TUESDAY 15TH MARCH 2022

Nationwide Blackout as Power Grid Collapses Again Discos apologise to customers, minister calls emergency meeting of stakeholders Aviation fuel scarcity: We have three days to shut down operations, airlines warn Agree with regulators, oil marketers to sell at N500 per liter for 72hrs Emmanuel Addeh, Udora Orizu, Juliet Akoje in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

The national power grid collapsed yesterday, causing a nationwide outage as the entire system crashed due to the loss of 1,100 megawatts

from a 3,700mw peak generation earlier recorded.

This was just as airline operators in Nigeria yesterday warned that

they have only three days left to shut down operations over lingering scarcity of aviation fuel.

For the power sector, as at

yesterday afternoon, the system was yet to pick up load, according to a grid operations report, which showed that just three Generation

Companies (Gencos) were trying to restart, but were yet to generate Continued on page 10

Shell, Eni Declare Force Majeure After Attacks on Oil Facilities in N’Delta… Page 5 Tuesday 15 March, 2022 Vol 27. No 9835. Price: N250

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Strike Action Mutinous, IG Cautions Personnel... Page 6

Wike Attacks Obaseki, Calls Him Serial Betrayer, Ungrateful Edo governor: We've history of dealing with bullies

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday, threw caution to the wind and

descended heavily on a fellow governor, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, describing him as a serial betrayer, a disposition he further claimed was directly

connected to his DNA. Wike, who replied to Obaseki’s response to his initial diatribe against his deputy, however, said a former Edo State governor and

sacked national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole, had been vindicated by Obaseki’s actions.

But in replying to Wike’s

initial attack against the Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, Obaseki described the Rivers governor’s attack as “most unfortunate and totally

uncalled for,” warning that Edo State has a history of dealing with bullies.

Continued on page 8

Convention: Micro-zoning Tearing APC Apart Amid Leadership Crisis Tinubu at loggerheads with Osinbajo, Fayemi over choice of Omisore as national secretary Omo-Agege wants national publicity secretary in Delta State We are not aware of ruling party’s leadership change, INEC insists Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Chuks Okocha in Abuja The crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the zoning of national offices, ahead of the party’s national convention scheduled for March 26, has shifted to the zones. State governors are clashing with other party leaders over who gets what in the proposed arrangement.

Multiple sources told THISDAY yesterday that the leadership of APC was sharply divided over the micro-zoning of the party offices.

An insider said many of the APC governors in the Northcentral, for instance, want the position of National Chairman thrown open, against the purported endorsement of Senator Abdullahi Adamu by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Continued on page 10

CELEBRATING WOMEN...

L-R: Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services, Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Mrs. Ijeoma Ozulumba; Chairman, Dr. Shehu Yahaya; CEO Ruff n Tumble Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi; Managing Director/CEO, DBN Dr. Tony Okpanachi, and DBN Independent Director, Clare Omatseye, at the Bank’s International Women’s Day 2022 celebration held in Abuja ... yesterday

Atiku to Formally Declare Presidential Bid March 23... Page 8

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

FLOURISH AFRICA ONE BILLION NAIRA FUND FOR FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS...

L-R: Partner/Director, Tax Reporting and Strategy, PwC, Mr. Kenneth Erikume; Founder, Flourish Africa, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija; Managing Partner, Eloh Consulting, Mrs. Lilian Uwaeme, and Regional Head, Brand and Reputation-Africa, Google, Ms. Mojolaoluwa Aderemi-Makinde, during the unveiling of Training Partners for the Flourish Africa N1 billion Fund for Female Entrepreneurs in Lagos ….

PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN Yesterday

Shell, Eni Declare Force Majeure After Attacks on Oil Facilities in N’Delta Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Shell Plc and Eni SpA both declared force majeure on key oil flows from Nigeria, threatening to disrupt supplies in a market already fretting about the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Shell’s measure had been in place since March 3, and applies to its Bonny export programme, a Bloomberg report stated yesterday.

Eni’s relates to Brass crude cargoes and followed a pipeline blast in the Bayelsa state in the country’s Niger Delta.

Force majeure is a legal step that allows companies not to meet contractual obligations for reasons that are out of their control.

Shipments of the two grades had been planned at a rate of 170,000 barrels a day next month but have been in a state of decline over the past few years, according to loading programmes seen by Bloomberg. Flows back in 2020 were planned at about 320,000 barrels a day.

A force majeure doesn’t necessarily mean the entirety of supply would be lost for

a given period of time as stored cargoes could still be shipped and repairs would allow shipments to resume.

The market is closely watching what would happen to Russian oil supply in the wake of the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Some oil companies have stopped buying new cargoes from Moscow and some governments have announced that they are imposing bans on petroleum imports from Russia. Shell has said it will try to go elsewhere for barrels.

The lost shipments could be

significant for Nigeria which was scheduled to export almost 1.5 million barrels a day this month, according to loading plans.

It wasn’t clear when Eni’s force majeure began, but the company said that Nigeria LNG was also affected by its measure.

Eni declared the force majeure on exports, following a blast at a pipeline blast which is being blame on vandalism.

The group said it had cut oil exports from its Brass Export terminal by some 25,000 barrels per day, stressing that the

SEC Shuts Oxford Int'l Group, Others over Alleged Capital Market Violations Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sealed off the premises of Oxford International Group/Oxford Commercial Services, Farmforte Agro Allied Solutions Limited/ Agro Partnerships as well as Vektr Capital Investment/ Vektr Enterprise for alleged illegal involvement in capital market activities.

The commission said the offices of the companies in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja were shut down for carrying out investment operations that fall within ambit of fund management without registration with the apex regulator contrary to the provisions of the Investments and Securities Act, 2007.

SEC, in a statement explained: “These companies do not have registration of the SEC to conduct fund management activities and have been found to promise exorbitant rates of returns to lure investors. The SEC has exercised its powers under Section 13 (w) Investments and Securities Act 2007, to shut them down’

"The Commission hereby notifies the investing public that none of these entities or their investment platforms are registered by the SEC. “The public is hereby reminded that it is unlawful for any private enterprise whether incorporated as a company or not, to solicit funds from the public by whatever means, to

fund its private ventures as doing this will be in contravention of the Investments and Securities Act, 2007."

The commission strongly advised members of the public to always confirm from it whether an entity providing investment services had been duly registered and whether the investment schemes are authorised by the

Commission.

It added that any member of the investing public dealing with unregistered entities was doing so at their own risk.

SEC therefore advised the public to exercise due diligence and caution in making investment decisions, adding that a valid list of lawful operators can be obtained on its website.

pipeline attack was the second after another blast on February 28 at its Obama flow station led to a production shortfall of 5,000 barrels per day.

"Force majeure has been declared at Brass terminal, Bonny NLNG and Okpai Power Plant.

"All wells connected to that pipeline were immediately shut in whilst river booms and containment barges were mobilised to reduce the impact of the spill," Eni said in a statement.

The company deferred gas output of 13 million standard cubic metres per day due to the incident, a Reuters report said.

The Eni’s oil terminal was shut down in Nigeria after an attack caused a blast on the facility, a development that will see crude production falling at a time when Nigeria is struggling to pump to its OPEC+ quota.

This was the second such attack on an oil infrastructure facility in Nigeria in three weeks, following a similar incident at Eni’s Obama flow station, Reuters said.

“Force Majeure has been declared at Brass terminal, Bonny NLNG and Okpai Power Plant,’’ according to

Eni’s statement.

Nigeria, the largest OPEC producer in Africa, has been struggling for months to increase its oil production as much as its quota under the OPEC+ deal allows.

Thus, Nigeria has been contributing to the tightening of the oil market together with the other OPEC+ producers who either lack the capacity or investments to raise output.

Nigeria is also besieged by frequent oil theft, oil spills, and attacks on infrastructure, which further complicate production and discourage investments from the biggest oil firms in the country.

Nigeria’s quota under the OPEC+ agreement was 1.701 million bpd for February, but the country pumped 1.398 million bpd on average last month, according to OPEC’s secondary sources in the Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) for the month.

Currently, Nigeria has not been able to reap the full benefit of its oil production following rising in the international price of the commodity due to it’s inability to fully ramp up production to meet its OPEC quota as well as an opaque fuel subsidy system.

MasterCard, KFTA to Train 300,000 Young Nigerians on Film Production Dike Onwuamaeze The KAP Film and Television Academy (KFTA) in partnership with Mastercard Foundation's Young Africa Works (YAWs) has announced the opening of applications for its training in film and television production.

The initiative is meant to train 300,000 persons in three years, according to KFTA, adding that those legible to apply should be young men and women between the ages of 20 and 35 across Nigeria.

It said further that the

training, “is targeted at people passionate about film and television production. Over the next three years, a total of 300,000 young Nigerians will be trained under this initiative.”

Interested individuals were asked to apply to register by visiting the KAP Academy website (https://www.apply. kap.academy/)beginning from today (Tuesday, March15, 2022).

A statement that was signed by the Film Director of KFTA, Mr. Kunle Afolayan, said the selection process would take

into consideration a gender balance ratio to.

Afolayan further noted that 40 per cent of candidates to be selected would be drawn from young women and men from low-income backgrounds.

He said: “Successful programme applicants will become the first set of beneficiaries in the training scheme that will formally commence in April 2022.

"The academy is focused on growing the next generation of skilled filmmakers through the tutelage of veterans and

film professionals who provide hands-on experience in diverse aspects of filmmaking to enrolled students."

He said the training would include, “'The Masterclass Series' and two levels of certification from professional institutions in the areas of screen writing, sound, editing, directing, cinematography and production design, among others, as well as practical hands-on training.”

The KAP Academy would be leveraging smart phone technology for the training as

teaching would be conducted through a learning app.

The aim of Mastercard Foundation's Young Africa Works initiative is to enable 30 million young people, particularly young women across Africa, to access dignified work.

It stated that free tuition and smart phone devices would be offered to students from less privileged backgrounds as part of the support to ensure young people enrolled in the programme and have access to the tools required for digital learning.

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NEWS

TECHNOLOGY EXPO 2022...

L-R: Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Hajiya, Ramatu Tijjani; Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Dr. Ogonnaya Onu; Chairman Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Photo: ENOCK REUBEN Senator Uche Ekwunife and Senator representing Imo North, Senator, Frank Ibezim, during the Technology and Innovation EXPO 2022 held in Abuja… yesterday

2019 Audit Query: Auditor General Revealed 107 Million Barrels of Crude Oil Missing Udora Orizu in Abuja The audit report of the Auditor General for the Federation has revealed that the defunct Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) failed to account for about 107,239,436.00 barrels of crude oil lifted for domestic consumption in 2019.

The disclosure formed part of six audit queries from the Auditor General for the Federation as contained in the Federal Government of Nigeria consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, submitted to the Clerk of the National Assembly via a letter dated August 18th, 2021, and signed by the Auditor General, Adolphus Aghughu.

The report stated that records from performance report of two depots revealed that about 22,929.84 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) valued at N7.06 billion pumped to the two depots (Ibadan-Ilorin and Aba-Enugu) between June and July 2019 were not received by the depots.

The report identified discrepancies between the amount reported by the NNPC as transfer to the federations account and what was reported by the Accountant General of the Federation.

It also stated that while the NNPC’s records showed that N1,272,606,864,000.00 was transferred by then corporation,

the amount recorded by the Accountant General of the federation was N608,710,292,773.44, showing a discrepancy of N663,896,567,227.58.

The AuGF therefore stated the Group Managing Director of the NNPC should be asked to explain the discrepancy between the two figures and remit the balance of N663,896,567,227.58 to the Federations Account for face sanction.

The report stated that the sum of N519,922,433,918.46 was transferred to the Federation Account by the NNPC based on transfer mandates, while demanding that the company provide reconciliation statement for the difference of N88,787,862,853.96 between AGF’s figure of N608,710,296,772.42 and NNPC’s figure per transfer mandate of N519,922,433,918.46.

It stated: "Audit observed that 107,239,436.00 barrels of crude oil were lifted as domestic crude, while allocation of crude oil to refineries for a billing date of 9th January to 29th May 2019 was 2,764,267.00 bbls valued at N55,891,009,960.63.

“Information on sale of unutilised crude oil by refineries for 2019 was not provided, and Information on crude oil allocations from 30th May to 31st December 2019 was not provided for scrutiny.

"The Group Managing Director of NNPC is requested to provide the complete schedule of allocation of Crude Oil to Refineries from 1st January to 31st December,

2019, furnish details of sale of unutilised crude oil and reconcile it with total domestic crude oil of 107,239,436.00 bbls lifted in 2019 and remit amount realized from sale of unutilised crude oil to the

Federation Account."

The report noted further that section 162(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) states “The Federation shall maintain a special account to

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), said it has so far registered more than one million candidates as at Saturday, March 12, in its ongoing 2022 exercise.

The board disclosed this in its weekly bulletin of the office of the registrar on Monday in Abuja.

JAMB stated that the registration for its 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE), which began on February 19, would close on March 26, adding that, some 1,121, 123 candidates had so far registered for the exercise.

It also added that more than N600 million cumulative amount derived from the regulated N700 service charges of the exercise, had so far been remitted to the accredited

Computer Based Tests (CBT) centres.

“JAMB had so far remitted over N600 million service charges to respective centres, in line with the cashless policy of the board, which represents the total number of candidates, multiplied by N700.

“These payments, however, excludes JAMB-owned CBT centres.

N104,899,300 was paid in the first week of registration; N251,730,500 in the second week of registration and N332,150,700 was paid for last week’s registration.

“Cumulatively, more than N600 million had been paid to the CBT centres as centre charges,” JAMB said, adding that the policy had reduced the sharp practices associated with warehousing candidates by tying them to non-performing centres.

It claimed it has also helped

the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry or department charged with the responsibility of Foreign Affairs and the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

Strike Action Mutinous, IG Cautions Personnel

Says FG working to implement salary increment directive

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Following reports of an impending strike by personnnel of the Nigerian Police, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, yesterday warned officers and men of the force that a strike action by a lead security agency such as the police was tantamount to mutiny.

Online and social media reports yesterday indicated plans by policemen to embark on a two-week warning strike fixed for March 26.

The last time a police strike happened, then President Olusegun Obasanjo, who appointed then IG of police, Mr Musuliu Smith on May 29, 1999, fired him on February 2, 2002 for allowing such an unprecedented strike to take place.

Smith is the present Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

A statement issued by Police Force Headquarters warned that any strike action or any disruption of law enforcement services would

be treated as mutiny.

"The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a news making the rounds on social media alleging that some members of the force will be embarking on a strike action with effect from March 26, 2022.

"The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state unequivocally that the alleged publication is fake and a mischievous attempt by unscrupulous individuals to bring the force to disrepute, misinform the general public and heat up the polity", it said.

"It is pertinent to restate that the Nigeria Police Force is a regimented and disciplined organisation with laid down rules and guidelines for addressing grievances and in no circumstance is a strike action one of such means.

"The men and women of the Nigeria Police Force are fully aware that a strike action or other deliberate disruption of law enforcement services by any security organisation

JAMB Registers 1.1m Candidates, Remits N600m CBT Centre Charges KuniTyessi inAbuja

be called “the Federation Account” into which shall be paid all revenues collected by the Government of the Federation, except the proceeds of the personal income tax of the personnel of the armed forces of

the proprietors of CBT centres to have a global picture of the total amount being generated by their respective centres.

The board said the cashless policy was introduced to curb the excesses of some fraudulent CBT centres that would want to take advantage of hapless candidates.

According to the bulletin, “The board banned the use of cash and directed all candidates to pay the service charges to the e-PIN vendors along with the N3,500 application fees. The board, in turn, remitted to the centres on a weekly basis, proportional to the number of candidates they register.”

In a similar development, the board also said it had apprehended operators of CBT centres involved in illicit registration, following a sting operation in four states of

the federation.

JAMB warned that it would not condone any infringement of its registration flow by the technical officials of any of its accredited centres.

“This warning became necessary after the report of a nationwide sting operation indicated that four registered centres in Kwara, Kogi, Katsina and Enugu, had compromised the registration process. They committed the act of some unethical financial benefits through the deployment of unauthorised satellite registration points.

“Accordingly, some staff of three of the four centres, who were apprehended while perpetrating the illegal act, had been handed over to security agents for prosecution, while the accreditation of the centres had been suspended,” JAMB said.

is mutinous and the personnel of the force would not degenerate at any point to that level of disloyalty and indiscipline, as policing services are paramount and essential in the maintenance of orderliness and peace in the nation", it said.

The statement signed by Acting Force Public Relations Officer and Chief Supretendent of Police (CSP), Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said government and police authorities were working to accelerate the full implementation of increment of salaries and allowances proposed by the president.

"It is pertinent to emphasise that the IGP is accelerating efforts to ensure the full implementation of the increment of salaries and allowances proposed by the President and approved by the Federal Executive Council.

"It is important to accentuate that it was the president’s initiative without any demand from the police to direct the process of increasing salaries and allowances. "The federal government is therefore fully committed to the implementation of the new salary package", it said.

"Since that approval, the Salaries and Wages Commission has issued an implementation circular, the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs and the IGP have been working with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to ensure the stoppage of tax deductions as directed by the President and approved by the Federal Executive Council", it said.

The statement noted that "the Inspector-General of Police reiterates that police officers under his leadership are well motivated with the ongoing reforms, especially the provision of kits, accoutrements, body armor, the cooperative society’s housing scheme, the renovation of training schools, upgrade of police training curriculum, procurement and deployment of technology to boost ICT-driven policing.

"The IGP equally assures that the police are committed to discharging their duties to the nation as expected and renew their commitment to ensuring public safety, and the protection of lives and property

of all and sundry", he said.

In a letter written to the IG, the unidentified police officers said they would embark on the warning strike to protest poor working conditions, poor salaries, lack of genuine welfare benefits and outdated weapons.

The police officers are also protesting the continuous killing of their colleagues by armed robbers and terrorists, without adequate compensation for their families.

The aggrieved police officers accused the federal government of lying about the increment of police salary and other promised benefits and demanded improved conditions of service, particularly salary increase and provision of modern weapons as they tackle the security challenges facing the country.

The letter reads: “The Nigeria government lied about the increment of police salary on March 10, 2022.

It has been observed with utmost dissatisfaction how the federal government and the Minister of Police Affairs lied to the general public about the increment of our salaries.

“It has always been discussed on every occasion that the increment would be done since the incident of the #EndSARS protest that led to the loss of many lives of the men of the force.

“More so, it has been observed by the men of the force that there’s nothing good the federal government would do for the police, because they had already made an announcement that they have increased our salary which is not true.

“With the lackadaisical attitude of the government and the Ministry of Police Affairs, it shows that there was nothing like a salary increment.

“We deserve to be treated with respect by the government as we protect almost every political personality. We are treated like slaves despite our contribution to national development.

“We don’t have good salaries and our gratuities are very poor compared to what is obtainable in other parts of the world", the letter said.

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NEWS

INSPECTION OF LEKKI SEAPORT SITE...

L-R: Managing Director, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (Lekki Port), Du Ruogang; Director representing Tolaram on Lekki Port Board, Navin Nahata; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Magdalene Ajani; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko and the Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Free Zone, Dinesh Rathi, during the minister's inspection of the port at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos…recently

ASUU Extends Strike by Two Months Says FG nonchalant to demands

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has resolved to continue its nationwide strike for another two months.

The union which held National Executive Council (NEC) on Sunday in Abuja, to review

developments since it declared a four-week roll-over strike, said it resolved to extend the industrial action for another four weeks to give the federal government more time to address all the issues in concrete terms so that our students will resume as soon as possible.

In a statement read to journal-

ists by ASUU President, Prof.

Emmanuel Osodeke on Monday, at the headquarters of the union at University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, he said: "Having taken reports on the engagements of the Trustees and Principal Officers with the government, concluded that Government had failed to

satisfactorily address all the issues raised in the 2020 FGN/ASUU Memorandum of Action (MoA) within the four-week roll-over strike period and resolved that the strike be rolled over for another eight weeks to give government more time to address all the issues in concrete terms so that

our students will resume as soon as possible.

"The roll-over strike shall commence by 12.01am on Monday, 14th March, 2022."

ASUU president said the meeting was called to review developments since the union declared a four weeks total

of the House of Representatives.”

While noting that Wike had contributed to the advancement of the party, just like others, since 1999, he posited that, “No one is against his desire to run for president, however, his ambition should not be embarked on in such a way that it would cause disruption at different levels, such as the PDP Governors’ Forum as well as different chapters of the party across the country.

“It clearly amounts to delusion of grandeur, for any one man to nurse the idea that he owns or has more stake in the PDP and everyone should pander to him.

We are all equal stakeholders in the party and an aggregate of the ideas, opinions and contributions of all leaders and members should form the position of the party and not the view of one individual or a select few.

“While Governor Wike is free to use his resources as he deems fit in pursuit of his ambition, he should not attempt to cow, intimidate, cajole and threaten others into doing his bidding.

Edo State cannot and will not be procured for anyone’s personal ambition.

“What Nigeria needs now are strong democratic institutions and not strong men; that is why we will join the great leaders of our party across the country to build PDP into a strong, large and indomitable party that will win next year’s presidential election.

“Governor Wike and his collaborators headed by Chief Dan Orbih in Edo State will not succeed in destabilising the PDP in Edo State as they did other states like Cross River just to secure delegates to actualize his alleged personal ambition to run for presidency in 2023.

“In Edo, we don't accept political bullies and overlords and historically, we have demonstrated our capacity to unshackle ourselves and dethrone bullies and highhanded leaders.

“I appeal to all well-meaning leaders of our great party to call Governor Wike to order to desist from his current unguarded and disruptive tendencies. From all indications, today, PDP is set to take over the leadership of Nigeria provided we can rein in the self-interest of a few leaders to put the task of rescuing Nigeria above their personal ambitions.”

WIKE ATTACKS OBASEKI, CALLS HIM SERIAL BETRAYER, UNGRATEFUL However, Wike, who tendered an apology to Oshiomhole for ignoring his warnings about Obaseki, stated that everything Oshiomhole said about the character of the Edo governor had come to pass.

He said, “If you ask anybody or check the DNA of Obaseki, you will discover that he is a serial betrayer and an ungrateful person. I apologise to Oshiomhole, who told us about Obaseki.

You have been vindicated,” the Rivers governor said.

Speaking during the inauguration of Community Secondary School, Omuanwa, in Ikwerre LGA, Wike added: “Dr. Abiye Sekibo called me and told me not to reply Obaseki, but I said no. I will reply him, I’m a politician. Obaseki said I'm a bully, but he came to beg a bully for ticket, a bully was his campaign Director General and a bully bullied him into Edo State Government House.

"It didn't end there, he still came back with his wife to thank the bully after the election. I slept in Edo State for three days just to deliver Obaseki, but today, I'm a bully. If you check the DNA of Obaseki, what you'll see is betrayal, serial betrayal and ungratefulness.

"He said I threatened PDP, assuming without conceding that I threatened PDP, I have every right to do so. I have invested in the party. Rivers State has invested in the party. Rivers State is one of the few states that has voted PDP since 1999.

We have invested in the party.

You're a tenant in PDP, I have more stake in PDP than you.

"You said I'm causing crisis in Edo State, I have capacity, that is why I'm causing crisis.

I challenge you to come and cause crisis in Rivers state, then you'll know who is who.

Obaseki, I know your cohorts, I will smoke all of you out.

Obaseki, I challenge you to defect back to the APC, we'll

shave your head.

“I know those using you, if I decide to run for president, I will win all of you. Obaseki, melembe melembe. The game has started, I will make you lose weight.”

But in his response to the initial trigger, Obaseki, in a paid advertorial in some national newspapers, called on the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to call Wike to order, because the issues raised by his deputy were germane and needed to be resolved in the interest of the party.

He said the personal attacks

by Wike against Shaibu was to say the least, most unfortunate and totally uncalled for.

His words: “If Governor Wike was one who is wont to show respect and courtesy to his colleague-governors, he would have ordinarily reached out to me to express his concerns about the views made by my deputy governor, rather than embarking on this unwarranted public onslaught.

“My deputy governor is a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and his comment is representative of the essence of the nation’s youth population, who are inclined to openly speak up and question the status quo.

“If governor Wike cannot understand and adequately respond to the style and character of the Nigerian youth, how can he aspire to lead them?

“His Excellency, Governor Wike should have taken a cue from the manner in which the National Chairman of our party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, responded to my deputy’s remarks, as a conscientious leader, who is able to show empathy and consideration,” the Edo governor stated.

He pointed out that the concerns expressed by his deputy bordered on pertinent

issues affecting the PDP in Edo State, which “since the September 19th 2020 elections, has been able to register over 500,000 members; and till date, these new members have not been properly integrated into our party after two years. Also, the leaders, executives and members who came with me into the party have still not been accepted, integrated or harmonised into the party.

“More worrisome is the fact that old members of Edo PDP, who are open to inclusion and supportive of building a large party are being vilified and ostracised by a cabal purportedly led by Chief Dan Orbih, who is your perpetual guest in Port Harcourt and is remotely used to orchestrate the destabilisation of the party in Edo State.

“It is necessary to recall at this point that a political solution gave rise to the emergence of Chief Dan Orbih first as Acting and then as Substantive National Vice Chairman, South South, of our party, when Chief Emma Odidi resigned that position to allow Chief Orbih to ascend. It is, therefore, curious why this type of political solution is no longer tenable to resolve the political impasse in Edo State PDP. “We can categorically state that in the comments of the deputy governor, he at no point threatened the party as Governor Wike has alleged. Rather, it is Governor Wike, who has at different times, threatened the PDP. “Some of these instances include: On September 16, 2018, Governor Wike threatened the party that there would be grave consequences if it moved the National Convention from Port Harcourt in the run up to the 2019 presidential election.

“On September 12, 2019, Governor Wike also threatened to cause trouble for the party over the emergence of Hon. Ndudi Elumelu as the Minority Leader

and comprehensive roll-over strike action at the end of its NEC meeting at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos on 12th 13th February, 2022.

The industrial action came on the heels of federal government's failure to satisfactorily implement the MoA it signed with the Union in December 2020 on funding for revitalisation of public universities (both federal and states), renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ ASUU Agreement, deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), Earned Academic Allowances, State Universities, promotion arrears, withheld salaries, and non-remittance of third-party deductions.

Osodeke said the union's leadership has held some interactive meetings with agents of government in the last four weeks that the strike action had lasted.

However, the ASUU boss said they were disappointed that government did not treat the matters involved with utmost urgency they deserved during the four-week period as expected of a reasonable, responsive, and well-meaning administration.

"NEC viewed government's response, so far, as a continuation of the unconscionable, mindless, and nonchalant attitude of the Nigerian ruling elite towards the proven path of national development which is education," he said.

Osodeke said ASUU, as a union of intellectuals, has historic obligations to make governments honour agreements.

Atiku to Formally Declare Presidential Bid March 23 Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a former Vice President and one of the presidential hopefuls of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will formally declare his presidential ambitionon March 23.

Atiku, who was PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, according to a reliable source, would

make his intention public at the International Conference Center (ICC) in Abuja.

Expected at the occasion are several top political figures, including legislators from other political parties, who are billed to defect into the PDP in solidarity with Atiku.

Already, Atiku has received several endorsements from across the geopolitical zones, including PDP members of the National Assembly, who had moved a motion, urging him to run.

In the 2019 presidential election, Atiku came second to President Muhammadu Buhari, a result generally believed was not a true reflection of the poll.

The NEC and the Board of Trustees of the party will meet Tuesday to take a final decision on whether to micro zone the presidential ticket of the party or throw it open.

Opinions are, however, divided in the party on whether to zone the presidential ticket to any particular part of the country.

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TEN CONVENTION: MICRO-ZONING TEARING APC APART AMID LEADERSHIP CRISIS One of chairmanship aspirants told THISDAY, “Since the party has allocated the position to the North-central, the zone should be allowed to decide who becomes its choice, rather than by imposition, as being speculated in the media.”

Other aspirants in the race for National Chairman in the zone include Senator Tanko Al-Makura and Saliu Mustapha.

In the South-west, where the post of National Secretary had been zoned, national leader of APC and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, was said to be at odds with the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as well as Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun over the choice of Senator Iyiola Omisore from Osun State for the position.

APC governors in the zone were said to have settled for Omisore for National Secretary, “for political strategy,” but Tinubu and former National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, were said to be opposed to the choice.

Similarly, in the South-south, the micro-zoning of National Publicity Secretary to Delta State, which was believed to have been influenced

by Deputy Senate President Ovie

Omo-Agege, THISDAY learnt, was generating conflict among party leaders in the zone.

The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of APC officially approved the recommendations of its committee on zoning arrangement recently. In the zoning agreement, the posts of National Chairman and Deputies of National Secretary, National Legal Adviser, National Publicity Secretary, and others were allocated to the North-central.

The positions of National Publicity Secretary, National Women Leader, Deputy National Treasurer, and Deputy National Welfare Secretary were zoned to South-south.

The positions of National Secretary, National Youth Leader, and Deputy National Auditor were expected to be shared by members in South-west states, comprising Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo. The South-east got the positions of Deputy National Chairman (South), National Treasurer, National Welfare Secretary, and Deputy National Organising Secretary, among others.

North-east was to produce Deputy National Chairman

(North), National Auditor, National Vice Chairman (Northeast), Deputy National Financial Secretary, and Deputy National Women Leader.

The North-west zone would produce the National Vice Chairman (North-west), National Legal Adviser, National Organising Secretary, National Financial Secretary, and Deputy National Youth Leader.

Meanwhile, there appeared to be no deal yet between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ruling party over the latter’s planned March 17 emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The electoral umpire insisted it was not aware of any leadership change in APC. INEC insisted it would not monitor the NEC meeting because the letter inviting it to observe the exercise, as required by law, was not signed by persons vested with such power by the CECPC headed by Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, and Senator John Akpanudoedehe, as Chairman and Secretary, respectively. The commission’s position on the planned NEC meeting was made clear yesterday

by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, while speaking on a national television.

Okoye said INEC would follow the Electoral Act in dealing with the political parties. He stressed that the commission was only advising APC to follow the rules of the game.

The INEC commissioner stated, “INEC is only telling the APC that it recognises only letters signed by the CECPC Chairman and Secretary of APC and not letters signed by other party chieftains who are not recognised by the commission.

“Aside this, the Electoral Act states that INEC must be given a 21 days’ notice of any planned meeting of political parties for it to get ready to monitor such meetings of political parties.”

However, Okoye explained that APC could go ahead and hold the NEC meeting, pointing out, though, that if the meeting would lead to a change of leadership, the commission would not accept or recognise such outcome.

He explained, “The APC has been reminded of the provision in Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act

2022, which requires ‘at least 21 days’ Notice of any Convention, Congress, Conference, or Meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its Executive Committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective offices.’

“Also, Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2022 says political parties must provide the authentic Register of Members during Convention, Congress, Conference, or Meetings which INEC will monitor. These are the crux of the matter.”

INEC had on Friday stated, in response to a letter by APC inviting the commission to an emergency NEC meeting of the party convened by Niger State Governor Abubakar Bello, on behalf of the CECPC, that it did not recognise Bello as the APC chairman.

The commission’s position attracted criticism from some APC chieftains, who openly dared INEC to stand in the way of the NEC meeting on Thursday and the proposed national convention on March 26.

Spokesman of CECPC, Ismaila Ahmed, who is also APC Youth Leader, was very critical of INEC’s stand on being served a “the 21

days’ notice of any meeting by political parties”, as recommended by the Electoral Act 2022.

THISDAY reported yesterday that leaders of the ruling party might have agreed to keep Buni as Interim Chairman of CECPC, while Bello functioned as de facto chairman, though in acting capacity. Buni had travelled for medical reasons and transmitted power to Bello in writing to act as CECPC chairman. It was gathered that the party maintained that the letter of transition remained in force, even though Buni remained interim caretaker chairman.

It was also reported that the fate of the CECPC secretary was uncertain in all the permutations and intrigues playing out. A faction of the APC governors was alleged to have complained bitterly to the president that Buni was not inclined to holding the convention as rescheduled, because there were no preparations on the ground to indicate he was keen on holding the meeting. Apparently miffed by what he was told, the president was said to have directed that Buni be removed and replaced. Buni is currently in Dubai for medical reasons and was not around to defend himself.

Idemudia.

Idemudia said in the statement, “We are pleased to announce that the Board of Eko DisCo has approved the appointment of Dr. Tinuade Sanda as the new Deputy CEO, which is in line with the company’s strategies and procedures.

