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Okonjo-Iweala: My Emergence will Open Doors for Women Emma Okonji, Nosa Alekhuogie in Lagos and John Shiklam in Kaduna Nigeria’s former Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said her emergence as the director-

general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), will open doors of opportunities for women all over the world to attain such position in the future.

Okonjo-Iweala made history on Monday when she became the first woman to attain that

position in the 73 years of existence of the multilateral organisation.

Okonjo-Iweala, during an interview with ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, in Washington, expressed joy over her being picked for the WTO

leadership position.

She said being the first woman and the first African to be the WTO DG, she would work hard so that by the time she would leave office, her good work would pave the way for other women to succeed.

According to her, after she left as the finance minister women started having opportunities to occupy foremost positions, adding that she will want such to be replicated at the WTO. This is coming as the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)

congratulated her, saying that her emergence has made Nigeria proud.

Okonjo-Iweala said she would address the concerns of big and small member countries, while thanking Continued on page 8

IMF Backs CBN, Cautions against Cryptocurrency Transactions... Page 6 Thursday 18 February, 2021 Vol 26. No 9447. Price: N250

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Stand Up to Bandits, Defence Minister Charges Nigerians as 42 Abducted in Niger Military launches manhunt for kidnappers of school boys, others Security chiefs, ministers in Niger to coordinate rescue Gov rules out ransom payment, closes boarding schools Senate asks Buhari to declare emergency on security Deji Elumoye, Kingsley Nwezeh, Adedayo Akinwale, Udora Orizu in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), yesterday rallied Nigerians to defend

themselves against bandits who have turned kidnapping into a thriving business.

Magashi, speaking against the backdrop of the abduction of 42 people, including pupils, Continued on page 8

PDP Govs Restate Case for Decentralised Police Pass vote of no confidence on community policing Chuks Okocha in Abuja Amidst the worsening insecurity in the country, governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

yesterday called on the federal government to decentralise the police and facilitate the establishment of state police Continued on page 8

Analysts Project $100 Supercycle for Oil Post-pandemic... Page 6

ON RESCUE MISSION...

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and Zamfara State Governor, Hon. Bello Matawalle, during the governor’s visit to the president in Abuja…yesterday

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

FEC Approves N62bn Contracts in FCT, Works, Water Resources Ministries

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N62.047 billion for the execution of various contract proposals presented by the ministries of Water Resources, Works and Housing and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

FEC at its virtual weekly meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa also observed one- minute silence in honour of former Lagos State governor and exMinister of Works and Housing, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Works and Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; his FCT counterpart, Mallam

Mohammed Bello; and that of Water Resources, Malam Suleiman Adamu, gave details of the approvals and the figures attached to them.

Fashola disclosed that the four memoranda his ministry presented to FEC were approved, including the repairs of BeninOre-Ajebamdele Road, particular the section from Ajebamdele to Shagamu.

According to him, the redesigning of the shoulders and pavement provision necessitated a revised estimated total cost of N22.879 billion to take the contract from original sum of N71.6 billion to N92.5 billion while the stretch involved is 99 kilometres from 162 kilometres to 261.

He listed other contracts approved by FEC to include

the Akwanga-Keffi-Makurdi highway, an existing contract executed under the ChinaEXIM loan by China Habour Engineering Construction Company (CHECK), which is a sub-contract within the contract.

These, according to him, include the construction of a nine-way underground cable and telecommunication facility dock over the length of 255 kilometres for the sum of N4.625 billion, and the design and equipping of an automation process for the issuance of certificate of occupancy in respect of federal government lands.

Fashola also said: “Currently, the minister for works and housing has delegated authority for signing certificate of occupancy in a manual form. But

we are moving to automation based on this approval; that is, all of these processes can be initiated online, processed online, approved and printed in a digital form and this will provide also business continuity and retrieval in case of any obstruction arising from natural and other unforeseen courses.

The contract for all of this was N976,037,330 in Favour of IQ Systems with completion period of 10 months.

“The fourth memo was for the construction of 4x20 meters span bridge at kilometer 18 along Langtang-Wase Road in Plateau State for N2.867 billion to Metropolitan Construction Nigeria Limited.

On his part, Minister of the FCT, Bello, disclosed that all the five memoranda presented

before Council by him were approved, including the review of the N19.5 billion Southern Parkway project.

He listed the approved contracts to include award of contract for the provision of access road to open up sections of Institute and Research District, Abuja Housing National Defense College, Legislative Institute at the cost of N3,462,440,823.88 and eight months completion period; approval for the award of contract for the construction of access road and car park for Abuja Light rail stations, Kagini Station at the cost of N1,830,392,696.00, to be completed in 12 months.

In his briefing, Water Resources Minister, Adamu, said his ministry also presented two contract memos, which were

approved by FEC. He said: “The first one is the Fika-Gadaka Water Project in Yobe State. This project which started in 2003 was abandoned in 2007 at 30 per cent completion.

“The second memo is the revision of the consultancy contract for the supervision of Gere Earth Dam In Katsina.

This also is an inherited ongoing project. Council in 2018 approved the revised estimated total cost for the project towards its completion and so it also makes since that the consultants supervising the projects their services should also be extended.

“Council approved the extension of consultancy services of Messers Emplan Group by another 36 months also with augmentation of N310 million in terms of consultancy fees”.

Clark: It's Criminal to Equate N’Delta Militants with Bandits

Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja

Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has faulted the attempts to equate Niger Delta militants with Northern bandits, describing it as not only criminal, but also unconscionable.

Clark stated this in a reaction to the ongoing peace efforts by Kaduna-based Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi.

Briefing journalists in Abuja yesterday, the former Minister of Information while commending Gumi, however, said comparing the Niger Delta militants "who are exposed to all kinds of illnesses and deprivations, as a result of oil exploration, to murderous, bloodthirsty villains, who have taken up arms against the state, using different names, such as Boko Haram, bandits, killer herdsmen, kidnappers is very inhuman."

The leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) stated that Gumi and his cohorts, including the Fulani, seem to be ignorant and envious of the Amnesty granted the Niger Delta militants by late President Umaru Yar’Adua, in August 2009, and which was opened for embracing until October 4, 2009, by the then Niger Delta agitators.

Clark said: ''Sheik Gumi’s action, together with those who went with him, to embark on that venture sameness, is commendable. I recall undertaking similar efforts, after a government delegation, led by Maj. Gen. Godwin Abbe went to Oporoza in Gbaramatu, Escravos River to plead with Tompolo to accept the terms of the amnesty.”

Clark argued that the grievances of the Niger Delta youths were and still are, against the government, as against the exploiting oil companies, which have remained adamant by refusing to develop their areas of operation, but have continued to fly their people from Lagos to perform their job at the rigs in the creek, and flown back to Lagos at the end of each working day.

According to him, some Nigerians who live outside the Niger Delta, who are not affected by the pollution in the

Niger Delta, but whose lifestyle is supported and sustained by the resources of the Niger Delta behave like the imperialists, who live by the proceeds of the colonised.

“Unfortunately, such wealthy Nigerians, particularly from the North, rather than using these proceeds for the good of all by developing their region, they use it for and on themselves, for their selfish purposes - hence the emergence of Almajiris, Boko Haram and AK-47 herdsmen,'' he said.

He, therefore, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to restore peace and trust to the country, adding that it is rather unfortunate to see the Northern governors being in a confused state, making contradictory propagandist statements without facing the realities.

Clark, however, urged Nigerians to settle religious and political differences and salvage the country.

His words: ''I repeat, they do not need the federal government’s assistance to build grazing reserves for these dangerous species of herdsmen, who we understand are immigrants from other African Countries like Libya as stated by President Muhammadu Buhari, some time ago.”

He accused some governors of leaving their homes seething with fire as a result of insecurity, to ‘escort’ Buhari to his home town in Daura, Katsina State, to revalidate his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said: ''These same northern governors, who are so authoritative of their position decided to move the dehumanised youths called the Almajiri from their state of residence to their state of origin, particularly at a time when they should have taken proper care of them as a result of the hardship and hunger caused by the COVID-19, at a time when the generous society used to give them money and food freely, but were confined to their houses, due to the lockdown and these young innocent Nigerian boys wandered on the streets aimlessly, without anyone attending to them."

STANDING AGAINST CORRUPTION...

Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi (left), and Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN), during an anti-corruption programme in Abuja…yesterday

FG to Convert N10tn CBN Financing to 30-year Debt James Emejo with agency report The federal government has set the terms for the conversion of its stock of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) overdrafts into long-term notes in a bid to create transparency around its dependence on that source of funding.

Bloomberg quoted the Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Ms. Patience Oniha, to have disclosed in an e-mail that the N10 trillion ($25.6 billion) debt will be exchanged for 30-year notes issued to the central bank.

The agreement on timing for the conversion needs to be finalised to get the required approval from the cabinet, at the earliest in the second quarter, Oniha said.

The Nigerian government became dependent on central bank borrowing after oil prices collapsed in 2015.

Earnings from crude sales account for about half of

government income in Africa’s largest economy. The financing helped plug spending shortfalls as non-oil revenues failed to cover the gap created by lower earnings from crude exports.

The increasing reliance on CBN overdrafts has negative consequences, the International Monetary Fund had said in a report published last week.

“The financing is costly for the federal government at interest rates of the monetary policy rate plus 300 basis points, and for the CBN, with sterilization done through the issuance of open market operation bills,” the IMF said.

The converted debt will be amortized over 30 years starting with a two-year moratorium when the government will not pay anything, Oniha said.

The central bank will decide whether the securities will be sold to the public.

The conversion will add to Nigeria’s debt stock, which stood at N49 trillion at the end of last year, according to

IMF estimates.

Public debt, including the central bank overdrafts, as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product rose to 34.4 per cent in 2020, from 29.1 per cent in 2019, IMF data shows.

The lender forecasts the debt to GDP ratio will remain largely unchanged until 2023 when it will rise to 35.5 per cent of GDP. Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed and CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, last year agreed to end CBN overdrafts to the government by 2025 in a letter of intent to the IMF before the release of emergency financing.

There will be strict adherence to the statutory limit of the central bank overdraft to the government going forward, which is 5% of the preceding year’s revenue, according to Oniha.

“There is a statutory limit, but it is then a question of if it is being implemented. Let’s clean the books, and going forward the intention is to comply,” she

said at a meeting with market participants last week.

In a strategy paper released last week, the DMO raised the amount it could borrow as a proportion of GDP to 40 per cent from 25 per cent to accommodate its growing debt portfolio and stimulate an economy that is recovering from its second recession in four years.

The government will borrow mainly from domestic markets, while external debt will be raised mainly from multilateral and bilateral lenders, according to the debt office head. The government is seeking to raise the dollar equivalent of 2.3 trillion naira in offshore markets and will consider issuing a Eurobond depending on market conditions.

The government also plans to issue Sukuk and green bonds to finance projects in the 2021 budget, Oniha said.

The green-bond rollout is subject to approval by climate change regulators, she said.

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IMF Backs CBN, Cautions against Cryptocurrency Transactions Obinna Chima The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned against transacting in cryptocurrency, saying regulating the digital currency remains a concern not just to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) but to other regulators across the world.

The IMF Resident Representative for Nigeria, Mr. Ari Aisen, said this during a virtual media briefing on the Fund’s Article IV on Nigeria that was released last week.

The CBN recently directed banks and other financial institutions to close accounts dealing in cryptocurrency or facilitating payment for cryptocurrency exchange, with immediate effect.

It had also directed banks to expose any individual and entity running such accounts, warning that failure to adhere to the directives would attract strict sanctions.

The apex bank in the circular cautioned deposit money banks (DMBs), non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) and other financial institutions (OFIs) and members of the public on the risk associated with transactions in cryptocurrency.

Responding to a question on the apex bank’s action, Aisen noted that a lot has been changing regarding the payment system, saying that, “the issue with some of these cryptocurrencies is that perhaps some care should be taken about their activities and the use of cryptocurrencies.”

He added: “Actually, central banks, not only in Nigeria have this concern about what kind of activities that cryptocurrencies might be supporting and how best to monitor those activities.

“Some of them are involved in illegal activities; some may be related to money

laundering, even drugs and other initiatives and it is natural that the authorities would be extremely concerned about how best to supervise, improve and supervise the use of cryptocurrencies.”

He pointed out that there remains a dilemma around how best to regulate the digital currency.

“We know that the Central Bank of Nigeria is concerned about it and trying to decide the best policy around this for the benefit of the payment system and the sustainability of the financial system,” he added.

With the current rise in the price of crude oil, the IMF official said it would be difficult to say what level of crude oil price would allow Nigeria to stay afloat and come out from the recession faster.

This, he said was because of oil price volatility.

Aisen, however, advised policymakers in the country to be conservative in terms of oil prices because of its volatility.

“So, when the budget is put in place and other policies are put in place, it is best to consider oil prices at a considerable low level, rather than based on short-term variations of oil prices. “Having said that it is undoubtedly very positive for the Nigerian economy that oil prices are on the rise after dropping to less than $20 per barrel last year and today it is more than $60 per barrel.

“It helps of course the Balance of Payments, in terms of some proceeds, it helps with some tax revenue, but what we have not observed so far is a major increase in oil production. Hopefully, that can also happen going forward based on these higher oil prices,” he explained.

Speaking further, the IMF

official stressed that building strong fundamentals could be very helpful in stimulating growth and investments in Nigeria.

He pointed out that having the right macro-policies could help create the fiscal space to mobilise more revenue and promote infrastructure spending.

“But going forward, it will be very important to promote diversification because of the volatility in oil prices. So, Nigeria needs to move away from this paradigm of high

volatility to stimulate economic diversification,” he said.

Aisen said there was a need for the federal government to pay attention to Nigeria’s Debt-to-GDP ratio so that it doesn’t become too high.

He stressed the need to ensure that proceeds of funds raised are judiciously utilised.

Aisen confirmed a THISDAY report that officials of the multilateral institution are presently offering advisory to the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.

He said: “We send experts to Customs and other areas to Abuja, to meet and to train Nigerian officials and provide them with assistance.

“We also have experts from the IMF in Washington that also come from Abuja.

Of course, because of the pandemic, most of these engagements have been happening virtually. “But we take capacity development seriously; it is one of the main pillars of our interaction with our member countries and we are very glad to be

able to support Nigeria in its fiscal reforms in general and particularly in tax reforms, including Customs, which is a very important area.”

He reiterated the need for a unification of the various exchange rates in the country, “For businesses to grow, you need a conducive environment also from a structural perspective. Macrostability requires structural reform. We believe that private is the main engine for growth in Nigeria,” he added.

MONEY MATTER… Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma (left), and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, during the bank chief’s visit to the governor in Owerri…recently

Analysts Project $100 Supercycle for Oil Post-pandemic Barkindo: Industry investments declined by 30% in 2020 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A steady rise in oil prices since late last year could presage a new ‘supercycle’ in oil as the world economy recovers from the pandemic, the Financial Times has reported.

In a report seen by THISDAY yesterday, it quoted two of the biggest banks on Wall Street calling a new supercycle in oil, with JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, both predicting prices will soar when the pandemic abates.

Besides, the SecretaryGeneral of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Sanusi Barkindo, has said that investments in the global oil and gas industry fell by 30 per cent in 2020.

The most bullish forecast has international crude prices staging a comeback towards the $100-a-barrel region — a level not reached since 2014.

The expected surge is

predicated on the belief that fiscal stimulus will boost consumption just as investment in new production has been sucked out of the industry.

Such a disconnect between demand and supply, fuelling a lasting surge in prices, are the basic conditions of a so-called supercycle.

“We’re going to be short of oil before we don’t need it in the years to come,” it quoted JPMorgan’s head of oil and gas, Christyan Malek, as telling clients at a conference, adding that “We could see oil overshoot towards, or even above, $100 a barrel.”

Brent crude, the international benchmark, is up more than two-thirds since the end of October to $63 a barrel, driven by vaccine optimism and production cuts by leading exporters.

Veteran Goldman Sachs analyst Jeffrey Currie, who was a key voice in oil’s last supercycle between 2003 and 2014, told the Financial Times

he believes there are real risks that oil trades in the $80 range “or even higher this year”.

But this time it is not the emergence of an energyhungry China that he predicts will boost consumption, but stimulus spending by governments around the world, such as the $1.9 trillion proposed in the US by the Biden administration — including for “green” infrastructure.

Before the pandemic, global oil demand was around 100 million barrels a day, but fell to an average of around 90m b/d, last year and analysts predict it is unlikely to reach pre-pandemic levels until 2022, once vaccine rollouts allow a wider resumption of long-distance air travel.

Barkindo: Oil Industry Investments Declined by 30% in 2020 Meanwhile, the Secretary-

General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Sanusi Barkindo, has said that investments in the global oil and gas industry fell by 30 per cent in 2020.

The OPEC boss said to meet global oil demand, the sector would need a cumulative investment of $12.6 trillion in the upstream, midstream, and downstream through to 2045.

Barkindo, at a conference organised by the International Energy Forum (IEF), together with the International Energy Agency (IEA) and OPEC, added that the oil industry remains arguably the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He stated that almost 110 million people had been infected with the virus, over 2.4 million died, and millions of livelihoods destroyed, with no region or sector spared.

Quoting from the 14th edition of the OPEC World

Oil Outlook, which was launched on October 8, 2020, Barkindo stated that global primary energy demand would continue growing in the medium and long term, rising by 25 per cent by 2045 while oil will remain the largest contributor to the energy mix in 2045 at 28 per cent.

“To meet this future demand, the global oil sector will need a cumulative investment of $12.6 trillion in the upstream, midstream, and downstream through to 2045. These investments are essential for both producers and consumers.

“Underinvestment remains one of the great challenges for our industry and this was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the course of 2020, investments declined by 30 per cent. We need to work towards creating an investment-friendly climate,” he added.

He said as the world

economy contracted by 4.1 per cent in 2020, global oil demand declined by 9.7 mb/d, adding that last April, demand plunged 22 per cent and on April 20, 2020, WTI went negative for the first time in history, with prices plummeting to -$37.

He, again, lauded the role played by members and allies of OPEC through the ‘Declaration of Cooperation’, saying that this resulted in the largest and longestin-duration production adjustments in the industry’s history.

According to him, though the world has seen a recovery in the industry that has multiplier benefits for the global economy, there are still many uncertainties ahead.

Barkindo stated that as the extreme weather in Texas has shown, the world cannot take energy security for granted, even in a country like the United States where an Arctic blast has disrupted electricity supply.

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PAGE EIGHT OKONJO-IWEALA: MY EMERGENCE WILL OPEN DOORS FOR WOMEN Nigerians for their support and prayers.

She said: “I am amazed and I feel very proud and humble because many delegations see this as a historic occasion and moment where members have elected the first woman and the first African but on top of that, there is a third point they are making and that is, they have elected someone they feel has the knowledge and experience and competence to deliver.

"So, I tell people I am very proud to be African; l am proud for Nigeria and the continent and also proud for women. But the bottom line is the capability to do the job and to deliver so that, after me, there will be other women, other Africans, and that is the whole point.”

She stated that in her recent book with a

former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, she wrote about women and leadership, stressing the need for women to be given leadership positions in global organisations.

Given instances of her role as finance minister in Nigeria, she said she focused on delivering and working round the clock.

According to her, she recognised that if she could do a good job, people will no longer have inhibitions about giving women the job, adding that it was a big objective for her and it worked.

She said: “Since I had the job as finance minister, there have been three other women who have been nominated.

So, it had become almost the norm to put a woman as the finance minister and that is the impact I wanted to make.

"Similarly, for the WTO, this is a very important economic multilateral. In the 73 years of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which turned into the WTO, there has not been any woman.

"So, with this opening, I hope if I do a good job, which I would very much focus on doing, so that women will have the door of opportunities open, and Africans will also have the door of opportunities open.”

She assured the world that she would serve all WTO members and deliver results that would benefit not only Africa but other continents because the WTO is a multilateral organisation and she has to serve everybody.

On COVID-19, OkonjoIweala said the pandemic remained a global problem

as no one country alone can solve it.

She explained: “So, unless we come together and work together, we will not win. A country that is protectionist with respect to vaccines or is practicing vaccine nationalism would not win because variance will come from elsewhere.

“So, we need to work to ensure that all countries get access. Poor countries must get access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics as quickly as possible so that everybody can solve the problem together. It is a similar problem with climate change - no one country can solve it alone.”

Expressing her love for Africa, she said everybody knew that she loved being African and Nigerian.

"I love Nigeria so much, and

when I step into my country, I feel so good and at home.

“So, I am very proud, because I was raised to be a Nigerian and African. It means a lot to me and also a burden in a way because I have got to do well,” she added.

Okonjo-Iweala said it had become necessary to work hard to ensure the challenges were solved for every member of the WTO, while also bringing the value to Africa.

She stated that with the current agreement reached at the African Continental Free Trade zone, she would ensure that the WTO helped to attract benefits for the continent.

She promised to help develop the capacities of the least developed countries, the poorest countries in the world that have the particular

roles were assigned to various parties, including the governors of the states.

"Unfortunately, in the constitution and operationalisation of the community policing activities in the various states so far, partisanship has taken over the recruitment process. We no longer have faith in the neutrality and capacity of the community policing system to serve the purposes envisaged under the new Police Act. We, therefore, call on the police authorities to sanitise the system," the PDP governors said.

On the Electoral Act, the communiqué said the meeting

deliberated on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill pending before the National Assembly and urged the National Assembly to expedite action on its passage.

According to the governors, this is necessary in order to avoid the pitfalls that befell the amendment process in the eighth National Assembly, when Buhari vetoed the bill on the grounds, among others, that the amendment came too late.

The PDP governors also congratulated the newlyappointed service chiefs and recommended the complete overhaul of the national security architecture.

The governors also congratulated Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-

challenge of accessing the WTO.

ACF Congratulates Okonjo-Iweala Meanwhile, the ACF has congratulated Okonjo-Iweala on her emergence as the first African director-general of the WTO. In a statement yesterday, the Chairman of the forum, Chief Audu Ogbe, said her appointment has made Nigeria and Africa proud.

Ogbe added that the WTO is the playground of the big industrial powers who will not easily yield ground in the struggle to create more room for Africa and the developing world.

He said through her perseverance and doggedness, Okonjo-Iweala would succeed and make Nigeria proud.

PDP GOVS RESTATE CASE FOR DECENTRALISED POLICE to give states' helmsmen the legal backing to combat the menace.

The PDP governors, rising from a meeting, said in a communiqué issued yesterday by the Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, that community police, being promoted by the federal government to weaken the clamour for state police, would not be effective in checking insecurity.

The forum, in the communiqué, said it "strongly recommended the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force and the imperative introduction of the

state police in Nigeria, as one of the solutions to stem the tide of insecurity ravaging the country.”

The forum urged President Muhammadu Buhari to convene a consultative meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to appoint an Inspector-General of Police whether in acting or permanent capacity as envisaged under the 1999 Constitution.

According to the forum, the Nigeria Police Force as an institution is a common service agency for all tiers of government, explaining that that is why the Nigeria Police Council is made up of the president as chairman, 36

state governors, Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC) and Inspector-General of Police as members.

The PDP governors added that the council is the constitutionally designated forum for discussion of security matters in the country, particularly with respect to policing.

The governors said the newly-introduced community policing infrastructure was being implemented more in breach.

"The current Nigeria Police Act envisaged that community policing should serve as a decentralised measure of grassroots policing and various

Iweala on her emergence as the director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and wished her well in her new assignment.

They urged her to use her new office to facilitate trade and investment between Nigeria and other countries.

The PDP governors that attended the meeting were Tambuwal, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Senator Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Mr. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Chief Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, and Deputy Governor of Benue State, Mr. Benson Abounu.

STAND UP TO BANDITS, DEFENCE MINISTER CHARGES NIGERIANS AS 42 ABDUCTED IN NIGER from the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State in the wee hours of yesterday, told reporters in Abuja that the bandits were having a field day because they knew people in communities they attack would not fight back.

The bandits, said to be numbering about 300, in a daring raid, had staged attacks on the school, and abducted 27 pupils, three members of staff of the school and 12 members of families of the kidnapped staff.

The Kagara abduction came barely two months after gunmen, in commando attack, invaded the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, on December 11, 2020, and abducted over 300 pupils, all of whom were subsequently freed about a week later from where they were being held in a forest in neighbouring Zamfara State.

President Muhammadu Buhari immediately issued marching orders to security chiefs to recover the Kagara abductees.

In furtherance of the presidential directive, the security chiefs, led by the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno; and Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; his counterpart in the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola; their colleague at the Ministry of Police Affairs, Mr. Maigari Dingyadi; and the InspectorGeneral of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, arrived in Minna, the Niger State capital yesterday, to supervise the rescue operations.

Already, the military has launched manhunt for the kidnappers with a view to recovering the victims.

The Niger State Governor,

Alhaji Abubakar Bello, who gave more details on the abduction at a press conference in Minna, however, ruled out payment of ransom to the kidnappers.

He has also directed the immediate closure of boarding schools in three local government areas in the state to avoid a reoccurrence.

But piqued by the Kagara incident, the Senate urged the president to declare a state of emergency on security.

Magashi, while fielding questions from reporters in Abuja, urged Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits and stop being cowardly.

According to him, tackling the increasing insecurity in the country is the responsibility of all.

Reacting to the abduction of the Kagara pupils, Magashi said: "Well, is it the responsibility of the military alone? It is the responsibility of everybody to be alert and ensure safety when necessary.

We shouldn't be cowards.

Sometimes the bandits come with about three rounds of ammunition and when they fire shots everybody will run.

"In our younger days, we stand to fight any form of aggression. Why should people run away from minor aggression? We should stand and face them. If these people know that the people have the competence and capability to defend themselves, they will run away."

The minister, however, said the government would protect the territorial integrity of the county and its people.

But despite canvassing that Nigerians should stand up to the bandits, Magashi opposed the clamour for the federal government to allow Nigerians

to bear arms for self-defence.

He added that even in the developed country, they are still debating on whether or not to continue or stop it.

On the nomination of the immediate-past service chiefs as ambassadors, Magashi said considering the efforts they put in for the country, especially when they came in 2015, they made the nation proud by capturing all the areas under the control of Boko Haram terrorists.

Military Launches Manhunt for Kidnappers of 42 Pupils, Others The military yesterday launched a manhunt for kidnappers of pupils and members of staff of Government Secondary School, Kagara, Niger State.

The Nigerian Army Headquarters, in a statement, said troops were in pursuit of the kidnappers.

It said the military, working in concert with other security agencies, had mobilised forces in a bid to ensure safe return of the kidnapped victims.

The manhunt is coming as troops of Operation Takai Bango, a subsidiary of Operation Lafiya Dole, killed two terrorists in Baiomari, Yobe State.

The statement signed by army spokesman, Brig.Gen. Mohammed Yerima, called on members of the public to assist the security agencies with information to lead to the arrest of the abductors.

Security Chiefs, Ministers in Niger to Coordinate Rescue With President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to the armed

forces to ensure the safe return of all the captives, the NSA, Monguno; Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed; Minister of Interior; Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, his counterpart at the Ministry of Police Affairs, Mr. Maigari Dingyadi; and the IG, Mr. Mohammed, yesterday arrived in Minna, to coordinate rescue efforts.

Earlier, Buhari had directed the armed forces as well as the police to ensure the safe return of all those abducted.

The president, while condemning the abduction, said in a statement by his media assistant, Malam Garba Shehu, that he had received reports of the brazen attack on the school and the subsequent abduction.

Buhari dispatched to Minna a team of security chiefs to coordinate the rescue operations and meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff of the college.

He assured the people of the support of his administration to the armed forces in their battle against terrorism and banditry.

He urged them to strive to end the security crisis and avoid cowardly attacks on schools in the future.

Monguno, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, said the government would spare no efforts to secure the release of the captives.

He added that the strategy used to rescue the Kankara schoolboys would be adopted to free the Kagara 42.

He stated that those behind the kidnap would also be arrested and prosecuted.

He also announced the deployment of four additional units of riot policemen in the state to improve security while his office is working with the

Directorate of State Services (DSS) and other intelligence groups to fish out criminals.

Earlier, the governor had said his government would not pay ransom to bandits because it had discovered that the money being paid to them was being used to purchase arms and ammunition.

Bello, however, said any of the bandits that genuinely repent would be rehabilitated by the state.

The governor had earlier confirmed the abduction of 42 persons by the bandits from the school.

Bello, at a news conference after an emergency State Executive Council meeting, said 27 of those kidnapped were pupils; three, members of staff of the school and 12 were family members of the kidnapped staff.

Bello also confirmed the death of a pupil who was shot by the bandits. He gave the name of the deceased as Monday Doma.

He added that the school before the incident had a population of 650 pupils.

Bello also confirmed that out of the 40 passengers travelling in a Niger State Transport Authority vehicle abducted last Sunday, eight had been released while the bandits are demanding ransom for others.

