THURSDAY 19TH MARCH 2020

CBN to Scale up Economic Support with Extra N1.1tn Health sector gets fresh N100bn incentive Sets up N1.5tn infrastructure fund implementation committee Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced its decision to increase its intervention to boost local manufacturing and import

substitution with the injection of an additional N1.1 trillion across all critical sectors of the economy.

The move, which is in line with the banking sector regulator’s efforts to cushion

the impact of COVID-19 on the Nigerian economy, came two days after it unveiled a sixpoint palliative to ameliorate the continued impact of the global pandemic on the country.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said in Abuja that the central bank would meet with the Bankers’ Committee on Saturday to work out the modalities of channeling the funds as well

as to ensure easy access by local manufacturers.

Additionally, Emefiele announced a fresh N100 billion loan to support the health authorities to ensure laboratories, researchers and

innovators work with global scientists to patent and or produce vaccines and test kits in Nigeria, to prepare for any major crises ahead.

Continued on page 8

Taraba Gov’s Prolonged Absence from State Provokes Fresh Controversy... Page 5 Thursday 19 March, 2020 Vol 25. No 9110. Price: N250

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FG to Cut 2020 Budget by N1.5tn, Deregulates Petrol Pricing NNPC reduces pump price to N125 Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Ejiofor Alike in Lagos The federal government yesterday in Abuja announced its decision to reduce the

N10.59 trillion 2020 budget

by N1.5 trillion.

It also said it would reduce capital budget allocation by 20 per cent across the ministries, departments and agencies

(MDAs) as well as 25 per cent cut in both the recurrent and capital budgets of government enterprises.

The federal government also deregulated petrol

pricing, directing the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to modulate pricing in accordance with prevailing market dynamics and further

oil market development.

Subsequently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced that its outlets would sell petrol at N125

from today, an N18 reduction from the N143 it sold up till yesterday.

These decisions were taken Continued on page 8

At Last, FG Restricts Travel from US, UK, France, 10 Others Records five new COVID-19 cases, shuts NYSC camps nationwide Lagos suspends gathering above 50 persons, joins North-west govs to close schools

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan, Adedayo Akinwale, Udora Orizu in Abuja, Martins Ifijeh, Chinedu Eze, Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos, and Francis Sardauna in Katsina Nigeria yesterday stepped up efforts to check further spread of COVID-19 as it slammed a travel ban on 13 nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom and China.

The travel restriction, which also affected COVID-19 high-risk nations like Japan, South Korea, Italy, Iran, Spain, France, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, was announced just as five fresh cases of the pandemic

were recorded in the country.

With the five new cases, Nigeria now has eight incidents of the pandemic since the index case occurred in February.

Another suspected case of COVID-19, it was learnt, was also being looked into yesterday in Katsina State.

Following the travel ban, announced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, the federal government also temporarily suspended the issuance of visa on arrival policy, which came into effect in January 2020. The suspension is part of measures to curb the further spread of Continued on page 8

NAF: 17 Terrorists, Bandits Killed in Kaduna... Page 6

WELCOME TO NIGERIA… World Bank’s new Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri (left), and President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, during a courtesy visit by the bank’s chief to the Senate president in Abuja…yesterday julius atoi

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NEWS Taraba Gov’s Prolonged Absence from State Provokes Fresh Controversy

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Dep gov, speaker tackle APC Wole Ayodele in Jalingo The prolonged absence of Taraba State Governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku, from the state and his non-transmission of power to his deputy, Alhaji Haruna Manu, has deepened the controversy over the governor’s absenteeism.

While the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state called for the handing over of power to Manu, in line with the constitution, the deputy governor and the Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Joseph Albasu Kunini, faulted the call and accused the opposition party in the state of mischief.

Ishaku left Jalingo, the state capital, for Abuja shortly after he presented 2020 budget to the State House of Assembly on December 19, 2019, and has since not returned to the state.

While in Abuja, he had travelled to the United Kingdom where he was said to have undergone surgery on one of his legs and thereafter returned to Abuja and has remained there since then.

But Ishaku's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bala Abu, told journalists that the governor was advised to remain in Abuja by his doctors

and he would not stay at the nation's capital longer than necessary.

Abu said Ishaku was involved in a domestic accident from which he sustained a minor injury and was recuperating.

He, however, noted that the governor is discharging his official duties and responsibilities without any hindrance, particularly award of contracts, payment of salaries of civil servants, employment and distribution of employment letters to civil servants, among many others.

But the governor's prolonged stay outside the state is generating controversy as the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is the main opposition party in the state has accused the governor of breaching the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, particularly section 190 (1) and (2).

The party flayed the governor for failing to hand over to his deputy just as it accused the State House of Assembly of negligence for its failure to transmit power to the deputy governor.

The Chairman of APC in the state, Mr. Ibrahim El-Sudi, in a telephone interview with THISDAY, stated that though

his party sympathized with the governor over the domestic accident he had, the provisions of the constitution must be adhered to.

"We, the APC in Taraba State, are not happy with the absence of the governor for the past 84 days. We understand that he had a domestic accident. We sincerely sympathise with him but our position is that the right thing has to be done. Our demand is not out of malice or mischief but adherence to the rule of law.

"The 1999 Constitution as enshrined in section 190 (1) (2) specifically spelt out that whenever the governor would be out of the state for a specific period of time, he should transmit a letter to the House of Assembly transmitting the instrument of the state government to the deputy governor.

"And the section also stipulates that in the event that the governor fails to transmit a letter, the House of Assembly would transmit power to the deputy governor after 21 days to act as acting governor. We have called on the House of Assembly to do the right thing and we're still waiting for them to do the right thing," he said.

According to him, APC is

prepared to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion as it has commenced moves to explore every legal option to ensure compliance with the constitution.

"In the event that they refuse to do the right thing, we've mandated a private lawyer to write to the House of Assembly to demand that the constitutional provision should be followed. If they fail to accede to our demand, we shall obtain an order of mandamus to compel the House of Assembly to transmit power to the deputy governor," he added.

But the state House of Assembly speaker criticised the APC for allegedly attempting to subvert the constitution.

Kunini told THISDAY in a telephone interview that the section does not contemplate or envisioned the scenario the APC was portraying, adding that there is no justification for calls on the governor to transmit power.

He said: "The governor is in Abuja and he is working.

The government is running smoothly. Section 190 (1) and (2) does not stipulate that the governor should transmit power when he is in Nigeria and he's performing the duties and functions of his office.

WE FEEL YOUR PAIN...

Minister of Humanitarian Aairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Ms. Sadiya Farouq (left), and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the minister’s visit to the governor to commiserate with him over the recent explosion at Abule-Ado‌yesterday

"Unless and until the constitution is amended, that is the position of the constitution. Those calling for the governor to transmit power or calling on the House of Assembly to transmit power to the deputy governor are only being mischievous.�

The deputy governor also faulted the position of the APC, describing as mischievous its call on the legislature to transmit power to him.

He said the governor's absence had not affected governance in any form.

In a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Alhaji Lawal Kona, Manu dissociated himself from the APC’s challenge and condemned the call, saying it is an attempt to cause disaffection within the government and score cheap political goal.

"The Taraba State Deputy

Governor, Haruna Manu, has noted with dismay, the smear campaign going around, especially in the social media by some mischievous persons that Darius Ishaku should hand over to him as acting governor.

"Deputy Governor Manu has dissociated himself from such agitators and condemned their actions in the strongest terms.

The unwarranted call by these mischief-makers is no doubt a ploy to cause disaffection within the administration in order to score a cheap political goal. Their plans to instigate mistrust within the polity will definitely fail," he said.

Manu also warned those he referred to as 'rabble-rousers' to desist from attempting to distract the leadership or inflame the emotions of the people of the state.

Lagos Orders Schools to Shut down Segun James

As part of the preventive measures against the spread of the COVID-19, the Lagos State Government last night announced the shut down of all public and private schools with effect from Monday, March 23, 2020.

The state's Ministry of Education in a statement personally signed by the Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, stated that it had become necessary to prevent children and their teachers from getting vulnerable to the pandemic.

"It is important for parents to ensure that their children practise ‘social distancing’ while at home, wash their hands regularly or use hand sanitizers and observe high standards of personal hygiene.

"Children should be encouraged to remain at home.

"The closure is not intended to create panic but to arrest the spread of the

disease, which has become a global threat.

"The Incident Command Centre, headed by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is the Incident Commander, will continue to trace all contacts of the identified cases," she stated.

THISDAY gathered that before the state government announced the closure of schools, some private schools had taken the bull by the horns by announcing closure from today without any instruction to do so from the state Ministry of Education.

Their decision followed the federal government’s announcement of five new cases of coronavirus, bringing the national total to eight.

Schools still have two weeks to end the current term and this is a period many of them conduct the second term examination.

Some of the highprofile schools suspended examinations to close immediately.

NIRSAL Dismisses Protest at Headquarters as Mischief Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja The Nigeria IncentiveBased Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) has dismissed yesterday’s protest at its Abuja headquarters as the handiwork of mischiefmakers who are bent on discrediting the laudable agricultural programmes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

A statement by NIRSAL’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ms. Anne Ihugba, stated that

three persons carried placards inscribed with ‘’unsubstantiated and discredited’’ allegations against NIRSAL’s Managing Director, Mr. Aliyu Abdulhameed, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). ‘’The colourful flyers and placards accused NIRSAL and the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme of diverting farmers’ money and killing farmers, a totally baseless claim. ‘’The messages on the placards and flyers included: Anchor Borrowers Programs a

Lie; CBN, NIRSAL Is Diverting Farmers’ Money,’’ she said.

However, the NIRSAL’s spokesperson said when the protesters were engaged by staff members of the organisation, some of them who were ‘’dirty and unkempt’’ and spoke in Hausa language said they knew nothing about NIRSAL’s operations and admitted that they were sponsored to demonstrate against NIRSAL. According to her, ‘’They also admitted that they have no information about NIRSAL’s operations, the Anchor

Borrowers Programme and the Central Bank. ‘’According to them, they were at NIRSAL to do a job they were paid for by their sponsor(s) who got them a police permit.’’ Ihugba described the sponsored protest as a failed attempt to distort the facts about verified contributions of NIRSAL, such as over N100 billion facilitated from the financial sector into the agricultural sector, which is improving the lives of farmers across the country. “Though NIRSAL found

the inauspicious visit as an opportunity to engage and enlighten more young people on its agribusiness initiatives and the promise they hold, the protest smacked of a witchhunt and a well-crafted agenda to smear the organisation. ‘’Questioned individually, the boys admitted to belonging to no ABP tickets and were in fact recruited from Abuja and environs, particularly from areas such as Mararaba, Mabushi and Jabi. This negates the claim that they are farmers from Kebbi State.

“To be absolutely clear, all successful ABP applications for the 2019 farming seasons have been honoured by NIRSAL. As required by the guidelines issued by the central bank, farmers with incomplete loan documentations are prevented from accessing the funds in their accounts until they meet the obligations.�

She said the attempt was bound to fail because “facts do not lie,� saying the effort to discredit the institution by persons who do not mean well for the sector and the country was sure to fail flat.

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NAF: 17 Terrorists, Bandits Killed in Kaduna

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

A joint air and ground operation carried out by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigeria Police has led to the death of five commanders of the terrorist group, Ansaru and 12 bandits in Walawa, Yadi and Kurudu Hills in Kaduna State.

The airstrikes followed intelligence reports that the bandits, after driving away the original inhabitants of the area, had continued to operate from

the locations with impunity.

An update issued by NAF Headquarters said combat helicopters deployed in the scene destroyed structures housing the terrorists, paving the way for ground troops to smoke them out.

"The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in a special operation conducted in coordination with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, has smoked out armed bandits from their camps at Walawa, Yadi and Kuduru Hills areas

of Kaduna State, neutralising several of them and destroying some of their logistics supplies in the process.

"This was achieved in a joint air and ground operation executed March 17, 2020, after credible intelligence reports and days of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions

revealed that the bandits, after driving away the original inhabitants of the area had continued to operate from the locations with impunity," it said.

The update, issued by NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said NAF had detailed the combat helicopters to conduct a

series of air raids on the bandits’ camps resulting in the destruction of some of the logistics facilities and structures housing them as well as the elimination of several of them.

"The airstrikes also paved the way for ground forces to conduct mop-up operations, supported by NAF combat helicopters. In all, no fewer

than five commanders of Ansaru and a dozen bandits were neutralised in the operation.

"The NAF, working in consonance with other security agencies, will sustain its operations to flush the armed bandits out of the North-west zone of the country," the statement added.

Military to Review Operations against Insurgency Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The military has said it will review strategies adopted so far in the ongoing operations across the country.

It has also inaugurated a new directorate for defence media operations, headed

by Maj-Gen. John Enenche.

The directorate, an initiative of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olonisakin Abayomi, is to provide information on all issues relating to military operations.

Enenche, at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, said: "The Nigerian military will continue to review and restrategise so as to tackle the security challenges in the country."

This, he said, "is in order to ensure adequate security of lives and property."

On the new defence media strategy, Enenche said the new directorate would be a clearing house for all information relating to the operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

"In this regard, our channel of communicating the operational activities of the Nigerian military to the general public has been streamlined to one source, which is henceforth the Directorate of Defence Media Operations.

"This implies that the directorate is now the

clearing house for all information relating to the operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, which will provide authentic information on all issues bothering on military operations," he added.

According to him, the directorate will disseminate information on multi-agency operations of which the Nigerian military would be the lead agency.

"In clear terms, the Directorate of Defence Media Operations is responsible for press briefings, releases and other press activities on all military and Armed Forces of Nigeria-led multi-agency operations, for internal and international engagements.

"The purpose of this establishment is to ensure that the Armed Forces of Nigeria communicate its operational activities through one channel to the general public. It is envisioned to achieve 'information delivery for positive effect' at strategic, operational, tactical and other levels of our target audience," he stated.

He called for collaboration with the media to ensure the success of the new outfit.

"On behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, I am to request for your cooperation and support for the Directorate of Defence Media Operations to enable the outfit deliver on its mandate," he added.

BACK TO BASE...

L-R: Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Diran Odeyemi; Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde; former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and National Vice-Chairman, South-west, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, at the PDP South-west zonal uniďŹ cation rally in Ibadan‌yesterday felix ademola

Lagos, Ogun Suspend Gatherings of Over 50 People Segun James Following the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country, Lagos and Ogun States have suspended large religious gatherings involving more than 50 people.

The decision was contained in a communiquĂŠ signed at the end of an emergency meeting between the Lagos State Government and religious leaders in the state yesterday.

The ban, which was tagged suspension, will be for an initial four weeks, according to the communiquÊ, read by the state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr. Olanrewaju Elegushi.

Elegushi read the directive

on behalf of Nigeria InterReligious Council (NIRC), Lagos chapter, after an extensive debate with the representatives of leaders from both Christian and Islamic organisations.

The meeting, which lasted for hours, was attended by the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Sulaiman Abu Nolla and the Chairman of Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos chapter, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola.

To ensure full implementation, a 15-man committee co-chaired by the commissioner, and the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Adebunmi Adekanye, was set up.

While reading out the

communiquĂŠ, Elegushi said: "It is better to offend people than to kill," adding that 50 people are manageable for religious leaders to control.

"We hereby agree we should suspend all religious congregations that are over 50 within the state for four weeks. It is easy to establish contacts of about 50 people. To achieve this, a committee should be set up to monitor and report on a daily basis.

"While the constitution allows for freedom of association and worship, we are of the opinion that we should exercise our rights with extreme caution so as to avoid contacting and spreading of this disease,� he added.

Ogun State also announced the immediate suspension of all high-density gatherings that would bring together 50 or more persons in the same place, such as social clubs, halls, cinemas, night clubs, restaurants, cafes and sports arenas.

The measure will be in effect for the next 30 days, in the first instance.

A statement yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Kunle Somorin, said the restriction had to be enforced without prejudice to people’s fundamental rights to association and movement, adding that the safety of the people and their welfare are priorities that cannot be toyed with.

Edo APC Crisis Deepens as Faction Opens Secretariat Obaseki’s faction declares event illegal Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Efforts to resolve the crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have suffered a setback as a faction of the Edo State chapter of the party believed to be loyal to the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has opened a new secretariat.

The secretariat, which is less than two kilometres from the old secretariat of the party was opened with fanfare and attended by party leaders and members.

They were led by two governorship aspirants and former deputy governor of the state, Hon Pius Odubu and Saturday Uwalekhue.

However, the leadership of

the faction loyal to Governor Godwin Obaseki, led by Mr. Anselm Ojezua, yesterday dismissed the event, saying it remains the legally recognised leadership of the party and its secretariat is the only recognised APC state secretariat in Edo. Spokesperson of the faction loyal to Oshiomhole, Mr. Chris Azebanmwan, told journalists yesterday that Col. David Imuse (rtd.) is the acting chairman of the party as Ojezua had been removed.

This, he said, was confirmed when it was Imuse that attended the last NEC meeting of the party as Edo State chairman and that he was also there when the state chairmen visited President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said: “After we removed Anselm Ojezua in November last year, armed thugs took over the secretariat in their thinking that we want to eject Ojezua from the office, but we know that no Edo citizen’s blood is worth the political ambition of anybody because we were aware that all of those things they were doing was in furtherance of Mr. Governor’s second term ambition.

"So we decided that at the end of the day the building does not make the secretariat.

If the national secretariat of our party wants to get in touch with our party in Edo State, they will get in touch with us wherever we are located. It was fortunate that the campaign office of Mr. President for his second

term was available so we decided to adopt that place as our operational base.�

When contacted, the Publicity Secretary of the faction loyal to Obaseki, Pastor Joseph Osagiede, said: “I am not aware of any other state secretariat. That is not allowed by law. Our party does not allow for two secretariats so that is illegal."

Meanwhile, the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Mr. Lawal Shuaibu, has lamented that the structure of the party has become weak and urged the leadership of the party to reposition it.

The National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, had on Tuesday announced that in the spirit of reconciliation that the National Working Committee (NWC)

had lifted the ban placed on Shuaibu and the Vice National Chairman, North-west, Mr. Inuwa Abdulkadir.

But Shuaibu while addressing journalists yesterday at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, which he had stayed off for almost a year, said he was never suspended, but rather stayed away from the party to avoid picking up unnecessary fights.

According to him, the structures of the party as a result of the inability of the leadership to reposition the party have become very weak from wards to the national.

He said: "Nobody suspended me; it was just a fight that I wanted to avoid. I don't want to continue the fight and that was why I kept quiet. All I wanted to do was to raise my

hand before the market burns because by the time the market goes aflame everybody may be consumed.

"All I have said in that letter have all come to pass. It is wrong to say that the war is over because, to me, there was no war in the first place.

My letter to Oshiomhole was very personal to either save the party or allow it to collapse. I told him to come back to the track and if he cannot do it, let him leave because some of us have suffered to build this party."

According to him, in the spirit of reconciliation, whatever happened in the past should be left in the past because there was nothing anybody can do when Oshiomhole said he has extended the olive branch.

THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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PAGE EIGHT CBN TO SCALE UP ECONOMIC SUPPORT WITH EXTRA N1.1TN Emefiele said an implementation committee to drive the private sector contribution of N1.5 trillion infrastructure funding that will link farming communities to markets as agreed at the recently concluded ‘Going for Growth,’ economic roundtable held in Abuja, last week, would be set up next week.

He said: “The CBN is directing all deposit money banks to increase their support to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. In local drug

manufacturing; in increased bed count in hospitals across Nigeria; in funding intensive care as well as in training, laboratory testing, equipment and Research & Development (R&D). “In addition to the N50 billion soft loans to small businesses already announced, the CBN will increase its intervention by another N100 billion in loan this year to support the health authorities to ensure laboratories, researchers and innovators work with global scientists to patent and or produce vaccines and

test kits in Nigeria to prepare for any major crisis ahead. “The details of how these facilities can be accessed will be released soon. Secondly, given the continuing impact of the disease on global supply chains, the CBN will increase its intervention in boosting local manufacturing and import substitution by another N1 trillion across all critical sectors of the economy. “The management of the CBN will meet with the Bankers Committee this Saturday at 10.00 am to work out the modalities.

“Thirdly, an implementation committee that will action the private sector contribution of N1.5 trillion infrastructure funding that will link farming communities to markets as agreed at the Going for Growth Roundtable last week will be set-up next week.�

Emefiele added that the CBN had set up the Financial Markets Situation Room to monitor global markets and advise an adequate response.

According to him, all banks and other regulated entities in the banking industry have been

advised to trigger their business continuity plans to ensure that their staff and families are protected and their operations remain largely undisrupted as well as adhere strictly to the directives, advice, and notices from the Federal Ministry of Health, National Centre for Disease Control and other relevant government agencies on national response measures to COVID-19.

In addition, the banks are “to ensure regular and appropriate sanitisation of their premises

and make available in all their locations adequate sanitisation materials; discourage large gatherings of staff and customers; ensure constant communication with and sensitisation of their staff and families on the COVID-19 infection. “Finally, the CBN will continue to monitor all developments on the COVID-19 infection and design appropriate monetary response to protect the people and economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and indeed turn this adversity into opportunity.�

for 14 days.

campaigns to discourage large gatherings and to encourage citizens to uphold personal environmental hygiene."

AT LAST, FG RESTRICTS TRAVEL FROM US, UK, FRANCE, 10 OTHERS COVID-19 into the country.

In addition, it ordered the immediate closure of ongoing National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps nationwide.

To complement the federal government's efforts in battling the pandemic, the North-west Governors' Forum has directed that schools within the region should be closed for 30 days.

Mustapha said the restrictions, which will last for four weekends, subject to review, will come into effect from Saturday.

He said the latest measure, which followed Tuesday’s ban by the presidential task force on public officials and civil servants from overseas travels was taken after an assessment of the global situation.

According to him, the listed countries are those with over 1,000 cases domestically.

Under the new containment scheme, all persons arriving in Nigeria, who might have visited these countries, 15 days prior to such arrival, will be subjected to supervised self-isolation and testing for 14 days.

The SGF urged public health authorities of countries with a high burden to conduct diligent departure screening of passengers and also endorse these travel advisories to their nationals to postpone travels to Nigeria.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already declared COVID-19 a pandemic disease.

FG ConďŹ rms Five New Cases of Pandemic Giving details of the five new cases in a statement yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said they were uncovered within the last 36 hours.

Out of the five new cases, three arrived from the United States while two came in from the United Kingdom.

He said: “We are still collating information on the travellers; two of the three from the US are Nigerians, a mother, and a six-week-old baby. The third patient is an American national, who crossed the land border and becomes the first COVID-19 case not arriving by air. The two cases from the UK are Nigerians. “A detailed travel history of each person is being compiled and contacts are currently being traced to identify persons who have recently been in contact

with anyone. “The National Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and supported by partners, is supporting response in the state. The federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, is conducting a risk assessment to help guide decision making.�

FG Shuts NYSC Camps Nationwide Earlier yesterday, the federal government ordered the immediate closure of the ongoing NYSC orientation camps nationwide over COVID-19 fears.

The 2020 Batch ‘A’ Stream One NYSC members arrived in camp on March 10 and were expected to leave three weeks after.

However, the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, yesterday said the NYSC members would be released to resume at their places of primary assignment.

He tweeted that the closure was a precautionary measure on COVID-19.

The Director-General of NYSC, Brig-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, who also confirmed the development in Katsina yesterday, said the closure became necessary following the outbreak of the disease in the country.

He confirmed that no corps member, staff or camp official had contracted the virus, urging corps members to ensure personal hygiene in their places of primary assignment.

Katsina Announces First Suspected Case Also yesterday, the Katsina State Government said a first suspected case of COVID-19 had been recorded in the state.

The Permanent Secretary, in the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Kabir Mustapha, told journalists in Katsina that the patient, who returned from Malaysia, developed some symptoms that warranted further investigations.

According to him, the patient is currently in self-isolation.

Mustapha said his samples had been taken and results expected by today, adding that contact tracing would commence as soon as the results were out.

He said the ministry had taken all precautionary measures and was closely working with the NCDC on the matter.

According to him, the patient’s history of travel is a high index and the symptoms reported at the clinic prompted actions.

He said since his arrival in the state, the patient had resulted in personal protection of using a face mask and was in self-isolation.

Mustapha urged people in the host community of Dutsinma Town to be cautious of their movements and gatherings.

Brief Nigerians Now, Senate Tells Buhari Worried by the outbreak of the pandemic in the country, the Senate yesterday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address Nigerians on the federal government's preparations and efforts aimed at addressing the pandemic as well as its effects and implications.

It also urged the federal government to take more proactive steps like travel ban, tighter border control, restrictions on large gatherings and banning of some citizens of other countries from entering Nigeria.

It called on all related government agencies to keep Nigerians abreast of all cases of the scourge worldwide while banning flight operations from all international airports except Lagos and Abuja.

Other drastic measures the Senate canvassed included the banning of flights from countries with intense cases of the virus.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Senator Danjuma Goje, who came under Senate Rule 43 to stress that though the Senate discussed the effects of the scourge on Tuesday, emerging details showed that the effects of the disease would have a catastrophic effect on Nigerians and Nigeria if drastic action is not taken.

Supporting the motion, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, called on Nigerians to be more careful on how Nigerians relate to each other, pleading that more care should be taken as in the case of Ebola outbreak in Lagos.