“The Board and Management are confident in Sanda’s proficiency and capacity to assist in leading the company towards its vision of becoming the leading and customer-centric electricity distribution company in Africa.”

Commenting on the appointment, Board Chairman, EKEDC, Mr. Oritsedere Otubu, said, “We are proud to announce Tinuade Sanda our first female Deputy CEO. Her appointment has proven the resilience of our succession planning mechanisms and the value we place on our corporate governance practices, which underpin our philosophy of building and recognising home-grown talents.”

of aviation fuel in the country.

The NNPC boss explained: "We know this is a very difficult situation. We know that once aviation fuel increases, prices of flight ticket will certainly increase and this can surely cost pain for Nigerians. That is why we are working with you to ensure that those pains are minimised to the barest minimum and one of the elements is the pricing of aviation fuel.

“So, what we have engaged with MOMAN, DAPMAN and the airline operators is that in three days’ time, their representatives will sit down and agree on a transparent base for pricing.

“That means that they ought to have a referenced benchmark that is quoted transparently in the market. They will have a referenced exchange rate for the naira so that anyone can compete.

“They will also agree on a premium which currently differs from customer-to-customer, depending on the volume you buy and the credit level.”

Kyari added: "These are the things they can negotiate in three days and close, so that going forward, there is a transparent decision on pricing. This will no doubt throw up the actual value of the product in the market.

“You will no longer see these discrepancies we have seen where some people are selling at N445 and some are selling at N630. This will completely bring close such that you will not see these differences.

“We also agreed that in the interim, between now and three days they have to close negotiations, the lowest price we have seen this morning was N445 and the highest was N605.

“There is a trader that is selling at N630 and we don't think this is normal and so, we discounted it.”

Speaking further, the NNPC GMD said it was, “agreed that we sell at N500 in the next three days and after that, they will switch to the new price that everyone can assess.”

According to him, as requested by the Airline Operators Association of Nigeria, “they would be granted license by the authority to import petroleum products, particularly ATK so that they can have a way of benchmarking the sales of other customers and can also bring in cheaper products whenever it is possible."

Continuing, the operators through Onyema requested for licencing of its members for the importation of Aviation Fuel to end the perennial hike in the price and scarcity of ATK. They maintained that they have the competence to import the

required ATK for their operations without any hitches.

According to them, “We can afford to import this fuel, let NNPC give us the licence and we will no longer complain. I have the mandate of every airline in this country to announce to you that if they can't come down from their rooftops, we have only three more days to be able to fly. “We are not threatening this country.

We have been subsiding what we have been doing. The rate as at today is N630, N640 and N605. We have an aircraft going to Kano, it has about 7000 liters of fuel in it, multiple it, sir by N630. The unit cost per seat is about N70000 per seat. You have not talked about insurance that is very static. Nigerians pay heavy insurance premium because this country is stigmatised.

"You have to insure abroad. It is a must because all the insurance companies in Nigeria put together cannot even pay for one aircraft.

So, you have to go abroad to insure. “Yet the fuel cost which is supposed to be about 30 to 40 per cent in every clime, in Nigeria it about 70 per cent even before time. So, you can now see the mortality rate of airlines in this country.

“From what is happening, if it continues this way, the least ticket will be about N120 for economy and we don't want to do that. We want to inform the house that we are demanding that we should be given licence to import this fuel. If we can buy jets that cost hundreds of billions of dollars, we can afford to import this fuel."

Responding to the resolutions read by the NNPC GMD, Onyeama said the implication of the N500 per litre benchmark for three days was that the ticket for airfare would be N85,000 per seat on economy.

They however expressed gratitude to the House of Representatives and the NNPC for standing by the operators.

The Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Speaker, Wase faulted the presentation made by the Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority, Ahmed Farouk, who was represented by an Executive Director, Ogbogu Ukoha who insisted that prices had been discounted.

Wase had asked the regulatory body the current price of the product and why it was so exorbitant but was referred to the marketers who however sidestepped the questions and could not give specific answers.

He thereafter warned NMDPRA against blackmailing the government.

NATIONWIDE BLACKOUT AS POWER GRID COLLAPSES AGAIN any energy.

THISDAY learnt that Minister of Power, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, called an emergency meeting yesterday to resolve all outstanding issues with the stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) as a result of the worsening power situation.

According to the grid operation trend, of the active 25 Gencos on the grid, 19 were producing power as of 6am, when the grid had 3,867.60MW, but that began to reduce gradually until it dropped to 2,761.20MW by 10am after six Gencos went down, leaving just 13, before crashing to zero at 10.40 am.

THISDAY learnt that at least 1,100MW was initially lost from the 3,867MW peak generation before the Gencos started shutting down.

The analysis showed that the affected plants included Azura-Edo IPP (Gas), which was generating 447MW earlier, and Shiroro hydropower, which had 300MW earlier and later went off. Trans-Amadi (Gas) lost 92MW, Alaoji NIPP (Gas) lost 75MW, while Ihovbor NIPP (Gas) lost 101MW. As of yesterday, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which manages the power grid, had yet to comment on the immediate cause of the collapse, although, it was the first in the year.

The blackout had worsened throughout the country around 10:40am, after the national grid collapsed, with the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, confirming the incident in a text message to its customers.

The text message read, “Dear esteemed customers, a system collapse occurred on the national grid at 10:40am today, leading to outages across our network. We are working on the situation with our TCN partners and will keep you updated.

“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this may have caused.”

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) also pleaded for the understanding of its customers, noting that it is taking appropriate steps to ameliorate the effect.

The Disco stated, “Dear esteemed customer, we experienced general outage across AEDC network at 10:40am today due to a system collapse which occurred on the national grid.

“Appropriate measures are now being taken to restore normal supply as quickly as possible.

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience.”

While confirming the system collapse yesterday, Kaduna Electricity assured its customers that power would soon be restored.

It stated, “We regret to inform you that the power outage being

experienced in our franchise states is due to system collapse of the national grid which occurred about 10:40am.

“Power supply shall be restored as soon as the National Grid is powered back. Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience.”

In its notice to customers, Enugu Electricity Distribution Plc said the system collapse affected supply in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states.

The notice signed by EEDC Head, Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh, read, “The Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC) wishes to inform her esteemed customers in the South East of a general system collapse which occurred this morning, Monday, 14th March 2022 at 10:40 am.

“This is the reason for the loss of supply currently being experienced across the network.

“Consequently, all our outgoing feeders are out and supply to our customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states is affected by this development.”

Meanwhile, the power minister yesterday held an emergency meeting with all stakeholders in the power sector to address the current low power generation. He warned that stakeholders must work together to make electricity more stable.

The meeting held at the conference hall of the ministry had in attendance delegations from the Gencos, TCN, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Nigerian National Petroleum Company ( NNPC), Shell, and other stakeholders in the power value chain.

A source at the meeting quoted Aliyu as saying, “This meeting was summoned to address the current electricity situation in the country, which we are not happy about.

We must find a solution so that Nigerians will have electricity. I want us to have the patience to talk to each other, not blame each other.”

Aliyu maintained that the Nigerian government would not relent in its effort to ensure that improvements in the power sector were sustained and built upon, adding that current challenges must be addressed.

The meeting, according to the minister, would find solutions that would ensure prompt resolution of all the problems affecting power generation currently besetting Nigeria.

In Lagos, the Egbin Power Plc also recorded a collapse in its power generating system for the second time in 2022. The Egbin Power system collapse, which occurred about 10:40am, was witnessed by

journalists who were at the venue to cover the 2022 edition of Egbin Graduate Engineers Programme (GEP).

The incident happened in the presence of the top management team of Egbin, including Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group and Chairman of Ikeja Electric, Mr. Kola Adesina, among others.

The Minister of Power had penultimate week blamed the low water level at the dams for the worsening power supply in the country.

TCN also had last week attributed the worsening power situation to low power generation from generation companies (Gencos).

The Gencos in turn fired back on Sunday, as their Executive Secretary, Dr Joy Ogaji, blamed the worsening state of power supply in the country on the N1.6 trillion owed them by the federal government since 2013.

The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), on its part, disputed the Gencos' debt claim, saying only companies with active gas supply and transportation contracts were paid for unutilised capacity.

The Sahara Power GMD expressed sadness over the poor state of the country's power sector and the endless blame game among players in the sector.

Adesina, "I hate what is going on. As a Nigerian, I'm displeased, I'm not happy and I will tell you why. All that Nigerians want today is power. Isn't it? No blame game now, no story.

"Just give power to the people, end of discussion. When generation says it's gas, story. When gas says because people are not paying them, story. When TCN says Discos are not taking power, story. So, it's just stories. We don't want stories. I'm tired of the contradictory stories and I don't like it."

Adesina said the blame game in the sector could only be solved in a sincere dialogue by all the market participants.

According to him, "Once that is done, the problem will be solved, and I know that the Minister of Power is already planning to bring all the sector participants together to have a conversation to resolve this problem."

In a related development, the Board of Directors of Eko Electricity Distribution Company approved the appointment of Dr. Tinuade Sanda as Deputy Managing Director of the company. Prior to her appointment, Sanda was Chief Accounting Officer, a position she had occupied since 2013.

This announcement was made

by EKEDC General Manager, Corporate Communications, Godwin

Aviation Fuel Scarcity: We Have Three Days to Shut Down Operations, Airlines Warn

Airline Operators in Nigeria yesterday warned that they have only three days left to shut down operations over lingering scarcity of aviation fuel.

In their presentation, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) threatened that they had only three days to shut down operations over lack of aviation fuel.

Represented by the Chief Executive Officer of Airpeace, Mr. Allen Onyema, expressed concern over the high cost of aviation fuel.

This was as the stakeholders in the aviation sector agreed to peg the price of the aviation fuel at N500 per litre.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari announced the decision at the meeting of the stakeholders with the special committee of the House of Representatives investigating the circumstances surrounding the recent hike in the price of aviation fuel chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase.

The resolution to peg the price at N500 per litre would be experimented for only three days from today and within the period the Association of Airline Operators and the major oil marketers are to engage themselves and work out modalities that would lead to the permanent reduction of the price of aviation fuel in the country.

Kyari, however disclosed that at the moment there were 19 oil companies with 88 million litres

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NEWS

STANDARDISATION CERTIFICATE TO SIFAX ICT...

L-R: Executive Director, Business Development, West Sealand Int’l Security Services Limited, Francsica Dyegh; Managing Director, SIFAX Inland Container Terminal, Paul Linden; and Technical Director, West Sealand Int’l Security Services Limited, Samuel Sawah during the presentation of the International Organisation for Standardisation 9001:2015 (ISO) certificate to SIFAX ICT, Ijora in Lagos …yesterday

Cocaine Deals: Abba Kyari's Wife Slumps as Court Fixes March 28 to Decide DCP’s Bail Application Alex Enumah in Abuja One Hajia Ramatu identified as wife of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari yesterday slumped in court during the hearing of her husband's bail application before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Abba Kyari and six others were last Monday arraigned before the court on charges bordering on alleged conspiracy, obstruction and dealings in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.

Although the suspended DCP who used to head the special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police and four others pleaded not guilty to the eight count charge preferred against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the court had fixed Monday 14 for hearing of their bail applications.

However, at the resumed hearing, all defendants were in court

and represented by their lawyers.

Ramatu was also present in court to witness the proceedings.

She however slumped on the floor shortly after Justice Nwite, announced that he would deliver his ruling on the bail applications on March 28.

Ramatu, believed to be in her middle aged woman and wearing a black Hijab, fell on the floor just as armed operatives of the NDLEA, were taking Kyari and the other defendants out of the court premises.

Immediately after she fell, some NDLEA's officials and lawyers quickly rushed her into one of the offices on the third floor of the court.

It was later learnt that she was asthmatic following efforts to secure an inhaler for her use.

Earlier, Mr. Mahmoud Magaji SAN, who represented Kyari and the 2nd defendant, prayed the court to grant his clients bail, arguing that the offence they were charged with was bailable.

He also assured the court that the defendants would not jump bail if granted and would make themselves available throughout the trial.

Similarly, lawyer to the fourth and fifth defendants in moving their bail applications prayed the court to admit them to bail on "liberal" terms.

However, lawyer to the third defendant prayed the court to take his application on a later

date because he was just served with the counter affidavit of the prosecution and would need time to respond.

Meanwhile, the prosecution lawyer, Joseph Sunday, opposed the bail application, stating that all the conditions for which the defendants should not be granted bail were inherent in the case.

He therefore prayed the court to exercise discretion against the defendants.

states of the federation.

The Unified Northern Nigeria Youth Forum (UNNYF) has lauded the achievements of Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Godwin Emefiele, calling on him to vie for the country’s presidency.

Addressing a press conference in Jos, spokesman of the group, Aliyu Sani, said, “As you are all aware, the past week has been engulfed in tours with series of consultations and mass rallies across some states of the North, calling on the CBN governor, Dr. Godwin Emefiele, to join the race and contest for the office of president in the upcoming 2023 elections.

“We are here in Plateau State to add to these calls and further mount pressure until we have acceptance from Dr. Godwin Emefiele to contest for the position of president in 2023.”

UNNYF said Emefiele had done well as CBN governor, adding that his policies have reflected in the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and created lots of employment in all

Citing the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme as one of Emefiele’s many achievements that benefitted the northern part of the country, particularly Plateau State, Aliyu said, “Under the scheme, the CBN launched the brown revolution, an intervention aimed at boosting wheat value chain in Kwall Bassa Local Government Area. Wheat is the most widely consumed commodity, after rice, and only one per cent of it is produced in Nigeria with about $2 billion spent annually on its importation.

“With this brown revolution, the CBN seeks to cut about 60 per cent of this importation cost and has brought about 22.35 and 23.78 per cent growth in GDP in the first and second quarters of 2021 alone.

“In addition, 150,000 farmers were beneficiaries cultivating 100,000 hectares of land. This has improved local production of wheat in line with the mandate of the government to produce what we eat and eat

Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu as 1st to 5th defendants, while the 6th and 7th are; Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne.

The duo were alleged to be drug traffickers arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The NDLEA, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, accused the defendants of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.

NGF Places States’ AGs on Alert against Losing Funds to Frivolous Cases/Court Orders Chuks Okocha in Abuja Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has tasked all the Attorney Generals of the states to be on red alert against the states losing money to insecurity, the battle for local

government autonomy and the ongoing suit to retrieve the $418 million Paris Fund.

Fayemi spoke yesterday at a two-day meeting of the Attorney Generals of the 36 states, taking place in Abuja.

Declaring open the workshop, Fayemi tasked the states chief

2023: Northern Group Urges Emefiele to Contest for Presidency Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

In a short ruling, Justice Nwite announced that ruling in the bail applications was fixed for March 28, 2022.

The judge also stated that the court would also take submissions on the propriety of the review of the facts of the case in respect of the sixth and seventh defendants, who pleaded guilty to the charge.

Kyari was on March 7, arraigned alongside four of his colleagues in the IRT, among whom are;

what we produce.”

According to Aliyu, production of onion is another area where the people of Plateau have benefitted immensely from the CBN’s policies under Emefiele.

Nigeria needs 2.5 million metric tonnes of onions yearly to meet national demand, but only 1.4 million metric tonnes is produced. He said the provision of loans under the scheme had assisted onion farmers in the North-central, including Plateau, to make up for the 1.1million metric tonnes shortage.

He added, “Cotton is the third commodity to join the Anchor Borrowers Scheme after rice and maize, with 5,000 cotton farmers securing loan in Wase, Kanam, Langtang LGAs, to mention a few.

This has significantly improved cotton production in the state, among others.

“Rice farming has been supported and boosted by the ABP as well; 6,670 farmers in Plateau State received seedling, fertiliser, herbicides, pesticides, water pumping machines

and more with beneficiaries from 17 LGAs of the states, all thanks to the ABP. “With intervention from the CBN, aside Kaduna State, Plateau is one of the top five states that produces maize in the country, with immediate market value as it is been widely used by Vital feeds and NASCO company in Plateau State.

“It is on this ground that we, the youths of the north, came together because we have felt the impact of this hard working, de-tribaliised and dedicated gentleman's revolution of the agricultural sector in the entire country.

“Since the demise of our founding fathers, no single individual has impacted on improving the lives of the downtrodden, making life better and easier for the northerners like Dr. Godwin Emefiele.

“This is why we are here in Plateau, to identify, consult and crave the indulgence of like minds to add their voices and make meaningful inputs to call on Dr. Godwin Emefiele to contest for president of this country.“

law officers that, "The spate of insecurity across many states, political and economic uncertainties in the country and the states have placed the office of the Attorney General on red alert in ensuring that the state is not ambushed through frivolous cases/court orders that may lead to heavy financial losses and grounding of government business.

"We have no doubt that this meeting would afford you the opportunity to seek solutions," the Ekiti state governor said, adding that in the governors, there were agenda items, usually national issues, which would greatly impact states and requiring their attention as governors.

According to Governor Fayemi, "Some of them are sufficiently contentious as to require resolution in court. We have a number of these cases and there is a need to carry you along and seek your input. This is one of the reasons for this gathering and some of the lawyers handling these cases will be here to address you.

"You are all aware of the controversy occasioned by the question of the autonomy of the Judiciary and Legislature.

The Forum has often been in support of autonomy, but we felt that the onus was on the states to determine and implement it.

It is, therefore, expedient that as chief law officers, you exercise the right to review and monitor the extent of implementation in your States," he said.

He further tasked the states chief law officers to note some of the burning issues like the "administration of the criminal justice system, Stamp Duties, Value Added Tax, the fallout from the London Paris Club Refunds, culminating in the criminal bid to deprive states of $419m. These require your attention, and the Forum looks forward to your views and advice on the way forward," he said.

Fayemi explained that the decision to convene this gathering was a consequence of the Forum’s determination to achieve an alignment of purpose between the activities of the NGF and the work that the Attorneys General were appointed to do.

Fayemi went on to note that the forum, through its Peace and Inclusive Security Initiative (PISI), has commenced discussions with stakeholders on diverse ways to handle some of the security challenges and restore peace to the communities.

He recalled that, last week, the Forum hosted one of such multi-stakeholder meetings in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) with satisfying results.

The Ekiti governor, therefore, explained that the governors were delighted to hold the meeting with the Attorney Generals of the 36 States of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) to align with their shared goals and address certain legal issues plaguing the states.

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POLITICS

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

Electoral Act: Buhari’s Ministers Who May Vacate Office Before June With the new Electoral Act, political appointees at all levels of government, especially senior ministers of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration have butterflies in their stomach, writes Emameh Gabriel

Malami

Amaechi

Ngige

Keyamo

T

he Nigerian Senate has laid to rest the controversy surrounding the Electoral Amendment Act 2022, after throwing out President Muhammadu Buhari’s request that sought to amend a clause in Section 84 (12). By its action, the National Assembly has placed some of the President’s ministers who desire to contest either governorship of their homes states or the presidency in a tight corner.

The decision of the Senate, a source told THISDAY, was against an initial gentleman’s agreement the President had with the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and other principal officials of the National Assembly elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) before his express approval to the Bill.

Although the talks surrounding the new amendment seems not to be over yet, many Nigerians breathed a sigh of relief for it, as they believe it has opened a new vista that would revolutionize the country’s electoral system and further deepen internal democracy within the political space.

There are clear indications that there could be a battle of wits between the executive and the legislative arm of government, both at the national and state levels. This is the first time in 22 years that the Senate would go against agreement reached with a sitting president.

With this coming from the Ahmed Lawan-led

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Senate that was labeled a rubber-stamped, analysts believe that there is more to it.

It would be recalled that President Buhari gave assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill at a brief ceremony held at the Council Chamber of Aso Villa in Abuja with the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other top government functionaries in attendance

on February 25.

The Bill, among other things, seeks to resolve issues concerning the INEC’s introduction of modern technologies into the electoral process, especially accreditation of voters and electronic transmission of results.

The President had in his request cited a fundamental defect in Section 84 (12) that he said would lead to the disenfranchise-

ment of political officeholders. In a letter to the National Assembly the President specifically pointed out in a letter to the National Assembly that the amendment was necessary.

The clause reads: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.

Bubari had argued that “the practical application of section 84 (12) of the Electoral Bill, 2022 will, if assented to, by operation of law, subject serving political office holders to inhibitions and restrictions referred to under section 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution.”

“It is imperative to note that the only constitutional expectation placed on serving political office holders that qualify, by extension, as public officers within the context of the constitution is resignation, withdrawal or retirement at least 30 days before the date of the election.

“It will be stretching things beyond the constitutional limit to import extraneous restrictions into the constitution on account of the practical application of section 84(12) of the bill where political parties’ conventions and congresses were to hold earlier than 30 days to the election.

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Of Kyari, House of Representatives and that ‘Exceptional Service’ Honour Udora Orizu writes that the arrest of former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking, should be a wake-up call to federal lawmakers to be more thorough in their investigations before bestowing honours

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ollowing the arrest of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking, members of the House of Representatives have been criticized by many Nigerians for not doing a proper background check before honouring him. The Federal Lawmakers had at the plenary on June 11, 2020 honoured Kyari, over his exceptional service in the fight against criminality across the country.

The National Assembly as the legislative arm of government possesses powers to conduct investigations into the activities of public institutions as stipulated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The parliament is saddled with the powers to conduct investigations into any matter or thing. With this power, almost every legislative activity is investigative.

The National Assembly conducts investigations into governance issues through its committees.

They monitor the performance of ministries, departments and agencies for the benefit of citizens. Almost all presidential appointments are subject to approval by the lawmakers, who take some time to screen the appointees before

Gbajabiamila

approving or rejecting. Aside their various all-important functions, the parliament once-in-a-while honours citizens for the services they deliver to the nation. These awards, just like

Kyari

every other one is to show appreciation to the recipients for what they do, hence motivating them to do more. Like Kyari, the House, on September 18, 2019 also honoured the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, for the free

air services offered by his domestic airline to the Federal Government for the evacuation of Nigerians under xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Again, on October 10, 2019, the House honoured recipients of the ‘Best Principal’ and ‘Best Teachers’ awards, Agnes Iyabo Elusakin and Pius Ikuseyidunmi, respectively, who were among the three teachers of Lagos State that won the 2019 President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award.

Kyari, a ‘Super Cop’ turned drug trafficking suspect, ordeals began in July 2021 when a United States court documents indicated that Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, alleged that he bribed Kyari, the Deputy Commissioner of Police to arrest a co-fraudster named Vincent in Nigeria.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had indicted Kyari of conspiring with Hushpuppi, the self-confessed international fraudster, in a $1.1 million scam.

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

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T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 20222022 Tuesday 15 15, March, Vol 27. No 9835.

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

POLITICS OF NATIONAL SECURITY AGATHA BULUS writes that Iyorchia Ayu’s comment on security agencies is unfortunate See page 28 BATTLE FOR ABIA’S GOVERNMENT HOUSE GREGORY IBE will make a difference in the lives of the people, writes Boniface Nwufo

See page 28 2023 AND ZONING IN EBONYI STATE KEVIN OJI argues that the issue of zoning in Ebonyi is not conclusive See page 29 MARY THOMAS RETURNS TO HER CREATOR PAUL OBI pays tribute to Mary Thomas, a nun and first Reverend Sister of Ogoja and Abakiliki Catholic Dioceses See page 29 EDITORIAL INEC And The 2023 Elections See page 30

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ZEBULUN OGUERI canvasses the need for the former president to contest the 2023 Presidency

WHY GOODLUCK JONATHAN SHOULD RUN

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t is increasingly becoming clearer by the day that as far as 2023 presidential election goes, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has no hiding place. This is as a result of growing calls from different strata of the country beckoning on him to contest Nigeria’s make or mar presidential election next year.

Since Nigeria rejoined the comity of democratic nations in 1999, presidential election has been an extremely sensitive issue.

It has overtime become the most powerful and influential position that confers the greatest sense of belonging to the federation on any ethnic or geopolitical area that produces the president.

As a result of this, at every general election, every segment of the country craves to have a piece of the “national cake” by producing the number one person.

The questions now therefore are: which region has produced more presidents or heads of state? Which region has not produced any, considering the issue of rotational power in order to correct the vexed issue of imbalance among the six geopolitical zones, especially the North – South power block? Under the present circumstance, whose turn is it between the North and South power block in 2023?

Already, this has started generating heat among the gladiators as the nation gradually and stealthily moves closer to 2023 and as the momentum has continued to build up.

It is important to underscore one basic fact that one major factor that will largely determine the overall outcome of the election is power rotation, which is between the North and South political blocs. This is what has defined the attitude and the internal democratic practices of the major political parties that will participate in the forthcoming election.

It has equally attracted some of the biggest political groups such as the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) made up of governors on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, which is made up of the governors of the leading opposition party, caucuses of political parties at the two chambers of the National Assembly, the political parties, socio-cultural groups, among others.

It is imperative to put the record straight on this matter. Since independence, the North has produced Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the prime minister, Generals Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Muhammed, President Shehu Shagari, Generals Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar, late President Yar’Adua and the current President Buhari. On the other hand, the South has produced Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (South-East as Colonial Governor-General and Head of State under the parliamentary system of government), General Aguiyi-Ironsi (SouthEast), General Olusegun Obasanjo (SouthWest), President Obasanjo (South-West) and President Goodluck Jonathan (South-South)

who served one tenure plus.

Beginning from 1999 when the country began a new democratic dispensation, the South took the first shot through Obasanjo who handed over power to the North (Yar’Adua). Yar’Adua did not finish his tenure and GEJ completed the joint-ticket tenure and did a first term and was not allowed to do his second tenure under national and international conspiracy. In 2023, Buhari would have spent a good eight years in office.

Naturally, it is now the turn of the South to take a shot at the presidency.

Considering the rotational system, it’s obviously the turn of the south and realizing that former President Jonathan performed creditably well during his first four years in the office, groups and individual have been calling on him to come out and contest the 2023 presidential election to enable him complete his remaining four years.

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC led the pack of the groups clamouring for Jonathan to contest in 2023 as it publicly declared that the party will give the former president an opportunity to contest for the presidency if he joins the ruling party.

The National Secretary of the party’s Caretaker, and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, John Akpanudoedehe

He is a unifying force; he is trusted, dependable and the most accepted politician across board in contemporary Nigeria and he is a democrat who builds, entrenches and deepens strong democratic culture and institutions

was said to have made the declaration while featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Speaking further, the APC official said the ex-president will be granted a founding member status if he joins, adding however that the opportunity that will be given to Jonathan is not automatic, noting that he would compete with other members of the party before getting the ticket.

“I am hearing that for the first time that we are expecting the former President. That will be great news. We will welcome him; that will also strengthen the party”, Akpanudodehe was quoted to have said.

Apart from the APC’s assurance, some northern state governors have also at one time or the other called on the former President to come out, contest and complete the fours left for him to be president in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Just last week, a group operating under the aegis of Citizens Network for Peace and Development (CNPD) called on former President Jonathan to run for the office of president in the 2023 general election.

It also asked the ex-president to dump his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and join forces with President Muhammadu Buhari in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to achieve this goal and appealed to President Buhari to support the former president.

The National Coordinator of CNPD, Raphael Okorie, who made the call in Abuja, said the group is ready to mobilise at least eight million citizens to return Mr. Jonathan to the office of the president.

He said the group wants the former president to accept the offer to serve and rescue Nigeria at a crucial moment like now “because of his track records in office.”

Also, another group operating under the aegis of Nationalists Movement for GEJ 2023 has called on former President Jonathan to contest in the 2023 presidential election.

The National Coordinator of the group, Engr Abidde Robinson, made the call at a media conference in Abuja, while explaining reasons why the former President is to contest the election, as Nigerians want him back to Aso Villa. According to Robinson, Jonathan remains a great statesman, patriot, and national pacifier whose pedigree and track record proves he has the magic wand that Nigerians want to change the present situation of things.

“Nigeria is on the march again. As the countdown to 2023 Presidential elections begins, all patriotic Nigerians must deeply reflect on this adage that says, “when a child falls, he looks front but when an adult falls, he looks back to see what caused his fall.

Ogueri, a political analyst, writes from Bauchi

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GREGORY IBE will make a difference in the lives of the people, writes Boniface Nwufo

POLITICS OF NATIONAL SECURITY

BATTLE FOR ABIA’S GOVERNMENT HOUSE

AGATHA BULUS writes that Iyorchia Ayu’s comment on security agencies is unfortunate National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu must have been overwhelmed by the euphoria of assuming the leadership of his party when he told party members that PDP would not use security agents to harass the people when they take over Aso Rock in 2023. At a time of unprecedented security challenges, this is least expected of the leader of a political party working towards emerging as ruling party.

For Iyorchia Ayu to find nothing more encouraging to tell his party supporters about PDP coming to power than a curious assurance not to use “security agents, especially the DSS, to harass the people” is not only utterly disappointing but also a disservice to national security. The specific reference to the DSS is particularly unjustified considering the fact that the DSS is generally regarded as the elite arm of security agencies, professionally-oriented and reputed for subtle efficiency, not high-handed harassment.

The PDP chairman has not issued a “clarification” as many of his colleagues do to salvage a slipped tongue and mitigate embarrassment. But such unapologetic stance cannot justify a sweeping denunciation of security agencies, especially when coming from politicians whose antics and utterances have posed major threats to peace, stability and development of the country since independence.

As an academic and former Senate President, Minister of Education, Industry, Internal Affairs and Environment, Iyorchia Ayu certainly enjoyed the enviable benefits of DSS which is charged with the protection of senior government officials, among other specialized national security and related investigative functions. Ayu certainly cannot, even as a PDP big wig, recall witnessing what he now alleges against the DSS. It must therefore be a figment of opposition imagination for crowd-charging purposes driven by zero-tolerance for incumbent government stability that transformed a former Senate President, Minister of Education, Industry, Internal Affairs and Environment into a rabble-rousing politician, with all the potential security implications brushed aside as usual.

But Ayu should not be so myopic or forgetful. If and when he finds himself being national chairman of the PDP as the ruling party, he will be on the receiving end of such wild allegations without the option of purported exasperation. It is doubtful also that Ayu has suddenly lost memory of the skulduggery and cloak-and –dagger antics that defines politics of PDP, or rather, Naijastyle, by a blend of which he managed to rise to the top of the heap – from where he now launches misguided missiles at his erstwhile protectors!

A fellow PDP big wig, chairman of the Deputies Forum and former deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Diran Odeyemi, had cause to caution Ayu about this in a valedictory speech to mark the end of tenure of the former NWC last December.

He said, “Advice for incoming national chairman: please be just, fair and seek God’s guidance on issues that come to your table.

The system that enthroned you can remove you at any time. It is our style in the PDP; (They chorus) Hosanna today, Crucify him tomorrow. In whatever position we find

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ourselves, let us be reminded that there will be tomorrow.”

From all indications, Ayu, now sitting tight as party chairman, has added these words of partisan wisdom to the victims of his political short-sightedness, just as he did to the DSS for years of harassment-free protective cover in his hay days. But suffice it to submit that the words of warning from Diran Odeyemi provide the alarmingly treacherous details of the “PDP style” of relationships and conduct of its affairs as a pointer to the source of the generally chaotic and retrogressive politics that drives our democracy, with deleterious impact on national security and development.

In such circumstances, it is the height of political hypocrisy for politicians in general and PDP Chairman Iyorcha Ayu in particular to disparage the nation’s security agencies in general and the DSS in particular even as they remain the last line of defence of Nigeria’s stability and sovereignty in the face of escalating challenges invariably linked to poor leadership and bad governance. The DSS has repeatedly uncovered and issued warnings against the clandestine activities of various politicians and groups poised to cause disaffection and instigate instability, as an avoidable addition to the burden of bandits and insurgents.

The comments of the PDP Chairman giving the erroneous impression that security agencies are out to harass people represents another example of the politicians’ tendency to pursue their power-seeking ambitions even at the expense of the integrity of security agencies, maintenance of law and order and ultimately democracy.

It is most unfortunate that political leaders who have occupied important public offices and thereby appreciated the necessity for preservation of peace, law and order in the quest for steady national development and progress, frequently forsake such patriotic values thoughtlessly. If there is no qualitative difference in conduct and utterance between the exuberant and misguided political thugs and their more “responsible” elders and leaders, democracy cannot survive and things will fall apart. Truly responsible political leaders should change their attitude towards security agencies so that the generality of citizens will also accept the reality of collective responsibility for national security, democracy and good governance.