The governor directed the closure of all boarding schools in Rafi, Mariga, Shiroro and Munya LGAs because of the possibility of their being attacked by bandits.

Senate Asks Buhari to Declare Emergency on Security The Senate at plenary yesterday, urged Buhari to, as a matter urgency, declare a state of

emergency on security.

The Senate, while condemning the attack on the Kagara school, also urged the president to consider and implement the recommendations of the Senate ad hoc committee on Nigeria security challenges dated March 17, 2020.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance, sponsored by Senator Sani Musa (Niger East APC).

Moving the motion, Musa expressed concern over the recent terrorist attack and abduction of the pupils.

The senator said the bandits were dressed in military uniforms when they attacked the school and overpowered the security guard before whisking away their victims.

According to him, security agents have detected the bandits' hideout and have started tracing their movement.

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THURSDAY, ͹΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

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PACAC: Civil Service Reforms Crucial to Combating Corruption Seeks special crimes court Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), yesterday advocated an urgent reform of the federal civil service to guarantee the success of the current anticorruption campaign.

PACAC said the civil service, being the professionals saddled with the implementation of the government's plans and programmes must be purged since every government decision would be executed by them.

Speaking during a virtual Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and media dialogue, Executive Secretary of PACAC, Prof. Sadiq Radda, stated that it was, in reality, easier to deal with lawmakers and the judiciary than dealing with bureaucrats.

The meeting was called

to review the fight against corruption and to discuss the way forward to achieving a sustainable war against the menace.

Describing the Nigerian civil service as parasitic and corrupt, Radda added that the government must take drastic and revolutionary decisions for civil servants to occupy their rightful place in the fight against corruption.

“Findings have shown that if you want to tackle corruption, that something drastic, something serious, something revolutionary and aggressive should be done to our ministries, departments and agencies.

“It's even easier to work with the National Assembly and the judiciary but you have the civil service, ministries and departments that will implement these policies and programmes. But if

they are simply not serious, they are corrupt and are not straightforward, then there's a problem,” Radda said.

According to him, the reform of the civil service is one of the most important things to be done so that Nigeria can have workers that deliver.

While urging CSOs and the media to continue to put pressure on the system “so that this over-bloated civil service, this parasitic civil service can be made functional within the country,” Radda explained that civil servants remain a sour point in President Muhammadu Buhari's fight against sleaze.

He also said without an efficient judiciary, Nigeria could not make progress, adding that PACAC has come to the realisation that the judiciary remains one of the shortcomings in the country’s

fight against corruption.

He also listed funding as a major problem hindering the anti-corruption agencies, stating that they do not have enough money to do their jobs, leading to challenges of quality staffing.

He urged the government to consider the fight against corruption as a source of revenue the same way oil gives Nigeria revenue.

“Fighting corruption is a source of revenue because if you fight corruption by blocking all avenues of leakages, you have saved revenue. So, without funding, the anti-corruption agencies are not likely to perform their jobs the way they should,” he stated.

According to him, although a lot is being done at the federal level to fight corruption, nothing much is being done at the state level

and local governments.

He said since the federal government had kept anticorruption as an agenda, if state governments and local governments could do a similar thing, Nigeria would be better off.

“The effort is at the national level. Nothing much is being done at the state and local government levels and they control close to 50 per cent of monthly allocation that we share in Nigeria,” he said.

Radda also called for the establishment of special crimes courts to unburden the regular courts.

He said if created, the special courts could handle issues like farmers/herders crisis, insurgency, militancy and other conflicts, to prevent judges from being distracted.

While calling for a review of the high cost of governance, he urged the National Assembly

to come out with modalities on how to cut cost.

In his remarks, Executive Chairman, Centre for Anti-corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, identified one of the problems hindering the fight against sleaze as the opacity in government operations.

He urged PACAC to advise the government to have a technical body to analyse projects that are funded to check whether they meet specifications or not Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani, said Nigerians should be worried about the state of the country.

He called for synergy among the corruption-fighting agencies, saying that all the arms of government must be ready to work together to block leakages.

Name Gwarinpa Estate after Jakande, Lagos Senators Urge Buhari Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja The three All Progressives Congress (APC) senators from Lagos State have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to name the Gwarinpa Estate in Abuja after a former governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.

Jakande, who died on February 11 at 91, was reputed to have conceptualised the estate when he was minister of Works and Housing in the late General Sani Abacha regime.

The senators who raised a point of order 43, presented on their behalf by the senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Olamilekan Adeola, at yesterday plenary,

stated that the late Jakande conceived the idea of constructing the estate, which is considered to be the biggest in West Africa.

Adeola described Jakande as a welfarist whose policies targeted the poor and the majority, saying the deceased was a humble gentleman with titanic achievements who deserves a national monument like having the Gwarimpa Estate renamed after him.

He added that the deceased shunned ostentatious lifestyle in and out of office and could not be accused of being corrupt.

He noted that it is on record that for all he built in terms of housing, he never

allocated land or house to himself in Lagos State or in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Jakande, he said, contributed to the development of Nigeria in terms of his many infrastructural legacies in Lagos State and the FCT. ''I raised this point of order to bring to the notice of this Senate the demise of a great man, an elder statesman, a true progressive and a nationalist in the person of the late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande. Alhaji Jakande passed away in his Ilupeju home at the ripe age of 91 on February 11, 2021, and has since been buried according to Muslim rites.'

''There is no doubt that Lagos State and indeed Nigeria lost an illustrious son that contributed in great measure to the development of the society in his earthly sojourn. As the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) candidate, he ran for election as governor in Lagos State and won to become the first executive governor of Lagos State in the Second Republic,” he said.

Adeola said Jakande ran an effective administration that implemented the four cardinal policies of his party, targeting the poor.

The deceased, he said, constructed 30,000 housing units in places like AmuwoOdofin, Ijaiye, Dolphin, OkeAfa, Ije, Abesan, Iponri, Ipaja,

Abule Nla, Epe, Surelere, Iba, Ikorodu, and Badagry.

Adeola noted that Jakande also constructed neighbourhood primary and secondary schools all over the state.

Under Jakande’s administration, Adeola said, primary schools increased from 605 to 812, while secondary schools more than doubled increasing from 105 to 223.

“He implemented his party's free education policy to the fullest and brought the shift system to an end. To his credit is the establishment of Lagos State University. ''With the annulment of June 12 and military the takeover, Alhaji Jakande accepted to

serve the nation in the capacity of Minister of Works under the late General Sanni Abacha military regime,” he stated.

According to him, to Jakande’s credit as minister is the largest housing estate in Africa, the Gwarimpa Housing Estate, which he conceptualised before he was changed as well as Lugbe Housing Estate in the FCT. “I graciously request the Federal Government of Nigeria to immortalise him with a national monument like renaming the Gwarimpa Estate after him or anyway the federal government deemed fit,'' he said.

The Senate thereafter observed one-minute silence in honour of Jakande.

Ehingbeti: Experts Urge Lagos, Others to Maintain Digital Policy Consistency Segun James Technological experts at the ongoing Lagos State Economic Summit, Ehingbeti, have stressed the need for governments to maintain policy consistency for technological innovations to drive development as Nigeria is gradually adjusting to the realities of the fourth industrial revolution.

This, according to them, would unleash innovation in a sustainable way and free the sector, which has been stiffened for years. The analysts opined that policy consistency will encourage innovation and stimulate sectoral growth.

Speaking during yesterday’s session, the Commissioner for Economic and Budget Planning who is also a Co-chair of the summit, Mr. Samuel Egube explained that Ehingbeti was “about Lagos and not the State government. It is about the state to take certain actions and it is also to encourage the private sector to take actions”.

“This has created an ecosystem for both the public and private sector to

partner and add value. The idea is not only about what the state government should do. Of course, there is a lot it should do, but what the private sector should do should also be discussed.

Ehingbeti is a platform for both the state government and private sector to collaborate to achieve a common good,” he pointed out.

However, at one of the 18 plenary sessions held yesterday, panelists at “Unleashing Disruptive Innovation for Development,” were of the opinion that the government must allow flexible learning options and imbed digital technology into the educational curriculum.

Commenting on strategy that must be leveraged to lay the foundation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the state, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, partner, head of advisory, KPMG noted that: “Fiscal tax incentives and tax waivers are important for technological innovators. Really, research and development incentives for technological innovation have not fully implemented

in this country. This is something we need to look at especially for young startups that are leveraging creative technology and unleashing innovation. Tax waivers even for local technological manufacturers are extremely important”.

“One thing that is also very critical is government consistency. We can put waivers in place, incentives in place; but if you implement tax and incentives in the first or two years, and there is a reversal of policy. That will mean three step forward six steps backward”.

“There is nothing more detrimental to policy than inconsistency. There should be clarity in policy, and once there is clarity, then you can hold all parties to their responsibilities”.

On her part, Alice Tomdio of Paystack, said there should be a massive drive to get young people involved at an early age, “If we want to transform Lagos, the idea starts from school. If you make people see this is viable, possible and there is value in working with

software companies.

“It means a change in social attitudes and change in culture and teaches people that startups are good. There is a need to create awareness on building, creating and working in startups to change,” she stated.

While, the Managing Director, Flying Doctors Nigeria, Dr. Ola Orekunrin, was of the opinion that the nation had placed too much emphasis on tertiary education without allowing industries to drive its educational sector, said “We need more industry participation to drive our educational systems.

“We should have a more flexible transition to work for secondary school exit, and closer relationship with industry. We put too much emphasis on tertiary institutions in the first place, there should be some programme that allows people to learn in the evening, while working during the days,” she maintained.

Reiterating the position of Lagos State Government towards promoting digital

inclusion in the state, the Special Adviser, Technology and Innovation, Mr. Tubosun Alake, said the government had commenced several initiatives that relevant partners can leverage on.

“Right now, there is a curriculum re-evaluation and reform in Lagos State, and this is being driven by the Ministry of Education. Bodies like LASRRA, Ministry of Science and Technology get involved in that exercise, contribute technically and drive some of the things I am talking about for the expected outcomes. There is an exercise on curriculum reform now, so if anybody wants to contribute to that exercise, they can come to us."

As embedding digital technology into the education curriculum and stimulating youth entrepreneurship in digital space have become imperative in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the panelists believe that “We cannot fold our hands. We need to create that enabling environment for the youth in partnership with the private

sector and other government agencies.

“There is a need to establish a programme to provide capacity building and financial assistance to youth-led startups, ” the panelists alluded.

They however, called for policies that would promote the use of locally developed technology solutions in order to create supply, noting that the nation’s population provides the demand.

Also, it was stated that as the demands for technological innovations grow, the need to enforce provisions of The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) local content guidelines to ensure both private and government agencies use locally made technology becomes imperative for the sector.

“There are local software developers here who have developed reconciliation systems, APM reconciliation systems, developed all sorts of very innovative systems, we need to encourage those operators in Nigeria.

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Kagara Abduction: Atiku Cautions against Rewarding Criminality Chuks Okocha inAbuja Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday said Nigeria must stop rewarding criminality,

warning that doing so will result in more crimes being perpetrated.

In a statement he personally signed, Atiku lamented the deteriorating state of insecurity

House Screens Service Chiefs

Adedayo Akinwale and Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives yesterday screened the President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominees for the positions of Service Chiefs as requested by the President.

The House had at its plenary on 10th February 2021, read a request from the President informing the House of the nomination of Major General Lucky Irabor; MajorGeneral Ibrahim Attahiru; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo; and Air Vice Marshal Ishiaka Oladayo Amao, for appointment as Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff, respectively.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Defence and Chairman of the Screening

Committee, Hon. Babajimi Benson, said the nominees were presented for confirmation in accordance with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Speaking to THISDAY, the Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu justified the screening of the new Service Chiefs, saying that the House just like the Senate has the constitutional power to carry-out the exercise.

Kalu cited Section 18, subsection 1 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004, which he said reveals that Buhari was in order when he sent a letter to the House of Representatives on the 27 January 2021 asking for the screening of Service Chiefs.

in the country, describing the menace as alarming.

While noting that a situation whereby children and minors were being kidnapped, the exvice president asked the federal government to tackle cases of abductions by ending what he calls the reign of impunity.

“Now is not the time for fingers to point in blame. Our

nation needs solutions. And we have now seen that paying ransoms, and allowing criminals to profit from their criminality is not a solution.

“When you reward crimes, the end result is more crime. “The only long-term solution to the insecurity challenge Nigeria is facing is to end the reign of impunity.

“The federal government must

enforce the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against abductions and kidnappings, by apprehending the criminals, trying them, and making an example of those convicted, to serve as a deterrent to others.”

He also called for the protection of schoolchildren in the affected states, asking the Nigerian government to deploy all-around

security personnel.

The ex-vice president said if it is “not feasible to have armed military guards in all schools, then each state in the should as a matter of urgency replicate the Civilian Joint Task Force idea, that has worked so well in Borno and deploy them to each school, along with men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”

AWARD… Amnesty International: Attacks WELL-DESERVED Nigeria’s Ambassador to Hungary, Ambassador Eniola Ajayi (left), receiving ‘Outstanding Export Enabler Award’ from the Chief Executive Officer, on Niger Students Undermine Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo, at the induction ceremony for Ambassador-designates in Abuja…yesterday Right to Education Buhari Meets Bello over Niger School Kidnap Incident Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja A global human rights group, Amnesty International, said yesterday that the abduction of 42 students and teachers by gunmen at the Government Science College Kagara, Niger State, in the early hours of yesterday, was capable of undermining the rights to education of the victims.

While condemning the criminal action of the gunmen, the group described the attack as “appalling,” saying it is the latest in a string of attacks on schools in northern Nigeria.

“Attacks on schools and abductions of children are war crimes. Those found to be responsible of the abduction

must be brought to justice for these and other human rights abuses”, the Director of Amnesty International, Osai Ojigho, said.

“Education is under attack in northern Nigeria. Schools should be places of safety, and no child should have to choose between their education and their life. Other children have had to abandon their education after being displaced by frequent violent attacks on their communities, and many teachers have been forced to flee to other states.”

The group advised the Nigerian authorities to act immediately to prevent attacks on schools, and protect children’s lives and their right to education.

Senate Probes Alleged Exorbitant Charges, Extortion

by Shipping Companies Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Senate has mandated its Committee on Marine Transport to engage stakeholders in the shipping industry and Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) with a view to proffer solution to the exorbitant increase and unjustifiable fees charged by shipping companies on Nigeria-bound cargoes.

The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah at the plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Ubah noted that Nigeria is an import driven economy with excessive dependence on imports for consumption and capital goods.

He noted that in May 2017, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was Acting President at the time, signed an Executive Order

directing 24-hour operations at the Apapa Port and outlawing unofficial charges at the Ports.

This order, Ubah explained, was aimed at improving the ease of doing business and reducing the high costs at the Ports.

According to him, despite the order, available statistics suggest that these unjustifiable charges and extortion by shipping agencies and law enforcement officers at the Ports have continued till date.

He said that vessels coming to Nigeria Port queue for 30 days longer before birthing due to various charges, adding that the cost of shipping goods into Nigerian Ports is amongst the highest in the world, with the figure for Apapa Port costing more than thrice that to Tema in Ghana, and five times higher than that of Durban in South Africa.

Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari last night met behind closeddoors with the Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja over the kidnap of 42 students and teachers of Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger state.

Speaking after the meeting, Bello expressed his support for the call by the Nigerian Senate for the declaration of a state of emergency on security in the country, pointing out that all

parts of the country are currently in security crisis.

While thanking Buhari for swiftly ordering actions on the Kagara school kidnap, the governor said he had requested for more security personnel and equipment to fast-track results.

His words: “At the moment, if you look at what is happening, we are having security challenges in almost all parts of the country; so, yes, there’s a need to install some form of emergency on security matters across board. So, yes, I think the Senate acted in good faith.

Something definitely needs to be done.

“To be honest, I’m very convinced by what Mr. President told me and I feel I’ve seen the presence of the military in Kagara. I was there earlier today, and I also requested for some additional personnel and equipment, which I believe will be granted any moment from now.

“Right now, our immediate priority is to get the kidnapped victims released; after that I think we must have a long lasting solution to the farmers/ herders conflicts”.

Speaking on his reason for visiting the President, he said

“I came in this evening to thank Mr. President for his quick response to the plight of Niger State residents, following two serious kidnap incidences.

At the same time, we rubbed minds on what we think should be done so that we find an everlasting solution to the situation and Mr. President has confirmed to me that this matter will be given proper attention and we’ll continue engaging the service chiefs and the federal government so that we can guide and advise them on what we think should be done. So, I think it was a wonderful meeting.”

IG Deploys 150 Officers to Tackle Kidnappings, Killings in FCT Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu yesterday deployed 150 officers to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to fight kidnappings and killings.

Adamu had launched a strategic operation (Operation Puff Adder II) involving the deployment of human and operational assets to address

the emerging security challenges and rid the country of criminal elements.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, who disclosed these yesterday in a statement, charged all the deployed officers to be professional, firm, dedicated, civil with law-abiding citizens and ruthless to all criminal elements.

Ciroma said FCT should be more fortified, adding that the deployed officers are up to the

task.

His words: “Consequently, the Inspector-General of Police has graciously deployed 150 personnel consisting of operatives from the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit and Special Forces to the Federal Capital Territory to reinforce the on-going counter kidnapping operations. The deployment will strengthen security, dismantle and dislodge

all criminal hideouts especially kidnappers camp within the FCT. “Furthermore, the Command will anchor on this operation to foster community policing and collaboration with sister security agencies. Hence, I charge all personnel deployed within the FCT to be professional, firm, dedicated, civil with law-abiding citizens and ruthless to all criminal elements.

Nigerians Must Condemn Land Invasion, Kidnapping, Killing, Says Bamidele Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Senator representing Ekiti Central senatorial district in the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, has charged the federal government to be patriotic enough to deal with those fanning the ember of insecurity in the country.

Bamidele said the time has come for Nigerians to allow patriotic spirit to guide them in arresting and prosecuting those suspected to be killers, land invaders, kidnappers, rapists and those associated with the farmers-herdsmen crises across the country. The All Progressives

Congress (APC) chieftain stated this in the Senate last Tuesday while articulating his views on a motion he sponsored and entitled: ‘General Insecurity in Nigeria and Matters Arising’.

Bamidele, in a statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, warned that though he was against the culture of ethnic profiling in the farmers-herders’ clashes that are quaking the country’s foundation, but insisted that this shouldn’t dissuade the patriots from speaking the truth about the matter.

The party chieftain said: “The

insecurity in the country is no longer about the Fulanis and Ibos or Yoruba and Kanuris or about Northeast or Southwest, but about Nigeria.

“This is the time that the patriotic spirit that lives in all of us must guide us. Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution grants all of us the rights to own property anywhere in the country. But this is different from ownership of lands.

“Land Use Act clearly spelt out three ways lands can be acquiredby government, corporate body or individual. Though, I have the right to own property anywhere in the country, I have no right to

trespass on the land belonging to any other person.

“I am happy that the government at all levels and individuals are suggesting ways to end farmers-herdsmen clashes, but it is not the right of anyone to trespass on the land of another person.

“The war against insecurity must be taken to every section of this country, and our governors must be allowed to take charge of the security in their localities.

“Governor of Enugu State in the Southeast region or any governor in any zone must be allowed to take charge of their security.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

PDP Reconciliation Committee Meets Ex-govs NWC passes vote of confidence on Secondus Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s Reconciliation and Strategy Committee led by former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, met yesterday in Abuja.This is coming as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has passed a vote of confidence on their national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan disclosed to journalists after a meeting of the NWC that the party is united and indivisible in its affairs with Secondus.

Addressing journalists after an NWC meeting yesterday at the party secretariat, Ologbondiyan said that, “We are a united, indivisible and indissoluble National Working Committee (NWC) “ “We have a responsibility to move the party forward.

We have no issue with our national chairman.

“You will agree with me.

If there is any kind of issue, the environment will not be the same. APC is looking on how to divide the PDP. But one assurance, I will give is

that the NWC is united, no rancour and indivisible and working on how to deliver the party in the 2023 general elections.

“Rather, it is the APC that is in now in faction. We have in the APC, the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). In the PDP NWC, we have no faction”, Ologbondiyan stated On news report that some serving governors and former governors want to defect to the APC, he said, “none of our governors wants us to leave the PDP.” “Both Gbenga Daniel and Iyiola Omisore are not members of the PDP. If you are member of the party, you must be active.

He (Daniel) declared that he has a working relationship with Dapo Abiodun. He has since left PDP .Iyiola Omisore has since left the PDP. “ On whether the party will consider the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar as its president is candidate, the spokesman of PDP said, “We have not started selling forms, until then, we don’t know those who are contesting for the presidential ticket of the party for 2023. Moreover, we have not started selling forms”.

Meanwhile, details of the meeting with former governors, which started about 12.40pm, were not immediately known, but they might be connected to the strategy to reshape the PDP ahead of the 2023 general election.

The former governors in

attendance included Senator Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Senator Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Mr. Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Mr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara); Mr. Peter Obi (Anambra); Mr. Ahmed Makarfi, Mr. Ramalan Yero (Kaduna) and Boni Haruna (Adamawa).

Others are Mr. Babangida

Aliyu (Niger), Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Mr. Ibrahim Idris and Mr. Wada Idris (Kogi) and Senator Sam Egwu (Ebonyi)and Achike Udenwa of Imo State Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the chairman of the PDP Reconciliation Committee,

Saraki said: “The Party set up our Committee, National Reconciliation Committee.

Part of our terms of references is to consult with key stakeholders. Yesterday we met with our former President. Today we are consulting with our former governors who are our key stakeholders”.

Kano Shari’ah Official Allegedly Caught in Hotel with Married Woman Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Hisbah Board has set up a five-member committee to investigate its official, Sani Uba Remo, who was arrested by the police allegedly with a married woman in a hotel.

The spokesman of the agency, Mr. Lawal Ibrahim Fagge, told

THISDAY yesterday that the committee had been given three days to submit its report to the board for necessary action.

He said after the investigation, the board would take necessary disciplinary action against the officer.

Remo, who is the officer in charge (OC) of Anti-begging unit of the board, was apprehended

by the police in Downtown hotel in Sabon Gari area of Kano metropolis last Monday night.

“But if the outcome of the investigation or the recommendations are beyond the power of the board, it will forward the same to the appropriate authority for necessary action,” Fagge said.

Remo was said to have been

arrested following a complaint lodged by the husband of the woman with whom he was allegedly caught in the hotel.

However, when asked where the arrested officer was, Fagge said the officer had been released until after the outcome of the investigation as the offence was yet to be established.

I Have No Regrets on My Role as PDP Spokesman, Says Metuh

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday said despite his ordeal and travails, he has no regrets over his duties as the spokesman of

the party, stressing that it was his patriotic duty to the country.

Metuh, who spoke to a team of journalists who visited him at his residence in Abuja yesterday, observed that it has since become clear that his arrest, detention, court case, media trial and

multiple persecutions were all politically motivated to suppress the opposition, which he represented at the time.

Metuh, the former main opposition spokesperson explained that his statements and other activities as national publicity secretary of the PDP

geared towards cautioning on wrong policies as well as proffering alternative ideas for the progress of the country, adding that Nigeria would not have been in the current sorry state, if those ideas and cautions were taken into consideration.

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Terrorists Kill 11 Policemen, Villagers in Yobe Community Four policemen and seven villagers were allegedly killed on Tuesday when suspected members of the

Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked Bayamari in Yobe State.

The insurgents were said to

Power Sector Records First System Collapse in 2021 Nigeria’s power sector yesterday recorded system collapse, the first in 2021, resulting in a blackout that affected many parts of the country.

Ikeja Electric Plc, and Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc, disclosed this yesterday in messages to their customers through their separate Twitter handles.

In its message, Ikeja Electric said: “This is to inform you that we experienced a system collapse at 13:58hrs today and this affected all customers on the IE network. However, we are pleased to confirm that supply has been restored to Alimosho,

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) has decried inherent abuses and corrupt tendencies in the public service, stating that a total of N189 billion ‘excess cash’ was mopped up from ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the federal government between 2019 and 2020.

This is even as the federal government announced the constitution of a committee to resolve the controversies and challenges inherent in the application of the Integrated Personnel and Payment Information System (IPPIS).

The ICPC, particularly frowned on the manipulations in personnel cost expenditure, recommending that unspent balances should be blocked,

restrained/reversed immediately salaries of public sector workers are paid to prevent misuse.

The ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, who presented a paper at the Budget Office – ICPC interactive forum with Directors of Finance and Accounts and Directors of Internal Audit, in Abuja, yesterday, disclosed that part of the outcome of the Commission’s 2019 System Study and Review (SSR) was the mopping up of N42 billion (personnel cost) in 2019 and another N147 billion in 2020 respectively, bringing the total to N189 billion.

He said: “Part of the outcome from 2019 System Study and Review of the Commission is the mopping up of N42b (Personnel Cost) in 2019 and N147b in 2020 respectively.

US Agency Intervenes in Herders’ Crisis, Preaches Peaceful Coexistence Michael Olugbode in Abuja The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has waded into the ongoing farmers-herders crisis in the country.

The US agency, in order to make sure Nigeria is check, had in partnership with a coalition of international and local partners, successfully concluded a community-driven conflict mitigation intervention to restore peaceful coexistence among farmers and herders in vulnerable communities of the country.

One of the programmes organised by the USAID tagged: ‘Engaging Local Actors to Promote Peaceful Coexistence among Farmers and Herders in Taraba State (ELAPC)’, focused on ten communities across four local government areas in Taraba State, where violent conflict has damaged relationships along

said he is not authorised yet to provide details.

The policemen, sources, said were protecting the villagers when the insurgents struck.

“The policemen were on

alert and tried to engage, but were overpowered by the insurgents who were tens in number,” a source said.

“Villagers started running as the insurgents shot sporadically, and not less

than seven people were hit.”

Another source said some of the fleeing insurgents are now setting up makeshift camps in the area, from where they allegedly launch attacks on the villagers.

Ogba, and Alausa transmission stations at 14:47hours.

“Please note that gradual restoration to other areas is currently ongoing. Thank you for your understanding.”

On its part, EKEDC said, “There has been a partial system collapse on the national grid interrupting supply to most areas within our network. We are gathering updates on the situation and will provide them as available.

“For now, please be assured that all stakeholders are working hard to make sure this is resolved. We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.”

ICPC Decries Leakages in MDAs, Mops up N189bn Unspent Funds Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

be fleeing from the Sambisa forest following recent onslaughts by the armed forces in the area.

The police spokesperson in the state, Dungus Abdulkarim, who confirmed the attack,

ethnic, political and religious backgrounds.

A statement issued by USAID noted that over the last two years, ELAPC brought together more than 3,600 representatives of farmers and herders, Muslims and Christians, women and youths, as well as people living with disability to identify and address the drivers of the conflict and adopt inclusive strategies to reduce a culture of violence in the communities.

The statement quoted USAID Mission Director, Anne Patterson, to have told participants at the ceremony that: “This activity has made a real difference for peaceful coexistence in communities, demonstrating that even a modest initiative with communities and local officials can promote more robust collaboration between the government and civil society, and be real catalysts for positive change.”

YOU ARE WELCOME TO COAL CITY...

Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left), and the new Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Enugu State Command, Valentine Ezenyimuru, when the latter paid a maiden courtesy visit to the governor, at the Government House, Enugu … yesterday

NIDCOM Petitioned over Killing of 40-year-old Nigerian in Johannesburg Michael Olugbode in Abuja A petition has been sent to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) by a family of a 40-year-old Abudu Adedayo Temitope, who was killed by a yet-to-be-identified assailant in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In the petition signed by a

brother to the deceased, Mr. Abudu Olatunde Mustapha, he implored the commission to investigate the killing of his brother, Adedayo, and bring the culprits to justice.

He narrated that his brother, who lived in Delvers Street, Central Johannesburg, South Africa, was gunned down on January 5, 2021, by unknown

gunmen “for no just cause.”

Mustapha said his brother, who was assassinated in cold blood by an unknown gunman, was rushed to Hilbrow Community Health Centre by some eyewitnesses where he was pronounced dead.

The deceased, a 40-year-old native of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun

State, is survived by a wife and three children, as well as five siblings, who are all based in Nigeria.

The petitioner, Mustapha, claimed that Adedayo was a law-abiding citizen who was going about his lawful business in South Africa, and had no criminal records both in South Africa and Nigeria.

Ogun Community Set to Construct Monarch’s New Palace The ancient town of Ado-Odo, in Ogun State has gone into full festivity mood as citizens and the town’s monarch, Oba Abdul-Lateef Adeniran Akanni, Olofin Adimula advance preparations for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Oba’s ultra-modern private residence on Saturday, February 20, 2021.

The ceremony will be held at Alamuwa Grammar School’s

football ground, while the foundation ceremony follows shortly at the construction site located at Ogun State Housing Corporation, Oke-Oyinbo, Ado-Odo. Important dignitaries, including Obas and traditional rulers across Yorubaland are expected to grace the event.

