

8.2%

Z EN IT H B A N K

14.2

0.0%

M B EN EF IT

0.40

5.3%

M A N SA R D

13.1

0.0%

GUIN N ESS

19.85

4.5%

UB A

11.3

4.1%

CHA M S

0.25

4.2%

R T B R ISC OE

11.3

-9.1%

UB A

8.80

4.1%

UC A P

11.2

-0.7%

F ID ELIT YB K

2.60

4.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

8.5

4.0%

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

Value

P ric e C hg %

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

C H A M P ION

2.50

-9.7%

UB N

457.1

PZ

5.10

-9.7%

FB NH

396.4

1.4%

Z EN IT H B A N K

368.6

0.0%

0.0%

J A IZ B A N K

0.65

-9.7%

C OR N ER ST

0.59

-9.2%

A C C ESS

289.6

0.6%

R T B R ISC OE

0.20

-9.1%

GUIN N ESS

132.2

4.5%

GUA R A N T Y

0.0%

32.85

-8.7%

M TNN

118.9

WEM A B A N K

0.65

-5.8%

UB A

97.9

4.1%

M A YB A KER

4.65

-5.1%

GUA R A N T Y

97.9

-8.7%

R ED ST A R EX

3.30

-2.9%

WA P C O

67.3

0.8%

-2.5%

F LOUR M ILL

64.9

-1.4%

1.18

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com Taiwo Ogundipe | togundi-

14.7% 77.9%

FB NH

Brokerage

18.0%

4.7%

4.3%

1.3x

46.0%

37.7%

6.8x

-19.5%

-173.2%

-32.7%

21.5x 7.3x

9.4% -2.0%

1.7x

-2.5%

2.98

2.1%

1.3x

5.95

T o p 10 G a in e r s T ic k er

10.7x

1.18

36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC

A IIC O

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

-0.3%

T ic k er

ers. In the next trading session, we expect to see slight

5.3x

P/BV

229.20

losers. MCNICHOLS (+9.6%), UPDCREIT (+9.1%) and MUL-

9.7%), PZ (-9.7%) and JAIZBANK (-ϵ͘ϳйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ůŽƐͲ

P/E

6.00

0.4x ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ ĂƐ Ϯϭ stocks gained against 16

TIVERSE (+8.3%) were the top gainers while CHAMPION (-

ROA

19.65

declined 1bp due to price weakness in ETERNA (-0.9%). On ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ

ROE

21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc

25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC

Bearish Sector Performance

Price Change Index to Date

Current Price

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Cement Plc

34bps to ϰϭ͕ϱϲϰ͘ϯϭ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ-taking

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

Ticker

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

35

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Alleged N7.1bn Fraud: Court Temporarily Stops Re-trial of Orji Kalu Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja yesterday temporarily halted the re-trial of former Abia Governor Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on alleged corruption charges.

Justice Ekwo temporarily stayed the re-trial while delivering ruling in an application by Kalu seeking leave to file a motion against his re-trial for alleged fraud committed when he served as Governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007.

Kalu was last year sentenced to 12 years imprisonment after he

was convicted of misappropriating the sum of N7. 1 billion belonging to Abia State.

He had already spent about six months in custody of the Correctional Service when the apex court voided his conviction and sentencing on the grounds that the trial judge having been elevated to the Court of Appeal erred in law to have passed judgment on the matter.

The apex court in its ruling in the appeal by Kalu’s co-defendant, Jones Udeogu consequently ordered a fresh trial of the appellant.

Following the ruling of the Supreme Court, the federal government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) initiated a fresh charge against the defendants to which Kalu is objecting to.

Kalu in the application for leave to file a suit against his re-trial by the EFCC claimed his re-trial

will amount to double jeopardy if allowed to go on.

Ruling in the application yesterday, Justice Ekwo held that the application of Kalu is meritorious and subsequently granted him leave to challenge his re-trial.

The judge then granted leave to Kalu to apply for an order

prohibiting the federal government through the EFCC or any of its agents from re-trying Kalu for the same offence he was found guilty and convicted.

Justice Ekwo also permitted the Senator representing Abia North senatorial district to apply for an order restraining the government from harassing and or arresting

the applicant in respect of the same offences, for which he had been convicted and sentenced.

In addition, Ekwo held that the order granting leave to Kalu to file the suit against the government shall operate as a stay of his trial, which was commenced last week with his arraignment.

FG: No South Africa’s COVID-19 Variant in Nigeria Reveals presence of 13 cases of UK strain in the country Olawale AjimotokaninAbuja The federal government has said that a contagious strain of COVID-19 discovered in South Africa and isolated in 30 countries, including the United States has not been detected in Nigeria.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu made this disclosure yesterday in Abuja at the media briefing

by Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19.

The deadly South African variant known as B.1.351 or 501.V2, has been giving epidemiologists and scientists concern because of its ability to mutate in large numbers, which makes some COVID-19 vaccines less effective.

Iheakweazu however confirmed the distressing news that 13 cases of the equally contagious 13 B117 strain, which is predominant in the United Kingdom have been reported in Nigeria.

He said six cases were discovered in Lagos, five in Osun and one each in Kwara and the Federal Capital

Territory.

Also shedding light on the virus mutation, the Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha said six of the new cases of the UK strain were detected in the last one week and they all came out of samples collected between November and January.

He said that testing was still being aggressivelypursuedasaviablestrategy whilethePTFwouldcontinuetoappeal to not just the citizens to get tested but call on sub-national entities to ensure that capacity of the laboratories that have been established within their jurisdictions are fully maximised.

Also speaking at the briefing, the National Incident Manager, PTF, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, said that the PTF has sent technical teams to conduct supervisory visits in each state across the federation.

He said the teams are to observe state COVID-19 interventions and provide technical assistance towards addressing any challenges faced while the goal of the exercise is to ramp up testing by ensuring that there are sample collection sites at the local government level.

Presidency: We Are Not Lobbying Senate for Buratai, Others’ Confirmation DejiElumoyeinAbuja The Presidency yesterday declared that it was not lobbying the Senate for the confirmation of the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin (rtd) and other erstwhile service chiefs as non-career Ambassadors.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last week forwarded to the Senate the name of Olonisakin alongside Lt. Gen. Tukur Y. Buratai (rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (rtd), for confirmation as non-career Ambassadors.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, told journalists yesterday that the Presidency has no intention to lobby the Senate as it commences the screening of the non-career Ambassadors today

(Tuesday).

He, however, stressed that there is nothing wrong with lobbying which is part of a normal democratic system.

His words: “I am not aware of any lobbying going on but if there is lobbying going on for erstwhile service chiefs to pass I sincerely think it is in order; it is not an aberration; it’s not a transgression, it’s not a sign for lobbying to occur”.

The SSA said lobbying is a twoway thing in democracy with the executive lobbying the legislature and vice versa.

“You cannot achieve anything if you don’t talk to each other.Yes, a lot of people will tell you that the parliament is the watchdog of the executive; yes, but you can hardly achieve anything without collaboration and coordination, negotiation. Even private members bill if you want your bill to pass you will try your best to talk to your colleagues to pass your bill.

COLLABORATING AGAINST DRUGS…

Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) (left), and Regional Operations Manager, West Africa, of UK Border Force of Europe and International, Mr. Kris Hawksfield, during Hawksfield’s courtesy visit on Marwa at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja …yesterday

IG Didn’t Pay N2bn for Tenure Extension, Say Police The Nigeria Police Force has said that the tenure extension of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, was not paid for.