Also, Senator Ajayi Borofice noted that Nigeria borders are porous and urged the federal government to ban those travelling to the US through Nigeria as well as ban people coming from epicenters of infection from coming to Nigeria, till when the situation improves The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, in his

concluding remarks, called for improved measures to be taken so as prevent the uncontrollable outbreak of the disease in Nigeria. “Even if our environment is hostile to COVID-19, we need to be extremely careful. We won’t know when it adjusts to the environment and become very potent,� he stated.

The Senate in its prayers urged the National Assembly to support the federal government to fight COVID-19’s spread and called for a Special Intervention Fund to combat the disease.

House Urges FG to Ban Open Religious Gathering As part of the measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic, the House of Representatives has called on the federal government to ban open congregation of worshippers for the time being following the recording of five new cases of coronavirus in the country.

It also resolved to shut out visitors from coming into the House indefinitely, while calling on the National Assembly management to immediately make provision for testing of any entrant into the legislative House.

The decision of the House was a sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance moved by Hon. Zakare Chawai on the need to ban foreign airlines from coming into the country.

In his lead debate, Chawai said if the foreign airlines are banned, especially from COVID-19 ravaged countries, there was a need for the federal government to put in place all necessary protocols and palliative measures.

In his submission, the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, said open religious gathering should be banned for now as it was done in countries like the Vatican City, Iran and Saudi Arabia to curtail the spread of the virus.

The House, however, resolved that Nigeria should sign an agreement with Singapore for the supply of test kits for the virus, while public institutions should have the temperature testing kits.

The House also resolved that Ehanire should brief the House every week, but it, however, rejected the idea of shutting down all schools nationwide

Dangote’s Contractor’s Staff Tests Negative Meanwhile, an Indian staff of Onshore Construction Company, an instrumentation contracting firm with Dangote Fertilizer Limited, who had shown symptoms associated with COVID-19 and subsequently isolated, has been confirmed negative.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, in his Twitter handle said: “An Indian national that was admitted in our facility yesterday (Monday) night with symptoms suggestive of #COVID19 has tested negative to #COVID19. “He is doing perfectly well in our isolation unit. His case will be reviewed in the morning (Wednesday)."

Arik Air Suspends Flights to West Coast Arik Air has temporarily suspended flights to all its West Coast destinations effective Monday.

The airline said it took the decision after a careful analysis of the spread of COVID-19.

The Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, said: “The safety and well-being of our personnel and valued customers are paramount at this critical time. We do not want to take chances and this is why we have taken this decision�.

North-west Govs Close Schools The North-west Governors' Forum has directed that schools within the region should be closed for 30 days.

Rising from their meeting yesterday in Kaduna, the governors said the decision was to prevent citizens from contacting the COVID-19.

The Chairman of the forum and Katsina State Governor, Hon. Bello Masari, announced the decision of the governors in a communiquĂŠ he read at the end of the closed-door meeting.

He said: "Measures shall be taken in each of the states in consultation with examination bodies to close schools for a period of 30 days starting from Monday, 23 of March, 2020.

"In addition, all the states in the region shall carry out sensitisation

FG TO CUT 2020 BUDGET BY N1.5TN, DEREGULATES PETROL PRICING in reaction to the drastic fall in the price of crude oil in the international market caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 and trade war between Russia

and Saudi Arabia.

Making the disclosure while briefing State House reporters after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, said the guidelines on how the budget reduction would be carried out had been sent to every ministry.

"On the expenditure side,

the president has approved that we should cut down the capital expenditure budgeted by 20 per cent across ministries, departments and agencies and also a 25 per cent cut of all governmentowned enterprises and these include the ones that are in the national budget.

"The ones that we included in the 2020 Budget, and also the ones that we didn't include in the 2020 budget.

What we have done is that we have written every ministry and given them guidelines on how these adjustments will be made to enable us to

have detailed inputs from the ministries. But I can just say that the bulk cut is above N1.5 trillion - the reduction in the size of the budget, and this includes N457 billion from PMS under-recovery.

"On how much it affects the federally funded upstream projects, it is about 25 per cent cut. The exact amount we will work out when we get inputs from the ministries, departments and agencies," he said.

According to her, the budget cut will affect upstream projects with 25 per cent cut adding that the exact figure

in monetary value would be worked out when inputs are received from the MDAs. She said President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the reduction of capital budget allocation by 20 per cent across the MDAs as well as 25 per cent cut in both the recurrent and capital budget of government enterprises.

"On the expenditure side, the president has approved that we should cut down the capital expenditure budgeted by 20 percent across ministries, departments and agencies and also a 25 percent cut of all

government-owned enterprises and these include the ones that are in the national budget.

"The ones that we included in the 2020 Budget, but also the ones that we didn't include in the 2020 budget," she submitted.

Ahmed also said the government was concerned about the possibility of the country slipping back into recession, pointing out that states would also be affected as funds flowing into the Federal allocation Account Committee (FAAC) would be affected.

Continued on page 46

LCCI, NECA, NCAA Hail FG over Ban on 13 Countries Meanwhile, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have commended the federal government's travel ban on 13 countries.

LCCI said Nigeria should prioritise health and safety over the economy and business.

The Director-General of LCCI, Dr. Muda Yusuf, told THISDAY that it is only the living that can do business.

Yusuf also noted that the ban would cause momentary disruptions in business and economy because of some Nigerian industries that required skills that are not readily available in the country.

He said: "There are international business meetings, conferences, exhibitions that need to take place which would have to be postponed or canceled. All of these have cost implications. But at a time like this, health and safety are paramount."

NECA also applauded the steps taken by the federal government to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 by restricting travel ban for countries with over 1,000 cases to Nigeria.

This decision, according to NECA, will help Nigeria to cope in the management of the pandemic and ensure a COVID-19-free Nigeria.

However, the Director-General of NECA, Mr. Timothy Olawale, said the ban came a bit late from the date, the first index case was confirmed in Nigeria.

General Manager, Public Relations, at the NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, stated that NCAA would not authorise airlines from the shortlisted countries to come into the country by not allowing them have flight clearance to access any of the country’s entry points.

He added that NCAA would issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) immediately it received circular on the ban.

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Ekiti Records First Case of COVID-19 Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti There was panic among the residents of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital yesterday, as the news filtered into town that the state has recorded the first case of COVID-19.

The 38-year-old man is an indigene of the state with links with some American citizens.

The news sent jitters down the spines of the people as many people saw the situation as posing

dangers to the lives of the citizens.

A statement signed by the Health Commissioner, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-kolade, said three persons were quarantined at the isolation centre with one testing positive to the pandemic, another one negative, while the third one remains inconclusive.

She said the process of contact tracing ws triggered by the alarm raised by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire to the effect that a positive case of COVID-19

Three Suspected Cases Test Negative in Kano Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano State Government yesterday declared that the three rumoured cases of COVID-19 in Kano have tested negative.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, said the state remain free from the virus as three cases have been confirmed negative.

The commissioner posited that the state ministry of health had won the battle against Lassa fever, having discharged all suspected cases at the state isolation centre at Yargaya hospital.

Tsanyawa, who disclosed the proactive measures the government had put in place since the declaration of the index case of the deadly virus, stressed that the ministry of health is deploying manpower and facilities at all strategic point to nip in the bud any emergency case.

He disclosed that the state government is intensifying surveillance and emergency preparedness and response committee to detect any suspected case for prompt action.

Reacting to possibility of issuing traveling restriction to Kano, the commissioner said although the state government is not considering such decision at present, it cautioned those planning to travel out of the state to high risk countries to reconsider their decision in the general interest of the state.

He warned residents of the state against overcrowding spots especially market places to avoid the spread of the disease.

The commissioner said: “Let me say we don’t have any confirmed case of COVID-19 in Kano. Against those spreading rumour of the virus in Kano, I can confirm to you that we have only three suspected cases, and as we speak, the three suspects have tested negative after undergoing test. I have the privilege to inform you that since the outbreak of the disease in Lagos, Kano State Government has swung into action to ensure that COVID-19 is prevented in the state.

“Part of the measures put in place is the conduct of state emergency preparedness and response committee and the development of incident action plan as well as activation of rapid response team.

“These were put in place to manage surveillance and detect possible case and subsequent response. Apart from that, we are engaging the traditional and religious institutions to sensitise the public about the danger and the need to take precautionary measures. We are training our health personnel in tertiary, secondary and primary health care facilities to respond adequately.

“Also, we have media sanitisation programme to educate public on ways and manner of ensuring regular and thorough hand washing with soap and running water. We also warned people to observe proper coughing and sneezing etiquettes; covering mouth and nose with handkerchief or tissue immediately; maintain at least two metres distance between oneself and anyone who coughing and sneezing.”

Anambra Sets up Task Force on COVID-19 David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Health has set up COVID-19 task force to monitor the state and ensure that cases of the pandemic are detected early in the state.

The task force, which was set up by the ministry in collaboration with the state Ministry of Culture, Indigenous Artworks, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, is to ensure that all hospitality homes in the state keep to all preventive measures while dealing with their guests.

THISDAY learnt that part of the job of the taskforce is to ensure that hotels and other hospitality facilities found out from visitors the state and countries they are coming from, record those who they have had contact with and also provide hand sanitizers for the visitors.

The leader of the task force team, Mr. Chidi Kalu, who spoke

with journalists said: “We will be teaching them the basic hygiene procedures for COVID-19; how to use the infrared thermometer screening machine; the alcoholbased sanitizer, as well as ensure that every guest is screened and documented in order to track and checkmate the eventual track of COVID-19.

“We urge hospitality homes to always update their automated guests manifest daily to enable them know where their guests are coming from, the transport company he or she took and the people he had contact with if the need arises.”

The Director of Hospitality in the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Indigenous Artworks and Diaspora Affairs, Mrs. Stella Adah, appealed to all the homes visited by the committee to adhere to the basic hygiene procedures for the betterment of everyone in the state.

in a patient in Ekiti State had been discovered.

“The Ekiti State Task Force on COVID-19, headed by Governor Kayode Fayemi, can confirm that we have recorded an incidence of a Nigerian male, 38-year- old, of Ekiti origin, who has tested positive to COVID-19.

“The confirmed case is suspected to have been infected while driving an American Caucasian, male, 27 years old; who was visiting Nigeria from Richmond, Virginia, USA in the company of his caregiver, a Nigerian female, age 31, of Ekiti

origin.

“The American male and his Nigerian female care-giver, arrived Nigeria on March 3, 2020 through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the pair were driven by our confirmed case to Ibadan, where they stayed for two weeks, and arrived Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on March 13, 2020.

“A day after their arrival, the American male fell ill and he was taken to a private hospital where he was referred to a tertiary hospital. Unfortunately, he died

from complications of his illness”.

The hospital authorities alerted the State Task Force and samples were taken from the American male as well as his two companions. The test for the male driver came back positive; the test for the female caregiver came back negative while the test for the American male was inconclusive”.

Kolade added that in line with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols, the Ekiti State Task Force on COVID-19 has already quarantined the confirmed case on admission

in the State Isolation Centre, while the caregiver who tested negative, is presently under observation in self-isolation.

The commissioner said the government has commenced the process of contact tracing, working with the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO), following the team’s itinerary since they landed in Nigeria on March 3, 2020.

“We have also contacted the Oyo State Government since it was recorded that they stayed in Ibadan for two weeks before arriving Ekiti State.

STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION…

Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari (right), and President of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigerian Council, Mr. Joe Uwakwe, during the visit of the leadership of the society to the NNPC Towers in Abuja…yesterday

FG Begins Review of Oil Free Zones Authority Act Peter Uzoho The federal government has begun the review of the Act establishing the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), a move aimed at removing ambiguities in the Act and enhancing effectiveness in the sector.

This followed a stakeholders’ engagement forum convened by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment yesterday in Abuja

for the review of the OGFZA Act No 8 of 1996.

OGFZA is the government agency which promotes investments in the country’s oil and gas free zones.

Declaring the forum open, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, said the stakeholder’s forum was organised by the ministry to examine the OGFZA Act and the imperative of addressing

imperfections in the Act through an amendment bill to reposition the agency.

He explained that the review of the OGFZA Act was based on the experience and observation that the act required a serious review to remove ambiguities and inconsistencies in order to achieve clarity and enhance effectiveness.

Adebayo added that over the years, the inadequacy of the act led to avoidable inter-agency conflicts

and hampered OGFZA in the execution of its mandate, hence the decision to create a platform to engage stakeholders for best possible outcome.

“Nigeria is the pioneer in Specialised Economic Zones (SEZs) with the establishment of the first oil and gas free zone Act No 8 of March 29, 1996, in Onne, Rivers State, which was supervised at that time by the then Ministry of Commerce.

Enugu Approves N320m, Relocates Isolation Centre The Enugu State Executive Council has approved the sum of N320million to prevent as well as tackle the scourge of COVID-19 in the state in case of any outbreak.

Briefing journalists after a meeting with the state executive council to update it on the level of preparedness in case of any emergency that may arise from the virus outbreak, the state medical team led by the Permanent Secretary,

Ministry of Health, Dr. Ifeanyi Agujiobi, stated that the council approved the immediate upgrade and relocation of the state isolation centre to ESUT Teaching Hospital at Parklane, Enugu.

Agujiobi disclosed that the council’s decision was based on the medical team’s recommendation and in line with the advice from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that isolation centres are

best located within the specialist hospitals of the states for prompt and effective emergency response.

He explained that the relocation “will be more convenient, easier for patients who may have the virus or suspected to have it to be attended to by medical specialists promptly and timely,” adding that the patient will have access to “the X-Ray machines, the dialysis machine and other high tech machines domiciled

in the Teaching Hospital.”

Theteamleader,whoappreciatedthe state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for his efforts and effective leadership role in driving “not just the health sector but the entire sectors in the state,” disclosed that the council considered and approved the procurement of more personal protective equipment, sanitizers, masks, respirators and all that are needed to aid the physicians manage their patients.

House Investigates Lagos Explosion Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has partnered the Lagos state government to find the root cause of the explosion in Abule-Ado area of the state with a view to averting the reoccurrence in the future.

The House also resolved to assist with the relief fund set up by the state government by providing financial relief for the

victims of the disaster.

It further mandated NEMA to give material assistance to the over 5,000 people who suffered various degrees of injuries, those whose relatives died and those whose houses and property were destroyed in the gas plant explosion.

These resolutions were sequel to adoption of the motion of urgent public importance at the plenary yesterday.

The motion titled, “On the need for government to come to the aid of over 5,000 families of AbuIe-Ado near Lagos International Trade Fair Complex in Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, Lagos, where gas plant explosion killed over 30 people , injuring over 200 people and destroying over 500 buildings worth billions of Naira,’ was sponsored by Hon. Dolapo-Badru Enitan and all the lawmakers from Lagos caucus.

Presenting the motion, Enitan said that about 500 buildings that housed more than 5,000 people were destroyed in the gas plant blast and thousands of people have been rendered homeless.

He said the House is aware that Lagos State government has set up a relief fund of N2 billion with an initial deposit of 250 million paid into the relief fund by the state government.

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At $24, Crude Oil Price Slumps to 17-year Low Ejiofor Alike with agency reports Crude oil prices plunged yesterday, with US crude futures hitting an 18-year low and Brent a 17-year low as Goldman Sachs said lockdowns to counter the COVID-19 pandemic raised prospect of the steepest ever annual fall in oil demand.

At the early trading yesterday, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery fell $1.75 or 6.1 per cent, to settle at $26.95 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The global benchmark, Brent crude had initially lost $1.32 to end the session at $28.73 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange.

Bloomberg reported that the WTI futures in New York later fell 24 per cent to settle at $20.37 a barrel, the lowest

since February 2002.

It had fallen almost 25 per cent on March 9.

Brent futures also declined 13 per cent to settle at $24.88 a barrel, the lowest since 2003.

With this sump, oil is now cheaper than any time during the global financial crisis, when the world economy largely came to a halt for a few days.

Demand is in free fall, with some traders saying it could drop by more than 10 per cent compared with last year.

With countries worldwide urging residents to limit gatherings and isolate themselves, global oil demand by the end of March could fall as much as 8 to 9 million barrels per day, Goldman Sachs said.

The yearly fall could be as much as 1.1 million barrels per day, which it said would be a record.

NECOVows to Sanction Schools Charging Above N9, 850 for Registration Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The National Examinations Council (NECO) has vowed to sanction schools that are charging above the governmentapproved fee of N9,850 for the registration for the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

Acting Registrar of NECO, Dr. Abubakar Gana, yesterday said the examination body has written to commissioners of education of the 36 states and FCT, notifying them of the extortions going on in their schools against the directive of the federal government.

Gana stated this in Abuja when the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services paid an oversight visit to the Council, and raised an observation that some schools were charging between N19,000 and N20,000 as registration fee

for SSCE. While frowning at the development, the NECO boss noted that the Council was on top of the situation, adding that the examination body will continue to play active role in ensuring that candidates are not defrauded while pursuing their education.

He said NECO would engage members of the committee to monitor its examination and report any infraction to guide the Council on appropriate actions to be taken.

“A month ago, we wrote to all the state commissioners of education highlighting that some schools, both public and private, are overcharging candidates.

While the NECO fee is N9,850, some are even charging N20,000 in the name of administrative charges.

“The oil demand collapse from the spreading coronavirus looks increasingly sharp,” Goldman Sachs said, forecasting a fall in Brent prices to as low

as $20 in the second quarter.

The oil market was already reeling after Saudi Arabia decided this month to dramatically increase supply

since it and Russia could not agree to cut output in anticipation of weaker demand.

Saudi Arabia has so far ignored entreaties to act to

balance the market, reiterating plans to maintain production at more than 12 million barrels per day, which would be a record.

REMEMBERING VICTIMS OF EXPLOSION…

L-R: Immediate past Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Joseph Makoju; Non-Executive Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Michel Puchercos, during a visit to commiserate with Lagos State Government on gas explosion and to introduce the new Dangote Cement Plc’s Group Managing Director, in Government House, Marina, Lagos…yesterday

Obaseki Meets Security Chiefs over Farmers, Herders’ Clashes Deliberates on framework for state’s vigilante outfit The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state government is firming up strategies to evolve a vigilante outfit that would form part of the base of the state’s security architecture as part of moves to check farmer-herder clashes in the state.

Obaseki disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the state monthly Security Council meeting held at the Government House in Benin City yesterday.

The governor said the security

meeting reviewed a wide range of security issues in the state particularly the farmers-herders’ clashes, noting that the state is doing all that was needed to strengthen the state security architecture with a view of reducing crimes to the barest minimum.

“We want to create a standard operating procedure for vigilantes to form a part of the base security system in the state. The Department of State Services (DSS) and Police are working with the state government to come up with a framework for the vigilantes so they can work in

the community policing structure of the Nigerian Police Force,” he said.

The governor added that the condition of inmates in the state was also reviewed to ensure continuous decongestion of correctional centres in the state.

He said the state would convene a Special State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting, to be held on Monday, March 23 to deliberate on ways to sustain the state’s economy amid the growing threat of the pandemic.

According to him, “During the meeting on Monday, our position

on Covid-19 would be finalised and the state’s decision would be made known to members of the public.”

The governor said that specific actions on the spread of coronavirus would be taken on Monday, March 23 after discussions with the federal government, noting, “At that point, we will be able to decide what policies and social distances that will apply in the state, how to improve contact tracing for suspected cases and also monitor those coming into the state.”

FIRS Unveils System to Plug BPE Urges N’Assembly to Resolve Overlapping Functions Leakages in Tax Collection with ICRC Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has unveiled a new electronic and automated platform for taxpayers to enable them file transfer pricing declaration and disclosures in the country, in a bid to block leakages in tax collection, especially Stamp Duty collected by banks across the country.

Unveiling the electronic solution platform on Tuesday in Lagos before bank executives and other stakeholders in the tax sector, Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr. Muhammad Nami, stated that the service is deploying the automated platforms to ensure 100 per cent compliance, and tasked the banks to “get fully prepared for the adoption of the new compliance programme as failure to comply is not an option.”

A statement released by the FIRS’ Director, Communications and Liaison Department, Mr. Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, said as the COVID-19 pandemic cripples the global economic system with

dire consequences for fiscal planning by all countries of the world, the Service has moved to mitigate the effects of these unforeseen global challenge on the Nigerian economy.

The statement quoted naming as saying: “The need for total compliance and aggressive revenue drive is imperative now in view of the recent crash of oil price from $50 to $29 which will definitely affect our collection from the Petroleum Profit Tax. Similarly, the outbreak of the Coronavirus has occasioned a global economic meltdown with serious consequences to our economy.

“You will recall that recently, about 50 Nigerian oil-bearing trucks could not discharge crude oil to buyers because of this Coronavirus pandemic. This has the combined effect of reducing government revenue target and, subsequently, the provision of infrastructures and social amenities.

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), has urged the National Assembly to urgently resolve the role conflict between it and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), lamenting that the overlapping mandates were unhealthy for real development.

The BPE Director General, Mr. Alex Okoh made the appeal in Abuja, Tuesday when members of the Senate Committee on Privatisation led by its Chairman, Senator

Theodore Orji paid him a visit.

Okoh, who listed the BPE/ ICRC overlapping mandates as one of the major challenges facing the privatisation agency, observed that the overlap usually manifests in concession and public-private partnership (PPP) programmes.

Urging the Senate Committee on Privatisation to quickly find a way to clear the fog on the mandate of each of the agencies, Okoh noted that from the enabling Act setting up ICRC, its role should be regulatory and not that of an implementing

body as it tends to do.

According to him, private sector investment is key to BPE’s reform activities, regretting that as far as infrastructure was concerned, the role overlap creates a lot of confusion.

“The opportunities, particularly in the infrastructure space are limitless, and we need the full weight of political leadership for its success,” Okoh said.

Giving an overview of BPE’s activities, he disclosed that the agency had executed 234 transactions since inception, 44

of them being assets sale, 58 core investor sales, 49 public offers, 47 concessions, 11 liquidations, 15 private placements, and 15 management /employee buyout, among others.

Okoh disclosed that 78 per cent of the 234 enterprises privatised are performing well, 16 are not doing well while six are on the verge of being evaluated.

He cited the success of the telecoms and pension sectors, among others as some of the highpoints of the reforms carried out by the BPE.

JAMB Releases Another Batch of UTME Results of 450,000 Candidates The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released another batch of results of about 450, 000 312 candidates that sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin,

disclosed this yesterday in a statement.

He urged candidates who sat for the examination on Tuesday to check their results by sending ‘RESULT’ to 55019 and not on the board’s website.

Benjamin said the board has not cancelled the results of its

examination conducted last Saturday as being speculated on the social media.

He explained that the results of the first day of the examination were placed on its website and that some fraudulent individuals were coping and manipulating it to deceive unsuspecting

candidates.

The JAMB spokesperson noted that this made the board to move the result to the mobile platform for candidates to use “their unique phone numbers used in registering for the examination to access their results.”

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COMMENT

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

A GLOBAL AWAKENING OF THE SPIRIT (2) The human family is one, writes Emmanuel Ojeifo

A

t the level of world religions, we are grappling with the same issues with even greater consequences. Over the last few decades, there has been a tremendous explosion of civil society and faith-based organizations focusing on promoting interreligious dialogue and peace in the world. Concerns and debates tend to hover around what some consider to be the grave danger that organized religions pose to world peace and stability. Secular thinkers such as Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens – the ‘four horsemen’ of the New Atheism School – have all been vocal in their condemnation of religion. From the titles of their works – Dawkins’ The God Delusion; Hitchens’ God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, and Harris’ The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason – it is clear that these horsemen all eagerly look forward to wishing religion requiescat in pace. It is a brave new world where religion can no longer hide behind its sanctity to escape public scrutiny. It has to prove today that it is a force for good – and not for evil – in the world.

Leaders of world religions often meet at international fora to address the burning issues that have given religion a bad name, especially terrorism and violent extremism. At the end of their meetings, they publish beautiful statements.

But what happens afterward? Many return to their various countries and communities and maintain status quo. There is still a great reluctance on the part of some religious communities and leaders to make the mental and theological adjustments needed to welcome, accept, respect, and celebrate the reality of religious diversity, the lack of which is partly responsible for violent extremism. When people are trapped in mental and theological prisons of sectarianism, it blinds them from seeing and welcoming the good of globalization in the religious sphere. They think that to welcome this good is to put their faith at risk of extinction. The reaction to this is therefore one of intolerance of difference, which finds expression in the rhetoric of ‘We vs. Them’ or ‘The Chosen vs. The Rest.’ When this intolerance is pushed to the extreme, it leads to the vilification and demonization of Otherness. In other words, ‘If they are not like us, then they are our enemies.’ What is one supposed to do with one’s enemies? The bloody history of the Crusades and the Jihads answer this.

This is how violent religious extremism takes root. It begins from extremism in theological views and beliefs about God, man, and the world. It is this theological extremism that is translated into acts of violence towards those considered as enemies, outsiders, and infidels. As Wole Soyinka explains in his book Climate of Fear, the rhetoric moves “arrogantly from I am right, you are wrong to its fatal manifestation as I am right; you are dead.� In this regard, religion, which is supposed to facilitate the opening of the mind, serves to close it. Instead of helping us to appreciate

WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRAPPED IN MENTAL AND THEOLOGICAL PRISONS OF SECTARIANISM, IT BLINDS THEM FROM SEEING AND WELCOMING THE GOOD OF GLOBALIZATION IN THE RELIGIOUS SPHERE

our common humanity, it becomes an accessory to the erection of walls of separation among human beings. This is partly why there is a subtle resurgence of religious absolutism and exclusivism today.