“In recent times, our town had witnessed many

challenges. However, this event demonstrates the commitment of sons and daughters of AdoOdo to embrace peace and development championed by our Kabiyesi who has doubled his commitment to the peace and development of Ado-Odo and Aworiland,” a member of the organising committee and senior lecturer at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State,

Dr. Olakunle Fatai Ogundele, noted while speaking on the upcoming event.

He enjoined all sons and daughters of Ado-Odo, friends and well-wishers to donate generously towards the project, emphasising that Ado Odo which is open to business is blessed with land resources and skilled manpower especially in Agriculture.

FCT Blames Scavengers for Criminal Activities Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has singled out scavengers, who he alleged are under the influence of hard drugs, as the catalysts of many criminal activities within the territory.

He made the disclosure at the regular FCT Security Committee meeting with heads of the various military and para-military formations in the FCT held last Tuesday, while assuring them of the readiness of the FCT Administration to tackle the menace of scavenging, cultism and drug

abuse as part of strategies to ensure the security of lives and property of residents of the territory.

He said: “Each time there is a crisis, you find that people of no known address; people without any means of livelihood suddenly come up with arms and start fighting

and killing one another. All these are done under the influence of drugs and this is something that we are going to confront head-on.”

Bello blamed scavengers for constituting a major threat to lives and property even when their activities are banned in the Federal Capital City.

PDP Tackles APC over Banditry, Abduction of Niger Students Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it was alarmed by the recent escalation of banditry in Niger State and other parts of the country, following the ‘failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to take decisive step to tackle the scourge’.

The party also condemned

the reported killing as well as abduction of students of the Government Science Secondary School (GSS) in Kagara, Niger State, by bandits, who invaded the school yesterday morning.

According to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party tasked security forces in the country to go after the outlaws and rescue the children.

Ologbondiyan said such is

the only acceptable thing to be done as Nigerians were jolted by last Tuesday’s coordinated bandit attacks, kidnapping and killings in several communities in the state.

The PDP said the bandits were reported to have last Tuesday moved from one village to another, supported by helicopter as they pillaged innocent people, sacked major highways and held communities in the state hostage

for several hours without any counter attack.

The party described as revealing that while the people of Niger State and Nigerians in other states were under attack by bandits, APC leaders, including those in Niger State, were busy pursuing their party’s phony membership re-registration exercise, instead of rallying security and rescue efforts for the victims.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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COMMENT

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

33 YEARS OF ‘ROAD SAFETY’ IN NIGERIA The FRSC has done remarkably well, writes Bisi Kazeem

T

he ugly narrative of road traffic crashes in the early 70s led to the establishment of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in 1988. The commission was specifically empowered by legislation to coordinate road safety administration and traffic management in Nigeria with an ultimate aim of halting the trend of road traffic crashes and fatalities on all the 204,000 kilometres of roads that traverse the country.

Prior to the establishment of the FRSC in 1988, the World Health Organization (WHO) had adjudged Nigeria, the second only behind Ethiopia, as the most dangerous country in the world to drive a motor vehicle. FRSC has not only changed that narrative as lead agency in traffic and safety management, it has recorded tremendous achievements in the area of traffic engineering, road safety administration, traffic management, rescue operation, and crash reduction. It has achieved this feat as a result of a chain of leadership ingenuity that led to the fusion of the services of volunteers called Special Marshals and social responsibility groups. To this end, road safety administration in Nigeria has witnessed a paradigm shift from the traditional approach to the use of state of the art information technology facilities. The corps has also enhanced its operational capacity aimed at promoting public safety and security.

Considering that road transport sector in Nigeria accounts for over 90% of passengers and freight movement, this exerts undue pressure on the FRSC in discharging its cardinal responsibilities.

But the corps recorded a commendable reduction in crash from 40,881 in 1976 down to 10,522 in 2020. The statistics above show that the corps is gaining grounds accordingly.

As a performance driven organisation, FRSC is today the only law enforcement organization in Nigeria certified by the International Standard organization. The corps has over three decades designed and operated 28 web applications for its operational activities so as to create an accessible platform for the general public.

The introduction of the toll free 122 emergency number and a 24 hours call center has reduced emergency response time from 50 minutes to 15 minutes thereby decreasing the number of fatalities in crash situations. The introduction of Verification Portal for drivers licence and number plates, Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS) for uniformity and harmonization of fleet operators and the Driving School Standardisation Scheme (DSSP), speed limiting device and the vehicle tracking system among others, are policies formulated and implemented to fight road traffic crash in the country.

Moreover, as one of the nation’s custodian of critical data infrastructure, the corps has successfully strengthened interagency cooperation with relevant stakeholders such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), and banks in Nigeria with evident success.

The current management led by Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has so far constructed and inaugurated 16 permanent structures in various sector commands, with other two awaiting inauguration. Oyeyemi’s swift response to the incessant abuse of traffic rules also led to the putting together of the ‘Operation Cobra’ which has become instrumental to the decline in crash rate as

THE CORPS RECORDED A COMMENDABLE REDUCTION IN CRASH FROM 40,881 IN 1976 DOWN TO 10,522 IN 2020. THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE CORPS IS GAINING GROUNDS

apprehended offenders are usually referred to a government health facility for Emotional Stability Test.

On a regular basis, the corps also embarks on consultation with stakeholders who have become more involved through the mechanism of the special marshals, celebrity special marshals and road safety clubs. The deployment of FRSC personnel to Tank Farms has also helped in reducing the rate of crashes associated with articulated vehicles, particularly tankers carrying petroleum products. Through its Safe-to-Load initiative, these articulated vehicles have been subjected to checks before they are allowed to load from the various depots across the country with trained personnel of the corps to ensure strict compliance.

In pursuit of aggressive public enlightenment programme, the FRSC management under Oyeyemi established the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM in October, 2019 as a medium for educating members of the public on traffic matters and updating them of road conditions across the country. The corps further introduced a massive welfare scheme through the Post Service Scheme and the 20,000 Housing project for Staff.

With its present 12 zonal commands, 37 sector commands, 213 unit commands, 41 out posts, FRSC academy, FRSC training schools, FRSC staff college, 214 driver license centres/ work stations, one signage plant, one national driver license print farm, 43 emergency ambulance points and 17 staff clinics; it is quite evident that the corps has witnessed tremendous expansion in these past 33 years.

On the global scene, FRSC takes leadership role of West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) and the corps has provided technical assistance to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ethiopia and a few other countries on the sub-region. It has also secured engagement with international organizations for capacity building including world bank project on Safe corridor Project, etc. Apart from succeeding in securing the endorsement of National Road Safety Strategy in 2016, FRSC made Nigeria the first African country to be admitted into the International Traffic Safety Data Analysis Group (IRTAD) and became the first African country to accede to six United Nations Conventions on road safety.

These efforts have earned the organization both national and international awards, including being rated as the best lead agency on road safety management in Africa. The corps’ success story has been attributed to the introduction of a world class drivers’ licensing standard which is difficult to forge, building and maintenance of a dedicated work force including regular marshals and a volunteer arm and optimal deployment of technology, a feat which has been described as unparalleled in Africa, South of the Sahara.

Experts in the transportation industry have also identified data utilization and transparency as quick win strategies that have ensured effective management through a weekly reportage of traffic trends, utilisation of data for performance monitoring and targeted interventions, effective monitoring, evaluation and planning, in addition to transparent evaluation of trends and sustained drive for improved performance. r,B[FFN JT BO "TTJTUBOU $PSQT .BSTIBM BU '34$

THE DANGER OF ‘CATTLE IMPERIALISM’

Olusegun Adeniyi writes that Nigeria is striving to build a modern nation on the foundation of primordial instincts r$POUJOVFE GSPN CBDLQBHF

W

hen I noticed early in the administration of President Jonathan that noted Ijaw people were attempting to claim him for themselves, I also warned in a piece titled, ‘Their Son, Our President’ published in January 2012. The intervention followed a press statement by Chief Edwin Clark following a meeting of Niger Delta leaders where they alleged that the then ongoing nationwide protests against removal of fuel subsidy were targeted at removing President Jonathan from office. “The People of the South-south will not tolerate any untoward action or plan against our son, whose actions though seemingly painful in the interim, are geared towards repositioning this country for the ultimate good of all in the future,” Clark had warned on behalf of the group at a period Niger Delta militants were also making incendiary statements. Somehow, those provocative statements, which were allowed free rein at the time, ultimately worked against the second term aspiration of President Jonathan in 2015.

To be sure, the problem between herders and farmers in Nigeria predates the election of President Buhari. But the preachments for ‘accommodation’ from him following a gruesome massacre in Benue State (when he ought to advocate justice for victims) helped to inflame passions. So also the rationalisation by others that cattle could graze freely anywhere in the country or that herdsmen have a right to carry AK-47 while roaming about. With the impression created (and justifications made by public officials at different times) that lawless bands of herders (the majority of whom may not even be Nigerians) are not accountable for killing, kidnapping, raping and maiming rural dwellers in the north, it was not long before this impunity was carried to the south. That was the beginning of the problem in a nation where a combination of identity and politics has always been combustible.

As Reuben Abati pointed out in his piece on Tuesday, “when government fails to promote the values that bind us together, language, ethnicity and geography become tools of conflict”. That precisely is what we are facing, especially given the impression that some are above the law. For instance, I have been living in Abuja since 2007 and never have I experienced the current situation where motorists must compete with cows on the road on a daily basis, despite laws banning open grazing within the FCT. From Asokoro to Maitama and Jabi, the common sight within the past six years is that of herds of cattle blocking major access roads. And we are asked to accept the situation as normal?

In an editorial on this ugly development four years ago in 2017, THISDAY stated: “… the herdsmen have continued to operate without hindrance and with a sense of entitlement.

Yet to allow them to persist in utter disregard for the law prohibiting cattle grazing within the precincts of the federal capital is to suggest to other citizens that the possibility exists that they too could do as they wished. That certainly will not augur well for the nation…

If the authorities do not curb the brazen acts of these herdsmen who, in turning Abuja to their grazing field, act as though above the law, they are unwittingly sowing the seed of a serious crisis.”

A few weeks before that editorial, I had arrived home to meet a crowd of people, including policemen whose facility in butchering I later witnessed. A cow had strayed into the small shed built for the PHCN transformer beside my house and was electrocuted immediately. The young Fulani shepherd was running to help the cow before he was held back. I shudder to imagine what would have happened to us if the boy (who could not be more than 12 years old) had died. That is the sort of security problem created when Nigeria is turned into a grazing field.

Let’s be clear. This administration has not done a thing for the development of Fulani people. Even in terms of distribution

of opportunities, only few Fulani are in government. Some of us can distinguish those who are genuinely Fulani from the ‘political Fulani’ so we know that these herders are also victims of the Nigerian malaise. By encouraging nomadism as a way of life for certain people, not only do we encourage a violation of the rights of land and property owners, we also devalue and deny those herders the full benefits of citizenship. Meanwhile, those who romanticize this culture send their own children abroad to school and when they want to marry, they don’t seek spouses in the forest; they go for educated people like themselves, including from other ethnic groups.

What transpired in the Soyinka case bears eloquent testimony to the fact that we are encouraging a culture that has no future.

Instead, young nomads have become mere fodder. After the cows that invaded his compound had been ‘arrested’, the Nobel Laureate said he decided to go to the police to lodge a report. “On the way, we met a detachment, turned round, and together we returned to the scene of the crime. The police wanted to commence combing the bush for the fugitives but I stopped them – what was the point? Keep the cows, I advised, and the owner will show up. Of course, that owner eventually did,” said Soyinka. That owner, as the Ogun State Police Command spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, would later reveal is “a gentleman by the name, Kazeem Sorinola, who is Yoruba. He put the cows in charge of a Fulani man.”

While that speaks volume, this is the time for responsible leadership in both Abuja and the states. But profiling in a diverse society such as ours can only perpetuate a poisonous social environment antithetical to peaceful co-existence. We have a law and order problem with herders. But because regime protection is considered more important than national security, criminal activities not in any way threatening to the government in power are treated with levity. This in turn has encouraged a resort to barbarism against

innocent people who happen to speak the same language as herders. I understand that the man whose ‘aluwo’ (diabolic deadly blow) started the whole crisis in Ibadan’s Shasha market, is actually from Niger Republic!

The current administration has also done little to address the issue of perception. It is not enough to threaten to deal with errant herders, it is necessary to actually prosecute and make examples of some to serve as deterrence. When we allow things to fester, people become emboldened, and the combination of different ethnicities, religions, and languages guarantees an explosion. We must urgently find a way to redefine cattle rearing.

We should move beyond open grazing and grazing routes which will always spark conflict. We may need a transitional arrangement but rethinking animal husbandry is an urgent task. We also need to depoliticise this issue. Beyond the herder-farmer crisis, there is broader insecurity which may not have the same high political profile but requires urgent solutions too.

In what has become a lucrative enterprise, bandits yesterday morning moved to Government Science College, Kagara in Niger State where they killed one student before abducting 27 others, three staff and 12 members of their families. “When you negotiate and pay ransom to criminals, they will use the money to purchase weapons”, said an exasperated Governor Sani Bello in apparent reference to the policy of appeasement that defines the approach to security in some northern states with the federal government looking the other way.

At the end of the day, we must come to terms with the different variants of criminality that threaten the unity of our country, destroy the future of our young citizens and put Nigeria in the ranks of nations striving to return to a primitive economy in a 21st century world. On the last score, the abiding problem remains that we are striving to build a modern nation on the foundation of primordial tribal instincts.

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EDITORIAL

GROWING MENACE OF NOISE POLLUTION Government should enforce legislation on noise pollution

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cientists have determined that noise, ordinarily, is not a bad thing, but it becomes a pollutant in the environment when it rises to unbearable levels. In Nigeria, noise emanates from electricity generating sets/plants at homes and offices, music from the streets as vendors compete for attention; traffic noise from vehicle engines and horns; construction/ industrial noise or noise from worship centres.

Many of our towns and cities have become environmental nightmare. A few weeks ago, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) was compelled to embark on enforcement of its laws NOISE POLLUTION HAS on noise pollution by BECOME A PERENNIAL sealing 15 hospitality facilities. The governPROBLEM THAT IS ment says the issue POSING SERIOUS of noise pollution has become a perennial THREAT TO THE problem that is posing SANITY, STABILITY serious threat to the AND PEACE OF MIND sanity, stability and OF MANY NIGERIANS peace of mind of the state’s residents.

We understand that residents, fatigued by the hazardous effect of the constant noise, have had to cry out via petitions to LASEPA, which prompted the sealing of the hospitality facilities.

This is, however, a problem that goes beyond Lagos. It is a national challenge even if other states may not be dealing with it.

Doctors are concerned that pollution worsens spirals underlying health issues, particularly cardiovascular challenges like blood pressure levels and stress related diseases, sleeping disorders, fatigue, as well as hearing problems.

We believe the Lagos authority is on the right path in taking action against those causing noise pollution and we enjoin other states to pay similar attention, particularly to enforce existing laws or to promulgate regulations for the good of all. It should also be a source of concern that regardless of robust regulations the federal

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

EFCC: IS ABDULRASHEED BAWA READY?

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government instituted to curb noise pollution, there has been lack of will to enforce them.

For instance, there is the National Environmental (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations of 2009 that has all manner of provisions which the federal government believes will enthrone a healthy environment for all in Nigeria, the tranquility of their surroundings and their psychological well-being by regulating noise levels and generally, to elevate the standard of living of the people. The regulation prescribes the maximum permissible noise levels a facility or activity to which a person may be exposed.

In all of these, the government stipulates maximum permissible noise levels from a facility in the general environment and that there will be exemptions for those who can prove that high noise levels from their facility is inevitable.

Regardless, those who seek exemption are required to apply for a permit to emit noise in excess of the permissible levels, and this permit can be revoked if there is violation of the terms and conditions. Besides, whoever considers that the noise levels being emitted, or likely to be emitted, may be higher than the permissible noise levels is expected to complain in writing but must show or prove personal loss or injury or discomfort caused by the emission of the alleged noise.

Lagos State has ‘Guidelines on Noise Pollution’ that include provisions for people to obtain noise permit for open air shows, crusades and promotional advertisements, among others. The government has also stipulated standard approved noise level in all residential, commercial and industrial areas.

The use of power generating sets in these areas is also expected to be in compliance with the stipulated noise levels without any negative impact on human health and the environment.

These are good regulations and guidelines that will engender tranquil environment across the nation. Governments at state and federal levels only need the will to enforce them to achieve desired results.

t 40, Abdulrasheed Bawa has age on his side.

A career Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) operative with 16 years’ work experience, Bawa is lucky - he knows the EFCC in and out. But for Bawa to truly put the EFCC in a new light, he must do some big things with new ideas from the perspective of an insider.

If confirmed by the Senate, Bawa should, first explore the multilateral technical cooperation on corruption to develop a mechanism that will help Nigeria have a system that discourages outright stealing of public funds, and develop an anti-corruption war that relies on forensic evidence, well-trained personnel, and free from unnecessary controversies. The EFCC should effectively utilize the provisions of the Act establishing it. For instance, Part III, section 12, subsection 1(c) and subsection (2) which provide for the establishment of a research unit and any committee to assist the commission are good avenues for the EFCC to explore in order to bring the commission at par with expectations of Nigerians and global best practices.

Bawa should take the EFCC to a new level. EFCC as an institution responsible for leading the war against corruption should remodel its strategies for prosecuting accused persons.

Situations such as slamming 120-count charges on a person accused of corruption while in public office without being able to establish any of these should be replaced with a fact-based process of prosecution, where the commission gets its solid facts before charging the accused persons to court.

The commission should be driven by a new approach that is multifaceted, multidisciplinary and knowledge-driven; an approach that would assist all institutions of government in re-establishing norms and standards of governance, assist the public, NGOs and even the legislature in monitoring compliance with the standards. The core of the EFCC under

Bawa should be centered on restoring social order especially to governance and promoting advocacy and capacity building among genuine whistleblowers.

Corruption is not peculiar to Nigeria, it is a global phenomenon. However, the anti-corruption war in Nigeria is like a gun-war being fought with bows and arrows; it is a war that can turn its fighters into victims and those being fought into heroes; it is a war that both sides manipulate to gain personal and political points; it is a ‘world’ of controversies, politics, extensive debates and high public expectations.

Nigeria’s anti-corruption war should not only be limited to celebrated arrests, the arraignment of the accused in courts of law. The EFCC should serve as the change agent in establishing systematic and systemic approaches that will educate the public on the ills of corruption and the beauty of doing things as they ought to be done.

Bawa’s nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari is a big challenge to the Nigerian youth. At 40, I pity Bawa, he should also know that public trust is key in his new job.

Anti-corruption czars rarely talk in public, but when they do, they carefully choose their words. They cannot wine and dine with corrupt politicians, attend their lavish wedding ceremonies or their extravagant traditional title-taking ceremonies or personal project fundraising ceremonies and yet expect public trust. When one accepts to be the head of an institution like the EFCC, he or she has chosen to be a ‘saint’, and must labour to appear as one. Though as humans we have our weaknesses, the point is that anti-corruption czars can’t preach fasting in the morning and practice gluttony in the night. Being a career EFCC operative with nearly 16 years of work experience including a thorough understanding of the EFCC, Bawa has ‘everything’ on his side. r;BZZBE * .VIBNNBE +JNFUB "EBNBXB 4UBUF

OKONJO-IWEALA AS DG, WTO

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he appointment of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the new Director General, World Trade Organization (WTO), is indeed an upliftment for Nigeria, and Africa in general. The ongoing cordial relationship between the Nigerian government and the Chinese government was obviously a threat to Dr. Ngozi’s election as the DG of WTO, due to the trade war between China and America.

The American government under the leadership of former President Trump wasn’t comfortable with the idea of making Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, the DG since she is from Nigeria and the relationship between the two countries (China and Nigeria), caused a feeling that she may be on the side of China if made the DG of WTO. Although, many people were not able to see this point I have made, the US was on the side of Mrs.Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea and claimed Okonjo Iweala, was lacking the needed experience.

The truth must always speak for itself even when no one is ready to speak. The truth has manifested in Ngozi’s case via her previous records as Managing Director at World Bank, AU Special Envoy to Mobilise International Support to fight Covid-19, Finance Minister in Nigeria and many more.

The South Korean Yoo Myung-hee, saw the possibility of Ngozi’s election for the position, and she honourably stepped aside to reserve her energy and her time for something else.

Therefore, what Ngozi’s needs now is everyone’s support to ensure she succeeds in her new office. It is our prayer that the new DG will resolve the pending issues between America and China since the fight of these two elephants can cause lots of damage to the world trade! r"XVOBI 1JVT 5FSXBTF "CVKB

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021

POLITICS

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

‘The Next Administration in Abia State will be a PDP Government’ Nseobong Okon-Ekong interacts with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State on some of the commendable achievements of his administration

Q

uest for affordable housing for Abia people My administration will, at all times, be willing and prepared to support any initiative that will make life better for the people of Abia State, especially in the area of the provision of affordable housing for our people.

Affordable housing remains a critical need of the citizenry and no responsible government will ignore any opportunity for partnership with any individual or corporate organization for this purpose.

The Abia State Government is ready to ensure that workers cooperative societies especially those who come under the National Housing Programme are assisted to achieve their dream projects of building housing units for their members.

Earlier in the year, as part of the activities marking this year ’s Armed Forces Rememberance Day, we presented two brand new four bedroom bungalows, each with boy’s quarters to the Nigerian Army and the Police as official residence of the Heads of the Army and Police formations in the Obingwa area of Abia State.

We did to demonstrate that this administration places top premium on the provision of security as a key enabler for development in our state.

The huge investments in supporting security agencies in the state are deliberate steps aimed at raising the morale of the officers and optimizing their operational efficiency.

The provision of decent accommodation is a key factor in ensuring that our security men carry out their legitimate responsibilities effectively and especially when such accommodations are located within their areas of operation.

We do not have to wait till our soldiers and police officers die before honoring the great work they do in keeping us safe. My administration will continue to provide support to our security agencies.

The two houses will serve as official residences of the Commander of the Army Squad at Ohanze and the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Eastern Ngwa Police Division at Umuobiakwa. These two security formations play very critical roles in ensuring the security of lives and properties of the people of Obingwa and its environs, and as such are truly deserving of the gesture.

The Eastern Ngwa Police Divisional headquarters has been at Umuobiakwa for close to three and a half decades with no official residence for the DPO who most times comes to work from outside the area.

This is a challenge to the security chiefs to make adequate use of the buildings. They have a responsibility to protect and manage it well for their use and for their successors going forward.

On Politics of inclusiveness Wherever we find an Abia person doing well, he or she should be encouraged. He does not even need to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For instance we facilitated the election of one Ambassador Okey Emuchay as the Secretary General of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide. He is an illustrious son of Ukwa. The people are industrious, hardworking, trustworthy and as such deserving of every opportunity to serve our state and our country.

The people of Ukwa have always

the current State Chairman of the PDP, another Ukwa son, Sir Don Ubani is the current Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of the Deputy Governor while Professor O M Ogbulu was recently appointed Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University, amongst many others.

These are unprecedented in the political history of the people of Ukwa.

Senator Adolphus Wabara is the Pro Chancellor of the Abia State University.

Ikpeazu

distinguished themselves in public service from time immemorial which explains the reason behind the selection of Ukwa indigenes to hold key positions in my government. Beyond their natural endowments, the people of Ukwa have contributed greatly to the development of Abia State and Nigeria.

He urged them to uphold those excellent virtues of hardwork and dignity in public service which has defined their roles over the years. I recall the exploits of great Ukwa sons like Late Dr. Emuchay, Late Chief E C Adiele, Eze Dr. Rowland Asobie, Late Eze Dr. Feyi Waboso, Dame Victoria Akanwa, Late Chief Lambert Nmecha and Engr Reginald Stanley who played and continue to play key roles in public and professional life.

I challenge the present crop of Ukwa leaders from Ndoki and Asa to continue to uphold those attributes which have been associated with Ukwa people over

the years.

The Government of Abia State found great pleasure in marketing the candidature of Ambassador Okey Emuchay to other governors of the South-east and other notable leaders because he possesses unassailable records of public service at the highest level in the country, having risen to the zenith of his diplomatic service as an Ambassador. I know Ambassador Emuchay will discharge his duties as Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide with the same dignity and commitment that defined his days in the diplomatic service and wished him well in his new assignment. I further challenged the people of Ukwa to stand behind their sons and daughters who hold high public offices at all times and find a way to always communicate with them on a regular basis.

Under the Ikpeazu administration, an Ukwa son, Rt Hon. Asiforo Okere is

We are focused on our economic plans and all the roads were are doing are enablers. The roads we do in Abia are of economic value to create access for trade and commerce which is the major fulcrum of the state’s economy. All of the things we do in technical education and health are to support the economic development in the areas of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. We are focused on bringing a private sector driven economy and we are building to last.

We have done well in the areas of road infrastructure, youth empowerment, agriculture and security among others. I hereby restate commitment and support to the promotion and expansion of made in Abia products and expressed delight that Abia is the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) capital of Nigeria. Plans are underway to establish a Garment Factory in Abia, to complement the already established Shoe Factory, as well as an Agro Allied Cottage Industry in 10 out of the 17 local government areas of the state before the end of the year

Bid to build a bigger and better Peoples Democratic Party in the state The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State remains the party of choice in the State and as such, all hands must be on deck to consolidate on the gains and strenght of the party in the state. The party remains as strong as ever in the state. I want to restated my strong membership of the party and hereby dismiss rumors of any alleged defection plans.

I challenge stakeholders of the party at all levels to close ranks and work in harmony with leaders of the party. Let me reassure party stakeholders that there is no cause for alarm over the rumored defection of party members to other parties. The two persons who left the party did so because I refused to make a commitment to hand over to them automatic tickets of the party for the 2023 election. Let me make it clear that I have no regrets over my stance because it was too early in the day to make such commitment to any person.

When the time is right, the party will choose her candidates. I advise party members not to allow personal ambitions to override party supremacy at a time when the general elections are almost two years away.

It is my pleasure to congratulate the newly elected Executive Chairmen of the 17 Local Government Areas in the state and I urge them to embark on people oriented projects in their areas and always ensure that they keep the communication channels open between them and members of the party in their councils.

I can assure party members that the baton I received from the last administration will remain intact with me and by the grace of God, the next administration in the state will be a PDP government.

What he is doing for the youths We must create leaders of tomorrow today. My conviction is to try to imbibe in youths the possibility of excelling even in difficult situations. I will like to see youths that can excel. I see in Abia youths the capacity to become great and add to the economy of the nation. Young people should look inwards as everything they need to survive is available within their immediate environment. There is a need for Abia youths to sustain the resilience and hardwork that they are known for.

My administration will continue to take deliberate steps aimed at preparing young people for the challenges of leadership.

We have invested heavily in the youths of the state in various ways including availing youths of opportunities to hold top positions in my government.

Recently, I was decorated as the Grand Patron of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Abia State Chapter Continued on page 19

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021

POLITICS

‘The Next Administration in Abia DISSENTING VOICE...IN HIS OWN WORDS State will be a PDP Government’ Group Urges Buhari to Sack economic zones in Abia to drive trade

Ikpeazu

and presentated with an award as The Most Youth Development Support Governor in South-east by the National Executive Council of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.

How he is dealing with insecurity in the state What we have done is to use every lawful means to protect and safeguard every inch of the territory of Abia State from criminals and marauders.My administration shall resist any form of expansionist agenda, either by communities from neighboring states or from any outlawed group by whatever name they may be called.

We respond to distress calls from the communities on the invasion of their homeland by hoodlums from both a neighboring community in Akwa Ibom State and from a group which had been outlawed by the Federal Government that sought to establish a base in the community. For instance, we have made it clear that Akirika Obu Community in Ukwa East LGA is a part and parcel of Abia State, and as such, my government will take every lawful step to protect it from any form of unlawful invasion.

The lingering boundary dispute between the Akirika Obu Community and their neighbors in Ika Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, is before the National Boundaries Commission and until a final determination is made, Akirika Obu remains in Abia State and I will do my duty as governor by ensuring that the status quo is maintained, and especially that the lives and properties of the people are safeguarded.

Let the community cooperate with the soldiers during their stay and allow them to carry out their primary assignment there. We hereby warn against using the soldiers for the resolution of civil disputes amongst them. This administration will continue to provide logistics support to the soldiers to ensure that they have minimum comfort in the area.

Focus on the Abia Economic Plan One of the things that I will like this administration to be remembered for is its focus on its economic plan geared towards massive job creation and enhancing the well being of Abians.My administration hinges its development on five pillars and I have vigorously pursued it with the aim of bringing development to all facets of the state’s economy.

Permit me to point out that this administration has created enabling environment for businesses to thrive which have in turn attracted investors as well as equipped the youths through creation of various industrial clusters, empowerment and skills acquisition programmes in leather works, garment and automated shoe making and agriculture thus creating job opportunities for the teeming youths.