Meanwhile, the disturbing details of what Diran Odeyemi described as “PDP style” of political relationships and party management should be a matter of serious concern, not just to the security agencies, but to all patriotic citizens of Nigeria., because it applies to the practice of politics across all parties, especially the big power-hungry parties. It is bad enough that our politicians have no ideological concerns as they camp and decamp solely in search of a dining table. But it is disheartening to know that politicians are devils who dine with long spoons in one hand and sharp daggers in the other in an uncompromising battle for menus or throats. If you get to eat today, you will be on the menu tomorrow. Where is the national interest?

Bulus writes from Jalingo

One synonymous feature of governorship or presidential aspirants in Nigeria is that while most of them are quick to declare their interests, the individual who finally gets the trophy usually emerge last or from the back stage. Though this cannot be exactly the case with the latest entrant into the Abia State governorship race, Professor Gregory Ibe, as he was on record to have stepped forward in the past to contest the coveted seat with the present Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu but he was prevailed upon by the stakeholders and Abia elders to wait until Okezie finished his term of office.

If the invest-home philosophy is anything to go by, then it can be conveniently said that in the history of Abia State, only Professor Gregory Ibe, who coincidentally is from Abia North Senatorial Zone (by the power rotation principle it is the turn of Abia North) is notable to have established the only private

university- Gregory University Uturu, and which has been used to propel the growth and development of the state. The mere fact that he deemed it fit to invest billions of Naira in setting up the institution and to have kept it running over the years symbolises a rare patriotism and love for Abia State, its people and Nigeria generally.

What however is of utmost importance is the zeal and determination of Professor Ibe to use his global business network and acumen to calibrate the rapid development of Abia State in order to meet the needs and aspirations of the industrious Abia people. To achieve this he is propounding the use of education, trade, investments, power, infrastructure, information technology and industries (both cottage and mega industries) to jumpstart the state’s economy. These enablers will also serve as a measurement template with which to judge the performance of his administration.

For too long Abia State has boasted of its abundant potential - both in human capital and natural resources endowment, but the reality is the leadership deficit that has bedevilled the state since its creation on 27 August 1991.

Regrettably while the people are willing and ready, the state is yet to have a leader with the dexterity of Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Peter Obi or Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State who have used the opportunities provided by their high offices to rejuvenate the hopes and aspirations of their peoples. These leaders came to the thrones with a singleminded determination to make a difference in the lives of their peoples, and in the case of Abia State, Professor Gregory Ibe as a man of ideas possess the innate ability, confidence, creative mind and global exposure to innovate on the developmental trajectory of a new Abia State.

Abia State is in the cusp of becoming a burgeoning economic behemoth if only the

right people ascend to the leadership positions, and Professor Ibe who has in the last 22 years used his innovative ideas and international contacts to help the federal government develop a skill-based educational system in the country becomes the governor, there is no doubt that he will make a huge difference in governance of the state. The mere fact that he has built a thriving university in the state will also act as an adrenalin in propelling him to build and bequeath a state to the next generation that is prosperous, secure, industrialised and educationally –advanced.

In the run-up to the Abia State governorship election in 2023, all the aspirants will be held to give account of their stewardship to the people. This stewardship should be rated in terms of investments or projects that each of them has been able to attract to the state for the upliftment of the ordinary people. It is not enough for every Dick and Harry to jump into the fray or seek to govern the state when there is no tangible project or investment he or she has helped to bring home to the people. Such aspiration can only be seen for what it is- crass opportunism.

Above all as a notable professor of entrepreneurship, and Abia State being the biggest host of industrial entrepreneurs in Africa, there is no doubt that as a governor he will lead the way for his people to take their God-given talents, knowledge, wisdom and skill a notchhigher. Simply said Professor Ibe will be in the driving seat to innovate and introduce scientific and knowledge-based entrepreneurships in Abia State, and this will instantly transform the state from a trading centre to a manufacturing hub that can power the economy of the African continent. It is possible for if a man can dream it, then it can be achieved. All what is needed is the will to do it and Professor Ibe possess this in abundance.

As an oil –producing state, if other abundant natural resources of the state are harnessed, along with the enterprising spirit of Abia people there is no doubt that the state will witness a monumental leap in her developmental strides.

So far the immense human and material potentialities of the state remain almost comatose while the state’s infrastructural deficit remains a debilitating factor in the industrial development of Abia State.

While governance is a continuum and despite the enormous challenges besetting Abia state in terms of development, credit must be given to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who since assumption of office has endeavoured to re-engineer the state in order to work for the whole Abia people, yet the point must be made that there is a need to rally round a new leadership that will take the development of Abia state a notch-higher, and Professor Gregory Ibe fits into the picture.

Nwufo writes from Awka, Anambra State

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KEVIN OJI argues that the issue of zoning in Ebonyi is not conclusive

2023 AND ZONING IN EBONYI STATE The looming state of apprehension over the character of who becomes the governor of Ebonyi State in 2023 ought to dominate discussion now in the state. Should we elect again, a character in the mould of the current governor or do we gun for a paradigm shift in style of governance and methods of relationship. This I believe should determine and shape the conversation as we inch closer to the general election next year. But unfortunately, desperate political forces appear to divert attention, stoking the fire of Zoning instead of focusing on the best to rule the state.

Meanwhile, the zoning arrangement if ever exists in Ebonyi, presupposes the

Empirical evidence and the force of history clearly establish that the issue of zoning in Ebonyi State is never conclusive presence of a charter of equity envisioned to ensure that every zone within the state is given the opportunity to take a shot at the state’s top job. It’s an idea conceived on the basis of fairness, equity and justice. But empirical evidence and the force of history clearly establish that the issue of zoning in Ebonyi State is never conclusive.

Rather it’s an artificial creation of vested powerful political interests desperate to execute narrow selfish agenda. The truth is that such idea was actually conceived by the founding fathers but was not underpinned and ratified by any Charter of Equity duly agreed upon and certified by political leaders from all the three senatorial zones of the state. The document, if ratified could have been the holy grail owned by every citizen and should act as a guide for political affirmation and interest. While the idea though not signed was muted by the founding fathers, it was not followed nor obeyed by the political gladiators.

The plank of any discussion on zoning at the founding of the state in 1996, was that the state for political convenience, be comprised of two major blocs, Abakaliki

and Afikpo blocs. The wisdom then was that if the state capital is cited within any of the geographical locations the governorship automatically be ceded to the other block. In order words, with the emergence of Abakaliki as the state capital, the governor of the state in 1999 ought to come from the Afikpo bloc. This wonderful agreement though not signed would have established a political stability in the state if obeyed by politicians.

But unfortunately, the idea was instantly killed on arrival by selfish political interests. Dr. Sam Omiyi Egwu from Abakaliki bloc (Ebonyi North) who emerged as governor was foisted on us by the military unmindful of the

mood and reasoning of the people. Still Egwu who accepted the offer though very much aware of the perceived understanding among the people never did much to respect that gentleman agreement. For clarity and emphasis, it should be understood that the emergence of subsequent governors of Ebonyi State after Egwu has never been a product of any zoning arrangement but more to political forces beyond the control of the zoning principles envisioned by the people.

It will be absolutely correct to state that zoning has never been practiced in the state since the arrival of the present democratic experience in 1999.

My view is that someone like governor Sam Egwu is not qualified to canvass for zoning right now in Ebonyi. He had such opportunity to put things right in the past but he failed because of pecuniary interest. If he has such love for equity, fairness and love for Ebonyi, he would have allowed Afikpo zone to have the first shot at the governorship of Ebonyi. Because Abakaliki, his own zone has been accepted as the capital, therefore, why refusing Afikpo zone the governorship.

Therefore if the likes of Egwu from the North who singlehandedly scuttled the lofty ideas of zoning conceived by the founding fathers are now clamouring for zoning to take place now, starting from the North, it’s simply a continuation of the selfish political interest which has kept us where we are today.

Oji writes from Abuja

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MARY THOMAS RETURNS TO HER CREATOR PAUL OBI pays tribute to Mary Thomas, a nun and first Reverend Sister of Ogoja and Abakiliki Catholic Dioceses “May we be transformed to be agents of mercy, seeking to protect, defend, and uphold the dignity of all people.”

- Sr Norman Pimentel The events all started in 1923 when Mother Sr Mary Charles Magdalene Walker was upon invitation by Bishop John Shanahan, CSSP, recruited Walker, an Irish nun of the Sister of Charity to pioneer the education of young girls in the then newly amalgamated Nigeria, within Calabar Ecclesiastical Province. In 1931, Walker would go ahead to found the Handmaid’s of the Holy Child of Jesus (HHCJ) as a congregation for the moulding, grooming and teaching of young girls as part of the evangelical mission of St Patrick’s Missionary (SPM) and other Catholic missions in the then colonial Nigeria - a British territory.

Three years after the establishment of HHCJ by Walker, Mary Thomas Bisong was born on 8th May, 1934 in Basan Community, Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State. At the time of her birth, Ogoja Province was a melting pot for Catholic missionaries.

One that has stood the test of time more than hundred years and still counting. It was in Ogoja that Mary Thomas would be influenced by Catholicism, choosing to be a religious, willing and ready to serve in the Lord’s vineyard. As part of her preparatory course for her profession, Mary Thomas enrolled in the Holy Child Primary School (Roman Catholic Mission) in Igoli - Ogoja.

After her preparatory and elementary school, she attended Teachers Preparatory Training College, Mount Carmel Convent, Ogoja, going ahead to obtain Teachers Training College (TTC) Grade II certificate.

It was at this juncture, that her aspiration to become a Nun became clearer and even resolute. In 1952, Mary Thomas would commence that process where she would be hooded in Afikpo in present day Ebonyi State. From there, she was made a postulant of the Handmaid of the Holy Child of Jesus (HHCJ), setting the pace and becoming the first Reverend Sister of both Ogoja and Abakiliki Catholic Dioceses in 1956 under the then Bishop Thomas McGetrick. If Archbishop Joseph Ukpo was the first for Ogoja as a priest; Bishop Michael Okoro the first for Abakiliki, Mary Thomas stood first for the two ecclesiastical enclaves.

With her first missionary journey being, in Edem Ekpat, present day Akwa Ibom State in 1956, Mary Thomas would become a remarkable teacher and influencer not just for the grooming and profession of religious sisters, but for the very foundation of the girlchild. She was far more than a Catholic nun, a mother susceptible to parenting and the provision of care and ultimate love.

In total, her ecclesiastical engagement and evangelical missionary journey spanned 68 years, traversing Nigeria, Cameroun, South Africa, England and Ireland. In all, she encountered about 20 postings across board.

In those 20 postings, five from 1970 to 2001 were in Handmaid of the Holy Child of Jesus Novitiates and Convent, Kakwagom, Boki. It is to her credit that the two HHCJs in Nigeria, the one in Kakwagom and that of Akwa Ibom have become historical monuments that great stars were and are born.

From a classroom teacher, a nun, novice trainer, Novitiate Mistress, principal, guardian, mentor, sister and a pace-setter, Mary Thomas was a colossus in many ways and reach. From Oron, Ezzamgbo - Ebonyi State, Dublin, Cameroun, SA, Dublin, Ireland, Mount Carmel Ogoja, Kakwagom down to Bansan, she was the epitome of go-to kind of a teacher, whose moral compass illuminates young girls and others to the cradle of well-groomed and responsible citizens. Girls were willing to learn and grow; not today’s slay queens.

Beyond being a religious sister, she had a mien that was attractive; very welcoming, and more so kind that she become a symbol of an exemplary life both for girls who wanted to be hooded and even those that took the secular path.

Mary Thomas also had a broad smile and a whispering of oscillating love from God above. Her beauty was solely for the celestial God, and so she reserved the precious for the great Elohim. It was still in such construct that many young girls even with abundant beauty took to celibacy and Novitiate. One, in Kakwagom then, just like her name suggests, she was richly blessed with beauty, but chose to follow Mary Thomas’s footsteps and embrace a nun.

When the final bell tolled in St Patrick’s Kakwagom on 19th February, 2022, closing nearly a century chapter of her life at the age of 88 years, those who benefited from her wealth of knowledge, kindness and sacrifice bear the brunt of a departed soul.

But in history, will Mary Thomas’s soul and legacy be recalled? In Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Ebonyi States, she did so well; laying the foundational grounding of the girl-child education. During her era, culture wage a war for the education, emancipation, civilisation and freedom of women; but today, Nigeria’s dome of liberty and freedom (National Assembly) ironically is waging that war and shutting the door against women - by rejecting gender bills.

As the chief beneficiaries of her magnanimity here on earth, it is incumbent on the governments of Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Ebonyi States to find a place in history and immortalize the soul of Mary Thomas for setting the path of freedom for their women folks in teaching and grooming. Ironically, the Church is so deep and differs; Mary Thomas as the provision of her ecclesiastical oath and HHCJ rules implies, will not be buried in Bansa, or Kakwagom or Ogoja, she will be laid to rest today, 15th March, 2022 in the Seat of Wisdom Chapel, Eriam Afang Obong, Akwa Ibom State where her first missionary journey started. And as St Paul’s epistle postulated, she has fought a good fight and can now adorn the crown of glory in union with her divine creator, singing in praise the numeral valour of favours and flavours. Fare Thy Well, Rev Sr Mary Thomas. Adiòs

Obi, is a journalist and an Altar Boy at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Kakwagom, Boki, Cross River State

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EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

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

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OPI NION

THE H IGHWAY CONCESSION PLAN INEC AND THE 2023 ELECTIONS The decision to leverage private sector funds in the development of infrastructure is laudable

The prompt release of the electoral calendar is commendable

he federal government’s decision to

to the Works Ministry to enable it to begin the procurement

their allotted theHighway entire Development process, more process for the 12time roadswhile under its importantly, allows candidates to emerge time and Management Initiative (HDMI). But the failureon of the to enable the resolution of pre-election issues which PPP concession of the 105-kilometre Lagos-Ibadan Expressconstitute nauseating and endless way to Bi-Courtney consortium remainslitigations a sore issue.in our elections cycle.

We appeal to the political parties to HDMI quickly study the he government believes that the would Electoral Act 2022 and the accompanying guidelines facilitate further development of Nigeria’s federal from INEC and network complyby with theminstrictly.

In the highway bringing investment to past non-adherence by the big political parties had left improve efficiency, accountability, and profitable the polity with so much tending to and make the entrepreneurship to theuncertainty, operation, management, conduct of the elections complicated for the electoral maintenance of all assets. It even projects that the initiative body.

We hope that the two major ones (the ruling would attract investments to the tune of over N1.134 trillion.

All Progressives Congress We endorse the commitment to leverage private sector funds the main in the development of critical and infrastructure suchopposition as the Peoples Democratic major highways. Currently, the federal government isParty) using will work curb festering the Road Infrastructure Development andtoRefurbishment crises due largely the Investment Tax Credit Scheme (RIDRITCS) Order ofto 2018 to subversion of their internal reconstruct the Apapa-Oworonsoki concrete road; Obajana processes. road in Kogi; Ota-Idiroko road in Ogun State; and the 21 As we seek toCompany enthrone roads for which the Nigeria National Petroleum transparent (NNPC) will advance its tax credit of N621 billion.elections where votes of the There are other roads being fundedthe with the Presidential electorate will not only be counted but would Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) that are managed T H I S D AY count, INEC should be encouraged by all the by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU critical stakeholders.

The early release of funds the SUKUK Fund. The HDMI is expected to be imple- is DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA crucial the parts conduct of a credible election.

INEC MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO mented to in two comprising Value Added Concession DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU needs to make adequate preparations for logistics, (VAC) and Unbundled Assets Approval (UAA). Apart from CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI election materials, ad development, hoc and regular manpower, infrastructure and assets thousands of jobs EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN monitoring of party primaries, voter education are expected to be created for Nigerians, as the initiativeand MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI other responsibilities.

The relatively new Bimodal THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE will open the highway economy with opportunities in Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will to be various economic activities, including fabricationhave of gantries, adequately tested in forthcoming bye-elections directional signages, towing van operations, auto repair to ensure always works.

According toetc. the new law, stations,itrest areas and emergency services, T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D the However, electoralwhile bodythe should have all the needed funds EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA federal government is employing GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, aseveral full year before the elections.

As things stand, INEC funding arrangements to salvage the highways, it is ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI isimperative already running behind schedule. that these ideas be properly monitored. A crucial DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, Considering safety challenges previous issue that needs tothe be addressed at this stage isofwhat it will ANTHONY OGEDENGBE elections, it is also time for security agencies to DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI cost commuters to use these roads. It is important to involve SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH start mapping out workable strategies that would Nigerians through their representatives in arriving at this ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI guarantee across the nation.

All this, cost. Also tosecurity be included in the agreement is the issue of in CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI addition to the new law which paves the way for the alternative routes, where available, for people who may not DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO introduction of electronic voting and transmission of TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com wish to pay toll at any time. election results will, to an extent, restore confidence and trust in the Nigerian electoral system.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY readers should be brief(150-200 words) andwith straight to the point.

Interested readers may send such letters along comments with their and may send such letters along their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com.

We also welcome opinions on topical local, andoninternational issues provided they are well-written shouldthey also not longer than (950contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments andnational opinions topical local, national and international issuesand provided arebe well-written 1000 words). be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address phone of numbers of the writer. and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be They sent should to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phoneand numbers the writer

n conformity with the provisions ofacross the new concession 12 major highways Electoral the Act, thefollows Independent nation its realisationNational that Electoral Commission (INEC)which recently budgetary allocation, hadreleased been a new timetable for the general election. the practice over2023 the years, will never be The Presidential National Assembly enough forand road development and mainelections tenance. are scheduled forbeing 25th February These roads considered for 2023 while the governorship and state Houses of the pilot Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Assembly elections will holdKano–Katsina, two weeks Onitshalater, on are Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, 11th March. Shagamu-Benin, The timetable engenders clarity in the Owerri-Aba, Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga, electoral calendar in addition to Lokoja-Benin, giving elbowEnuguroom Kano-Shuari, Potiskum-Damaturu, toPort theHarcourt, politicalIlorin-Jebba, parties, security agencies, and INEC Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta, and itself to plan for elections.

Lagos-Badagry-Seme.

Its prompt release isthe quite While we support idea of PPP in the development of commendable as it shows our road infrastructure, there are several issues that need to a becommission ready the to most important is that federal highlighted. Perhaps seize thetoo moment.

The some that belonged to state roads are many because ball is now inwere the court of by the federal government governments taken over the political parties that during the military APART need to FROM put their house era because of AND inINFRASTRUCTURE order, strengthen politics. We believe ASSETS DEVELOPMENT, their structures and some of these roads THOUSANDS OFfor JOBS begin the process the ARE can be given back nomination their EXPECTEDofTO BEcandidates.

CREATED to the states for their The NIGERIANS, current effort AS

by INEC, did before construction and the FOR THE as it also 2019 elections, is aimed at standardising the timetable as a INITIATIVE WILL OPEN THE maintenance for general elections in the countrydevelopment at all times as it strategy.

HIGHWAY ECONOMY WITH isOPPORTUNITIES done in many other democracies.

Since 1945 in the Incidentally, as Lagos IN VARIOUS United States, for instance, elections have been held State Governor, ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES on the first Tuesday of November in an election year. current Works and Our neighbour, Ghana, has similarly been doing Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola advocated this same on 7th December of anwhy election for more same than strategy, and we wonder he is notyear implementing two INEC ItChairman, Mahmood nowdecades. that he is As in charge. is also important to learnYakubu lessons put the bodyis nothing is resetting fromit,the pastelectoral because there new inthe thiselectoral arrangecalendar ment. in a manner that it can easily be predicted.

With theUmaru National Assembly rejection had of any The late Musa Yar’ Adua administration amendment to Section 84 (12)the ofInfrastructure the Electoral Act started concession by establishing 2022 which Regulatory the President claimed(ICRC) to beas“defective”, Concession Commission a regulaittory is now anyisaggrieved parties to seek redress body.left Thefor ICRC charged with the responsibility of indeveloping court. Byguidelines the newforact, the political have monitoring contractparties compliance between 4th April operation, and 3rdand June to conduct during construction, termination and their primaries submitinthe names ofcompliance. candidates supportingand government achieving such In a week later while state gave primaries have also been January last year the ICRC a certificate of compliance fixed. Campaigns for federal and state elections have

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The ball is now in the court of the political parties that need to put their house in order, strengthen their structures and begin the process for the nomination of their candidates

Letters to the Editor

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Letters to the Editor

RUSSIA AND THE RUSHLETTERS OF RASHES GODWIN SOLUDO AND THE ANAMBRA SIRENS

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OBASANJO’S GRAVE ALLEGATIONS PROHIBIT CHILDREN FROM

The economic sanctions have been similarly harsh. The United States has ith Vladimir Putin, one can never be so sure. But cut off Russia`s Central Bank from dollar transactions. The value of the ruble, with each day that goes by, with Russia inexplicably remaining in Ukraine, and the world responding with an Russia`s currency, has fallen to historic lows. With many countries poised to ecently HAWKING at his 85th Birthday celebrapile the sanctions, there is no doubt that pretty soon, Russia will find itself tions, after a star performance on unprecedented cyclone of condemnation and sanctions, Basedthe onfootball figures field, fromformer the United Nations he will of approach task of govNigerians hardly agree on appear anything. are did to materialize corruptknee mediocre corrupt deep inafter alligators.

Save forhow a modicum sympathythe forarduous the Russians President it would thatThere the Kremlin not avert its as mind Children’s Fund (UNICEF) website, 10.5ofmillion erning Anambra. so many agendas in the country, so manythe divergmediocre continues Nigeria`s halls who oppose the war, thatofis what it should be.

Olusegun Obasanjo, saidover most the to just how forcefully global response would be to itsto straddle are out of school infor Nigeria, As the global order moves towards and prosperity running officethe in highest Nigeriarate invasion of itsand smaller Easterndiversionary European neighbour. the images break ing interests so many tactics.Already, Howguaranteeing Mr. Soludo peace performs as governor would childrenpeople power. globally.should be in Jail. I was shocked when for every citizen of the world from Burundi to Burma, those whoas foment the heart: ahundreds of civilians including children have been killed with many either further solidifyallhis status a towering However, rare common ground is found in the Anambra State is counting days to the swearpercent are baffling said to bethat girls aged trouble and create conflicts be met with the harshest possible.

I heardNonetheless, that and it 47.7 is even more more critically injured.

Many and residential have Chukwuma public intellectual as wellsanctions as confirm his legacy fact that Nigerians agree thatUkrainian many ofpublic the couning inbuildings of Mr. Charles Soludo, pro- must from 5-14 years and have never setacted foot in schools, To serve as a deterrent, they and others of their ilk must be treated like lepers. none of the security establishments on the been shelled by the Russians.

The toll on the Ukrainian military has been try`s problems since independence in 1960 were fessor of economics, eminent public intellectual, as a public servant, or imperil all he achieved in but engaged in hawking. Though the country is statement.

In this, there can be no compromise. similarly heavy even as the country has ridden a wave of global support to the various positions he held before now.

Unlike engendered or exacerbated by poor leadership. erudite scholar and former governor of Nigeria`s experiencing deficit in educational infrastructure, War creates chaos and pain, subjecting the most vulnerable populations dig out a defiance long thought to be lost in ancient battle fields.

Some might accuse the former president that he is Nigerians almost unanimously agree that Central Bank as the fifth governor of the state many states in Nigeria, Anambra State is used parents, particularly in the northern region, prefer to unspeakable horrors. While the invasion of Ukraine has whipped up The casualties are mounting and there is every reason to believe that at also part of the corrupt system but he has made grave many of the men saddled with leadership at dif- since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999 to good governance and its people who have hawking for their children than being in school. The global sentiments, the response to similar situations the world over must be the end of the day, the toll will be monumental. However, one suspects that allegations that should be investigated. President Obasanjo ferent 1960 when Nigeria gained in- have themselves aforesaid of has some parents have exposed and already, the air is thick with and celebration andThereshown universal ubiquitous. can be no compromiseincreasingly whatsoever. sophisticated at thelevels end ofsince the day, a momentous message would been sent that has led Nigeria behaviors twice and he ample information more children to jeopardy. with safety, each election wouldthat settle for nothing dependence, since 1999 when it returned expectation. many ways, manto relative ForMr. the Soludo, world to a come it is imperative all those who less. war mongersand like Vladimir Putin would be left into no doubt that whenInwar than the average Nigerian, so when he makes references street hawking has huge given antecedents, democracy simply not been up to scratch. many firsts, is about to yet another firstmadeIntofact, fanbring the flames of war are account forMr. theirSoludo`s startling stupidity.

Theythe peobecomes so have blatant, so baleful, the response will be bitterofand biting. like that Undoubtedly, we must take it seriously. implications for children’s physical emotional Nigerians agree many have Anambra Statelive would him to do I believe it is tosuprememust beasforced reckon with ple theirof actions or at least under expect the certainty Apart from thethat global showofofthem support andfailed solidaritytoforNigeria`s Ukraine, power equation Baba’s statement is a clarion calland on the security well-being, particularly girls. running It, has, inhowever, tocountries, be proactive about and addressing Nigeria`s multimore them than all their previous thatwith all that do which painfor to innocent people the world over governors will institutions individuals have taken measures that resound agencies to investigate every candidate this elecly doubtful that any man histhey intellect and bring to to sexual physical exhaustion, met with the stiffest punishments possible. in Russia with dire consequences. Many suspect that although Russia has has becomebe tion. Iexposed believe ifthem we are haveabuse, good governance, we must faceted problems. combined including the excellent Mr. Peter Obi. background either governor or presaccidents, deaths, malnourishment, drug and Admittedly, this is a tall order for an international order which continues kept a straight face, it must be secretly counting the cost of its invasion of its have good leaders and the first step is in understanding Whenever elections come out, the hope which ident in Nigeria since the country returned to The expectations of the people and how Mr. abuse, andWe prostitution. haveledbeen to blow hot and cold at will. But there is encouragement to be drawnwill from with many suppressed more sanctions yet to come. what substance we are dealing with. can’t have Many a country by Soludo navigates the expectations define his isneighbor always so brutally is that Nigerians democracy in 1999. victims of rape, kidnapping, ritual killing,and and the way in which Russia despite its vast energy riches and nuclear weapons Football governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA, have banned the Russian characters hitherto questioned by the past president can get it right by electing leaders who can hold Mr. Soludo`s victory in the November 6, 2021 legacy. other happened. abuses. has faced a wave of sanction after sanction since the monumental folly of its national team and Russian clubs from all their competitions until further we alltrafficking, keep quietamong like nothing their own when leadership becomes tough as it is polls was a victory of fortitude over several painleaders sent the first armoured tank over its border with Ukraine. notice. Some sporting organizations have scrambled to disassociate themselves We all remember that investigations carried out during always wont to be in Nigeria.

Ukasha Rabiu Magama, failures.

Having persevered to those allowdictators Anam-who hide under supposed democracies to Kene Obiezu, Perhaps, from Moscow while some individual athletes have had ful some of the strongest the Presidential campaign between Hillary Clinton and Toro, Bauchi State keneobiezu@gmail.com So far, this has however always largely failed bra voters elect him, it will be interesting see with a lash of scorpions will themselves treat other sovereignto countries be Donald Trump. We must build a country with strong words possible for Vladimir Putin and his horde of Russian attackers. It is dissuaded by a rush of rashes. institutions to build a strong democracy. before their own eyes that Russia long suspected to be the last vestige of the Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com Soviet Union is swiftly becoming a pariah.

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LAWYER TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022

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WEEKLY PULLOUT

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MRS FUNKE ADEKOYA, SAN

‘I Will Now Focus on Justice Sector Reform’

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IN THIS EDITION

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Propriety of AGF Advising NonCompliance with Court Decisions

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Page IV

cus o F w o N l l i ‘I W r o t c e S e c i t s u on J Reform’ QUOTABLES There’s no sincerity in the constitutional amendments…..Those making the amendments, are the beneficiaries of the fraud in the Constitution.’ - Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Lawyer, Elder-statesman, Leader of Afenifere Pan-Yoruba Group We need to get good men in politics and in positions where they will need to stand up, because the issue of the administration of justice is too important to be left to only Judges or Lawyers; because, at the end of the day, this interferes with everyday life.’ - Chijioke Okoli, SAN

‘Chapter II of 1999 Constitution Vital to Nigerian Progress’, Femi Falana Page V

Company Ordered to Pay N7.9m to Staff for Wrongful Termination Page V

LAWYER

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022

Umahi: Between Abuse and Law Èlèkè Ebu’ (Cheeks that Abuse) hile I align myself with my professional body, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), on its admonition of Governor Umahi as a result of his undesirable remarks about Inyang Ekwo J. and the judgement he handed down which, inter alia, removed Umahi and his Deputy from office on account of their defection from PDP to APC, I can't say that I am particularly surprised at his outburst. Governor Umahi has obviously learnt well from the feet of the ‘masters’, his fellow APC members/ Government spokespeople who have a penchant for raining abuses and invectives on, and making uncomplimentary remarks about those who criticise their Government, or make statements that do not go down well with them.

I recall when Presidential spokeswoman, Lauretta Onochie, referred to Nigerians as 'mannerless', because many demanded to know the type of sickness that the President was suffering from when he was away in the UK for medical tourism for about 150 days, despite the fact that the Freedom of Information Act gives Nigerians the right to have their question answered. Similarly, the Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, roundly insulted CNN calling their journalism poor and one-sided, because of the role CNN played in uncovering and revealing the truth that the Army had been untruthful, and that indeed, some of the bullets fired by the soldiers during the unfortunate #EndSARS Lekki Tollgate incident of October 20, 2020, were in fact, real, live bullets, and not all blanks as the Army had claimed.

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An Unsound Judgement Be that as it may, the best way to politely express dissatisfaction with a judgement, or describe a judgement that may leave something or the other to be desired, is to state that you are going on appeal; such judgement is not sound, or that it is perverse or was reached ‘per incuriam’. And, the best step to take as a dissatisfied litigant in such a situation, is to immediately seek a stay of execution of the judgement and go on appeal, instead of insulting and denigrating the Judge and the Judiciary.

That is why there is an appeal process in the court system, in the first place. It is a recognition that litigants may not always be satisfied with the court’s decision, and may want to seek further redress until all available opportunities are exhausted upon the final decision of the highest court of the land (since it is trite that, there must be an end to litigation).

The Position of Things Immunity from Suit and Legal Process Firstly, and most importantly, Section 308(1) & (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2018 )(the Constitution) prohibits the institution of civil or criminal proceedings against the executive, that is, President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor in their personal capacities during their tenure of office. See the case of Global Excellence Communications Ltd & Ors v Donald Duke 2007 LPELR-1323 (SC). It goes without saying therefore, that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear this matter involving Governor Umahi and his Deputy, as they enjoy immunity from such suit and legal process in their personal capacities, as this matter was instituted in.

See the case of Madukuolu v Nkemdilim 1962 2 SCNLR 341.

It is trite that, where a court lacks jurisdiction (‘life blood’ of a case) to hear a matter, no matter how well tried the case is, the proceedings therein to the extent of the court’s lack of jurisdiction, are null and void ab initio.

Umahi’s Lawyers should simply have filed a notice of preliminary objection based on lack of jurisdiction, alongside the defence (they probably did); and the matter should have been dismissed accordingly. If the Lawyers did not raise the issue of jurisdiction, the Judge could have done so ‘suo motu’. However, since the court decided to hear the case on its merits, Umahi and his Deputy can go on appeal.

Right of Appeal/Judicial Review Assuming that the court did have jurisdiction

done about it; and much to the chagrin of law abiding citizens, the then Chief Judge of the Kogi State, late Hon. Justice Nasiru Ajanah was constrained to swear in Edward Onoja as Achuba’s replacement after his impeachment by the Kogi State Assembly.

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive.com onikepob@yahoo.com Twitter: @TheAdvocate

The

Advocate “It goes without saying therefore, that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear this matter involving Governor Umahi and his Deputy, as they enjoy immunity from such suit and legal process in their personal capacities, as this matter was instituted in” to entertain the suit against the Governor and his Deputy (which it didn’t), there are obviously grounds on which a dissatisfied litigant can file an appeal to a higher court. In Iteogu v LPDC 2018 LPELR-43845 (SC), the Apex Court stated three situations in which it could review its own judgement; these are also grounds on which an appeal can be filed to a higher court amongst others: 1) when the judgement was reached per incuriam; 2) when the judgement is erroneous in law; or 3) where the previous judgement is contrary to public policy or occasions a miscarriage of justice or perpetuates injustice. In the case of Adegoke Motors Ltd & Anor v Dr Babatunde Adesanya & Anor 1989 3 N.W.L.R. Part 109 Page 250 at 274, in the now famous words of Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa JSC (of blessed memory), he admitted that judgements may not always be apoditic when he stated thus about the Supreme Court, the highest court of the land: "We are final not because we are infallible; rather, we are infallible because we are final". Ekwo J. is not infalliable, and luckily, his decision is not final!

to gross misconduct". Which provision of the Constitution did Governor Umahi and his Deputy breach by cross-carpeting?