IG’s tenure was recently extended by three months by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi who made the announcement said

the extension was necessary to give room for the proper selection of a successor.

However, the police, in a statement issued yesterday, described as untrue a report (not by THISDAY) that the tenure extension was purchased by the IG for N2billion.

“The Police High Command has described as untrue,

unfounded, defamatory and libellous, the publication dated February 07, 2021, which alleged that the IG paid over N2 billion for the tenure extension,” the statement said.

“The Force wishes to state categorically that the extension of service of the IG was strictly the prerogative of the President and was never paid for as

maliciously reported in the publication.

“The insinuations that the IG did not “celebrate” his extension smacks of ignorance and a pathetic misplacement of priority.

“The extension does not call for merry-making or celebration but a time for more work, rededication to duty and selfless service to the nation.

One Killed, Another Kidnapped as Bandits Attack Ambulance in Edo AdibeEmenyonuinBenin-city It was a horror and double tragedy yesterday for a family conveying their dead relative from Lagos to Enugu for burial when gunmen shot and killed one of the drivers in the convoy in Edo State.

Besides, the younger brother of the deceased, who was sitting in from of the ambulance carrying the dead was kidnapped while the ambulance was badly damaged.

The incident, as gathered, happened at the Benin bye-pass near Ahor in Edo State, an area notorious for kidnapping in the past few days.

Narrating the incident, the driver of the ambulance marked Lagos KRD 782 GO, who gave his name as Salami Orijiwa, said they left Lagos as early as 6 a.m. last Saturday to make the journey early to Enugu.

According to him, “I carried a

corpse in the ambulance, and we were coming from Lagos going to Enugu to bury him, while the younger brother of the deceased was sitting with me in the front seat of the vehicle. When I first sighted them, I thought they were policemen because one of them was holding a gun on the right hand side of the road and then I saw another one on the left carrying cutlass, at that point I thought they were thieves and then suddenly I

saw another person in front who pointed a gun at us and shot it. I quickly bent down inside the vehicle and that was how I lost control and veered into the bush and fell into a ditch. The bullet hit the vehicle behind me and the driver died on the spot.”

It was further gathered that the family was still negotiating with the abductorswhoaresaidtobedemanding N5million as ransom before they will release their victim.

Amotekun Arrests 15 Illegal Gold Miners in Ondo Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, better known as Amotekun, have arrested no fewer than 15 persons for illegally mining gold in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, who were from the northern part of the country, were said to have been apprehended in about 50 different locations in the local government.

The suspects included Shuaibu

Yahaya, Habbi Usman, Kabiru Waheed, Mohammed Nurudeen, Mohammed Sulaman, Ali Mustapha and Ismaila Wahab.

Others are Musa Zeehed, Gabbar Musa, Sule Adamu Abba Suleman, Usman Kebiru, Yahaya Danladi, Usman Ali and one Zekeri.

The state Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said the arrest was part of efforts to end criminality in the state.

According to him, the suspects

were apprehended by the Amotekun corps in collaboration with local hunters.

He said, “The arrest took place at a forest reserve in Owo. It was in the course of the exercise we discovered the illegal mining locations. We noticed that they (the suspects) had gone far in 50 different locations, where they were mining.

“Nobody would have believed that Ondo State has this quality of

gold until we got to the locations where the gold robbers were living and performing illegal mining.”

Adeleye said the culprits would be prosecuted after proper investigation.

One of the suspects, Shuaib from Kebbi State, said he was introduced to the ‘business’ by his friend Yunisa, adding that they used a local method to mine in the locations.

ICPC Arraigns Two FRSC Officers for Extorting Motorists The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) over alleged extortion of motorists.

The two officials, John Asegu

and Otom Asueni, were brought before Justice H. Aprioku of the Rivers State High Court 11 sitting in Port Harcourt on two-count of extortion and gratification.

ICPC, according to a statement issued yesterday, told the court how the duo forcibly collected

various sums of money totaling N3,500 from motorists as a “fee“ to allow the motorists pass their checkpoint along Port HarcourtAhoada expressway, even without being charged for any traffic offence.

The Commission also accused the defendants of using their

position as public officers to confer undue advantage upon themselves by soliciting for, and accepting gratification.

The defendants were arrested on the act after ICPC mounted a sting operation on them following intelligence.

36

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Senate to Debate Herdsmen Crisis This Week Deji Elumoye in Abuja The incidence of killings of farmers and others by suspected herdsmen in some parts of the country will receive the attention of the Senate, as it reconvenes after its Christmas break this week.

The Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, who disclosed this yesterday to journalists, also submitted that the issues should have been resolved through dialogue locally before long without the involvement of the federal government.

He revealed that the Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Borrofice, will come with a motion to discuss the issue at the Senate plenary today or Wednesday.

According to Abudullahi, “There would be hopefully tomorrow (today) or Wednesday a general

motion I think would sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Borroficce, who will come with a motion on the issue on the floor of the Senate tomorrow (today).

In the course of the discussion, we are going to deal with the old generic thing about this particular issue that you are raising on the crises all over the country, and then on the bases of that, some prayers are coming in, some explanations are there and some senators will resolve and discuss all of them.

“When senators discuss it, it’s going to be very rich because we come from the variety of areas all over the country, who will share their own experiences, and then on the bases of that, we will come up with resolutions that will address some of these issues and make some recommendations that various authorities at all level

EFCC Docks Kwara Lecturer for Alleged Love Scam Hammed Shittu inIlorin A lecturer of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, Mr. Opashola Abdullahi was yesterday arraigned in Ilorin for alleged involvement in love scam.

The Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a case against Abdullahi in the state High Court on one-count charge that bothers on alleged romance scam.

Abdullahi was among the 32 internet fraud suspects arrested in Offa on September 14, 2020. His offence contravenes Section 95 of the Penal Code, and it’s punishable under Section 324 of the same law.

The charge read: “That you, Opashola Abdullahi (alias Devin Snow), sometime in the month of August 2020 in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this court, did attempt to cheat by impersonationby portraying yourself as a female named Devine Snow via your email address: devinesnow677@gmail. com, to one Eugene Myvett in order to induce him to send you $200, a representation you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 95 of the Penal Code punishable under Section 324 of the same law.”

However, the embattled lecturer pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.

will find solutions with.”

Abdullahi stressed the need for the clashes to be resolved through dialogue at the level of the local and state governments, and the herders

rather than involving the federal government which is far from the centre of the crisis.

The senator said “In this is the kind of crises, in my own personal observation, the

country is tending towards governance trajectory where some political actors and ethnic entrepreneurs are coming into the process and spoiling the waters. These are

existential issues that have set communities that have hitherto been living together peacefully, against each other, either for political advantage or political matters.

VICTORY AT LAST…

New Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Akon Ikpeme (left), and Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, after her swearing in by the governor at the Executive Chamber, Governor’s Office, Calabar…yesterday BASSEY INYANG

#EndSARS ProtestersVow to Occupy Lekki Tollgate Chiemelie Ezeobi The decision by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses to reopen the Lekki Tollgate has been met by stiff opposition by Nigerians who participated in the hijacked #EndSARS protest.

Majority of the nine-man panel had last Saturday granted the prayers of the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to reopen the toll plaza, a move that

has heated the polity and seen the resurgence of the #EndSARS social media campaign.