My government embarked on aggressive construction of link roads to major

and commerce which he said are the main fulcrum of the state’s economy.

We are focused on our economic plans and all the roads were are doing are enablers. The roads we do in Abia are of economic value to create access for trade and commerce which is the major fulcrum of the state’s economy.

All of the things we do in technical education and health are to support the economic development in the areas of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

We are focused on bringing a private sector driven economy and we are building to last.

We have done well in the areas of road infrastructure, youth empowerment, agriculture and security among others. I hereby restate commitment and support to the promotion and expansion of made in Abia products and expressed delight that Abia is the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) capital of Nigeria.

Plans are underway to establish a Garment Factory in Abia, to complement the already established Shoe Factory, as well as an Agro Allied Cottage Industry in 10 out of the 17 local government areas of the state before the end of the year. These will focus on oil palm processing, cassava, rice milling amongst others.

For instance, we will support the Human Resource Development Centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service towards ensuring the successful completion of its Shoe and Garment Industry at the Aba Medium Correctional Center.

Abia is known as the home of SME because of its giant strides in the leather and garment Industry. I am delighted that the Nigerian Correctional Services has keyed into the transformation agenda of my administration by establishing a Shoe and Garment Factory in Aba, shortly after we established a similar venture in Aba. I appreciate the strategic importance of the Nigerian Correctional Services as a centre for character reformation and reintegration.

I applaud the officers of the Nigerian Correctional Services, Abia State Command for their hardwork and determination and encourage them to continue to show courage and tenacity in the discharge of their duties.

Commitment to welfare of workers My administration will always prioritize salary payment to workers regularlyin the interest of industrial harmony in the state.

However, we need to remind the workers that they must also appreciate the genuine challenges that face the government especially in the face of dwindling revenues and called for the understanding and cooperation of workers when such issues come up, especially in situations where they are caused by supervening events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the new Government House project Let me reiterate my resolve in ensuring that the new Government House located at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia is completed before I leave office in 2023.

I am satisfied that the contractor is now back on site. I visited the place recently to see the quality of work and to ensure they are working in line with specifications.

Presently, the contractor is doing electrical, plumbing and tilling works as plastering had been completed. We encouraged the contractor to expedite work to achieve the plan of completing the project in good time. I will move into this place and use it before I leave office as Governor in 2023.

The new Government House Complex Project was initiated and commenced by the administration of former Governor T A Orji.

NDDC Interim Administrator

Joseph Ambakederimo, Lead Executive Director, Global Forum for Accountability and Transparency, makes a strong case for the removal of Mr. Effiong Akwa, Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission

Akpabio

G

lobal Forum for Accountability and Transparency (GFAT) demands the immediate sack of the Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Effiong Akwa, “for circumventing the law”.

From emerging and confirmed reports in the media, the NDDC Sole Administrator deliberately refused to abide by extant rules in the declaration of his assets as mandated for public officers by the law.

According to a national daily, Akwa is being probed by the Code of Conduct Bureau for failing to declare his assets while serving as the Managing Director of Akwa Ibom State-owned microfinance bank, Akwa Loans and Savings Limited and as the Special Adviser on Finance to a former Managing Director of the NDDC. The current scandal surrounding the Sole Administrator casts doubt on the much talked about forensic audit.

We use this medium to call on President Buhari to remove Akwa from office and relieve Godswill Akpabio from his cabinet without delay. They have both brought disrepute to the Buhari government which we have warned a long time ago.

It is no surprise that the stench emanating from Akpabio’s rump has continued unabated with one scandal after the other since his appointment as the substantive Minister of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and his surreptitious hijacking of the NDDC and the obsession so far exhibited only goes to confirm our fears that the actions of the Minister have never been altruistic after all.

The latest scandal of bribes paid to officials of the Code of Conduct Bureau to falsify documents in order to give a clean bill of health to his lackey, Mr. Effiong Akwa is another can of worms that has exposed the Minister’s desperation to continue to ride roughshod on the finances of the NDDC. Mr Akwa’s non-compliance of the code of conduct declaration of assets must be investigated thoroughly and all those who may have a role to play must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Akwa is a man who has circumvented the law so many times by deliberately refusing to abide by extant rules and therefore lacks the credibility to oversee a forensic audit of an institution he was once part of and

which he played some ignoble role in. This scandal has so far cast doubt and make the forensic audit look suspect. Therefore the tainted audit must be suspended and the substantive board which was nominated by the President and screened and approved by the Senate be inaugurated without delay in order for the people of the region to heave a sigh of relief from the strangle hold of Akpabio.

It is unfathomable that too many illegalities are going on in the affairs of the NDDC at the moment and the Presidency looks helpless. About N2 Trillion has so far been mismanaged and misappropriated for the past four years with no visible project to show for it. This is the greatest disservice the Buhari administration has done to the people of the Niger Delta.

No one has been punished so far and it is business as usual. This circus can’t continue and we must not throw our hands up in the air in denial. Akpabio and Akwa must be removed from office if there is any credibility left in the Buhari administration’s resolve to fight corruption. The time has come for the President to show courage, someone must stand up and say enough is enough of this nonsense and stop it one time. Mr. President stop the drift in the NDDC, stop it, it does not serve you well sir.

The appointment of Mr. Akwa is wrong in the first place because the appointment is unknown to the Act setting up the Commission and if anyone would argue as in this case they have said the President has the prerogative to hire and fire, yes he does have the power to hire and fire, but please let him use that prerogative wisely and rightly because millions of people from the region depend on NDDC for their survival.

The President does not have the right to deny any Nigerian the right to survive.

The NDDC must be made to function as an entity with all full powers of a democratic institution to serve the people of the region and not like the feeding bottle and apron tied perpetually to Akpabio’s chest.

Moreover the cartel in the Code of Conduct Bureau whose stock in trade is to doctor and manipulate documents in the CCB be brought to justice to put a stop to their shameful activities which have brought a debilitating blow to the fight against corruption declared by the Buhari’s administration.

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FEATURES

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

Uplifting Young Entrepreneurs When Finlab Nigeria Limited was established 40 years ago, little did its Chairman, Chief Uzomba Nwaije realise that he was building a strong network to empower humanity, lift young entrepreneurs and contribute to national development, writes Amby Uneze

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t was a very joyful moment for both the young entrepreneurs in Umudioka community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State when one of their illustrious sons and family decided to select about 122 of them to empower their efforts with a view to raise future successful business men and women and wipe out poverty not only in their community but in the society they belong.

At the time, other youths in the local government were scampering for safety as a result of the crisis that ensured between the members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), a security arm recently formed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and members of the security agencies, particularly the army that left many innocent people dead, these lucky youths from Umudioka ancient kingdom were gladly making merry with the opportunity given to them by their own philanthropic son of the soil.

Part of the ceremony that were initially slated to hold in Umudioka community was suddenly shifted to Owerri capital city in compliance with the state directives on COVID-19 Protocols which does not permit gathering of more than 50 persons in a function, as well as to observe the curfew imposed in some local governments in Orlu senatorial zone due to the ESN-Army crisis.

The training for the awardees and recipients of the empowerment were modified as follows: for awardees from Umuzike and Owerre Umudioka Communities had training and presentation of cheques at Finlab Nigeria Limited office in Owerri from 9am to 10.30am. Those awardees from Umudioka community had their training and presentation of cheques from 11am to 12.30pm, while those from Umudioka Ukwu and Isiokpo communities had theirs from 1pm to 2.30pm. Chief Uzomba Nwaije handing a cheque to one of the beneficiaries While the open exhibition of Finlab’s products and services specifically meant for selected special guests, mainly Finlab customers and intending customers, took place at the company’s Owerri office between 8am to 5pm, then the grand finale for this special group of invitees, including Imo State government officials was held at All Seasons Hotel from 3pm. All the events happened on Thursday, January 28, 2021.

In his speech, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Finlab Nigeria Limited, Chief Uzomba Nwaije said that the company which turned 40 years this year, having started operation in a small measure in 1981 is a success story to tell.

“Finlab is 40 years in operation and as part of the celebration we are kick-starting it with our corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme targeted at small and budding entrepreneurs in selected communities in Imo State.

“The story of Finlab is a long one. We started making furniture equipment, we later on joined technology/engineering equipment, laboratory plastic wear, and educational equipment. At 40, I think we have just started. What started 40 years ago as a mere theory has today become a way of life.

“I think that this country should be more serious in meeting the world standard instead of relying on imported products to maintain Chairman of Finlab Nig. Ltd., Chief Uzomba Nwaije and wife with beneficiaries of the empowerment our industries and economy. As at today, our products are compared with the best in the world decided to waive off the repayment of the loan”, Limited also donated 240 (One Step Rapid Test) and therefore, we can beat our chest that we and therefore urged them not to refund the of COVID-19 test kits to Imo State government can support our local industries with quality money but to plough it back to the growth of towards the fight against the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the State. products to rely on. We are into education, their businesses.

Making the presentation on behalf of the “Our goal is to eradicate poverty in our healthcare, science and technology equipment such as classroom equipment from primary to communities and society. What we have done Company, the Administration/Finance Manager of is to sow one seed corn in you and expect you FINLAB Nigeria Limited, Mr. Osmound Ogbonna university for research”, he said.

He said that the company decided to to multiple it into uncountable numbers. You said they made the donation as part of their empower about 122 young entrepreneurs by have no reason to fail. We want to see success in contributions to government's initiatives on the giving them interest free loans to consolidate you. If you succeed, please help other people”, fight against the second wave of COVID-19 and also, to commemorate their 40 years anniversary and improve their little businesses for which he stated.

In his own remarks, the Chairman of the which started on Thursday, January 28, 2021, they were expected to pay back three to five years’ time. He however, gave cheering news occasion, Archbishop Emeritus of the Anglican the day they empowered 122 youths.

On behalf of their company, Ogbonna said to the beneficiaries of the loan which ranges Communion, Most Rev. Benneth Okoro described from N50,000 to N100,000 each by assuring the event as a “celebration of success, vision- the firm remains ready to assist the government them to apply the money judiciously and make oriented establishment, God’s inspiration and anytime they are called upon and commended profit with it so that they would in the near blessing”. He joined Chief Nwaije and his Governor Hope Uzodimma’s concerted efforts future assist others by empowering them to management to strive to establish his company in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic which to the neighbouring African countries so as to has made Imo State to record the least number be self-reliant.

Nwaije also announced that because of the continue in the lead to produce quality products. of cases in Nigeria.

Receiving the COVID-19 test kits on behalf of As part of the ceremony marking the 40 years enthusiasm shown by the beneficiaries, “the management and staff of the company have anniversary of the company, Finlab Nigeria the Governor Uzodimma, the Commissioner for

Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Damaris Osunkwo thanked them for their kind gesture and acknowledged that the donation came at the right time when the whole world is battling with the second wave of COVID-19.

The commissioner assured that the test kits will go a long way in the effort to scale-up testing of COVID-19 in the local government areas of the state so as to identify carriers and reduce the scale of spread. She therefore thanked FINLAB management for their magnanimity and promised that the government will definitely put the test kits to proper use.

With the empowerment of the 122 young entrepreneurs in various communities in Umudioka ancient kingdom in Orlu local government, it behooves the beneficiaries to do the needful and appreciate the good gesture of Chief Nwaije. It is also instructive; to call on other meaningful companies and organisations to emulate Finlab Nigeria Limited to empower the needy to come out of poverty.

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BUSINESSWORLD

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

ͯ Ͱ ˜ Ͱ ͮ Ͱ ͯ MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

REPO 4.50 % 4.75 %

CALL 1-MONTH

6% 7.50 %

S & P INDEX INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY

S&P 574.05 % ̋ͮ˛ͳͯ ϱ

1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

EXCHANGE RATE ̋ͯͲ˛ͱʹ ϱ ̋ͯͲ˛ͱʹ ϱ

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Quick Takes Cold Stone Unveils App, Online Platform

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Check Point Expands Cloud Platform

SEALED DEAL

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (left), and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Chairman of the Bankers’ Committee, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the handover of the National Arts Theatre, Lagos to the Bankers’ Committee, at a ceremony held in Lagos...recently

Group Faults Ban on Cryptocurrency Transactions Stories by Emma Okonji The Blockchain Industry Coordinating Committee of Nigeria (BICCoN) has expressed dissatisfaction over the recent ban of cryptocurrency transactions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The group argued that the action will stifle technology innovation in the country, if not reviewed, while calling on National Assembly members to quickly intervene.

According to the group, the adoption of emerging technologies, financial technology (FinTech), blockchain, cryptocurrency, bitcoin, are driven by technological innovations.

In a recent communique released by the group and signed by its General Secretary, Senator Ihenyen, the group stated: “Innovation is a good thing. When

TELECOM supported by clear standards and expectations, innovation can support the pursuit of public interest objectives such as greater inclusivity and network resilience.

“We have reached the point in the cycle of innovation in payments where it is essential that we set the standards and thus the expectations for how innovation will take effect.”

The group also alleged that since the directive was issued, a number of persons and entities accounts have been closed, and that in one strange and exceptional case, the funds in the two corporate accounts of a cryptocurrency exchange were wiped out and then eventually closed.

According to the communique, “Though as the regulator, the

CBN has the statutory authority to delimit banking operations, but ordering banks and other financial institutions to freeze accounts suspected to be in use for cryptocurrency may not be supported by law.

“This is because there is currently no legislation by the National Assembly criminalising or illegalizing trade in cryptocurrency in Nigeria. Therefore, it is questionable whether the CBN has the statutory power to order the freezing of these accounts.”

“Ordinarily, the CBN’s circular, while shocking and disappointing, should have at least stipulated a reasonable period within which affected customers’ accounts should be closed,” the BICCoN further said.

Giving the advantages of cryptocurrency, the group said the crypto industry in Nigeria witnessed growth particularly in

the last four years, enabling and expanding access to finance to millions of people across Africa, including Nigeria.

Citing the proposed National Blockchain Adoption Strategy, an initiative of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the group said policy and regulation should not stifle innovation.

NITDA, working with the Federal Ministry of Communications and the Digital Economy (FMoCDE) had recently exposed a draft national adoption strategy to all stakeholders.

As communicated by NITDA in November 2020, the Federal Government plans to earn $6 billion from blockchain technology by 2030. We strongly believe that this is achievable. To enable Nigeria achieve this target, we Continued on page 22

‘Large Chunk of Nigeria’s Identity Data in Silos’ Some industry stakeholders have expressed concern that a larger percentage of Nigeria’s identity data are still in silos with different federal government agencies.

They called on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to speed up the process of integrating the country’s national identity data into a single database for easy academic research and for security reasons.

President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, told THISDAY that telecoms subscribers were becoming worried about providing the same personal information to agencies that are involved in identity registration like the

TELECOM BVN registration with banks; identity registration with NIMC; SIM registration with telecoms operators; vehicle and drivers licence registration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC); voters registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) among others.

He, therefore, called on NIMC to speed up the integration process to enable governments have accurate data of individuals, without the rigorous exercise for individuals submitting the same personal data for each registration exercise.

He stressed that the integration of databases in silos was as

important as the linkage of NIN with SIM cards, which NIMC is trying to achieve.

The National Identity Management Commission Act of 2007, provides for the establishment of national identity database and mandated NIMC with the responsibility for maintenance of the national database, the registration of individuals, and the issuance of general multipurpose identity cards.

The NIMC Act in Article 5, mandated the Commission to create, manage, maintain and operate the national Identity database established under section 14 of the Act, including the harmonisation and integration of existing identification databases in government agencies and

integrating them into a single national identity database.

Citing the NIMC Act and its mandates, Ogunbanjo said the Commission must rise to its challenge and ensure speedy integration of the country’s databases that are currently in silos.

In a recent interview, the Director General of NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, had assured Nigerians that NIMC was on course with the national identity registration exercise and that it had begun the gradual process of integrating the different databases into a single database.

A report on the strategic roadmap for developing digital Continued on page 22

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Samsung Galaxy S21 Gets Global Review

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“US companies to supply goods to Chinese customers is conducive to their own financial performance. If Huawei’s production capacity expands, US companies could thus sell more.

It’s a win-win situation.

I believe the new administration will weigh these interests as they consider their policies” Huawei’s CEO,

Ren Zhengfei

22

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

GROUP FAULTS BAN ON CRYPTOCURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

Gombe Unveils 10-year Development Plan

appeal to the CBN to reconsider its cryptocurrency policy, the group said.

It added that a reconsidered approach that does not stifle innovation would help significantly boost the federal government’s policies on diversification of the Nigerian economy, digital economy, and digital transformation, not forgetting the CBN’s financial inclusion policy and target.

The rapid growth of Nigeria’s blockchain and crypto industry is a development that should be studied and understood in line with the desire of the federal government to develop a digital economy and diversify the Nigerian economy, BICCoN further said.

Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

‘LARGE CHUNK OF NIGERIA’S IDENTITY DATA IN SILOS’ identification in Nigeria that was approved by the federal government in 2017, clearly stated in its executive summary that in April 2017, the federal government issued the Economic and Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) as its overall strategy to drive the country’s economic development. The report however said, despite the urgent need for a strategic roadmap, identification remained underdeveloped in Nigeria, as majority of Nigerians have no proper means of identification. It further stated that several government agencies both at federal and state levels, offer identity registration services, with each of them collecting the same biometric information from individuals, thereby overlapping efforts within government at a high fiscal cost.

The report therefore provided a strategic roadmap for developing national identification in Nigeria, some of which are already captured in the NIMC Act of 2007.

Section 27 of the NIMC Act, made NIN mandatory for all Nigerians and mandates all to present their NIN issued by NIMC for every transaction such as application for passport, opening of bank account, purchase of insurance policies, purchase and registration of land, all consumer credit transactions, registration of voters, payment of taxes and any other transaction which the Commission may so prescribe.

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has said the Development Agenda for Gombe State (DEVAGOM) is an attempt by his administration to harness the state’s immense potential.

This, he said would enable the state take advantage of emerging opportunities and to tackle challenges to attain its developmental objectives, stressing that “It is the road map for the transformation of Gombe State that is aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as set by the United Nations”.

The Governor made the statement on Tuesday during the official unveiling of Gombe State’s 10- Year Development Plan (2021- 2030) at the Government House.

Yahaya said his administration was committed to planning and implementing people-oriented policies and programmes, obtained through a bottom-up stakeholder consultation process from the unit, ward, local government to state level.

He explained: “DEVAGOM projects Gombe to be a terminus that encapsulates growth, development, peace, and shared prosperity for all.

“Considering our comparative advantage in agriculture, commerce and trade, our tremendous human and natural resources, and our strategic position at the centre of the Northeast sub-region, I have the conviction that our

vision is both realistic and achievable.”

The Gombe State Governor restated his administration’s commitments to prioritising human capital development through infrastructure, agriculture and health resuscitation, improved education and rural development.

Yahaya said: “So far, our administration has placed high priority on human capital development as the catalyst of growth with special focus on education, health and youth development.

“Our agricultural trans-

formation drive is aimed at harnessing our vast irrigation potentials along our major dams; rural infrastructure projects that connect and open up our rural communities; social and environmental policies that create jobs, protect our environment and promote peaceful coexistence amongst our people.”

Yahaya, who quoted Benjamin Franklin’s saying ‘if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail,’ also added that the wheels of the unveiling of the state 10-year development plan was set in motion as far back

as April 2019, when he was elected as Governor.

He said he had to commission a Needs Assessment team to tour round the nooks and crannies of the state covering over 420 communities across all the 114 wards in order to principally ascertain the developmental needs and priorities of the people.

This, the Governor added, was borne out of his administration’s commitment to plan and implement people-oriented policies and programmes.

He said the assessment was

the beginning of a bottom-up stakeholder consultation process from the unit, ward, local government to state level, thus giving his administration the opportunity to define Gombe State’s vision through the eyes of its people.

“That’s why DEVAGOM is an agenda of the people, by the people and for the people.”

He said in order to create a better future for the people of the State, his administration is making relentless efforts to stimulate and sustain economic growth and human capital development.

e-payment

Mastercard, MTN to Empower Africans through Digital Financial Inclusion Stories by Emma Okonji Mastercard and MTN have announced a strategic partnership to enable millions of consumers in 16 countries across Africa make global e-commerce payments safely and securely.

A statement explained that through a Mastercard virtual payment solution linked to MTN MoMo (Mobile Money) wallets, consumers and merchants can engage with brands and businesses abroad through digital commerce, extend their reach to an international marketplace and unlock a host of opportunities.

It noted that across Africa, mobile devices are the primary channel used to connect to the internet. According to GSMA, by 2025, it is estimated that there will be 300 million more people using their devices to access internet services. In light of this significant growth, mobile financial services have become the dominant form of digital payments, with twice as many mobile money accounts as bank accounts in the region.

“As a result, consumers increasingly expect to have access to a broader range of digital financial services. Both

Mastercard and MTN are of the view that consumers and merchants are mostly restricted to a local base of online and offline businesses, therefore curtailing customers’ ability to engage in global commerce.

“Through the strategic partnership, MTN customers with a Mastercard virtual payment solution linked to their MoMo wallets can make payments to global online merchants through a seamless and secure digital payment experience on websites and mobile applications. The service is available regardless of whether or not the customer has a bank ac-

count,” the statement added.

According to them, the solution would enable consumers explore and shop at well-known global e-commerce brands and pay quickly and securely for leisure shopping, travel, accommodation, entertainment, streaming services and more. It would also allow small business owners to purchase from suppliers abroad and pay with the virtual payment solution.

Speaking on the partnership, the statement quoted MTN Group Chief Digital and Fintech Officer, Serigne Dioum, to have said: “We are

very excited about this partnership with Mastercard, which is another step in realising our ambition to build Africa’s largest Fintech platform, accelerating economic and social development through digital innovation to the benefit of citizens across the continent and beyond.

“This noteworthy partnership is another step to enable our customers to participate in the global economy. We are resolute that accelerated financial inclusion is a potent enabler of socio-economic development that empowers the most vulnerable in society.”

Firm Pledges to Lift One Million Farmers Out of Poverty by 2025 Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Asst. Editor, Money Market

Nume Ekeghe

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) ××ËØßÏÖ ÎÎÏÒ (Energy) Reporters

ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Babban Gona, a financially sustainable and social enterprise, has said it will empower smallholder farmers and lift not less than one million of them out of poverty by 2025.

The enterprise in a statement, said it recorded a bumper harvest of maize with yields more than double the national average.

“The continent of Africa harvests 29 million hectares, and as the largest producer, Nigeria produced 1.77 tons per hectare in 2020. However, the Babban Gona team has achieved an average of 3.84 metric tons/hectare, a massive development compared to the achievable value across Nigeria,” the statement further

said.

The Managing Director, Babban Gona, Mr. Kola Masha, while commenting on the feat said, “Babban Gona is committed to lifting one million smallholder farmers out of poverty by 2025. Our cumulative smallholder members have grown to over 110,000.

“Babban Gona has helped these smallholder farmers to increase their yield and net income by two times the national average. Leveraging on Babban Gona’s proprietary crop assessment technology which analyzes optimal plant populations, assesses germination rates on-field and plant nutrient deficiency levels,

and we are able to improve efficiency and productivity for each farmer. Today, we have grown to become one of the largest maize producers on the African continent cultivating over 80,000 acres of maize.”

Masha promised that the team would address the root cause of youth unemployment and violence by stimulating the economy’s growth as well as disrupting the rise in illegal migration.

Giving testimonies of his increased yields in maize production in the northern part of the country, Mr. Abubakar Haruna, a smallholder farmer from Kampa village in Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State, said before

he joined Babban Gona, he barely got 10 bags of maize from his one-hectare farmland.

He said after joining Babban Gona in the first year, he got 50 bags of maize from his one hectare farmland.

In the second year, he decided to cultivate two hectares of land, and during harvest, he got 102 bags of maize from his farm, a development, he said, changed his for the better since then.

“Some co-farmers living in my village who had already joined Babban Gona advised me to join Babban Gona, and I partnered with them. I got over a hundred bags of maize alone from two hectares of land and made huge profits.

I currently farm a land size of 3.5 hectares compared to the one-hectare farmland I started within 2016, another smallholder farmer, Saidu Sani, said.

Babban Gona, which means ‘Great Farm’ in Hausa language, is an award-winning, high-impact, financially sustainable, and highly scalable social enterprise, partly owned by the farmers it serves. By developing and deploying advanced technology coupled with operational excellence, Babban Gona transforms agriculture into a job creation engine with its goal to create one million jobs for African youth by 2025, through maize farming.

T H I S D AY ˾ FEBRUARY 18, 2021

23

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Addressing Telecoms Consumers’ Complaints Emma Okonji writes on the benefits of the introduction of the Do-not-Disturb code in the telecoms sector

Danbatta

A

recent study carried out by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed a downward trend in the number of complaints from telecoms subscribers, especially in the area of unsolicited messages.

These messages had, over time, became irritating to telecoms subscribers who received them, and more so irritating when the messages come in bulk to fill up the phone storage capacity and drain phone batteries faster than normal.

At the inception of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) operations in Nigeria in 2001, subscribers were treated as kings. At that time, subscribers received Short Message Service (SMS), otherwise known as text messages from telecoms operators, only when the operators wanted to pass vital information such as information on network failures in some parts of the country and when they would be fixed.

Subscribers were also sent SMS on new coverage areas, especially when operators expanded services to new areas. Information on systems maintenance/upgrade and the period of maintenance, which were usually sent to subscribers at midnights, were also communicated via SMS. These SMS were received without complaints because they were informative.

But over the years, as the use of telecommunications services for delivery of business services increased, telecoms operators on behalf of their business clients, began to send out broadcast bulk SMS to millions of subscribers on their networks. Most of the current messages were no longer informative.

Instead, consumers received unsolicited promotional SMS broadcast across networks with subscribers sometimes receiving up to 12 or 20 SMS in a day, which not only overloaded their phone storage capacity, but also constituted a constant drain/nuisance.

In March 2016, the Federal Public Complaints Commissioner in charge of Lagos State Mr. Funso Olukoga, called for support on the part of Nigerians for the Bill in the Federal House of Representatives to discourage unsolicited text messages by sanctioning any GSM service provider sending unsolicited SMS to subscribers.

According to NCC’s study, in the first quarter of 2016 alone, the commission received a total of 2,325 complaints on unwanted and disturbing telemarketing, and a total of 4,304 complaints on unsolicited marketing in nine months.

Consumers’ complaints At a time, telecoms consumers’ complaints escalated as telecoms operators continued to push unsolicited messages to subscribers in the name telemarking.

Aside unsolicited messages, consumer also complained of unacceptable service quality from the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in areas such as billing issues; value added services issues; SMS issues, call set-up, data services issues, SIM issues, recharge card issues among others. However, unsolicited text messages were deemed one of the major issues and main area of complaint

Adebayo

among the vast majority of consumers.

To cushion the effect of the complaints, NCC provided various options with which consumers could complain directly to the commission about any service problem. The options include the commission’s consumer portal email address, the Twitter handle, the Facebook page, the dedicated toll free number, by sending in letters and SMS to the commission. NCC also created a platform for intervening in dispute resolutions between the operators and the consumers.

The NCC, after various efforts at mitigating the challenge had issued a directive to the Mobile Network Operators with effect from July 1, 2016, to activate the “DND” facility which gives subscribers the freedom to choose to receive or not to receive promotional messages from the various networks and other telemarketers through their phones.

With the directive from NCC, the operators were mandated to dedicate a common short code (2442) which will provide subscribers control to reject all promotional SMS and calls (Full DND), or from only select categories of telemarketers (partial DND).

The DND service as mandated by the NCC, enables mobile subscribers to opt out of marketing/promotional messages of which bulk SMS is classified as one. Hence, mobile numbers that have been added on the DND list by their owners are unable to receive bulk SMS. This can be either a bar of bulk messages from all industries, also known as full DND, or only from select categories of telemarketers, also known as partial DND. As a resolution to the constant menace of unsolicited messages, the Commission introduced two major initiatives as part of measures to empower consumers’ choice in service delivery and acceptance. These are the DND) 2442 short code, and the 622 toll-free line.

While the DND 2442 short code is used by consumers to determine ahead what messages or calls they can receive on their phones, the 622 toll-free line managed by the NCC was initiated to ensure improvement in service delivery by providing consumers with a toll free number where they can air their grievances or make complaints.

According to NCC’s study, so far, 21 million subscribers had signed up for the DND initiative and the commission has continued to create more awareness on it through various outreach programmes and other stakeholder engagement fora.

Consumers can call the 622 number to escalate their unresolved complaints to their service providers for effective resolution

through the commission’s intervention.

Effect of DND application According to NCC’s study on the effect of DND application, after the introduction of DND service ‘2442’ short code, there was a drastic decline of number of complaints received in respect to unsolicited text messages.