I believe that the challenge before world religions in today’s global age is how to reconcile the idea of ‘One God’ with ‘Many Faiths.’ Religions must accept and re-propose the truth that there is one God but many ways of coming to know this God. This will be a strong and powerful force for the unity of the whole human family. No one single religion can exhaust knowledge of who God is. God is ‘too big’ to be fully comprehended by one religion. If we accept this, then it is logical to also accept that God can reveal himself and communicate knowledge of his will to people of other religions in ways that are different from how he has revealed himself to people of one religion. But this diversity of divine self-revelation does not mean that there are many gods or many truths. There is one truth just as there is one God, but this one truth can have a variety of forms of expression, communication, and reception across religious traditions. In practical terms, it means that no single religion can colonize God as its own property or claim that its own way of knowing him is the only way while others are invalid.

As the Second Vatican Council’s document on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions states, every religion can indeed “reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men.� What is that truth? It is the truth about God, who is himself the Truth. This truth is not something that comes to power through force or violence. “Truth,� as the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on Religious Liberty states, “can impose itself on the mind of man only in virtue of its own truth, which wins over the mind with both gentleness and power.� At the end of the day, how we resolve the question of ‘One God, Many Faiths’, which the ancient Greek philosophers couched in terms of the problem of ‘The One and the Many’, is key to whether there will be peace among religions and peace in the world. The Swiss theologian Hans Kung stated this three decades ago: “There will be no peace among the nations without peace among the religions.�

I believe that the point of departure in this journey is in spiritual decolonization, a sort of awakening that acknowledges the reality of the oneness of the human family under “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all� (Ephesians 4:6), and that this God wants us all to live in peace as his children. This, it seems to me, should be the first proclamation of all religions. Only this “activity of the spirit,� as the German theologian and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Albert Schweitzer wrote in his 1931 autobiography Out of My Life and Thought, can provide the ethical force “to evoke a new mental and spiritual disposition in mankind.�

Ojeifo is a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja.

STILL PLAYING WITH FIRE Olusegun Adeniyi argues that pipelines should be adequately secured

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ith the foul smell of PMS thick in the air, Engineer Sola Jaiyeola conducted us round some of the buildings, stopping a short distance from a nondescript house that was probably designed by a fisherman and constructed by a butcher. All bricks without either a window or an entrance door, it could jolly well have been a poultry coop but even chickens need ventilation. “You see that house there,� said Jaiyeola, “it is standing directly on our (NNPC) pipelines. You don’t see people there during the day though I learn it is occupied at night.�

As Jaiyeola spoke about what is clearly an organised crime in a suburb of Lagos that has itself become an environmental nightmare, another NNPC staff interjected: “Most of the houses here are either on NNPC pipelines or on our ‘right of way’. The Lagos State government is aware of all these but will do nothing until another fire erupts. Then (Governor Bola) Tinubu will go on television to abuse (President Olusegun) Obasanjo and NNPC. Just go to Ipaja, you will see sprawling buildings with high fence‌ and some of these buildings are just facilities built for scooping fuel.â€?

=========================== The foregoing was published 13 years ago, specifically on 17th January 2007, in the first part of a series titled, ‘Playing with Fire’. In the light of recent developments, nothing seems to have changed. On Sunday, there was an explosion at the Abule Ado area of Lagos State.

No fewer than 19 persons were killed with scores of others injured. While we are yet to get a full account of what exactly happened, it is clear that most of the buildings in the area are on the NNPC ‘right of way’.

Aside the danger this poses to the safety of people who reside in these areas, the challenge we face in the country today dictates that we plug the loopholes being exploited by economic saboteurs. There is no greater one than the recurrent breakage of NNPC Pipelines, especially when the two that are most critical to the effective distribution of petroleum products in the country seem exposed. They are Systems 2B (Atlas Cove-Mosimi-IbadanIlorin) and 2E (Port Harcourt-Aba-Enugu).

These two systems have over the years been subjected to serious attacks by vandals, oil thieves and smugglers operating across the entire oil and gas value chain. This has led to high cost of operations due to frequent maintenance as well as declining revenue to

huge losses associated with stealing of high volumes of crude oil and petroleum products.

More importantly, hundreds of lives have been lost to these crimes.

While I intend to deal with the cost in human tolls another day, the economic cost is quite enormous. From January to December 2019, according to figures from the NNPC, about 304.41 million litres of petroleum products were lost to the activities of vandals along system 2B alone while 25 PMS trucks of 33,000 litres capacity are stolen every day.

These criminal gangs operating in system 2B axis work in collaboration with compromised NNPC employees and rogue elements within the security agencies. Of the 70.1 million litres lost to theft along system 2B in the last quarter of last year, Atlas Cove/Mosimi/Satellite segment alone accounted for 63.31 million litres.

Along the same Systems 2B & 2E, no fewer than 446,635 number of 25 litres jerry cans, totalling 11 million litres of stolen PMS equivalent to 338 Tanker Trucks were recovered last year. In the on-going demolition of shanties used by oil thieves along NNPC’s System 2B by the military, no fewer than 1,283 illegal structures have been dismantled. Also destroyed were 310 illegal petroleum product reservoirs connected to NNPC product pipeline

along system 2B. An illegal refinery facility has also been recovered and destroyed and 23 boats and canoes conveying stolen crude oil for delivery to illegal refinery confiscated. Some 26 persons have been arrested, including a vandal with equipment used in siphoning crude oil from NNPC pipelines.

As I have argued in the past, the ease with which these vandals identify the pipelines buried in remote areas, sometimes six feet below the ground, is an indication of some expert knowledge. The confidence with which they have been operating also reveals that they definitely have powerful godfathers. The more fundamental questions are: Since this problem has persisted for years, why is it that no workable solution has been found? How come we have not attached a strategic importance to the pipelines such that there would be proper security monitoring? In most countries, protection of pipelines is usually a security matter and is most often left for the military. In a situation of war with another country, pipelines are usually one of the first targets by the enemy and could make a difference between victory and defeat. That is why in military terms, it is a strategic asset. And until we see it that way, our oil and gas sector will continue to operate at the mercy of criminal gangs.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

EDITORIAL COUNCIL OF ULAMAS AND STREET BEGGING The Almajiri system is a breeding ground for insecurity

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e fail to understand the recent opposition by the Kano State Council of Ulamas to the ban on street begging

by Governor Abdulahi Ganduje. Since this ‘Almajiri phenomenon’ in the North has been an embarrassing sight to behold for decades, efforts to curb it should be supported by all critical stakeholders. The society has watched the ugly spectacle helplessly for too long.

At the inauguration of Basic Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) recently, Ganduje had issued a stern warning, threatening to arrest any child caught in the undignified act of begging. Prepared to make the proscription effective, the state government announced the introduction of free and compulsory education for beggars with the offer of appointments to no fewer than 7,500 volunteer teachers as a deliberate move to integrate the Almajiri system into education curriculum.

This ordinarily should be applauded by well-meaning leaders as it is ridicuRATHER THAN DEPLOY lous and absurd to see THE POWER AT THEIR children in this era DISPOSAL TO TAKE of advancement and BEGGARS OFF THE modernity making STREETS BY PROMOTING begging their stockCHILD-EDUCATION, MANY in-trade. But rather than support the HAVE EXPLOITED THE MISFORTUNE OF BEGGARS move to send beggars TO THEIR POLITICAL AND to school with the machinery in place RELIGIOUS ADVANTAGE to properly integrate them into the society for a meaningful living, the Kano State Council of Ulamas headed by Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil vehemently rejected the decision of the state government.

Begging is not a human right. But we also cannot ignore the plight of beggars and the socially-uprooted in our midst. How do we tackle this problem? Govern-

ment, corporate and voluntary organisations, Churches and Mosques should be involved in getting them off the streets. Some beggars, regrettably, are old people and parents, abandoned to their fate. The extended family system is fast collapsing. In the past, the African communal system acted as a bulwark against loneliness, poverty, family breakdown, abandonment of oldies. But today, displaced elders are being displaced in some communities and finding only the streets as home.

T T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI AJAYI, DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA

he position of the Council of Ulama over the ban on street begging is to say the least disheartening and selfish since none of their members is likely to have their children among the beggars. More worrisome is that a section of the Northern elite has over the years been indifferent to this ugly trend. Rather than deploy the power at their disposal to take beggars off the streets by promoting child-education, many have exploited the misfortune of beggars to their political and religious advantage.

The opposition by the Ulamas is also a clear support for irresponsible procreation, a move vehemently criticised recently by the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. “Begging is disallowed in Islam and if you must beg for alms beg the government not individuals or relatives. It is better for you to cut firewood and sell to earn a living than to beg. Those who beg or seek assistance from individuals will be resurrected on the day of judgement without meat/flesh on their faces,” Sanusi said.

In June last year, at one of the National Executive Council (NEC) meetings in the State House, the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno, identified almajiri system in the North as a breeding ground for insecurity and advocated the need to end the system. This alarm ought to spur every right thinking person or group of persons. We therefore enjoin members of the Council of Ulamas to be advocates for a better society by not promoting retrogressive actions such as begging by children.

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GANDUJE/SANUSI: THE PORTRAIT OF A FAILED SYSTEM

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fter a prolonged disagreement with Governor Ganduje of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was eventually dethroned as the 14th Emir of Kano for “disrespect to the office of the Governor and other lawful authorities.” In a cavalier manner, he was banished to Nasarawa as the Emir of Bichi- ruler of one of the four rival emirates created by Governor Gandujewas enthroned. This is awful but sadly, constitutionally right. The debacle of Sanusi is a reminder of how an intolerant governor can abuse power to deal with traditional authority. If Nigerian society wants to avoid losing more brilliant rulers, powers of the governor over the traditional rulers should be reviewed immediately.

Before he ascended the throne six years ago, Mallam Sanusi was unceremoniously sacked as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for speaking against massive corruption. He has lost the stool in similar circumstances as it is evident he held a different view on governance with the Kano government and strongly condemned corruption in the corridors of power in the North.

It is safe to say Sanusi was a lone warrior drumming the war of revolution on illiteracy, poverty, polygamy, family planning, quota system, etc. In other words, he was a proper traditional ruler in an improper state.

The idea of a servile, fawning traditional institution under the mercy of a state government is a failed system that has successfully rendered their existence useless. In 1963, Muhammed Sanusi 1-- grandfather of Mallam Lamido Sanusi-- was deposed by the Northern regional government for falling out with Sir Ahmadu Bello. As it was in May 1994 when the military ruler General Sani Abacha deposed Awwal Ibrahim, Sarkin Suleja, and Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki in 1996. Several Nigerian state governments have emulated the odious precedence. As old as this practice is, it is a desecration of leadership that must be discontinued. Traditional seats are

sacred, and are symbols of heritage. Hence, they should be accorded due regards.

That is not to say they should be untouchable. We have seen the few times a royalty became power-drunken and how the law burnt his hands. That is the message here-- uphold the rule of law--without burning the cultural prestige. Like in the case of Sanusi, whose alleged case of corruption is unproven, many deposed traditional rulers by Nigerian governors are thrown out on political grounds. They are deemed rejected and ripe for death once they disagree with them-- the intolerant governors. This is a trending injustice against the collective mandate of the people at the local level these rulers represent. Or will Ganduje and others say they acted in the interest of the people? Which people of Kano support this cultural travesty?

Unless we have decided to throw away the traditional leadership system with all its idiosyncrasies, we must all come around to oppose the ego-driven balkanization of the institution under whatever guise like the one (creation of emirates) done by Ganduje in Kano. Its disadvantages far outweigh the bright points. The last thing this nation needs now is an inter or intra-community rife such an exploit may cause if a group or community decide to show disaffection with the decision.

Therefore, the laws binding the traditional institution should be reviewed and the powers of a governor over the traditional rulers should be whittled down. Except for gross misconduct and abuse of authority which could make them suspended, the dethronement should be pronounced by the court of law henceforth. In another case, a state governor must seek and get approval of the Senate - which must thoroughly investigate the claims and ascertain the veracity-- before he throws a ruler out. The Sanusi-Ganduje saga is a portrait of a dying system needing safety now.

Ibraheem Abdullateef, Kwara State University, Malete

DON’T STOP THE PRESSES

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t is not unusual to read of attacks on newspapers, both physical and by governments as the freedom of the press is under regular attack although the latest banning of newspapers is quite unusual.

Jordan has banned the printing of newspapers as they apparently help to spread the corona virus.

Although I have more medical knowledge than can be found on Google but I think this is silly.

In times of difficulty we need access to information and for many this is by newspapers.

There is already so much panic and so much misinformation that getting the real story out there must continue.

This is not a ‘Stop the Presses’ moment but rather ‘Print the paper’ time.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

US Suspends Visa Services Worldwide over COVID-19 Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The United States yesterday suspended all routine immigrant and non-immigrant

visa services in most countries worldwide due to the COVID-19 outbreak, a spokeswoman for the State Department said.

It has also cancelled routine immigrant and non-immigrant

Alleged Money Laundering: Court Adjourns Ikuforiji’s Case to September 30 The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned the trial of a former speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji to September 30.

Ikuforiji and his former Personal Assistant, Mr. Oyebode Atoyebi are standing trial on the allegations of laundering N338.8m.

The duo are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 54-count charge.

They, however, pleaded not guilty before Justice Mohammed Liman and were allowed to continue on the bail terms earlier granted

them by the previous trial judge.

Liman ordered the Court Registrar to tell parties in the case that “in view of the directive of the Chief Judge that new trials should not be opened especially because of the impending transfer of judges, the case is adjourned till after vacation”.

The registrar then announced Sept 30 as the next adjourned date.

EFCC counsel, Mr. Ekene Iheanacho, immediately raised a complaint saying that the annual vacation is expected to start in July and the court could give any date before then but the registrar insisted that this was the directive of the judge.

visa appointments in Abuja and its Consulate in Lagos indefinitely as from today (Thursday).

The US embassy also disclosed this in a statement published on its website yesterday.

The statement read: “Information for visa applicants regarding novel coronavirus: As of March 19, the United States Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria and the United States Consulate in

Lagos, Nigeria are cancelling routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments.

“We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.

“The MRV fee is valid and may be used for a visa application in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date

of payment.”

Meanwhile, the spokeswoman did not mention which or how many countries are halting services but advised potential applicants to check for the websites of individual US missions.

“Embassies and consulates in these countries will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March

18, 2020,” the spokeswoman said.

She said US missions abroad will continue to provide emergency visa services “as resources allow,” and that the services to US citizens will remain available.

“These Embassies will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time,” she said.

Lassa Fever Claims 16 Lives in Bauchi Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Bauchi State Surveillance Support Officer, Dr. Suleiman Lawal, has disclosed that about 16 persons have died of Lassa fever disease in the state in 2020.

Lawal who disclosed this in an interview with journalists at the lassa fever camp at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, said that a total of 43 confirmed cases were recorded in the state since January, 2020.

According to him,”Bauchi State has recorded 43 confirmed cases of Lassa fever but two out of this number were brought in from Plateau State. Among these confirmed cases, 16 deaths have been recorded this year.

He also added that: “There are also three people that have died of probable cases. They are called ‘probable cases’ because we couldn’t take their samples before they died.

He explained that, “Totally, we have seven health workers that were affected. One of the doctors who was pregnant and had the disease, we managed her and discharged her. Four others are currently on admission, we’ve been managing them. They are now stable, in fact, we will discharge two of them today because they have finished their 10 day treatment period”.

While stating that: “Two doctors died, one was a doctor that died here (at the ATBUTH) while the other one died in a

private clinic here in Bauchi. that, “Most of the deaths are as a result of late reporting and that is not our fault, something will happen and people will not report on time so we are appealing to people to always come on time,” he advised.

Speaking further, he said, the state has received assistance from the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children Endowment Fund (UNICEF) in its efforts aimed at reducing the scourge of the disease to the barest minimum, and appealed to well- meaning members of the public to support in the fight against Lassa Fever.

Lawal further explained that there are seven pillars that will help in managing the

epidemic which he said are: education, communication, risk communication, surveillance, case management, laboratory confirmation and prevention and control,pointing out that communication is key in managing the epidemic.

He pointed out that, “if people get the correct information, they will know how protect themselves and this will help in breaking this chain and reducing the spread.

Sometimes, people feel it has spiritual undertones, but if you give them the correct information, they will know exactly what it is, so communication is a very key pillar in controlling outbreak responses.

THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2020

POLITICS

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

‘We Can Come up with Better Laws to Enhance Local Business Opportunities’ Udora Orizu holds a discussion with Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon. James Faleke Udora Orizu, who represents Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos State on how the country can generate more revenue in the view of the current crisis in the global oil market

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the open. They have been in the process for a longtime, evaluation done, process done, repayment agreed before they finally agreed so if we don’t access it the cost of funds will continue to go up. Today, as at the time of this discussion the Dollar was exchanging for N305; in the black market, it is about N400 to one Dollar. What we are supposed to do today, if we don’t do and wait till tomorrow, tomorrow might be more expensive and too late. As the representatives of the people, we need to know how the loans are being used, it’s part of our oversight responsibility, and I think that the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives has been doing that.

he President has asked for an amendment to the new Finance Act, what are we looking at?

The Finance Act letter was read on the floor. I’m yet to get the details. I can hardly comment on what I don’t have full details of. But if what I heard on the floor is anything to go by, it’s an amendment to favour the Agric Sector and other areas of consumption in terms of the VAT. There are concerns raised that some MDA’s are not ready to comply with the new tax, they are arguing that it’s based on the former 5% VAT I think that the moment a law is made and enters into a gazette, the agency concerned is supposed to write letters to all the revenue generating agencies to tell them the effective date of commencement. It’s not just enough to think that Mr. President has signed so everyone must comply. The FIRS on its own should write a letter of commencement notifying them and attaching the gazettes of the law. Nigerians don’t like paying taxes so you have to show them what the law says and if they refuse to pay then, you take appropriate action.

Going by your committee that most MDAs should refund government money from 2014 till date, do you think those remittances will be able to finance our 2020 budget?

In Committee of Finance, our responsibility is to ensure that all revenue generating agencies of government and private companies pay required revenue. It’s not only government agencies, wherever our tax is hidden must be brought out by the Committee. It’s the responsibility of FIRS to ensure that everyone pays what they are supposed to pay. We discovered that majority of our government agencies don’t remit what they are supposed to remit and by so doing, they act as a government on their own; take in the income and spend it and still depend on government to pay their salaries. I will give an instance. A particular agency whose salary is N90 million per month, the total remittance from that agency is about N2.7 million per annum. And I asked if all agencies are like you, where do you expect government to pay from? These are some of the issues. It’s not that the N2.7million was their maximum revenue generated. They generated loads of money and they just remit N2.7million and they say it’s because it’s operating surplus.

When we looked at the Fiscal Responsibility Act, we said, look this idea of operating surplus will not help Nigeria because these agencies will never declare surplus. These government agencies don’t have surplus they declare losses and so which means nothing will come in for government, until we started this review. We took it upon ourselves as a committee to see how we can help Nigeria to more like from oil revenue. We didn’t envisage what is happening now. There was no coronavirus. Since we started so many of the agencies have remitted their arrears.

We have been able to point out what they owe and so many of them have come with new treasury receipts to show us how much they remitted, which means these funds are there. In the view of this oil problem and volatile oil prices, we need to look inwards.

The money in the system if properly managed is more than enough to take care of our needs. I have seen it with the few agencies that we have checked, when you put actual revenue generated aggregate them together you will see that it’s in billions if not trillions of Naira. We have not gone to the oil sector, we have not touched NNPC, NIMASA, CBN, the big ones, we are just doing these small

Faleke ones first, when you look at the amount being generated, we said look you’re not being fair to this country. As a committee, we hope to come up with an amendment to the Fiscal Responsibility Act to say that every agency of government should remit fund generated to CRF account and then bring their budget to access the money. We can then say if you fail to remit, the law will take charge. That’s what we are looking at.

Now that we know for a fact that the oil sector cannot sustain the country with the break out of COVID-19, isn’t it time to diversify and source for revenue from other areas?

This government has made efforts at diversification of the economy. I agree that we can come up with better laws to enhance local business opportunities that we have.

That is why I’m concerned about electricity which is a major impetus to our being up and running as a country.

In line with the current reality, don’t you think it’s time to streamline agencies

and ministries?

From my experience of four weeks of looking at these agencies, I completely agree that there’s a major need to streamline them. We have to merge where necessary. We have an agency for example that has a staff strength of 1500 and has contributed absolutely nothing. It’s a research institute and we have not seen the effect. We have agencies that have been in existence since 1988, and they have not come out with one research, to be sold either to investors or to help Nigeria. The agencies are just set up for the staff of that agency, doing nothing just collecting money.

I agree and I support that idea if we must move forward.

On the public outcry about the new loan, people are saying do we really need this loan? They are also asking about the utilization of the previous loans and that the National Assembly should address that?

I’m not the Chairman of Aids and Loans in the House, but I know that this new loan is project tied. It’s not just loan you can use in

The money in the system if properly managed is more than enough to take care of our needs. I have seen it with the few agencies that we have checked, when you put actual revenue generated aggregate them together you will see that it’s in billions if not trillions of Naira. We have not gone to the oil sector, we have not touched NNPC, NIMASA, CBN, the big ones, we are just doing these small ones first, when you look at the amount being generated, we said look you’re not being fair to this country. As a committee, we hope to come up with an amendment to the Fiscal Responsibility Act to say that every agency of government should remit fund generated to CRF account and then bring their budget to access the money

What do you have to say about the protest over the exclusion of South-east as beneficiary of the loan?

We passed an MTEF. There was an MTEF approved before the 2020 budget, the MTEF clearly indicates the sources of funding of that budget and that loan aspect is there both local and international. If the government in ensuring that they achieve this budget is now trying to access that, why should we say it’s not good? To me, the sources of funding of government, there is your income and when you compare your income to what you want to spend, you look for it via loan and that is exactly what the government is doing. On the exclusion of South-east people, I can’t say they are excluded, when you see government borrowing money to build roads, even in South-east, I can also come from another area and say that I’m excluded. I know that the Federal Government yesterday approved about over N19 billion for 9 Mile road in the South-east, it’s part of it, I also know that government has borrowed money to do the Second Niger Bridge, it’s also in the East. When all these things were going on, North-west wasn’t complaining, South-west didn’t complain.

I think we should not be sentimental as to what must come to my area. I agree that if the loan is more encompassing, there will be less concern, and I have no objection to inclusion of all the areas, but we should not be tribalistic to development.

What do you have to say about the petition to the House by your colleague Hon. Henry Nwawuba regarding the loan?

As for the petition by the South-east elite presented by my colleague Hon. Henry Nwawuba, I don’t see the section of the Fiscal Responsibility Act that he was referring to. He never expatiated. He said the elite of the East wrote a petition and he was presenting the petition on behalf of the elite of the East. The elite as far we are concerned are not registered.

They are unknown to law. Mr. Speaker, of course, asked if he was representing the elite or poor people. I think the bottom line is that we actually try to ensure that the loan is for all, because as Nigerians everybody will pay for it, same way everybody will pay for Second Niger Bridge construction, everybody will pay for the cost of all the airports being constructed, the Enugu airport etc, Nigeria will pay for it. Honestly speaking, like the Chairman Aviation has been on aviation people to complete the Enugu Airport and they have to raise funds to do that, it is also part of it. The issue here is that the funds available are not enough and as Finance Committee, our best bet is to ensure that we follow up with all the people who are supposed to pay the funds, and that brings me to the motion that was moved by us last week in the area of misuse of forex allocation.

It also gears towards enhancing the system and revenues generated into Nigeria.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2020

POLITICS DISSENTING VOICE...IN HIS OWN WORDS ‘Buhari is a Product of a Time When Power was Absolute, Buhari and the Promise to He is an Extreme Democrat’ Check Insecurity

Vanessa Obioha dialogues with Tonye Princewill, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress on how the party can escape humiliation it suffered in some states in the 2019 national elections

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has said he won’t meddle in the affairs of the All Progressives Congress (APC). To some, it is a sign of weakness and selfishness. They claim he doesn’t need the platform again and doesn’t care what happens to it or what the contending forces do with it?

He has never been the meddling kind. All of us know that. Many would like him to meddle some more, but he’s a product of a time when power was absolute, so he knows the implications of using it too freely. I believe the term extreme democrat has been used to describe him. Unfortunately, he can’t afford to sit this one out. I don’t believe he will.

Politics affects governance especially in the last few months of the end of a term. In the case of the APC, 2023 affected even 2019.

That’s way too soon and shows a dangerous level of indiscipline among the troops. Only one person can restore order. If he doesn’t, it will overflow into governance and affect it even more. That, we cannot afford.

The state of the economy is a concern to many. Oil is now $30 per barrel. Considering our mono-product economy status, aren’t we going into another recession?

As a businessman with interest in the oil sector, what measures should be taken to absorb the shock?

We are looking at two separate issues which are the cause and affect of each other. The first is the Coronavirus which is impacting and will impact on the global economy, resulting in negative growth across board. Nigeria is no exception. Current forecasts put our expected growth rate to hit 2% as opposed to the 2.5% earlier predicted. The second issue is the Saudi - Russia crude cuts debate and the impact of a crude war. That sent the price stumbling.