While five members of the panel saw reasons with the toll company to reopen, four others including a human rights lawyer and two youth representatives faulted the ruling.

As the judgment of the majority panel members became public, the protesters condemned the move, noting that the planned reopening of the toll made a mince meal of

the over three weeks protest and the loss of lives recorded.

To register their grouse, the protesters vowed to storm the toll gate and rehash the Occupy Lekki Tollgate like they did for weeks last year before the army was called in by the Lagos State government to disperse the teeming crowd.

Tagged ‘OccupyLekkiTollGate to Sorosoke (Speak Out) and demand justice for all victims of #EndSARS Protest’ they disclosed that a physical but

peaceful protest would be held on Saturday, February 13.

According to them, it was a slap in the face to quickly reopen the toll to generate income when justice was yet to be gotten for those that lost their lives during the last invasion by the army.

Like the previous protest, the protesters vowed not to have any leader, rather, they would go out as one voice to occupy the toll till the panel rescinds their decision.

Bandits Surrender 28 AK-47 Man Bags Life Imprisonment for Rape in Ekiti Rifles in Zamfara Code 31 of the Child Right Law, could recognise the accused doubt Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Agang of six bandits headed by one Auwalu Daudawa have surrendered 28 AK-47 with 27 magazines and General Machine Gun in Zamfara State.

The repentant bandits who swore by the Qur’an during a ceremony at the Government House on Monday declared that they would not go back to banditry.

Daudawa also promised to convince those who were yet to

repent to do so.

Receiving the repentant bandits, Governor Bello Matawalle called on all the bandits to come out and accept the peace process initiated by his administration.

He said, “My administration would take proper care of all the bandits that have repented, and I will continue to dialogue with bandits to end banditry in the state.”

A High Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced one Farotimi Samuel to life imprisonment for conspiracy and rape.

In his judgement, Justice Adekunle Adeleye said: “ I hold that the prosecution has established the ingredients of the offence of rape against the defendant beyond reasonable

“He is found guilty as charged.

He is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.”

According to the charge sheet, the act was committed in 2018 at Oke-Ureje, Federal Polytechnic road, Ado Ekiti, when the accused conspired with others at large to rape a 14-year-old girl.

The offence contravened Sections 516 of the Criminal

Cap C16 and C7, laws of Ekiti State 2012.

In her testimony before the court, the victim said she went to buy Garri and sugar, and on her way home, she was accosted by three men, who covered her mouth and took her to an uncompleted building where they took turn to rape her.

She added that the victim

person among those that were arrested by the police.

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, called five witnesses, while the accused confessional statement was tendered as exhibit.

The accused spoke in his defence through his counsel, Chris Omokhafe, and called no witness.

Court Hears Final Forfeiture NHRC Probes 119 Gender-basedViolence Cases in Lagos, Six Others National Human Rights Ojukwu, made this known wake of a resurging pandemic pandemic-induced and other of Patience Jonathan’s $5.8m, The Commission (NHRC) has yesterday at the opening session was unique, because of the SGBV cases from a realistic disclosed that its panel had of the Special Investigation Panel astronomical rise in the case of perspective.

N2.4bn on April 13 “In this round, the panel commenced sittings on 119 cases of on Sexual and Gender-Based SGBV. Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday fixed April 13, for the hearing of final forfeiture of the sum of $5,781,173.55 and the N2.4 billion, said to have been illegally acquired by the former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

Justice Obiozor fixed the date, after counsel to the parties appeared before the court over the matter.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had sometimes in 2017, commenced the hearing of the suit against Mrs. Jonathan alongside LA Wari Furniture and Bathes before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, who retired from the bench in 2019.

The monies were said to be warehoused by Skye Bank Plc and Ecobank Plc. Justice Olatoregun had on April 26, 2017, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the monies sequel

to an ex-parte application by the EFCC, an order that was affirmed by both Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

However, midway to the conclusion of hearing on the final forfeiture of the said money, Justice Olatoregun retired from the bench, a development which compelled the Chief Registrar of the court to re-assign the matter to Justice Obiozor for hearing.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Abass Muhammad, narrated to Justice Obiozor the journey of the matter.

In his words: “This matter is a suit instituted before your learned brother, Justice Olatoregun now retired, where we prayed for the final forfeiture of the sum of $5,781, 173.55, warehoused in Skye Bank Plc and N2,421,953,502.78, property of LA Wari Furniture and Bathes in Ecobank Plc.

sexual and gender-based violence in seven states and Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the NHRC Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony

Violence (SGBV) organised by the commission in Ikeja, Lagos for South-west zone.

Ojukwu said that the second round of sitting on SGBV in the

He said, “The sitting will afford the panellists, the parties and members of the general public the opportunity to address issues of the

which has already sat in Enugu, shall also be sitting here in Lagos as well as Ebonyi, Cross-Rivers, Rivers, Sokoto, Adamawa and Abuja.

Bayelsa, Delta Task NDC on Objective Reporting Governments of Bayelsa and Delta states have tasked a new online news platform, the Niger Delta Connect (NDC), on objectivity and fairness, promising to support the success of the medium dedicated to reporting events in the Niger Delta region.

Solalina Media launched the NDC on February 1, 2021 with a mission to give the Niger Delta region better coverage and exclusive reportage focusing on developmental journalism.

The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, described the mission of

NDC as noble, saying it would boost the operations of businesses and governments in the region.

He appealed to the platform’s management to maintain objectivity and fairness in reporting issues concerning the region.

The commissioner said the Delta State Government would support the news platform to report the giant strides of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

He said: “I urge the operators of the platform to promote the interest of the region and its collective aspirations. I believe it will grow to be a hallmark of

excellence in reporting events as it concerns the Niger Delta.

“As a government, we will support the platform by providing the screaming achievements of the government to enable them convey the story to Deltans”.

Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, described the birthing of NDC as a welcome development, saying the medium would help to correct negative narratives about the region.

He said: “The Niger Delta

has suffered bad press to a large extent which has negatively impacted on the region. I am optimistic that the online platform will change the narrative and become a major force to reckon with.”

He said that the platform should be used to project the image of the Niger Delta and highlight areas of common interest that would improve the development of the region.

Alabrah pledged the support of the government of Bayelsa for the success of the Niger Delta Connect.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

37

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

FG Seals Abuja Laboratory for Issuing Fake COVID-19 Results Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has sealed an Abuja-based

laboratory for issuing fake COVID-19 results to international travellers.

The Director-General of

FCTA Prosecutes 43 Persons forViolation of Protocols Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Taskforce on Enforcement of COVID-19 protocols has arraigned 43 persons before the mobile court at the Eagle Square, Abuja, for allegedly violating the Health Protection Regulation 2021, assented on January 26, 2021,

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Presiding Magistrate, Idayat Akani, yesterday charged all the accused for gross violation of the regulation by failing to put on face masks in public to mitigate further spread of the disease.

Speaking to journalists during the court sitting, Head of the Taskforce Public Enlightenment arm, Ikharo Attah, revealed that some of the violators were arrested

and sent in for prosecution by the Divisional Police Officers from the Area Councils.

He admonished the people to always comply with the guidelines, warning that his men would not hesitate to arrest violators and make them face the law squarely.