Sections 68 (1)(g) & 109 (1)(g) provide only for the vacation of seats for the members of the Federal and State Legislative Houses, if they got elected on the platform of one party and thereafter defect to another, subject to certain provisos; so, while it may be easy to make a case for the vacation of seats of the members of the Ebonyi House of Assembly who chose to defect from PDP and follow Governor Umahi and his Deputy to APC, asserting that they have breached Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution, there is no reason in law to say the same about Governor Umahi and his Deputy, for defecting from PDP to APC; at least, I am yet to find one.

In any event, the issue of defection of the President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor was settled in the case of AGF v Atiku Abubakar 2007 10 N.W.LR. Part 1041 Page 1 at 29.

Also see the case of NEPA v Ososanya SC.17/2002 2004 5 N.W.L.R. Part 867 Page 601 at 624 on perverse judgements.

Removal of a Governor or Deputy Section 188 of the Constitution provides for the circumstances in which the Governor of a State or Deputy can be removed from office, and the process that must be followed in so doing; specifically the only reason stated therein, is gross misconduct (Section 188(2)(b) of the Constitution) which is clearly defined in Section 188(11) of the Constitution as "a grave violation or breach of the provisions of the Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion of the House of Assembly

Further Lack of Jurisdiction Additionally, apart from Section 308, in the matter of the removal of a Governor or Deputy (by the Panel that reports to the House of Assembly, or the House of Assembly itself), Section 188(10) clearly ousts the jurisdiction of the court. This was why in the case of the impeachment of the erstwhile Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mr Simon Achuba, even though the process adopted by the Panel and the Kogi State House of Assembly was clearly faulty, nothing could really be

Conclusion From the foregoing, the point to note is that the court cannot purport to remove Governor Umahi and his Deputy in these circumstances; they cannot be sued, the Constitution ousts the jurisdiction of the court in this matter, and they can only be impeached by the House of Assembly.

Therefore, it is safe to say that any court decision that purports to remove a Governor or Deputy from office (President or Vice President - see Section 143(2)(b), (10) & 11 of the Constitution) by reason of defection from the party that sponsored their candidature to another, can be said to have been reached ‘per incuriam', that is, without due regard to the law, in this case, the Constitution, and the facts; and such judgement can be said to be erroneous in law. To be honest, such a decision ticks all the boxes enumerated in Iteogu v LPDC (Supra), and will hopefully be set aside on appeal.

Section 1(1) of the Constitution provides for the supremacy of the grundnorm and its bindingness on all persons and authorities in Nigeria, including the courts. No matter how lovely the principle behind Ekwo J.’s decision is, as stated by Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, it is unconstitutional. It is trite that, you cannot build judicial legislation based on unconstitutionality. Furthermore, the fact that the same restriction placed on the Legislature with regard to cross-carpeting is not placed on the Executive, means that the drafters of the Constitution did not mean for there to be such impediment for the Executive (expressio unios exclusio alterius - to express one is to exclude others). It is also trite that the provisions of the Constitution can only be added to or subtracted from by means of constitutional amendment, the process of which is provided for in Section 9 of the said Constitution. And, for those who say Governor Umahi’s certificate of return states that he is of the PDP, and now, he’s no longer of the PDP, so what? He was of the PDP at the time of the election. He was a member of the PDP and was sponsored by the PDP for that election, in fulfilment of Section 177(c) of the Constitution. The certificate of return, which simply evidences the fact that he won the election fair and square, does not insist that he must stay in the party that sponsored him for the election!

Dear Editor Re: The Discrimination Women Urgently Need Dear Editor, It is so disheartening that in 2022, the women of Nigeria are asking for affirmative action to be able to do what comes naturally to them.

With women at the helm of affairs, nurturing, managing and being the unwavering ‘Iroko’ tree, Nigeria would be in a better place. What Honourable Kazaure didn't want to say is that, he knows Nnena and her colleagues in NASS are more intelligent and coordinated than most of the men in NASS are, and that was a threat to their existence. Therefore, they have to keep the women out, even though he admitted the ‘womens’ votes got them in there. That is the reason they don't want women in positions of power, because women are more articulate and effective. Even though we have had some bad eggs, nonetheless, women will be more effective in governance.

The day is coming, wether they like it or not, and they will just have to put their egos aside and swallow their pride, because it’s for the good of us all, not individuals. But, do they really care for the good of Nigeria or for themselves? Big question.

M.M.T., London, UK Dear Editor,

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi

I love the correlation drawn with the Quota system. Well done.

F. A.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Propriety of AGF Advising NonCompliance with Court Decisions Facts The PDP held primary elections to determine its candidate for the Uyo Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, for the 2007 general election. The 1st Respondent emerged the winner and was duly presented to INEC as the party’s candidate. A suit was instituted, when the 1st Respondent’s name was substituted with the name of another candidate. The Court of Appeal delivered judgement in favour of the 1st Respondent and held that the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) should set up a new Tribunal to hear the 1st Respondent’s Petition. The Appellant, who was the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), wrote to the PCA urging His Lordship not to comply with the judgement. The PCA however, went ahead to comply with the order of court and set up the Panel.

The new Panel ordered that the 1st Respondent be sworn into the House of Representatives. An appeal against the decision of the Panel was unsuccessful. The Appellant, once more, wrote to the INEC Chairman and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, advising them not to obey the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which he described as “an obvious desecration of the institution of the judiciary.” Consequently, the 1st Respondent was neither issued with his Certificate of Return, nor sworn into office. The 1st Respondent, therefore, instituted an action at the Federal High Court against the Appellant and 2nd Respondent (personally, and in his capacity as the AGF). The learned trial Judge, entered judgement in favour of the 1st Respondent. The Appellant’s appeal to the Court of Appeal was unsuccessful. Hence, the further appeal to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination 1. “Whether the Court of Appeal was right to hold that the Appellant was granted fair hearing and thereby, affirming the judgement of the trial court, when the entire proceedings was tainted and vitiated by the non-service of the Originating Summons and subsequent hearing notices on the Appellant.

2. Whether the Court of Appeal was right to affirm the order of the trial court granting reliefs not claimed by the 1st Respondent against the Appellant.

3. Whether the Court below was right to hold that the trial court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit relating to an alleged breach by the Appellant of his Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office, and the outcome of which had been overtaken by events.

4. Whether Exhibits B, C, D being uncertified photocopies of Public Documents were admissible in evidence, having regard to Section 97, 109, 111 and 112 of the Evidence Act 5. Whether the Court of Appeal was right in affirming the order of the trial court awarding exemplary damages in the sum of N50 million against the Appellant and 2nd Respondent, contrary to the legal principles and factors governing award of damages.

The court, however, considered issues 1, 3 and 4 first, before issues 2 and 5.

Arguments Submitting on issue one, Counsel for the Appellant argued that service of originating processes is fundamental to adjudication, and where there is no evidence of service, the court would have no jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Counsel submitted that service of the Originating Summons was effected on the office of the 2nd Respondent in Abuja, and that there is no document in the record evidencing proof of service on the Appellant.

He posited that the Appellant having been sued in his personal capacity, was entitled to be served personally, and that given the reliefs sought and the orders made by the trial Judge, the Appellant ought to have been given the opportunity of fair hearing as envisaged by Section 36(1) of the Constitution. In response, counsel for the 1st Respondent submitted that from the record, the Appellant was duly served with the Originating Summons and that he entered appearance through a counsel in his office. He argued that the best evidence of a party’s notice of commencement of an action against him, is his appearance in court either personally or through his counsel. He submitted that although service of process is fundamental to the jurisdiction of the court, non-service or improper service can be waived by a Defendant who may voluntarily submit to the jurisdiction of the court and take part in the proceedings till judgement. He contended that having submitted to the jurisdiction of the court by entering appearance and being represented by counsel, the Appellant is estopped from complaining about non-service and denial of a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

On issue three, counsel contended on behalf of the Appellant that the main complaint before the trial court was that the Appellant had acted in breach of his Oath of Office as prescribed by Section 149 of the Constitution. Counsel submitted that there is nothing in Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution, that confers jurisdiction on the Federal High Court to adjudicate on a matter involving breach of the Code of Conduct by any public officer. He submitted that the orders made preventing the Appellant from holding any public office

Honourable Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 10th day of December, 2021 Before Their Lordships Mary Ukaego Peter- Odili Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun Muhammed Lawal Garba Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Emmanuel Akomaye Agim Justices, Supreme Court SC. 939/2015 Between Michael K. Aondoakaa SAN

Appellant And

1.

2.

Emmanuel Bassey Obot Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice

Respondents

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, JSC) in Nigeria were made without jurisdiction, and that the trial court condemned the Appellant to a far more severe punishment than contemplated by the Constitution. Reacting to the submissions, counsel for the 1st Respondent argued that the trial court is vested with the necessary jurisdiction to entertain the suit by virtue of Section 251(1) of the 1999 Constitution, because the subject-matter relates to an act of an officer of the Federal Government. He submitted that the issue in contention was whether it was not unbecoming of the Chief Law Officer of the Federation to use the status of his office to urge individuals and institutions not to obey the judgement of the Court of Appeal, particularly having regard to the fact that the judgement of the Court of Appeal was final as regards the Election Petition in issue.

Submitting on the fourth issue, learned counsel for the Appellant argued that the lower court was wrong when it admitted uncertified photocopies of public documents attached to the affidavit before the court, and in contravention of Sections 102, 104, 105 and 106 of the Evidence Act. Conversely, counsel submitted for the 1st Respondent that once a document is found to be relevant and admissible, the probative value to be attached to it is a different matter entirely, and whereas in this case, the content of the documents are not in dispute, they need not be certified. Assuming without conceding that the documents were inadmissible, counsel contended the judgement was based on the affidavit evidence of the 1st Respondent which stood uncontroverted, and the court was entitled to treat the uncontroverted facts as true and act upon them, provided they are not

“……it was indeed, highly reprehensible for the Chief Law Officer of the Federation to counsel disobedience to any judgement at all, let alone a judgement from which there is no further right of appeal”

frivolous, contrary to reason or unsupported by documents where such is required.

Regarding the second issue, counsel for the Appellant argued that the Court of Appeal erred in affirming reliefs granted by the trial court, which were not claimed by the 1st Respondent - EKPENYONG v NYONG (1975) 2 SC 71. He contended that the trial Judge expanded the boundaries of the litigation in this case by making an order referring the Appellant to the NBA for appropriate disciplinary action, and making a declaration that he abused the powers conferred on him by Section 150(1) of the 1999 Constitution and acted in breach of Section 149 thereof. Reacting to the submissions, counsel argued for the 1st Respondent that the court is entitled to make consequential orders which give effect and meaning to the judgement, and that they must be incidental to and flow directly from the relief sought in the suit. He posited that the court bears both the moral and constitutional duty, to condemn and reprimand unscrupulous and fraudulent characters in the strongest possible terms.

On the fifth issue the Appellant submitted that the trial Judge awarded exemplary damages against the Appellant and the 2nd Respondent, whereas the 1st Respondent did not seek this specie of damages. Counsel submitted that the trial court acted upon a wrong principle of law, in making the award. Responding to the submission, counsel for the 1st Respondent submitted that the primary objective of an award of damages is to compensate the Plaintiff for the harm done to him; while a secondary objective is to punish the Defendant for inflicting that harm. Counsel submitted that exemplary damages would come into play where the Defendant’s conduct is sufficiently outrageous to merit punishment, as in this case.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the first issue, the Supreme Court reiterated the settled principle of law that service of an originating process on a named party, who ought to be served, is an indispensable aspect of any adjudication; it goes to the root of the court’s competence and jurisdiction to entertain the suit - KIDA v OGUNMOLA (2006) 13 NWLR (Pt. 997) 377. The court

noted that the circumstances of the instant appeal are somewhat unique, because at the time the action was instituted the Appellant occupied the office of the AGF. He was sued in his official capacity as AGF, and in his personal capacity as the 2nd Defendant. It is not in dispute that the Originating Summons was duly served on the office of the AGF, and a motion filed by Mrs Akpan of counsel, sought an order for extension of time for the 1st and 2nd Defendant to file their Memorandum of Appearance out of time and a deeming order. Attached to the motion was an affidavit deposed to by the same person admitting that the processes were duly served on her client, and explaining the reason for the delay in filing. Having admitted service of the originating processes on both parties, it no longer lies in the mouth of the Appellant to contend that he was not served. Though counsel on record for the Appellant and the 2nd Respondent applied orally to withdraw her appearance in the matter, the court directed her to comply with Order 9 Rule 36(1) and (2) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 which requires the legal practitioner to serve every party to the cause the notice. Relying on the authority of MAGNA MARITIME LTD v OTEJU (2005) NSCQR (Pt. 1) 295 at 317, it was held that “a court of law can indulge a party only within the confines of its rules. … Where Rules of Court in line with the fair hearing principles order a specific conduct on the part of parties, the Court has a duty to enforce the rules. In such a situation, a defence of fair hearing is not available to the aggrieved party, because the rule itself has complied with fair hearing.” Thus, the court found that the allegation of breach of fair hearing is unfounded.

On issue three, the Apex Court referred to the issues and reliefs sought by the 1st Respondent, which are purely civil. Proceedings before the Code of Conduct Tribunal are quasi-criminal and guided by the Criminal Procedure Code or Act (now Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015). Given the provisions of Section 251(1) (r) of the 1999 Constitution, the court held that the suit was properly commenced before the Federal High Court, to assuage an injury done to a private citizen as a result of the administrative action of the Appellant and the 2nd Respondent. The fact that the Appellant ceased to hold office as the AGF, does not alter the fact that a cause of action was disclosed.

In resolving issue four, the Supreme Court held that a trial conducted based on an Originating Summons is by affidavit evidence and the averments in an affidavit, not challenged are deemed admitted, and the court is entitled to act on them. Any objection to documents attached to the supporting affidavit, could only be raised at the hearing of the suit. In this instance however, since the Appellant did not raise an objection during trial, the affidavit and the documents attached thereto stood unchallenged and uncontroverted, and the trial court was entitled to rely on them.

On issue two, Their Lordships held that the declarations made by the lower court were in line with the reliefs sought, and the aspects of the order complained of are in the nature of consequential orders naturally flowing from the declarations made and are intended to give effect to the judgement. The court relied on U.O.O. NIGERIA PLC v MR MARIBE OKAFOR & ORS (2020) (SC) and Section 150(1), Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution. Section 287(2) provides that “The decisions of the Court of Appeal shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by the Courts with subordinate jurisdiction to the Court of Appeal.” The court noted that it was indeed, highly reprehensible for the Chief Law Officer of the Federation to counsel disobedience to any judgement at all, let alone a judgement from which there is no further right of appeal. The Supreme Court also affirmed the decision of the court below, that the order made, though not specifically asked for, is a consequential order flowing naturally from the resolution of the questions for determination in the 1st Respondent’s favour and the grant of his reliefs. The court has a duty to use its powers to do justice, in the case where an attempt to subvert the administration of justice has occurred. It was within the court’s power to make a consequential order referring the Appellant to the NBA for disciplinary action, having regard to his condemnable conduct which is against the ethics of the profession and in breach of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2007.

Resolving the fifth issue, the Supreme Court held that its decision in NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL OF NIGERIA v PATRICK OGU & ANOR (2019) LPELR-53899 (SC) is apt here. The court held that pleadings in this case supported the award of exemplary damages against the Defendants, having established unconstitutional acts committed by the writing of letters to the President of the Court of Appeal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of INEC, advising them to disregard orders made by the Court of Appeal, in flagrant breach of Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution which the Appellant swore to uphold, and Section 246(3) thereof.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Okon N. Efut with Victor Ogbonna, John Bosco Bakong and Jacob M. Jacob-Duke for the Appellant.

Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN with Itibe Nwoko and O.D. Pius for the 1st Respondent.

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

V

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022

NEWS

L-R: Executive Secretary, NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, SAN; NBA President, Olumide Akpata; Hon. Justice Helen Ogunwumiju JSC; Chairman, House of Reps Committee on Judiciary, Hon. Luke Onofiok and Chairman, SPIDEL, Monday Ubani

Hon. Justice Nelson Ogbuanya

Company Ordered to Pay N7.9m to Staff for Wrongful Termination Stories by Steve Aya An oil and gas services company, ABNL Limited has been ordered by the National Industrial Court, Port Harcourt Division to pay its former staff, Miss Yemi Edokpayi, the sum of N7,920,000 for wrongful termination of her employment.

Handing down the judgement, Hon. Justice Nelson Ogbuanya held that the sum represents the outstanding salaries and entitlements for the period of her indefinite suspension from January 8, 2015 to December 11, 2020, being a period of six years.

His Lordship further held thus: ‘Accordingly, Relief (5) succeeds, to the extent that the sum of N2 million is hereby awarded against the Defendant in favour of the Claimant as general damages for acts constituting unfair labour practice by keeping the Claimant tied to its employment duties,

even while placed on an indefinite suspension without pay for six years.

I so hold’.

The case with Suit No: NICN/PHC/146/2020 was commenced by the Claimant Ms Edokpayi against the Defendant, ABNL Limited in 2020. The Claimant who served as the Office Manager with the Defendant Company commenced the suit against the Defendant, basically seeking recovery of arrears of salaries during her indefinite suspension and for her to be recalled back to office, and paid damages for psychological trauma suffered as a result of the indefinite suspension without pay.

In the Statement of Claim, the Claimant stated that on January 7, 2015 she was placed on indefinite suspension.

His Lordship further ordered the Defendant to pay the Claimant, the sum of N110, 000.00, being

payment of one month’s salary in lieu of notice for termination of the employment.

And the sum of N2 million was also awarded against the Defendant in favour of the Claimant as

general damages for acts constituting unfair labour practice, by keeping the Claimant tied to its employ-

ment duties even while placed on an indefinite suspension without pay for six years.

‘Chapter II of 1999 Constitution Vital to Nigerian Progress’, Femi Falana The second chapter of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution has been described as a very vital tool that must be used

by Nigerians, to demand for both infrastructural and administrative change from our leaders.

This was the view of Mr Femi Falana, during at the town hall meeting organised

by Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) in Lagos.

Speaking under the theme “Justiciability of Chapter II of 1999 Constitution: Pragmatic Measures for Government’s Accountability”, Falana who was one of the keynote speakers said that this chapter was not there because of the fear of the minorities, but it is because the British inserted it

in the Constitution of Ghana and India as the Bill of Rights for its citizens to demand from their leaders the right type of governance.

The Senior Advocate maintained that if a politician has sworn by the Constitution to serve the nation, then he or she is bound by Chapter II to deliver what he/she promised the people.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission Mr. Anthony Ojukwu, SAN, who is also one of the keynote speakers maintained that many Nigerians do not know their rights as prescribed in Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution.

He said that Nigerians must demand for their rights as given to them in Chapter II

and that process is certain when elements of fear are removed, because only the Police can come between them and their leaders.

In his welcome address the host of the event and Chairman of SPIDEL, Dr Monday Ubani, said that the 1999 Constitution made elaborate provisions for Nigerians and their socio-economic rights and benefits; unfortunately, this rights have been stripped away.

He further stated that “nothing will be alright with Chapter IV of the Constitution, if Chapter II is not well, that let every right that is a right be enforced”.

The Chief Host of the event and President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olumide Akpata questioned

the theory of government at all level, while Nigerians are suffering from lack of basic amenities. He added that ignorance of Chapter II has been responsible for all the negative developmental indices that the country has got of recent, and with the elections of 2023 fast approaching, the time has come to educate Nigerians on the provisions of Chapter II. The town hall meeting had Hon. Justice Helen M. Ogunwumiju of the Supreme Court as Chair, and the Chief Judge of Abia State, Hon. Justice Onuoha Ogwe, Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director at SERAP, Mr Sulaiman Usman, SAN, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Sokoto State in the panel of discussants.

N2 billion Money Laundering: Stephen Oronsaye Opens Defence Mr Stephen Oronsaye, a former Head of Service of the Federation, has informed Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, that EFCC conducted a shoddy investigation before the charge was entered against him.

He made this known as he opened his defence to the N2 billion money laundering charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Oronsaye further accused the anti-graft agency of deliberately witch-hunting him, following a presentation he made before the National

Assembly while he was still in office.

He told the court that he ran into trouble after he defended an Executive Bill on the EFCC, at a point when the Commission itself mounted strong opposition against the said Bill.

According to him, shortly after he returned to his office at the end of his presentation at NASS, the anti-graft agency summoned him to its office.

He told the court that upon his arrival at the EFCC office on December 7, 2013, he was confronted with all mannered of allegations.

Oronsaye also told the

#upjudicialsalaries

court that the EFCC had yet to show him a copy of the petition that led to his trial.

The Federation Ex-HoS, while enumerating some of the services he rendered to the nation, recalled that he had, at a time, headed five special presidential committees.

He insisted that throughout his tenure in office, he neither signed any payment mandate, nor had any dealings with the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP. “Contrary to EFCC allegation against me, only staff of the Accountant-General of the Federation has power to sign payment mandate”, he

added.

While denying the allegation that he had on several

occasions transferred public funds from Union Bank to Unity Bank, the former HoS,

also refuted the claim that he operated 66 different bank accounts.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Adenike Coker J; Oluwatoyin Ipaye J; President, NAWJN, Jummai Sankey JCA; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat;Vice President, NAWJN, T.A. Oyekan-Abdullahi J; Nicol-Clay J; Iyabo Oshodi J; and Moyo Onigbanjo, SAN at the 1st International Day of Women Judges organised by the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJN) on March 10, 2022 at the Lagos Continental Hotel,Victoria Island

While the Technical Committee on Judicial Remuneration recognises the enormity of the economic challenges facing the nation, there is however, now a compelling need to increase judicial salaries. It is our view that judicial salaries must be set at a comparatively high public-service level, in order to remove both the temptation to corruption and public contemplation of the possibility of such temptation

VI

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

Abba Kyari and the Tale of Two Criminal Jurisdictions (Part 2) When a Fugitive Criminal May Not be Surrendered Introduction Last week, we commenced our discourse on this festering matter. Our conclusion is that, Abba Kyari cannot be extradited to the US for as long as his trial is pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Let us see some circumstances under which a citizen of Nigeria, may not be surrendered for the purpose of extradition.

A fugitive criminal shall also not be surrendered, if the Attorney-General (AG) or a court dealing with the case is satisfied that, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere, such fugitive has been convicted of the offence for which his surrender is sought; or has been acquitted thereof, and that, he is not unlawfully at large.

Similarly, a fugitive criminal shall also not be surrendered, if criminal proceedings are pending against him in Nigeria for the offence for which his surrender is sought.

In the same vein, by virtue Section 3(6) of the Act, a fugitive who has been charged with an offence under the laws of Nigeria or any part thereof, not being the offence for which his surrender is sought, or who is serving a sentence imposed in respect of any such offence by a court in Nigeria, shall not be surrendered until such time as he has been discharged whether by acquittal: or on the expiration of his sentence or otherwise.

The last two scenarios mentioned above, are apposite in Abba Kyari’s case. He is now standing trial under the NDLEA criminal charge.

The extradition request must therefore, await the outcome of this trial by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

A fugitive criminal shall also not be surrendered to any country, unless the AG is satisfied that provision is made by the law of that country, or that special arrangements have been made, such that, so long as the fugitive has not had a reasonable opportunity of returning to Nigeria, he will not be detained or tried in that country for any offence committed before his surrender other than any extradition offence which may be proved by the facts on which his surrender is granted.

Has Abubakar Malami ensured this? Let him tell Nigerians if the US may not try Abba Kyari for another offence, different from his alleged offence with Hushpuppi.

The Extradition Hearing If at the end of 30 days from the day of the arrest, no order is received from the AG, the fugitive offender must be released. There must be a hearing, in order to determine if the fugitive ought to be extradited or otherwise.

The Magistrate is free to receive evidence that proves that the offence for which the fugitive is wanted is not an extradition offence; or any evidence that proves that his extradition is prohibited either under the Act or under any relevant extradition agreement. The Court in Udeozor v FRN, (Supra), in stating the purpose of a hearing in extradition proceedings held thus: “The purpose of a hearing which is in fact purely at the discretion of the Attorney-General, is not to ask the fugitive criminal if he desires to be extradited.

That will be ridiculous. The purpose is to determine whether the requisition made shows sufficient cause to warrant extradition... to hold otherwise will be ridiculous…… “The purpose of the hearing

Abba Kyari

in a trial court upon the application Hon. Attorney-General, is not for the trial of the fugitive criminal. Rather, it is to invoke the exercise of the judicial powers of the court over the fugitive accused, as the court would over an accused person standing trial before it...”.

How Extradition Request is Made By virtue of Section 6(1) of the Extradition Act of Nigeria, a request for the surrender of a fugitive criminal in Nigeria must be made in writing to the AGF by a diplomatic representative of the requesting State, and this should be accompanied by a duly authenticated warrant of arrest in the case of a fugitive criminal accused of an extraditable offence; and where the fugitive has been convicted of an extraditable offence, the written request must be accompanied by certificate of conviction issued in the requesting country. It should be noted that, the essence of attaching a warrant of arrest or a certificate of conviction is to prevent frivolous requests that have no basis supporting the request.

It is also important, as it helps to prove that there exist sufficient facts necessitating the request for extradition. Where an extradition request has been received by the AG, it is required that on the basis of the information available to him, he is obliged to decide if the surrender is precluded by any of the provisions of Section 3(1) to (8) for the refusal of the extradition request. The Magistrate, under section 8 has powers to remand the fugitive, or grant him bail; or cancel a warrant and release a fugitive; as if he was trying the fugitive for an offence committed within his jurisdiction.

Consequently, if the surrender of a fugitive criminal is not precluded by the provisions of that section, he is to inform a Magistrate that an extradition request has been received by him and thus, require the Magistrate to deal with the case in accordance with the provisions of the Act. However, where the extradition of a fugitive criminal is precluded by the provisions of Section 3(1) to (7), then he need not inform the Magistrate of the receipt of any such request.

From the above provisions, it is fundamental to note that the authority conferred on

“…. the AGF appears to be stalling, tacitly, the extradition of Abba Kyari, by allowing or consenting to the prosecution of Kyari for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking simultaneously as the pendency of an application for his extradition by the same AG”

the AG to determine if an application is competent in relation to Section 3, cannot be contested. It is only when the request has been transferred to the Magistrate that the judicial process of inquiring into the case and the competence of the request can be begun. However, where the AG decides that the request is precluded

by Section 3, then nothing can be done about it. It must be reiterated that in the process of extradition, the powers of the AG are wide; but limited once he approaches a Magistrate, who thereby become dominus litis.

The Pending NDLEA Charge and Abba Kyari: The Nexus Abba Kyari NDLEA’s pending charge before the Federal High Court has definitely put the whole extradition process on hold, if the court decides to remand him pending the determination of the suit against him.

It is also important to emphasise that while the matter is pending in court, Abba Kyari is presumed innocent until proven guilty as contained in Section 36 (5).

This is also sanctioned by Article 1(1) of the UDHR, 1948; Article 14 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, 1966; and Article 7(b) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Cap A9, LFN, 2004. Presumption of innocence is the golden thread that runs through our criminal justice system. See the case of The King v Richardson & Anor (1985) Leach 387; Woolmington v DPP (1935) AC- 462; Ali v. State (2012) 190 NWLR (Pt 1309) 642.

Even if the Federal High Court were to give its judgement against Abba Kyari, he is still entitled to appeal such a judgement at the Court of Appeal, and even further to the Supreme Court.

Section 3(6) of the Extradition Act makes it clear that a fugitive criminal who has been charged with an offence under the law of Nigeria or any part thereof, not being the offence for which his surrender is sought, shall not be surrendered until such time as he has been discharged, whether by acquittal or on the expiration of his sentence or otherwise. As stated above, the NDLEA has filed an eightcount charge against Abba Kyari and six others for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking, barely 24 hours after the AGF filed an application for the extradition of Kyari. It is important to note that AGF Abubakar Malami, SAN, is also the Minister of Justice. By virtue of Section 2(1) (f) of the NDLEA ACT, the Federal Ministry of Justice, headed by Abubakar Malami, SAN, has a representative in

the Board/composition of the NDLEA. So, now that he is aware of the NDLEA charge, can the Chief Law Officer of the Federation consent to the prosecution of someone whose application for extradition is pending? What is the legal implication of this?

The case of A.G. FED v JONES (2017) LPELR-43551(CA), is worth considering.

Though, the case was decided under Section 3(5) of the Extradition Act, some key observations made by the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal are worth noting.

The Appellant (A.G. Fed) had filed an application before the trial court, seeking to extradite the Respondent on a diplomatic request from the United States of America on indictment, in Case No.11-CR0299, filed on April 28, 2011, for the offences of conspiracy to commit wired fraud and conspiracy to commit identity theft, all in violation of US laws. The Application was duly supported by an affidavit and exhibits, which inter alia, included a certified true copy of the indictment issued against the Respondent; certified true copy of the warrant of arrest issued by the US District Court for the arrest of the Respondent; and a photograph of the Respondent. The Respondent contested the proceedings, contending that the application was incompetent because as at the time of the application, there was an existing charge at the Akure High Court on charges similar to those he was being sought to be extradited to face in the United States of America. The Appellant contended that as at the time the application for extradition was ripe for hearing, the existing charge had already been withdrawn. The trial court disagreed, found against the Appellant, and discharged the Respondent.

The Appellant being dissatisfied with the judgement filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal was emphatic that, the main thrust of the appeal failed.

It was consequently, dismissed. Abimbola Osarugue Obaseki-Adejumo, JCA, concurring with the lead judgement, held at page 26, that: "… The provision of Section 3(5) of the Extradition Act is clear and unambiguous.

It states: "A fugitive criminal shall not be surrendered, if criminal proceedings are pending against him in Nigeria for the offence for which his surrender is sought...".

Regarding the uncoordinated role the AG played with the EFCC, Yargata Byenchit Nimpar, J.C.A. (delivering the lead judgement) held that: “The issue is not the timely withdrawal of the pending charges, because the statutory requirement is that no proceedings should be pending when the application for extradition is made. The point of filing the application, a decision was taken by the Attorney-General to want to surrender the fugitive...”.

As is provided in Section 3(6) of the Extradition Act and in line with the above judgement, a person such as Abba Kyari, who is charged with any offence, not being the offence for which his surrender is sought, shall not be surrendered until such time as he has been discharged, whether by acquittal or on the expiration of his sentence or otherwise. The statutory requirement is that no extradition proceedings for Kyari’s surrender should be going on, until such time as he has either been discharged acquitted or convicted. By his actions, the AGF appears to be stalling, tacitly, the extradition of Abba Kyari, by allowing or consenting to the prosecution of Kyari for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking simultaneously as the pendency of an application for his extradition by the same AG. Since the court will assume jurisdiction on the criminal matter the moment Kyari is arraigned and his plea taken, the AGF still has the time to quietly back-off before the criminal court assumes jurisdiction, and await the court’s decision. It is more honourable to do so.

VII

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022

IMAGES

T

he National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria held the 1st International Day of Women Judges on Thursday, March 10, 2022 at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island. Here are some of the personalities who attended the event….

PHOTOS: KOLAWOLE ALLI

L-R: Sasore of Lagos, Chief Waidi Ayeni; Lagos State Admin Judge, Hon. Justice T.A. Oyekan Abdullahi; Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba; NAWJN President, Hon. Justice Jummai Sankey JCA; Moyo Onigbanjo, SAN; Representative of the Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bukola Akinloye; and the Bajulaiye of Lagos, Chief Ayodele Oyekan

Members of the Local Organising Committee L-R: Ipaye J.; Coker J., and Nicol-Clay J.

Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba

Lagos State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Moyo Onigbanjo, SAN

L-R: Hon. Justices Okunnu; Oyebanji; Obadina; Ipaye; Oyekan-Abdullahi; Adesanya; Alakija; Coker & Nicol-Clay

L-R: Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun JSC; Former Federal High Court Chief Judge, Hon. Rose N. Ukeje and Hon. Justice Yargata Ninpar JCA (Ibadan)

Judges and Justices in a group photograph with Lagos CJ

L-R: Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Hon. Justice Kate Abiri; Hon. Justice Onyekachi Otisi JCA and Hon. Justice Bukola Banjoko JCA

Hon. Justice Kudirat Jose (left) and Hon. Justice Olabisi Akinlade

L-R: Chairman, NBA Lagos Branch, Ikechukwu Uwanna; Mrs Boma Alabi, SAN and Mrs Titi Akinlawon, SAN

L-R: Hon. Justice O.J. Ajanaku of Osun State Judiciary; Hon. Justice Yellem S. Bogow of Federal High Court, Lagos; and Hon. Justice Serifat Solebo

L-R: MacJob Oladipupo; Justice N.L. Musa of Plataeu State Judiciary and Justice Hajjo Lawal of Katsina State Judiciary

L-R: Hon. Justice Abiri; Cross River Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme; Hon. Justice Alogba; first female Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Constance Momoh (Rtd); Hon. Justice Sankey JCA; Moyo Onigbanjo, SAN; Hon. Justice Ukeje (Rtd); Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun JSC; and Hon. Justice Oyekan-Abdullahi

VIII

˜ ͯͳ˜ ͰͮͰͰ ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER

Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN

‘I Will Now Focus on Justice Sector Reform’ Can Nigeria progress, if it is not restructured politically and economically? Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN is empathic in her response that it cannot. The legal amazon who was called to the Bar in 1974, turned 70 about a fortnight ago. In an encounter with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi she explained that her stepping aside from the law firm of Aelex which she co-founded almost two decades ago is not a total retirement from active legal practice, but rather allowing her to have a closer embrace with what may have become her passion, arbitration. She is also rolling up her sleeves to contribute her efforts to justice sector reforms, and promoting better care for underprivileged street children

H

appy birthday Learned Silk. It’s hard to believe you just turned 70. Harder to believe that you are retiring from active legal practice, while you still look so young, energetic with plenty to offer to the legal profession. What informed your decision to retire now?

Firstly, I retired from AELEX, not so much from legal practice.

I will now focus on practising as an independent arbitrator. I retired

now because when we formed the law firm in 2004, we agreed on terms of partnership. One of the terms was that, each Partner would devote the majority of his time to the affairs of the practice.

Another term was that partners could retire voluntarily at 65, but it was mandatory at 70. I retired in line with the terms of our partnership deed. I had wanted to retire from the partnership at 65, but the other Partners refused.

Now I have time to do other things, in addition to practising

“The reason, in my humble opinion, why there are still such a low number of women in the SAN rank, is because rank is based on litigation criteria and the legal terrain under which litigation practice is conducted in Nigeria presently, is very unfavorable to women”

law, such as focusing my time on justice sector reform issues and promoting better care for street children.

You have made your mark in international arbitration. You attained the highest peak in the legal profession as Senior Advocate of Nigeria through litigation, but arbitration gradually took the front seat in your professional carrier.

How were you able to strike a balance? Kindly, share some tips.

Arbitration took a front seat in my practice, as I became increasingly frustrated with the slow pace at which litigation was being conducted. It is mentally frustrating and physically tiring to prepare a case for trial, only to have the matter adjourned

on the trial day for flimsy reasons, such as counsel on the other side seeking an adjournment because his senior in chambers wants to personally handle the matter but is unavailable. It is also frustrating when you submit legal arguments in an effort to develop the law, but the court refuses to consider the line of argument on the ground that it is bound by precedent, when everyone knows all that is required is for the Judge to distinguish the asserted precedent on the basis of a difference in facts. Having said that, I maintained my litigation practice in addition to concentrating on arbitration proceedings, but I then concentrated on what I considered to be cases of commercial importance to the client, or to the development or expansion of legal principles.

The National Assembly just

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‘I Will Now Focus on Justice Sector Reform’ rejected all the gender based bills before it, which has caused an uproar that is yet to subside.

How would you rate NASS’s constitutional amendment exercise?

Do you think anything good will result from it? Why do you think Nigerian women continue to suffer such discriminatory treatment in the hands of the menfolk? Some say men find it easy to discriminate against women, because women folk do not seem to support themselves, making it easier to pull a divided house down. That the few women who get to the top are so happy to be there, and do not want others to join them there. Even the SAN rank has less than 30 women, out of a total of over 500 people. Kindly, share your views on this There are many aspects to this question and I would like to treat them separately. Firstly the fact that the SAN rank has less than 30 women out of a total of over 500 people has nothing at all to do with the refusal or indifference of women who have climbed the ladder being unwilling or unable to help other women. The reason, in my humble opinion, why there are still such a low number of women in the SAN rank is because rank is based on litigation criteria and the legal terrain under which litigation practice is conducted in Nigeria presently is very unfavourable to women. For as long as we refuse to accept that there are women in the legal profession by using phrases such as “no ladies at the bar” or “gentlemen in skirts”, then we will be unable to acknowledge that the gender differences in the legal profession need different solutions. It is difficult for a woman who is preparing a case in litigation to spend long hours in the office working towards a trial, when she has a husband and child or children at home who need her attention. How many law offices have creches or provide financial support for children’s day care, so that female Lawyers can concentrate while at work? Then again, the current SAN requirements say an applicant must have conducted cases submitted for consideration from commencement to conclusion.

Since litigation sometimes involves travel to attend court in different locations; this aspect also makes it difficult for women who have small children or other dependents such as elderly parents that they are responsible for to practice as litigators, as they would have to travel to appear at every court date, even when the date involves a noncontentious application.. These are

Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN

the reasons that drive women out of the litigation sector into other aspects of legal practice such as company secretarial or in-house legal counsel; thus, depleting the number of women who are able to aspire to become senior advocates, let alone achieving that goal.

With respect to the gender discrimination bills which were rejected by NASS and have now been resubmitted for reconsideration, my view is that the outcry by women against the rejection of these bills is what has had the positive effect of the bills being resubmitted for reconsideration. That does not however mean that, those bills will pass. It does however, show that the ability of women to work together for a common cause will bring about positive results. I believe that the reaction of men in the National Assembly which resulted in the initial rejection of the gender discrimination bills, was a reaction based on a “less than thoughtful” consideration of the contents of the proposed legislation. The oft touted position that women do not support themselves, is, in my opinion, an argument without any factual basis. The efforts to promote the interests of women championed by the NBA Women Forum and FIDA Nigeria, amongst many

“I believe that the reaction of men in the National Assembly which resulted in the initial rejection of the gender discrimination bills, was a reaction based on a “less than thoughtful” consideration of the contents of the proposed legislation”

other women organisations, clearly put a lie to this position.

Organisations such as WIMBIZ [Women in Business and Management] and WISCAR [Women in Successful Careers] are further proof of women helping and supporting each other to climb the ladder to the top, in whatever aspect of our professional lives.

As for constitutional reform in the National Assembly, I am not holding my breath with respect to proposals that involve local government administration. Until such time as the local government structure is fully independent of the State government, development at the grassroots level where Nigerian citizens should have the largest interface with the concept of government will be impeded.

Remember that based on the current constitutional requirement for a State Joint Local Government Account, local governments are actually tied to the apron strings of the State government, where financial allocation and resources are concerned. The State government actually controls the amount of funding given to the local governments. When you remember that constitutional amendments passed by the National Assembly must also be approved by a majority of the States Houses of Assembly before such amendment becomes effective, I wonder how easy it will be for any proposed reforms to the local government financial relationships with State governments to be passed at the State levels where Governors exercise influence over State legislators.

I am yet to see chickens voting for Christmas!!

You contested two for the office of NBA President, albeit unsuccessfully. Would you say your failed efforts were

due to gender discrimination?

The NBA has not had a female President since Dame Priscilla Kuye over 30 years ago, who was elected as 1st Vice President and subsequently stepped into Clement Akpamgbo’s shoes as NBA President when he became AGF. Again, we have only had two female General Secretaries, Mrs Hairat Balogun, and about 38 years later, the current Secretary, Mrs Joyce Oduah. Do you believe that maybe if women had made a conscious effort to stand together more, we would have made better progress, not just within the legal profession, but in governance and other spheres of life?

I would not say that I lost my two bids at becoming President of the Nigerian Bar, on the ground of gender discrimination. I believe it was more due to a failure to realise / an unwillingness to concede to the fact that contesting the Presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association has become a ‘political’ enterprise involving alignments of segments/sections of our profession. I was categorically told by a well-wisher that I could not win the election without the backing /nod of a political party, and I needed to court the support of one of the parties, if I wanted to succeed.

Presidency of the Bar should not be a gender issue, it should be based on competence and the perception of the profession as to the ability of the candidate to deliver the expectations of the members of the Association. So the issue of women voting/campaigning en bloc for a woman just because she is a woman, should be a non-issue. But then, this may be another indication of my naivety. In a society where men are in the majority in positions of power and influence, even where women come together to press for greater inclusion of women in areas where cont'd on page X

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we are currently under-represented, change will be incremental at best.

We need to bring the men on board, if the change we want is to be achieved.

Aelex of which you are a founding Partner has grown in leaps and bounds. In a clime where partnerships hardly thrive, what has been the secret of Aelex’s success so far? Is there a succession plan, especially now that you are retiring?

There are law firm partnerships older than AELEX in Nigeria, and I think they should be the ones to answer the question! That AELEX is still standing as a partnership, 18 years after its formation by merger, is, in my view, the result of shared goals and aspirations. We started the firm on the basis of wanting to build a law firm that would outlast its founders; my retirement from AELEX shows we are still on that path. That we started with five founding Partners and had eleven Partners before my exit, shows that we are on the right course.

Management of the firm is now in the hands of the non-founder Partners, and I am confident that they will continue to take AELEX to new heights.

The NBA is preparing for another round of national elections this year. What would be your advice to Lawyers and the candidates? Many, especially the Activists, have complained that the NBA had been somewhat comatose in the past few years, not playing the role of a Bar Association; but, now, it seems that the Akpata-led executive has woken the NBA from its deep slumber. How can this momentum be kept up going forward, especially as another complaint is that NBA leadership is not consistent. That when it has a good leader that takes it 5 steps forward, the successor then takes the Association 10 steps backward.

My advice to Lawyers is simple – vote for the candidate that you believe best represents the type of Association that you want, doing the things that you want done for the profession. To the candidates I would say that while the Presidency of the Bar is a ‘feather in one’s cap’, it also comes with tremendous responsibilities and obligations.

Any candidate must be prepared to propose solutions to the myriad of problems that currently face the profession, have a road map towards their implementation, and be ready to be confrontational in achieving set out objectives.

As the Buhari administration goes into its twilight, how would you rate their performance over the past seven years vis-à-vis

Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN

their three main campaign promises, that is, eradication of insurgency and insecurity, the fight against corruption and revamping Nigeria’s economy?

It is obvious that insurgency has not been eradicated, and insecurity has increased over the past seven years. While in my view, insurgency has been somewhat curtailed, the level of personal insecurity has spread to other parts of the country. This is a direct result of the increase of poverty and joblessness, in the country. The increased use of technological and digital platforms has blocked areas of the economy where public officials accepted gratification which supplemented their salaries, and which they used to support relatives and family members. With no free income coming from such sources, and no opportunities for employment, indigent and unemployed youth have turned to kidnapping and banditry as a way of life.

Nigeria is not alone, as reports from countries in South America can confirm.

As to revamping the economy, I think the Government is on the right track; however, putting in place the regulations that will result in a stable economy will give immediate pain to many, before we see the long term gains coming into play. Corruption is a major problem, and I believe a successful fight against corruption can only be waged by a President who seeks only one

“I would like to see a Nigeria where we believe in the dignity of labour. Where your take home pay, actually takes you home”

term in office, as the structures that brought him into office will fight against efforts to remove the corrupt benefits which they enjoy.

What are your views on restructuring Nigeria? Should we revert to the 1963 Constitution and the Parliamentary system?

Or should this Presidential system be tweaked to work better? Is zoning constitutional?

I think Nigeria cannot progress unless it is restructured, both politically and economically.

The country must function as a Federation. This will allow the Federation units to develop at their own pace, and focus on areas that are of importance to them.

The 1963 Constitution as the basis for the restructuring, is, in my view, a good idea. I also believe that the parliamentary system should be reverted to, as the presidential system which we currently operate is too expensive. As of now, there is no difference between any of the manifestos and ideologies of the major political parties. A parliamentary system where you have the government in power and a leader of the opposition, would, in my view, keep the government in power on its toes and ensure its commitment to fulfil its election campaign promises which will be the basis for its re-election. In a parliamentary system, we vote for a party and the leader of the party then takes office; this is somewhat akin to what we are seeing in our present system where we are told that, when you vote, you are voting for the party not for the individual holding the party ticket.

What kind of Nigeria would you like to see? If it’s different from what obtains now,

is it achievable? Many say that our present system is completely inequitable and unworkable, and until certain basics change, we will continue to move on one spot with absolutely no progress.

For instance, the monthly basic salaries of medical doctors and judicial officers, are less than the monthly newspaper allowances of members of the National Assembly. This is ludicrous and unjustifiable, but can it change when those that can change it are the beneficiaries of this injustice?

I would like to see a Nigeria, where we believe in the dignity of labour. Where your take home pay, actually takes you home. I would like to see a Nigeria where the focus of our spending at every level is on education, health and social housing. I would like to see a Nigeria where the political structure is on a part time basis, with legislators being paid a daily sitting allowance which should be based on the annual salary of a judicial officer at the equivalent level. It breaks my heart when I watch proceedings in the National Assembly, and both the Senate and the House of Representatives chambers are less than half full on any occasion. Why should they be paid full-time for working part-time?

If legislators are paid on a sitting allowance basis, it will encourage those who are actually interested in the business of legislating to come to the chambers and do the work they were elected to do. Legislative aides should be paid directly by the management of the National Assembly and not through their legislators, and the need for a legislative aide should be made and justified to the management of the National Assembly, before such aides are employed.

Thank you Learned Silk.

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FEATURES

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

Keeping Up with the Second Niger Bridge Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that with the rapid ongoing construction of the iconic 1.6km Second Niger Bridge, a key national infrastructure, nearing completion, it reflects a promise made and kept which will bring immense benefit in easing traffic flow, improving road safety, and creating greater commercial opportunities

L-R: Labour Minister, Chris Ngige; Works Minister, Babatunde Fashola; and Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari at the recent inspection of the second Niger Bridge

The toll

Connecting roads

Ongoing construction

W

hen the concept of the 1.6km Second Niger Bridge came up, the whole idea was to ease traffic flow, improve road safety, and create greater commercial opportunities while strengthening connectivity in the entire region. Years down the line, the dream is gradually taking shape and is nearing completion.

Started in earnest in 2018, the bridge is quite strategic given that it lies over the River Niger, linking the South-east with the South-south and South-west.

Inspection Given the April deadline to open the bridge up for use, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari accompanied by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Dr. Chris Ngige, recently went on an inspection of the bridge to ascertain the state of readiness.

Also among the entourage was the Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Mr. Uche Orji; Director, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Adeyemo Ajani, who is the representative engineer for the Second Niger Bridge; Anambra Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng; 302 Artillery Regiment Onitsha, Col MB Abubakar; Navy Captain GB Osubeni Naval Outpost and other top government functionaries.

The team were conducted round by the Managing Director of Julius Berger Plc, Mr. Lars Richter who led the walk from the proposed access roads at the Delta State end of the project and the Owerri interchange, nearing completion, also highlighted all the things that have been done and those still in the works.

Richter added that due to the difficult terrain, the company deployed special technology to stabilise the ground for the construction work to progress in earnest and provided environmental safety for all the communities around the area.

Initially billed for completion last month, but now rescheduled for October this year, the bridge would however before opened for use this April while the official inauguration by President Muhammadu Buhari will take place come October.

Gambari, who expressed satisfaction with the work done so far, also said contrary to insinuations, the project is being funded 100 per cent by the Nigerian government.

Also expressing optimism that with the pace of work, the project would be delivered by the third quarter of the year, as promised by the contractors, he said it was commendable that contractors kept the pace while ensuring safety and environmental concerns in the execution of the project were sacrosanct.

In turn, the Works Minister said with the completion of concrete work on the bridge, it will make it possible for a walk from the beginning to the end while the minor alignments on the structure would be finished before the end of next month.

Fielding questions from journalists especially on power disruption, Fashola said the power disruption around the Owerri interchange will be for two weeks to enable the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) relocate and realign the high-tension transmission lines to pave way for the completion of the ring roads connecting the bridge from all routes.

He also disclosed that although the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved tolling of 12 highways in the country, the federal government had yet to decide on that of the Second Niger Bridge head, even as toll gates were being constructed at the site, adding that his priority was to complete the road before delving into tolling.

On the state of the bridge at the moment, Ajani, the representative engineer for the Second Niger Bridge said: “The bridge itself is 93 per cent completed, which means that all

the sub-structure works have been completed and the super structure is ongoing.

"We have just 10 metres to link the entire bridge of 1.6km at the moment. We have commenced the finishing works, such as parapet and other auxiliary works on the bridge.

“All things being equal, the bridge will have been completed and ready for use by October this year. On completion, because it is not a stand-alone bridge, the ministry is thinking of doing a temporary connection via an access road around Oko in Delta, immediately after the old toll gate, to put it to immediate use, linking not just Onitsha, but also Owerri.”

Deriveables Initiated under the Goodluck Jonathan administration and sustained by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Second Niger Bridge is undoubtedly a key national infrastructure, with immense socio-economic benefits for the entire nation.

This is because upon completion, the bridge will ease traffic flow, improve road safety, and create greater opportunities for local residents by advancing the commercial viability of the immediate area and regenerating economic life.

Scope of Works The project is a 1.6 km (0.99 mi) long bridge. As a plus, it is also furnished with other ancillary infrastructure including a 10.3 km (6.4 mi) highway, Owerri interchange and a toll station all at Obosi Town, the first tolled federal bridge.

While tolling is part of the contract

"Upon completion, the bridge will ease traffic flow, improve road safety, and create greater opportunities for local residents by advancing the commercial viability of the immediate area and regenerating economic life"

agreement, the entire project was divided into three phases. While the first phase is about 11 kilometres, the second phase is the access road at the Delta end of the bridge and the other is from Obosi up to Enugu- Onitsha Expressway.

This means that it will ensure a bypass of Onitsha for those who have no business there.

Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority Funding Contrary to claims, the project is not being executed through public-private partnership (PPP), rather, through the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

Summarily, the bridge would cost N206 billion while the servicing roads would cost an additional N208 billion, bringing the total value of the contract to N414 billion.

While the federal government funded part of the cost, the balance was sourced from the debt market as against the initially touted public-private partnership (PPP) with 60 per cent of the funding coming from the contractor, 20 per cent from the federal government and 10 per cent each from the Anambra and Delta State governments.

Now, funds are said to be disbursed on post verification of the interim certificates by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the independent technical advisers.

Also, the contract sum remains constant without variation because it was stated clearly as part of the contract agreement.

First Niger Bridge But before this Second Niger Bridge, there is the First Niger Bridge, which dates back to 1965.

The bridge, which serves as a major road connection between Asaba in Delta State and Onitsha in Anambra State, is part of the TransAfrican Highway between Lagos and Mombasa in Kenya, in addition to being the main East-west connection within Nigeria.

For the region and the entire nation, the construction of the Second Niger Bridge is a promise made and fulfilled by the Buhari administration as it signals an end to the perennial traffic gridlock experienced on the First Niger Bridge, especially during festive periods.

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PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT UPDC’s Future Looks Superb with Middle Housing, Devt Management, new REITS Bennett Oghifo

U

PDC definitely went through a dry patch in recent years after the whirlwind in the nation’s economy, caused by the 2015 recession, almost blew it out of existence.

However, this leader in Nigeria’s real estate sector is back and with big plans to stay on top of their game. In addition to their upscale housing, hospitality and commercial developments, they will now take the middle property market by storm, without losing their touch of quality. Also new is their property management portfolio to assist people and companies flush with cash design and build, using their expertise. They are also coming with a novel Real Estate Investment Trust (REITS).

UPDC is quite big in the real estate sector, having over N22 billion assets, and it was able to survive the 2015 recession. It got more support with the purchase of 51 per cent of its shares by Custodian Investment Plc. (CIP) in 2020.

The company then had to do all that was necessary to enable it to play in today’s real estate market. “We are here to assure everyone that UPDC is off to a bright start,” said the Managing Director, Mr. Odunayo Ojo, while giving a peep into the future of the company in Lagos, recently. “In 2020, Custodian Investment Plc. (CIP) bought 51% of UPDC from UAC of Nigeria Plc., thereby making UPDC a subsidiary of CIP. In 2021, UPDC launched Pinnock Prime Estate, our flagship development in Lekki Peninsula 2, Lagos.”

The UPDC brand is well-recognised for providing distinctive lifestyle properties across

Nigeria and offering exceptional quality property development and facilities management services.

The principal activities of the company include development and management of high quality serviced commercial and residential properties.

UPDC has established a development track record consisting of a diverse asset mix in the retail, commercial, residential and hospitality sectors. UPDC was listed on the NSE in 1998, and set up UPDC REIT in 2013, where it initially held a c.62% equity stake. UPDC distributed its stake in UPDC REIT to shareholders in 2020, giving UPDC shareholders direct stake in UPDC REIT Plc. UPDC now holds 5% in UPDC REIT. UPDC has over 1,000 residential units; 471-room hotel; 30 estates under management; and one large retail mall. It boasts of over 24 years experience developing first class real estate properties in Nigeria. The company, according to the managing director, plans to deliver over 1,500 housing units to the real estate market over the next five years.

Ojo said, “The strengthening of UPDC’s capital structure has positioned the company for profitability. The transaction between UAC of Nigeria Plc (“UAC”) and Custodian Investment Plc (“Custodian”) is complete, with Custodian securing a 51% stake in UPDC and UAC retaining a 43% stake. Impact: UPDC is now operating as a subsidiary of Custodian Investment Plc. and as an associate company to UAC. UPDC exercised the call option on its bond in April 2021. This was financed with the aid of an intercompany loan from Custodian and UAC. Impact: UPDC was able to refinance its debt obligations at a significantly lower cost (16% to 9%). This will lead to a significant reduction in finance cost going forward. Rights Issue Custodian Acquisition

and development to project management of the entire development process,” he said.

Bond Repayment.”

Development Management He said, “As Development Manager, UPDC will strategically oversee the planning, administration and control of the development during the development life cycle, from business planning to concept development, financial feasibility and overall coordination of the development value chain without financial commitment but for a fee.”

Under the Development Management Mandates, he said, “UPDC has signed Development Management Mandates in Q1 2022 with various companies. UPDC will work hand in hand with the Clients throughout the entire development process, from design approvals to appointment of consultants and contractors. We will be responsible for proactively managing the entire development process, providing comprehensive planning from the pre-development stage to project management to post-development advice, while anticipating and analysing potential risks. We will also be in charge of the evaluation to negotiation on terms and contracts, and from accurate analysis of clients’ demand to strata management and advisory services in regards to investment activities, a development consultancy firm offers a wide range of services. From understanding the Clients requirements to delivering what they look for is our core mission so, we customize our strategies to get optimal results and maximum value of the development. Timely completion of the project along with managing all documents related to development is another one of the crucial aspects we handle and development consultants at UPDC skilfully complete each of these aspects. “UPDC Plc offers an end to end solution, from concept

Current Developments Pinnock Prime Estate Pinnock Prime Estate is a 1 .47 hectare site and service scheme located in Lekki Pennisula II right beside the company’s existing Pinnock Beach Estate . “It is envisioned to become a sought -after development and estate of choice within the area creating a new benchmark for suburban living . The 18 plots will be allocated and priced as follows : High Density Plots - 5 plots ( 5 to 7 dwelling units per plot) Low Density Plots - 3 plots ( 2 dwelling units per plot) Recreational Facilities The estate will be an embodiment of lifestyle consisting of: Pocket parks with a play area, tree lined street

Ojo

Second River Niger Bridge Ready in October, Says Julius Berger Bennett Oghifo The Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engr. Dr. Lars Richter has confirmed that the second River Niger Bridge project is scheduled for commissioning by October this year, “all things being equal.”

Richter stated this when the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim

Gambari, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, led a federal Government delegation to inspect the 2nd River Niger Bridge that is being constructed by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, recently.

Richter put progress so far achieved on the Second River Niger Bridge works at 83% as at February 2022. Status of the works as presented showed that the

Navigating the ‘Messy Middle’ in Hybrid Workspaces Ola Williams The remote-work world that we embraced at the height of the pandemic has evolved with blended, hybrid environments now taking centre stage. This will define the post-pandemic business landscape, according to Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index (WTI). “The best of both worlds” is what employees surveyed in the WTI are after: 73 percent want flexible remotework options to continue, while, at the same time, 67 per cent are craving more in-person time with their teams.

As a result, what we’re seeing are brick-and-mortar offices hosting some staff on premises, with other team members continuing to work from home, joining meetings online. This hybrid phenomenon is what Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft 365, refers to as the “messy middle”.

It references the fact that while many companies have mastered the art of having everyone working in the office pre-pandemic and having everyone working from home during the pandemic, a combination of the two has given rise to new issues. For example, physical boardrooms not being equipped with the right technology (think screens, audio, and the like) has left inoffice staff unable to see or hear remote-working colleagues in meetings where collaboration is crucial.

Navigating this messy middle in a way that ensures streamlined, real-time collaboration and inclusive employee engagement is the challenge. It will require employers to reimagine physical workspaces where meetings take place, and re-examine the digital tools required for remote and in-person staff to remain productive, together.

As the WTI notes, the objective for employers embracing the necessary work-flexibility approach is to “give everyone the tools they need to equally contribute from anywhere.”

Why getting hybrid work right is good for business Happy, productive employees are a key predictor of business success, which is why employers should be taking the prevailing workers’ desire to integrate remote work seriously. Remote work has opened new career opportunities for employees – not to mention that employers, too, benefit from a wider, geographically varied talent pool for hires.

WTI figures show that 46 percent of the globally surveyed employees were considering leaving their current employer because they can work from home. In the EMEA region, this figure, although lower at 36 percent, is still significant.

As such, a company’s approach to hybrid working will define “who stays and who goes,” the index notes.

What’s the sentiment in Nigeria? According to 2020 figures from Statista, 74 percent of Nigerians were willing to work remotely full-time. The high number points to the country’s unemployment rate at the time, which the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics reported as 27 percent, adding that 20 percent of the country’s workers lost their jobs at the height of pandemic lockdowns.

To succeed in the global digital economy and prevent further job losses in an increasingly digitised society, Nigeria’s businesses must digitally transform to support remote work alongside in-office work within the modern hybrid environment. Local companies unable to offer this balance will lose valuable staff who now have the opportunity to work from home for businesses based outside of Nigeria.

What’s worked for Microsoft Just like the rest of the business world, we’re learning as we roll out these hybrid-enabling changes.

On what we’ve learnt, Nicole Herskowitz, Microsoft Teams General Manager, highlights that hybrid meetings have been a game-changer for shaping a successful work environment.

The caveat? They need to be done well.

-Ola Williams, Country Manager for Microsoft Nigeria

substructure of the Bridge is completed, while its superstructure and finishing works are in steady progress. Secondary bridges are also completed. He also pointed the visitors to ongoing culverts and drainage works.

The bridge aims to minimise traffic congestion on the old bridge and to strengthen connectivity in the entire region. The project, which is being funded by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority through the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, is expected to boost economic activities and open up development in the southeastern part of the country.

The project involves the construction of a 1.6km bridge over the River Niger, scheduled for completion in August 2022,

construction of two secondary bridges at CH25+166 (Amakom Village Road) and CH28+304 (Atani Road) spanning 21.7m each, which have now been completed. It also involves demolition of an existing flyover and construction of a new interchange at CH34+100 (Onitsha-Owerri Road), scheduled for completion in August 2022. The project also consists of the construction of a 3.3km approach road on the Asaba end and 7.0km approach road on the Onitsha end of the main bridge, scheduled for completion in October 2022. There is also a toll plaza at CH25+700 consisting of 8 lanes in each direction, scheduled for completion in October 2022, and Site clearing of the Right of Way (RoW) including the removal of all bush, trees and shrubs.

Fairtrade Messe, OTACCWA Set to Discuss Packaging Technology Fairtrade Messe, German trade show specialist in collaboration with the Organization for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA) is set to host the 7th edition of the agrofood & plastprintpack exhibition and conference in Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by officials of the company, a series of breakfast meetings have been held in five states of the country as part of sensitisation for the forthcoming exhibition and conference alongside the 4th WACCSE scheduled for the 22nd - 24th of March 2022 at the Landmark Centre, Lagos.

The meetings held in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Abeokuta, and Awka brought together stakeholders, exhibitors, and investors who engaged in B2B meetings and open dialogue sessions.

Africa’s biggest economy has seen its food production increase in recent years owing to the government’s renewed focus on agriculture, but not at the same pace as its population.

According to experts, for Nigeria to leapfrog to the fourth industrial revolution in

agriculture and ensure it feeds its rapidly growing population, there must be a proliferation of new technologies across the value chain to drive production and reduce food loss and waste.

It is on this background, that the agrofood & plastprintpack Exhibition & Conference provides a networking opportunity for international and local industry players to gather to find solutions and share best practices for managing the complexities of the perishable food system and pharmaceutical supply chain while adopting new technologies and innovation.

Speaking about the upcoming conference, Paul Maerz, managing director of Fairtrade Messe said “This year more than ever we’re expecting top-level decision makers from the agrofood & plastprintpack industry from all across the country and the region to discuss projects, ideas and business with the exhibitors during agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria.”

“The conference program organized together with OTACCWA and Delegation of German Industry and Com-

merce in Nigeria (AHK)will once again be a major highlight during the exhibition,” he added.

Similarly, Alexander Isong, the president of OTACCWA, said “the partnership with Fairtrade is a synergy of purpose because preservation, transportation and storage go hand in hand with agrofood and packaging, especially in an environment like Nigeria with large post-harvest losses. Last year was a great success and we look forward to an even better collaboration this year.”

The exhibition will also showcase a wide variety of products ranging from agrofood processing & packaging machinery to food ingredients.

This year’s exhibition and conference is all set to become a major international event with registered exhibitors from 14 countries with more to come and will showcase adapted technologies and solutions for the Nigerian and West African market towards more than two thousand specialised trade visitors in the fields of agriculture, food processing, ingredients, plastics, printing and packaging, and cold chain.

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

M A R C H

S & P INDEX

1 4 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

9.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

564.02%

1/4 TO DATE

5.82%

N413.03/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

10.75%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

–0.17%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.85%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.19%

Report: 22 Oil Companies Lost $1.63bn, 15.1% of Total Production to Theft, Sabotage in 2020 Eroton lost 32.49% of total production NEITI decry use of fronts in oil industry

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Twenty two oil companies operating in Nigeria lost at least $1.63 billion to oil theft and sabotage in 2020, the latest report from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), has revealed.

The 177-page document indicated that feedbacks from the oil companies showed that 39.16 million barrels of the commodity was impacted by the phenomena, representing 15.1 per cent of

‘fiscalised’ production for that year.

As expected, Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPNU) was missing from the list as its facilities are rarely affected by oil theft and sabotage, reason its assets have become ‘hot cake’, recently raising serious contention between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and Seplat Energy, since they were put up for sale.

But Eroton led the companies with the highest losses in comparison to quantum of oil

drilled, according to the report, shedding a whopping 32.49 per cent of its total production for the period, that is, roughly 2.47 million barrels. Eroton’s total production for the year was pegged at 7.6 million barrels.

The company was followed by New Cross E&P, which lost 32.16 per cent of total oil produced for the year or 2 million barrels out of the 6.3 million barrels drilled in 2020.

These oil companies were followed by Aiteo, which lost a

huge part of its total oil production, amounting to 29.10 per cent of the 9.6 million barrels total production for the year.

Furthermore, Belema Oil, was deprived of 29.37 per cent of the quantum of the hydrocarbons it was expected to produce for the year, losing 562,000 of its 1.91 million barrels of production during the period under review.

The company, which suffered the heaviest loss in terms of the number of barrels lost to sabotage and theft,

although with a lower percentage compared to its total production was Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). In all, SPDC lost a humongous 20.8 million barrels, the highest in terms of quantity stolen and sabotaged. The figure represented 27 per cent of its 77.3 million barrels of oil produced for that year.