But Russia has since indicated a willingness to talk, so the oil price is recovering slowly again. It’s important not to panic. Oil prices will go above our estimated price of $57, but it may take a while for that to happen and we are losing time. The government will be under pressure to devalue the Naira, but it shouldn’t subscribe to knee jerk reactions.

One month from now, things will be a lot clearer. In the meantime, our handling of the Coronavirus issue is our biggest currency.

APC doesn’t have Rivers. Bayelsa has slipped out of its hands. Edo is threatened by internal dissension. Is the claim to penetrate the South-south, not becoming an empty boast?

No. It’s not. We all know why we didn’t win Rivers and we all know that we won Bayelsa.

In both cases, the court reigned Supreme. So, let’s not debate our acceptance in the zone, let’s instead debate our acceptance in the courts. We need to look inwards. I remember when I was running around the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2019 to find out why INEC was not ready to put us on the ballot. I bumped into some people in the legal department and we had a heart-to-heart on our matter. They said, ‘you are here, but nobody from the APC secretariat comes here. We only see them in court.’ Reflect on that. Edo state is already an APC state, so penetration there is already a concluded affair. What is of concern to us now is returning Governor Godwin Obaseki, but we can’t do it if his party is fighting him.

How best do you think the party crisis can be resolved considering that we have two state governorship elections ahead?

Let me spell it out for the avoidance of doubt.

Obey the preliminary court, set up a caretaker committee, set a date for the convention and

Cally Ikpe, a culture activist/broadcaster and Convener of Road to a Violence-free Nigeria writes that Nigerians are eager to see how the Muhammadu Buhari administration eventually resolves the challenge of the missing Chibok girls, given that it is one of the promises upon which the All Progressives Congress government was elected

Princewill put in place fresh leadership. APC needs to become a well-oiled machine again.

The Bisi Akande reconciliation committee has been silent since the unfolding drama in the last two weeks. Is it Morning Yet on Creation Day? Can we say it has crashed before taking off?

I won’t go that far. The recent developments would have no doubt impacted on the progress the committee would have made. The need for reconciliation remains, so the need for the committee will remain as well. How the recent dynamics will affect things remain to be seen, but I foresee a delay, not a denial of the reconciliation mandate.

The recent USD22.7 billion loan attracted a call for a debate on the floor of the National Assembly with the Senate minority leader claiming marginalization of the South-east. What are your thoughts?

Debate what? Each loan, line-by-line? What was the sub-committee set up to do? If I’m not mistaken it was headed by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) man from Edo state. That sub-committee after extensive work recommended the loan should pass.

It’s now that the issue is in front of the media, some lawmakers are now making a fuss. Why were they not making their case when it was at committee level? Not to stir up tension and try to play to the gallery.

Granted there may be issues, but where were they? Is it just now they are waking up? This has been on the table for years. The loans are all linked directly to projects, money is not going into anybody’s pocket, like was the case before. We have a very serious infrastructure deficit and we are boosting the economy with this loan. Paying back is not only possible, it’s happening as we speak. Let us, at least, see what we are paying for. And after we pay back, we will then know that we don’t have excess money to waste.

When the traditional haters of this President, especially from the South-east, query this government in my day to day interaction, I often don’t bother responding. There are more like them who feel the same way and worse, and your analysis can’t sway them.

Nothing you say will calm them. They are extra convinced Buhari hates the South-east.

They are convinced the South East should hate him back.

I disagree with them. The evidence is there to the contrary, but there is no place for dialogue these days. It’s a collective ethnic monologue. The solution is to let them shout until Buhari leaves.

Buhari

B

y 2015, insecurity had become palpable, not only to the directly affected areas but all over Nigeria. Being an election year it became a basis for why there had to be a change of government believing a different approach may just be the solution to the lingering challenge of insecurity. This, it is believed, more than anything else cost former President Goodluck Jonathan the exalted position.

In his stead, Muhammadu Buhari, a retired Major General and former Head of State was overwhelmingly elected president. Many believed his antecedents will be brought to bear on the war against insurgency in the North-east and the issues of banditry generally in Nigeria. Many were quick to cite the decisive manner with which he dealt with the Chadian incursion into Nigerian territory in 1982 as a military officer. His legendary War Against Indiscipline while he reigned as Head of State remained a reference point.

President Buhari’s inaugural address as President where he emphatically ordered the Armed Forces to relocate their operational headquarters to the theatre of war at Baga, Bornu State was heavily applauded. The President also sought and obtained special legislative waivers to speedily procure armaments. Between 2015 and 2020, the Nigerian government had expended USD3 billion in the prosecution of the war and other security challenges.

Five years on, Nigerians observe that there has been significant success with efforts at repelling the Boko Haram incursion. Though not as expressly desired, almost all territories previously occupied by the insurgents have been retaken by the Nigerian military. Also of significance is the cessation of occasional bombings of select locations within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. While all of these may sound pleasant, renewed incidents of banditry in other parts of Nigeria especially the North-west and Middle-belt area seem to have eclipsed those successes. Riffle wielding herdsmen became even more audacious, with minimal consequences, leading many to believe that the Federal government was being sympathetic with them.

These same criminal elements within the herdsmen became notorious for looting and kidnapping across the country.

The menacing trend of these criminal elements masquerading as herdsmen more than anything else may have triggered legislations by individual states that prescribed harsh punishment for offenders with the climax being the establishment of state-controlled security outfits. While the actions of these states may seem controversial, especially as it alters the status quo, the fact that the Federal Government is able to accommodate it should count as a plus to it.

Indeed, expectations may have ran overboard as even supporters of the President started crying out; a case in point being Khadira Ahmed, a veteran broadcaster from Zamfara State who in 2019 made a public show of her grouse.

Posterity hangs delicately in judgement on how the Buhari government eventually resolves the challenge of the missing Chibok girls, given that it is one of the promises upon which the All Progressives Congress (APC) government was elected.

As at the first quarter of 2020, at least 112 of the girls are still in captivity.

In a daredevil manner, Boko Haram repeated the Chibok experience, this time on Dapchi town in Yobe state, an act many consider as an affront on the no-nonsense General Muhammadu Buhari. Though the girls have been rescued, one Leah Sharibu remains in captivity. The delicate thing about Miss Sharibu is that, she is a Christian and her faith is very much in contention in the general dynamics. This surely is an embarrassing albatross the government would rather do without.

The world is also watching to see how the Buhari government handles the ElZakzaky episode especially as it bears a close semblance to the Boko Haram movement during its nascent days.

Finally, it must be noted that the dynamics in security matters require much more than military might and intelligence to tackle. The political will, handling of the unemployment scourge and controlled rhetoric will matter greatly in checking the situation. A violence-free Nigeria is possible.

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FEATURES

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

Women Empowerment in 2020, the Glo Formula

L-R; Globacom delegate, Eyitayo Okandeji; Chairman, Board of Trustees, WIMBIZ, Funmi Roberts; Chairman, Sterling Bank, Asue Ighodalo; Globacom delegate, Justina Abdulateef; First Bank Chairman, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika; and Globacom delegate, Marie Macfoy, at the 2020 edition of WIMBIZ conference

Chiamaka Ozulumba

A

s the world marks the International Women’s Day 2020 (IWD2020), there is need to revisit the struggle for the emancipation of the female gender. It’s been a long battle, but the fact that this year ’s campaign is focused on achieving equality for the female gender underscores the fact that more ground still needs to be covered.

The past year was a watershed of sorts in terms of women empowerment. It was a year of strong consolidation of the struggle for women empowerment across the world.

For the first time in America’s history, women outnumbered men at college universities, women in Ireland struck down the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, firmly securing the power to decide to abort or not; women in Iran were able to sit in a sports stadium with men to watch the World Cup for the first time in decades, Spain got a majority-female cabinet and female World Cup got the best attention ever with unprecedented global interest and support.

Some of these achievements of women globally and the roadmap for the future formed the bedrock of the deliberation of many women-focused gatherings of women last year, including the one by the popular Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), held in November at Eko Hotel and Suites under the theme “Shaping the Future: Strategizing to Win. Nigeria’s digital transformation leader, Globacom, was a major sponsor of the 18th annual conference which drew the participation of top-rated female professionals from across Nigeria and beyond.

Globacom in a statement ahead of the conference said it was motivated to sponsor the summit because of its conviction that

the world would fare better if the female gender was empowered.

According to the company, “When you empower a woman, you improve the overall wellbeing of the family unit, as a woman plays a pivotal role in the stability of a home�.

Globacom, which had a team of five senior female professionals drawn from various departments of the company as its representatives at the WIM conference, reiterated that women empowerment would lift the family unit out of subsistence level of living and make women big players in the economy.

This is a notion also held by many forward-thinking organisations and individuals across the world.

When you empower a woman, you improve the overall wellbeing of the family unit, as a woman plays a pivotal role in the stability of a home...When women are empowered and can claim their rights and access to land, leadership, opportunities and choices, economies grow, food security is enhanced and prospects are improved for current and future generations

According to Michelle Bachelet, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of United Nations Women, “When women are empowered and can claim their rights and access to land, leadership, opportunities and choices, economies grow, food security is enhanced and prospects are improved for current and future generations.�

The import of this is that if women are not empowered the future would be bleak, not just for the un-empowered women but for humanity as a whole because not only would the current generation be endangered, future generations too would be imperilled.�

It is the same position that WIMBIZ has pursued for years. The Chairperson of the WIMBIZ Executive Council, Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, said at the WIMBIZ conference last year that the organisation had over the years been advocating women empowerment, especially in the area of better representation of women in leadership positions in public and private sectors. This, the organisation argued, is a way to quickly bridge the gender inequality gap.

While some progress has been made in Nigeria, there is still a lot of room for improvement. This point was succinctly made by the wife of the governor of Ekiti State, Chief (Mrs) Bisi Fayemi, at the WIMBIZ conference earlier referenced. She minced no words by stating that Nigeria was still among the countries with a wide gender gap.

She said, “The 2014 World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report rated Nigeria 118/177, the 2015 World Bank Gender Equality Measure Report gave Nigeria 158/177, the 2016 UNDP Gender Inequality Index rated the country 152/188 and the 2017 World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report ratings place Nigeria 122/144 .

According to her, Nigeria was ranked as one of the 20 worst countries in the

world for women alongside Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, DRC, Yemen and so on. She disclosed further that the 2018 Global Slavery Index ranked Nigeria 32/167 of the countries with the highest number of slaves. “Not only did Nigeria not meet any of the original Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), if care is not taken, we might not meet most of the SDG goals in 2030 either,� she submitted.

Mrs. Fayemi advocated an eight-point strategy towards closing the gender gap, among which is what she called ‘an enabling environment for women to have access to finance, so they can grow their businesses, earn decent income and support their families.’ This aligns with Globacom’s position that empowerment of women economically holds a veritable key to bridging the gender inequality gap and changing the fortunes of women for the better.

Globacom, apart from being an industry leader in innovation, has over the years established itself as a promoter of gender equality. The company, which currently has a female Executive Vice Chairman and several women in other strategic executive positions, has been at the forefront of women empowerment, equipping women from different sectors of the economy with the required skills for excellence.

The company’s support for women has won it several awards over the years, including the Best Women Enterprise Support (Company) Award at the 2018 Nigerian Women Digital Agenda Summits and Awards (NWDAS), organised by the Centre for Cyber Awareness and Development, (CECAD).

With many companies embracing women empowerment in Nigeria, it would not be long before Nigeria achieves a genderequal status in the overall benefit of its economy and its people.

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#THISISNIGERIA - Banky Wellington

I Believe I Can Try

I

n the last few months, a good number of the most brilliant, intelligent, brightest and hopeful young minds I’ve worked with in Nigeria, have relocated to Canada.

Shortly after my campaign for the House of Representatives ended, two of the most impactful leaders on my campaign team—one a lawyer, and the other an IT professional/Tech enthusiast—got their Canadian visas in quick succession and took off. Not long after that, two of the best brand managers I’ve worked with in years followed suit. And then it was my favorite bank account manager and one of the most dependable members of the leadership team in my church—and those are just the ones who chose Canada.

A young fashion designer I know has given up hope on his dreams for his clothing line here and has opted to go and find a source of living in Dubai. The same goes for an artist in my football league and even as difficult as it is to get an American visa, we’ve lost the manager who handled all our sound, stage and lighting production requirements for most of the events we do at EME (Empire Mates Entertainment) to Atlanta. We also lost a Nigerian music business pioneer, one of the greatest artists/producers in the history of our industry, a close friend and frequent collaborator, eLDee The Don—he uprooted his family and moved to Atlanta as well. And just this morning, I discovered that one of the most loved and celebrated photographers has relocated to New York. The very definition of a brain drain is happening right before our eyes—and these are just the successful people.

The news has been rife with the attempts of less fortunate citizens who have tried to escape the country by any means possible. Sadly, some have ended up as slaves in Libya or prostitutes in parts of Europe while some have lost their lives by drowning in the ocean or starving in the desert. A couple of weeks ago, I read about some guys who hid in a ship they thought was heading to Spain and ended up in Ghana, and every other month, stowaways are caught at the airport trying to hide in the wheels or cargo sections of aeroplanes. As dangerous, absurd and insane as some of these attempts are, you can’t help but wonder how bad life must be for our people. A hungry man isn’t just an angry man, he’s a desperate man and this is how desperate some have become, that they’re willing to risk losing their lives for the chance to escape. For millions of our young people, the Nigerian dream now is one in which you survive Nigeria long enough to escape it.

Honestly, I can’t blame anyone for leaving.

As a somewhat fledgling-but-mildly-successful entrepreneur, I have firsthand experience in the extreme difficulty any young person faces in trying to get a dream or business off the ground and keep it afloat in an environment where the odds seem stacked against you. But there’s a sense of urgency and responsibility that engulfs me, a certain burden and motive that drives me to keep going, grinding, and pushing and I suspect it’s the same for most of Nigerian small business owners. It’s no longer just about creating wealth or comfort for yourself and your family; you become acutely aware of just how many people depend on your success. When that dawns on you, and you realise how many lives are completely dependent on the success or failure of your ideas, you become more desperate for them to work. Most of us have become a kind of mini-Government-meets-Charity for our employees. You end up paying salaries and school fees, medical bills and rent assistance, car loans and pretty much anything else that comes up. God forbid that my businesses crumble today, over sixty salaried employees (and their families by extension) would immediately lose their source of livelihood, not to mention the hundreds of other part timers, vendors, suppliers

and contractors who we interface with and give work to on a regular basis. Success in Nigeria has thus become much more than a want or desire, it has become a need—a responsibility.

Take a glance at our rapidly increasing population numbers, you will immediately see that the overwhelming number of young people, combined with a lack of jobs that would give them a chance to earn a decent living, means that unemployment just might be the biggest threat to our national security. It is the dominant obstacle—the biggest hinderance to our safety and stability as a country. I believe that the solution to unemployment lies in our ability as a country to empower small businesses. The reality is that “Big Business� can only hire so many people. If you put all the banks in the country together, for instance, that’s not going to equate to 500,000 jobs in a country of over 200 million people. But if we can empower entrepreneurs—and there’s an unlimited number of Nigerians with ideas for businesses—each small business owner can hire between 5 to 100 people and just maybe then, we would stand a chance at rescuing the country.

The primary responsibility to rebuild Nigeria falls squarely on the shoulders of those of us who—whether by destiny or by decision—have remained here. The Nigeria we have is the only one we’ve got, so we should either do our best to make it work or accept things for what they are and watch it all burn. However, the latter isn’t an option for me because while I can live with trying and failing, I can’t live with not trying. Over the years, that’s what some of us have done.

While many are content to talk and tweet, we’ve tried our best to improve the situation of things in the country, whether by protests or by participation in politics. I’ve spent every year since 2009 trying to play my part in the country I’d like to see. In 2009, it was the “Light Up Nigeria� campaign, in 2010, it was the “Enough Is Enough� protest. In 2011, we began the RSVP (Register-Select-Vote-Protect) movement, which is still ongoing until today. We were at the front lines during “Occupy Nigeria� in 2012, not because fuel subsidy wasn’t an issue, but

because we were trying to seize the moment and draw the country’s attention to wasteful spending in government, and a host of other issues with our national budget and politicians in power. Over the years, we’ve held numerous voter mobilisation rallies and toured the country to encourage young people to resist being used for electoral violence. We have led campaigns to inspire our generation to resist selling our votes and mortgaging the future. The countless initiatives, speeches at conferences, activism attempts and issue-or-policy-driven protests I’ve been involved in over the years, all culminated in what I personally consider as my greatest act of protest—spending a significant amount of my time, money, energy and resources to run an independent campaign in the 2019 elections, for a seat in the National Assembly—knowing fully well the almost insurmountable odds that stood in our way.

I knew what it would cost me, and I knew our chances of winning, by most accounts, were slim-to-none. But I needed to prove a point. We may not have won the race, but we came pretty close. We may not have won that battle, but we gave the status quo a bloody nose. With no political pedigree or backing from any major party, we won in polling units and wards where it was previously unimaginable and I say this with the greatest sense of humility and responsibility, we pulled in greater numbers in our local constituency than some presidential candidates did nationwide.

The goal was to show that it IS possible, that young Nigerians can get on the same side, punch above our weights, and disrupt the business-as-usual mindset that most of our political elites have. I said this many times on the campaign trail: “the problems in Nigeria are from the top down, but the solutions are from the bottom up.� Now more than ever, if we can just get a critical mass of young Nigerians, in select areas of the country, to bond together and make a pull for better representation in the legislature of our country, then maybe we would finally stand a chance to shift the needle and change the narrative for the better.

Mark Twain once said that, “Patriotism

is loyalty to one’s country all the time, and loyalty to the government when it deserves it�. I stumbled upon that quote many years ago, and it immediately hit home. It resonated deeply within me and helped to inspire many of my decisions and actions over the years when it came to Nigeria. Whether it was by protesting policies or participating in politics, for me it was never about being on the side of any particular president or political party, it was always about attempting to be on the side of Nigeria.

I may not have won a seat, but I hope, and I believe, that we succeeded in planting a seed. I pray that the seed will inspire this generation of young Nigerians to shake off decades of apathy and try again to get involved, to restart and rebuild.

I hope I leave you, the reader, with the dogged determination that in every aspect of your life, and in your area of influence, you will do your best to try. I hope you realise that in this country with over 200 million people, you are the answer to someone’s prayer and the solution to someone’s problem. I hope you recognise that you were created to do something special and specific and I hope that you find out what it is, go after it and never give up on it. That has been my story, and as I close, I hope I leave you determined to do as I did.

May you find joy in your journey and a reward in your reaching.

May you never stop learning, and as you do, never stop teaching.

In life, or in love, In school, work or society, In visions and ventures, In the pursuit of purpose, and the rebuilding of nations‌ Inevitably, you will win some and lose some.

On some days you’ll find that you’re falling, and on other days you’re flying But until that fateful day when you know that you are dying I pray that you never stop trying.

God bless Nigeria. God bless us all - An excerpt from an upcoming book on EiE – Footprints: Past, Present, Future

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THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ MARCH 19, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S

A S

MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A T

REPO 9.17 % 10.08 %

CALL 1-MONTH

7.50 % 9.75 %

M A R C H S & P INDEX INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY

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

1 3 , 2 0 2 0 S&P 451.69 % -0.79 %

1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

EXCHANGE RATE -6.13 % -6.13 %

N306.95/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Konga Partners Samsung

KongahasinkedadealwithSamsung,toexpandaccesstogenuineSamsung productsformillionsofshoppersacrossNigeria,whiledrasticallyreducing thepenetrationofsubstandardproductsinthemarket.

To this end, Konga is expected to deploy its considerable network of storesacrossNigeriaaswellasitsonlineplatforminmakingtheproducts available.Specifically,theproductstobecarriedbyKongaincludelatest devicesfromSamsungMobileincludingmobilephones,tablets,smart wearable devices and a wide range of accessories. Also on the Konga platforms are those manufactured by Samsung Electronics including TVsets,HomeTheatres,refrigerators,wallovens,cookers,microwaves, washing machines, air conditioners, dish washers, vacuum cleaners, air purifiers,SmartHomegadgets.

VicePresident,KongaRetail,KaluJohnson,said:‘ Wearedelighted.This partnershipwithSamsungaffordsKongahugeleverageinreachingmore shoppers with genuine products across the Samsung Electronics and SamsungMobilecategories.

“Indeed, it is an opportunity to put more of these exciting appliances, devices and gadgets at the reach of millions across our online channel andvastnetworkofofflinestores.”

Omantel, Ericsson Renew Deal

STAKEHOLDERS’ FORUM

L-R: Board Commissioner, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Aliyu Abubakar; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof.

Umar Danbatta; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami; Representative of the Governor of Kaduna State, Hajia Hadiza Muazu, and Chairman, NCC Board, Prof. Adeolu Akande, during the TV white space stakeholders consultative forum, held in Abuja...recently

Youths Urged to Embrace Technology Stories by Emma Okonji The President of the African Export-import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah, has challenged African youths to make proper use of emerging technology skills and the opportunities around them to liberate Africa from economic degradation.

According to him, the new Africa presents the continent’s youth with an excellent battleground to join and wage the economic struggle that will finally liberate Africa.

Oramah who gave the advice while delivering the 14th Convocation Lecture of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UniZik) in Awka, Anambra State recently, said just as Africa’s political struggle was led by the youth, so will the tech savvy youth lead the way for Africa’s economic

TELECOM emancipation. He spoke on the topic: “Unleashing the Power of the Youth”.

Youths, according to him, represented agents of change across the social, political and economic spectra and history and contemporary evidence had shown that they had always been the catalyst to economic transformation, constituting the largest proportion of the labour force and the population at the height of the industrial revolutions in the advance countries.

“History has shown that where the youth are given the opportunity, they have been the force for positive change. I consider the youth to be Africa’s greatest resource, an asset much more valuable than all the oil and solid minerals we so frequently

celebrate,” Oramah said.

He quoted the statement by late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the former President of Nigeria after whom the university was named, that, “The immediate aim of African education should be to develop character, initiative, and ability of the youth of the country, so that they may be reliable, useful, and intelligent in the rapidly changing life and circumstances of their own people. Anything narrower than this must lead to a stagnant and menacing flood of unemployed and unemployable youth.”

Oramah noted that the ubiquitous social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; Tech companies such as Apple and Microsoft; and e-commerce platforms, including Amazon and Alibaba; were founded by people in their youth.

Youth-powered digital busi-

nesses accounted for about two-thirds of the US economy, one-third of the Chinese economy and eight per cent of the Indian economy, he added, saying that those companies were bigger in value than many African economies.

He however said that despite limited opportunities, Africa’s youths are beginning to make important contributions to economic transformation on the continent. The African versions of Steve Job, Mark Zuckerberg, Alexander McQueen and Calvin Klein were rising like the Phoenix while others, like Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Lily Alfonso and Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, all started making impact in their various endeavours as youth, he said.

Oramah, also highlighted the Continued on page 24

Expert Seeks Stakeholders’ Collaboration on ICT Development The Chief Executive Officer of Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN), Mr. Ibrahim Dikko, has called for collaboration between the government, its agencies, and players in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, in order to address the challenges facing the industry.

Dikko, who made the call while speaking with journalists in Lagos recently, said the collaboration became necessary, given the current challenges hindering ICT development in the country.

Dikko, who decried the current gap that existed between industry players and the government, blamed the situation on lack of collaboration between both

TELECOM parties, adding that this has created myriads of challenges such as multiple taxation and difficulties in getting the Right of Way (RoW) permit.

“If the industry players and the government work together, there won’t be issues of an agency shutting down base stations or cutting fibre cables during road construction. We must realise that technology business is a national business.

“It is a business that transforms the economy, hence, the players, who are mostly from the private sector must be seen as partners in progress by the government.

There must be a synergy between

the private and public sectors,” Dikko said.

Dikko noted that with the recent fall in the price of crude oil, which is the main source of the nation’s economy, Nigeria must realise that it has no other option than to diversify by leveraging technology.

However, he said transforming the economy with technology would only be realised if governments at all levels understand this need and collaboratively work towards the goal with the industry players.

He, therefore commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, for his recent initiatives aimed at building a digital economy. He

expressed confidence that the digital strategy currently being implemented by the Minister would transform the nation’s economy if supported by all stakeholders, stressing that collaboration in this area is also key.

According to him, the umbrella body of all players in the ICT industry, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has taken a bold step in this regard through its forthcoming National Dialogue on Telecoms and ICT. The event scheduled to hold March 26 in Abuja, he said, would create the opportunity Continued on page 24

OmantelhasrenewedandexpandeditsManagedServicesagreement with Ericsson for a further five years.The renewed agreement is more outcome-based and customer-centric, providing clear accountability andincreasedagility.

ChiefExecutiveOfficerofOmantel,TalalSaidAlMamari,said:“Expanding ourlong-termpartnershipwithEricssonwiththeimplementationofits innovativesolutionsisinlinewithourstrategytofocusonourcorebusiness ofprovidingaconvergenceofcommunications,andinformationtoour customers, which will help us to deliver the best possible service to our growingcustomerbase.

“ThedealcoversnetworkoperationsandfieldmaintenanceforOmantel’s multivendor mobile networks, including access and core technologies.

We at Omantel work with international companies such as Ericsson to bringextensivemanagementServicesexpertisetoournetwork.”