In the year 2017, a total number of 2,157 complaints were lodged. By the following year 2018, only 971 complaints were lodged, which was a 55 per cent decrease from the total complaints of 2017, and represented only 45 per cent of the total complaints lodged in 2017.

Year 2019 indicated a major decline in the number of complaints from 2,157 in year 2017 to only 74 in 2019. This figure represents just 3.4 per cent of the total of 2017, and shows there was a reduction by 96.6 per cent from 2017.

Analysing the data from the DND study, NCC said the number of complaints related to unsolicited text messages had drastically reduced, saying the DND service ‘2442’ has really made an impact in resolving consumers complaints on unsolicited text messages.

NCC’s research result on DND application, further showed that in the year 2017, of the total complaints of 2157, about 1,816 complaints were resolved, indicating 84 per cent resolution rate.

The result of the study showed that complaints were resolved by the MNOs within 72 hours of receipt of complaint.

For instance, in year 2018, of the total complaints of 971, about 727 complaints were resolved within 72 hours, indicating 75 per cent resolution rate. In 2019, of the total complaints of 74, all 74 complaints were resolved, indicating a 100 per cent resolution rate. In addition, complaints resolution reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours in the resolution of all complaints.

“We can therefore conclude that DND complaints are being resolved effectively and timely as our research has shown 84 per cent, 75 per cent and 100 per cent resolution rates, within a maximum of 72 hours in years 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively,” NCC said. xDND service ‘2442’ has a partial activation and a full activation. The partial activation allows subscribers to choose the kind of message they wish to receive while the full activation blocks all unsolicited messages.

Since the inception of ‘2442’ it has been observed that there was an increase from year

Analysing the data from the DND study, NCC said the number of complaints related to unsolicited text messages had drastically reduced, saying the DND service ‘2442’ has really made an impact in resolving consumers complaints on unsolicited text messages

to year of the total number of subscribers to the service. In year 2017 there were 132,100 and 8,230,670 subscribers for partial and full activations respectively. In year 2018, there were 403,685 and 21,300,376 subscribers for partial and full activations respectively. There was a significant increase in total number of activations in year 2018, with an increase of 305 per cent and 250 per cent respectively from the previous year 2017, according to NCC’s research study.

The result of the study further showed that in year 2019 there were 448,985 and 22,038,864 subscribers of partial and full activations respectively. It was also an additional increase from year 2018.

Challenges According to the data from NCC’s study questionnaire, the major Challenges facing the DND service short code is that the rate and level of telecoms consumer awareness within the last three years is relatively low especially in the rural areas. Most people are not even aware of the short code in rural communities. The rural areas have a really high population and 99 per cent of them are ignorant towards the DND services.

Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, said as consumer tastes and lifestyles change, the commission should once a year, permit the MNOs to remind consumers on the available sectors for which they have promotional data, in case consumers might wish to adjust their DND status.

There should be additional effort in raising awareness of DND to telecoms subscribers in rural areas, using the most appropriate method, the stakeholders advised NCC. DND Service across countries In the past few years, the use of DND service increased in many countries and their telecoms regulatory body have instructed the MNOs to apply it. Some of these countries include: India, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria.

In India, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has created a NDNC Filter i.e. National Do Not Call Registry which is fully run by the Indian Government. The main purpose for creation of NDNC is to prevent unwanted marketing SMS and calls from telemarketers.

In the UAE, subscribers are given provision to choose to opt out from receiving any marketing SMS. Precise, which is an App, provides the unsubscribe platform to all its customers with a help of a short code (7726) or via a portal service. Apart from this customers can also opt out directly with either of their two relevant telecoms operators; Etisalat or DU. Subscribers can block or receive unsolicited SMS by sending a message to 7726.

In Saudi Arabia DND list is regulated by the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC). Subscribers have the option of adding their number into specific operator’s DND list by using the mobile application, calling the support center or by sending an SMS to a short code.

24

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Firm Launches e-Learning App for Teachers, Schools Stories by Emma Okonji Acadasuite, a digital platform has launched its mobile app that addresses school management, e-learning and virtual school system, as well as curriculum and extra curriculum contents.

Speaking at the launch in Lagos recently, the Content Manager at Acadasuite, Mr. Olufemi Eribake, said the app, which operates offline and online, was developed to address the challenges posed

by COVID-19, which compelled the federal government to close down schools across the country.

“The development kept many students out of the school learning environment, and even after reopening of the schools, not many schools have sufficient teachers to teach all the subjects. But with our app, which is targeted at the teachers and students, including the schools, it will enable teachers have access to a digital platform from where they could teach their students in a virtual classroom, while enabling the students to have access to all the subject teachers,” he said.

Demonstrating how the app works, the Project Manager, Acadasuite, Mr. Enyika Iheanyichukwu, said the app would come preloaded with approved school curriculum, which the teacher could leverage on to teach the students online, or create an entirely new content on the platform to teach the students.

Students can subscribe to the app with as little as N200 per subject and get quality education on any subject of choice, Iheanyichukwu said, adding that the app will serve for both offline and online operations,

to enable parents who cannot afford data for virtual learning, purchase preloaded devices from Acadasuite that have been bundled with approved curriculum for all primary and secondary school subjects. With such devices, students can learn offline without the use of data.

Iheanyichukwu further said the contents of the app would come in video and text that would enable all categories of students to make use of the app, including the visual impaired students.

He explained that Acadasuite has created an opportunity to bring as many teachers and students on board the digital platform, by offering training opportunities for all teachers on the platform on how to use the digital platform. The target is to bring as much as one million students and 10,000 teachers on the platform by the end of 2022, Iheanyichukwu said.

“The digital platform has provision for feedback, where students can ask questions while in a virtual classroom, and get instant answers, and the beauty of it all is that it gives students the opportunity to learn in all languages and also to learn all subjects,” Iheanyichukwu further said.

According to him, the elearning and virtual classroom solution, would enable public schools that do not have all the subject teachers, to still teach all subjects to their students, when they subscribe to the digital platform, which he said would also address the challenges of lack of technical skilled teachers, lack of technology and science infrastructure, including the high cost of bandwidth for internet connectivity.

Ericsson CEO Berates EU’s Telcos over Delay in 5G Rollout Emma Okonji with agency report The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ericsson Borje Ekholm, has raised concerns about the lack of incentive for operators in Europe to build 5G infrastructure, which he told Financial Times, would lead to the continent falling behind the United States (US) and China in developing digital industry.

In Nigeria, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) is still considering the rollout of 5G, and has developed and released the draft consultation document for 5G rollout. This is sequel to the three months trial test

of 5G network in key cities across the country.

In a recent interview, Ekholm described Europe’s telecoms industry as “nonfunctioning”, stating it was understandable for operators to be reluctant to invest in 5G given the risk of failing to get a return on investment.

By falling behind on deploying the next-generation of mobile, Ekholm argued the continent would lag behind the US and China in the future digitalisation of business.

“Without 5G, general industry will be less efficient and less competitive. Without the infrastructure, it’s hard to develop the digital industry, and that impacts huge value

potential and potentially millions of future jobs,” Ekholm said.

Ekholm continued to address Ericsson and chief rival Nokia’s role in the wider European ecosystem, noting telecoms was one of the few sectors where the continent had strategic autonomy.

However, with the third major vendor Huawei facing scrutiny and even bans in multiple countries across the region due to security concerns, there has been a push from certain governments to open up networks to new, emerging players.

Ekholm described the situation as interesting, while expressing surprise that Europe would undermine

Ericsson and Nokia, given there was a “discussion about giving EU subsidies to develop competing companies, mostly when they are based in the US and Asia.”

In the interview, he also reiterated criticism of his home country Sweden’s decision to ban Huawei from participating in network builds, a move which Ekholm said would hurt its ability to compete on the world stage and restrict free trade.

Ericsson has been particularly stressed the impact Sweden’s decision could have on its own ambitions in China, a country which is seen as vital for the company.

Telcom mast

IT Solution Recognised as Interswitch Introduces Quickteller Business Key Digital Platform for SMEs Omdia, formerly Ovum, one of the world’s leading research and consultancy company, has featured Comviva’s mobiquity Banking Suite as one of the key digital banking platform globally in its recently launched report Omdia Universe: Selecting a Digital Banking Platform, 2020–21.

Comviva has been ranked high on “customer experience” and its mobiquity Banking Suite has been judged to be a very innovative solution.

The report highlights that Comviva has an agile platform and a team that can react quickly to industry trends and has the capability to innovate at a faster pace without being burdened with cumbersome legacy product solutions. Comviva’s particular strength lies in supporting a variety of payment rails including digital wallets, P2P payments, QR codes, and A2A payments, and a modular architecture which has been built keeping instant payments in mind.

Speaking on the recognition, the Chief Operating Officer, Digital Financial Solutions at Comviva said, Srinivas Nidugondi, said: “We are thrilled to be listed by one of the world’s leading research and consultancy company Omdia in their report

Omdia Universe: Selecting a digital banking platform, 2020–21.

This mention is a testimony to the fact that we are delivering world-class digital banking solution to our clients. We are proud that our mobiquity banking suite is helping multiple banks in Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America to deliver digital-first banking experience to consumers creating value for them.”

Comviva’s mobiquity banking suite provides a comprehensive solution to banks and financial institutions to build, manage, optimize and deliver the multichannel banking experience, as well as continuously iterate and engage the consumers, through instant configuration capability, personalisation and experimentation engine. It also delivers seamless, swift and secure digital payments to the customers, by facilitating prepaid wallet and leveraging technologies such as HCE, tokenization and QR Code.

The report gives a detailed and holistic view of the leading vendors, to help the CIO, heads of digital, and digital channel executives select the digital banking platforms that fulfil their specific digital transformation ambitions.

The Interswitch Group has announced the launch of Quickteller Business, a new comprehensive corporate solution focused on empowering businesses of all sizes, facilitate payments and manage transactions from anywhere in the world– through one, simple integrated platform.

Complementing Interswitch’s existing Quickteller platform, Quickteller Business will broaden its payment management capabilities to businesses and merchants of all sizes, allowing them to access a wide range of integrated payment offerings, ranging from disbursements to value financing. The addition of Quickteller Business to the existing consumer platform creates a unique, differentiated offering with potential to accelerate value creation for large corporates, MSMEs and consumers. This will be done leveraging Quickteller’s significant existing consumer base with over five million consumers already using Quickteller for a variety of retail payments in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya and Gambia.

The launch of Quickteller Business further expands the reach of Interswitch’s popular e-commerce solution to a broader audience of business users, helping to facilitate growth in the burgeoning SME sector across Africa. In the last five years, Nigeria’s vast SME sector has contributed an average of 48 per cent to national GDP – according to a PwC survey – and accounts for about 50 per cent of industrial jobs and almost 90 per cent of activities in the manufacturing sector.

The company in a statement, said with one of the fastest growing emerging middle classes in the world, Nigeria represents a significant growth opportunity, however almost 40 per cent of the population remain financially excluded.

Furthering access to electronic payment systems for businesses has the potential to increase the contribution of SME commercial activity in economies across the continent.

According to a survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics and the

SME Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in 2018, over 41.5 million MSME businesses operate in Nigeria. 55 per cent of this 41.5 million are retail and wholesalers which make up the market we are targeting.

With the COVID-19 pandemic causing disruptions to businesses of all sizes around the world, the new platform will help African business owners prosper, by enabling access to effective and convenient digital payment and transaction solutions and technologies. Quickteller Business will also offer a three-month zero transaction fee incentive for SMEs that sign up now, as part of its launch offer.

Speaking about the new platform, the Divisional Chief Executive Officer, Payments Processing at Interswitch Group, Akeem Lawal, said: “The SME sector is a potential game-changer for economic growth and development in Africa. Interswitch has been at the forefront of digital payment innovation across the continent, enabling individuals, businesses, and governments to transact more

efficiently over the last 17 years.

“The evolution of our payment and e-commerce offerings into Quickteller Business represents a significant long-term shift in both our business and merchant operating model. Through the integrated platform, SMEs, financial services agents and large corporates can better navigate the challenges around payments collections, allowing them to focus on their core business with their diverse transaction needs taken care of through the versatility of the new Quickteller Business offering.”

According to him, the platform would offer a comprehensive, integrated, payment solution that would allow businesses to receive and track payments, generate e-invoices, as well as dispute management.

“It is an innovative and exciting payment solution that will benefit all business owners. Through this new offering, we are continuing our mission to make payments a seamless part of our everyday lives,” Lawal said.

25

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Journey Towards National Theatre’s Rebirth Obinna Chima writes on the move by the Bankers’ Committee to revive the National Arts Theatre in Lagos

T

he federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as well as banks under the aegis of the Bankers’ Committee earlier this week signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formally commence the renovation of the National Arts Theatre, Lagos.

Also, the Bankers’ Committee and Cappa and D’Alberto Limited, the contractor to handle the project, signed an agreement to commence the first phase of the renovation, which is expected to end in 15 months’ time.

Additionally, in order to ensure that the National Theatre and the adjoining entertainment hubs retain their ambience upon completion, the Ministry of information and the CBN/ Bankers’ Committee also signed an MoU with a facility manager to manage the building complex.

While Cappa & D’Alberto Limited is the main contractor, the Electrical sub-contractor is Nairda Limited while the mechanical subcontractor is VACC Limited.

The agreements were signed about seven months after the federal government handed over the facility to the committee.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said at the signing of the agreements in Lagos that the project showed the commitment of all parties involved towards giving the facility a facelift.

According to him, when completed, the National Theatre would be the number one event centre in Africa.

He said there would also be the development of clusters to support the creative industry.

“Not only will the National Theatre be restored, there would not be a single job loss and more jobs would be created during the construction of the facility,” Mohammed said.

Indeed, Nigeria is a country with over 250 ethnic groups. This is a reflection of the country’s rich cultural heritage. Through music, movies, writing, food, fashion, dancing, arts among others, the country’s treasure are continuously showcased to the world.

In fact, the Nigerian music industry has been estimated to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.4 per cent by 2021, estimated at about $73 million.

However, one of the factors that have hindered the growth of the sector is its poor state of infrastructure. For instance, the National Arts Theatre, the primary centre for the performing arts in Nigeria, has lost its glory as well as its potential as a means of non-oil revenue generation for the country.

This national asset that was built in 1976 as one of the four main venues of the historic Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) that took place in 1977, has completely lost its splendour.

Indeed, just like the National Stadium at Surulere, Lagos, this facility has now been turned into a meeting point for mostly town unions and indigenes from other tribes that reside in Lagos State. Hardly does one hear of any cultural event taking place at this edifice once hosted all Nigerian state government functions and musical extravaganzas such as the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Roy Ayers, Skyy, Shalamar, Whispers, Third world and Dynasty; stage events like Wole Soyinka’s adaptation of D.O Fagunwa’s Langbodo and even Stevie Wonder, who received one of his numerous Grammy Awards at the National Theatre.

The sorry state of this national monument and the desire to aggressively ramp up activities in the non-oil sector forced the Bankers’ Committee, in collaboration with the CBN to intervene in the National Theatre as well as the creative sector.

The project would be funded through the Creative Industry Funds Initiative (CIFI) of the Bankers’ Committee. The CBN and other members of the Bankers’ Committee had set up the Creative Industries and Financing Initiative through which banks set aside, on an annual basis, five percent of their profit after tax (PAT).

The Lagos Creative Entertainment Centre To the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who is the Chairman of the Bankers’ Committee, the idea behind the project, christened ‘Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre,’ was to

National-Theatre

restore the glory of the iconic building by aligning most of the fabric, equipment and facilities in the building with the aesthetics of the 21st century and secondly to develop an ecosystem of creative hubs on the adjoining 44-hectare parcel of land.

The new facility would complement and enhance the National Arts Theatre, he said.

According to him, the Bankers’ Committee is funding a prototype cluster located within the National Arts Theatre, a development which we have labelled the ‘Signature Cluster.’

“This facility will be a convenor – providing space, support network, business development and community engagement for the creative, cultural and technology sectors. “The Signature Cluster will consist of a building each for music, film, fashion and information technology verticals. In addition to these, a welcome/ visitor’s centre, police and fire stations and structured parking for up to 500 vehicles will be built,“ he added.

Emefiele stated that the 44-hectare site adjourning the National Theatre would be developed and utilised for the development of purpose-built creative hubs for the music, film, fashion and information technology.

He said the aim was to deliver a successful creative and entertainment city that would encourage additional investment into Nigeria’s creative industry.

According to him, the anticipation is that there will be at least 10,000 direct and indirect jobs created during the construction phase and over 25,000 people would be engaged in different sections of the centre when the Signature Cluster is completed, with anticipated multiplier effect of other job opportunities.

“The fashion building is a full-fledged apparel production facility with textile showroom, retail and photography spaces and teaching laboratories “The music building will house recording studios with all front and back-end spaces and facilities. An amphitheatre has been designed to adjoin the music hub in the master plan.

“The film facility consists of stage set-up areas as well as all back-end spaces necessary for full production of films.

“The information technology facility consists of co-working and co-living spaces, training facilities and indoor and outdoor breakout clusters, all carefully designed to ensure that interface with the creative users is enhanced,”

Emefiele added.

He said the Bankers’ Committee embarked on the project because of the rapid growth recorded by the creative sector over the years.

“This project will no doubt bring considerable benefits to all Nigerians, especially the youth who are the reason and inspiration behind this initiative. The tenacity of our youth is highly commendable and admirable and has reflected in the economic returns of the creative industry. Their activities, through the music, film and fashion industry, have also brought global acclaim to Nigeria,” Emefiele said.

He said contract for the second phase of the project would be awarded in the next four weeks, while work would be going on concurrently on different areas of the edifice.

The intention is that before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023, the entire project would be completed.

“What we did here today was to sign the contract for just the remodeling and the repositioning of the National Arts Theatre, but around it we are going to be building four hubs and each of the buildings would be strategically located,” he added.

According to Emefiele, the anticipation is that there would be at least 10,000 direct and indirect jobs created during the construction phase and that over 25,000 people would be engaged in different sections of the centre when the Signature Cluster is completed, with anticipated multiplier effect of other job opportunities Responding to a question on the cost of the first phase of the project, Emefiele said: “The first phase will cost about N21.3 billion.

I have heard criticism from different places that the cost is too expensive. But if anyone is interested, we would make open the bills of quantity so that you will know how painstaking the consultant went in pricing this work.

“We are not afraid of the numbers, come and see and if possible, we would publish the bills of quantity for everyone to see. There is nothing for anybody to hide.”

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said on completion, the project would lead to a transportation solution, urban regeneration and a total transformation of the neighborhood.

Support for Economic Diversification Emefiele believes that the initiative would

A diversified economy that supports increased productivity in agriculture and manufacturing sectors, while harnessing the talents of our youths in the creative industries will lead to the build-up of a more resilient economy, which is better able to withstand external shocks, while creating wealth and jobs for our growing population

help support the federal government’s economic diversification drive.

“Given our dependence on crude oil as a major source of government revenue, as well as for our foreign exchange earnings, these challenges have served to reinforce the need for stakeholders to promote policies and programmes that will enable greater diversification of the Nigerian economy.

“A diversified economy that supports increased productivity in agriculture and manufacturing sectors, while harnessing the talents of our youths in the creative industries will lead to the build-up of a more resilient economy, which is better able to withstand external shocks, while creating wealth and jobs for our growing population,” he added.

“The creative centre, which comprises music, movies, fashion and ICT, can be a key source of growth for our economy creating up to one million jobs for the country’s teeming youths,” he said, adding that it would also aid the objective of reducing the country’s dependence on revenue from crude oil.

Emefiele explained: “India for example in 2018 generated over $240 billion from exports of IT, movies, music and fashion related goods and services. This amount is over five times our annual earnings from the sale of crude oil. With our human capital resources and an enabling environment that will help harness the creative talents of our youths, Nigeria has the potential to earn over $20 billion annually from the creative industry.

“With the growing demand for Nigerian music, movies and fashion, across Africa and in various parts of the globe, our creative industries are spurring innovation, creating jobs, and helping to shape perceptions of Nigeria, as a nation with a strong spirit of creativity and ingenuity.”

Also, the Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, had explained that the entire banking industry came together and decided to intervene in the moribund national asset.

“It is not just about the banking community; we are also partnering the Lagos State and federal governments. Lagos State government is going to support us as far as the dredging issues are concerned and ensure that there is an entire urban regeneration around the whole of that area.

“We are doing this for some reasons. The first is that we need to restore our national heritage. The national theatre is one of the most iconic buildings all over the world. The second thing is that this will help to create employment to millions of Nigerians over the next five years, apart from those who are going to be involved in construction and all of that.

“The third thing is that it is a classic example of an urban regeneration exercise in line with the sustainability principles of the central bank,” Wigwe who is the chairman of body of bank CEOs said.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Nwosu: AfCFTA Will Drive Competition in Advertising Industry A former President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Kelechi Nwosu, in this interview speaks on the need for creative agencies to be more savvy savvier in their approach to idea conceptualisation and brand building. Raheem Akingbolu brings the excerpts:

J

ust when the business communities, including creative agencies were heaving a sigh of relief that they had gotten over the COVID-19 crisis, the second wave resurfaced and began to unsettle the market. In view of this, can you comment on the developments in the first quarter of this year so far?

Looking back at what experienced in the last one year, I see slow and modest recovery in the months ahead. Brands are eager to get back to production and selling. The consensus seems to be that economic recovery is far more important than a lockdown with limited benefits. Even though vaccination may or may not happen, Nigerian brands have understood and are still learning how to deliver products safely to consumers. One thing is important and that is the need for businesses to wake up and realise that demand pattern is changing in favour of sectors that are critical, especially in Telco’s/ISPs: food and Fmcgs; Pharma and Entertainment .etc.

Within and outside the creative industry, how would you describe last year?

It was a tough year given that COVID-19 dropped Nigeria into a recession. QTR 2 (-6%) QTR 3(-3%). Clients cut back on marketing and marketing communication budgets and that clearly adversely affected the IMC industry.

We (IMC) support demand and without production and supply, why would clients pursue demand. Except for a few advertisers with an eye on the long-term value of brands that maintained their advertising even if modestly, most other advertisers quickly cut their marketing communication spend Now going forward, what is your projection for 2021?

The World Bank and others predicted a recovery and growth of two per cent for Nigeria. There is also the resilience and tenacity of many brands to brave the conditions and see how to recover from last year . Those are motivating factors that suggest that the year will have a modest recovery for the IMC sector. Note though that the recovery will be skewed positively towards Agencies that are supporting brands in the growing sectors, which I have mentioned above: telco, fintech, E-commerce; health and pharma; food and processing and so on.

Looking beyond Nigeria, how has the pandemic affected the African advertising?

I cannot really speak on African advertising and the pandemic because I have not seen any studied figures . But the trends in Nigeria , South Africa and the world will not be different .

Advertising supports demand and where there was little or no demand, the industry and the players suffered loss of revenue to varying degrees. The rate of loss of revenue will be correlated to the diversity of the account portfolio of the Agencies all over Africa. We must also realise that Africa is underdeveloped and generally under advertised.

during the pandemic. Why is the so?

Experiential marketing unfortunately, was hit more because of the social distancing and lockdown. Core advertising and PR were also affected by the lockdown, but the difference was that the services for some Clients could be rendered remotely unlike services for experiential.

Nwosu

Check out the article by Ronald Redmond Nigeria Advertising Sector Path to Growth (May 20. 2020 where he states that Nigeria Advertising is underperforming for both macro and sectoral reasons He says: that even though our GDP $397 billion is currently the largest economy in Sub Saharan Africa followed closely by South Africa GDP $366 billion, the South African advertising sector is $2.6 billion (7% of GDP) and this is almost six times the size of the Nigerian advertising sector $450 million (1% of GDP). AfCFTA is a factor that will drive competition: adversely and positively for the industry. We are still studying the possible effects as it has just started this year.

What would it take to revive the industry, despite the odds?

First, recognition that before COVID-19, we already had structural /sector problems and seek to fix these. These include: Empaneling of the APCON council so that the regulation and leadership role of APCON is enhanced.

In particular, it will allow Reforms already formulated for the industry to take off and that should cascade to better professionalism and value for the players in the industry.

Another one is that HASG (Heads of Sectoral Groups ) should continue to pressure the federal government on the above . Also, the IMC industry should be concerned about macroeconomic policies and work with other sectors to influence and stabilise government policies. Adverse policies on the advertisers especially the FMCGs tend to have a huge

impact on the IMC industry. The above is also an opportunity to demonstrate our contribution to the GDP and cyclical flow of goods in the economy. The role of advertising is often underplayed whereas we are responsible for providing consumer awareness /education and choice; we instigate competition which is good for the consumers and for the mass production and mass employment. We help with behavior change for tangible and intangible goods. You cannot literally have a capitalist or even socialist economy without advertising. The third point is that IMC practitioners also need to design and create products and platforms for Clients and for themselves.

Our country is in dire need of creativity and productivity; it cannot be left to advertisers alone and agency should utilise the skills they have built to create these. For us at TBWA\ CONCEPT, the Spirit of LAGOS Behavior change campaign, ( 2012-2014) Proudly Made in Aba( 2017 & 2017) are great examples.

And finally, government in recognition of the above roles, should consider a stimulus package for the industry. We do not want any free money, but that they should enforce the existing APCON regulations that only Recognized and licensed firms should do government communications If the federal government does the above at all levels of government ( federal/state/Local) it will stimulate huge growth for our industry .

It is believed in some quarters that experiential marketing sub-sector suffered more than core advertising, PR and others

Your agency, TBWA has been in the forefront of helping SMEs. Can you share this project with us?

SME SHOP is our deliberate response to the SME market. Realising that the sector was critical to the growth in Nigeria, we studied the market four years ago and launched our offering known as the SME SHOP. Clearly, we still have a lot to learn about SMEs and their communication needs, but we have however had modest successes in capacity training seven consulting for SMEs in branding; business growth; how to get loans and set up financial processes. We have been to effect the above working with SAWUBONA , an SME business consultant and other collaborators. For instance, typical challenges of SMEs were exacerbated

by Covid-19. We at TBWA\CONCEPT, in partnership with Ford Foundation, have designed and now implementing a programmes SME SHIFT which answers some of these challenges. The programme has free training videos in modules with experienced and deep facilitators speaking on different need areas which we learnt via a pre-programme research . Mrs. Nike Ogunlesi of RUFF’N” TUMBLE; Ms. Uloma Ike of BoI; Ranti Atunwa of TBWA\CONCEPT and six other prominent facilitators are part of the faculty. Check it out on smeshop.ng. So far, we have trained over 1000 businesses online, offering free business clinics to 50 SMES, majorly female owned.

What has been the impact of the Aba project? What were the contribution of the government?

Proudly Made—in-Aba (PMIA) developed and supported by Ford FOUNDATION over three years ago has been a success. It attracted businesses to the SMEs in ABA and generated enquiries that led to revenue increases. The Leather Sector and the textile sector reported N1.6 billion Naira direct sales during the campaign period in 2018 . An estimated $100,000 worth of free, positive publicity was generated for brand Aba. There was a HACKATHON sponsored by Ford FOUNDATION that resulted from the first phase of PMIA and over $100,000 was given as prizes to the winners who were selected based on how they would use technology to build brands out of Aba. Clintonel, a second prize winner has successfully started a CAD supported, manufacturing Lab in Aba. We have also consulted for a few Aba based brands in fashion and leather. We were minimally supported by the Abia State Government via logistics and information) but we are yet to get their full support to help the government strategically build some strong brands in fashion, textile, leather, and fabrication out of Aba.

N24m Judgment Debt: Businessman Seeks EFCC Assistance A businessman, Mr. Lateef Adebimpe has requested for the assistance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to execute a 21 year-old judgment debt which as at February 29th last year stood at N23,530,882.01.

This was contained in a petition addressed to the anti-graft agency.

The petition revealed that a 1994 business transaction between Baliol Nigeria Limited headed by the petitioner (Adebimpe) and Navcon Nigeria Limited owned by a group of

Indians in collaboration with some Nigerians led to litigation which earned the later company (Navcon) the judgment debt.

It was revealed that the litigation which began in 1995 at a Lagos High Court with Ref. No. LD/1130/95 ended at the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/57/2003, Abuja in 2010 in favor of the petitioner, but, regrettably, the judgment debtor has till date refused to abide by the judgment despite all efforts by the petitioner.

Ahead of the consequences of the fraudulent act which led

to the litigation, the petitioner disclosed that the promoters of Navcon Nigeria Limited had as far back as 1995, abandoned it by floating another company, Navcon Chemicals Ltd. with RC No. 269733 to cover up and render the envisaged court judgment ineffectual.

Through series of search conducted by the petitioner at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) the petitioner disclosed that the promoters of Navcon Nigeria Limited also incorporated different other companies undertaking

similar business activities, an act described as dubious.