Other companies, which also lost heavily were Platform, which was deprived of 27.2 per cent of its measured total 288,000 barrels

and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) whose production dropped by 24.56 per cent, with 1.3 million barrels of its 5.32 million barrels stolen and sabotaged during the period under review.

WalterSmith lost 18.17 per cent of its 2.43 million total production for the year, with losses hitting 442,000 of total production while Seplat Energy’s total oil production of 2 million barrels was stolen to the tune Continued on page 26

LCCI, WFP Warn About Looming Hunger as Russia-Ukraine Conflict Disrupts Food Supply Dike Onwuamaeze and Gilbert Ekugbe The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have warned in separate press

statements that Nigeria and many other developing economies would be exposed to acute food insecurity and malnutrition due to the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The WFP stated that millions

of people in Sub-Saharan Africa might face acute food insecurity and malnutrition, and emphasised that an estimated 68.1 million women, men and children among the urban population were at risk of acute food insecurity in Sub-Saharan

FOOD

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N23,000–N25,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N23,500-N25,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

50KG

RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

50KG 50KG

N23,000–N26,500

SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 EDO

N17,000–N20,000

Africa in 2020, including 22 million in Central Africa, 16 million in West Africa, 15.7 million in East Africa and 14.4 million in Southern Africa, representing 15 percent of the total urban populations in the region.

Also, the President of LCCI,

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, said the war between Ukraine and Russia would make the world’s hunger crisis tougher to fight as the two countries are among the world’s major suppliers of staple grains like wheat.

Olawale-Cole added that a protracted crisis would increase the likelihood of supply interruptions and higher food prices for many people including those who could Continued on page 26

T O D AY

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

N9,000

C O C OA

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON

ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

1 TON

OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

100KG

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

1 TON

CROSS RIVER

N700,000 – N720,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

26

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

PH

NAME OF COMMODITY

TOMATOES

N21,000 – 24,000

COMMODITIES SIZE

STATE

40KG BENUE

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

25CL ABUJA

N19500- N25000

N15,000

40KG

KADUNA

N5,000

40KG

ABIA

N18,000

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000 25CL

PRICE

25KG LAGOS

N9,500

40KG DELTA

N17000

PRICE

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

ABIA

NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG ABIA

N14000

50KG LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

Private Sector Operators Urged to Understand Fiscal Policies for Effective Planning Dike Onwuamaeze The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE) has advised operators in the private sector to pay more attention on understanding the fiscal policies of the government in order to plan effectively.

The CPPE also enjoined investors to get ready for opportunities that would open up in the bond

market as the federal government intensified borrowing to fund its fiscal deficit, which would be much higher than the projected N6.39 trillion.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, gave the advice while presenting a review of the 2022 Budget and economic outlook at the 5th Annual Retreat of the Bridge Club in Lagos State.

This is as the President of the Bridge Club, Mr. A.U. Mustapha (SAN) said that the club would focus its interventions in the society on the educational sector and urged Nigerians to come together to build the country in the spirit of oneness.

According to Yusuf, “There is always a policy side that comes along with the annual budget.

For many businesses, the policy

side of the budget is even more important than the appropriation itself. It can make or mar whatever business you are into because of its far-reaching implications on business.”

He also stated that the inability to deregulate the downstream sector of the country’s oil and gas sector has chased away the private sector and left the sector in the hands of politicians and bureaucrats.

Yusuf said: “Security challenges in the Niger Delta are hampering Nigeria’s ability to produce its 1.88mbpd target and take the opportunity of the rising crude oil in the international market.

“Most oil majors are divesting from onshore to offshore operation due to insecurity. It has affected investment in the oil and gas sector, the ability of the government to earn more revenue and harvest

foreign exchange (FX) inflows.

Earlier on Mustapha in his opening address, said the club would focus its interventions in the society on the educational sector.

Mustapha said: “We have supported a lot of initiatives and we have given to the indigents.

But we will put education at the front burner of our interventions in our society since education is everything.”

SPE Chair Forecasts N6trn Annual Fuel Subsidy on Rising Oil Price Peter Uzoho The Chairman of Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council, Prof. Olalekan Olafuyi, has predicted that Nigeria’s petrol subsidy may rise to N6 trillion if the oil price continues with the pace at which it is currently rising.

Olafuyi, who is also a lecturer and consultant at the University of Benin, said the skyrocketing crude price and the resultant

increase in Nigeria’s subsidy bills had strengthened the case for Africa’s largest oil producer to fully deregulate the downstream sector to pave the way for market forces to drive petrol prices.

The SPE chair made the prediction in Lagos during an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the maiden SPE Women Leadership Lecture Series in commemoration of the 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD), with the theme “Breaking

the Biases: Accelerating Business and Economic Growth through Inclusion.”

Nigeria’s fuel subsidy is estimated to be around N3 trillion for the year 2022, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

The federal government had planned to jettison the petrol subsidy regime by the second half of this year, but later in January backtracked and deferred it for 18

months, citing wrong timing and the hardship such policy decision would have on poor Nigerians.

However, with the oil price hitting over $130 per barrel last week, with signs of continued rise and the cost of importing petrol also going up, following the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the SPE chair explained that the subsidy may soon increase from the current N3 trillion to N6 trillion.

Owing to this, he advocated for total deregulation of the downstream to save the country the huge burden it is carrying to subsidise petrol and to enable the country get the real value of its hydrocarbon resources.

He said: “For me personally, not as SPE opinion, everything should be deregulated. Trust me, if you really want to get the value from our oil, deregulation is the way to go. We all go overseas.

Now, a gallon of fuel is $3.18 in the US. Calculate it with the naira, it’s almost like $1 per litre and that’s about N580.

“What you use is what you pay for. Now, people in the US are selling their cars that are V-8 and Nigerians are buying the V-8 cars because it’s easy to fuel. So, if you allow willing-buyer-willing-seller to operate, refineries will come up. Everybody will come and invest. “

Analysts Predict Higher Food Prices, Heightened Smuggling in Q2 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja On the back of the current war between Russia and Ukraine, analysts at Proshare Research, have predicted higher prices for a number of imported items, including wheat, flour, maize, sorghum, among others.

For sub-Saharan Africa in particular, the experts stated that

the energy and food commodity shortages have wider implications, including heightened smuggling of food items into the country as a result of higher excise duty.

Stating that Nigeria’s wheat import bill alone stands at $2 billion, the group noted that given the current situation in both countries, which produce a huge volume of the wheat consumed

worldwide, the price of wheat globally has already risen by almost 40 per cent.

Stressing that there have been pressure on the prices of imported food commodities especially both wheat and maize, the organisation predicted that there will further be a knock-on effect on beans and maize.

“Nigeria’s import bill for

wheat is $2 billion per annum.

The global price of wheat has spiked by 39.75 per cent since the crisis. The price surge coupled with exchange rate pressures on the naira is expected to push the price of a bag of flour from the current level of N22,000 towards N27,000-N30,000 in the next quarter.

“It will also have a knock-on

effect on the prices of substitutes owing to a high level of cross elasticity. Therefore, we expect a surge in the prices of beans, yam, etc.

“It will also affect the smuggling of maize, sorghum and ethanol across Nigeria’s porous borders with attendant consequences on customs and excise revenue. It will also have an effect on the

fiscal consolidation in the budget of 2022,” Proshare stated.

In addition, it pointed out that developing economies like Nigeria will face stiff challenges as it navigates its way through a monetary policy stance to confront higher inflation in March and April whilst simultaneously managing a growing debt service burden.

REPORT: 22 OIL COMPANIES LOST $1.63BN, 15.1% OF TOTAL PRODUCTION TO THEFT, SABOTAGE IN 2020 of 310, 000 barrels , representing 15.01 per cent.

NPDC FHN, NPDC Western, Panocean, NPDC shoreline, NPDC Seplat, NPDC OML 98 as well as OML 65 all suffered an estimated 10 per cent losses in their oil production for the period.

In addition, Excel oil lost 6.74 per cent of its 293,000 production for the year, NPDC Elcrest 7.45 per cent of its 5.3 million output, while Chevron suffered 4.37 per cent loss, that is, 2.4 million barrels stolen from its total 55.5 million total production for 2020.

Other companies which suffered lesser losses included TotalEnergies,

which lost 3.2 per cent of its production of 34.8 million barrels, APDNL which lost 2.66 per cent of its quota as well NPDC Neconde which shed the least percentage of oil at 0.36 per cent, which is about 35,000 barrels of its 9.5 million barrels total production.

The benchmark oil price used to arrive at the $1.6 billion total loss in 2020, NEITI stated, was $41.65, which was the average for the year.

For a five-year trend of losses by the entire country, the NEITI report put it at 101.1 million barrels in 2016 (at the height of militancy in the Niger Delta), 36.46 million barrels in 2017, 53.28 million barrels

in 2018, 42.25 million barrels in 2019 and 39.16 million barrels in 2020.

Also, a historical assessment of total ‘fiscalised’ oil production for a five-year period was 659 million barrels in 2016, 690 million in 2017, 701 million in 2018, 735 million in 2019 and 647 million in 2020, the lowest when compared with the previous four years before it.

In terms of companies which submitted documents to NEITI for verification of payments to the statutory bodies, NEITI stated that of the 69 under its radar, four failed to present materials for verification, although they paid some money to the government. They included

Sterling Exploration, Lekoil, Bilton Energy as well as Orient Petroleum Limited.

The organisation put the total revenue from the four companies at N1.19 million, representing 0.006 per cent of the total $20.4 billion which accrued from the oil and gas sector in 2020.

Meanwhile, the NEITI report has raised the alarm over persons using fronts in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, stressing that the concerned government agencies need to do more to unravel the actual beneficiaries of such assets.

NEITI stated that although before the enactment of the Petroleum

Industry Act (PIA) in 2021, there was no law mandating the disclosure of contracts in Nigeria, however, section 5.2.3 of the National Petroleum Policy provides for the disclosure of contracts in the sector.

It stated that the enactment of the PIA has greatly enhanced sector efforts at strengthening the system for contract disclosure, stressing that Section 83 of the Act now provides for a mandatory disclosure of full text of any existing contract, license or lease to the regulatory commission.

“For the purpose of transparency and corporate governance, companies ought to disclose their

individual beneficial owners, rather than hide them under the cloak of corporate ownership.

“Majority of oil companies in Nigeria exhibit a complex structure of ownership which makes it difficult to identify the real individuals behind the companies and the practice of cloaking the real owners remain prevalent in the country.

“It is also a common practice for companies to hold interest in other companies thereby shielding the identity of the natural persons who ultimately benefit from the activities of the company, ”it stated.

LCCI, WFP WARN ABOUT LOOMING HUNGER AS RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT DISRUPTS FOOD SUPPLY least afford them.

He stated that Nigeria’s food supply would surely come under some pressure as it imported 27 per cent and 4.0 per cent of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine respectively in 2021, according to Gallup News.

He said: “Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Russia was the sixth major exporter to Nigeria as of the third quarter of 2021 coming only after China, India,

USA, Netherlands, and Belgium in that order.

“Disruption of Ukrainian wheat supplies may prove doubly painful for countries already squeezed by food insecurity and rising food prices as we have in Nigeria.

Ukraine was the second-largest supplier of wheat to the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) in 2020 and 2021.”

He recommended that governments at all levels in Nigeria government should intervene

“by way of initiating imports from other sources outside the war zones.

However, the most sustainable solution is for the government to boost local production of these staples to levels that meet local demand.”

The WFP, which is concerned over the looming food insecurity said the number of Africa’s urban population is projected to increase to 1.5 billion by 2050.

It also said that collaborations in policy design, implementation

and assessments across governments and agencies that work on health, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and social welfare would be ultimately necessary to enhance programming and address multiple dimensions of urban deprivations.

The United Nation food body added that according to a report jointly released by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHABITAT) and WFP shines a spotlight on urban

vulnerabilities and food insecurity amidst the global pandemic, revealing that the urban poor in Africa have been disproportionately affected.

“Hunger and malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa have long been associated with rural areas. But the pandemic is revealing the changing face of hunger, exposing vulnerabilities of the urban poor,” the WFP’s Regional Director for Western Africa, Mr. Chris Nikoi said.

“Considering the current trends of urbanisation that are largely driven by those migrating from the rural to the urban in search for economic opportunities and better access to services, food assistance programmes must be augmented and tailored to meet the needs of the urban poor, many of whom have no access to formal social insurance systems,” the Director, UNHABITAT Regional Office for Africa, Mr. Oumar Sylla, said.

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CBN’sTimely Interventions in Manufacturing Sector Operators in the Nigerian manufacturing sector and financial experts commend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) interventions in the real sector and sued for improved access to infrastructure and foreign exchange to make the interventions more effective, writes Dike Onwuamaeze

T

he Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, took the podium on November 26 to deliver his seventh conservative keynote address to the annual dinner of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

Emefiele said that the dinner was an occasion to highlight important developments in our economy and apprise stakeholders of the policy initiatives and focus of the CBN towards realising the ultimate goals of macroeconomic and financial stability.

Among the important developments, he talked about was the more than N3.5 trillion the CBN made available to critical sectors of the Nigerian economy, especially the manufacturing sector.

He stated that the CBN “created N1 trillion facility in loans to boost local manufacturing and production across critical sectors; of which 53 major manufacturing projects.”

Other interventions of the CBN in the manufacturing sector included N100 billion, (which was later increased to N200 billion) intervention fund for the pharmaceutical manufacturing companies and healthcare practitioners meant to expand and strengthen the capacity of healthcare institutions.

The interventions also included the N50 billion revival fund for the textile industry and the N10 billion intervention fund to the Kano State Government to revive industries in the state.

Emefiele said: “Our interventions particularly in the manufacturing and the agriculture sectors significantly helped to encourage continuous improvements in growth in these two key sectors of our economy. Today, we have also seen increased efforts of our local manufacturing firms to engage in backward integration efforts. Second, a visit to any major retail chain will reveal an increasing number of high qualities made in Nigeria products relative to imported goods, which is helping to increase domestic production, generate employment and wealth in our country. If these intervention efforts were not carried out by the monetary and fiscal authorities, our economy would have been in a grim state.

“We must take deliberate steps to diversify the base of the Nigerian economy. As the true African Giant, we must fold our sleeves and do everything possible to stop the incidence of importing anything and everything.

Proactive steps on the part of stakeholders in the private sector in collaboration with the government in supporting the growth of sectors such as manufacturing, ICT, and infrastructure, will strengthen our ability to deal with the challenges of COVID-19, and stimulate further growth of our economy.”

OPERATORS VIEW

The members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have described the CBN’s single-digit interest rate intervention fund as a major development that significantly boosted the manufacturing capacity of firms in the industry.

The President of the PSN, Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa, who spoke recently at the Financial Correspondent Association of Nigeria (FICAN) capacity building forum in Lagos, said that the fund would enable firms in the sector to build or complete new plants, acquire new equipment, and machinery, commence new processes of production that would expand their manufacturing and increase add on and value addition.

“The major thing,” according to Ohuabunwa, “is that the fund will lead to increased output and ensure that local production contributed more to the country’s pharmaceutical needs.

He said: “First, it is something we have prayed for. It is something that we have cried for. It is something that we have advocated and made case for many years ago that we needed special funding. We have even demanded the Pharmaceutical Industry Bank. So, we are happy that at last, thanks to COVID-19, the federal government through the CBN has eventually come to our aid. For us the N100 billion was a major response from the government through the CBN.” He also said that many of those who applied in the first tier have received approvals and have accessed the funds through their corresponding commercial banks.

“A couple of them have started to apply them to affect what they needed it for capacity building, or building or starting new plants. Getting new equipment and starting new processes to expand their manufacturing and increasing add on and value addition. This shut in the arm from the CBN is supposed to boost that and we are eager to see it happen,” he said.

Ohuabunwa, however, appealed to the CBN to provide some of the intervention funds in foreign exchange to make them more meaningful to the industrialists.

He said: “But feedback from those that have accessed the loans showed that they are having difficulties in converting the money into raw materials because of the shortage of foreign exchange.

“We appeal to CBN to make a special allocation to beneficiaries of this fund in foreign exchange to be able to import inputs. We have only received their verbal assurance to do something.”

A SOOTHING BALM

Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Sector of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Fidelis Ayebae, noted that the intervention came with a soothing balm because “there is no way we would be profitable by borrowing at between 25 and 30 per cent from the commercial banks.”

He said: “The window that CBN gave is nine months for people to access this fund. I have

accessed it as the managing director and promoter of the Fidson Plc and I am sure that over time everybody that applied will access it given that the fund is real and that the CBN is indeed eager to assist the Nigerian industry to contribute their quota to nation-building.”

The CBN, through the Bank of Industry (BOI) also provided N235 billion intervention fund for re-financing and restructuring of banks’ loans to the manufacturing sector. The objectives of the fund, among other items, included how to “fast-track the development of the manufacturing sector of the Nigerian economy by improving access to credit to manufacturers.”

The CBN also announced N50 billion special mechanism funds to revive the ailing textiles industry. The fund would be administered by the BOI at 4.5 per cent interest rate. It could be used as the CBN-approved non-interest financing instruments for refinancing of projects, long-term financing for the acquisition of plant and machinery, and working capital for the beneficiaries.

According to the apex bank, “the seed fund, which is a one-off intervention, will terminate by December 31, 2025, with the maximum financial amount pegged at N2 billion for a single obligor for new facilities and N1 billion for refinancing.”

The CBN explained that the plan to turn around the textile sector was perfected at a meeting between its governor and textile mill owners.

Speaking to THISDAY on the textile fund, the President of the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association, Mr. Folorunsho Daniyan, said: “The intervention fund, as far as we can see, has been helpful to a large extent. The CBN is trying in its own way and has done quite a lot. Sometimes ago, the CBN intervened and gave us facilities; it is like refinancing our debts. Yes, the CBN gave us loans and we have more money to do some things.

“But these interventions will come to naught if we do not correct the anomalies in the Nigerian markets, especially smuggling and infrastructure.

However, this is not enough to take away the fact that CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has been doing a lot for us. He has a passion for the survival of the Nigerian textile industry.

I will give him that credit.”

The President of NECA, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, told THISDAY about the dramatic turnaround that happened in the BOI since 2016. The story, according to him, was about a company that approached the BOI for N750 million loan in 2010 but could not get the financing it needed for business expansion as the BOI insisted that it must produce a commercial bank’s guarantee.

However, in 2016, the same organisation went back to the BOI. This time around the BOI did not waste time to guide the manufacturer to

prepare its documents and instead of N750 million, the organisation smiled back to its office with N4 billion.

Adeniyi said: “The organisation is better for it today. I know a number of organisations that have benefitted from the BOI.”

EXPERTS APPLAUDS DEVELOPMENT

On his part, a Professor of Banking and Finance at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Awka, Professor Jackson Ikeora, told THISDAY that the CBN’s intervention in the manufacturing sector should be seen for what it is: to encourage that sector which is part of the real sector, the sector for growth.

Ikeora said: “I regard the CBN’s intervention as a Daniel come to judgment. Its interest rate is always reasonable. It will enable the manufacturing sector to plan properly and invest. Look at the multiplier effect of their investments: the higher their investment the higher the number of people they employ.

“It will do something to reduce unemployment and at the same time increase productivity in the economy. There is also a forward and backward linkage that will help to boom the economy. It grows the economy, increases productivity, and grows aggregate demand and consumption. It will increase aggregate supply and finally economic growth will be achieved.

“Therefore, the CBN’s intervention in the manufacturing and real sector wins my kudos for Emefiele.

It is one of those measures that enabled the country to survive COVID-19 and the recessions.”

Ikeora, who was the former chief economist of the African Continental Bank, said that the intervention funds were in line with the broad objectives of the CBN, which included ensuring growth in the economy.

“Those loans are to boost manufacturing capacity.

The interest rate is so high that manufacturers cannot afford the loan if they are to go through commercial banks. What kind of business will a manufacturer do in Nigeria to repay a loan with 30 per cent interest on it? How are they to survive? The banks want areas to make maximum profits in the shortest possible time. They cannot give long-term loans.”

However, a retired Professor of Finance at the University of Lagos, Professor Winifred Iyiegbuniwe, told THISDAY that the federal government should introduce complementary measures that would strengthen the good intentions of the CBN’s interventions in the country’s real sector of the economy.

“We need infrastructure like electricity and rail connecting the east and west section of the country that have a lot of economic activities. Government policies need to be harmonised to complement each other. Money is just one part of the production curve, cost of raw materials and the cost of distribution are all part of it,” he said.

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NEWS

IITA, Tanzania Research Institute Unveil 25 Improved Cassava Varieties Gilbert Ekugbe The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Tanzania Research Institute (TARI) have unveiled 25 improved cassava varieties to boost cassava production in Africa.

Speaking at a day-long National Cassava Business Summit in Dodoma, Tanzania, the IITA Eastern Africa Hub Director, Dr. Leena Tripathi, noted that cassava is at the heart of IITA’s work, noting that the meeting aimed to catalyse Public-Private Partnership (PPP) sector-led investment in the cassava seed value chain, bringing together about 100 participants from government, public and private sectors, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), institutions, entrepreneurs, farmers, and other key cassava stakeholders.

Tripathi lauded the governments of Tanzania and Nigeria for putting efforts into developing the crop for commercialisation by launching the National Cassava Development Strategy (2020-2030) in 2021 as the crop’s blueprint.

She said: “I am glad that Tanzania and Nigeria are comparing notes on how to develop cassava

sector.”

The representative of the Tanzania Minister of Agriculture, Ms. Anna Mwangamulo, advised scientists to research based on the market needs so that the solutions could cater for the consumers’ needs, while also urging the cassava stakeholders to implement the cassava strategy in their activities for the development of the whole cassava sector.

“I appreciate the efforts from IITA and Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) in releasing 25 improved cassava varieties,” Mwangamulo said.

“If we adopt the BASICS model, we will improve production, increase productivity and enhance livelihood through increased income and employment,” BASICS-II Advocacy, Promotion & Outreach Lead at IITA, Dr. Godwin Atser, asserted.

The Chairperson of Tanzania Cassava Producers and Processors Association (TACAPPA), Mwantumu Mahiza, who also spoke at the event, urged financial institutions to create feasible and youth-friendly loan regulations to increase youth participation in the agriculture sector.

Cassava stakeholders also shared experiences and showcased their activities across the entire cassava value chain.

“When I started working on machine designs for cassava processing, many thought that I was wasting my time, but seeing how cassava has become a focal crop and people want to develop the sector, they have started to understand my perspective.” a Processing Machines Manufacturer at Intermech, Peter Chisawilo, said.

A Cassava Seed Entrepreneur, Mama Antonia, who was initially skeptical about the profitability of the cassava seed business, noted that the training she received from the Building Economically Sustainable Cassava Seed Systems in Tanzania (BEST) cassava project helped her to create a successful and sustainable cassava seed production business.

The Project Manager for BASICS-II, Lateef Sanni, said the burgeoning private investments in cassava processing across Africa had increased the demand for improved cassava seeds, with growers racing to satisfy industries.

NDPHC Seals Power Purchase Deal with APL Electric, Eko Disco Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with APL Electric Company Limited (APLE), the electricity distribution company with franchise to service Aba and its environs in Abia State.

The NDPHC/APL deal to deliver 100MW of electricity to the distribution company, came after the company had similarly signed a PPA with Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) for the direct supply of electricity.

A statement by the Media Adviser to the NDPHC, Mr Sanya Adejokun at the weekend, stated that the during the separate agree-

ments, the Managing Director of the company, Chiedu Ugbo represented NDPHC while APLE MD, Patrick Umeh and the Chief Executive, Eko Disco, Adeoye Fadeyiri, represented their respective companies. The agreement with APLE, the statement said, will see the NDPHC delivering 100MW of electricity to the distribution company through its Alaoji power plant in Abia state through a dedicated pillar.

According to the statement, the company currently has over 3,000MW of electricity ready for delivery to the national grid for use by Nigerians.

In his remarks, Ugbo said that before now, Aba was getting a maxi-

mum of 60MW of electricity from the national grid but now, APLE will be served directly from NDPHC’s Alaoji generation company in Abia through a dedicated pillar.

Also speaking on the agreement, Executive Director, Corporate Services of NDPHC, Mrs. Nkechi Mba said that as the centre of commerce, the project will benefit the people of the area in no small measure.

“We at NDPHC are proud of this strategic partnership with APLE at this threshold of history. It is universally acknowledged that Igbo people are great entrepreneurs and business people, and Aba is one the most important centres of small and medium scale businesses in Africa, ”she stated.

Huawei Pledges Support for Nigeria’s Oil Industry, Gets Commendation Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Telecommunication giant, Huawei, has pledged more innovative solutions and support for the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

The company made the pledge at the just-concluded 5th Nigerian International Energy Summit, NIES 2022 in Abuja, even as it got commendations from its partners for the company’s impact on the entire sector.

Huawei IP Product Manager, Mr Chinedu Emekekukwu, reiterated the company’s commitment to the continuous support and collaboration with stakeholders in the Nigeria Energy industry.

“We will continue to revolutionise the industry with cutting-edge technology innovations that promote safety, productivity and value,” he said.

On the sidelines of the programme, Mr Ayodele Afenifero, Executive Director, Emecom Technology and Consulting Limited, noted that based on the nature of Huawei’s technology, product and solution portfolio, it is able to speak directly to customer needs.

Ayodele stated that for instance, industry stakeholders had been deploying the company’s pipeline monitoring solution, the pipeline intrusion solution, and also the E and P storage infrastructure.

“Also looking at the Huawei

cloud where many oil and gas company in Nigeria today are on the journey to be part of what cloud offering is, many of these organisations have been talking about how they would want to have their own storage in their environment,” he said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Monac Global Investment Limited, Chinyere Okonkwo, revealed that she had been a partner with Huawei for more than 10 years,

stressing how her relationship over the years with the company had helped her firm.

“So there is this strong customer, partner’s relationship.

This OEM, partners, and customer relationship is like a trinity. It’s a bond that has been solidified by the constant support of Huawei.

It’s been amazing being partners of Huawei and we look forward to a more successful relationship,” she noted.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 11Mar-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 176.63 177.78 4.86% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 7.38% Nigeria International Debt Fund 321.01 321.01 4.96% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 93.90 95.05 -9.31% 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 8.60% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.56 3.63 0.67% 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 7.48% Anchoria Equity Fund 143.48 145.22 3.04% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.23 1.23 7.07% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.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 21.67 22.32 6.81% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 483.43 498.00 7.15% ARM Ethical Fund 39.66 40.86 1.81% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.06 -2.06% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.03 1.03 1.47% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.25% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 108.96 108.96 7.13% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,084.29 1,084.29 8.43% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.10 2.10 13.56% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.26 2.31 20.40% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.02 1.02 1.72% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.72% Paramount Equity Fund 18.66 18.99 10.87% Women's Investment Fund 146.33 147.94 5.21% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.67% Cordros Milestone Fund 139.46 140.39 5.50% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.46 111.46 0.92% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.57% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.02 1.02 5.61% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.04 1.04 14.24% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 101.54 101.54 3.48% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,425.46 1,425.46 10.73% FBN Balanced Fund 186.01 187.43 6.13% FBN Halal Fund 117.62 117.62 8.70% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.21% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund FSDH Dollar Fund

123.02 157.61

123.02 3.98% 159.78 4.37% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 4,018.45 3,509.61 100.00

Offer Price 4,080.24 3,509.61 100.00

1.09

1.09

Yield / T-Rtn 3.24% 1.19% 5.38%

0.65%

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 5.38% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.94 3.00 2.82% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 138.98 138.98 -10.71% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.29 1.34 2.65% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.07 1.07 4.07% 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 12.72 12.81 7.90% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.72% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 103.48 103.48 10.90% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.38% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 130.00 132.25 9.53% 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 1.02 1.02 9.40% 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 3,568.48 3,608.13 3.65% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 236.95 236.95 0.52% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.37 1.39 6.15% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 316.73 316.73 1.08% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 249.48 253.15 3.04% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.54% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,414.59 11,576.71 2.76% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.30 1.30 0.88% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 117.72 117.72 0.64% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 108.07 108.07 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.98 1.01 5.65% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.44 1.46 5.47% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.16 1.18 6.58% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.09 1.09 1.44% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.99 1.99 1.44% United Capital Eurobond Fund 123.59 123.59 1.03% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.92% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.52 13.65 2.52% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.50 15.68 6.11% Zenith Income Fund 22.34 22.34 1.56% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.26%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

121.99 53.17

1.48% 0.83%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.13 136.00 107.29 20.38 22.37

14.23 139.41 109.66 20.48 22.47

1.15% 3.34% 3.55% 0.00% 0.00%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.39 5.68 18.66 1.00 21.04 169.68

4.49 5.78 18.86 1.00 21.24 171.68

16.66% 11.52% 8.58% 6.75% 8.47% 7.50%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.28

10.80%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY MARCH 15 2022 • T H I S D AY

31

32

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͳ˜ 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

EndSARS, COVID-19 Boost Insurance Patronage, Says NAICOM Boss James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË ËØÎ Ebere Nwoji ÓØ ËÑÙÝ The Commissioner for Insurance/Chief Executive, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Sunday Thomas, has said there has been marginal increase in the uptake of insurance policies in the aftermath of recent EndSARS protest as well as post-COVID-19 pandemic.

He also said that the commission is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the non-settlement of claims in the industry was brought to its barest minimum.

Speaking over the weekend at a retreat for insurance/ financial correspondents, themed: “Improving Insurance Access through Market Development and Innovation in 2022 and Beyond,” in Uyo, Akwa Ibom

State, he said the activities of a few operators who reneged in claims settlement is jeopardising the efforts of the majority who is in compliance.

He said, “Claims payment has always been one aspect the industry is battling to balance.

We all agree that we cannot claim ignorance of the fact that the industry is paying huge claims out there even though activities of few amongst the operators is jeopardising the efforts of the majority.”

Noting that defaults in claims payment had always being a thorny issue that put the entire industry on the edge, he said a consensus had been reached to commence ranking companies on the number of claims received and settled on annual basis.

He said, “We intend to publish such ranking for the insurance

consumers.”

Nonetheless, Thomas said the aftermath of the pandemic and the EndSars had led to remarkable patronage in both the retail and annuity components adding that recently released industry statistics had shown some growth in the sector.

He said the sector recorded positive increase in almost all parameters and remains one of the fastest growing sectors in activities.

He also disclosed that the commission would soon unveil its regulatory sandbox to give room for innovative expansion of insurance reach out adding that the web aggregators’ guideline released recently is also aimed at opening access to insurance and creating a convenient market for the sector.

L-R: President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Olatunde Amolegbe and Proprietor and Chairman, Sofunix International Schools, Sola Oni, during 4th Biennial Inter-House-Athletics Competition at Iroko Town, Ogun State...recently

CIS President Tasks Parents on Investment The President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe, has urged parents to inculcate culture of savings in their children in order to build a new generation of investors.

Amolegbe, who advocated financial literacy for children, also unfolded an investment strategy, called birthday shares, that enables parents to buy financial assets for their children on annual basis.

Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the 4th Biennial Inter-House-Athletics Competition of Sofunix International Schools, Iroko Town, Ota, Ogun State,, Amolegbe explained that as

future leaders, children should be equipped with the knowledge of investment at a tender age .

“As a Chartered Stockbroker, I am obliged to encourage our parents to expose the children to the world of investment. This begins from inculcating financial literacy and culture of savings in the them. One interesting strategy is for parents to buy financial assets such as shares, fixed income securities and other asset classes as gifts during their children’s birthday. Such a child will begin to develop interest in the securities market, “Amolegbe said.

Corroborating him, Sofunix Schools’ Proprietor and u Mr Sola Oni stated that the schools placed

premium on Entrepreneurship of which investor education is an integral part.

“We emphasize teaching and learning of entrepreneurship in our schools. It is not all about academics. Children should acquire skills in other areas in order to become well-rounded.

An integral part of Entrepreneurship is financial literacy and exposure to investment in the securities market. The Inter-House-Competition is consistent with psychomotor domain of education, which is about development of physical skills. We appreciate our parents and sponsors for the successful outing. “, Oni said.

Motor Dealers Urges FG to Suspend Automated Custom Duty on Vehicles Hammed Shittu ÓØ ÖÙÜÓØ

The President of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria Kwara state chapter, Alhaji Abdulhamid Dare Abdul has appealed to the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Government to suspend the VIN valuation automated custom duty on vehicles.