Similarly, President of Ericsson, Middle East and Africa, Fadi Pharaon, said:“Today’sagreementreinforcesourlong-standingpartnershipand commitmenttoOmantel.

“It will enable us to evolve Omantel’s network from network-centric to user-experience-centricnetworkleveragingEricsson’sautomationuse cases.ThiswillcreateadifferentiatedexperienceforOmantel’ssubscribers.”

Accordingtothenewagreement,Ericssonwillprovideafullymanaged end-to-endmultivendoroperationsservicetoincludenationwidenetwork operations,fieldsupportandmaintenanceforOmantel’sfixed-lineaccess, 2G,3G,4Gandfuture5Gaccess.

“TheprojectincorporatestheoperationsforNetworkFunctionsVirtualization(NFVI)solutions,whichprovidethehighestlevelsofoperation,and maintenancecapabilities.“Ericssonwillalsodeployautomationplatforms toallowOmanteltoincreaseoperationalnetworkefficiencyandfurther enhancecustomerexperiencesforitssubscribers.

“Itisexpectedthatthenewpartnershipwillstimulateinnovationinnetwork operationsanddeliverhigh-qualityservicesforOmantel’scustomers.

Emirates App Hits 20m Downloads

As the race for “share of mobile” continues, Emirates marks a major milestone with 20 million downloads of its mobile app on the back of a strongmobileanddigitalstrategythathasledtosolidconsumeruptake particularlyinAfrica,GCCandAsia.

Cateringtoitsglobalcustomerbase,theEmiratesappisavailableinmore languagesthananyotherairlineappintheworld,withfullfeaturessetin 19 languages including Arabic and Mandarin. Available on Apple Store, GooglePlayStoreandmostrecentlytheHuaweiAppGallery,itisamong thehighestratedairlineappsintheworld.

Emirates’DivisionalSeniorVicePresident,CorporateCommunications, MarketingandBrand,BoutrosBoutros,said:“OurFlyBetterbrandpromise meansthatEmiratesaimstoprovidethebestpossiblecustomerexperience–notonlyonboardandontheground,butalsoonline,wherethevast majorityofourcustomersincreasinglywanttointeractwithusatevery stageoftheirjourney.We’veseenahugeuptakeofourmobileandonline services,particularlyindevelopingmarketswhereconsumershavereally embracedamobile-firstlifestyle.”

“We must begin to look inward because if you want to import from China, it’s not possible because China has closed down most of her production, supply chain has really gone down.

So instead of importing tooth picks, tomatoes, we must use our own local technology, because we are Vice President, Industrial Global Union,

Mr. Issa Aremu

T H I S D AY ˞ ͯ͡, 2020

24

BUSINESSWORLD YOUTHS URGED TO EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY Nigerian youth-led entertainment industry which is making significant gains and inroads into the global scene and noted that Afreximbank had recently announced a $500 million Creative Industry Financing Facility, which was available to operators in the full spectrum of Africa’s creative sector.

That facility was expected to boost youth participation in the African creative economy, he said.

He, therefore, urged African youths to be prepared to take advantage of emerging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and announced that Afreximbank had launched a number of initiatives and programmes to support African economies and the youth to maximise the benefits of the AfCFTA. Those included an incubation lab being put in place to support innovation and help bring innovative products to market.

EXPERT SEEKS STAKEHOLDERS’ COLLABORATION ON ICT DEVELOPMENT for governments, their agencies and the private sector operators to forge collaborations towards achieving the common goal of ICT development in Nigeria.

The Backbone Connectivity CEO also applauded the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for their respective roles in sustaining a vibrant telecoms and technology industry in Nigeria.

ATCON is an advocacy group that brought innovation to the ICT industry, through various proposals it sent to government, some of which were implemented for the growth of the economy.

ATCON, last year, proposed another five-year National Broadband Plan for Nigeria, with a target to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration, following the expiration of the first National Broadband Plan that surpassed its target of 30 per cent broadband penetration in December 2018.

Based on ATCON’s proposal, the Federal Government set up a broadband committee, with the mandate to come up with a National Broadband Plan for 2020-2025, and the report had since been submitted.

NEWS

Danbatta Highlights Importance of Consumers to Telecoms Industry Stories by Emma Okonji

Consumer. “Some of those consumercentric initiatives, programmes, directions, policies and regulations, include the DoNot-Disturb (DND) 2442 Short Code, to which over 24 million subscriber have subscribed to in order to be able to control unsolicited text messages; the Toll-Free Number 622 as a second level mechanism for escalating consumer complaints not satisfactorily resolved by the service providers to the Commission for effective resolutions.

Over a million complaints have been successfully resolved for the consumers through this channels,� he said.

He added, “We have also put in place regulations to combat e-waste in the country, working in collaboration with other agency to combat influx of fake and substandard phone sin the country, developed guidelines on disaster recovery to ensure consumers do not face the negative impact of network problem on service delivery for long.�

Realising that telecom

consumers increasingly rely on telecom platforms to carry out financial transactions, Danbatta said the NCC inaugurated a 26-member multi-sectorial committee to develop modalities for protecting telecoms consumers from being vulnerable to efrauds, while it has also taken measures to review its Consumer Complaints and Service Level Agreement (CC/SLA) by the operators.

According to him, the Commission developed the 112 Emergency Communication

Number, which can be dialed by a telecoms consumer in an emergency situation to get help from emergency response agencies through the Emergency Communications Centres built by the Commission.

Danbatta, explained that the Commission issued directives to protect telecoms consumers from being shortchanged by the service provider. Prominent among these are the directive on forceful subscription to valued-added services (VAS) and directive on data-roll over.

enriches all digital channels, empowers customer acquisition at low cost, brings Value Added Service (VAS/ Lifestyle) services to digital banking, customise and control service offering, promotes SME Banking and monitors performance.

While making a presentation to various banks in the weeklong workshop, Jafar noted that Nigeria is considered Africa’s biggest market and one of the emerging markets in the world with many first-class banks operating in the country. Thus, Vericash thought it wise to bring its digital banking solution to help them address the challenges in the digital banking ecosystem.

Asked why Nigerians should patronize the Vericash mobile banking platform over and above other solutions in its class, Jafar explained that the Vericash platform would establish an ecosystem of the future as it orchestrates a sufficient marketplace for its clients, third-party service providers and customers for leveraging and consuming different mobile financial services seamlessly. “The Vericash mobile banking platform helps build a local and international open-loop collaborative ecosystem and build a network effect that increases our customer profit margin exponentially,� he assured.

Following recent celebration of the World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD), the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Commissions Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has described telecoms consumer as the central factor in the Commission’s regulatory activities.

Danbatta, who spoke in Abuja, said riding on its tripartite principle of fairness, firmness and forthrightness, the NCC would continue to advance the course of protecting telecoms consumers from unwholesome practices by the service providers.

According to him, the Commission celebrates the telecom consumer every day of the year, and it is a self-evident truth that consumer is the lifeblood of the sector, adding that the efforts will be sustained in line with the theme of this year’s WCRD: ‘The Sustainable Consumer.’ “In keeping with its commitment to the tradition of celebrating the telecom consumer, the NCC is reiterating its commitment to safeguarding the interest and ensuring the satisfaction of the consumer as the central factor of the telecom ecosystem,â€? Danbatta explained, adding that the NCC has strengthened initiatives to educate and inform consumer L-R: Executive Director, Health Emergency Initiative, Paschal Achunine; Divisional Head, Health and Education Sectors, Sterling just as the Commission declared Bank Plc, Obinna Ukachukwu, and Director, Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS), Dr. Kola Korolo, at a media brieďŹ ng to 2017 as the Year of the Telecom unveil a partnership between Sterling Bank and Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), held in Lagos...recently

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Firms to Promote Digital Banking The CWG Plc has strengthened its partnership with Vericash, provider of a software platform, to drive an ecosystem of collaborative mobile financial services to boost Nigeria’s financial inclusion quest.

Speaking at a workshop organised by both companies for banks in Nigeria, CWG’s Business Development Manager, Tereigh Ozakpo, explained that the Vericash mobile banking solution, which has been in the Nigerian market in the last six years, is an omni channel plus digital solution, which allows banks to operate all their digital channels on one platform.

He said unlike other platforms, where the banks have

to start development from the scratch, which usually takes several weeks, the Vericash mobile banking platform is agile as the integration layout which is already developed, allowing a customer to just customise. “One of the biggest advantages of having Vericash mobile banking platform as your digital banking partner is that it has the ability to aggregate all your digital channels together. It is a platform that helps a bank to drive and synchronise all of its digital services in a single platform, thereby increasing the level of control and ensuring conflict resolution is faster,� he said.

Tereigh added that the Vericash mobile banking platform was designed in such a way that there can be synergy between two banks signing on the platform. He disclosed that this happens because Vericash has the Vericash network, which is very robust and allows various customers on the platform to collaborate seamlessly and faster as it allows them to access a large customer base beyond their ecosystem.

Senior Product Manager at Vericash, Mohammad Jafar, said the Vericash mobile banking solution remained one unified platform for all banking products as it manages and

MainOne Adopts Measures to Prevent Covid-19 Spread Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

MainOne has said it is committed to the safety and well-being of its customers, partners and employees Therefore, owing to the outbreak of the raging COVID19 pandemic, the broadband company said it activated its business continuity plans to ensure seamless operations across its offices and infrastructure, including points of presence and data centers.

MainOne has implemented enhanced protocols and precautionary procedures in its facilities to ensure continued operations and safety of stakeholders, in line with public health advisory. These include

protocols related to the Access to MainOne Facilities.

The company in a statement, said it had put in place preventive measures at all its facilities to check for symptoms of COVID-19, isolate and report suspected cases.

According to the statement, “We value all our staff and visitors coming into any of our facilities and it is mandatory for everyone to strictly adhere to set guidelines and precautionary measures provided. “We have directed security guards and front desk officers to ensure compliance and report anyone who fails to make use of sanitisers provided or rejects

to be tested by authorised personnel using infrared thermometer.�

The statement added that MainOne authorised personnel shall verify that the intending visitor has not been to any of the affected countries in the last twenty days. Where it is discovered that the visitor has been to or is coming from an affected country, MainOne shall request for original doctor’s report certifying the visitor free of the virus, before access is granted. In some cases, access may not be granted to anyone who has been to affected countries within 24hours. “In addition, customers are

encouraged to explore other channels of communication, such as teleconferencing and online customer platforms to engage with our teams, and reduce traffic to our facilities, to the minimum necessary.

Our Remote Hands and Eyes services are available for data center customers. This ensures task at the data centers are carried out by our trained engineers on their behalf, “ the statement added.

The statement further said: “All employees are equipped to work from home, if and when required, in line with relevant procedures related to remote-working.

“Staff members are advised to delay or avoid trips to affected countries, undertake essential travels only and limit exposure to social or large gatherings and follow precautionary measures issued by the World Health Organisation and local governments. Affected areas, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), are considered those countries, provinces, territories or cities experiencing ongoing transmission of the COVID-19, in contrast to areas reporting only imported cases. In addition, staff returning from trips will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.�

T H I S D AY ˞ ͯ͡, 2020

25

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Assessing Telecoms Regulation Emma Okonji reviews the findings of the Senate Committee on telecommunications, led by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, which penultimate week had on-the-spot assessment of the activities of the Nigerian Communications Commission

Danbatta

T

he Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, penultimate week, led other members of the committee to the Abuja head office of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on a familiarisation and fact-finding visit.

They noted challenges facing the telecoms industry, ranging from the refusal to grant Right of Way (RoW) permit by federal and state government agencies for telecoms expansion, to incessant closure of telecoms sites by government agencies for refusal of telecoms operators to pay multiple taxes and charges, coupled with willful vandalism of telecoms facilities by social miscreants and during road constructions.

The committee however applauded the commission for its achievements so far.

The lawmakers were received by the Executive Management team of NCC, led by its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who explained to them the commission’s core mandates, its various initiatives that have helped to improve wider access to telecommunications as well as the challenges in the regulatory environment, Having been briefed on the regulatory performance of the NCC, coupled with the committee’s personal assessment of the telecoms industry, the committee chairman, Tinubu said the lawmakers were on a familiarisation and fact-finding tour to the Commission.

In his address, Danbatta reeled out industry statistics which, captured the growth recorded so far among other issues.

According to Danbatta, Nigeria attained and surpassed 30 per cent broadband penetration target in December, 2018 and the penetration has further increase to 38.49 per cent as of December, 2019.

He said the number of active phone lines had increased to over 185 million; active Internet subscriptions on global system for mobile communications (GSM), fixed wired and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) networks have equally increased to over 126 million.

The NCC boss added that tele-density reached 96.76 per cent, and that quarterly contribution of telecoms to gross domestic product (GDP) also reached 10.60 per cent. “The NCC, through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) has reduced the number of access-gaps clusters in the country further from 114. Hitherto, some 38 million Nigerians were affected by access gap clusters,� Danbatta said.

He explained to the committee what the commission had done so far, with respect to spectrum administration in the sector. He stated that despite the crucial role of spectrum, and being a scarce resource, the commission had deployed spectrum quite effectively for the development of broadband in the telecom industry.

According to him, some of the clear goaloriented programmes in that regard include: development of spectrum trading, ongoing effort

Tinubu

to leverage Television White Space (TVWS) to address rural connectivity, the Proof of Concept (PoC) non-commercial trial of Fifth Generation (5G) networks, and development guidelines on commercial satellites deployment.

Danbatta stated that the commission’s efforts in licensing Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) to cascade fibre optic into the hinterland to reach all the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country, was succeeding and would enhance government’s effort at expanding the nation’s broadband infrastructure.

Industry challenges Danbatta, who appreciated the support of the National Assembly so far, however, listed key issues affecting the regulatory environment.

These, he said, included: power, which is the biggest challenge facing telecommunications operations in the country, multiple regulations and incessant closure of telecoms sites by government agencies, security challenges, vandalism and theft of telecom installations and transmission cable cuts, as well as RoW issue.

The committee members assured NCC of their readiness to support the regulatory efforts of the Commission through legislative intervention and other collaboration towards addressing the challenges in the regulatory environment.

They also urged the NCC to focus more on increased access across the country as well as ensuring affordable telecoms services for Nigerians.

Our efforts received a boost, following the implementation of a September 12, 2019 Ministerial directive that the NCC should compel service providers to block all improperlyregistered SIM cards, pending when their owners regularise their registration

So far, the NCC has deactivated additional 2.2 million improperly registered SIM cards from across all telecoms network. In order to ensure that all registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards are traceable to their real owners, in the event of doubt or suspicion, the NCC, successfully deactivated the remaining 2.2 million improperly registered SIM cards across the netwotks of all telecoms operators. The additional deactivation of the 2.2 million improperly registered SIM cards, which took place few days before the visit of Senate Committee to NCC, was a total cleansing of the telecoms network from SIM cards that were not dully registered, which were hitherto, used for committing crimes like kidnapping, financial theft, among others.

The recent cleansing of MNOs from every trace of improperly registered SIM cards on their networks, is in line with NCC’s resolve to sanitise the telecoms industry in order to address the rising insecurity situation in the country, where some people use unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards to indulge in criminal activities.

Following the September 2019 Ministerial directive, the NCC, within a week, intensified efforts by reducing the number of improperlyregistered SIM cards from 9.2 million to 2.2 million, before the recent final cleansing of the networks.

Danbatta said over the years, the NCC had tenaciously worked with determination and through various policy initiatives, to rid mobile networks of improperly or invalidly-registered SIM cards to ensure that all the current over 184 million registered SIM cards/mobile lines across MNOs’ networks have valid data that are traceable and not anonymous.

According to him, “Our efforts received a boost, following the implementation of a September 12, 2019 Ministerial directive that the NCC should compel service providers to block all improperly-registered SIM cards, pending when their owners regularise their registration. “As part of the Commission’s ongoing regulatory interventions such as the setting up of the SIM Registration Industry Task Force, which led to several resolutions including the Industry Working Group (IWG) on harmonisation of SIM registration process with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure a clean SIM database, the Commission had, in June 2019, commenced the second round of comprehensive verification audit of MNOs’ SIM card registrations. This audit exercise was concluded in August 2019. The audit was specifically to ensure strict adherence by telecom operators to the provisions of the Telephone Subscribers Registration Regulations 2011.�

Danbatta further said: “We have since initiated the second phase of SIM deactivation based on the ministerial directive and as at today, we have completely deactivated the remaining 2.2 million lines on the networks.�

NCC’s appeal The climax of the oversight function of the Senate committee, was the appeal made by NCC to all government agencies that are involved in telecoms regulations in their respective states, to allow telecoms operators expand telecoms facilities in their states through the granting of RoW permit to rollout fibre optic cables for broadband deployment as well as the deployment of other telecoms facilities in their states.

Danbatta said the various inter-agency collaborations, frequent engagement of state governments to discuss issue of RoW, multiple regulations, taxation and other challenges, were consciously articulated towards improving deployment of telecoms infrastructure to ensure improved services for the telecom consumers.

The commission, EVC said, had also issued various directions to Mobile Metwork Operators (MNOs) with respect to roll-over data and forceful subscriptions to ensure that consumers are not shortchanged by market forces.

Danbatta said the introduction of Do-NotDisturb (DND) 2442 Short Code to manage unsolicited messages, the toll-free number (622) for the escalation of complaints and the 112 Emergency Communication Number, which is connected to the Emergency Communication Centres (ECCs), were conscious policies put in place to ensure that the rights of telecom consumers are safeguarded and to ensure that Nigerians enjoy derivable benefits of new communication technologies.

At the moment, 18 states of the federation currently have operational ECCs while efforts are being made by the commission to ensure ECCs are operational in the remaining states of the country.

Danbatta also told the committee members that the commission was instrumental to the listing of MTN and Airtel on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE); resolved N1.03 trillion fine against MTN; promoted the Code of Corporate Governance in the industry from voluntary to mandatory compliance; developed new numbering plan to enhance opportunities for emerging technologies; and restructured the telecoms value-added services (VAS) segment resulting in licensing of 10 VAS aggregator companies.

According to Danbatta, “The NCC is the national telecommunications regulatory agency with the mandate of promoting the overall growth of the telecommunications industry, through regulatory excellence that drives innovation, research and development, towards achieving accelerated socio-economic development of the country, as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

He assured telecoms subscribers of frequent consulting with consumers, commercial and industry organisations, including stakeholders and that it would establish and maintain subsidiaries to enable the discharge of its functions, for the well-being of telecoms subscribers.

26

T H I S D AY ˞ ͯ͡, 2020

Ě“

Software Expert Promotes Jumia, Reckitt Benckiser Partner against New Programming Covid-19 on the consumer price. around Coronavirus. Reckitt mission of Nigeria (FCCPC), Stories by Emma Okonji Language in Nigeria Reckitt Benckiser is financing Benckiser has created the Mr. Babatunde Irukera, said: The newly inaugurated chairperson, Python Nigeria Community, Pius Okigbo, has expressed assurance to promote partnership for Python Nigeria Community in order to promote the usage of the python programming language.

Okigbo, who gave the promise during the inauguration of the executive members of the company in Lagos recently, said he was ready to promote the new programming language called Python, in the Python Nigerian Community. “Partnensrship is a very important platform to communicate, grow your community in order to achieve the organisation’s aims and objectives. Without a strong partnership, we can’t go anywhere. I can bring the wealth of my experience and contacts in the software industry in order to deliver top rated services in the country.

That is the value I can bring here. I can also leverage on my contacts as the chairperson of this organisation. In terms of visibility, the social media is very strong. So we will explore our social media footprint and see how we can extend our goals,� he said.

The immediate Chairperson, Python Nigeria, Kelvin Oyanna,

called for partnership in popularising the usage of python language due to its immense opportunities.

He noted that the company was basically about developing people with skills to solve problems in all sectors of the Nigerian economy. “We need partnership with organisations that will be able to train people because we don’t make money. Python Nigeria is basically creating that platform to people to be equipped with skills in solving problems. It is all about talent development. “Python Nigeria is a community for everyone. If you are interested in anything technology, you will be welcomed. We give them the platform to do their jobs. At the end of the day, we have everyone coming from any sector,� Oyanna said.

He explained that there was no segregation of Internet of Things (IoTs) developers, adding that there is inclusion of Data analysts, Engineers and so many others.

Speaking also, one of the founding members of Python Nigeria, Chukwudi Nwachukwu, harped on the need for globalising Python software programming language because of the opportunities that abound.

Jumia, an e-commerce platform in Africa has announced a partnership with Reckitt Benckiser, the global health products manufacturer to help African consumers access hygienic products at the lowest price.

The partnership, which will cover all the eight markets where Jumia operates, such as Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa and Uganda, is expected to provide a steady supply of hygiene products such as soap bars, disinfectants, and liquid hand wash at affordable pricing. These products are facing a growing demand from consumers taking hygiene precautions to prevent the spread of the Covid-19, also known as Coronavirus. In the partnership deal, Jumia will not take commission on Dettol, JIK and Harpic, and will reinvest the initial commission into discounts

free shipping nationwide on all listed products. Consumers will be able to access all products from the “Stay Safe� page on Jumia, co-owned with Reckitt Benckiser.

Senior Vice President, at Jumia Group, Romain Christodoulou, said: “At Jumia, our primary concern is the health and wellbeing of our teammates, consumers, partners and communities.

We strive to continue operating so that customers continue to use e-commerce as a safe way to shop in this challenging time.

We are proud to work closely with Reckitt Benckiser through the “Stay Safe� campaign, which shares consistent information about COVID-19 and provides access to key hygiene products at the most affordable price possible for our consumers.�

The partnership will also provide critical information

Mythbuster website to help update consumers on risks and best practices to avoid the virus from spreading. Jumia is creating several awareness campaigns which direct consumers to both the ‘Stay Safe’ page and the ‘Mythbuster’ website.

Senior Vice President, RB Health Africa/Middle East/ Turkey, Bart Meermans, said: “Reckitt Bencksier is delighted to partner with Jumia to ensure that access to the highest quality hygiene and health products is a right, not a privilege. By financing nationwide free shipping in all markets where Jumia operates, from capital cities to more rural areas, Reckitt Benckiser is providing a fair access to supply for all consumers, regardless of their location.�

The Director General of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Com-

“The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission welcomes the proactive, innovative and socially responsible approach Jumia and Reckitt Benckiser have adopted in addressing potential supply shortages in key hygiene products, ensuring affordability and accessibility, and promoting awareness regarding COVID-19.

FCCPC appreciates this and encourages similar dynamism that is consumer centred and provides value to consumers and society at large. We look forward to successful outcomes from this collaboration and will provide required regulatory support that the intention for affordable access is not frustrated or exploited by any, and that those who demonstrate corporate social responsibility are not at a competitive disadvantage against those who do otherwise.�

Airtel Introduces New Cash Reward System for Customers Airtel has introduced a new cash reward system where every of its customers stands a chance of winning cash reward through the “AirtelThanks� programme.

The AirtelThanks rewards customers with multiple tiered service benefits which include invites to special events, birthday appreciation gifts, priority service access, personalised relationship management, among other benefits.

The Cash Token Rewards is being offered as a new feature in the AirtelThanks programme.

Customers are now eligible for cash tokens that can be used to buy airtime and data as well as make purchases across 300 merchants.

Each CashToken offered means guaranteed cash-back and automatic qualification for the National CashToken draw with a chance to win from N5,000 to N100 million weekly.

The CashToken Reward scheme is aimed at giving Airtel customers the opportunity

to earn cash back rather than just airtime and data bonuses, making the company the first telco to offer customers such reward. Airtel has stepped up the game as airtime bonuses alone are now behind the times.

Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said: “AirtelThanks is a programme that reflects the true DNA of Airtel Nigeria as it places the customer ahead of other stakeholders. “As a customer-centric organisation, we are committed to exploring opportunities and bespoke programs that will reward and honour our most important stakeholder, the customer. It is our belief that the CashToken initiative is a testament to our positioning as the preferred network for telecoms consumers in Nigeria. “At Airtel Nigeria, we will not rest on our laurels, we will continue to go the extra mile to reward, appreciate and delight our customers.�

CELEBRATING WOMEN

L-R: Unit Head, Management Information System Wema Bank, Olubunmi Ogunbo; Chief Compliance OďŹƒcer, Oluwatoyin, Karierin; Head Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, Abimbola Agbejule, and Unit Head, Business Process Re-engineering, Chika Adun, during the International Women’s Day event held in Lagos...recently

Smile Unveils New Product As the intensity of the competition in the Nigerian data market surges, Smile Nigeria has launched of its unlimited internet plan called UnlimitedPlatinum.

The Smile UnlimitedPlatinum ensures that customers enjoy Super-fast, Super reliable internet for as long as they want. True to its name, customers who subscribe toSmile UnlimitedPlatinum, will for a period of one month have the luxury of unlimited internet of everything desirable; as far as their imagination can take them.

To set it apart, Smile UnlimitedPlatinum offers data speed

of up to 6Mbps, with NO data cap and NO FUP. Additionally, with no throttling of data speed, and a validity period of 30 days.