While reassuring the people on the commitment of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, to prevent the spread of the deadly pandemic in Abuja, Ikharo also stated that the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Ciroma, who chairs the FCT Committee on Enforcement of COVID-19 Regulation was always willing to deploy his men to enforce the presidential regulation on COVID-19.

The United Kingdom Border Force of Europe and International, has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its remarkable seizures in recent times. Its Regional Operations Manager, West Africa, Mr. Kris Hawksfield gave the commendation during his visit to the new Chairman/ Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig.

Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) yesterday at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to Hawksfield, “Since your appointment, there has been a flurry of activities.

There have been huge seizures across commands. The Cocaine seizure at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport was massive and for this NDLEA must be recognised and commended.

Accept my huge congratulations”.

He further maintained that, “the result NDLEA is recording is far above any one organisation under our project across the globe. We must continue to work on our relationship to make sure that what is happening in Nigeria continues”.

Marwa appreciated the UK Border Force for the technical support it has rendered to the Agency in the last four years.

“NDLEA has felt the impact of your four-year project. The project has benefitted the Agency in the area of training, infrastructure, equipment and intelligence sharing. We look forward to a more robust technical assistance in the subsequent phases of the project”.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this at the weekly press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

He said the development followed an investigation conducted by the government after a media report last year revealed underhand dealings of some laboratories issuing

fake results.

The Cable had in an undercover story in December 2020 reported that for N25,000, travellers were getting fake COVID-19 test results.

Ihekweazu said based on that report, an investigation was conducted and the affected laboratory was sealed with the assistance of the Federal Capital Territory Authority.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE…

L-R: Secretary, National Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NATMP), Dr. Bamidele Fatoye; Deputy President, NATMP, Dr. Nwachukwu Eugene; and National President, NATMP, Dr. Ibrahim Dada, during the national conference by NATMP on traditional medicine for COVID-19 and registration of practitioners into data-base of Ministry of Health in Abuja … yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

$20.3bn Withdrawals: House Writes NNPC, Demands UK Border Force Commends Records from NLNG Accounts dissatisfaction with the explanations 9, 2020 and signed by the Group with Reference No: GMD.49 dated Udora OrizuinAbuja NDLEA for Massive Drug so far given by NNPC, also asked for General Manager, Group Public 30th October, 2020 and signed by Following the audit query of the the comprehensive financial records Affairs Division, Dr. Kenny Obateru the NNPC’s Chief Financial Officer, Seizures Auditor General of the Federation on of the corporation with expenditure said it had made a presentation on Umar Ajiya Isa.

NOUN Academic Staff Resolve to Join ASUU over Earned Academic Allowance Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Academic staff of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), under the aegis of NOUN Academic Staff Forum, has resolved to join the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Dr. Chuks Enwerem, the NOUN academic staff forum in its first meeting, discussed modalities for getting their entitlement from the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) released by the federal government to ASUU. The resolution was made 2, February, 2021, at the second meeting of the body, which was held at the convocation arena of its headquarters in Abuja.

The statement noted that the

second meeting, which was chaired by the chairman of the forum, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, briefed members on the progress made towards getting staff of the university to be included in the payment loop.

He said the efforts made included an interactive session with North-central ASUU officials to get a proper briefing on how the objective could be realised.

He said: “After extensive deliberations with the ASUU officials in North-central zone, coupled with other available information, we were convinced that it would be very difficult for NOUN academics to be included in the present arrangement to get their legitimate entitlement by going it alone without the national body.”

the $20.3 billion illegal withdrawals from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) account, the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has written the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), demanding full details.

The Committee’s request was contained in a letter with Reference No: HR/PAC/SCO5/9NASS/ QUE.9/974 dated 7th December, 2020 signed by its Chairman, Hon. Oluwole Oke and addressed to the NNPC Group Managing Director, Malam Mele Kyari.

The lawmakers who expressed

details of funds utilisation from the inception of NLNG to date.

The letter reads: ‘’I refer to your presentationontheabovesubjectmatter at a session with the Committee on Thursday, December 3, 2020 confirming the withdrawal of the sum of $20.3 billion from the account

by NNPC. In view of the above, you are to furnish all records of the withdrawals from the account and the utilisation of the fund from inception to date.’’

Earlier in its response, the NNPC via a letter with reference No: GGM/GPAD/01 dated November

the illegal withdrawals.

“Following your request for information, we hereby submit 46 copies of NNPC’s presentation on the illegal withdrawals from the NLNG by NNPC and 46 copies of our response to issues raised in the Auditor General’s 2014 report on the Federation Account relating to NNPC.” The presentation was followed by the breakdown of the receipts and disbursements from NNPC NLNG Dividend Account from inception to date communicated to the House Committee via a letter

According to the letter, ‘’In line with Government’s directive on the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the NLNG Dividends go into the CBN/NNPC NLNG Depository USD Account domiciled with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). From inception to date, the sum of $21,685,647,923.39 was received into the NNPC NLNG Dividend Account while the sum of $20,300,772,850 was disbursed from the Account leaving a credit balance of $1,384,875,073.39 as at 30th June, 2020 as tabulated below”.

Lagos Govt Auctions 83 ForfeitedVehicles forViolating Law The Lagos State Government has auctioned 83 forfeited vehicles for violating the state’s Transport Sector Reform Law 2018.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry of Justice, Kayode Oyekanmi, the move is sequel to the orders of the Special Offences Mobile Court set up by the state government.

Driving against traffic (one-way)

has caused a huge number of accidents and untold losses to property and human lives,” the Coordinator of Special Offences Mobile Court, Arinola Ogbara, was quoted as saying.

“There is a lot of processes and transparency to the public auction.

Moreso, some of the people whose cars were seized have been told to pay a fine without their cars being forfeited based on the strength of

evidence they presented at the Mobile Court.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the State Taskforce, Shola Jejeloye, said the auction exercise was not meant to punish but to correct.

“I do not see what we have come to do today as an auction but as a correction and deterrent for some Lagosian. The Lagos

Commissioner of Police has instructed us to go out there as policemen and do our best to ensure the free flow of traffic,” he said.

The auctioned vehicles were earlier impounded in different areas of the state with the auction exercise conducted by a licensed Auctioneer, Mr Ade Onanuga, of CR Limited Auction House.

COVID-19: 110 Principals of Unity Colleges Want ICT Centres Upgraded Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Principals of the 110 Federal Government Colleges, also known as unity schools have called for an upgrade of ICT facilities in the schools as well as more funding to meet the needs of the challenging times.

The Chairperson of the Principals, Dr. Tokunbo Yakubu Oyinloye who made the appeal in Abuja yesterday during the 2020 Annual General Meeting of Principals of Federal Unity Colleges, said this has become

imperative in stemming the spread of the COVID 19 virus.

The Annual General Meeting of the Principals of Unity Colleges is an annual event that provides the opportunity to take stock of activities in Federal Unity Colleges and share best practices She said the theme of the 2020 AGM, “Restructuring Our Educational System to suit our challenging times”, is apt, since it has become imperative in ensuring qualitative instructional delivery so as to maximise student performance in conformity with

the societal needs According to her, “we will all agree that we are in challenging times especially with the advent of COVID-19 which has made a great difference in every aspect of life all over the world.

“This was a wake-up call to many of us that in this 21st Century we would have to adopt and adapt new ideas and new technologies to be able to provide the best education possible to our students.