The federal government through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had recently announced a 31-day suspension of the electronic valuation system for imported vehicles, which came two weeks after clearing agent associations at Lagos ports embarked on an indefinite strike, over what they described as frustrations occasioned by the implementation of the e-valuation system or VIN by the Customs.

The development however led

to thousands of imported vehicles to become trapped at the Lagos ports due to the withdrawal of services by the striking clearing agent unions. Among other issues, clearing agents alleged that the Customs had used the e-valuation system to hike duties on imported vehicles arbitrarily.

However, speaking on the state of the nation, the President, Association of Motor Dealers in Nigeria, Kwara state chapter, Alhaji Abdul. said that, “the policy is capable of pushing many car dealers into smuggling which might destroy the gains recorded in the automobile market”.

He said that, “the new system runs afoul of the enabling law which the Nigeria Custom is using in its implementation, and as such calls for its suspension pending review and involvement of all stakeholders which the

motor dealers is also part of.”

According to him “Base on the aftermath effects on our businesses, especially the intended car buyers, the implementation of this policy will automatically lead to geometrically hike in purchase of vehicles, which will grossly destabilize the gains already recorded in the automobile business.

“In view of this, the Association of Motor Dealer therefore call on the federal government and the Nigeria Customs Service to for the sake of Nigeria citizens, suspend this policy and liase appropriately with all relevant stakeholders to arrive at an acceptable value. We wish to reiterate that what the law mandates the customs to collect is some percentage on the purchasing price of vehicles and not depreciating cost of vehicles,” he said.

Edmark City Awards Superstructure Construction Contract to Al Mansour Engineering Edmark City Development Co., Limited, the master developer of Edmark City, has announced the award of the Superstructure Contract for the entire project to Al Mansour Engineering & Contracting Limited. The iconic City is located strategically at Lagos Epe Express Road by 3rd roundabout, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, Nigeria and is expected to be completed by 2024. The property stands in a prime location and prestigious address making it a

great investment towards a more modern and holistic lifestyle.

“Edmark city was designed and shaped to create a modern and sustainable urban environment for people to SHOP, WORK, LIVE, PLAY at the heart of a growing city of Lekki”, explains Mr. Bien Wapanio, Chief Operating Officer of Edmark Nigeria.

Wapanio said that Al Mansour is a company with long-standing track record adding that, “by working with them, Edmark

City will achieve greater heights as a superstructure with quality finish. The City is in line with Lagos State Government vision to be a mega hub city. It will be the first iconic smart city and block chain-powered real estate in Africa. The property offers a one-stop-shop luxury living at an affordable price. This will be everyone’s most comfortable home – away from the traffic jam, mall living experience, and 24/7 security and electrical power.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ 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 ˜ ͵

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).

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͳ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

NGX Partners MTNN to Enhance Retail Participation in Capital Market Kayode Tokede The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTNN) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further promote financial literacy and enhance retail participation in the Nigerian capital market. The announcement was made at the signing ceremony led by the Chief

Executive Officer (CEO), NGX, Mr. Temi Popoola and the CEO, MTNN, Mr. Karl Toriola.

The MoU is a two-year partnership that will see NGX and MTNN collaborate to develop capital market solutions, leverage technology to support data dissemination and technologyas-a-service, promote capacity development, and eliminate barriers to retail participation in the capital market.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Speaking about the MoU, the CEO, NGX, Mr. Popoola stated, “In building on our rich heritage as the first and foremost multi-asset securities exchange in Nigeria we are resolute in our commitment to democratize finance in Nigeria by leveraging current advancements in technology and relying on strategic partnerships.

With its customer base of over 68 million customers, MTNN provides invaluable access to a

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

large pool of potential retail investors who can play an important role in Nigeria’s capital market, deepening their own financial resilience in the process. This collaboration with MTNN aligns with our aspiration to build an open, professional and vibrant exchange and we are indeed excited about this NGX era.”

The CEO, MTNN, Mr. Karl Toriola added, “AT MTNN, we believe we have a responsibility

T R A D E D

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

A S

to ensure that our customers not only stay connected but can access increasing value and better services through our network, deepening their participation in the digital economy.

Our collaboration with NGX gives us the opportunity to empower our customer base with the tools and the knowledge to engage effectively with the capital market and meet their financial and investment objectives. There

O F

1 2

is no better way to demonstrate our commitment to this than through the just concluded public offer for sale of MTNN shares, designed to enhance retail shareholder participation in the value that we create. We continue to identify other areas of cooperation with NGX and we look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership that will contribute to the inclusive growth of the Nigerian economy.”

/ 0 3 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

34

TUESDAY, ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž 'ĂŝŶƐ ϵďƉƐ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ƌŽƐĞ ϵďƉƐ ƚŽ Ϯ͕Ϭϯϱ͘ϴϲ ŝŶͲ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĚĞdž ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ & E, ;нϬ͘ϰйͿ͕ t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ t W K ;нϭ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ^^ ;нϭ͘ϬйͿ͘ ƵŵŵƵůĂͲ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

ƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϵ͘ϭй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

Current Price

Ticker

ŽŵĞƐƟĐ ŽƵƌƐĞ ,ĂůƚƐ ƵůůŝƐŚ ZƵŶ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ ^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй ϮďƉƐ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ

ĚĂLJ͕

ƉƌŝĐĞ

ƵƉƟĐŬ

ŝŶ

,KEz&>KhZ

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ďŽƵƌƐĞ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŝŶ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ďŽůͲ

ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ ƚĞƌƌŝƚŽƌLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ DdEE ;Ͳ ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

2035.86

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

Price Previous Price Current Change Price Change Weighting Index to Change YTD Date

0.09%

ROE

9.8% 103.6%

15.0%

ROA

P/E

3.5%

1,260.00

0.0%

205.00

-0.5%

8.0%

4.1%

4.1%

134.7%

14.1%

70.75

0.0%

6.8%

5.5%

5.5%

19.1%

11.2%

26.70

-1.1%

6.3%

2.7%

2.7%

20.7%

3.3%

38.0%

31.9%

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

5.4x

0.8x

5.9%

ot Applicable

1.5%

14.0x

21.5x

5.1%

7.2%

34.0x

6.4x

4.4x

0.9x

11.2%

23.0% 28.8%

31.9%

16.8%

2.9%

Ϭ͘ϱйͿ͕ 'd K ;Ͳϭ͘ϭйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;Ͳ ^ŚĂƌĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ

5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ ϭ͘ϭйͿ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC

11.60

0.4%

3.2%

1.8%

1.8%

8.4%

0.8%

6.8x

0.6x

3.9%

23.95

1.9%

3.1%

0.0%

0.0%

11.6%

8.4%

9.0x

1.0x

8.4%

11.2%

ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϮďƉƐ ƚŽ ϰϳ͕ϰϮϴ͘ϲϳ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ʹ ŚĂůƟŶŐ ŝƚƐ ϯͲĚĂLJ ďƵůůŝƐŚ

10 Access Bank PLC 11 United Bank for Africa PLC

10.25

1.0%

2.8%

10.2%

10.2%

17.0%

1.4%

2.9x

0.5x

8.3%

34.8%

8.70

1.8%

2.2%

8.1%

8.1%

15.8%

1.4%

2.6x

0.4x

11.6%

38.9%

േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

34.50

0.0%

1.5%

-4.2%

-4.2%

15.1%

2.1%

7.8x

1.2x

11.8%

12.9%

45.50

-1.1%

1.4%

-9.0%

-9.0%

7.6%

2.7%

28.6x

2.1x

3.5%

3.5%

990.00

0.0%

2.3%

52.3%

52.3%

8.7%

4.1%

9.0x

0.8x

4.2%

11.1%

-10.3%

-3.9%

ƌƵŶ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ϭϭ͘Ϭй

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ ϭϭ͘ϭйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĚĞͲ

14 SEPLAT Energy PLC 15 Ecobank Transnational Inc

ĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ േϰ͘ϴďŶ ƚŽ േϮϱ͘ϲƚŶ͘ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ

ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ

16 International Brew eries PLC 17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕

18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC

ϭϭ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϭϮ͘ϳй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϯďŶ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

േϳ͘ϵďŶ͘

22 FCMB Group Plc 23 United Capital PLC 24 Guinness Nigeria PLC

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

ƵůůŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 NEM Insurance PLC

27.00

0.0%

6.0%

7.4%

7.4%

20.4%

2.7%

3.5x

0.7x

11.5%

273.50

0.0%

4.4%

6.4%

6.4%

39.2%

16.3%

12.9x

4.8x

7.3%

7.8%

1,435.00

0.0%

3.1%

-7.8%

-7.8%

106.8%

15.6%

27.8x

32.8x

3.6%

3.6% 14.6%

11.80

7.3%

1.7%

35.6%

35.6%

5.05

-2.9%

1.1%

2.0%

2.0%

140.00

0.0%

1.0%

-1.4%

-1.4%

36.5%

23.3%

9.5x

3.2x

31.50

0.0%

1.0%

11.1%

11.1%

15.9%

4.5%

4.8x

0.7x

5.2%

20.7% 46.2%

2.7x

36.8% 1.0x

-11.3% 10.5%

2.85

0.0%

0.7%

11.8%

11.8%

13.3%

1.3%

2.2x

0.3x

7.6%

2.30

-2.1%

0.5%

-0.9%

-0.9%

9.3%

3.0%

7.1x

0.7x

9.6%

14.1%

16.00

0.0%

0.4%

-8.0%

-8.0%

17.4%

6.9%

8.8x

1.5x

6.3%

11.3%

10.3%

1.1%

3.60

2.9%

0.5%

20.4%

20.4%

12.95

3.2%

0.5%

30.8%

30.8%

65.00

0.0%

0.6%

66.7%

66.7%

13.3%

6.0%

13.7x

1.7x

0.7%

7.3%

1.13

2.7%

0.4%

17.7%

17.7%

11.1%

2.3%

6.0x

0.6x

0.9%

16.7%

35.6%

18.5%

6.2x

1.0x

4.5%

16.1%

2.7x

0.8% 3.0%

7.9%

0.3x

4.0%

2.9x

11.6%

3.98

-2.7%

0.3%

-11.6%

-11.6%

ĐƌŽƐƐ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ

27 Presco PLC 28 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

125.00

0.0%

0.4%

42.4%

42.4%

13.50

0.0%

0.3%

2.3%

2.3%

21.3%

6.9%

12.7x

2.5x

ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ

29 AIICO Insurance PLC 30 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri

0.68

-2.9%

0.2%

-2.9%

-2.9%

7.2%

1.1%

377.8x

0.7x

264.90

0.0%

0.3%

19.4%

19.4%

48.0%

9.5%

5.4x

2.2x

1.6%

18.6%

ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ

31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 33 Unilever Nigeria PLC

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ

ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ d/ ;нϳ͘ϯйͿ͕ ^^ ;нϭ͘ϬйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ >/E< ^^hZ ;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕ t W K ;нϭ͘ϵйͿ͘ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ

34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 36 Oando PLC 37 Wema Bank PLC

ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

38 Sterling Bank PLC 39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ϭ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϰй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ŝŶ //Ͳ

0.3%

7.20

0.0%

0.2%

-8.9%

-8.9%

19.5%

5.5%

4.2x

0.8x

7.7%

23.6%

22.30

1.8%

0.2%

-0.9%

-0.9%

38.7%

16.0%

5.7x

2.0x

6.7%

17.5%

13.00

-1.5%

0.1%

-10.3%

-10.3%

7.8%

4.9%

28.8x

1.1x

26.45

0.0%

0.2%

18.3%

18.3%

18.9%

2.4%

4.0x

0.8x

1.5%

25.0%

4.0%

6.25

0.8%

0.1%

5.9%

5.9%

7.1%

0.8%

7.0x

0.7x

5.07

0.0%

0.0%

14.7%

14.7%

14.5%

2.6%

2.2x

0.3x

3.5%

14.2% 45.8%

0.92

0.0%

0.1%

27.8%

27.8%

14.1%

0.8%

4.0x

0.5x

4.3%

1.53

0.0%

0.1%

1.3%

1.3%

9.4%

0.9%

2.0x

0.3x

3.3%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-28.3%

-6.1%

5.38

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

2.4x

25.0% 50.0% -13.8%

0.9x

13.0%

K ;ͲϮ͘ϵйͿ͕ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϭйͿ͕ /Ed Z t ;ͲϮ͘ϵйͿ͕

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ

ĂŶĚ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϭ͘ϱйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a in e r s P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

R T B R ISC OE

0.80

9.6%

FCM B

ůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƐĞůůͲŽīƐ ŝŶ KEK/> ;Ͳϰ͘ϰйͿ͕ d ZͲ

ET I

11.80

7.3%

F ID ELIT YB K

38.1

0.0%

P R EST IGE

0.49

6.5%

Z EN IT H B A N K

28.5

0.0%

E ;ͲϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ DdEE ;ͲϬ͘ϱйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ t' ;ͲϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

N IGER IN S

0.23

4.5%

T R A N SC OR P

21.0

2.7%

C A VER T ON

1.35

3.8%

GT C O

17.0

-1.1%

M B EN EF IT

0.27

3.8%

C OR N ER ST

15.4

-8.1%

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Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

35

TUESDAY, ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

INAUGURATION OF OAK PRODUCTS...

L-R: A guest, Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo; Executive Board Member, The Oak Holdings, Adeyinka Ojora; former Managing Director, First Bank, Bisi Onosanya, and Founder/Chief Executive Officer, The Oak Holding, Olukayode Olusanya, at the unveiling of four products by the company in Lagos... recently

Fresh Crisis Imminent as Olubadan-in-Council Moves to Review Chieftaincy Titles After Ramadan Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan A fresh crisis might be imminent in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system as the Olubadanin-Council, yesterday, said there would be a review of the honorary chieftaincy titles conferred either

wrongly or rightly, after the coming Ramadan.

The Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, made the disclosure on Monday, after the maiden meeting of the Council, which followed the installation of the new Olubadan,

Oba Lekan Balogun, held at the Alarere residence of the monarch.

The meeting, which was presided over by the Olubadan himself had in attendance other members of the Council that included the Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi

Olakulehin, while High Chiefs Rasheed Ladoja (Osi Olubadan), Olubunmi Dada Isioye (Ekerin Balogun) and Chief (Mrs.) Theresa Oyekanmi (Iyalode of Ibadanland), were absent.

Oba Balogun was, last Friday, formally installed as the Olubadan

Ekiti Guber: INEC Releases Final List of Candidates Chuks Okocha in Abuja

In compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday published the final list of candidates for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ekiti State following the close of nominations by political parties.

The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye, made these known in a statement.

The list contained the name of the APC candidate, Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji and his running mate, Afuye Monisade; the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabisi Kolawole and the running mate,

Kolapo Olugbenga; the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has Elebute Josephine Kemi as its candidate and the Action Peoples Party has Christian Modupe Olatawura, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has former governor of the state, Olusegun Oni as its candidate. The list also has 13 other candidates.

The publication of the list came after the commission had on 16th February 2022, published the personal particulars and list of candidates (Form EC9) for the Ekiti State Governorship election in its State and Local Government offices as required by law.

Okoye said the Commission, “wishes to remind political parties that under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, any party that

observes that the name of its candidate is missing from the list “shall notify the Commission in writing, signed by its National Chairman and Secretary, supported with an affidavit not later than 90 days to the election.”

He further drew the attention of parties to Section 32(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides that failure to notify

the Commission, “shall not be ground to invalidate the election.”

He said, “The final list is published in our State and Local Government offices in Ekiti State as well as our website and social media platforms for public information as required by law.”

Political parties were however enjoined to note the provision of the law for compliance.

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin A seven-man committee set up by the Kwara State Government to investigate circumstances that led to the recent violence in Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo, yesterday

began sitting in Ilorin, the state capital.

Speaking at its inaugural sitting, the chairman of the panel, Dr. Shehu Omoniyi explained that the panel was not to witch-hunt anyone, but to assess critically what

Says Kogi govt is an embarrassment to ruling party Urges party not to let Bello determine his successor A former Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, yesterday, warned leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against electing those he described as 'Bureau De Change Managers' at the March 26 National Convention.

Lukman, while calling for a painstaking background check on all the aspirants contesting the forthcoming national convention in a statement, however, described the Kogi State government as an embarrassment to the ruling party, urging the leadership not to let

Governor Yahaya Bello determine his successor in the interest of Kogi people.

He appealed to all APC leaders, especially, governors, to recognise that the weight of political responsibility of producing new leaders for the APC was a very strong test of whether the party could continue to justifiably earn the confidence of Nigerians.

"Once party leaders make the mistake of producing Bureau De Change managers as APC leaders during the March 26, 2022 National Convention, the probability will be very high that there will be many bad eggs emerging as standard

Hamidu Ajibade, who currently hold the positions of Ashipa Olubadan, Ekerin Olubadan and Ekarun Olubadan, respectively, would become Osi Olubadan, Ashipa Olubadan and Ekerin Olubadan in that order.

High Chief Ajibola stated that the promotion exercise could not be held without the consent of the governor, which he said was already being processed.

He further disclosed that other lesser promotions down the line to Jagun, which would not need the governor’s consent, would begin on Friday, all things being equal.

“Appointment of mogajis and baales would follow after the completion of all the promotion exercises, which would end with the Iyalode line,” he said.

Hijab: Panel Begins Sitting on Ijagbo Crisis

Lukman to APC: Don't Let 'Bureau De Change Managers' Emerge Party Leaders Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

of Ibadanland and presented with staff and instrument of office by the Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde.

High Chief Ajibola said the Olubadan-in-Council rejoiced with the monarch for the successful coronation programme, which he said the meeting reviewed and applauded Governor Makinde, as well as the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

He restated the plan of the Olubadan-in-Council to fill the existing vacancies occasioned by the elevation of Balogun from Otun Olubadan to Olubadan and the elevation of Senator Ladoja from Osi Olubadan to Otun Olubadan.

Similarly, High Chiefs Eddy Oyewole, Abiodun Kola-Daisi,

bearers of the party for the 2023 elections.

"Already, PDP leaders have dug their political grave, when for instance, they elected people, who shared $2.1 billion meant for arms procurement to fight insecurity as national leaders of the PDP,” he said.

Lukman noted that the quality of party leaders would substantially determine the quality of candidates the party would present for elections in 2023, stressing that the ruling party needed to take a special interest in what was going on in Kogi State.

According to him, it was embarrassing that a government produced by the party would demonstrate

that level of rascality.

He argued that, if the PDP could tolerate such public rascality as was the case under, for instance, the inglorious era of Ayodele Fayose in Ekiti and many other PDP state governments across the country, APC must decisively disown what was coming out of Kogi State under Governor Yahaya Bello.

His words: “If necessary, APC should declare opposition to what is emerging as the governance credentials of Governor Yahaya Bello, including taking every necessary step to save the people of Kogi State from the influence of Yahaya Bello in determining who succeeds him."

happened, how it happened, and make specific recommendations to the government to prevent a reoccurrence.

The panel chairman added: "I urge people to calm down and cooperate with us. If you are invited, speak the truth and nothing but the truth.

“There's no need to mislead the panel. Because we want to work with the fear of God and I hope at the end of the day all sides will be happy with our recommendations."

Omoniyi called for religious tolerance and understanding for peaceful co-existence.

In his submission, the Principal of the school, Mr. Francis Lambe, who narrated what transpired in the school between Wednesday, January 19, 2022 and Thursday, February 3, 2022, when the issue of hijab took another dimension said the resistance to the hijab was strictly from the Christian body in the community.

Lambe explained that several meetings he held with some stakeholders to allow peace to reign in the school did not yield result.

He confirmed that government owns the school and was responsible for payment of its teachers, saying the only role played by the Baptist was to advise the government on the choice of principal, as had been the culture in schools

originally owned by missionaries.

The Principal who disclosed that the school has a population ratio of 47 per cent Muslims and 53 per cent Christians had agreed that the wearing of hijab by willing Muslim girls did not have any negative effect on the school.

Lambe agreed that the school is owned by the state government and all the stakeholders ought to accept government's policies to be effective in all public schools.

"What I will recommend to the government is to invite the CAN and the concerned Muslim stakeholders and let them understand that policy is policy and pacify the two sides. Now, our school is closed. We have our SS3 students about 151 students ready to write WAEC," he added.

The co-chairman of the panel is the Secretary General of Ijagbo Descendants Progressive Union Mr. Emmanuel Adebayo Fatola.

Other members are Pastor (Dr) Modupe Oreyemi Agboola; Kwara State Chairperson of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Dr Saudat Baki; Special Assistant to the Governor on Religion (Islam) Alhaji Ibrahim Zubair Danmaigoro; Special Assistant to the Governor on Religion (Christianity) Reverend Timothy Akangbe; and a director in the Ministry of Justice Ishola Olofere (Secretary).

36

TUESDAY, ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Constitution Review: Senators May Not Consider Fresh Gender-based Bills Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate might have foreclosed a possible revisit of the genderbased bills it rejected recently while considering the report of its Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

An investigation carried out among some senators by THISDAY, yesterday, revealed that most of the male federal lawmakers were not favourably disposed to reopening the issue, which they described as a closed chapter.

Some of the senators spoke off-the-record to avoid any form of backlash from the womenfolk, many of whom had begun to protest against the issue at the National Assembly since the lawmakers threw out their bills.

One of the senators from the North Central confided in THISDAY on the condition of anonymity that the bills had died a natural death, saying they could only be re-presented, when the next National Assembly starts another round of constitution amendments.

He said: "The stage we are now is that the Senate and the House of Representatives would harmonise their positions on the 68 bills considered and send those ones that both chambers passed concurrently to the state Houses of Assembly.

"I heard that the House of Representatives said it would revisit the bills but I can assure you such action is not only 'unparliamentary', but an effort in futility."

Another Senator from the Southeast geopolitical zone, who

also craved anonymity, said the bills canvassed by the women would impose additional financial burden on Nigeria if passed.

His words: "Nigerians are protesting against the 460 membership of the National Assembly, yet, the gender-based bills are seeking creating additional seats for women.

"Apart from that, from which of the federal constituency would the additional seats be created. Is it from the North, South, East, West or Central senatorial district?

Are they saying we should start a fresh delineation of federal constituencies?"

A former governor in the red chamber also queried the bill seeking to make foreign spouses of women to get automatic Nigerian citizenship, five years after marriage.

According to him, "How are you sure the so-called marriage is genuine? What if the marriage collapses in the sixth year? Are we going to withdraw the citizenship?

However, on the record, the Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, Adelere Oriolowo, urged the women to engage more in lobbying to get their proposed legislation passed in future.

He also shared the views that the bill on additional seats for women would be an additional financial burden on the country.

Oriolowo said, "For instance a bill seeking the creation of special seats for women in an institution that is already being described as bogus and should be pruned down, may not fly.

"What it means is that instead

E-fraud, Major Risk to Digital Finance, Says NCC Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has identified e-fraud as the greatest threat to digital finance.

Citing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) report, the Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, Efosa Idehen said the apex bank had revealed that e-fraud was costing the Nigerian financial sector staggering losses in monetary terms.

Idehen spoke at a secondary schools’ debate organised by the NCC and, 'Save the Consumer,' in Abuja with the theme: "Should Secondary School Students Use Mobile Phones to Enhance Education?"

The debate was organised to create awareness and save consumers from e-fraud and to educate the young ones on the proper use of e-channels for financial services.

He said: "As technology evolves, there is a growing concern over the rising trend of fraud perpetuated on telecom platforms across key sectors of the Nigerian economy known as e-fraud.

"This menace which follows wide acceptance of new methods of mobile banking and other payment systems has been discovered to cost the country whopping sums of money. The CBN rates e-fraud as the biggest risk in the sector which has widely affected electronic payment solutions such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBBS) Instant Payment and mobile banking.

"Attackers are now targeting telecom networks with

the intention to disrupt service delivery and infiltrate their data bank. SIM swaps, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and e-payment fraud."

To address this menace, he said the NCC actively collaborates with critical stakeholders such as the CBN, the Nigeria Police (NPF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and other relevant bodies in the fight against e-banking fraudsters.

"ICT has played a central role in young people's rise to prominence on a global scale and has given them voice where there none before.

"It has brought them together response to social concerns and has connected them across vast geo-political barriers. ICT has also provided youth access to digital financial services.

"For young people, access to information means better access to capital, markets and training needed to pursue career or studies."

Idehen noted that this year's World Consumer Right Day with the theme: "Fair Digital Finance," called for stakeholders to do more in bridging gap in digital finance whilst protecting consumers and keeping them informed on safe financial services.

The Country Director of Save the Consumer, Aliyu Ilias said consumer have enjoyed six years partnership with the NCC. He assured that Save the Consumer would continue to work with the Commission to save the consumer. For the past six years that we have been in this partnership the relationship has been very cordial."

of three seats per state in the Senate, there would now be four. It will also, substantially increase the number in the House of Representatives. The issue of Constitution amendment is a

continuous exercise.

"The women need to show more passion in prosecuting their cause. They need to do more of lobbying the men and they also need to be somehow

in tune with the majority opinion of the general public.

"Apart from that, women need to participate more in politics.

There is no physical restriction to what women can do in politics

at the moment, so, they should take advantage of their population and contest elective positions. They need to show more interest in politics. Democracy is about campaign."

AIR CHIEF AT THE HEART BEAT OF NIGERIA...

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (right) receiving a souvenir from the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, during a courtesy visit, at the Government House, Benin City ... yesterday

APC May Throw Chairmanship Open as Party is Yet to Reach Consensus Agreement Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja In view of the national chairmanship crisis plaguing the All Progressives Congress (APC), there are fresh indications that the party might eventually throw the position open to calm some frayed nerves and also engender a level playing field.

This is as there were speculations that the zoning arrangement of the party might also be reviewed if the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, returned as Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party.

A chieftain of the party and former member of the National Executive Committee (NEC),who pleaded anonymity, told THISDAY yesterday that Buni might return to the zoning arrangement he prepared before the party was taken from him.

On the party positions zoned to South-south, he said the National Publicity Secretary, has been zoned to Delta and Edo; while the National Vice Chairman has been micro-zoned to Rivers and Bayelsa, and the National women leader, zoned to Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom.

According to the source, "Now, what has been agreed is that states that already have NWC positions for the past two tenures will leave it for those that have not gotten.

That is why Edo is leaving the position of National Publicity Secretary for Delta. Cross River is also leaving Women Leader to Alwa Ibom. Same thing applies to

Rivers State, leaving the National vice Chairman for Bayelsa.

"Let's wait till the chairman arrives, because I believe there might be changes. When people come with a coup like this, they come with their own ideas and all that. Just like the way they change the sub-committee for the convention.

“I believe that is what they would have done for the zoning too to favour what they want to do – their plan. I believe that there might be adjustments here and there. For now, we should just hold on till the chairman arrives."

Asked if the date of the convention was not too close to be making adjustments, he said Buni would only revert to the zoning arrangement he made before he was pushed out.

He explained that the adjustment did not mean anything, adding: “It is just to go back to the status quo. There was an arrangement before now that these coup people, Yahoo, Yahoo governors, according to Rotimi Akeredolu tampered with. I think everything has to go back to the status quo.

Meanwhile, aides to some of the chairmanship aspirants from the North Central, have declared the readiness of their bosses to slug it out for the position, regardless of the different narratives being currently thrown around.

Director General of the Tanko Al-Makura Campaign Organisation, Mr. Alancha Dominic, said he knew that the president never endorsed his boss’ predecessor in

officer, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, saying Al-Makura's chances were as bright as God's promise.

His words: "From the beginning, we knew that the president did not endorse Senator Abdulahi Adamu; that it was just media speculation and that position was clarified, when the S.A to the President on media, Femi Adesina also did a release.

"But the media keep on encircling that idea of the President endorsing Abdulahi Adamu. But I think this one has settled the issue of this Purported endorsement.

The President has come out clearly to say that he did not endorse Abdullahi Adamu," he added, even though his claim that the president has denied could not be verified.

On his part, the Coordinator of the George Akume Campaign Organisation, Mr. Simon Shango, has said his boss was not afraid of anybody as he was prepared for the contest, adding that he remained the preferred aspirant from the North-Central.

"The president himself has denied endorsing Abdulahi, that one is clear. As to whether they want to throw the race open to all the aspirants, we are in the race.

We are not afraid of anybody. We know that we are prepared for the North Central "We are prepared for the race, because we are the preferred aspirant. We are qualified and I know that the people of North Central will prefer our aspirant, because of what he has done to keep the party in the North Central

and to also build a bridge between the north and the south," he said.

Also speaking, a media aide to Saliu Mustapha, another aspirant, Mr. Dapo Okunbajo, said his principal was open to either consensus or indirect primaries to determine the national chairman of the party.

Okunbajo explained that, as a loyal party man, Mustapha never had any doubt about the national convention would hold and has always made it clear in all his media engagements.

In another development, a group, APC New Generation Forum, has thrown its weight behind the aspiration of Adamu.

National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Charles Ibiang, while addressing a press conference in Abuja stressed that as the 2023 elections approach, there was a need for the APC to assemble the best minds under the most competent and experienced national chairman.

It noted that Adamu has the capacity to galvanize all centrifugal and centripetal forces internationally, nationally and locally to lead the ruling party to electoral victory come 2023.

"It was based on these premises, that the entire membership of the APC New Generation Forum, cutting across the 36 States and the FCT, hereby formally and publicly, endorses the candidature of His Excellency, Sen, Abdullahi Adamu, as the best option for the office of the APC National Chairman at this most critical time of the history of our great Party.”

TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

37

NEWS

US Hails EFCC for Arresting Suspect on FBI Wanted List for $100m Fraud

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Rebecca Ejifoma

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has arrested 42-year-old Osondu Igwilo, a suspect wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since 2018 for alleged $100 million fraud among other crimes. Already the United States has hailed the Nigerian anti-graft agency for the feat.

Also, the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC has arraigned one Kolawole Adedayo Erinle alongside his firm, Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

Erinle was arraigned on an amended three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of $1,410,000.

In a statement yesterday the spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren said Igwilo was allegedly the leader of a criminal network that perpetrated an advance-fee scheme around the world, and laundered the

proceeds through US-based bank accounts.

The prime suspect was caught alongside Okafor Nnamdi Chris, Nwodu Uchenna

Emmanuel, and John Achukwu at a studio in the Sangotedo area of Lagos.

Their crime include wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering,

and aggravated identity theft $100 million.

The suspects, according to the FBI, allegedly perpetrated a scheme involving false

promises of investment funding, impersonating United States bank officials in person and via the internet.

According to the EFCC,

“Investigation revealed that those who fell victims of the suspects’ criminal activities were asked to make certain payments before they could receive their funding.”

HONOUR WELL DESERVED…

L-R: Welfare Secretary, Progressives Young Women Forum (PWYF), Fatima Sani; National Secretary, Bilkisu Siddiq; Founder and APC National Women Leader, Stella Okotete; President, Seun Osamaye and Publicity Secretary, Theresa Tekenah at the dinner organised by PWYF in honour of Okotete in Abuja…recently

Ukraine War: Another Batch of Navy Arrests Two Vessels, One Cotonou Boat with Petroleum Products 31 Stranded Nigerians Arrive Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Another 31 Nigerians stranded in Ukraine arrived in the country yesterday.Since the Nigerian government started evacuation of its stranded citizen from Ukraine which has been under Russia military attacks in the last two weeks, about 2,000 persons have been evacuated.

Despite the evacuation, which is now the seventh batch from countries bordering Ukraine, there are still many Nigerians trapped in the Eastern European country.

The latest evacuees arrived

from Romania on board a Turkish Airline commercial flight by 6.30am.

The Nigerian government had paid for the seats in the flight to accommodate the stranded Nigerians.

On their arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the evacuees were received by the government delegation led by Amb. Bolaji Akinremi, Director Consular and Legal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Akinremi revealed that many more stranded Nigerians will be evacuated within the week.

20 Resident Electoral Commissioners to Quit June 2022 Laleye Dipo inMinna No fewer than 20 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) are to quit their respective states between now and June this year, it has been revealed.

The RECs will be vacating their offices having completed their two term mandates.

The development will therefore create a situation that new RECs will superintend the 2023 general elections.

Niger State REC, Professor Sam Egwu, who is among those to

leave, confirmed this in a chat with newsmen in Minna yesterday, explaining that no REC can serve more than eight years so they should be ready to leave.

Egwu, however, appealed to the relevant authority to appoint new RECs “ So that there is no disruption of the process. They ( government) should do it timely so that there is no disruption of the programme. “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is building institutions that go beyond individuals so there is nothing to be afraid of.”