The petition listed such other companies as Continental Agricultural Equipment Limited, Navcon Oil and Gas Ltd., Parco Enterprises Nigeria Ltd., Diamonds Bicycles and Tubes Ltd., African Foundries Ltd., and African Hydro-Agric Chemicals Ltd. and others.

With the revelation through the search conducted at the CAC that all the aforementioned companies parade virtually same Directors/Subscribers, the petitioner maintained that

“it will be in the interest of justice and fairness to hold all the Directors and Subscribers of Navcon Nigeria Ltd. and its sister companies precariously liable for the offence committed by their sister company (Navcon Nigeria Ltd.) against the judgment creditor, Baliol Nigeria Ltd.”.

Adebimpe alleged in the petition that a particular Indian and the Chairman of the company (Navcon Nigeria Ltd.), Mr. Parduman Kumar Gupta, “is responsible for bringing his co-nationals to Nigeria to perpetrate all sorts of

business atrocities and he beats his chest to know everybody that matters in Nigeria.

“He prides himself as somebody who can walk away from justice with impunity. That attitude of his is responsible for his blantant denial of having anything to do with business concerns like Navcon Nigeria Ltd and Parco Enterprises Nigeria Ltd. in which he has played a dominant role in the running of these companies and others floated by him and his cohorts for dubious purposes,” the petitioner added.

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Insurers and Challenge of Emerging Underwriting Risks Ebere Nwoji writes on the need for Nigerian insurers to always be prepared in developing policies that will mitigate emerging risks

R

ecent social and environmental developments in Nigeria have spelt the need for Nigerian insurers to pay more attention to emerging risks that are staring on their faces daily.

This will reposition them to provide Nigerians with policies that will bring succor to them in the face of these new risks.

According to analysts, Nigerian insurers are expected to shift from their culture of scrambling for government business at all cost and begin to think bigger on how to harness opportunities existing in the emerging risks and at the same time save the Nigerian economy from huge losses emanating from these risks.

Emerging risks are newly developing or changing risks which are difficult to quantify and which may have a major impact on an organisation or an economy.

Insurers said emerging risks are driven by new economic, technological, socio-political and environmental developments as well as the growing interdependencies between them which can lead to an increasing accumulation of risks.

Presently in Nigeria, losses emanating from social vices like kidnapping, terrorism activities from the Boko Haram insurgents, Fulani herdsmen attacks both on farm crops and human lives as well as huge losses from climatic change factor like flood and latest risks from youth restiveness and cybercrimes, amount to huge loss of lives and property are categorised as emerging risks.

Some insurers believe they lack the capacity to play in this line of business while others regard the emerging risks as uninsurable.

Just last year, insurers were faced with claims from these emerging risks which were not

Thomas

in particular generated a kind of controversy between insurance brokers and insurance underwriters as while brokers insisted that underwriters should pay any victim with insurance cover as a way of advertising the industry and convincing Nigerians on realities of insurance, the underwriters refused.

However, since the launch of the regulator’s medium term plan for deepening insurance penetration in the country tagged, ‘Market Development and Restructuring Initiative’ (MDRI), operators are gradually changing their business approach.

Indeed, from their stereotyped business style of competing for government businesses like group life insurance, the insurers are becoming more versatile in looking inwards to the opportunities in other business lines like micro insurance.

By its nature, emerging risk is still new in Nigeria and is obviously not yet included in the profile of many insurance firms but the need for their inclusion is currently starring on the faces of insurers.

covered by any policy in their portfolio.

Claims from such risks like the Covid-19 and risks from the #Endsars protest as well as killings and farm crop destructions by headsmen were presented to Nigerian insurers and the best they could do was to admit to pay only those that were insured with extensions, while insisting that any victim without extension over is on his own.

As correct as the insurers may be in their decision, apparently, this did not help in building a good image for the industry as the victims insisted that they bought insurance policies but the insurers denied them claims.

The claims from #Endsars protest damages

Risks from Environmental Changes Scientists and environmental experts have warned against the negative effects of such climatic change like global warming on the environment. They called for action plans by governments, and risk prevention and mitigating experts and agencies to prevent and provide for the effects of climatic change .

A group of scientist called union of concerned scientists in their reports on the impact of human activities on the environment said: “Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course. Human activities inflict harsh and often irreversible damage on the environment and on critical resources.

“If not checked, many of our current practices put at serious risk the future that we wish for human society and the plant and animal kingdoms, and may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner that we know.”

But for a developing country like Nigeria, despite the devastating effect of flood on many states, towns and communities, there is still the feeling among Nigerian insurers that natural disaster risk like flood is the exclusive of advanced and industralised countries like America, Australia and Japan who are known to have engaged in industrial activities that cause climatic change as a result of the ozone layer depletion.

With this feeling, both Nigerian government and the insurers remained passive to plans to mitigate losses from these emerging risks.

Shortly after the 2012 flood disaster in Nigeria, some insurers said they were making effort to package policy on flood but the experience of an insured whose property was damaged by flood in Agbo, Delta State, showed that Nigerian insurers including the leading firms have no cover for flood damages.

Going by Nigeria’s climate, after the current dry season, comes rainy season with its associated flood and Nigerians living in flood prone regions of the country are emotionally traumatised because of uncertainties about what this year’s rainy season will spell for them.

But if government and insurance operators can put up collaborative effort, such Nigerians will have less worry in the forthcoming rainy season.

Aside risks from environment in form of Continued on page 28

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T H I S D AY ˾ FEBRUARY 18, 2021

ANALYSIS

Insurers and Challenge of Emerging Underwriting Risks insurers today is risks from social unrest and cybercrime The Managing Director Universal Insurance, Mr. Ben Ujoatuonu, speaking about emerging risk from this aspect said what happened during the #Endsars protest was just example of what the future will be in terms of emerging risks.

He said this is because Nigerians especially the youths are becoming aware of their rights and are bound to make their demands in this way.

He said the development remains a challenge to insurers to enter their policy statement designing room and come up with more emerging risks policy covers.

Former president of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, Dr. Wole Adetimehin, said the industry needs intervention funds from government to enable operators accommodate such risks.

This according to him was to provide succor for the dependants of the victims of these emerging risks.

Speaking on this Adetimehin stated, “given that the magnitude of direct and consequential losses resulting from natural disaster like flood,terrorism, kidnapping and political risks could be extraordinarily huge, the effect of such losses are enough to destabilise the reserves of primary underwriters and their operational structures notwithstanding the level or amount of reinsurance back up especially at the early formative stage of underwriting these set of emerging risks.”

Suggesting way forward for the setting up of the intervention fund Adetimehin said “In setting up the intervention fund, the National insurance commission that is the advisory body to the federal government on insurance and also regulate the insurance industry has the wherewithal to advise the federal government on the size of fund required ,the custodian of such fund and its administration including all other logistics.

“It should also be made clear that insurance claim and losses are not paid from the capital base of insurance firms but from the reserves from operations set aside to pay claims” he stated.

The former CIIN president said the dangerous nature of such risks makes the setting up of the intervention fund much needed, adding that insurers are making efforts to ensure effective coverage of these risks Also Managing Director of Riskguard Africa Limited, Chief Yemi Soladoye, while speaking on the need for Nigerian insurers to expand their coast in underwriting business said, “the era of traditional insurance products would soon give way for specialised products being developed by underwriters to meet the needs of the insuring public.”

For emerging risk like terrorism, Nigerian insurers should study the steps taken by their counterparts in experienced country like America in order to get it right.

Reports from American terrorism insurance underwriters stated that the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks created a severe market shortage for terrorism insurance.

As a result, the US Congress passed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, which created a federal “backstop” for insurance claims related to terrorism events in the US. The Act became law on November 26, 2002, and has since been extended and modified twice: in December 2005 and again in December 2007, when it was renamed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (TRIPRA).

It stated that under TRIA, insurers must make terrorism insurance coverage available to their policyholders when offering to underwrite an accompanying line of business.

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

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

Firefighters putting off fire from a warehouse situated at the Iddo Terminus along Carter Bridge that gutted fire in Lagos...recently

L-R: Administrator,Feljinny Winning School,Felix Udeh; MD,Andertek Global Roofing Ventures,Nwodo Uchechukwu; Senior Associate,Bank of Industry,Emmanuel Musa; MD, Home of praise garments,Folashade Mosowa; and Principal,Award international secondary school,Nicholas Emi-Johnson,during the activation of FG’s payroll support for MSMEs in Lagos....recently

L-R: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed; Ekiti State Governor/Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; during a roundtable on Agriculture for Food Plan in Abuja....recently

L-R;: Former Chief of Naval Staff, retired Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas; former Chief of the Defence Staff, retired Admiral Ola-Said Ibrahim; and Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, during the Pulling-Out Parade in honour of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, in Abuja...recently Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero (right) and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, during the Minister’s visit to the Emir’s Palace in Kano ..recently

L-R: Leader Adegoke Olayemi; Shepard-In-Charge, El-Morijah Cathedral Christ Valley, Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Iju-Ishaga, Lagos Sate, Suprior Evangelist Dr. Odewol Odeniyi; and Special Most Snr. Evang. Sanni Adesanmi, during the Openning of 7 Sundays Ministration and Prophetic impartation titled ‘Lest My People Go’ in Lagos... recently AKINYELE ABAYOMI

L-R: Chief Operating Officer of Innovate4Africa, Mrs. Cynthia Isang; Communications Manager of Innovate4Africa, Loveth Tams; Acting Manager, Corporate Communications PHED, Chioma Aninwe; Head, Admin. PHED, Ngozi Koroye; and Head Commercial PHED Bayelsa, Engr. Everest Okpara, during the launching of Creativity Challenge ‘CATCH’, held at Yenagoa… recently.

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T H I S D AY ˾ , FEBRUARY 18, 2021

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Panacea for Under Five Deaths in Children

Globally, experts say diarrhoea remains the second leading cause of death among children under five.

Yet, these untimely deaths can be prevented if proper domestic hygiene, adequate sanitary practice, safedrinking water and food cleanliness can be strongly practiced. Rebecca Ejifoma, who spoke with four mothers, reports on the relevance of deworming infants as a panacea

Mrs. Chinasa Ibeneme and child

A

t barely three years of age, David Ese had been caught in the web of cable television documentary series on Nat Geo World. He is also hooked on a few others. With the company of his grandfather, Mr. Emmanuel Brudu, whom the toddler lived with from birth in Ajeromi-Ifelodun area of Lagos, the little lad was always on a cruise of animal awareness.

At such a tender age, he could easily identify different sea creatures, such as the kings of the jungle; the preys, the hunters, the reptiles, the night crawlers, and the deadliest of the wilds.

For this pre-schooler, all he knows about television are just three features – cartoons, news, and Nat Geo Wild. This, according to his grandfather, began to reflect on his actions because he would often attempt to roar like a lion or recognise various animals.

“One Monday morning,” said the granddad, “little Ese suddenly leaped from the bed like one who had a nightmare and yelled Mummy,” and at the same time pointed at his bums and told her: “elephant in my bumbum”. You just needed to be there to watch us laugh hysterically. We understood at once that it could be he saw an elephant in his dreams or had watched more than necessary for his age the previous day or so.”

Then his mom, Mrs. Esther Ese, a primary school teacher and caterer, chipped in, “These were among the several assumptions that, I presume, tried to bury his distress wailings.”

She hinted that as she checked his buttocks that day, she obviously did not see any elephant there or in her house. So, she simply handled his alarm call with kid’s gloves, like most mothers do according to medical reports.

It was the grandfather, who, a little later, sensed the little lad could be alerting them about worm possibly playing around his anus. He said it suddenly occurred to him that a possible reason children put hands in their bumbum is when they feel any kind of uncomfortable movements.

According to the grandpa, he felt Ese would continue to be traumatised by his delusive screams, if they didn’t do anything to calm him. Then, the old man bent to look when he saw the tiny, white, thread-like creature trying to crawl out of his little grandson’s anus.

NDHS on Children’s Health and Statistics As statistics cited by the Nigerian Demographic Survey (NDHS) 2018 shows, 13 per cent of children under age five had diarrhoea in the two-week period before the survey.

It was thus likely that little Ese’s incident could have been added to that figure which represents a 10 per cent increase between 2008 and 2013.

Also, the World Health Organisation (WHO),

Mrs. Innocent and children

in its description, says diarrhoea is a form of gastrointestinal infection caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms.

The agency adds that diarrhoea can be gotten through inadequate sanitation, contaminated food or drinking water, or from person-to-person as a result of poor hygienic practices, among others. WHO also affirms that diarrhoea is the second leading cause of death in children under five years whereas it is both preventable and treatable.

Despite the fact that it is preventable and treatable, the NDHS still maintains that nearly 1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrhoea are recorded annually with it killing about 525,000 children under five globally every year.

Mothers Narrate Experience A Human Resource Personnel, Mrs. Chinasa Ibeneme, is a mother of four residing at AbuleAdo in Amuwo Local Government Area.

One of her daughters, Ugochi, is five-years old. She had experienced stooling as a result of picking and eating food crumbs from the floor and chewing her fingernails.

“It was really very shocking,” the mother lamented. “Ugochi has never complained of worm infections because I always deworm her and my other two children ages nine and seven every three months.” On the advice of her own mother, a teacher, Ibeneme first dewormed her little girl at a year-and-sixmonths old.

“And when I asked my children’s paediatrician, he told me that as long as a child is healthy, the child doesn’t really need deworming. But my mom has a contrary opinion. She argued that little children often pick things from the floor; and with such an habit, any improperly cooked meat would add to the children being prone to having worms,” she emphasised.

Ibeneme said from what she experienced with her child, she would really harp on the importance of oral solution deworming because, “it makes children healthy”. She also adds that it is ideal to clean the environment; adding, “I’m an advocate of hygiene”.

The HR personnel also pointed out that surroundings of several residential areas are no longer as clean as they used to be since Lagos State government stopped the environmental sanitation exercise. She said it is sad that many children in the same age group with her five-year-old may also delight in picking food scraps from the floors. She further cautioned parents to be alert so they can use positive reinforcements to stop their children picking their noses and putting the boogers into their mouths.

She also added that another factor of concern is the situation in which househelps handle the children’s food flasks with laxity when washed. She then recalled how her househelp washed her children’s food flask, yet, it was still very dirty when checked.

Mrs. Paula Eleanya and daughter

Ibeneme recalled: “At first, I didn’t know what led to my children always vomiting no matter what they ate. Then, one day on impulse, I just took their food flasks and checked. You can’t imagine the loads of dirty, left-over particles I found in the corners and edges of the food flasks.

“I asked the help and she said she didn’t know they were left there. Promptly, I put adequate measures in place to ensure proper washing of the food flasks and that helped solve that problem.”

To a very large extent, she continued with emphasis, “I now handle the basic chores as sweeping, mopping the living room tiled floor; keeping their clothes clean; cut their nails every Saturday, change their toothbrushes every three months and douse their cutleries in warm water.”

Ibeneme said she also went as far as acquainting herself with the NDHS 2018 findings which enlightened her that pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria claim most lives of children between ages one month and five years. “And this knowledge has equipped me in knowing ways to preserve my children’s lives,” she said.

Whereas for Mrs. Elemonuwa Innocent, the fear of diarrhoea puts her on the red alert to safeguard the lives of her broods. This mother of three says she pays rapt attention to them because they are still within ages three years, one year, and one-month range respectively.

According to Innocent, when she took them for immunisation, those that attended to mothers told them “not to deworm any of our children until they are age one”. She disclosed that religiously, she follows this instruction without any question.

But the moment her first two children crossed age one, she said she has been deworming them every three months. And this is why she doesn’t understand why, despite deworming, diarrhoea still finds its way into children’s system. Hence, she is holding excess sugar guilty for worms in children after a mother had taken other precautionary measures.

“In my home for instance, rather than buy or use sugary substances for my children, I do more of homemade fruit juice. I know that worms cause illnesses in children. I had even heard how some children, after consuming certain foods, developed stomach troubles which made them to be vomiting and pooing out worms. I got truly scared and that is why I’m doing my motherly best to help prevent my little children from the pangs of diarrhoea.”

Now, despite being a full time event planner and caterer, Mrs. Esther Ibe, still makes her children’s health a top priority.

“I started deworming my five-year-old son since he was seven months old. I needed to make him stay healthy, so I do required deworming for him four times in a year.”

Knowing the role safe water plays in the life of children and despite its cost, Ibe said she began using clean and certified sachet water for them since each of them marked age one. “In addition to sachet water, I often boil water for the three of them when going to school because of germs.

“To some extent, I have read up on worms and know that when in children, they could have shortage of blood, make them become pale, makes their bums itch, they keep stooling and as well, have loss of appetite and few other health issues. That’s why I do my utmost part in ensuring that my children are kept worms-free in their bodies,” she noted.

Unlike many mothers who have garnered experiences in raising children, a young mother of one, Zainab Danmole, is a new entrant in the trade.

She admitted, “I’m quite unaware about worm in infants. In fact, I was never informed of deworming until my two-year old son began to spit constantly, lose weight and lost his appetite refusing to eat even his favourite foods.”

As she told THISDAY: “My elder sister, whose child was two years old, rushed to get some worm expellers for my child at a nearby clinic. If not, I would have remained in the dark of my son’s illness. When I told her my baby was always spitting and doesn’t eat well and that when I had never given him any worm expeller before, my sister just shouted.”

But after giving him some oral solutions, the first-time mum said it totally eluded her again until he became age three in the new year 2021. Happily, for her, she said the young lad has been growing up fine since his deworming experience.

Expert’s Perspective Proffering a paediatric expert’s perspective to the issue in focus, the Medical Director, GTAK Health Clinic, Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Goke Akinrogunde, stressed that poor hand cleanliness or food hygiene, especially when handling raw uncooked meals and other foods are usually responsible for worms in children.

The paediatrician, who is a sub-Committee on Medical Negligence, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said another factor is to prevent or caution against children walking about barefooted.

He noted that some of those larva that hatches from the eggs of the worms can penetrate through the sole of the foot or even through the skin, especially ones with open sores.”

Akinrogunde also stressed a point by the WHO, which states that the chances of children in the upper or middle class getting infected or infested is very low. He said this is not to claim that worms in children is a matter of

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

T H I S D AY ˾ , FEBRUARY 18, 2021

33

COVER

PANACEA FOR UNDER FIVE DEATHS IN CHILDREN Perhaps, this is due to the short distance between the two countries.

Whilst diarrhoea is the second largest killer PG VOEFS àWF DIJMESFO JO /JHFSJB JO (IBOB it is the third cause of deaths among children under five. Reports have it that Ghana records 1.7 billion cases annually leading to deaths PG VOEFS àWF DIJMESFO XIFSFBT /JHFSJB records 18.8 per cent with about 26 per treated with Oral Dehydration Salts (ORD). Only 10 per cent of under-five deaths were recorded JO /JHFSJB JO "DDPSEJOH UP SFTFBSDI EJBSSIPFB JT EFFNFE B NFOBDF JO TVC 4BIBSBO "GSJDB JODMVEJOH TPNF QBSUT PG 8FTU "GSJDB XJUI BO FTUJNBUFE cases yearly among children under-five due to poor hygienic and sanitary practices.

In 2011, diarrhoea was said to have peaked in Ghana with estimated cases at 113,786 among children under-five years. It was also noted that approximately 2,318 cases were from severe EFIZESBUJPO MFBEJOH UP EFBUIT XJUIJO UIF same year.

Mrs. Ibe and child " TVCNJTTJPO CZ UIF 8)0 EFTDSJCFT diarrhoea as ‘the passage of three or more estimated 807 to 1,222 million people are loose or liquid stools per day or more frequent said to be infected by it globally; altogether passage than is normal for the individual. accounting for a major burden of the disease 5IF DPOEJUJPO JG QFSTJTUFOU BOE PS XJUIPVU worldwide.

The consequence of this, experts say, is intervention, may lead to several complications and even death, particularly among under the heavy harm of infections the worms do to the human body in multiple ways. five children.

Globally, it is estimated that about 1.7 billion Some of the harms include impairing the episodes of childhood diarrhoea disease occur nutritional status of its host, feeding of its annually, and over 700,000-800,000 of these host’s tissues and blood, which leads to a cases result in preventable deaths. WHO states loss of iron and protein.

Hookworms also cause chronic intestinal that global evidence has recently recorded a vast decline in diarrhoea cases and deaths blood loss leading to anaemia. In children, within the last two decades; the reverse remains it causes internal bleeding leading to loss of UIF TDFOBSJP JO TVC 4BIBSBO "GSJDB XIFSF UIF iron and anaemia; intestinal inflammation situation has continued to be unacceptably high. and obstruction; diarrhoea; and impairment 0O UIF PUIFS IBOE UIF 6OJUFE /BUJPOT of nutrient intake, digestion and absorption. $IJMESFO T 'VOE 6/*$&' IBT JU UIBU Precautions diarrhoea deaths has slightly declined to -JWJOH IFBMUIZ IBT BMXBZT CFFO SFDPNBCPVU SFQSFTFOUJOH QFS DFOU JO 2016. In 2017 alone, diarrhoea accounted mended for everyone as the overall lifestyle. for 8 per cent of all deaths, which trans- Sadly, not many people take that into lates to over 1,300 children per day or QSBDUJDBCMF DPHOJ[BODF :FU JO UIF CJE UP 480,000 per year among children under combat worms, living healthy lifestyle has five worldwide, despite the availability been mooted by experts as one of the ways to help prevent chronic diseases and long-term of a simple treatment.

The agency noted, however, that between illnesses, especially as it relates to diarrhoea the year 2000 and 2018, a huge progress to curb worm infestations. *O QBSUJDVMBS "LJOSPHVOEF OPUFT UIBU iJG was made during which the total annual number of deaths from diarrhoea among you have good food, environmental and hand children under five decreased by 64 per decontaminations, and make sure you prevent DFOU 6/*$&' BMTP EJTDMPTFE UIBU NPTU uncooked food to some extent, one can really deaths from diarrhoea occur among children knock off worms’ infestation.

He opposed to the idea of quarterly CFMPX UIF BHF UXP MJWJOH JO 4PVUI "TJB PS deworming, adding that it is not for every TVC 4BIBSBO "GSJDB 'VSUIFSNPSF BT PG JO 4JFSSB -FPOF BOE DIJME 'PS JOTUBODF IF TBJE i* EPO U FYQFDU $POHP 6/*$&' àOEJOHT TIPX UIBU BCPVU the parents of a child that stays in the upper QFS DFOU BOE QFS DFOU SFTQFDUJWFMZ PG middle level where you can hardly see filthy environment to say they are deworming their under five deaths were due to diarrhoea. children. It is just not necessary.”

He shared an experience he had in the How Worms Get into Humans "DDPSEJOH UP UIF $FOUSF GPS %JTFBTFT $POUSPM QBFEJBUSJD XBSE PG B HFOFSBM IPTQJUBM JO -BHPT (CDC) research on soil-transmitted helminth, He narrated that a child had been brought in it refers to the intestinal worms infecting GPS TDBO "OE BU àSTU IF IBE UIPVHIU UIFSF humans through polluted soil. Its infections XBT B NBTU JO UIF MBE T UVNNZ RVJUF GVMM i"T are among the most common infections in the paediatric surgeon, I had the responsibility humans caused by a group of parasites PG PQFSBUJOH PO IJN u )F TBJE i*G ZPV TBX known as worms. They are also known as the amount of worms this child passed out over the weekend that was causing terrible parasitic worms.

Helminth worms are also transmitted via obstruction in his system, you would marvel.”

"LJOSPHVOEF OPUFE UIBU IF TIBSFE UIBU accidental ingestion through infective eggs while others have larvae that actively penetrate to let readers know the level of damages the skin such as hookworms, schistosomes, worms can cause in the human body. He TBJE i"NPOH PUIFST XPSNT DBO HFOFSBMMZ strongyloides and a few others.

Its infections are mostly found mainly in cause diarrhoea just as hookworms can areas with warm and moist climates where reduce blood level because it sucks blood. sanitation and hygiene are poor, including in Then, tape worms can make a child to grow temperate zones during warmer months. They abnormally.” live in the human intestines while their eggs Solutions pass into the faeces of the infected person.

The expert stressed on the importance of Sadly, when the infected person defecates in the open field and such is used as fertilizer; keeping under-five children healthy, alive those soiled eggs are re-deposited into the soil. and free from worms. He prescribed access People then get infected when the mature to safe drinking-water, well-cooked meal, hand hookworm gets ingested either through dirty, hygiene, constant footwear, washing of foods contaminated hands or via vegetables that such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, raw meat, have not been thoroughly washed, peeled environmental hygiene, and proper sanitation and cooked. While they also hatch in the as diverse panacea to helping the toddlers soil, they release larvae, immature worms grow healthy.

The pediatrician noted that with these that can penetrate the human skin while practices in place, it is certain that mortality on the open field.

"MSFBEZ BDSPTT UIF XPSME àHVSFT PO and morbidity in children age zero to five IPPLXPSN JOGFDUJPOT SBOHF GSPN UP ZFBST XJMM SFEVDF JO -BHPT 4UBUF JO QBSUJDVMBS 740 million, and in another instance, an BOE JO /JHFSJB JO HFOFSBM

FERTILITY

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE AND INFERTILITY (Part 1)

G

lobally, it has not been easy to determine the incidence of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 448 Million new cases of individuals suffer from Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) yearly which may eventually predispose to PID. It was also reported that the incidence rate of PID was higher amongst teenagers and first time mothers.

Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases can be prevented and cured if diagnosed early. It is not out of place to describe the reproductive organ as a sacred place in the body owing to the fact that they are the part of the body that ensures a next generation is reproduced.

Parenthood is undeniably one of the most universally desired goals in adulthood. Most people have life plans that include children and the part of the body that makes this happen both in male and female is referred to as the reproductive organ.

The female reproductive organ is located in the lower part of the body called the pelvic region which is below the abdomen and houses the organs of reproduction such as the uterus (Womb), ovaries and fallopian tubes. What happens when this sacred and sensitive part of the body gets infected? Could it affect the functioning of the reproductive organs? Could it cause infertility? What should you do as soon as you feel changes to your reproductive organs? How would you know you have infection on your reproductive organs? How can you prevent infection of the reproductive organ?

PID is mainly caused by bacteria transmitted through sexually transmitted infections (STI) e.g. gonorrhea and chlamydia. STI-causing bacteria may enter the vagina with semen, and in an untreated condition, may pass through the cervix into the uterus (Womb).

From the uterus, the bacteria can go into the fallopian tubes and spread to other part of the body. If it spreads to the blood, it can become life threatening. $IJME CJSUI "CPSUJPO .JTDBSSJBHF r In cases of childbirth, abortion or miscarriage, the cervix might not fully be closed, allowing for infection to spread more rapidly if bacteria enter into the vagina. *OUSBVUFSJOF EFWJDF 5IJT JT B GPSN r of contraceptive placed in the womb. It can increase the risk of developing infection, which may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. r &OEPNFUSJBM CJPQTZ 5IJT JT B NFEJDBM procedure that involves taking of sample GSPN UIF MJOJOH PG UIF XPNC VUFSVT GPS analysis. This can increase risk of infection if not done by a skilled physician and if not treated on time, or properly, leads to PID. r "QQFOEJY *O TPNF DBTFT JOGFDUJPO from the appendix may spread to the pelvis causing PID. r %PVDIJOH %PVDIJOH JT B NFUIPE of washing or cleaning out the vagina with water or mixture of fluid. Douching regularly upsets the balance of good versus harmful bacteria in the vagina. This can increase the risk of developing infections and subsequently Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

SYMPTOMS OF PID Most often, no symptoms manifests in women with PID. If they do, they can vary from mild to severe. Possible symptoms of PID are: r 1BJO FTQFDJBMMZ JO UIF QFMWJD BSFB sometimes in the lower back, rectum r 1BJO EVSJOH TFYVBM JOUFSDPVSTF r 6OVTVBM 7BHJOBM EJTDIBSHF NBZ CF GPVM smelling in some case depending on cause) r 'SFRVFOU VSJOBUJPO r 'FWFS GBUJHVF WPNJUJOH r #MFFEJOH TQPUUJOH CFUXFFO QFSJPET r *SSFHVMBS NFOTUSVBUJPO PID can be acute, lasting up to 30 days, or chronic lasting longer than 30 days even up to years. Pelvic inflammatory Disease if not properly treated can lead to repeated episodes PG 1*% B DPOEJUJPO LOPXO BT 3&$633&/5 1&-7*$ */'-".."503: %*4&"4& *U DPVME CAUSES/RISK FACTORS OF PELVIC also be as a result of sexual partner not being INFLAMMATORY DISEASE? UFTUFE BOE USFBUFE "MTP JG BC FQJTPEF PG 1*% There are some factors that can increase damages the womb of fallopian tubes, it can the risk of developing PID. They include: become easier for bacteria to infect these r 4FYVBMMZ 5SBOTNJUUFE *OGFDUJPO 45* areas in the future, making it more likely which may occur from engaging in sexual that PID develops again. Repeated episodes intercourse with multiple partners or without of PID are associated with an increased risk adequate protection such as use of condoms. in infertility.