“This entails that the present system of education should be

modified by reforming learning, curriculum and pedagogy, to keep abreast with modern global practices in Education,” she explained.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Chuwkwuemeka Nwajuba tasked the Principals to return the unity colleges to centres of excellence.

Nwajiuba reiterated the federal government’s commitment to addressing the challenges facing most of the Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

38

˜ ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

2021 FIBA AFROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Ike Diogu Leads 11 Others to D’Tigers’ Final Phase Camping The Technical Crew of Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers have extended invitation to 12 players for the final phase of camping ahead of the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers scheduled for between Wednesday, February 17 and Sunday, February 21.

D’Tigers are leading Group B of the qualifiers after defeating Rwanda, Mali and South Sudan in the first phase played in Rwanda late last year.

All eyes will be focused on the Nigerians in this reverse fixtures which will be hosted

by Tunisia.

Nigerians are expected to be treated to ‘champagne basketball’ when the players converge on

Ike Diogu...leading 11 others D’Tigers to camp to complete the qualification for the AfroBasket Championship

Monastir for the third window after six players from France were handed a call up in the latest line up.

They include; Ifeoluwa Ajayi (Hermine Nantes), Said Hearst-Okpalannaka (Antibas), Nwachukwu Moneke may make their international debut for Nigeria after they were handed an invitation alongside a member of the 2017 Afrobasket silver winning team, Ike Nwamu (Cholet) who are all based in France.

Spain-based shooting guard; Obinna Emegano with Fuenlabrada makes a return to the team alongside Ben Uzoh.

Ike Diogu was also not left out of the team alongside Ike Iroegbu who emerged as one of the top performers during the last qualifying series averaging 15.7 points as Nigeria dominated Group B. Turkey-based power forward, Abdul-Malik Abu and Michael Oguine will also team up with Michael Gbinije, Caleb Agada under the tutelage of Coach Mfon Udofia who will be standing in for Coach Mike Brown.

Meanwhile, some players have also been put on notice pending the conclusion and outcome of players registration by the Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA).

THE LIST OF INVITED 12 D’TIGERS 1. Obinna Emegano (Point Guard, Fuenlabrada, Spain) 2. Ben Uzoh (Point Guard, Paris Basketball, France) 3. Ike Diogu 4. Ifeoluwa Ajayi (Small Forward, Harmine Nantes, France) 5. Nwachukwu Moneke (Power Forward, Orléans Loiret Basket, France) 6. Michael Oguine (Point Guard, Souffelweyersheim, France) 7. Ike Nwamu (Point Guard, Cholet, France) 8. Ike Iroegbu (Point Guard, SC Rasta Vechta, Germany) 9. Said Hearst-Okpalannaka (Shooting Guard, Antibas, France) 10. Abdul-Malik Abu (Power Forward, Lokman Hekim Fethiye, Turkey) 11. Mike Gbinije (Shooting guard, BC Nevžis) 12. Caleb Agada (Point Guard, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Again, National Council on Sports Shifts Sports Festival to April Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City For the fifth time within one year, the 20th National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State has been moved till April.

Before this new date, the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival was scheduled to begin on Valentines’ Day and run till February 28.

According to the official statement released from the media office of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, “ decision was reached after the emergency meeting of the National Council on Sports convened by the Honourable Minister of youth and sports who is the chairman of council.”

It said the meeting had in attendance Commissioners for Youth and Sports from the states of the federation, Directors of Sports and Permanent Secretaries. The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu was also in attendance at the meeting.

It said that this new postponement was occasioned

by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and the paucity of funds.

The Edo Govt had requested for financial support due to the cost implications it suffered arising from earlier postponements.

“The accommodation prepared at the University of Benin was no longer available for the athletes because students had resumed lectures from forced holidays.”

Rising from the meeting of the National Council on Sports on Monday, Council resolved that it was best to shift the Festival to a later date due to financial challenges raised by the host state, accommodation problems at the University of Benin due to the resumption of academic activities which would affect the camping of atheletes.

According to the resolution of the council, the Federal Government, Edo State and the Council on Sports agreed that the Festival will now hold in April since the earlier February date was no longer feasible.

The first phase camping of Nigeria’s senior women’s team, D’Tigress Ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games came to a relishing ends in Atlanta, USA on Sunday. It lasted for 10 days with 15 players in attendance.

According to the Media Officer of the NBBF, Afolabi Oni, the training camp which is one of the numerous being put in place by the Federation has been described as a great

concept which allowed the current players in the team bond well with the new faces invited by Coach Otis Hughley.

Recapping what went down in Atlanta, Team captain, Adaora Elonu said, “We had few faces in camp and it was a nice mix. Everyone meshed real well because as you know the basketball world is quite small and we all know each other somehow.”

After spending about 10 days together, she believes the latest addition of Nicole Enabosi, Erica Ogwumike, Oderah Chidom, Amy Okonkwo and Elizabeth Williams will only strengthen the team and make it easier to compete and fight as a stronger unit.

“It won’t be difficult at all for us to come together on the court, compete and fight as one unit. We have all mixed quite

well. There were players that had never attended camp, there were some who returned after some time.

“It’s been nice just to see the faces and get to know everyone. After the first day, we had the environment where we felt like we already knew each other and it was really nice”, the two time FIBA Afrobasket winner said.

Tom Brady (right) led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a comfortable 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs early hours of Monday to extend his record for Super Bowl wins to seven

SUPER BOWL 2021

Tom Brady Wins Seventh Title as Buccaneers Beat Chiefs Tom Brady steered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a comfortable 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs early hours of Monday to extend his record for Super Bowl wins to seven.

In his first season after a glittering 20-year spell with the New England Patriots, the evergreen quarterback helped Tampa Bay become the first team to play a Super Bowl in their own stadium.

And despite facing Kansas City and their dynamic young quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who came in as favourites, Brady threw three touchdown passes to prevent the Chiefs becoming the first back-to-back NFL

champions since Brady and the Patriots in the 2004 season.

At 43 years and 188 days, Brady became the oldest player to play in the biggest game in US sport, extending his record for Super Bowl appearances to 10 and joining Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks to win Super Bowls with two different teams.

Already widely considered the greatest NFL player of all time, Brady decided to leave New England in the off-season for a new challenge and was lured to Tampa Bay, whose only previous Super Bowl win came in the 2002 season.

He reportedly urged the

Bucs to bring in former Patriots team-mates Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown, as well as Leonard Fournette, and the trio shared Tampa Bay’s four touchdowns as they eased home in Super Bowl 55 after leading 21-6 at half-time.

While the Chiefs came into the post-season as the top seed in the AFC Conference, Tampa Bay were the NFC’s fifth seed and became the first wildcard team to win a Super Bowl since the Green Bay Packers 10 years ago after a remarkable play-off run.

After losing to the Chiefs in week 12, the Bucs finished the regular season with four wins before beating three division

winners - all on the road - to reach the title decider for just the second time.

Remarkably, Brady now has more Super Bowl wins than any single NFL franchise and was named the big game’s Most Valuable Player for a record-extending fifth time.

“I’m so proud of all of these guys,” he said. “We had a rough November but Bruce Arians (head coach) had all of the confidence in us and we came together at the right time.

“I’m not making any comparisons.

Coming down here and playing with this group of guys is amazing.

FA Cup, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia Live on StarTimes As he Emirates FA Cup enters its 5th round, and the Coppa Italia as well as the Copa del Rey gets to their semi-final stages. StarTime sports channels will be broadcasting all the matches live.