Underscoring the appropriateness of UnlimitedPlatinum for all internet consumers especially heavy data users, the Chief Marketing Officer, Smile Nigeria, Abdul Hafeez, said: “This is the mother of all unlimited plans because customers, especially heavy data users, will now enjoy Super-fast, Super reliable unlimited internet for 30 days.�

To make it more desirable, UnlimitedPlatinum comes with an attractive price tag of only

N24,000. Hafeez reaffirmed that Smile UnlimitedPlatinum “is truly unlimited internet and can go as far as your imagination can take you.�

According to Hafeez, renowned for its pacesetting streak, Smile launched the first 4G LTE network in West Africa in Nigeria in 2014, revolutionising the way people access the internet. Smile was also the first to launch VoLTE on its network and has continued with its innovations including SmileVoice, a free mobile app that enables customers with any Android or Apple iPhone device,

including those which are not VoLTE-enabled, to make super clear voice calls over Smile’s 4G LTE network to anywhere in the world.

Market watchers are unanimous in their view that Smile is continuously innovating to exceed existing benchmarks in the market, all in a bid to provide products that will serve Smile customers’ best interest in the present competitive environment. Smile UnlimitedPlatinum is a further attestation to Smile’s unending quest to always delight its customers and favour all consumers, Hafeez said.

class curriculum and quality technical resources will result in the creation of great companies in a very short time.�

For early-stage founders and teams up to the challenge, the Founder Institute’s comprehensive step-by-step programme provides the structure, mentor support, and global network of entrepreneurs needed to start an enduring company.

The Founder Institute is the

only programme of its kind that focuses on people versus ideas, accepts founders with day jobs, and shares equity with all participants. Founder Institute Graduate companies include fast-rising startups across six continents like Udemy, Realty Mogul, Travelcar, goplaceit, Appota, and many more.

Semicolon achieves its aim through an intensive 12-month programme, to train Nigerians

in core IT skills such as software development, enterprise architecture and project management, as well as leadership, entrepreneurship and business management skills. Semicolon students work on innovation-oriented projects, take internships and work with mentors to develop hands-on experience, build their professional networks and develop innovative technical solutions to the world’s problems.

Firms to Support Tech Startups The Founder Institute, a pre-seed accelerator programme, and Semicolon, a software developer, have jointly announced a local partnership to further connect early-stage startups with technical resources.

As part of the partnership, the two organisations are announcing a mutual partnership to collaborate and work with aspiring software engineers and entrepreneurs in the tech

ecosystem through Founder Institute programme and Semicolon’s Techpreneurship programme in Lagos.

Founder Institute and Semicolon will collaborate to support and provide resources for the over 40 startups joining Founder Institute Lagos each year. In addition to supporting startup founders throughout Lagos, a goal of this initiative will be to train entrepreneurs from the

idea stage to early company stage/equip individuals with problem-solving skills for society.

According to the Regional Director, Founder Institute, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr., “we are proud of the value Semicolon has added so far. This collaboration will in no way increase the value both organisations can offer the ecosystem because the connection between a world-

27

T H I S D AY ˞ ͯ͡, 2020

Ibal: Nigeria Parades Strong Brands with Potential to Go Global CNN’s International Commercial’s Senior Vice President, Ad Sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa region, Cathy Ibal, has engaged well with top African brands and interacted with many business owners from the continent in recent time. On the sideline of the 20 years anniversary of Inside Africa, held recently in Lagos, she spoke with Raheem Akingbolu, on the vibrancy of African brands and how Inside Africa is contributing positively to positioning Africa and her array of brands.

W

As I said initially, we are very committed to the African continent, we have quite of number of programmes 11 hours weekly.

ith CNN’s strong presence in Africa, how has the experience been working with African brands?

Africa is very important for CNN. We are very loyal partner here with long-term partnerships Glo, Access Bank and importantly Zenith Bank. Of course, Zenith Bank is the reason why I am here today because we are celebrating the 20 Years Anniversary of Inside Africa. Last year was the 10th Year anniversary of African Voices. With this background, so you see how important the long-term partnership we have with the African Continent and Nigeria in particular.

I think, we have weekly, 11 hours of programming; African Programming.

Therefore, we are really committed to the Africa Continent. I am here because of ‘Inside Africa’ and the 20th anniversary and how it has been so far. it’s quite a nice experience, especially with Nigeria being one of the biggest markets we are dealing with.

Given your experience with Zenith Bank, Glo, Access and other Africa brands that you have had relationships with over the years, what’s your view about them?

As you know probably better than I do that African brands and Nigerian brands are really into innovation and looking for innovative solutions. So, I would say that initially, the way we engaged with these brands was of course on a TV side.

People come to us; brands come to us for TV because that’s the biggest reach then. But through the years now, we have evolved and the brands too have evolved to more innovative solutions in each platform; solutions involving social, mobile and digital and that is how we operate with these brands. Now we have moved to about 75 per cent of our campaigns, are multi-platform and of course mobile is very important. It will also interest you that 64 per cent of the visits from Nigeria are coming from mobiles, so that’s the way we engage with the Nigerian brands.

One of the aspirations from brand owners in Nigeria and other African countries is to become that global brand in quote. Do you see partnership with CNN as something that can make such dream come to pass?

I’m glad you mentioned that because I have mentioned earlier that Nigeria has very powerful brands, like Zenith, Access, Glo, Dangote and I think the association with a brand like CNN which is also a very powerful, is very important CNN has a huge reputation especially in Nigeria and I think the association makes sense because all these brands associating with CNN will have more exposure and international recognition.

The media landscape is changing globally as you have rightly alluded to and media consumption habits are also changing. How is CNN responding to these changes?

First, I can tell you that I’ve been at CNN for quite a long time, evolving from research, sales planner and then an executive position. I can tell you that long time ago, when we were pitching into a brand or to a client what we used

Beyond CNN there are broadcasting brands in Africa, what is your view, compared to a global standard?

I think it is quite ok, there are a lot of brands and networks and publishers that are coming the region and I think this proves the interest. I think CNN was probably one of the first to understand Africa very clearly and the good thing now is there’s a lot of new commerce and new publishers that consider Africa a very important continent to consider.

Now let’s go to Inside Africa, Africans and Africa’s ambitions to tell their stories, they want the best from them, and believe that in many parts of Africa that the foreign media aren’t doing enough to position Africa. What role does CNN play in repositioning Africa as a continent?

Africa is very important for CNN for instance, if you look at African Voices, Inside Africa, Avant Garde, Market Place Africa, we have quite a lot of programmes about Africa which demonstrate importance of the continent.

I think, of course we could do always much better. Especially with the profile of the population which is very young and using mobile, I think it will come.

The Continent is so important that I think other international media should come and be more present in Africa.

Ibal

to do was to send a media plan with the number of spots on the TV. That was the solution we were working with most of the brands. Now to your question, how we are evolving now is because of the data, because of the branded content and we have the studio create [the name of CNN’s in-house studio is Create], editorial contents, the solutions

I think CNN was probably one of the ďŹ rst to understand Africa very clearly and the good thing now is there’s a lot of new commerce and new publishers that consider Africa a very important continent to consider

are now so much more sophisticated and of course the African brands are very active and very interested and we are evolving with that. How do we react?

As you have rightly observed, the world has transformed, the Media world has transformed and we are trying our best.

I think we are in a pretty good position in CNN with the appropriate solution.

Are CNN campaigns also evolving along the changes and the new consumption pattern?

As I said before, we were having a brand campaign, an advertising campaign and we fill TV spots on air a long time ago. It was quite quick and effective.

Now we are having what you see in the brand in so many different platforms. It is not only TV, but a Mobile, wearable tech, we have more than 35 different platforms. So, we have moved from being one TV to about 35 distribution channels Africans and Africa are ambitious to tell their stories; they want their best to be celebrated. What role do you think CNN and especially, ‘Inside Africa’ can play in repositioning Africa as a continent?

Are there new fresh innovative programmes and products you are looking at that focus on Africa?

We are also working with several other countries where we have that short format - 60 second vacation, to showcase the destination and that is a format which is very successful for us. So, across Africa, you would see 60 seconds of Rwanda, 60 seconds of Ghana and others. But of course, as I mentioned, because of the innovation, we also are exploring every new format or new content. Back to the question, we are eager to produce new content and to have new things, innovative things.

We are expecting to grow the content from Africa with our partners and that is going to come with the brands we engage more and more.

Are there new things viewers should expect this year in ‘Inside Africa’?

Yes, we are working on changing the format. We have a fantastic partnership with Zenith Bank and of course we are looking forward to having new awesome vehicles, using more social media, using more digital, even TV is so important.

So, yeah, we are working on new format but I think we are still quite pleased with what is happening with Inside Africa. It is a franchise which is really important and which here -for 20 years. Out of the 20 years, Zenith Bank has been the sponsor for 12 years.

Is there opportunity for any other brand to come on board?

No, Zenith has exclusive right.

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T H I S D AY ˞ ͯ͡, 2020

NERC: EKEDC Records Highest Remittance Efficiency in Q3 2019 Peter Uzoho The Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) has said the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) recorded the highest remittance efficiency of 50.03 per cent in the third quarter of 2019.

NERC disclosed this in its report for the third quarter which was posted on its website recently.

It said although Jos and Kaduna Discos’ settlement rates improved during the third quarter, their remittance rates of 19.43 per cent and 19.53 per cent respectively, were the lowest during the same period.

The regulator noted that the individual remittance performance prior to NERC’s enforcement indicated that with the exception of Benin and Port Harcourt Discos, the Discos recorded increase in their remittance performance in the quarter under review.

The commission stated that the challenge of low remittance to the market was still a concern to the it as it was one of the main causes of the liquidity crisis facing the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

According to NERC, low remittance adversely affects the ability of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) to honour its financial obligations to electricity generation companies.

It said service providers such as market operators and NERC also struggle with the paucity of

funds impacting their capacity to perform their statutory obligations due to the low remittance.

The report added: “The commission notes that tariff deficit is partly responsible for poor remittance in the industry “All the Discos are being steered continually to rapidly improve on their revenue collection from customers in order to fulfil their remittance obligations and mitigate financial distress in the Nigerian electricity supply industry. “To address discretionary remittance, the commission issued and continued to enforce the Minimum Remittance Order which stipulates minimum remittance obligation for each Disco having adjusted for tariff shortfall. “This order ended the discretionary remittance by Discos and ensures transparency and equity in the disbursement of market funds for the benefit of all participants in the industry. “Following the commission’s notice for licence cancellation to Discos that failed to meet their minimum remittance as stipulated in MRT Order, all Discos have since met their expected minimum remittance threshold for July, August and September 2019 billing cycles.�

The commission said to ensure business continuity and improve sector liquidity, therefore, Discos must improve on efforts towards reducing their Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses.

Keystone Bank Partners LCCI on Business Consultancy for MSMEs Keystone Bank Limited has said it is partnering the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to provide business consultancy services for micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in Lagos State, in a bid to help small businesses grow.

Speaking at the launch of the inaugural edition of LCCI’s annual SME Support Centre in Lagos recently, the Group Head, MSME & Value Chain Management, Keystone Bank, Helen Nwelle, commended LCCI on the introduction of the programme while also assuring the Chamber of the bank’s steady support.

She noted that, “Keystone Bank is an SME-centric bank focused on delivering tailored MSME value offerings and that has continually spurred our involvement in programmes like these. “SMEs are the bedrock of our economy and the LCCI SME Support Centre will provide a platform where SMEs can meet seasoned consultants who will offer advisory services in areas of book keeping, capacity building, branding and digital marketing, to enable them to remain competitive in the current business climate.�

Citing SMEDAN’s latest report, Nwelle said, “Ninetynine per cent of SMEs are in the micro sector, which means

a lot of them are unstructured, making it difficult for them to access finance from banks and other funders. Therefore, this initiative will help empower SMEs with the needed skills for book keeping and cash flow analysis to aid finance readiness.�

According to a statement from the LCCI, the programme has the objective of introducing business consultancy services to MSMEs as part of an effort to boost businesses of entrepreneurs in Lagos State and by extension, the rest of Nigeria. It said this would be achieved through collaboration with external subject matter experts. “The free clinic is also coming at a time when stakeholders are raising concerns about planned increase in taxes and electricity bills. Therefore, our aim is to ensure that MSMEs get the necessary support through mentorship to stay afloat despite the various challenges. “Partnering Keystone Bank on this project made the job easier because the bank is one of the financial institutions that believe so much in the growth of MSMEs in Nigeria,� the statement noted.

At the forum, Keystone Bank provided hands-on consultation and support for over 30 participants including bespoke business and financial advisory services, as well as recommendation of business tools and models.

Operators Charged to Uphold Integrity in Banking Sector Oluchi Chibuzor Chief Risks Officers (CROs) and Chief Compliance Officers (CCOs) of banks have been charged to uphold trust in the banking sector.

The Deputy-Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Aisha Ahmed, disclosed this recently in Lagos.

She stressed that the financial regulator was making efforts to ensure that the confidence and trust of bank customers are maintained.

She was speaking at a breakfast event organised by EY in Lagos, recently, with the theme: “Building Trust in Banking Sector

for the Next Decade: The Role of CROs & CCOs.�

She highlighted efforts by CBN to include putting an end to illicit charges by commercial banks and telecom companies, noting that for banks in the country to achieve its long-term goals elements of trust must be guaranteed. “While we do our bid to protect customers, banks must not give room for customers to lose confidence in them, from prices to services and other products you offer. So you must do everything to ensure that your customers still feel that kingship in every transaction you engage with them,� she

advised.

Equally, the Partner, Advisory Services, EY, Beson Uwheru, charged CROs and CCOs to be proactive in their jobs as the success or otherwise of their companies partly rest on their shoulders.

Uwheru, noted that since the expectations of customers remained same, but the business environment keeps changing, it was expedient that CROs and CCOs are agile, resilient and deepen their understanding on the complex business world.

He stressed that foresight and hindsight were indispensable for them, adding that understanding the direction of the company as

well as disrupting themselves to fit into the future is foremost. “CROs and CCOs must as a matter of priority invest heavily on knowledge to be able to face the enormous challenges ahead of them like cybercrimes. Customers want their data protected; they need convenience and safe guaranty of their valuables. “They must look out for the global technological, social economic and political changes and align themselves accordingly. “They must rev up their ICT skills and capacity as the world is moving at the speed of light, else they run at a dangerous risk.� he said.

COURTESY VISIT

Managing Director/Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Ahmed Lawan Kuru (left), and Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Justice M.B. Dogban-Mensem when the AMCON CEO paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja...recently

Ikeja Electric Inaugurates New 33KV Feeders Peter Uzoho The Ikeja Electric (IE) said it has inaugurated two new feeders: Igando 33KV and Ijegun 33KV, to further boost supply to its customers in Lagos state.

Ikeja Electric disclosed this in a statement. saying, with the completion of the feeders, beneficiary communities would experience improved power supply.

It added that the project has also enabled better alignment and strengthened network.

According to the Disco, areas such as White Sand Joint CDA, Mutairu Alli, Taiwo Olaniran, Boripe, Idi Cashew, Lasisi Ajibade, Harmony, Ire-Akari

and environs would benefit from the Ijegun 33KV feeder, while areas including Egan Town, Ajao Jimoh, Imoba 1, Iloilo, Taiwo Along, Abibatu Oseni, Oke as well as Bayas would benefit from Igando 33KV. Ikeja Electric noted that maximum demand customers in these areas would also be able to increase capacity within their business for increased production and sales.

Giving further insights into the project, the Head, Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Mr. Felix Ofulue, explained that the company has consistently strengthened its network through new projects designed

to boost electricity supply to customers and create exceptional service.

He said: “At Ikeja Electric, improvement of our network and enhancement of operations is a critical requirement because we are committed maintaining about ensuring efficient service delivery. And it will only get better as we roll out these expansion initiatives. “We will continue to strengthen our lines, embark on new projects where necessary, in order to ensure that our equipment and installations are optimised, while also reducing downtime supply in order to satisfy our customers. “These new projects will

address issues of fluctuations, load-shedding on overloaded distribution transformers and perennial faults resulting to frequent downtime within the network as well as improve economic activities due to quality power supply to customers within these communities.�

Resulting from the new project, the company noted that the alignment carried out in the network made the Shasha 33KV feeder to be moved from T3 100MVA to T2 60MVA, Igando Injection Substation now feeds from Igando 33KV feeder, while Ijegun Injection Substation now feeds from Ijegun 33KV feeder and Egbe 33KV now feeds only line loads.

Hypo Partners FAAN to Fight Coronavirus Raheem Akingbolu Hypo Hygiene Products Limited, makers of Hypo Bleach and Hypo Toilet Cleaner has donated over one hundred cartons Hypo bleach to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Lagos as part of the company’s contribution to preventing coronavirus epidemic in Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by the company, the gesture was in line with Hypo’s commitment to promoting environmental hygiene as a means

of reducing germ spread as well as outbreak of diseases through its brand of bleach, which is a trusted homecare disinfectant for all hygiene needs, killing 99.9 per cent germs.

Speaking during the presentation, Brand Manager, Hypo Hygiene Products Limited, Mr.Akintayo Akinseloyin, stated that the safety of the general public was a priority to the company at a time like this, hence the spirited efforts at enlightening the people on the need for good hygiene in the

face of the current global threat of Coronavirus. “As a responsible company and brand, our priority right now is providing support however we can to ensure public safety through hygiene. We are also trying to promote the culture of hygiene among Nigerians as this cannot be overstated and will go a long way in curbing the spread of the coronavirus,� he said.

Commending the management and officials of FAAN for the protective measures put in place thus far, Akinseloyin declared,

“we strongly believe the government needs all the support it can get to help prevent an outbreak in our country, hence the donation of our brands of bleach and toilet cleaner.� “These products will help officials further promote environmental hygiene at the airport through regular disinfecting of its facilities. The officials and authorities have done a commendable job so far and we would like to encourage passengers and Nigerians at large to maintain good hygiene,� he added.

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Game Changer for Nigeria’s Untapped Gold Industry?

O

ne of the riskiest sectors to invest in Nigeria is the mining sector. This explains why after the decolonisation of Nigeria and the infamous ‘Operation Indigenisation’ policy of 1972, not many national achievements have been seen in the mining sector. One of the factors responsible for the low patronage in the mining sector is the informal nature of the sector in Nigeria. The sector is largely artisanal and small scale, with a handful of illegal miners operating across the country.

With this, banks and investors are not prepared to fund entrepreneurs who are willing to venture into mining activities in Nigeria.

The activities of these unregulated miners accounted for a huge loss in revenue for the government. A formalised mining industry would generate huge revenue for the government and increase the nation’s GDP. In 2016, the Federal Government resolved to reposition the mining sector for it to contribute three per cent to the country’s GDP by 2025.

Every year, figures generated by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that contribution from the mining sector to the economy with the exception of the quarry industry, have been minimal Experts have said that in order to boost Nigeria’s economy and for it to be competitive globally, Nigeria needs to diversify beyond oil and concentrate on other sectors of the economy. One area that is very viable and which remains untapped is the mining sector.

Olajide Ogunleye, a consultant at Ogunleye Resources, and an expert in mining laws, believes that for the nation to make great strides in the mining sector and realize revenues that are hitherto lost to illegal activities in the industry, Nigeria needed to find a suitable way to formalize the activities of the artisanal miners. “Because the industry is under-tapped, do you know how much Nigeria is losing?,� Ogunleye asked rhetorically. In recent years, there have been increased focus on organizing the informal mining sector and providing financial services as incentives towards formalization. In its efforts to formalize the mining sector, the Fed Ministry of Mines and Steel Development identified financing mines and mineral development as a whole as the glaring gap for the sector. This led to the Federal Government collaborating with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to make available N5 Billion for an Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) fund, for miners to access as equipment financing and working capital.

It is very obvious that Nigeria is a mono-product economy, depending so much on oil. As we know, oil is so constrained, especially with the impact of the present coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on global oil markets.

Apart from the impact of coronavirus to the global oil economy, the “cold oil war� between Saudi Arabi and Russia is daily affecting the profitability of the oil sector and as such, leaving countries, like Nigeria, that depend on oil in deep fiscal uncertainty.

There is also a growing clamor for a move from fuel powered cars to electric cars, with some car manufacturers announcing different dates at which they would stop manufacturing vehicles that run on petroleum products. This means that global attention is obviously shifting from oil to other sources of energy to power vehicles and machines.

It also means a boom in mining for battery minerals such as lithium.

Looking for alternative sources of revenue for Nigeria is late; but not too late. “We need to look for an alternative source of our income; mining is a good replacement,�

Director, Thor Explorations Ltd., Kayode Aderinokun, said in a conversation with this reporter.

Thor Explorations Ltd., the operators of Segilola Gold Project in Osun State, southwest Nigeria, could not have come at a better time than now.

Despite the uncertainties that becloud the

mining industry in Nigeria, the company defied all the odds and went into gold mining activities.

The coming of Segilola Gold Project is a litmus test for the industry. It is a demonstration that the industry that has been described as “very risky� can be ventured into and pave the way for attractive investment for other gold mines and mineral development projects. “The success of Segilola will be a strong statement that seals a successful future for the gold sector in Nigeria,� said Nere Teriba, vice chairman, Kian Smith.

Taking the bull by its horn, Thor Explorations ventured into gold exploration in Nigeria by acquiring a gold field in Iperindo, Osun State, Southwest Nigeria.

The Segilola project is making a positive statement to all stakeholders in the mining industry that mining can take central stage in the nation’s decision making process.

Taking a page from the Segilola Gold Project, this is the time for the Government, banks and financial institutions, investors, professionals and everyone who is passionate about the growth of the mining industry in Nigeria to intensify their efforts in developing mineral asset projects of strategic and National importance.

The project may have taken many years to reach this point of commencing construction, but the time nonetheless is poignant for the State of Osun and Nigeria as a whole. “As Segilola is coming on stream at the appropriate time, it will surely serve a great purpose to the nation’s economy,� said Aderinokun. Owned by Thor Exploration, a TSX listed project, Segilola Gold project is the first major gold mine in Nigeria to commence construction. As the pioneer gold project for the country, the Segilola Gold project has been the anticipation of every stakeholder in the gold sector.

The Segilola gold project is a high-grade gold project being developed by Thor Explorations in Osun State. Preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for the gold project was completed in September 2017, while the definitive feasibility study (DFS) and the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) study were completed in February 2019.

The Segilola gold project will operate both the conventional open-pit and underground methods in its mining activities.

Developing the most advanced gold exploration project in Nigeria into a major mine, Segilola Gold Project, when completed, would be the epoch of achievement for Nigeria that has been working on making a case for being a potential mining destination. The production of the Segilola gold mine would ultimately boost the income government generates from the mining sector,which at the moment is poorly stated at 0.11%, according to nairametrics.

In addition, the gold value chain that is

associated with the coming of the Segilola Gold Project would increase the economic activities of host communities, the state of Osun and many different associated companies and Nigeria as a whole. It is very hard to give any specific figures that the Segilola gold project will inject into the economy, but its impact in both the micro and macro economy of the people and the country will be impactful. Aderinokun said ‘While it’s difficult to place any definite figure now, what is important is that the coming of Segilola is a breakthrough for Nigeria. “With the advent of gold, we’re definitely not going to start realizing revenue; we’re going to encourage the culture of mechanized mining, which is not yet in our DNA.� Aderinokun said. As the pacesetter, the affair is not only about Segilola, it will be a revolving affair with other stakeholders who are either just starting to delve into mining industry or those who are sitting on the fence.

Unlike oil, where few people are involved, mining business has very heavy labour utilisation. The involvement of labour in mining is significant for job creation. AngloGold Ashanti employed 44,248 employees in 2018, which was the lowest since 2008, according to data from Statista. When fully operational, Segilola Gold is expected to employ thousands of workers into its labour force, thereby meeting the national economic recovery growth plan for by improving the economy and reducing unemployment rate. “At the moment even as the project is still under construction, the company has employed over 1,000 to work in different capacities,� revealed Aderinokun. Although, currently having interest in two other countries in Africa in gold exploration, Segilola Gold Project is said to be Thor Exploration’s most advanced project in Africa with an indicated resource of 556,000 ounces grading at 4.2g/t, and 100 per cent ownership. It is equally considered Nigeria’s most advanced gold project. “This is the first time we’re having a fully mechanised gold mining industry in Nigeria,� Linus Adie, program director, MinDiver, World Bank mining program, MMDS, said in a conversation with this reporter. Segilola Gold Project comprises an open-pit gold mining which is based on a defined comprehensive drilling program over 16,000 metres of RC and Diamond Drilling to define a high-grade resource and probable reserve. NORINCO International Cooperation was awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the processing plant and the associated infrastructure.

Teriba said the Segilola gold project is an opportunity for Nigeria to realise its potentials in the gold mining sector of the economy. She said: “Segilola has opened the doors for Nigeria to become a gold mining destination,� adding that “we have long

admired the tenacity of Segilola Project and have closely followed its development over the last ten years.� “One successful major mine will attract mining investment for other projects and infrastructural development in the vicinity.

They have been mentors and pillars in the gold sector and we owe a lot of our beginnings and resilience to them� she said passionately.

Adie said the coming of Segilola gold mining is a land mark event in the history of mining industry in Nigeria. This assertion was because the project is the first fully mechanised mining after the dispensation of the old mining industry in Nigeria.Also being driven by a Nigerian, Adie added that the success of the Segilola project will attract more investors into the mining sector. “It’s noteworthy to acknowledge that the firm is being piloted by a Canadian-Nigerian, and we should give him all the necessary support he needs in this venture,� he appealed. While appreciating everyone who had supported Segilola project, Adie said anyone who has followed the story of Segilola gold deposit closely will realise that it has been a series of ups and downs to get to where they are today. “So, it is important for everyone to continue to support the operators in this important project for the nation� he said. On the economic front, Adie said all the stakeholders, starting from the immediate host community to the federal government, will benefit from the coming of Segilola gold project.