APC to Mobilise Girls, Women for 2023 Presidency The National Women Leader of the her leadership qualities and how All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Stella Okotete, has hinted that she and her team would embark on campus tours across the 36 states to Mobilise female students and women for the party to win the 2023 presidency and other electable positions.

Okotete disclosed this yesterday at a surprise appreciative dinner organised for her by the Progressive Young Women Forum (PYWF).

Members of the forum took turns to eulogise the women leader for

she had managed to empower the women using the PYWF which she birthed.

All the speakers at the event however unanimously appealed to her to contest the position of the National Women Leader of the party which has been zoned to the South-south region so she can continue with the good works she has been doing as the Women Representative of the Caretaker/ Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) .

The Nigerian Navy on 2022 Exercise Obangame Express yesterday arrested two vessels and a Cotonou wooden boat loaded with suspected adulterated Automatic Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel.

According to the Fleet Commander, Central Naval Command and Officer in Tactical Command of Exercise

Obangame Express 2022, Olusanya Bankole, who spoke during the arrest, explained that the Cotonou boat with seven suspects onboard were arrested along Sam Brerio River Mouth.

Bankole also revealed that the vessels were apprehended within the Central Naval Command Area of Responsibility of Nigerian Navy.

As at the time of filing this report, THISDAY could not ascertain the quantity of the

products, who was behind the illegal oil business and the destination of the products before arrest, as suspects were still undergoing interrogation.

THISDAY onboard the Obangame Express noted that the suspects were arrested between 6:30pm and 7pm yesterday.

During the official flag-off of the 2022 Obangame Express Exercise, the Chief of Naval Staff, (CNS) Vice Admiral

Awwal Z. Gambo had stated that the ongoing exercise aimed at improving security between Gulf of Guinea navies and allied friends.

According to Gambo, the exercise was designed to improve regional collaboration through joint operations, intelligence sharing and harmonised legal framework to enhance collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea nations against maritime crime.

Osinbajo: Govt Agencies Must Respect, Be Accountable to Citizenry Deji Elumoye in Abuja Vice President(VP) Yemi Osinbajo has emphasised that government agencies must at all times respect the citizenry as well as being accountable to them.

According to him, beyond core regulatory roles, government’s parastatals must always show that they are responsible to the people that they serve and that they hold them in high esteem.

Osinbajo stated this yesterday while playing host to a delegation

of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in town for the Council’s 70th Annual Meeting.

He said: “It is very important that we show respect for our citizens and show that we are concerned about them, that we are not just a regulatory body that feels that its role is just to be a policeman, and all of that.

“I think we must also show that we are responsible for the people that we serve and that we hold them in high esteem.”

The VP cited as an example

the prompt response of WAEC to the issue of some candidates having difficulties regarding the National Identification Number (NIN), where the body responded that due to the challenges with the NIMC portal at the time, the affected candidates could still sit for the exams.

He said: “These kinds of quick responses show respect for citizens,” adding that he is also personally happy that the Examinations Council is

responsive and aligning with the digital technology age in different areas.

His words: “Just looking at the press reports and what WAEC has done, it has shown that it is very responsive to the needs of society. I was particularly impressed by the new digital certification that was announced some time ago, that if one lost his/her WAEC certificate, you can apply for the digital copy, which means your records are never lost.

2023: Don’t Be Used by Unscrupulous Politicians, Clerk Tells Youths Udora Orizu in Abuja As 2023 general elections is gathering momentum, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Amos Olatunde Ojo, has urged Nigerian youths not to allow themselves to be used as cannon folder for unscrupulous politicians.

Ojo who spoke during the commemoration of Commonwealth Day in Abuja

yesterday, lamented that Nigeria is fast losing her youth to obsession with wealth and fortune which has plunged them into diabolical rituals.

While urging parents, religious leaders, schools and the mass media to go back to the basics and courageously identify where the country missed its way into the jungle of barbarism that now violently threatens the future of

the youths, he warned that if the menace is not curbed immediately, the next generation of Nigerians would be doomed.

He said: “May l ask the question: what type of future are our youths looking at when teenagers and under aged children are incredibly involved in money rituals? What kind of future is waiting for our youths when the craze for sudden wealth has even

overtaken morality and godliness?

“What future awaits a generation when its youth spends long hours chatting on social media sites yet the long hours wasted online can be channeled to productive activities that can enable one to acquire quality education.?

For instance, through online tutorials and make good use of online research materials.

Ebonyi: INEC Set to Make Pronouncement on Court Judgements Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it will this week make a pronouncement on the plethora of court judgments against and in favour of the embattled Governor of Ebonyi state, Chief David Nweze Umahi and the deputy governor

, Eric Igwe over their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

A Federal High Court, Abuja presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo had last week in a suit declared the seats of Governor Umahi, his deputy, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe and those of the15 lawmakers who defected with them to APC vacant. The

court order following two suits brought against them by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The judge also ordered the INEC to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to the PDP’s nominees for the vacant executive positions in Ebonyi state without delay.

But nearly one week after

INEC is yet to comply with the order, although Governor Umahi and the affected members of Ebonyi House of Assembly have since appealed the judgement at the Appeal Court of Nigeria.

Also, a High Court in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State has asked Governor Umahi to remain in office as the Governor of Ebonyi state.

TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

38

NEWSXTRA

APC Crisis: Uzodinma Counters El-Rufai, Says Buni Still in Charge Emameh Gabriel inAbuja

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, yesterday insisted that Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, who is currently on medical leave will return as Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC), noting that every activity currently going on at the party’s national secretariat were still being sanctioned by Mai Buni.

Uzodinma ,who was a guest on Channels Television programme, Politics Today, said that he was not aware of any directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari to remove Mai Buni as the party caretaker chairman as narrated

by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, last week.

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, had last Monday stormed the APC national secretariat and took over affairs of the party in what many had considered to be a palace coup.

Following the incident, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai confirmed on a live TV interview that it was the end of Buni’s reign as caretaker chairman of the party and would be returning as the governor of Yobe State on the instruction of President Buhari.

“Buni is gone, the secretary

is gone. Governor Bello is in charge and he has the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari and 19 governors. Buni can only return as governor of Yobe but

never as chairman of our party,” he said.

However, contrary to ElRufai’s claims, Uzodinma, said Buni was still in charge of the

party’s affairs and would return as caretaker chairman, noting that the purported removal of Buni was in the first place illegal and could not have been sanctioned

by President Buhari, whom he said was a true democrat.

He said: ‘‘The chairman of Caretaker Extra Ordinary Committee for Convention

is Alhaji Mai Mala Buni the Governor of Yobe State. Let me tell you how this thing works.

The business of politics is more serious than some people think.

WATER FOR THE PEOPLE…

L-R: General Manager, Rural Water Supply Agency (RUSAWA) Yobe State, Liman Babayawo; Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar (rtd); Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammad Abali Ibn Muhammad Idrissa; Director, Civil Military Cooperation, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Suleman Dahun; and Zana Sunoma, Fika Emirate, Mr. Ali Gimba, during the inauguration of a motorised borehole donated by the Nigerian Navy to Ganda Fura village, Potiskum, Yobe State...recently

Court Jails Six for Northern Youths Threaten Nationwide Protest over Fuel Scarcity Cybercrime in Kwara Seriki AdinoyiinJos

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday jailed six persons for involvement on cybercrime, impersonation and other internet related fraud.

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the convictions of six persons over offences bordering on cybercrime, impersonation and other internet-related fraud.

The convicts are: Adeshina Wasiu, a welder base in Offa; Hammed Akorede Hammed,

who operated a barbing salon shop in Offa; Komolafe Shina David from Ilesha East Local Government Area of Osun State; Fatimehin Kayode from Ekiti LGA of Kwara State; Adetoye Damilare Timilehin from Boluwaduro LGA of Osun State, and Adebayo Ridwan Abiola from Obokun LGA of Osun State.

The defendants were prosecuted on separate charges by the anti-graft agency before the court.

The accused, however, pleaded guilty to their respective charges.

Police Arrest 11 Suspects for Murder of Ogun Monarch James Sowole in Abeokuta The Nigerian Police Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun, have arrested 11 persons in connection with the gruesome murder of Olu of Agodo, a town in Ewekoro Local Government area of Ogun State, Oba Ayinde Odetola.

The arrest of the suspects, was disclosed in a release signed by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 2 Command Headquarters,

Onikan-Lagos, Hauwa Idris Adamu.

Adamu said the arrest, followed a petition received by the Police over the gruesome murder of the monarch.

“On the 28th January, 2022, a petition with the above caption was received from one Odetola Okuribido ‘m’ on behalf of the entire Okuribido Royal Family of Agodo town, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun state.

EndSARS Protest: LCC to Resume Toll Operations at Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge Segun James The Lekki Concession Company (LCC), the operators of the Lekki and the Lekki-Ikoyi Toll Gates are to resume operation at Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge on April 1, 2022.

The company, in an advertorial in a national newspaper and signed by the Managing Director, Yomi Omomuwasan, said that the resumption of tolling followed several consultations with all parties and critical stakeholders

affected by the tolling operations.

This is coming about 18 months after tolling was suspended at the bridge following the aftermath of protests against police brutality and extrajudicial killings in Lagos State in October 2020.

Although Omomuwasan was silent on the Lekki tollgate operation, he, however, announced that commuters plying the corridor will not be paying any toll for the first two weeks until 15th April 2022.

The Arewa Youth Alliance for Development (AYAD) has called for the dissolution of the managements of Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory (NMDPR) over the protracted scarcity of fuel bedeviling the country.

It has also given a seven-

day ultimatum to the federal government to resolve the fuel crisis or face nation-wide massive protest.

In a press statement signed by the Leader of AYAD, Mr. Mock Samuel Kure, the youths observed that the disruption in the supply chain has also caused sudden inflation in cost of transportation leading to increase in the prices of daily consumables.

Kure said: “We had waited

patiently for the National Assembly and NNPC to make public its report on the hearing regarding the cause of the importation of the bad fuel to no avail. It seems to be taking forever. We have every reason to believe that some sacred cows are the elements that have thrown Nigerians into this needless hardship.”

AYAD also decried the current cost of petrol, which now goes for N250 to N300 per litre, saying

that government is yet to remove subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, hence, the benchmark of the product ought to still remain N165.

The group alleged that “the fact that fuel is sold openly at this exorbitantly price without any form of resistance makes one to suspect that the illicit profit most of the independent oil marketers are making is being shared between them and some staff of NMDPRA.

2023: Enugu West Council Chair, PDP Carpet Ekweremadu over Zoning The Local Government Chairmen in Enugu West Senatorial District of Enugu State have joined in the ongoing zoning controversy in Enugu State, accusing the Senator representing the senatorial district, Ike Ekweremadu of being economical with the truth.

The five council chairmen from the senatorial district made their position known in a communiqué they issued after their meeting in Udi Local Government Area of the State.

Ekweremadu had, while declaring his governorship ambition last week, challenged proponents of zoning to state when and where such an agreement was ever reached.

But in the communiqué, the council chairmen said the federal lawmaker was present at the meeting of July 7, 2013 where the Enugu State Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reached an agreement on zoning.

They said: “The Senator

was economical with the truth when he said that there has never been any zoning arrangement/agreement in Enugu State regarding the pattern of emergence of the State Governor.

He challenged anyone to show him where and when such an agreement was written.

This came as the Forum of Local Government Chairmen of PDP, in Enugu West Senatorial District also faulted Ekweremadu’s comments

against zoning, declaring their unalloyed support for zoning of the governorship position in Enugu State.

The PDP LG Chairmen took the stand in a communiqué issued after their meeting yesterday and by signed by Hon. Okechukwu Aneke (Udi LG Chairman) Hon. Nebo Chukwujekwu Emmanuel (Deputy Chairman, Awgu), Ozor Anayo Chude, (Ezeagu) Hon. Godwin Anekwe, (Oji River) and Hon. Victor Okoro, (Aninri).

APC Chair: Most Qualified Candidate is Preferred, Says Adamu Mary Nnah The Senator Representing Borno South, Borno State, Senator Ali Ndume, has said that his preferred candidate for the chairmanship of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is the most qualified person for the position.

Ndume said that such a person must be somebody that

could stand on his own and should be a man of his own.

He said: “Such person must be a man that cannot be manipulated, that can talk to anybody and can serve as a leader or father to all and which can listen to people and then take decision based on maturity and for the good of all of us.”

Ndume who described the crises rocking the ruling party as

very unfortunate and worrisome, said that this was not unusual in politics, adding, “It is all about interests. The concern was that the interest of the individual is being allowed to override the general interest of the party.

Unfortunately, the president who is the leader of the party has responded by issuing out a statement last week.”

Expressing the hope

that with the intervention of President Buhari in the party’s disputes during the weekend, which appears to have calmed the nerves of feuding governors who apparently have agreed to shield their swords for now in preparation for the party’s convention scheduled for March 26, there was hope that things would fall in line.

Alleged N4.8bn Fraud: EFCC, Dozzy Oil Ask Court to Strike out Ibeto’s Suit The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Chairman of Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited, Daniel Chukwudozie, have asked a Rivers State High Court to dismiss a suit filed by the Chairman of Ibeto Group, Chief Cletus Ibeto seeking to stop the EFCC from investigating him over an alleged N4.8 billion fraud.

In a Suit marked PHC/268/

FHR/2022, Ibeto is praying the court to stop the EFCC from investigating allegations of fraud bordering on obtaining by false pretence the sum of N4.8 billion, forgery and criminal breach of trust leveled against him by Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited.

Ibeto had filed an originating motion on notice, praying the court to declare that EFCC lacks powers to interfere on land disputes.

He also prayed the court to declare his alleged harassment by the commission unlawful and to restrain it from arresting him and to also order the commission to pay him N500 million damages for depriving him of his fundamental human rights as a Nigerian citizen.

However, when the case came up for hearing, counsel to the EFCC, Simon Ibekwute drew the court’s attention to

his Preliminary Objection filed on February 21, 2022, saying that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit in Rivers State because the alleged infringement of the applicant’s fundamental human rights occurred in Abuja.

The EFCC’s counsel also filed a motion for extension of time as his processes filed was not within the time limit as provided by law.

39

TUESDAY, ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Confusion in Ghana over Venue for Black Stars, Eagles Match CAF likely to order GFA to pick either Benin or Morocco as venue for first leg

Femi Solaja with agency report

There is air of uncertainty surrounding where Ghana will host the first leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff with Nigeria scheduled for March 25.

The original venue scheduled for the clash between the two eternal West African rivals was the Cape Coast Stadium.

But following the use of the facility to celebrate Ghana’s 65th independence anniversary on March 6, the pitch got messed

2022 WORLD CUP PLAYOFF up.

All attempts to fix it ready before CAF/FIFA final inspection last Sunday before Super Eagles hit town for the March 25 date proved a disaster.

Now, there are speculations that Ghana may not host the first leg of the playoffs on their home soil. Although there is no formal statement from CAF yet on the result of the final

inspection, there is the belief in football circles that the game may be moved to either Benin Republic or Morocco.

Attempts by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to urge CAF move the match to the alternate Baba Yara Stadium has been rejected because FIFA requires that all match venues a member association would like to use for qualifiers be submitted

90 days to kick-off of the game.

Ghana’s National Sports Authority however believes that the pitch of the Cape Coast Stadium should be ready before March 25 to handle the game.

Alexander Tieku, an offical of the Central Regional, NSA maintains that the game can take place at the stadium and that there is no point talking of moving the game elsewhere.

This position bellies why the CAF representative accompanied

by GFA Deputy Secretary, Alex

Asante, and the NSA DirectorGeneral, Professor Peter Twumasi were at the Baba Yara Stadium to ascertain its condition during Asante Kotoko's league game against Bibiani Gold Stars as possible alternate venue.

There will be no sanctions if the Cape Coast Stadium fails to pass the fit and proper test, the

world football governing body will only direct Ghana to select a venue outside the country.

A decision that will deny them the home advantage the Ghanaians are craving to use their fans intimidate Super Eagles to submission before coming to Abuja on March 29 for the crucial second leg of the playoffs.

2022 NUGA Games Organisers Present Torch of Unity to GTCO Kunle Adewale

The Vice-chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, and members of the organisers of the 2022 NUGA Games yesterday presented the Games' Torch of Unity’ to the Group CEO GT Holding Company, Mr. Segun Agbaje at the bank's corporate headquarters, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Accepting the ‘Torch of Unity’ from the Vice-chancellor, Mr. Agbaje said the bank is honoured to be be the lead sponsor of the 2022 NUGA Games hosted by the University of Lagos Giving reasons for sponsoring the Games, Mr. Agbaje said: "We truly believe that the development of any country depends on the youths. We like to associate with sports because it teaches the lessons of life."

The Group CEO GT Holdings Company however charged participants at the Games to play by the rules and win fairly, which is one of the core values of the bank.

"Winning in a competition needs better preparation which is also one of the criteria needed to thrive in business," Agbaje noted.

He indeed promise that the

sponsorship of the NUGA Games would not be a one-off.

On her part, the Deputy Vice-chancellor, (Development Services), Professor Ayodele Asenuwa, said the Games would kick off on Wednesday, March 16 with over 5,000 athletes expected to participate in various sports.

She noted that some of the participants have already qualified for the Commonwealth Games.

Professor Asenuwa said one of the reasons University of Lagos is hosting the 2022 NUGA Games is to contribute to the sports development in Nigeria and crave for GTCO's continuous

sponsorship of the Games.

Also present include; Dr Joseph Awoyinfa, Executive Secretary, NUGA, Idris Olorunnimbe, GCE/ Founder, The Temple Company and Oyinade Adegite, Group Head, Corporate Communications & External Relations, GTCO.

Augustine Eguavoen...Super Eagles Head Coach

Rangnick Banking on ‘Ronaldo Magic’ to Stop Atletico Tonight Manchester United interim Manager Ralf Rangnick has called for his players and the club's fans "to be on top form" for his side's Champions League game against Atletico Madrid tonight.

Manchester United drew 1-1 with the La Liga champions in Spain on 23 February.

Rangnick said "all players" were available for the last-16 second-leg tie, but there was a "small question mark" over the fitness of Luke Shaw. Left-back Shaw recently tested positive for coronavirus.

Midfielder Bruno Fernandes is back in training after returning a negative Covid test, while fellow midfielder Scott McTominay also trained on Monday having missed United's last game, against Tottenham on Saturday, with a

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE calf injury.

Portugal international Fernandes is available to play having missed United’s 3-2 victory over Spurs, while Shaw will be assessed before kick-off.

"We want players and supporters to be on top form, like Spurs," said Rangnick.

"They can make it a very special experience for everybody. We have to create those moments."

United last reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League in 2019, where they lost 4-0 on aggregate to Barcelona.

In the first leg against Atletico, Anthony Elanga netted a late equaliser to cancel out Joao Felix's

opener.

Atletico are on a three-game winning run since drawing with United and are fourth in La Liga - 12 points behind leaders Real Madrid having played one game more.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for United as they beat Tottenham in a thriller on Saturday.

And Rangnick is confident the 37-year-old will be able to play two matches in four days.

"I'm not worried that he hasn't been able to recover," he added.

"He looks after himself. He knows what to do.

"If he can score another three

goals, we will see? It is not easy against this team.

"It is not only about Cristiano, it is about the whole team. We have to know what it takes, the rest is about energy.

"It is very important (to score first). Atletico don't mind the opposition having the ball. If possible, we have to make sure we don't concede at all."

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simone said his side are "really up for the game" as they hope to reach the last eight of the Champions League.

"We know every game is completely different, we've done well in these previous games like this in this country," he said.

"We know the potential and how important the opponent

we're facing on Tuesday, and I'm sure that we'll do the best we can in the game.”

Atletico's Yannick Carrasco will miss out through suspension, while Matheus Cunha, Daniel Wass, Sime Vrsaljko and Thomas Lemar remain sidelined through injury.

Skipper Koke returned from a muscle injury on Friday, playing 45 minutes of his side's win over Cadiz, and could start at Old Trafford.

Mario Hermoso, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Jose Gimenez are also all in the travelling squad but are doubts with knocks.

The other game of the evening is between Ajax and Benfica at the Amsterdam Arena. The first leg ended 2-2.

Sanwo-Olu Renames Ikorodu Mini Stadium after Modupe Oshikoya The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has renamed the newly commissioned state of the art mini stadium in Ikorodu in honour ex Olympian, Modupe Oshikoya.

With this renaming, the centre which was commissioned last week by the governor, will now be called Modupe Oshikoya Youth Centre.

The mini stadium, which was built with a semi-standard

CORRIGENDUM In our story under the headline “Our Edo Sports Commission Team Will Surpass Expectations, Says Yussuf Alli” published yesterday on Sports Page 54, a member of the new Edo Sports Commission board, Asue Ighodalo who is Chairman of Sterling Bank was erroneously called Chairman of Skye Bank.

The ERROR is regretted.

- Editor

basketball court, was developed by the State’s Ministry of Youth Development. Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the President, while member representing Ikorodu in the House of Representatives, Hon. Jimi Benson, supported the stadium project by building spectators’ stands and the pitch.

Oshikoya, born on May 2, 1954, is a former female track and field athlete from Nigeria, who competed in the women’s sprint and long jump events during her career.

She is a one-time Olympian (1972), and also competed in the heptathlon. Oshikoya won a total number of five gold medals at the All-Africa Games (1973 and 1978).

Oshikoya competed and won gold for her University in the USA, UCLA in the 100 meters, long jump, 100 meters hurdles and the hepthatlon at the NCAA championships in 1982.

Manchester United’s players training ahead of crucial Champions League clash with Atletico at Old Trafford tonight

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

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PDP to Buhari, APC

‘’Is it not arrogance of power that informed the Buhari-led APC administration to import contaminated fuel, induce agonizing fuel scarcity on our citizens and yet had the effrontery to tell Nigerians that heaven will not fall over the fuel situation? The arrogance and impunity of the APC administration also accounted for its refusal to prosecute APC leaders indicted for corruption...”---PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, berating President Buhari and his party, APC for their governance ineptitude.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Politics And The Church In Nigeria I

t is difficult to imagine that the Church in Nigeria and its leaders would not be interested in politics as Nigeria begins preparations for the general elections in 2023. A heated and emotional controversy was stirred last weekend when it became public knowledge that the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) had set up The Directorate of Politics and Governance.

Many raised an eyebrow. Why would the Church create a Department of Politics and Governance?

Publisher, veteran journalist, newspaper columnist and Presidential aspirant Aare Dele Momodu described the development as “an invitation to Armageddon” in an essay titled “My Kobo Advice to Redeemed Christian Church of God” (ThisDay newspaper, back page, March 12, 2022). His main concern was what he described as “the general conspiracy theory that our church was setting up an extensive network for the obvious Presidential ambition of the current Vice President, President Yemi Osinbajo”, whereas there are other members of the RCCG, including his good self who are interested in the Presidential race. Why should the Church favour one person over and above other members?

In a notable response, Kolade Segun Oke-Owo, Deputy Director, Directorate of Politics and Governance, PFN, Ogun State, and National President, Believers in Politics writes as follows: “…The RCCG did not actually create the Directorate of Politics and governance. The creation of the Directorate is a brain child of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria under His Eminence, Bishop Wale Oke, its National President. The RCCG only became the first among other Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria under the leadership of PFN to kowtow and subscribe to the vision of the Directorate of Politics and Governance.

It may also interest Uncle Dele Momodu that the National Directorate of Politics and Governance of the PFN is not headed by a member of the RCCG but a General Overseer from another denomination in the person of Rt. Hon. Pastor Femi Emmanuel.”

The fact that only a few days after the Dele Momodu essay, the Daily Trust newspaper and others published a story indicating that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has now notified President Muhammadu Buhari of his interest in the 2023 Presidential race, before that was refuted, lent greater currency to the Dele Momodu protest. The truth indeed is that over the past few months, a group of hidden and open persuaders have been threatening to sue Vice President Osinbajo if he did not throw his hat into the 2023 ring. Members of the RCCG have also not helped matters. They have often said that the General Overseer of the Church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye once predicted that a day would come when a member of the Church would become President of Nigeria.

When Professor Osinbajo emerged as Vice President of Nigeria in 2015, the members were excited. They talked openly about a prophecy that was about to be fulfilled. Professor Yemi Osinbajo is not just a member of the RCCG Congregation; he is a Pastor and one of the most visible leaders of the Church.

Dele Momodu’s essay is a statement of caution: that the church cannot turn itself into a political machinery and a partisan campaign platform for one individual enjoying a special advantage. He is also a member of the Church. The wife of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also a Presidential aspirant, is equally a member and a Pastor of the Church. He wants the church to be neutral. Equality before God should translate into equality of aspirations under the umbrella of the Church. Dele Momodu’s supporters have suggested in accompanying reactions that the Church should stay out of partisan politics. In 1961, the Sage, Obafemi Awolowo had put up the same argument as Momodu’s. He said: “It follows that in order that it may discharge its functions, a religious organization must be independent of Government and its patronage and must never be subordinated

Pastor Adeboye to its dictates or whims… A religious organization should never allow itself to be regarded as the mouth piece and instrument of the powers-that-be…”. This may be a difficult argument to sustain.

The Church has been enmeshed in politics from time immemorial, from the Roman Empire, to the Medieval Era and to the present day. In the New Testament, the word “ekklesia” which is used to refer to the Church actually means a political assembly, a political association, a gathering. The separation of the State and the Church, or the separation of secular and religious power, has not always been so clear-cut. During the Crusades (circa, 1095 - 1291), Christians fought wars to acquire or regain territory.

The Holy Book itself is full of this intersection between the Church, power struggles and secular politics.

The clergy are not just spiritual leaders, they fight political battles worse than what is found in the secular community. The argument that the state and religion should be separated is largely theoretical.

In 1534, King Henry VIII of England established the Church of England, away from the Catholic Church following disagreements with Pope Clement VII on the scope of papal authority over marital choices. The politics of it is well captured in Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons. The Anglican Church continues to play a dominant role in British politics.

Back home here in Nigeria, the kind of politics that church leaders play, including litigations and open quarrels, is far more vicious than what is found in the regular political arena. To give a case in point would be the acrimonious conflicts over control and succession in the Celestial Church of Christ since the passing of the founder, Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oschoffa in September 1985. In 2015, Pope Francis advised that Catholics must participate in politics. Just as Christians won’t hands off secular and sectarian politics, being human beings and political animals, leaders of the Muslim congregation are also just as involved.

It should be recognized also that ethnicity and religion are perhaps the two most central factors in the politics of power in Nigeria, as has been proven and examined in such works as Religion, Politics and Power in Northern Nigeria by Matthew Hassan Kukah, Iheanyi Enwerem’s A Dangerous Awakening: The Politicisation of Religion in Nigeria, and Religion and Politics in Nigeria: A Study in

Middle Belt Christianity by Neils Kartfelt. Nigerian politicians over the years have used both ethnicity and religion as instruments of manipulating the people for their own purposes, exploiting the people’s fears about domination by the other. Religion has featured prominently in ethnic conflicts in the Middle Belt, on the Plateau, Southern Kaduna and elsewhere, with one group persecuting the other through repeated cycles of violence, and the State, which should enforce peace and justice, is usually partial and biased, taking sides, most cynically, depending on the religious affiliation of the persons in power at the moment. It is this linkage between religious belief and how power is exercised that has resulted in the political patronage of religious groups and the rise of partisanship in places of worship. Nigerian politicians, regardless of the express provision of the Constitution that there shall be no state religion (Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution) have nonetheless turned religion into a special centre of engagement.

In every Government House in the states and the State House in Abuja, there is usually a Mosque and a Church, power shifts between both locations depending on the religion of the main leader in charge, who accordingly appoints Special Advisers and Assistants on Religious matters. Christian leaders send members of their constituency on pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Muslim leaders do the same for members of their religious community. Despite assurances over the years that the state shall no longer fund religious trips, the Pilgrims Welfare Boards of Nigeria continue to exist at all levels.

The assumption is that a Christian leader would defend the Christian faith and a Muslim leader would do the same for his own constituency as well. In every election at both Federal and State levels, Nigerians have adopted the convention of a Christian and Muslim ticket, in joint political races, to give the people a sense of balance, access and proximity to power. The most remarkable exception to this pattern occurred in 1993 when a Muslim-Muslim ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Presidential candidates- Bashorun MKO Abiola and Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe won the Presidential election. Given the manner in which religion has further driven a wedge between Nigerians, it would be difficult to reproduce that magical moment again, either now, or in the immediate future. The Church in Nigeria believes that the time has come to do more than preaching and praying and become an active political force.

In yet another statement on the matter, titled “The New Dawn: Church Prophetic Political Delivery and Responsibility of the Church (March 11, 2022)”, Bishop Theophilus Taiwo Ajose, Ph. D declared that all church fathers and leaders are required to direct their members and followers to “register for and update their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) and “urgently join any political party of their choice at the ward (grassroots) levels and participate actively in political activities of that party while upholding righteousness.” It is important to further understand the context of this ideological declaration. Hitherto, the Church in Nigeria acted as the moral compass without necessarily being partisan. During the struggle for democracy, 1993 -1999, Catholic Bishops, leaders of the Anglican Church and the Pentecostal Federation fought for the rights of Bashorun Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe to be given their mandate.

It didn’t matter that both men were Muslims. The Church was a modulating voice of reason. The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and the Catholic Secretariat through the Justice Development and Peace Departments of the Church fought for democracy and development. The Anglican Church and the Pentecostal Federation were also in the forefront of the struggle. Many would remember the heroism of the Rt. Rev Peter Adebiyi, one of Chief Abraham Adesanya’s most trusted lieutenants, popularly known as the NADECO Bishop, Bishop

Bolanle Gbonigi and his fiery sermons and the stinging interventions of John Cardinal Onaiyekan, as well as the activism of the likes of Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Fr. George Ehusani, Fr. John Uba Ofei and and Fr. Iheanyi Enwerem. Catholic priests on one occasion trooped to the streets in defence of democracy! Today, Nigerian church leaders and the Congregation are more interested in fighting for their own. They want their own people in power, even at the traditional, grassroots level. But that didn’t start now.

I recall that as President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesperson in the lead up to the 2015 general elections, in the course of the campaigns, our campaign train visited as many major churches in the country as possible. We saw crowds of potential voters. Prayers were offered. There were declarations of vision and revelations. The Church was not necessarily fighting for democracy in 2014/2015. It wanted to protect its members who had become victims of religious and ethnic conflicts. Church leaders wanted a Christian President to remain in office to address the emerging crisis. Later, when I ran on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party as a Deputy Gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State in 2018/19, it was part of my schedule as the Christian on the PDP Muslim-Christian ticket to interface with the Christian community. We had a high-ranking member of the PFN in our political camp who made the necessary arrangements, and hence, we went from one church to the other, preaching to church elders. I even participated in debates organized by churches for political party candidates. It was clear to me from the interactions that church leaders in Ogun State wanted power to shift to a Christian candidate, the outgoing Governor then, being a Muslim who had spent eight years in office. If the church leaders saw any visions, they did not tell me.

It is perhaps the same drama that is now playing out ahead of the 2023 general elections. With a Muslim as Nigerian President for eight years, and with the Nigerian Christian community convinced that a Muslim-led Nigerian Presidency persecutes Christians and pampers Muslims, the Church of Nigeria appears resolved to get into the arena of action. It seems Christian forces are now ready to sponsor candidates and mobilize the Congregation, armed with PVCs. The Church has also been drawn into the politics of zoning and rotation. It won’t be long before the various branches of the PFN begin to have chapters of political parties. No one should be surprised if some churches ask every soon that they should be designated as polling units or centres!

When that happens, sermons in churches would become political manifestoes. It would be a reflection of how desperate every Nigerian constituency has become, how badly religion has divided us, and how high the stakes would be in 2023.

The truth is that churches in Nigeria today have become far more secular than they were a few years ago. The original words of the Lord Jesus Christ distinguished between the secular and the spiritual thus: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12: 17). But in Nigeria today, those in charge of God’s affairs are threatening to contest with Caesar. They seek to move from a place of independence and spiritual power to the main arena. Many churches are personal estates. Many are business investments. The other day, the General Overseer of the Christ Living Hope Church with Headquarters in Anambra, Rev. Ugochuckwu Emmanuel Ekwem was caught at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport by the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) trying to smuggle 54 sticks of drugs to Kenya. Religious faith is in decline in Nigeria. Political belief is about to dilute religious belief, far more aggressively. The church is seeking redemption through politics. How far will it or can it go?

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