Tiday, Manchester United are at home against West Ham in the fifth round of

this season’s FA Cup at 8:30 pm. On Wednesday, the Special One, Jose Mourinho, travels to Liverpool, where Tottenham Hotspur take on Everton at 9:15 pm; while Swansea host Man City at 6:30 pm, among other FA Cup fixtures airing from Tuesday to Friday.

Fierce rivals Juventus and Inter Milan resume hostilities in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday evening, with the hosts having one foot in the final after a 2-1 first-leg success last week. On Wednesday evening, Atalanta face Napoli at 8:45 pm.

The Spanish Copa del Rey first-leg semi-final matches

will be played on Wednesday and Thursday.

Ronald Koeman’s team will face Sevilla in the semi-finals over two legs, the first on Wednesday 10 February, kick-off 9pm. On Thursday, Spanish Super Cup winners Athletic Bilbao will take on Levante.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Djokovic, Kyrgios, Zverev, Thiem Win, Monfils Out Novak Djokovic started the defence of his Australian Open title by dropping just six games in a dominant win over France’s Jeremy Chardy in Melbourne on the opening day on the 2021 edition Down Under.

The Serbian top seed eased to a 6-3 6-1 6-2 victory to extend

his 100% winning record against Chardy to 14 matches.

Austrian third seed Dominic Thiem, German sixth seed Alexander Zverev and Australia’s Nick Kyrgios also won.

But French 10th seed Gael Monfils broke into tears after

being on the receiving end of the biggest shock so far.

There appeared little danger of world number one Djokovic suffering an upset on Monday once the draw was made - and so it proved.

Chardy had never won a set against the 17-time Grand Slam

champion and it was another chastening experience for the 33-year-old.

Djokovic, who is aiming for a record-extending ninth title at Melbourne Park, hit cleanly and confidently in a one-sided win on Rod Laver Arena.

˜ ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

39

TUESDAYSPORTS

Lukaku Set for Manchester Return with City Romelu Lukaku is a genuine target for Manchester City this summer as they look to revamp their forward line.

Pep Guardiola’s

men took to the pitch at Anfield on Sunday without a recognised striker, with Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero both missing.

Aguero looks set to

Injury Knocks out Pogba for ‘a Few Weeks’ Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba will be out of action for “a few weeks” with a thigh muscle injury, Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed on Monday..

France international Pogba was replaced after 39 minutes during Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Everton at Old Trafford.

“It’s an injury that will take a few weeks to heal,” Solskjaer told the club’s website on Monday.

“Paul has been very important for us and we’re not going to take any risks. (So it is) a few weeks definitely.”

The 27-year-old was named the club’s player of the month for January.

Pogba will be absent for today’s FA Cup fifth-round meeting with West Ham and will likely miss both legs of his side’s Europa League last32 tie against Real Sociedad on 18 and 25 February.

leave this summer after 10 years at the Etihad Stadium, and City are looking to a high-profile target to replace their talisman.

And according to the Athletic, Lukaku is high up in those discussions, with the Inter striker widely admired at the club.

The Belgium international has been in inspired form for the Serie A side this season,

scoring 20 times across all competitions for Antonio Conte’s men.

He has been cited as the driving factor behind their title push this season, too, with his goals keeping them within touching distance of rivals Milan at the summit of Italy’s top flight.

Lukaku joined Inter from City’s rivals Manchester United, however, it is reported

that there are no concerns over the player ’s ties to his former club.

Indeed, City took on Carlos Tevez in 2009 directly from United, with the Argentine spending four years at the club.

Aguero, meanwhile, looks unlikely to sign a new deal at City, with his contract up for renewal in the summer.

He has struggled with injury and illness this

season, making just eight league appearances and failing to find the net.

City have also been linked with a £100m move for Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.

The Norway international also has admirers in the form of Manchester United and Chelsea, but reports suggest City could offer him a bumper £400,000-a-week deal to fend off others.

Maikaba Rates Enyimba v Plateau Utd Clash Good Spectacle for NPFL After seeing his side, Plateau United beaten by league leaders, Enyimba on Saturday, Coach Abdu Maikaba rated the Match-day 9 encounter a good advertisement for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

He said his assertion was based on the quality displayed by both teams.

Forward, Tosin Omoyele scored twice against his former side, as Enyimba defeated Maikaba’s men 2-1 in Aba to move six points clear at the top of the NPFL log, with substitute Moses Effiong grabbing the lone goal for the visitors.

In the high quality encounter between former champions, the People’s Elephant dominated proceedings in the first half and deservedly went ahead twice courtesy of Omoyele’s brace, but Plateau had the upper hand in the second period, bossing the game and creating more chances in a highly entertaining fixture.

Despite the late fightback from his side, the erstwhile Akwa United and Wikki Tourists

Manager, admitted that Enyimba deserved the win.

“It was a very good game, and I believe it’s a good example to show the world that the NPFL is coming up, and we are very, very happy about it,” the soft-spoken tactician said.

“You can see the pace of the game, the way the two teams played, I am highly impressed.

“And the Enyimba team really deserve the win. They played so well in the first half. “(My) Players made some defensive mistakes, and I believe that was why we conceded those two goals early enough, but when we rectified things during half time, I believe we came better in the second half. And we would have equalized the two goals.”

With the win, Enyimba maintained top spot on the standings with 18 points from 9 matches, 3 points clear of second-placed Kwara United, who defeated Sunshine Stars 2-1 away from home on Sunday, while 2017 champions Plateau United dropped to 13th on the log with 11pts.

West Brom Risk Losing Ahmed Musa on Free Transfer Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa, is drawing attention from other Premier League sides as he is yet to sign terms with West Brom.

After being invited over by manager Sam Allardyce, the 28-year-old free agent and former Leicester City forward arrived in the country on Tuesday and underwent medical tests ahead of training at West Brom on Wednesday.

The Nigeria international forward is understood to have impressed Allardyce and his coaching staff, who were hoping he would sign a contract until the end of the season and bolster their attacking options.

However, Albion’s Chinese owners have stretched their budget to the limit in the January window and are now struggling to release more funds to sign Musa.

Albion brought in Ainsley

Maitland-Niles from Arsenal, Okay Yukuslu from Celta Vigo, Mbaye Diagne from Galatasaray plus Robert Snodgrass and Andy Lonergan last month.

One possible lifeline could come if West Brom winger Kamil Grosicki completes a move back to Poland with Legia Warsaw.

The 32-year-old is out of contract in the summer and Legia would like to sign him now with their window open until February 24.

They have asked about a loan though Albion would prefer a permanent transfer.

That would free up some wages but free agent Musa may yet pursue other options with the likes of Burnley, Southampton, Brighton and CSKA Moscow all understood to be either willing to make him an offer or inviting him in to train with them instead.

Romelu Lukaku...wanted at Etihad to strengthen Pep Guardiola’s push for the Premier League title

After Death Threat, Ref Mike Dean, Withdraw from Premier League Games Premier League referee Mike Dean and his family have received death threats in the aftermath of a series of highprofile, controversial decisions and he has asked to be taken off duty this weekend.

Dean, 52, has reported the threats to Merseyside Police and has been asked to not be put in charge of a Premier League match this week.

He will still take charge of Wednesday’s FA Cup game between Leicester and Brighton.