Aderinokun said: “We expect that this project will be a very big blessing to human labour involvement. It will virtually revolutionise the state of Osun, South-Western Nigeria and the Nigerian economy. So in terms of employment, it is a major boost to the economy. The ripple effects of mining to the economy of the people will likely spur another industrial revolution in the region.

Similarly, Teriba praised all the stakeholders for supporting the Segilola gold project. “It gives us great joy to celebrate this epic milestone for the people, the government of the state of Osun, the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and the Mining Industry of Nigeria� she said.

Gbite Adeniji of Advisory and a key architect of the present Mining Act, said as the first modern day gold mine in Nigeria, Segilola gold project has set the pace for gold mines in Nigeria. “After all these years in mining sector, I’m very excited to witness the coming of modern gold mining coming in Nigeria� said Adeniji, who is an expert in mining law and part of Segilola gold mining project.

On 19th March, 2020, history would be made in the mining sector as the formal stone laying foundation for the commencement of the construction of Segilola Gold mine will take place in Iperindo, Osun State.

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Linking Farmers to Markets Oluchi Chibuzor writes on an initiative that aims at lifting Nigerian farmers out of poverty

I

n 2019, a World Bank report indicated that Nigeria was becoming the headquarters of poverty with approximately 87 million Nigerians living in abject poverty, calling for actions and interventions.

Also, agro-economists such as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina and the Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), had at various fora, suggested vibrant means of lifting Nigerians, especially farmers and small-scale processors, out of poverty.

One of the ways is the approach of seeing and treating agriculture as a business, and some strategies to implement the approach are improved increased productivity, value addition and virtual or actual market linkage.

Lagos State appears to be one of the first states to key into the research-based approach to agriculture, first, by linking Kebbi State rice farmers to the Lagos purchasing power through the LAKE Rice, produced and processed in Kebbi and marketed in Lagos. The second attempt is linking Lagos State farmers with vibrant buyers.

The Lagos State population of around 22 million people, the emerging middle class, averagely high disposable incomes of residents and increasing demand for food encapsulate the potency of lifting farmers out of poverty, and the revolution has just begun with the Lagos State’s model of linking farmers with buoyant buyers.

Various foods, vegetables, fruits, and other less expensive agro consumables take a larger part of the disposable incomes of Nigerians, and by extension, Lagos residents, daily.

However, farmers who are the primary producers of food are schemed out of the gains and they languish in poverty despite the convincing data that agriculture absorbs over 50 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce.

By transporting produce from rural areas in the exterior part of Lagos and neighboring states, middlemen make all the gains, leaving the toiling farmers poorer.

To bridge this gap, deepen opportunities and promote prosperity for farmers in Lagos and neighbouring states, based on their competitive advantage, the Lagos State government has launched a new platform to connect farmers and those involved in the agribusiness with the urban Lagos market.

With a GDP of $136 bn as of 2017, which is higher than 42 other African countries, Lagos is conservatively estimated to consume at least N3 billion worth of fresh agricultural produce daily. A very huge market it is.

Figures from the state government show 8,000 heads of cattle are slaughtered daily in Lagos abattoirs as of 2018, with15.96 million of 50kg bags of rice consumed annually.

Sanwo-Olu

The government through, the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, launched its maiden Market Linkage Initiative, tagged, ‘Eko City Farmers Market (ECFM), which connects local farmers to local buyers in an urban and modern setting.

The initiative afforded Lagosians the opportunity to buy fresh farm produce at farm gate prices, in a serene, clean, and beautifully arranged stalled environment.

Fishermen from the coastal communities across the state brought their catch.

Different types of fresh and live fishes were displayed for sale. Cow meat sellers also slaughtered some heads of cattle.

In fact, analytics showed they made the highest sales.

Cassava farmers sold unprocessed root and tuber crops to buyers. About 142 participated and 771 purchased fresh and freshly packed foods from the farmers.

The Eko City Farmers’ Market was also an opportunity for the government to demonstrate that its partnership with the Kebbi State government was paying off. Bags of Lake Rice were put on display with each customer only able to buy five for fairness and equity.

A bag of 25kg was sold for N8,500 while a 50kg bag was sold for N17,000, an amount far lower than other brands of rice in the same category which goes for as high as N23,000 to N25,000 for a 50kg bag in the market.

Also, fresh perishable fruits and vegetables

like water melon, banana, spinach, greens, carrots, oranges, onions, green pepper, hot chili and tomatoes of the high quality were sold at friendly prices to customers, while farmers maximised profitability by eliminating or minimizing middlemen.

The online platform Information technologies, as espoused by international institutes and corporates, is now being adopted by government agencies, private firms and fast-moving consumer goods, and has also been embraced by the Lagos State government to fast-track agro-economic and social developments.

Speaking at the occasion, the Governor represented by his Deputy, Dr. Hamzat said, “In the next few weeks, we would open our online market place, thus connecting farmers and buyers in real-time.

Buyers will be able to find any farmer of their choice and buy directly from them. “Our administration will continue to leverage contemporary solutions to provide the best of its kind market linkage services.�

Over 95 per cent of the farmers and vendors who participated registered online, and electronic Point-of-Sales (POS) gadgets and mobile ATMs were deployed, thus bringing transparency and efficiency to the overall process while deepening financial inclusion for farmers.

Analytics solutions were deployed at the event to monitor all activities and

track all sales. Insights generated at the indicated that close to 1,000 transactions were recorded worth millions of naira in value. Payment channels utilised to complete these transactions were from cash, POS, bank transfers and foreign exchange, amongst others.

Social media platforms were also used to drive awareness and improve sales prospects, to reach over 1 million people on the event day.

Lawal, explained that the idea of the virtual and actual marketplaces had its genesis from the outcome of a stakeholders’ summit the ministry held in September 2019, where issues of agricultural produce market and facilitating market linkage for farmers featured prominently in the discussions and subsequently the communiquĂŠ that emanated from the summit. “Studies have shown that farmers in the state lack direct access to the markets of their produce such that most of the time, they sell their produce to middlemen at rather incredible prices. The farmers that are able to penetrate the market find it even more difficult to break even as they are forced to sell at the association-dictated prices,â€? he added.

He said in the long run, the Sanwo-Olu-led administration would develop the Eko City Farmers’ Market into an international food market and innovation exchange platform.

Ashake Akinwande, a catfish farmer who participated in the maiden edition of the farmers’ market, commended the initiative. She said as a fish farmer, she would normally sell at a loss to middlemen who would barely help her break even.

Truly, demand drives profitability and production, and intensification of production requires more farm hands, more seeds, fertilizer, other agrochemicals, transport systems, veterinary and weed management services. The multiplier effect on the economy and gross domestic product could be great, and could really make value chain players live above poverty line if the market linkage is sustained.

The initiative, the state government elucidated, was conceived to offer greater market access to farmers and agribusiness men and women, saying that it would encourage more farmers and other new entrants into the sector, thus enabling the state to create more jobs and opportunities for Lagosians.

Based on the foregoing, it is not only economically expedient for other states to deliberately create market linkages for their farmers, but also advantageous to employ technologies, spaces and other means like inter-state collaboration to constantly empower farmers through market information services and sales platforms that have the potential to change their economic fortunes, intensify agricultural productivity and boost means of livelihood of the rural farmers.

Group Seeks Government’s Support on Ecobank Unveils New Product Nume Ekeghe Save and Xpress Loan is a them access to small loans LPGs Usage digital product designed to enable them to fund their Oluchi Chibuzor Experts in the oil and gas industry are seeking the support of the federal government to manage the nation’s vast gas resources through the usage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Speaking a media briefing in Lagos recently, a representative of a Japanese-based energy company, Yanmar, Ogun Tolu, said the company in collaboration with Linkbridge energy services was interested in helping Nigerians to enjoy more utility from LPG at a minimum cost.

According to him, Yanmar Gas power heat pump has the capacity to lower the total energy cost, reduce CO2 emissions, reduce reliance on electricity power supply, and reduce building

electricity power infrastructure systems.

He said, “our pump promote all year round gas usage, promote fuel diversity and local supply, efficient cooling and heating and reduce electricity peak demands.�

Equally, the Deputy Managing Director, Linkbridge Energy Services, Odeneye Yinka, stressed the need for government to do more to encourage viable initiatives and make the industry private sector driven. “We do not need subsidy or anything, let the government leave the field open and be rest assured that we will take care of everybody, it is high time Nigeria started managing LPG and stopped gas flaring.�

He added that Yanmar equipment was a game changer which

can give more to users, saying “you know LPG is the driver of energy transition that is why our Gas -Engine heat Pump (GHP) provides more than 50 percent of building energy requirements specialising in air conditioning and water heating.

He agreed that gas has critical impact on the GDP of the country, noting that its potential was over a trillion naira based on electricity production capacity, but unfortunately Nigeria consume less than 10 percent of what it produces. “For this reason, the Japanese based energy company, Yanmar has come with its equipments supplies while Linkbridge handles all Air conditioning functions from installation to servicing.�

Ecobank Nigeria has unveiled a new product offering, Xpress Save and Xpress Loan.

The product enables customers to conveniently and speedily open digital savings accounts and also obtain short-term micro credit loans.

The bank in a statement on Tuesday, said the product was suitable for all micro entrepreneurs, artisans, traders, low income earners and the entire unbanked and underbanked mass market population.

Unveiling the product in Lagos, the Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan stated that it was part of the bank’s overall strategy to drive financial inclusion and make full banking truly accessible to all in Nigeria.

According to him, Xpress

to stimulate micro savings in the economy and at the same time expand access for eligible customers to obtain short term micro credit loans to bridge cash-flow gaps, thus contributing to the national efforts to deepen financial inclusion.

He said: “We announced our plans to take banking to every neighborhood in Nigeria no matter how far, through our agency banking - the Ecobank Xpress Point.

This we have done and will continue to do until every household in Nigeria feels our presence. “Through Xpress Save and Xpress Loan, we will empower these target households with the ability to save easily for the rainy day and also give

businesses with more ease.

All these are in line with the Ecobank Group mandate which is to contribute to the economic development and financial integration of the African continent.�

Also speaking, the Head, Personal Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Ayodele Osolake who gave further details about the product noted that “Xpress Save allows mobile phone users to save money in their digital savings accounts (Ecobank Xpress Save account) which is opened simply and instantly. “On the other hand, Xpress Loan allows customers who have Ecobank Xpress Save account access short term micro loans instantly to meet their immediate needs.�

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T H I S D AY ˞ ͯ͡, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Revisiting Issues around Hate ActionAid Nigeria Calls for Acceleration of Gender Equality Speech, Fake News Ugo Aliogo writes on the outcome of a research findings on hate speech and fake news

A

mong other contestations, the twin concepts of fake news and hate speech rank high owing to the enablement provided by the internet. Firstly, the speed with which the internet enables the media to manufacture, process and disseminate information in the digital age has become dizzying.

Secondly, the easy access it has given to hitherto unrecognized participants in information production and dissemination has broken boundaries of professional and ethical gates leading to a flurry of unprocessed information flow.

Confronted by the consequences of the situation, society has also responded through studies by scholars and voices of concerned citizens to the emerging realities. It is within the need for continuous critical assessment of the situation and finding lasting solutions that this study is situated.

With the rise of right wing extremism worldwide and the somewhat disruptive and vituperative discourse that attended the 2016 US elections that produced Donald Trump as president, interest has heightened on the use of fake news and hate speeches as instruments of political contestations.

In Nigeria, the 2015 and 2019 general elections have also witnessed the upsurge in the use of fake news and hate speeches.

A clear understanding of the pattern of use and implications and counter measures has become even more imperative. Therefore, in line with efforts to understand focuses on the 2019 elections in Nigeria by apprehending fake news and hate speeches in the run up to, during and after the election with a view to providing a road map for countering the malodorous effects on the polity.

The above views were excerpts from a research report conducted by MAIN on hate speech and fake news.

Speaking at the workshop, the Lead Researcher, and Chairman of Media Awareness and Information for All Network (MAIN), Prof.

Lai Osho, said the focus of the research was aimed at examining the contents of some social media platforms in terms of the hate speech contained during the presidential elections.

He explained that the research has been able to provide an understanding on the meaning of hate speech and fake news, the issues it addresses in terms of ethnicity, religion and politics, and the generators of the hate speech.

According to him, “The main goal here is that we are trying to understand these narratives and the possible consequences it has on the polity, and intergroup relationship in the country. “We are not primarily focusing on hate speech and fake news especially now that the elections are over; we just used the elections as a peg.

If you still look at the issue of hate speech and fake news are still recurrent narratives in our society, and it is a global problem. Hate speech and fake news have consequences for inter-group relationship. “The narratives have consequences for the democratic process. The media is supposed to inform people about the society, so that they can make choices. But when spring of knowledge is polluted by dangerous speeches, between one group and another, then the society might be in danger. So, it’s not limited to elections only. “It goes beyond election. This is we think journalists both traditional and online need to understand the possible consequences for the polity whether during the election or off election season. We need to know that the adverse effect these narratives have on the society. “The main impact of hate speech is colouring the perfection of people, and what they know about each other. Once you poison the relationship of one group against another anything can happen. This is we are saying that we need to have on our consciousness the possible consequences for intergroup relationship. Nigeria is a very complex society

with a lot complex divisions along the lines of religion, and ethnicity. “We arrived a basic understanding of what can and cannot go. The next level we want to go to is to provide a reporters’ guide to reporting fake news and hate speech and this workshop has presented such a guide which we will put flesh to for the print and broadcast media. We will then train them on using the guide book. Therefore, we are going to work on hate speeches and train reporters.�

In her remarks, the Head of Department, Mass Communication Department, University of Lagos, Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy, commended the report, adding that after the elections, there should be a deliberate attempt to study elections, and factors that influenced election. “At the point where we have had social media influence, we can say that it may not really have an influence on voting behaviour.

But we cannot dismiss the fact that it has no influence at all,� she noted.

She also hinted that there are other factors that influence voting behaviours such as political parties, ideology, ethnicity, voters’ apathy, religion and others, and there is a deliberate attempt to inform and misinform people.

Ogwezzy, further explained that fake news is a form of misinformation and disinformation.

The University Don remarked that fake news lacks truth, stating that it is aimed at disparaging an individual and reduce such individual in the eyes of the public, “it is aimed at portraying an individual in a negative light. While fake news is misleading and disinformation. It is putting the wrong information without truth.�

According to her, “Fake news and hate speech has affected media narratives and the type of stories we get to read about people and to counter that it requires multiple sources of information, fact checking, ethnic journalism and social responsibility. “From the audience, there must be media literacy to know the right platforms to access information and read stories and also the right sources to verify information. There are some many factors that fuel fake news and hate speech such as lack of professionalism because the blogosphere is so democratised and unregulated. “For I don’t think it is so much of regulation, rather government should look at carrying out forensic registration that would include collection of people’s finger prints when they are registering for WhatsApp, email account and other social platforms, so that such people begin to spread fake news or hate speech, they can be blocked. There should be a technology that should flag something as fake when it appears online. “Government should begin to think of enacting soft laws that will hold individuals responsible; it is not to criminalise the use of a particular social media platform. Media literacy will also help to stem the tide of fake news and hate speech, but I will not advocate for the closure of the blogosphere.�

Stories by Ugo Aliogo In line with the 2020 International Women’s Day 2020, ActionAid Nigeria, has called on Nigerian women and the federal government to rise up to the task of accelerating gender equality in the country, in furtherance of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women globally.

According to a statement made available to THISDAY, the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, said the 2020 International Women’s Day marked 25 years since the Fourth World Conference for Women and the Beijing Platform for Action.

She stated that although some progress has been made, real change has been slow for most women and girls in the country because of several obstacles, they face in law and culture, which predisposes them to multiple forms of violence at home and in public spaces.

Obi, further said women suffer the burden of unpaid

care and domestic work and remain the face of poverty in Nigeria.

She appealed to the federal government to fast-track the reduction of women’s labour by working towards the provision of gender responsive public services in recognition of women’s contribution to economy and national development. “We also implore all Nigerian Women to take action individually and collectively because our individual and collective actions, conversations, behaviors and mindsets can have an impact on our larger society. Together, we can actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievements. Gender Equality is the responsibility of every Nigerian woman, and the earlier we all take up this challenge, the faster our progress as a nation will be. “As we commemorate today, we call on all women groups to start raising a new generation of young women advocates who will remain

torchbearers for the struggle.

We implore Nigerian women never to stay quiet in the face of oppression and discrimination as experienced recently in Cross River state where Akon Ikpeme was denied the rightful position of substantive Chief Judge based on her state of Origin.

The constructive reaction of Nigerian women groups over the case is commendable and should be emulated. “We also urge government at all levels to regulate, subsidise or provide public transport; promote laws and public campaigns to eliminate discrimination and violence against women and girls; we welcome Government’s commitments to gender equality, but we need to see this translated into investment in public services that account for everybody’s needs. “Governments should ensure that women participate equally and meaningfully in all processes around designing, legislating and budgeting, not just for their safety but for national development,� she added.

‘Robust Data Management Vital in Tackling Insecurity’ The Corp Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has said robust data management will play an effective role in tackling the insecurity challenges in the country. He expressed the view in line with the initiative to issue a National Identity Number (NIN) run by the federal government through National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Oyeyemi, disclosed this in Lagos, at the sixth series of the Regulatory Conversations (RC6.0), themed: “National Identity Number: Matters Arising and Implications to Nation Building.� organised by Integrity/Convention on Business Integrity, in partnership with Actionaid and others.

He also said there was a committee set up by the federal government on data harmonisation, and noted that the FRSC was playing major part in the committee, “FRSC has a whole lot of data. We have robust data in terms of motor vehicle and

registration.�

He added that increased sensitisation and awareness would be vital in strengthening, the campaign efforts of NIMC across the country.

Oyeyemi, who was represented at the event by the Sector Command Federal Road Safety Corp, Lagos State, Mr. Hygenius Omeje, said the corp is making efforts to ensure that its data is integrated with the national data being piloted by NIMC, adding that there is a lot of collaboration.

According to him, “It is vital to harmonise data to tackle insecurity in the country. Daily, I get request from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) asking for the details of one vehicle or drivers’ license that has been tendered maybe in the bank and used for fraudulent activities. “There is need for collaboration in the data collection process, therefore this public

engagement is a wake-up call for NIMC because I see them as the umbrella body housing these data. People don’t need to come to FRSC, once they go through NIMC, they should be able to get what they want.

We cannot tackle the insecurity challenge we have in Nigeria without robust data management.�

On his part, the Publisher of Premium Times, Idris, said there was need for transparency in the activities of NIMC, especially driving active social media engagements on facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Integrity/Convention on Business Integrity, Mr. Soji Apampa, said NIMC is one of the most important agencies in Nigeria, noted that the agency should not be backed into a corner; “but encouraged to come out and engage with the public because it is only that engagements that will help them refine the strategies.�

CDD Calls for Increased Participation of Women in Education In commemoration of the 2020 International Women’s Day (IWD), the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) has called for an improvement in women participation in the education sector.

The statement also said there was need to address systemic barriers plaguing women rights in Nigeria.

It stated that a three-pronged approach, known as ‘identify’, capacitate and negotiate would help in getting more women into power, while identifying potential women aspirants, “develop their capacity to run for office and negotiate

for the space that will allow them to do so.�

It further noted that there was need to provide financial aid to women running for office, to address the perennial challenge of lack of access to finance, ensure media access and positive profiling of women candidates in elections and create and strengthen support networks for women politicians, “and aspirants to enable them to learn from each other.�

It added: “We align ourselves with the UN Women campaign on Intergenerational Mentorship. There is a need to do more in terms of

showcasing and expanding opportunities for the girl child and women. There is a need to increase the numbers of ongoing women mentorship programmes as well as support to encourage women to aspire to jobs not-traditionally held by women, both in the formal and informal sectors. “CDD calls for more targeted and tailored messaging by the media to promote the key roles and contribution made by women in the country.

This should not be limited to politics and economy, but include work done, often unpaid, on issues such as peace building.�

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Photo Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ ÔËÖË Email Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ë›Ă‹Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

L-R; Internship and Alumni Relations Manager, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University , Anthony Okoeguale;Registrar, PAU, Rosemary Okolo; People Director, International Breweries Plc. Marilyn Maduka and Career and Internship Manager, PAU, Nkiru Ukachukwu at the 2020 PAU career fair in Lagos...recently..

L-R: Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Osanyintolu, during the Governor’s visit to the scene of Abule Ado fire explosion...recently

L-R: Deputy Governor, Beyelsa State, Senator. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and Governor, Senator. Douye Diri; duting the inspection of the site for the proposed Etegwe/Tombia flyover bridge at Edepie, Yenagoa...recently yesterday Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo (centre) explaining something of interest to the State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri (right) during an inspection visit to the site for the proposed Etegwe/Tombia flyover Bridge at Edepie, Yenagoa.

L-R: Minister of State FCT, Dr,. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Health Care and Communicable Disease, Sen. Chukwuka Utazi; Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and Chairman Senate Committee on FCT, Philip Aduda, during Launching of the Free Integrated Medical Outreach Programme organised by National Primary Health Care Development (I=MOP) at Bwari Township Primary Health Care , Abuja..recently

L-R; Deputy Rector (Admin) of Auchi Polytechnic, Engr. Zubair Adebayo; Acting Head of Gloworld, Vincent Eze; CEO of First Mobitek and Globacom’s trade Partner, Atah Amobi; Globacom’s Regional Activation Manager (Benin), Obiora Ezeora;Vice Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Area, Umar Jeleed and Deputy President, National Union of Local Government Employees (Auchi Branch), Comrade Agbons Uyigue. during the inauguration of Globacom’s new Gloworld shop in Auchi, Edo State...recently

L-R; Nigeria Government Relations Manager, P&G., Ridwan Sorunke; Senior Special Assistant to the President on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; P&G Director of Purchases, Ihinosen Ebinum; Honorable Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and International Trade Compliance Mangers, Jude Oboh, at the presentation of the PEBEC Award on sustained implementation support to P&G Nigeria in Abuja...recently

L-R; President Muhammad Buhari, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Governor Simon Lalong when the APC governors met with the President at Aso Rock, Abuja...recently

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L-R: Experience Centre Manager, 9mobile, Cedi Plaza, Abuja , Julian Opaluwa, star prize winner of a microwave, Idris Obi and Manager, Media Planning and Management, 9mobile, Sowari Akosionu during 9mobile 4G-LTE rollout funfair at Mpape New Market Shopping Arcade, FCT, Abuja, recently

L-R: Fitness Instructor; Mr. Seyi Olusore;Winner, Three Crowns Mum of the Year 2019, Mrs. Abigeal Itunu Oluwasegun; CEO, Blueprint360, Femi, Ogunsanwo; and Marketing Manager, Three Crowns,Mrs. Omolara Banjoko, during the ongoing Three Crowns fitness challenge in Lagos...recently

L-R: Commodore Edem Duke; Chief Executive Officer, Mouka, Raymond Murphy; Face of Mouka Wellbeing Mattresses and Nollywood Super Star, Sola Sobowale and Commandant, Nigeria Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Air Vice Marshal, Kingsley Lar, during a courtesy visit to Mouka in Lagos...recently.

L R ;Oyo State Chairman Photojournalists Association of Nigeria,Mr. Felix Ademola;Oyo State Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists,Mr.Ademola Babalola and Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi during the visit of NUJ Oyo chapter to Alaafin in Oyo town...recently felix ademola

L-R: Marketing Officer Massilia Motors, Hakeem Sanus; Spare Parts Manager Massilia Motors, Funso Oni; Managing Director Massilia Motors/Country Delegate CFAO Group in Nigeria, Thomas Pelletier; Brand Ambassador Mitsubishi Motors, Mike Edwards; Head Marketing and Communications CFAO Nigeria, Funmi Abiola and DMD CFAO Motors, Adekunle Jaiyesimi at the Role Swap Day at Mitsubishi Motors Nigeria...recently

L-R; Representative of Osun State Governor/Deputy Governor of the State, Mr Benedict Alabi; Zonal coordinator, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, South West Zone, Ibadan, Mr Ajao Olufemi Olubumi; Osun State House of Assembly Committee Member on Youth Sports and Special Needs,Hon.Olaniran Akanfe and the Committee Chairman, Hon. Adirulahi Adegbile, during the official presentation of the Touch of Unity for the 20th National Sports Festival (Edo 2020), at the Governor’s office in Osogbon...recently

L-R; Programmes Manager, Health, Pistis Foundation, Bukola Odunlami; General Manager, Leonard Thomas; Chairman Board of Trustees, Godman Akinlabi; Advisory Board Member, Health, Dr. Ngozi Onyia; and Chief Strategy Officer, The Elevation Church, Debo Omotunde at a press conference announcing Ubomi 2.0 Medical & Surgical Outreach organised by PISTIS Foundation in Lagos ...recently

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T H I S D AY ˾ , MARCH 19, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 08038901925

Nigeria’s Travel Ban and the Delayed Measure against COVID-19 Despite the looming trouble posed by COVID-19, Nigeria waited until the outbreak surged before taking strong travel measures against the virus; an action long overdue for a country with one of the weakest health systems in the world. Martins Ifijeh writes

A

s the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep across countries, killing 8, 272 persons and infecting 206, 900 people in 167 countries of the world, several nations have continued to take drastic measures to curtail its further spread.