WHAT IS PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID)?

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is an inflammation (infection) of the female reproductive organs-the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. It may affect one of the organs or a combination. Mostly, PID is caused by bacterial infection that spreads from the vagina or cervix to the reproductive organs. Many different types of bacteria can cause PID. In about 1 in 4 cases, it is caused by sexually transmitted infection (STI). The cause of STI can also be fungal or parasitic organism, but it is more likely to involve one or more type of bacteria in some other cases, it may be caused by the bacteria that live in the vagina.

PID can lead to scar formation with fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs.

34

T H I S D AY ˾ , FEBRUARY 18, 2021

NEWS

Nigeria Sets Up Multi-sectoral Commitee on COVID-19 Vaccine Acquisition tHealth workers put on alert over Ebola disease Onyebuchi EzigbÙ ÓØ ÌßÔË Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has inaugurated an Interministerial, multi-sectoral Vaccine Coordination Committee to address diverse issues peculiar to COVID-19 vaccine acquisition

by Nigeria.

The minister who inaugurated the committee on Monday, said the function of the vaccine committee is to advice government on coordinating access to acquisition and distribution of vaccines when available, and on immunisation strategy.

Ehanire said the Ministry of Health has also engaged the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT), which promised the country free allocation of 1.4 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, “of which 500,000 doses are expected by the end of this month, courtesy of MTN donation of 7 million doses to Africa’”.

The minister who spoke

at the media briefing by the Presidential Taskforce on Control of COVID-19 in Abuja, explained that the balance of 900,000 doses for Nigeria is expected by the end of March 2021 while other sources of vaccines are under negotiation.

He added that the National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has received dossiers for Sputnik V vaccine of Russia, Covishield or Astra Zeneca manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India, Covaxin by Bharat vaccines of India and the Sinopharm Vaccine of China, for evaluation and validation for use in Nigeria, adding that some of them are nearly ready for results.

Furthermore, Ehanire said Nigeria has received a pledge from the High Commissioner of India, giving 100,000 AstraZeneca or covishield vaccine doses to the country.

With regard to AVATT, Ehanire said Nigerian goverment has

Enahire completed her account opening, which was signed on Monday by two officials each, of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, Budget & National Planning, at Afrexim Bank as a requirement for access to vaccines

can manage.

Speaking on measures being adopted to check second wave of Ebola outbreak in the country, the minister said that health officials at the border posts have been put on alert.

According to Ehanire, stricter infection prevention and control measures, including personal protective measures, must be taken immediately there is reason to suspect prevalence in the country.

He also said that Nigeria is willing to send experienced volunteers from our Centres of Excellence on Viral haemmorrhagic fever, to support WHO measures to contain Ebola resurgence in the West African subregion.

“We shall work with West Afon that platform, which will give rica Health Organisation (WAHO) Nigeria access to a much larger and WHO on strategies to bring portfolio and variety of vaccines. this outbreak under control and Among the vaccines are the shall provide regular updates Johnson & Johnson single dose on preparedness, containment vaccine and as much of the Pfizer and response measures in due mRNA vaccines as the country course,” he said.

Ehanire advised Nigerians to avoid travel to high Infectious disease burden countries.

Ehanire said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has assured that its team on Ebola disease control has commenced action and will be issuing a public health advisory to Nigerians.

While reassuring Nigerians of government’s readiness to protect our country from the second outbreak of Ebola, the Director General of the Centre, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said NCDC is taking the task very seriously.

Ihekweazu who gave updates at the PTF briefing on Monday, said the Centre is monitoring very closely the reported incidence of Ebola in the two countries, Guinea and Democrats Republic of Congo where there were reported cases.

The NCDC DG also said that the country is stepping up training of health workers, especially those involved in infectious disease control to help prepare against any disease outbreak.

Making Fitness Convenient, Entertaining for Healthy Living Rebecca Ejifoma As many Nigerians expressed concerns over weight gain from the recent lockdown, Nigeria’s first and fastest growing fitness chain, I-Fitness Centre Ltd, continues to promote the culture of healthy living, as it unveiled its 10th outlet in the country.

I-Fitness centre was established in 2015 in its bid to make health and wellness common, affordable, entertaining, and convenient.

Its Founder and CEO, Foluso Ogunwale, told newsmen the importance of embracing a healthy way of life. He said this during the unveiling of the Magodo branch on CMD road, Lagos.

For the CEO, I-Fitness runs with the vision to be Africa’s most preferred fitness chain.

“As opposed to 10 years ago when world class fitness centres were luxury, scarce, and expensive; I-Fitness is making fitness common, affordable, entertaining and convenient.

“This is our own way of promoting the culture of health

and wellness amongst many thousands, perhaps millions of people,” Ogunwale emphasised.

Some of the benefits of exercises, according to the CEO, include boosting the immune system. “Those who passed on from COVID-19 were largely those with underlying medical issues; meaning, the stronger your immune system, the more likely it is to survive a COVID infection. This just reminds us not to compromise on health and wellness.”

The wellness expert further cited a World Health Organisation (WHO) 2018 report that the average life expectancy of the Nigerian male is 54 years and female 55 years.

He said: “This is quite disturbing. Non-communicable diseases like heart related diseases, and diabetes are largely avoidable if fitness (physical activity and nutrition) is checked.”

According to Ogunwale, paying attention to one’s health is what they do. “Hence, the exciting part of building and scaling I-Fitness is the ability to touch many lives. We have

L-R: Director at I-Fitness, Yomi Jemibewon; CEO Coach B Fitness Zone, Bukola Ogunwale; Founder & CEO I-Fitness Centre Ltd, Foluso Ogunwale; Head, Branch Expansion, I-Fitness, Amen Makolo; and Head, Marketing & E-Business, I-Fitness, Oluwatobi Dada

become a strong channel through which thousands of people imbibe healthy living.”

While hinting that I-Fitness has not adequately covered every urban community in Nigeria, Ogunwale said that their mission remained on paper only. “We will be excited to see I-Fitness in any urban community with up to 25,000

residents within a 5km radius,” he added.

With the population size of Lagos and the need to massively promote healthy living, the fitness expert revealed that their initial plan was to have 22 branches in Lagos alone.

Today, I-Fitness boasts of 10 branches and have created over 250 jobs for the youth.

“With our expansion plan, we are creating another 180 before the year runs out. These are jobs cutting across various functions: from sales, marketing, personal training, customer service, accounting, to human resources among others.”

Today, the centre has about 10,000 members; it is projecting 20,000 more by the end of the

year, and over 100,000 by 2024.

Proudly, I-Fitness is committing N2 billion investment, Ogunwale disclosed, in the Nigerian fitness industry.

“This investment is enabling us provide a network of convenient and affordable fitness centers, thereby promoting a culture of health & wellness.

“Since convenience is one of the values we offer to our members, we operate a multilocation based system. Meaning that with one membership, our members can have access to any of our branches.”

Affordability, he continued, is also crucial. “With multi-location access, group fitness classes, best in-class equipment, certified fitness instructors, our members have the flexibility to make monthly subscriptions from as low as N13,900 as against what was obtainable 10 years ago when fitness membership in a standard gym was as high as N700,000 per annum without monthly payment options. I-Fitness is changing that landscape, we are making fitness common and more affordable.”

Mental Illness: Expert Calls on FG to Ban Chaining of Patients in Health Centres Kuni Tyessi ÓØ ÌßÔË Neurological Surgeon and CEO of Brain and Spine Surgery Limited, Dr. Biodun Ogungbo has called on the federal government to ban chaining of mentally ill patients.

He also urged government to urgently investigate chaining in state-owned rehabilitation centers, psychiatric hospitals, and faith-based as well as traditional healing centers in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He said the result is a chronically and dangerously under-resourced mental health system catering to the needs of an estimated one in eight Nigerians who suffers from mental illness,

poor awareness of the causes of mental health, widespread stigma and discrimination, poorly equipped services, and abuse of people with mental health problems Ogungbo who stated this in a statement said detention, chaining, and violent treatment are pervasive in many settings, including state hospitals, rehabilitation centers, traditional healing centers, and both Christian and Islamic faith-based facilities.

Blaming the public and the environment mentally challenged persons find themselves in, Ogungbo said people who have suffered mental stress and breakdowns are poorly diagnosed and poorly managed.

He added that families mean well, but are not equipped to handle mental illness, and many make terrible mistakes by sending mental health sufferers out of their homes due to stigma and societal pressure.

He revealed that a reform of the mental health law that is in keeping with international standards is urgently needed to drive change.

“People with mental health conditions should be supported and provided with effective services in their communities, not chained, used and abused.

“The Nigerian government should ban chaining and urgently investigate chaining in state-owned rehabilitation

centers, psychiatric hospitals, and faith-based and traditional healing centers in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The government should also prioritise the development of quality, accessible, and affordable community-based mental health services.

“The first thing though is to create better awareness among the population. Mental health is like any other issue and can become a sickness. It needs empathy and treatment as may be necessary.

It is not a curse and the sufferers are not possessed.

“They are not agents of the devil. They are simply sick family members who deserve to be treated with love and compassion.

Many are a danger to themselves more than to family members or the society at large.”

He said underpinned by poor societal attitudes towards mental illness and inadequate resources, facilities, and mental health staff, figures suggest that approximately 80 per cent of individuals with serious mental health needs in Nigeria cannot access care.

He reiterated that stigma and misunderstanding about mental health conditions, including the misperception that they are caused by evil spirits or supernatural forces, often prompt relatives to take their loved ones to religious or traditional healing places.

“Stigma and misunderstanding

about mental health conditions, including the misperception that they are caused by evil spirits or supernatural forces, often prompt relatives to take their loved ones to religious or traditional healing places.

“They place them in these care facilities in order to have peace at home. Many are managed by sociopaths and charlatans due to the extreme shortage of trained mental health care practitioners.

We are losing potentially viable and good men and women daily.”

He urged that the government should stop abusing its citizens and should provide jobs, social amenities, security and peace as these will reduce mental health issues in Nigeria.

35

T H I S D AY ˾ , FEBRUARY 18, 2021

PERSPECTIVE

Global Action is the Only Way to Get Ahead of COVID-19 Mark Suzman

T

his week, we learned that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca appears to provide no measurable effect on mild or moderate disease caused by the variant of the virus first identified in South Africa, known as B.1.351.

This is deeply disappointing news. People the world over are understandably frustrated and anxious as the pandemic continues to disrupt their lives. In South Africa, where many of my family members live, and in other countries where variants are spreading, people have been waiting for the promising science to translate into lives saved in their communities.

The whole world is grappling with a complicated and fluid situation. We still don’t know, for example, if this vaccine could protect against severe or fatal disease caused by the variant, thereby preventing people from being hospitalized or needing supplemental oxygen, which is in short supply in some countries. Additional information will be needed to answer these and other questions. The World Health Organization and national health authorities will determine the potential public health value of this vaccine in South Africa and other countries and make decisions about where and how it can be used.

While we may all be feeling destabilized now amid this swirl of questions, we must keep the big picture in mind. In science, every outcome is knowledge. Without the researchers in South Africa who were able to quickly identify the variant and incorporate

Suzman

it into this clinical trial, the world would not yet know the effectiveness of the vaccine on this variant. These world-class scientists have generated valuable new knowledge that will enable more targeted interventions, helping governments make important decisions about vaccine rollouts and better protect their people. For example, a version of this vaccine is being rolled out in India, where B.1.351 hasn’t yet been detected. So while questions are being answered, this

vaccine will continue to be a valuable tool in other parts of the world.

We’ve all been spoiled lately by how good the news on vaccine science has been. The world went from seeing the emergence of a deadly new infectious disease to developing several safe and effective vaccines against it within the space of only 10 months—the fastest humans have ever gone from identifying a novel virus to inoculating against it.

Only four months ago, we weren’t sure any vaccine would work. With several additional vaccines coming through the final phases of clinical trials, including those from Johnson & Johnson and Novavax, we are still on a trajectory to get everyone protected against COVID-19. It will take time for doses of those vaccines to become available, following regulatory approvals and manufacturing scale-up, but they will get out.

As a philanthropy, we will continue to do our part to keep up the momentum. Building on our longstanding partnerships, we are working with governments, multilateral organizations, and private companies to determine how to respond to the latest data.

We will use our funding commitments of more than $1.75 billion to help accelerate the development and distribution of vaccines that are optimized for lower- and middle-income countries and are effective against the variants. We’ll also make new investments in treatments and diagnostics because we’ve learned that research and development on these important tools must accelerate as additional variants emerge.

Although the path forward is challenging, it is not bleak. We have learned a great deal about what works to control this virus during 2020, and these lessons are increasingly being applied for an even more nimble and effective response in 2021.

A pandemic knows no borders. Leaving half the world without access to vaccines only means that more people will suffer and die, both at home and abroad. As Bill and Melinda recently wrote in their annual letter, we are fighting against immunity inequality, an injustice that is bad on moral grounds, bad on economic grounds, and bad on public health grounds. The world needs to reach vulnerable communities and health care workers with vaccines as quickly as possible, no matter where they live, if we’re going to get ahead of this virus.

To combat a global problem, global action is needed. Many nations and organizations have worked to create, fund, and promote collaborative international mechanisms to boost equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

COVAX remains far and away the biggest and most important multilateral initiative to tackle this challenge, but only if it urgently receives funding to support enough vaccines to outrace the virus. Unfortunately, global manufacturing and procurement have remained underfunded while a bidding war for doses puts vaccines out of reach for the poorest countries. Nations that understandably want to shore up their own health networks and vaccine delivery systems should also ramp up funding for COVAX and reject the impulse to make bilateral deals that shut out other countries and delay the possibility of a global recovery.

If COVID-19 has taught the world anything over the past year, it is that we’re all in this together. Variants may continue to emerge that could put everyone at risk. We cannot defeat this pandemic unless everyone, everywhere, has a chance to get vaccinated. t4V[NBO JT UIF $&0 #JMM .FMJOEB (BUFT 'PVOEBUJPO

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ FEBRUARY 18, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FX Market: CBN Intervened with $10.308bn in Six Months Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold a total of $10.308 billion in the foreign exchange (FX) market in the first six months of 2020.

The banking sector regulator disclosed this in its ‘Half-year Activity Report,’ as of June 2020, posted on its website yesterday.

It explained that the continued intervention was to cushion demand pressures and ensure exchange rate stability. A breakdown of the total amount of FX sold by the CBN in the period under review comprised $5.056 billion at the Investors and Exporters’ window; $1.198 billion at the interbank spot, $570.00 million for SMEs, $312 million for invisibles, while forwards sales were $3,170.97 million.

On the other hand, the Bank purchased a total of $2.211 million,

which resulted in a net sale of $8.097 billion. Also, the report revealed that the sum of $5.425 billion matured at the forwards segment, while $2.505 billion was outstanding at end-June 2020.

In comparison with the first half of 2019, a total of $8.471 billion was sold at the foreign exchange market. This comprised $2.161 billion at the inter-bank spot, $810 million for SMEs, $550.70 million for invisibles, $294.59 million at the I & E window, while forwards sales were $4.654 billion.

But the CBN purchased $9.552 billion, which resulted in a net sale of $1.081 billion. “In the first half of 2020, the foreign exchange market operations were largely impacted by the decline in crude oil demand, reduced accretion to the reserves due to the drop in crude oil prices and foreign portfolio capital reversals. :In addition, global COVID-19 lockdowns

contributed to the slowdown in economic activities. In response, the Bank took deliberate efforts at sustaining price stability and preserving foreign reserve levels,” it stated.

Also, it stated that the total treasury bills issued and allotted in the period under review was N1.516 trillion apiece, indicating an increase of N41.84 billion or 2.84 per cent above N1.474 trillion apiece in the corresponding period of 2019. Total public subscriptions stood at N2.904 trillion, compared to N4.154 trillion in the corresponding period of 2019.

“The decline in public subscription was traceable to the lower yield on NTBs. The lower yields were attributable to the FGN thrust to reduce its cost of borrowing coupled with the bifurcation of OMO Bills and NTBs in October 2019, which led to freeing liquidity from OMO to NTBs,” it stated.

…Directs Banks to Open Dollar Account for Remittances The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks to automatically open dollar bank accounts for their customers who do not have domiciliary in order to facilitate remittances.

The development, according to a statement from WorldRemit- an International Money Transfer Operators (IMTO), would ensure that, “all international money transfers will be successfully processed even if senders enter naira account details for transactions.”

“WorldRemit, welcomes the CBN announcement that all Nigerian banks will be mandated to facilitate money transfers by automatically opening US Dollar

bank accounts for those who do not currently have US Dollar bank accounts,” it stated.

Furthermore, it revealed that, “the CBN also stated that a $2,000 withdrawal limit will apply to these accounts. A number of analysts have described this recent development as a long-awaited and broadly welcome policy that will benefit both senders and recipients. “The apex bank has said these changes will ensure that transactions do not fail due to a recipient not having a US Dollar bank account. It will also introduce transparency by guaranteeing that all recipients receive an exchange rate that reflects the market rate.”

Commenting on the development, Country Manager, Nigeria and Ghana, at WorldRemit, Gbenga Okejimi said: “We are very pleased by the CBN’s decision to mandate Nigerian banks to help citizens who do not have a USD account by automatically providing this facility on their behalf.

“This development will make all the difference to those who receive support from family and friends abroad. For our part, we are excited by the fact that we can continue to enable the transfer of remittances to more people across Nigeria whilst also supporting the Nigerian government in its efforts to strengthen the economy.”

Sanusi Advocates Family Planning to Address Infrastructural Inadequacy Oluchi Chibuzor Former Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi, yesterday advocated for strict enforcement of family planning in the country.

Speaking at the second day of the 2021 Ehingbeti Lagos Economic Summit, the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor said government cannot keep-up with the pace of social infrastructural requirement if the people continue to give birth to children they cannot educate and feed.

“The idea that people can marry any number of wives they want without any kind of regulation to the number of children they can produce, without being able to feed and

educate them is something that is completely antithetical even to Islamic law.

“I don’t know why, but there is a mindset against implementing the appropriate regulations in Islam, which is that; you do not build families you cannot maintain and you cannot abandon this responsibility.

“We can continue preaching and we can tell the government to spend more money on education, but if people are going to produce 20, 30 children, without being able to educate them, I maintain that the government cannot keep up with that pace,” he said.

According to Sanusi, beyond spending money and beyond the budget, the idea of education

awareness, regulation and the mindset of people ought to be addressed Sanusi urged Nigerians to understand that the family structure, child spacing, family planning and child rights are social issues that need to be addressed because these are critical to human capital outcomes. He also urged the federal government to look into raising awareness on child nutrition beyond the current school feeding programme.

“One thing we need to look at is that by the time these children get to school, it is too late. We’ve got to think of nutrition before they get to school and that is extremely important for that programme to be expanded to deal with that.

AgbaSeekstoStrengthenNigeria-UAEBilateralRelations James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran ÓØ ÌßÔË The Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba has called for robust collaboration between the country and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in strengthening existing bilateral relations.

He said though the UAE has had enormous economic footprints in the country in recent times, most of such activities remained unreported due to lack of collaboration with his ministry which according to

him, is currently saddled with the responsibility of coordinating bilateral relations and agreements.

Speaking when he received the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Fahad AITaffag who was in his office to extend invitation for Nigeria’s participation in his country’s trade and promotional campaign later in November, the minister also pointed out that there was no report of UAE’s activities on the Development Assistance Database (DAD) platform.

He said: “When we have the data we can properly brief the

Federal Executive Council (FEC) on your activities in the country.”

On the Dubai Expo 2021, however, the minister said he would liaise with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to work out modalities on how Nigeria could come in.

In a statement by the minister’s Information Officer, Victoria Agba-Attah, Agba also expressed his readiness to work with the embassy in making quotes/ comments on bilateral relations of both countries as part of media promotion materials for the February campaign.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͯʹ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $62.48 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $62.60 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela) SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

ASHON Highlights Measures to Grow Commodities Exchanges Goddy Egene The Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria ( ASHON) has urged the federal government to initiate policies that will enable commodities exchanges to contribute to economic growth in the country.

The call was made by the Chairman of ASHON, Chairman, Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu, in a statement, advocating a level playing field for

all operators of commodities exchanges in Nigeria.

According to ASHON, an enabling operating would enhance optimal performance of everyone in the commodities exchanges’ value chain. “ To enable the operators in the commodities ecosystem operate optimally, the government should enact relevant policies that prevent illegal mining by foreigners, ensure autonomy of the capital market apex

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), protect export proceeds, legislate laws to enable Agricultural Commodities to be linked to financial markets and fungibility and support for Pension funds for increased participation in the commodities ecosystem,” he said. The securities dealers noted that the proposed capital injection of N50 Billion into the Commodity Exchange of Nigeria (NCX) might have unintended

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

effect of creating uneven playing ground for other commodities exchanges that are privately promoted. “ The announcement to inject N50 billion into the NCX by CBN is a welcome development. Any act by the federal government to stimulate the growth and development of the commodities ecosystem through the commodities exchanges is highly beneficial to the entire ecosystem.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

“Commodities exchanges play an important role in the commodities ecosystem because they introduce structure, transparency, and price discovery into the system.

“It is important to note that commodity exchanges are not commodity traders, they are simply a structured platform that deal in both commodities spots and commodities securities in multi-asset classes as approved

by SEC,” Ezeagu added.

O F

He explained that to encourage the privately owned commodities exchanges, the government could ensure an open liaison opportunity between its agencies and the commodities exchanges to create the opportunity for: joint stakeholder sensitisation forums for commodity participants and regulatory bodies; committees for the development of financial funds and instruments to be listed on the commodities exchanges.

1 7 / 0 2 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Value of Trading at Stock Market Declines by 54% to N2.7bn Goddy Egene

billion on 244.202 million showing a decline of 54 per million shares in 5,040 deals the Nigerian Stock Exchange shares in 4,083 deals at the cent compared with N5.763 the previous day. In all, (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) Investors staked N2.653 stock market yesterday, billion invested in 356.431 trading remained bearish as fell 0.07 per cent to close at 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 16- 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.

40,465.32. A total of 22 stocks depreciated while 18 stocks appreciated.

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 159.25 160.85 -1.56% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 3.06% Nigeria International Debt Fund 354.83 354.83 -11.06% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 114.94 114.94 0.73% 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 1.05 1.07 17.22% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 -13.38% 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 0.30% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.44 3.60 -3.14% 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 0.52% Anchoria Equity Fund 133.73 135.23 0.59% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.13 1.13 -14.39% 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 18.52 19.07 2.10% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 394.86 406.76 -1.38% ARM Ethical Fund 35.37 36.44 4.94% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.20 1.21 -1.50% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.05 1.05 -6.54% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.94% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 129.19 130.10 2.39% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.58% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.04 2.04 -43.92% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.19 2.23 -16.31% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.92% Paramount Equity Fund 16.22 16.53 1.46% Women's Investment Fund 133.82 135.35 0.55% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.27% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 130.55 131.44 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.67 108.67 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.27% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.17 1.18 -2.53% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.47 1.47 -7.03% 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 1.19% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.53% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,157.01 1,159.21 -3.61% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 185.20 186.57 -1.32% FBN Halal Fund 109.90 109.90 4.24% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.41% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 123.45 123.45 3.02% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 123.59 123.59 3.02% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 152.09 153.93 0.60% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.11% Legacy Debt Fund 3.89 3.89 0.50% Legacy Equity Fund 1.61 1.65 6.08% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.14 1.14 0.61% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.72% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 128.21 128.74 19.24%

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 0.32% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.70 2.76 17.85% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 156.19 156.70 0.52% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.08 1.08 5.44% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.62 1.66 7.32% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.20 12.31 -0.34% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.60 1.62 1.59% PACAM EuroBond Fund 109.15 111.76 -0.27% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 128.87 131.64 10.37% 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 0.85% 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 -1.95% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.63% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -0.42% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.58% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -1.30% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.19% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -3.56% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.24 1.24 0.80% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.60 111.60 0.47% 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 1.38 1.40 1.13% United Capital Bond Fund 1.91 1.91 0.77% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.89 0.79% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.43% United Capital Eurobond Fund 117.97 117.97 0.76% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.08 1.10 -0.50% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.02 1.02 1.98% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +2349031100041 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.27 12.40 3.53% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.58 13.69 11.12% Zenith Income Fund 24.16 24.16 0.75% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.72%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

121.42 52.63

0.56% 0.44%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.36 122.85 97.26

13.46 122.85 99.10

1.05% 0.91% -2.11%

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

3.96

4.00

4.51%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.81

5.89

2.13%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

17.50 1.00 19.19

17.60 1.00 19.39

6.93% 0.91% -6.45%

177.11

179.11

-19.80%

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

Yield / T-Rtn

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.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Herdsmen’s Crisis: Matawalle Asks Northern Govs to Embrace RUGA Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State yesterday advised northern gvernors to

brace up and construct grazing grounds, popularly called Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) to end to the recurring crisis between farmers and herders in some

Attract Investments to Nigeria, Awolowo Urges Ambassador-designates

Peter Uzoho

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo, has urged Nigerian Ambassador-designates and Consul Generals, to attract investments to the country and negotiate trade policies that would positively affect the export of Nigerian products.

Addressing the envoys at the induction exercise held at the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) complex in Abuja yesterday, with the theme: ‘Trade Facilitation and Nigerian Missions Abroad: Challenges and Opportunities,’ Awolowo reminded them that they are responsible for driving export of Nigerian products in their various host countries.

Underscoring the importance of Nigeria’s survival in a world where there will no longer be place for sale of oil, he solicited

the support of the Ambassadors to collaborate to achieve a common national goal of inclusive socio economic growth and development for the country.

He added that the world should be made a market place for Nigerian non-oil products and services and to achieve this, he urged them to get acquainted with robust economic diplomacies by effectively networking, making good use of market intelligence and by promoting Nigerian brands like its textiles, rich foods and cuisines and other non-oil products.

“Nigerian Ambassadorsdesignates are important in foreign missions as key resources responsible for driving the export of Nigerian products in host countries, attracting investments to the home country (Nigeria) that develops the zero oil sectors and negotiating trade facilities that positively affect the export of Nigerian products”.

parts of the country.

Matawalle, who spoke with journalists yesterday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, stressed that solution is in sight for the recurring crisis between farmers and herders in the country, adding that part of the solution include preventing herdsmen from moving from one place to another.

The governor, who said he was in the State House to brief President Buhari on security matters affecting his state, was optimistic that the problem of clashes between farmers and herders can be resolved.

He therefore, advised all

state governments to brace up and construct grazing grounds, popularly called Rural Grazing Area (RUGA), so as to solve the problem.

According to him, “In my State I am constructing RUGA for them, it is like a settlement, where we can contain some of them because sincerely speaking, if we allow them to be going round, migrating from one state to another, we cannot bring this issue to an end.

“So, the only thing the governors will do; we are discussing on that is to make sure we contain them in one place. Like the Fulani form Zamfara shouldn’t migrate

to a neighbouring state.

“But how are we going to do that? This is something that needs a lot of resources because you have to create something that you will use to engage them; you have to provide some social amenities.

Like the RUGA that we are constructing, we have schools, hospital, veterinary clinic, market and even mini stadium where they can meet for their cultural festivals.

“You can also create something like a dairy factory there but if we allow them to be migrating from place to place, that is where we will have problems but I believe that very soon the Nigerian

Governors’ Forum will discuss that and know the action to take in order to contain them in one place because they are looking for pasture but once they have a grazing reserve and all facilities in one place, I don’t think they will move from place to place and that will be the end of all the crisis”.

Matawalle said when he initiated a peace deal with bandits in Zamfara State and he realised that not all of them are criminals.

The governor, therefore, called on his Niger State counterpart, Mr. Sani Bello, to embrace the same method to address the same problem currently affecting the State.

APC will Consolidate Democratic Gains with Membership Registration, Says Orajiaka One of the contenders in the governorship election in Anambra State, Paul Orajiaka, has said that the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) membership registration and revalidation exercise across the country will help the party consolidate on its vision of delivering the gains of democracy to the people.

Speaking after validating his membership of APC at his ward, Azia, Orajiaka expressed satisfaction with the progress of the exercise in the state and urged members to remain united to clinch the November Anambra governorship election.

He restated that the registration and revalidation exercise of the party would boost party membership and place it on the path of victory both at the

state and federal level.

According to Orajiaka, APC’s ongoing registration and revalidation exercise is the best thing that has happened to the party in recent time, adding that with new members coming into its fold, the party will further consolidate it’s vision for the country.

He said: “From reports across the country, our party membership registration and revalidation is going on very well with a record number of new members joining the party.

Contrary to the notion in some quarters, this exercise is the right thing for the party presently as it will rejuvenate the party and make us more focused on our vision to deliver the gains of democracy to the people.