Sportsmail understands the abuse was sent on social media platforms and, while Dean is known to be a resilient character within the PremierLeague hierarchy, the threats to his family were a step too far.

Dean and wife Karam have two daughters and live on Merseyside.

He was scheduled to take

Referee Mike Dean has been stepped down from officiating this weekend after his family received death threats

a break from officiating duties this weekend, however it is usual for referees to stand in as the fourth official or VAR. Assignments had not yet been allocated by the Premier League but Dean requested that he not be included.

Mike Riley, managing director of the Professional Games Match Officials Ltd - who oversee referees for the Premier League, EFL and FA Cup, said: ‘Threats and abuse of this nature are totally unacceptable and we fully support Mike’s decision to report these messages his family received to the police.

‘Nobody should be a victim of abhorrent messages like this.

Online abuse is unacceptable in any walk of life and more needs to be done to tackle the problem.’

Merseyside Police added: ‘We can confirm officers are investigating allegations of malicious communications reported today, Monday 8 February.

‘The reports relate to social media accounts and enquiries are ongoing. We monitor the internet, and if we identify any offences we will take action.

‘Those who use the internet to target others, and who commit a criminal offence [eg hate crime/ malicious communications], are not beyond the law – and can + will be investigated and brought to justice.’

Dean has now had two red cards overturned in two consecutive matches following his dismissals of West Ham’s Tomas Soucek and Jan Bednarek of Southampton.

His most recent contentious call came in Saturday’s game between Fulham and West Ham where he decided to show Soucek a straight red card for violent conduct.

Replays showed Soucek lift his elbow in the direction of Aleksandar Mitrovic’s face but it seemed clear there was no malicious intent from the Czech midfielder.

Despite a lengthy video check, in which Dean watched several replays on the pitch-side monitor after being told to by VAR Lee Mason, the official was adamant it was a sending off.

The decision led West Ham boss David Moyes to say he was ‘embarrassed’ for Dean at full-time. Soucek’s red card has now been rescinded by football’s authorities and he tweeted on Monday: ‘I am glad my red card against Fulham has been overturned. I’ve checked it, I’ve gone over 200 games without a single red card. My entire career. I am looking forward to helping the team in the important games this week!

Thanks for your support!’

The spotlight was already on the Dean and Mason partnership after they combined once again to make some questionable calls in two recent matches involving Southampton.

It led the south-coast club to request both be kept away from their games in the coming weeks and it is now claimed the PGMOL was considering separating them.

Dean was in charge for Southampton’s 9-0 defeat at Manchester United last week,

with Mason on fourth-official duties again.

Youngster Alexandre Jankewitz was correctly sent off after two minutes but Southampton ended the game with nine men after Bednarek was dismissed late on. Che Adams had a goal ruled out for a borderline offside, too.

Bednarek saw red after Anthony Martial went down in the box following minimal contact with the Polish defender.

Bednarek was later picked up on camera telling a member of Southampton staff that Martial had said the incident was not a foul.

Southampton have since won their appeal against the sending off and the FA have lifted his suspension.

Just days before, the roles were reversed and Dean was on VAR duty for Southampton’s game with Aston Villa while Mason was the referee at St Mary’s.

Southampton were controversially denied a penalty following what appeared to be a blatant Matty Cash handball in the penalty area. The Saints also had a Danny Ings goal ruled out for a marginal offside.

Dean became the first referee to oversee 500 Premier League games when he took charge of Arsenal against Sheffield United at the Emirates last season.

He has refereed in the Premier League since the year 2000 and has become known for his maverick personality on the pitch.

Tuesday February 9, 2021

Book Your COVID-19 Tests & Vaccinations TEXT

‘COVID’

TO

58123

This service is provided in association with accredited service providers

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Afenifere to Northern Leaders

“We have not heard anything like sorry from any of them, now they are talking because the victims are saying we have had enough of it.”

– National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, berating some northern leaders for their silence over the killings going on in the South-west.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Fresh Trouble at Lekki Toll Gate T

he rancor that occurred, Saturday, February 6, at the sitting of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry investigating the shootings and alleged killings at the Lekki Toll gate in Lagos in October 2020, in addition to reported cases of police brutality is most unfortunate and disturbing. It will be recalled that the clampdown on protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, the widespread mayhem that followed, in the shape of attacks on police men and police stations, the assault on warehouses where COVID-19 palliatives had been detained by unconscionable politicians, the attack on homes and businesses of both politicians and innocent persons, in general, the needless loss of lives - attracted mass outrage.

A meeting comprising the 36 state Governors, the FCT Minister, the Inspector General of Police and the Human Rights Commission in October 2020, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo resolved at the time that all state governments should set up panels of inquiry and organize public hearings to establish the truth and ensure that justice was done, and victims duly compensated.

Most states promised to set up the panels of inquiry, 29 did eventually, but some did not. As at January 30, 2021, the following states: Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara had refused to set up any panel of inquiry. Kogi state announced that it had also constituted a panel of inquiry, but that panel has not met for even five minutes to date.

In some of the states where the panels exist and have been sitting: Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Ondo, Rivers, Delta, Cross River, Abia, Bayelsa, Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory, the pace of work has been rather slow and inconsistent. In Oyo State, the panel commenced sitting in January 2021, two months after its inauguration! The panels in Niger State, Katsina, and Rivers have since concluded sitting. But of all the states, Lagos State has been the most responsive, the most active, and one of the very first states to commit to doing a thorough job of ensuring justice and establishing the truth. The nine-member Lagos Panel of Inquiry and Restitution, as announced, was set up on October 16, 2020. Justice Doris Okuwobi (rtd) was named Chair of the Panel.

It began sitting on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

The Okuwobi panel has received more coverage than any other panel in the country, perhaps because of its consistency, its proximity to the Lagos-Ibadan media, the international media as well, and the fact of the Lekki Toll Gate being the epicentre of the #ENDSARS protests.

In October 2020, the Lekki Toll gate and its satellite, the Ikoyi Bridge Toll gate managed by the same company, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) were the primary locations of the protest against police brutality in Nigeria, with specific focus on the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The protests soon spread to other parts of the country, even if the Northern parts of the country adopted another label and were significantly different in orientation from the protests in the South. Nigeria’s Southern protesters talked about an end to police brutality. Northern youths who would later be joined by Governors of the North and traditional rulers called for an end to insecurity. Both groups were linked by a common thread – the crisis of insecurity in Nigeria, the failure of the security agencies and the urgent need for government to deliver on its mandate under Section 14(2) (b ) of the 1999 Constitution, to wit: the responsibility to protect the people and ensure their welfare. Nigeria thus found itself in the grips of a movement: an organized, but decentralized rebellion against the Nigerian state and its ineffectuality, more desperate than the youth protests of 1962 against

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu the Anglo-Nigerian Defence Pact and far more incendiary than the Ali-Must-Go-Protests of 1978. It was youth revolt in ebullition against mis-governance, bad politics, poor leadership and elite greed. The youths had five specific demands. The battle was fought on the streets and social media. The youths called for reform.

They demanded change. They even asked for better welfare for policemen. But then everything went out of hand.