Zamfara N’Assembly Caucus Wants FG to Grant Bandits Amnesty Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Zamfara state National Assembly Caucus has appealed to the federal government to grant amnesty to repentant bandits as part of measures to restore peace in the North West region.

The lawmakers who briefed journalists at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, emphasised the need for the repentant bandits to be encouraged to contribute positively to the society.

Speaking on behalf of the caucus, Senator Sahabi Yau (PDP Zamfara North) cited a similar success recorded in the Niger Delta when the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua granted amnesty to repentant militants in the Niger Delta.

This, he said, worked perfectly by turning the criminal-minded into productive elements, who are usefully contributing to the society in various fields of endeavor.

His words: ‘’We appreciate our security forces who have keyed into this peace policy, we are grateful to everyone in Zamfara, who have provided support for the success of this peace initiative and also call on the federal government of Nigeria to borrow a leaf from the Zamfara State peace initiatives to achieve national peace. ‘’The current state of affairs in Zamfara State further convinces us that peace cannot only be achieved by force; it is evidently clear that peace can also be achieved through understanding and genuine dialogue.”

FIFTY HEARTY CHEERS…

Senior Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, Warri, Delta State (left), and his wife, Prophetess Antonia, during the cutting of Fufeyin’s 50 th birthday cake in Warri…recently

Insecurity: Governors Meet in Abuja Governors of the 36 states of the federation on the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) held a critical meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the worsening

security situation in the country.

The meeting chaired by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was still ongoing

as at press time last night.

A statement announcing the meeting was earlier issued by the Head, Media, and Public Affairs, NGF, Mr. Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo,

said the meeting, which will be the first physical meeting since the coronavirus pandemic started in Nigeria in February 2020, has only one item on the agenda – security.

Senate Moves to Repeal 96-year-old Quarantine Act The Senate yesterday considered a critical bill that would see to the eventual repeal of the obsolete Quarantine Act enacted in 1926, and help Nigeria deal with any impending outbreak of infectious and contagious diseases in the future.

The Health Emergency Bill, 2021, which scaled Second Reading on the floor during plenary, also does not make it mandatory for any Nigerian to be subjected to forced immunisation under the proposed legislation.

Sponsor of the bill, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North), said the piece of legislation under consideration was informed by the challenges that confronted the nation regarding the coordination of national response measures to combat the dreadful coronavirus crisis.

According to the lawmaker, the Executive in an attempt to scale the loopholes created as a result of the extant archaic Quarantine legislation, was compelled “to embark on a

litany of subsidiary legislations to deal with certain exigencies” at the time.

Utazi stated that the Health Emergency Bill, when passed and signed into law, would establish an updated comprehensive legal and administrative framework for handling outbreaks of infectious and contagious diseases that portends major threat to public health safety within Nigeria, or are likely to be transmitted into Nigeria or outside Nigerian borders, if

quarantine or other emergency health measures are not taken by appropriate authorities to control spread or infection rate.

He, specifically, emphasised that the Bill provides the legal and institutional framework for imposition and implementation of mandatory seIf-isolation and quarantine of infected persons, introduction of movement restrictions, and adoption of appropriate safety and welfare measures at or during the outbreak of dangerous contagious diseases.

Court Rejects EFCC’s Request to Inspect Seized Cash Linked to Former NNPC GMD

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday turned down request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to inspect cash amounting to $9,772,800 and £74000 seized from a former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu.

The monies recovered from a fireproof safe at Yakubu’s house in Kaduna in 2017, has been in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kano branch.

The anti-graft agency is alleging corruption and fraud against Yakubu, accusing him of receiving the huge sums

without going through a financial institution.

The EFCC also accused Yakubu of not including the monies in the EFCC Asset Declaration form he filled in 2015.

But Yakubu in his defence against the sixcount charge bordering on money laundering and false declaration of assets,

maintained that the monies were gifts.

In its bid to prove the allegations, the prosecution through its lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar had on January 14, 2021, prayed the court for an order to move to CBN Kano branch for the purpose of inspecting the sums of money mentioned in counts three and four of the charge.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

DPR Cautions Depot Owners against Hoarding Petrol The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has warned fuel depot owners against hoarding petroleum products in their facilities, saying it would sanction erring operators.

The Director, DPR, Mr. Sarki Auwalu, issued the warning yesterday, according to a statement by the agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Paul Osu. Auwalu said the warning was necessitated by reports

received by the agency on the activities of some depot owners who had created artificial scarcity by hoarding products in some parts of the country.

According to him, the depot owners’ nefarious activities are causing Nigerians untold hardships.

He said from available records, there was product sufficiency in the country, adding that there was no need

for “such practices by this group of unpatriotic citizens”.

Auwalu said the DPR, as the licence issuers to all oil and gas facilities in Nigeria, including

the depots, would not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions on any depot found wanting in this regard.

Some fuel marketers had

started adjusting their petrol pump prices amid the supply shortage facing private depots in Apapa.

Some filling stations in

Lagos and Ogun states had allegedly increased the pump price of petrol to N170 per litre on Tuesday from N162 per litre.

Sanusi Explains Difficulties in Funding Education The former Emir of Kano, Malami Lamido Sanusi, has said that Nigeria will continue to struggle with funding education, if the country fails to check her population growth.

Sanusi spoke yesterday during a discussion with other panel members at the ongoing Lagos Economic Summit tagged Ehingbeti 2021.

He said although the federal government is doing its bit in child nutrition through the school feeding initiative, some problems persist in the educational system.

“We need to recognise that Nigeria is one country but different parts have these problems to different degrees,” said Sanusi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor.

“The whole structure of family and the idea that people can marry any number of wives they want, without any regulation and produce any number of children and not educate them is there.

“We can tell the government to spend more on education, but if people are going to produce 20, 30 children without being able to educate them, I

maintain that the government cannot keep up with the pace,” he said.

The Premium Times quoted Sanusi as saying that people have to understand their responsibilities in terms of family structure, child spacing, family planning and responsibilities of parents to produce good human capital outcomes.

He said to have good human capital development, Nigeria must begin to focus on appropriate education, awareness and regulations.

Other members of the panel included Folashade Adefisayo, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education; Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, the Minister of State for Education; Abubakar Suleiman, the Managing Director Sterling Bank, among others. The discussion was themed ‘Roadmap to Shared Prosperity – Ensuring Inclusive Human Capital Development.’

In her contribution, Adefisayo said there was clearly is a disruption in the educational system and there are opportunities to make changes.

Foundation Donates N2m to Fix Potholes in UNICAL An educational foundation, Teacher Essien Ita Ita Educational Foundation (TEIIEF), has presented a cheque of N2 million to the University of Calabar (UNICAL) for the fixing of potholes in the institution.

The presentation, which was done at the weekend in the office of the Vice Chancellor of the University, was part of the activities to mark the second year remembrance of the demise of Mrs. Temitope Ekpenyong Ita, wife of Mr. Ekpenyong Ita, a former Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and son of the late Teacher Esien Ita, who died March 13, 2019.

Speaking shortly after presenting the cheque to the Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. Florence Obi, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Chief Gersh Henshaw said, the organisation was delighted to identify with the first female Vice Chancellor of the institution.

Henshaw said the Foundation was poised to contribute its quota towards the development of the institution hence the donation, which he said, is meant for fixing of potholes in the institution to ease movement

of vehicles on campus.

According to him, the Foundation, a non-profit organization, was set up for such purposes, adding that, under the Trust Fund, scholarships will also be offered to indigent students in tertiary institutions.

While thanking the Vice Chancellor for identifying with his team despite her tight schedule, Henshaw said the Foundation is looking forward to exploring other areas of partnership with the institution for mutual benefits.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the Vice Chancellor to turn the tide for the good of the institution and urged her not to hesitate to call on the Foundation whenever the need arises.

Responding, the Vice Chancellor, Obi thanked the Foundation for the kind gesture, and assured that the money will be put to good use.

Obi described, Ekpenyong Ita, who is also an alumni of UNICAL and son of the late legendary teacher, as a “dependable friend” of the institution adding that posterity will be kind to him for his philanthropic gesture towards the institution and the society at large.

WORTHY AMBASSADORS...

Nigerian Ambassador-designate to Kingdom of Morocco, Ambassador Albashiru Ibrahim Saleh (Left), and Ambassador to Egypt, Ambassador Nura Rimi, during the induction ceremony held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja…yesterday

Kwara APC Youths Condemn Minister’s Call for Cancellation of Membership Registration Exercise Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Youths of the Kwara South All Progressives Congress (APC) have condemned the recent call by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for the immediate cancellation of the ongoing party membership and revalidation exercise in the state.

The group consists of youths across the seven local government councils that make up the Kwara South senatorial district of Kwara State.

Mohammed at a press conference in Oro, his home town, last Monday, called for the immediate cancellation of the ongoing party membership/ revalidation exercise in the 16

local government areas of the state.

However, while speaking at a press conference in Ilorin yesterday, the spokesperson of the youths, Mr. Tiamiyu Mumini, said the comment of the minister was not a good omen for a leader of the party in the state.

According to him, “It is disheartening to hear that such

statement came from a minister that happens to be a leader of the APC in Kwara State.

“There is no doubt that the exercise is going on well in the state, and many registered members have been coming out to revalidate their names and many oppositions group have also been coming out to register with the APC.

Uba Denies Hijacking APC Registration Exercise in Anambra David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Former presidential aide and Senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone, Andy Uba, has denied reports that he has hijacked the membership revalidation and registration exercise of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State.

Uba said report of him

attempting to highjack the registration of party members in the ongoing registration programme in the state was false, and should be discarded as untrue.

In a statement issued by his media office yesterday, the former lawmaker said: “As you can see, the APC in Anambra State has been having a seamless

registration exercise where citizens of the state, owing to the numerous successes of the federal government in the state, are daily registering in their hundreds with the party.

“Part of this success can be attributed to the efforts of Senator Andy Uba, who mobilised every ward in the party with funds and logistics to encourage the people

to identify with the party in this current registration exercise.

“It is surprising to see news stories running wild with frivolous allegations on an attempt by our principal to highjack the process.

Such stories had even accused supporters of the senator both imaginary and real of attacking the state party Chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike, but there are all false.

Offa Bank Robbery: How We Killed 11 Persons, Say Suspects Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Four suspected armed robbers in the April 5, 2018, Offa bank robbery in Kwara State yesterday told an Ilorin High Court how they killed no fewer than 11 persons during the incident.

The suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Azeez Salawu and Niyi

Ogundiran, were all present in the court.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, counsel to the prosecution, Mr. Rotimi Jacob, called the seventh witness, Inspector John Nwoke, who is the cinematographer attached to the Police Public Relations unit in Abuja.

Nwoke then presented a DVD video to the open court that contained the confessional

statements of the defendants.

One of the defendants, Ayoade Aknnibosun, said they shot dead 11 persons, who were hauling stones and other missiles at them on that fateful day in Offa.

Akinnibosun narrated how a dismissed police officer Michael Adikwu (now late) sold the robbery idea to him, adding that he in turn conscripted his other four accomplices in

the deal.

Akinnibosun, who claimed to be the ring leader in the video, revealed that he owned the two vehicles used for the bloody robbery operation.

He said one of the vehicles, Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), was given to him as an empowerment by the then Kwara State governor, as he was the leader of political liberation movement in Kwara South area.

CSO HonoursAccording Aisha Dahir-Umar with Award CWAI also acknowledged the noted that the revolutionary to a statement

Sunday Okobi

A civil society organisation, prodemocracy and anti-corruption group, Citizens Watch Advocacy Initiative (CWAI), has bestowed on the Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Hajiya Aisha DahirUmar, the award of ‘The Most Outstanding and Distinguished Director-General of the Decade in Nigeria’.

issued by the group yesterday, the decision was reached to honour Dahir-Umar due to her bold initiatives in the turnaround of the pension industry by repositioning and rebranding of the regulatory body to meet with international best practices as well as the quantum turnaround of the pension administration in Nigeria, which has attracted rating agencies across the globe.

good governance structure put in place by the current management at PenCom, including the restoration of citizens’ confidence as well as attracting of investors who are willing to invest in the industry due to the transformation taking place at the apex regulatory body.

In the statement, which was issued yesterday by the Executive Secretary of CWAI, Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, the CSO

transformation of the industry has become the envy of not only Nigeria, but the world over.

It added that “PenCom has become a benchmark for success and a reference point, and that is why investors, including our various state governors are willing to invest in pension portfolios, at the same time eager to accept loans to better their investment at the state level.”

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Nigeria’s D’Tigers First to Qualify for 2021 FIBA Afrobasket Claim 75-70 win against South Sudan to maintain their unbeaten run Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, yesterday became the first team to qualify

for the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket Championship after defeating South Sudan 75-70pts on a chilly evening in Monastir, Tunisia.

Although D’Tigers had set their

AFCON 2022 QUALIFIERS

Rohr Mute on if Club-less Musa Will be Called up for Benin, Lesotho Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, believes his captain Ahmed Musa will find a new club but remains tight-lipped over calling him up for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations squad.

The 28-year-old has been a free agent since leaving Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr in October and has been linked to several clubs in England.

He completed a successful medical at English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion but the club pulled out of a planned short-term deal because of a lack of finance.

“It’s unfortunate it didn’t work out at West Brom but I believe Musa will find another club soon,” Rohr told BBC Sport Africa.

“He has the ambition to get back as quickly as he can to play football again at club level.

“Musa made a great impact

for us in big matches like against Iceland in Russia, that is a reminder of the ability he has.

“I have no doubt he can discover his best form, the happiness and joy to play again. This will be good for us because we can get to see that impact in our squad.”

The coach has refused to confirm if the player will be named in the country’s squad for next month’s qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho.

Even without a club Musa was included in the Super Eagles squad for November’s back-to-back qualifiers against Sierra Leone, a decision that was criticised by a section of the local media.

Al-Nassr paid a record fee of around $19 million (€16.5m) to Leicester City for Musa in the summer of 2018, making him the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history.

qualification for the continent’s prime competition on course with unbeaten run at the first phase of the qualifiers in Rwanda late last year, the the Sudanese gave the Nigerian stars a run for their money.

The Nigerian lads almost paid dearly for disrespecting the Sudanese with their arrogant play pattern.

The team avoided a last minute scare against a physically

imposing opposition thanks to back-to-back threes from Obi Emegano to stretch D’Tigers lead to 5 after the South Sudanese opened a one gap lead in the dying minutes of the game.

Currently ranked number one in Africa, the Mfon Udofia-led team held their head high to grind out a well-deserved win of 18-9, 20-21, 19-18, 18-21.

Usual suspect, Ike Iroegbu emerged the highest scorer

for Nigeria with 16pts, 5 assists and 7 rebounds while Emegano contributed 15pts, 3 assists and 2 rebounds.

Sudan’s Nuni Omot was on rampage all night scoring 27points, but his efforts were not enough to rescue his team from going under.

Debutants, Chima Moneke scored 8pts while Amanze Egekeze had 5pts before coming off injured with a medical report

being awaited.

Uche Iroegbu with 6pts, 3rebs and 4 steals continued the tradition of brothers playing for D’Tigers as he made his debut and played alongside his brother, Ike Iroegbu. They join the elite group of the Aminus (Al Farouk Aminu and Alade Aminu) Nigeria will face off against Rwanda today in the continuation of the qualifiers in the Tunisian city of Monastir.

D’Tigers’ Obi Emegano (left) in action against a South Sudan player during the Afrobasket qualifier in Monastir, Tunisia...yesterday

TURKISH WOMEN’S CUP

Payne, George to Debut for Falcons against CSKA Moscow Today

Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr (left) and club-less Ahmed Musa at a previous AFCON 2022 qualifier...last year

Europa League Round of 32 Kicks off Today Live on StarTimes The Round of 32 matches of the Europa Cup will kick off today live on StarTimes and one of the headline fixture is the encounter between Manchester United and Real Sociedad.

Former Manchester United’s prodigy Adnan Januzaj, who fell short of expectation after being tipped for the top at United has found a new form at Real Sociedad.

The winger will face off against the Red Devils this week after a career at Old Trafford that promised plenty but delivered little.

Leg one of round 32 will kick-off on Thursday at 6:55 pm live on StarTimes.

United fans will be hopeful that Januzaj does not come back to haunt them.

Now 26, Januzaj has become a key figure at La Real during his three-and-

a-half seasons in Spain.

Football fans throughout Africa will not miss any of the most exciting Europa League action as the best games will be shown live and exclusively on the StarTimes sports channels in HD. Fans can pay-per-day to catch all the actions. Classic Bouquet (Antenna decoder) is N320 per day while Super Bouquet (dish decoder) is N400 per day. AC Milan and Ajax fans only need to pay N90 per day to watch on Sports Focus channel on Nova bouquet.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Porto Sevilla

2-1 2-3

PREMIERSHIP Burnley 1-1 Everton 1-3

Juventus Dortmund

Fulham Man City

Nigeria’s new duo of Americanborn Toni Payne and Patricia George have set their sights on helping the Super Falcons to a historic feat in their first-ever appearance at the Turkish Women’s Cup in Antalya.

In April 2019, Payne and George were invited by erstwhile coach Thomas Dennerby for a pre-Women’s World Cup camp in Spain following the successful completion of their nationality switches.

However, the duo could not honour the call-ups due to administrative reasons until they were included in the 23-player squad for the Turkish Women’s Cup by new coach Randy Waldrum And so, today at the Emir Sports Complex, Antalya, the duo will don Nigeria’s colours as Falcons take on the CSKA Moscow’s ladies.

Interestingly, new Coach,

Super Falcons players shortly after their training ahead of today’s battle with CSKA Moscow ladies

Randy Waldrum, has expressed satisfaction with the quality of players in the Super Falcons’ camp ahead of the African champions’ Turkish Women’s Cup opening match of the tournament.

“I am really impressed with the group as a whole; I am happy to see players show so much talent.

The opportunity to see a lot of players is really important to me especially this year that is not a

qualification year.

“I want to expand the net to look at the other foreign-based and local players,” observed Waldrum.

While admitting that Nigeria has an abundance of talented players, the American tactician asserted that the pool of players must necessarily be expanded to look far and near and get the very best to represent Nigeria.

“We need to give opportunity especially to the young players that are up and coming from the various age-grade National Teams. Some of the players who featured at the last FIFA World Cup are getting older. It is important to develop the young players, give them confidence and get them ready for the next two FIFA World Cups. It is very important to look at the players in the domestic league.”

The former Coach of Trinidad and Tobago looked ahead and stated his vision, saying he wants to build on the accomplishments of the nine-time African champions and see how to push them up as credible contenders for global glory.

“The goal is to consistently qualify from the group stage, have a deep run in the FIFA World Cup and push hard to become champions.”

....Waldrum Signs Contract With NFF New Head Coach of the Women’s National Team of Nigeria of Nigeria (Super Falcons), Randy Waldrum, on Wednesday signed his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, as he started his work with the nine-time African champions. The simple ceremony took place at the Super Falcons’ Emir Hotels abode in Antalya, Turkey.

President of the NFF, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, affirmed the

belief of the football-governing body in the ability of the 64 –year old American to propel the Super Falcons to a higher level in women football’s global ranking.

“We believe that Mr Waldrum is the right man to take the Super Falcons from where the team presently is to that higher level that we want it to be. We have been champions of Africa on nine occasions and it is time that we move up to

competing stoutly for honours at global level.”

General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi signed on behalf of the NFF, with NFF Executive Member Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, Chairman of the Women’s Football Committee, Hon. Ayo Hulayat Omidiran and Technical Director, Mr Augustine Eguavoen also present.

The Turkish Women’s Cup Tournament, also known as

the Alanya Gold City Cup, is Waldrum’s first run-out with the reigning African champions.

While dislosing that Waldrum would be officially unveiled at a ceremony as soon as he is in Nigeria, Pinnick also charged the General Secretary to endeavour to invite credible businessmen to have sessions with players of the Super Falcons any time they are in camp, with a view to guiding the players on how to invest wisely.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • T H I S D AY

47

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“Let there be an official gazetted letter signed by the Secretary of State of the United States telling us to become gay. Then we (will) invite the president of the US to come and marry a man in Nigeria as his second wife. He must practise what he’s preaching, so we will know he means business” – General Overseer of the Christian Central Chapel International, Calabar, Bishop Emma Isong on the impending sanction of Nigeria for its anti-gay law.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI The Danger of ‘Cattle Imperialism’ F THE VERDICT

rom Olusegun Obasanjo to Goodluck Jonathan and now Muhammadu Buhari, ‘triumphalism’ by members of the ethnic group whose ‘son’ is in power has become the defining ethos of their relationship with other Nigerians. This display of arrogance of power—even without deriving any ‘benefit’ beyond the fact that the president speaks their language—not only causes problems for their man, but creates needless tension for our fragile nation. However, at no period in the past 21 years has our country descended to the level of inter-ethnic animosity in which it finds itself at the moment. What is fueling the current angst has been aptly described by Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, as a not-so-subtle attempt to impose on the nation ‘cattle imperialism’.

I agree with those who canvass that the media must resist being converted into pawns in this latest version of an old game. That is not to say that we should shirk our responsibility. In her preface to the journal, ‘Reporting Ethnic Conflict in Nigeria’ published in 2001 by the International Federation of Journalists, with support from the Commission of European

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Union, Bettina Peters wrote that “a multicultural world requires media which reflect the variety and richness of society without discrimination and which do not promote social division and conflict.” But she also added: “This does not mean journalists must remain silent. In some countries, the reality of ethnic conflict is denied as if silence could mask a problem or heal it.”

In the situation we are in today, ultimate responsibility rests with President Muhammadu Buhari. He should not continue to play into the hands of those who profit from manipulating our differences by the choices he makes (or refuses to make). Rather than apply the law to our serious security challenges, excuses are offered to rationalize criminality in a manner that has created ‘freedom fighters’ in different sections of the country. As I said, this is a familiar problem. Two months after Obasanjo came to power in 1999, I had cause to write a column titled ‘Kogbodoku President’ in response to what I considered the provocative disposition of a number of Yoruba leaders at the time.

‘Kogbodoku’ literally translates into ‘he must not die’. As I wrote on 16th July 1999, this “is the new name for our darling President

Olusegun Obasanjo. The ‘christening’ must have been done by the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) with Dr. Frederick Fasheun and Justice Adewale Thompson presiding. ‘Any problem for Obasanjo would bring unmitigated chaos for Nigeria, so all those annoyed with him should go and purge themselves of their annoyance and join us to rally round him.

The OPC will protect our own with every ounce of our strength. Obasanjo is our own any day,’ said Fasehun last Wednesday. He was merely echoing the words of Thompson who had earlier threatened that Yorubas would not take it lightly if anything happened to Obasanjo.

What they would do if such happened, (God forbid) nobody knows but it is becoming a fad now for any attention–seeking Yoruba leader to make a threat on Obasanjo’s behalf.”

After highlighting several ways Yoruba leaders were provoking other ethnic nationalities, I then added: “The hypocrisy of it all is that these threats are coming from the same forces that fought Obasanjo dirty before other sections of the country elected him and now he has become their own… Now that Obasanjo is in Aso Rock, we have Thompson and Fasehun to

tell us ‘it is our time’. Obasanjo’s mandate is national, at least it would have been if Yoruba people had voted for him, but it is sad that these same people would offend the sensibilities of other Nigerians with reckless statements that stand logic on its head...”

While he may have occasionally retreated to the Southwest for political survival, Obasanjo to a large extent kept Yoruba ethnic entrepreneurs at bay for most of his eight years in office.

So, whatever may have been his other faults, Obasanjo was Pan-Nigerian in his distribution of opportunities and execution of the policy thrust of his administration. There were occasional ethno-religious clashes but to the extent that the man at the helm was not perceived as taking sides, challenges were managed. To demonstrate Obasanjo’s resolve at that time, the cover photograph of TELL magazine edition of 3rd September 2001 featuring a picture of an unclad Chief Ganiyu Adams (OPC leader and current Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland) chained in both legs and hands, is still circulating on WhatsApp. r/05& 1JFDF DPODMVEFE PO QBHF

NEITI: Waziri Adio Bows Out

T

he stewardship of my friend and brother, Waziri Onibiyo Adio, as the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) ends today after five excellent years. I am proud of his achievements at the institution that also means a great deal to me.

NEITI was established in 2003 to institutionalise transparent and accountable management of extractive resources as a response to the pervasive resource curse syndrome experienced by countries like Nigeria. Appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo to represent the media, I was a founding member of the board (the inaugural National Stakeholder Working Group of NEITI).

A certain Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, then the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, was also appointed to represent the legislature of the 17 southern states. The main catalyst, of course, was our chairperson, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili. Working with the then acting Executive Secretary, Dr Bright Okogu, Ezekwesili helped to lay a solid foundation that others continue to build on.

Waziri has left indelible marks at NEITI. Advocacy responsibilities of the Executive Secretary demanded that he move between the worlds of media – his natural habitat – to that of other extractive sector players, including the previously notoriously opaque NNPC, multinational oil companies, civil society organisations, governments etc. This is he did remarkably well. Anyone familiar with the workings of NEITI will know of its audit reports of production and revenues earned from Nigeria’s oil, gas and solid minerals sectors. Since inception, the annual audit report has remained NEITI’s flagship service to stakeholders because it provides Nigerians with clear and credible information on the workings of the country’s extractive sectors.

Which oil company produced what? What volumes were produced? How much was

Waziri paid and to whom? Who is owing what?

These are some of the questions the NEITI audit reports provide answers to.

For the past five years, with Waziri at the helm, NEITI has elevated this mandate.

By diligently executing strategic plans that repositioned NEITI as a valuable entity in a very challenging time for Nigeria, Waziri went beyond producing the usual audit reports to include helping stakeholders use those reports for key policy choices.

At the time Waziri was appointed, NEITI had published a total of five cycles of oil and gas industry reports (1999 to 2004, 2005, 2006 to 2008, 2009 to 2011, and 2012), three cycles of solid minerals industry reports (2007 to 2010, 2011, and 2012), and one cycle of the Fiscal Allocation and Statutory Disbursement (FASD) report, covering 2007 to 2011 and was

challenged by the irregularity of its reports.

It also had deep challenges with funding its activities and ensuring remedial actions in its reports were acted upon by relevant actors.

Due to a combination of factors, including funding, NEITI had backlogs of audit reports to publish. Waziri cleared them all, starting from 2013 to 2018 financial years, with the reports for 2019 financial year also ready for release. NEITI also cut down the publication time from 29 to 15 months to make the reports timelier and useful. The 15-month publication timeline was nine months ahead of the global EITI’s deadline. This milestone could have been further improved upon had the 2019 audit reports been released, as scheduled, last year or early this year.

To address one of the yawning gaps in the organisation’s work and move the needle on policy reforms, Waziri introduced policy analysis, research and strategy into the work of NEITI. He pioneered the NEITI Policy Brief, the NEITI Quarterly Review, the NEITI Occasional Paper Series and the NEITI Policy Dialogue to move NEITI values beyond annual industry reports to evidencebased tools for public policy engagements and actions. Waziri believed that change in the extractive sectors would not be brought about unless voluminous technical reports were marshalled as evidence-based tools, including policy options, provided through direct engagement with policy actors. And like the audit reports, policy and strategy papers became sought-after hits.

Leveraging the content of previous audit reports, NEITI unilaterally forced the federal government to review and amend the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract (PSC) Act in November 2019 by repeatedly pointing out that enormous losses would be incurred by not amending the terms of the 1993 PSCs. Truly, NEITI was living out its advocacy mandate. Under Waziri, it used this to provide palpable information about

what Nigeria had lost from not obeying its own law and succeeded in plucking what could be termed a ‘low hanging fruit’ in the absence of the PIB. Waziri’s sincerity of purpose also attracted financial and in-kind support from institutional donors, with at least $1.5 million in direct grants invested in NEITI by these actors in addition to technical support extended for it to deliver on its assignment. In 2019, NEITI earned Nigeria the ‘Satisfactory Progress’ status from the EITI board, bringing her in the same category as Norway, a country seen as the poster-boy for transparent and effective management of extractive resources.

Only eight of 55 EITI-implementing countries have attained this status so far. Under his leadership, NEITI also established the Beneficial Ownership register – a publicly accessible register of the beneficial owners of extractive assets in Nigeria. The register provides Nigerians information about who owns what in the oil, gas and solid minerals sectors, further providing transparency of sectors previously hidden from Nigerians.

As a trust, public service demands a commitment to pursue excellence, accountably manage resources and deliver value to citizens.

Waziri used his time at NEITI to accomplish all these and more. He worked diligently with people in and outside the organisation to place the agency in a position of immense value. And with his job done, Waziri (who holds two master’s degrees—one in Journalism from Columbia University and the other in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School) proceeds on a three-month academic fellowship at Oxford University to clear his head, reflect on the past five years and share his experience in running the most extensive EITI operation in the world with students, faculty members and other stakeholders on campus.

Congratulations for a job well-done my brother!

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