The Nigerian Government’s expressed commitment to accede to the five demands and to investigate the reported killings and acts of inhumanity and ensure justice gave intimations of hope. In the course of its proceedings, the Lagos Panel of Inquiry offered useful details that kept that hope alive: all those stories about the number of persons that died or were shot, whether or not live bullets or blank bullets were used, how and why anyone asked for the deployment of soldiers to confront harmless, unarmed and defenceless protesters, and shoot in whatever direction, the role of the police, the state government, state officials… Every week, testimonies and revelations at the Lagos Panel of Inquiry provided useful insights. But all of a sudden, that panel is now in disarray, and that is what is disturbing. Last Saturday, it must have been common sense that retrained members of the panel from engaging in fisticuffs. How sad But the signs of impending chaos were foreseeable. Earlier in the year, the Nigerian Army stopped appearing before the panel. Army counsel disclosed that their mandate with their clients, that is the Nigerian Army, expired in November 2020 and the panel had been so informed. Justice Okuwobi however, affirmed the rights of the panel, appropriately under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, and adjourned the date for the response of the Army to already issued summons to February 27. I am not too sure any soldier will show up to respond to those summons. After the embarrassment that the Nigerian Army has received with its testimonies over whether or not its officers used live bullets and killed persons at the Lekki Toll Gate, the military hierarchy may have opted for the option of decided contempt in the face of and away from the face of the panel, knowing of course, that the likely penalty may be inconsequential.

To worsen matters, the Lagos Panel of Inquiry degenerated into near-chaos on Saturday, February 6, 2021. The source of confusion was the decision of the panel announced by five panel members, including Justice Okuwobi, to approve the re-opening of the Lekki and Ikoyi Bridge Toll Gates by their managers, the afore-mentioned LCC. Four members of the panel objected to this

resolution and immediately made public their position in a now widely-circulated Dissenting Opinion signed by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN. By the weekend, the same panel hitherto praised for being an exemplar, had become a divided house. The video of the proceedings that is in circulation is embarrassing to say the least. We saw members of the panel having a shouting match. I do not want to re-hash the arguments: about whether or not a quorum was formed, the right of the civil society representatives to be in attendance and whether or not they were, the fact that a civil society member - Segun Awosanya (aka Segalink) is on the Chairperson’s side in the matter, and the reasonableness or not, of the dissenting quartet apparently led by Ebun Olu Adegboruwa SAN who has been accused of adopting tactics that would be considered strange in a Court of Appeal procedure even if the Okuwobi panel is quasi-judicial. The legal correctness of the proceedings of the panel, and the dissensions within would require a closer scrutiny of the facts to which we are not full seised but it is sufficient to express alarm about how a process that was meant to calm nerves and promote truth and reconciliation has now become a catalyst for conflict. By Monday morning, the matter before the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry had spilled back onto the streets, with implications for public safety.

For, by the morning of Monday, February 8, a coordinated protest against the decision of the Lagos Panel of Inquiry to grant the Lekki Concession Company the permission to re-open its toll gates had gone viral on social media with such hashtags and banners as #RevolutionNow, #OccupyLekkiTollGate and a protest is purportedly planned for Saturday, February 13 at 7 am. The LCC had approached the Lagos Panel to ask for permission to resume operations. The two toll gates under its management have been shut down since October 2020. The position of the dissenters is that a reopening of the toll gates will compromise evidence and forensic analysis and hence, the status quo should be maintained until the work of the panel is concluded. The Okuwobi Five argued that the forensic investigation had been concluded and there was no justification to continue to shut LCC out of business indefinitely. Outside the panel, those who want to #OccupyLekkiTollGate on February 13 are convinced that re-opening the toll gate will derail the course of justice. Whichever way you look at it, another Lekki Gate protest is not an encouraging prospect. The way the arguments are packaged on both sides, every proposition sounds and looks plausible and ominous. But I guess this is the time to advert our minds to a number of fundamental issues.

One –in principle, the investigations and judicial inquiry emplaced by the state governments of Nigeria over the 2020 #EndSARS protests were meant to reassure the people and demonstrate government’s readiness to respond to popular yearnings. The Lagos Panel in particular had proved promising. Now, that it is divided, it is difficult to see how its objectives have not been compromised, and how this has not provided a bad example for other states where the panels have been slow and non-committal. Will the panel still be able to work as a team?

Two - those who argue that the Lekki Toll Gate is a crime scene that should be left intact till the conclusion of the work of the panel may be missing the point. That toll gate is no longer a crime scene.

It was never treated as such. Elsewhere, crime scenes are preserved, cordoned off, to protect the integrity of evidence and investigations. This so-called crime scene was never protected. It was in fact subjected to a thorough clean up, and whatever was hidden was picked up by

visiting inspectors and trespassers, including a certain camera, the content of which has not been disclosed. Vehicles and motorists have been passing through, glad that they have not had to pay any tolls for more than three months.

Whatever has not been established before now, may be difficult to prove again. The dissenters in the panel may have the legal right to hold a different opinion, but they risk being accused of sabotage and fuelling another round of protests.

Three- the Lekki Toll Gate is a public-private partnership scheme. The investors have to pay back loans, maintain the staff who have been kept at home for months, process insurance claims and fix the offices and infrastructure destroyed during the #EndSARS protests. But majorly, they are paying a price for identity politics. Most of the protesters are angry in part, because of deep-seated suspicions about the ownership of the toll gate. Even in the absence of verifiable evidence, the Lekki Toll gate has become a symbol of power, oppression and graft in the eyes of many. Does it belong to the Lagos State Government or some oppressors? Whatever the truth is, the managers of the Lekki and Ikoyi Toll Gates have had to pay so much. They have lost money and time. They have been vilified. Their brand has been dragged in the mud. What if on top it all, they are truly innocent? How about their staff who have been jobless for months?

Even in the worst of circumstances, the toll gates would still be re-opened anyway at some point.

Four – But will the re-opening sabotage the investigations? May be not. The US Congress was attacked by a domestic terrorist mob on January 6, 2021. Five persons died on that occasion. Congress has since re-opened and continued its work, but that has not stopped the investigations. What we are actually dealing with in our case, is a terrible lack of trust in the Nigerian process. Nobody trusts the government.

The people would rather trust anybody who is willing and ready to attack the government or raise doubts about its methods. This alienation is self-inflicted by government itself. Here is an example: During the October 2020 #EndSARS protests, the Nigerian government promised to accept and address the five demands by Nigerian youths. But shortly after, the same government clamped down on the protesters.

Bank accounts belonging to known leaders of the protests were frozen. The airports of Nigeria became a no-go-area for such persons. Even now, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to ban financial institutions from cryptocurrencies has been linked to an attempt to cut off financial oxygen for protests. Here is another example: the Governor of Lagos State was accused of lying to the public! The combination of these factors has ignited the anger of the average Nigerian youth again. The flame of that anger could result in an inferno that we do not need. The fire this time could be worse than the explosion last time.

Five – will the Lagos panel of inquiry reverse itself because of the threat of a resumption of protest on February 13? I doubt. But I worry more about the damage that may have been done to the Okuwobi panel. Nothing must be done to derail the work of this Panel of Inquiry.

Its original mandate should be preserved: to investigate, to unmask the truth, to make recommendations that will ensure justice, and to ensure the compensation of victims.

Nigeria lost so much last year. To shut down Lagos again and initiate another round of chaos is difficult to imagine. The security agencies, whatever the provocation, must not behave like goats this time around. The Lagos State Government must act and think wisely, must not tell lies, and take steps to prevent further trouble at the Lekki Toll Gate.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com