From banning public gatherings, to shutting down private and public institutions, up to placing travel bans on high risk nations, the list of in-country measures remain endless.

As of yesterday, not less than 90 countries, including nations with strong healthcare systems, have instituted these stringent measures while some have dedicated huge sums of their capital to ensuring their citizens are safe from the upset the outbreak is causing around the world.

For instance, the United States has placed a travel ban on all European nations and several Asian countries including China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, among others. It also advised high risk states to suspend public gatherings, including schools.

Despite Canada and US being close allies, they mutually agreed to issue travel ban on each other yesterday.

Most European countries have placed a total lockdown on their nations; banning transport systems, public gatherings, schools, offices, and restrictions of citizens to their homes.

Spain, Italy, Germany and other neighbouring countries have invoked emergencies, calling on all residents to remain indoors until the outbreak is curtailed. Majority of these countries have locked their borders against foreigners, a measure they all say was temporary and necessary for the times.

Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Uruguay and many countries in South America have outlined measures to combat the pandemic, including placing travel restrictions on high risk countries.

Many African countries, including South Africa, Ghana, Algeria, Egypt, among others have started to take same strong measures, as this has been observed world over as the most potent way to curtailing foreign threats associated with the novel coronavirus.

On Monday, South Africa banned entries into the country from China, Iran, Italy and other nations with high cases of COVID 19.

It also revoked nearly 10,000 visas issued this year to people from China and Iran, noting that visas will now be required for other high-risk countries that had been visa-free, including Italy and the United States.

Its Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize who announced this, said a lockdown might be necessary if tough new measures it had put in place, including travel restrictions and school closings, don’t work.

Ghana has imposed a temporary ban on travelers from countries that have recorded 200 or more cases of COVID-19. This ban is however not applicable to Ghanaian citizens or foreigners with valid Ghanaian resident permits.

Its Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrkumah, said, “All travel to Ghana is strongly discouraged. Non-Ghanaian citizens who within last 14 days have travelled to countries with more than 200 confirmed COVID-19 cases are barred from Ghana. There is also a mandatory 14 day self-quarantine upon entry to Ghana by Ghanaians”.

Even some countries that are yet to record single cases of the disease are also putting these measures in place, as part of efforts to keep the virus at bay.

For instance, Fiji, a country in the continent of Oceania has toughened border security. It has closed all borders to foreign nationals who have been in mainland China and other high risk countries within 14 days of their intended travel to Fiji.

Fiji has not recorded any case of COVID 19.

Fiji’s Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama announced that from last Sunday, cruise ships will be banned from berthing anywhere in Fiji and international events will not be allowed in the country anymore, adding that government ministers and staff will be restricted from traveling overseas.

While many countries took swift measures against the spread, it took Nigeria, a nation with one of the weakest healthcare systems globally, eight confirmed cases of the virus before issuing travel ban to 13 countries. This was despite the clamour from Nigerians since the last one week to take the action.

12 of the confirmed cases were exported into Nigeria from US, Italy and UK. The 13th person who contacted it from the Italian index case has since returned negative and be discharged.

The countries currently on travel ban for only two weeks are; China, Italy, Iran, Germany, Spain, South Korea, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway and Netherlands.

Nigeria, many pundits say does not have the capacity to address large outbreaks of the disease due to its poor health system. The country budgets too little for healthcare, including epidemic preparedness. For 2020, it has budgeted only N8.00 for the prevention, diagnosis and management of disease outbreaks of each Nigerian in the national budget.

It is believed Nigeria delayed the travel ban and other stringent measures because it was still basking in the seemingly fragile management of the disease. Should decision had been made earlier, the six new cases would between Tuesday and Wednesday would not have found their way into the country.

Now waking up to its responsibility, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 decided to do the needful by banning the aforementioned countries. It also said persons arriving Nigeria who

might have visited these countries, 14 days prior to such arrival, will be subjected to supervised self-isolation and testing for 14 days.

It said: “The federal government is temporarily suspending issuance of all visas on arrival. The federal government is also counseling all Nigerians to cancel or postpone all non-essential travels to these countries.

“The federal government urged all public health authorities of countries with high burden to conduct diligent departure screening of passengers and also endorses these travel advisories to their nationals to postpone travels to Nigeria.”

Earlier, the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Lanre Tejuoso said Nigeria was good at handling emergencies, including health emergencies, but pundits believed haven successfully halted the in-country transmission of COVID-19 from the Italian index case last week, the country started pushing its luck too far by not taking the necessary measures to ensure the virus was no longer exported into the country.

It is believed the country only has the capacity to manage few cases, as indications on ground suggest that its healthcare system may crumble in the face of large outbreaks.

Countries with the best of healthcare system, including China, Italy, United Kingdom and Germany already, are warning that the increased cases of the disease was halting their healthcare system.

The best the country did all last week in terms of travel restriction was to place some countries only on ‘watch list’, which signified travelers from these countries were asked to undergo 14 days self-quarantine upon arriving Nigeria.

Their health forms were also double-checked by airport authorities, and then left to walk into the country to integrate with Nigerians.

With the surge in COVID-19 in the country since yesterday, time will tell if the spread can be curtained or not.

T H I S D AY ˾ , MARCH 19, 2020

35

HEALTH

Self-monitoring Can Prevent Diabetes Complications, Says Expert Martins Ifijeh Amidst studies showing that more than 70 per cent of Nigerians living with diabetes remain undiagnosed and only a few of the diagnosed who are under management, achieve control of their blood glucose, experts have advocated full involvement of patients through self-monitoring to prevent some of the increasing complications and deaths being recorded from the condition in the country. In a chat with journalists on the current situation on diabetes management in Nigeria, the Marketing Manager of Roche Diabetes Care, Mr. Adeniyi Adeola regretted that many people living with diabetes are not achieving and maintaining recommended target glucose level due to ignorance both on the part of patients and care givers.

According to him, people living with diabetes in Nigeria are faced with peculiar problems which make the management of the condition and expected blood sugar control (referred to as glycemic control in medical parlance) rather difficult.

“Financial constraints have been recognized as a major factor in the management of diabetes as the nation’s health insurance scheme does not currently cater for a majority of patients and they have to pay out-of-pocket for their blood glucose test strips.”

In another presentation, the Regional Sales Manager, Roche Diabetes Care, Mubarak Gyedu disclosed that current diabetes management should focus on personalised care and should include, Structured Education, Self-Monitoring of blood Glucose, Decision Support, Data Evaluation, Therapy and, Data Assessment.

Unfortunately, he noted, many care givers in Nigeria, after selfmonitoring of blood glucose if at all recommended, progress straight to therapy, leaving out the use of decision support tools which would have helped harness information from the glucometers used by patients which would have furnished the healthcare providers with enough information to optimise therapy, and empower patients to know the impact of food, medication and activities on their blood glucose readings.

“If self-monitoring of blood glucose is well done, a lot of money can be saved while the patient will be saved the ordeal of being placed on a therapy they may not need,” he said.

He added that Roche has Decision Support tools such as the Accu-Chek paper tool 360 View and the Accu-Chek SmartPix Software, which help provide better engagement between the caregivers and the patient, allows for quick therapeutic decisions on the part of the caregivers, and optimisation of therapy.

Nigeria Needs N85.34b to Tackle Tuberculosis, Says Stop TB Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË A tuberculosis eradication campaign organisation, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, has said that Nigeria needed an estimated N85.34bn to control the disease and treat 429,000 new cases recorded from 2019 till date.

This was disclosed in Abuja recently by the Executive Secretary of the TB campaign organisation, Joel Mayowa, at the 2020 Pre-World TB Day event organised by the Ministry of Health National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme and the STPN. According to Mayowa, out of the amount needed to control the disease, only 40 per cent

was available.

He also said that 32 per cent of the amount come from donor agencies..

Mayowa further said that Nigeria was among the 30 high burden countries for tuberculosis. The country is ranked number one in Africa and 6th in the world among countries with high burden.

He said, “Despite significant progress over the last decades, TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious killer. Each day, nearly 3,975 people lose their lives to TB and close to 27,397 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease.

“Out of the N85.34bn ($278m) needed for TB control in Nigeria in the year 2019, only 40 per

cent was available to all the implementers of TB control activities in Nigeria. Eight per cent was sourced domestically and 32 per cent from donor funds, with 60 per cent funding gap,” he said The executive director said that global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 58 million lives since the year 2000 and reduced the TB mortality rate by 42 per cent, adding that the emergence of drug-resistant TB poses as a major health threat could put at risk the gains made in efforts to end TB. “TB is an airborne disease and is curable. It is number one infectious killer disease in the world and among

the top 10 causes of death worldwide “Nigeria is among the 30 high burden countries for TB, and ranked 6th among the 30 high TB burden countries and number one in Africa. The country accounts for 12 per cent of the global gap between TB incidence and notified cases.

“Out of 429,000 estimated new TB cases in Nigeria in 2019, only 120, 266 were notified to the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, with 28 per cent treatment coverage.

“Of an estimated 21,000 cases recorded in 2018, only 2,384 were diagnosed and 83 per cent of them enrolled on second line treatment,” he said.

Bauchi Indigenes Call on Govt to Provide WASH Facilitates Kuni TyessÓ ÓØ ÌßÔË Parents of pupils at Haruna Memorial Primary School in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State have called on the state government to, as a matter of urgency, provide more toilets and water for pupils of the school, as this will improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practice and school enrolment.

Also, they said the construction of a parameter fence around the school premises will be a necessity as this will help in safeguarding the facilities from vandalism.

The School Board Management Committee (SBMC) Women Leader, Mrs. Alti Sanda, who made the call when the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) visited the school, lamented that there was lack of water to maintain the toilets built by UNICEF. She said due to lack of water and the fear of contacting infections, mothers in the group had devised

other means of teaching the girls about personal L-R: Head, Vitafoam Comfort Centre, Adeniyi Jones; Finance Director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr Abiola Lawal; Guest speaker, Mrs Modupe hygiene in order to keep Adesanya; Group Managing Director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi; Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Mr Olalekan Sanni; and them in school, noting that Commercial Director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr Bamidele Owoade, at the Vitafoam World Sleep Day 2020 held in Lagos recently girl- child education can never be underestimated or over-emphasised. Sanda said: “The female pupil by According to her everyone “The theme of this year’s design will never want to Martins Ifijeh human development. pass waste or do a cleanup He said: “We are commit- World Sleep Day is Better must address the issue of where their security and The Group Managing Direc- ted to producing quality and Sleep, Better Life, Better Planet. sleep pattern and the type of dignity will be compromised, tor, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. innovative products that will The focus is to bring attention food consumed and time of hence the need for the govern- Taiwo Adeniyi has stated that support sleep and we will to the many burdens of sleep consumption can affect sleep.

Adeniyi noted that normal ment to intervene. inadequate sleep is associated continue to support World problems, as well as the “I am also not happy be- with risk of cancer, and that Sleep Day in creating sleep importance of a healthy sleep. sleep enhanced rest in order “Man is the only mammal to face the challenges of the cause as women, everything there is a relationship between awareness to enable Nigerians of ours is different from that of premature cell aging and poor achieve a good night’s sleep that willingly delays sleep and next day, helps to reinforce our men. Once a girl is grown up sleep. that can lead to better lives for sleep is something all humans memory and learning ability, or wise enough to know and Addressing journalists dur- themselves impacting positively require in maintaining a good repairs the cells of our body and discover some changes on her ing the Vitafoam 2020 World our beloved country Nigeria healthy and living a balanced boost optimal functioning both physically and psychologically. lifestyle,” said Adeniyi. body, she will never accept to Sleep Day in Lagos recently, he and planet earth as whole.

“There are a lot of factors Corroborating, the guest open up herself for the sake of called on the governments at “Our mattresses are carefully passing out waste outside. She all tiers to address the impact designed to support your back speaker and Physiotherapist, considered in getting a good will always want an enclosed of road construction on stress and spine, ensuring no pres- Mrs Modupe Adesanya who night sleep, and this includes place. Now look at the situation and embark on massive national sure points is created in your spoke extensively on World comfort, stress level, room of the toilets. awareness on the benefits of neck, shoulders, and hips. Sleep Day explained that our temperature. To get the perfect “My plea to the state govern- adequate sleep.

They adapt to the shape of life partly depended on the night sleep leading to a restful ment is to provide water, increase He also warned Nigerians your body regardless of your quality and quantity of sleep slumber, we have to start from number of toilets and classes, against the dangers of inad- sleeping position to give you as lack of sleep can lead to the basics which are getting the right mattress,” said Adeniyi. psychiatric problem and fence the school,” she said. equate sleep at any stage of that maximum comfort.

Inadequate Sleep is Associated with Cancer Risk, Expert Tells Nigerians

Nutritionist Calls for Regular Health Assessment among Nigerians Martins Ifijeh A nutrition expert and National Publicity Secretary of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Olusola Malomo, has urged Nigerians to assess their health status regularly, knowing that good health is not merely absence of disease but extends to physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Malomo made the call in the March edition of his monthly healthy living dialogue, an initiative in partnership with Chi Limited. The dialogue is a part of the juice maker’s ‘No-added Sugar’ campaign.

The nutritionist noted optimal health was a function of age, gender, family medical history, physical activity and other factors. Hence, he advised individuals to put

these factors into consideration in determining whether they are optimally healthy or otherwise.

He went on to cite an article from the American Journal of Health Promotion

by Michael O’Donnell, which explains that optimal health is achieved from a balance of five critical areas – emotional, physical, spiritual, intellectual and social health.

According to Malomo, the concept of optimal health focuses on positive mental health and rewarding relationships, which are notable areas developed by good nutrition and exercise.

“One of the major classes of nutrients that your body needs is micronutrients. Often neglected, micronutrient is a term used to describe essential vitamins and

minerals in general. 100 per cent fruit juice contains a range of minerals, vitamins and bioactive compounds, such as phytochemicals, that are important for optimal health.

“Vitamins are organic compounds produced by plants and animals which can be broken down by heat, acid or air. On the other hand, minerals are inorganic,

exist in soil or water and cannot be broken down.

“Since the body cannot produce vitamins and minerals, we must look to appropriate food and drink sources rich in micronutrients to gain the benefits of these elements.

Drinking well-packaged 100 per cent fruit juice daily is a great way of including these micronutrients or essential

36

T H I S D AY ˾ , MARCH 19, 2020

HEALTH

Killing Bacteria, Viruses through Dry Vapor Steam With the threats posed by COVID-19, Lassa fever, and other disease outbreaks to Nigerians, some stakeholders believe the introduction of dry vapor steam can act as antidote to germs and viruses responsible for most disease outbreaks experienced in the country. Martins Ifijeh writes

J

ust last week, the death toll from Lassa fever in Nigeria since January 1 was placed at 144; the highest so far recorded within the first three months of a new year in the country.

This is in addition to other bouts of recurrent outbreaks the country has suffered in recent times, including yellow fever, cholera and diarrhea.

The country is also battling with the threat posed

by COVID-19, a new type of coronavirus that birthed in Wuhan city in China December 19, 2020, and has now claimed 6700 lives and infected over 172, 000 persons in 164 countries, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics.

Luckily for Nigeria, it has only recorded three confirmed cases of COVID-19 with one of the cases successfully treated and discharged from quarantine.

Recently, the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) raised the alarm that measles and cholera outbreaks were lurking around the corner, and that Nigerians should brace up for the periodic outbreak of both diseases.

These myriads of threats from disease epidemics and the potential deaths associated with them has prompted some stakeholders to advocate for the use of dry vapor steam and lumitesters as part of measures to disinfect germs and bacteria infestation; a new eco-friendly technology.

Sharing his thoughts with THISDAY in Lagos recently, the Managing Director, Germbusters.ng Services, Magnus Onyibe said one of the reasons for disease outbreaks was the inability to detect pathogen or bacteria loads in the environment.

He added that before now, for one to identify these pathogens, swabs of identified locations were usually taken to the laboratory for culture and sensitivity which takes at least 48 hours.

“But times have changed. Our high tech Lumitester, which is like a mobile laboratory, detects instantly the number of bacteria in facilities or spaces.

“For us to contain the spread of Coronavirus, Lassa fever and other diseases experienced in Nigeria, it is advisable to have our environments sterilised regularly as a further measure against disease spread.

“When we were in elementary school, we learnt that when we heat water to a boiling point, all the germs in the water will be killed. Most non-scientists grow up with that belief, without learning further that when the water that has reached boiling point is turned into dry vapor steam , it becomes a natural disinfectant.”

He said Nigerians must not wait for the government to solely disinfect their environment, adding that every Nigerian, companies or other

Germs can be prevented

establishments have a duty to prevent diseases.

Describing the technology, he said Germbusters. ng was leveraging two cutting edge technological devices which are; the optima steamer with Korean and USA origin, which uses dry vapor steam- natural disinfectant to kill germs; and the Lumitester hygiene monitoring tool which is made in Japan and works like a mobile laboratory used in the detection of bacteria load in an environment within seconds.

“This is achieved by deploying the skills of well-trained health technicians in complimenting government’s initiative of promoting public health safety through the elimination of water and food borne pathogens in unhygienic environments that cause diseases national epidemics.

“We were motivated to venture into public health safety arena simply because we were appalled by the devastating effect that Ebola had on Africans and vowed never again to standby while unhygienic practices of cohabitating with rodents which are vectors for Lassa fever and eating strange animals like bats and monkeys suspected to be the causes of Ebola which caused so much Human Resources on the continent of Africa.”

He said the organisation’s original intention when it was set up about a year ago was to support government’s effort in reducing, if not eliminating common diseases such dysentery, typhoid , diarrhea, among others.

He said Germbusters has been carrying out the function by killing germs and bacteria in hospitals, laboratories, hotel rooms and kitchens as well food factories, pharmaceutical plants and table water production facilities through sterilisation and sanitisation.

“But we extended it to schools when there was flu outbreak which first created a scare in Queens College, Yaba.”

He said the dry vapor steamer removes bacteria without the use of harsh chemicals such as dettol, bleach, izal, among others, adding that the dry vapor steam from optima steamer was a natural disinfectant that reaches into the most stubborn cracks and crevices in kitchens and factory equipment.

“Our steamer also demolishes grime build up in factory machines leaving the area spotless and germs free.

“Owing to the revolutionary and positive changes that our services have introduced into the public health safety space in Nigeria , a handful of hospitals, laboratories, pharmaceutical firms are currently enjoying our services or in negotiations with Germbusters.ng on how to obtain their services.”

He said the organisation was negotiating with Reddington Hospital, Lagoon Hospital, Eko Hospital, OMNI fertility hospital, among others.

Nizamiye Hospital Pledges to Reduce Medical Tourism in Nigeria

The Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja has stated its resolve to reduce medical tourism in Nigeria through its expansion drive and the introduction of new services.

This was stated at a forum organised by the hospital to celebrate some of the successes it has recorded since 2014.

The public relations officer of the hospital, Mohammed Abubakar, stated that the hospital has been able to meet the expectations of its patients through the continuous investments in advanced medical equipment and the opening of new clinics as well.

He said the past six years of the operations of the hospital had witnessed tremendous achievements as well as challenges that come with the terrain.

“The past six years of the operations of the hospital has witnessed medical breakthroughs in critical areas such as Open Heart Surgeries, interventional cardiology, and general surgeries. We have successfully performed over 20,000 surgeries, with a 95 per cent success rate.” He stated.

He further added that this feat was achieved through the expertise of the medical team of the hospital.

“The hospital invested a great deal in ensuring that it attracted some of the best hands from Europe and America and those that have indeed distinguished themselves in their various specialties. All our clinics are headed by experienced expatriate consultants’ with years of experience in their fields.

“The hospital is also on an expansion drive.

We have introduced new clinics to handle special cases. We now have a sports injuries and traumatology clinic headed by a professor of orthopedics and sports trauma with specialisation in arthroscopy, sports injuries, and joint surgery.

“We also have a cardiovascular surgeon who has performed over 60 open-heart surgeries with a 95 per cent success rate at our open heart surgery clinic.”

He stated that the surgical clinic of the hospital is continuously flooded with complex cases, and the surgeons have been up and doing.

“One of our core areas of strength is the expertise of our surgical team. Bringing such experienced expatriates doctors to Nigeria cost a lot of money, but it is part of the resolve of the hospital management to avail Nigerians the best medical services there is anywhere in the world in a bid to discourage medical tourism.”

Mr. Abubakar further emphasised the fact that with the quality of services at the hospital, Nigerians do not need to travel abroad for medical treatment.

COVID-19: Lagos, Dettol Educate 50,000 Children on Handwashing Martins Ifijeh The Lagos State Government has partnered with Dettol’s Clean Naija Initiative to educate children on the importance of handwashing and protect themselves against the dreaded COVID-19 and Lassa fever currently affecting Nigerians.

Speaking at the partnership

meeting in Lagos recently, the General Manager, RB West Africa, Mr. Dayanand Sriram, stated with basic hygiene, including handwashing, the possibility of being infected with COVID-19 and other disease outbreaks were low.

He said: “Our health is in our hands. Hand washing a few times during the day prevents a lot of illnesses.

In light of the panic around Coronavirus, what we can do individually is to carry out preventive actions and constant hand hygiene is one of the most important ones in the fight against communicable diseases. RB is proud to partner with the Lagos State Government, and our goal is to reach 50,000 children in 20 local

government areas of the state.

“Through the school hygiene programme, Dettol uses teaching aids and fun activities to educate school children on good hygiene practices and various ways that they can protect themselves against germs. Over the past seven years, Dettol has educated

over five million children and teachers through it’s School Hygiene Program.”

On her part, the Special Adviser, Sustainable Development Goals, Lagos State Government, Mrs. Solape Hammond said this year, the state was focusing on SDG6 and SDG3 which, she said relates to the health and environment pillars.

“It is very important that sanitation and wellbeing are taken very seriously. Now with what is going on with COVID-19, we know that it is a disease that is easily communicable, but the chances of its spread are greatly reduced when people wash their hands, so we are encouraging every Lagosian out there to adopt these hygiene practices.”

Two Million Lagos Residents Suffer from Kidney Disease, Says Sanwo-Olu Martins Ifijeh The Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke SanwoOlu has described the high rate of kidney disease in the state as alarming, saying over two million residents suffers from the scourge.

Stating this at the commemoration of the World Kidney Day organised by Kidney Foundation for Africa, Sanwo-Olu said hospital-based

findings have shown that about 13 per cent of Nigeria population was suffering from chronic kidney disease.

She noted that the findings did not capture patients who lack access to hospital care, adding that available data from the World Health Organisation, WHO, revealed that about 2 million people in Lagos State are suffering from chronic kidney disease.

Stating that the figure was unacceptable, Sanwo-Olu,

said that the state government were making concerted efforts towards awareness creation on the causes and prevention of CKD. “Recently, Mr. Governor visited the Cardiac and Renal Centre in Gbagada to inspect the facility to facilitate its reopening. We are conducting state wellness week to create awareness and screen residents free of charges for hypertension, diabetes, cancer, among others.

“The truth is that the awareness aspect is critical as people need to be aware that they are first responsible for their health and wellbeing.

They have several reasons to reduce the risk factors and embrace a healthy lifestyle.”

Speaking at the event which had representatives from East, West, North and South Africa, Consultant Physician/ Nephrologist, Dr Ebun Bamgboye regretted that kidney diseases are less

symptomatic which makes people not realise they have it.

“We have about five stages of kidney failure, the first three stages are of ten not symptomatic unless you are screening. What we f ound is that man y people died f rom the ear ly stage of kidn ey failure than from kidney f ailure itself .

“Everybody’s is focused on coronavirus now, but

I can assure you th at kidney disease currently in Africa is a much bigger problem. According to some studies, 20 out of every 100 people have one form of kidney disease or the other.

Bamgboye who is the Clinical Director of St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, said “Africans are four times more likely to develop kidney failure than individuals from another part of the world, and yet we can’t deal with it.”

T H I S D AY ˾ , MARCH 19, 2020

37

HEALTH

Omotola: Nigeria Needs $350 Billion to Achieve SDG With 10 years just shy away from the United Nations’ projection for achieving Sustainable Development Goals, a public health expert and development consultant, Dr. Bamidele Omotola believes $350 billion and proper planning, Nigeria can meet the target. He also spoke on other sundry issues. Kuni Tyessi brings excerpts: Is there hope that Nigeria can attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030?

From my own perception, we may not achieve the SDG. We still have 10 years to plan, but, unfortunately, Nigeria does not plan. If you plan and implement your plan, we are likely to get there. We are in a country where people just wake up and whatever happens is what we do.

We have a national population policy of four children per family. Unfortunately, one of our senators recently said he had 27 children and still counting but we laughed and clapped for him. What is the status of those children? What kind of provision has he kept in place for them, not to talk of his wives?

We are in a country where a governor said meningitis is due to people’s promiscuity.

Are we serious? Look at Coronavirus now, what have we done apart from praying? We are talking about quality education for all, opportunities for all ages at all times but we do not know the number of teachers or classrooms needed. I was in one part of this country, where I saw in one classroom, 280 registered pupils.

We know what to do but we are not doing

it. Mind you, the SDGs are global targets, so how much of those global targets align with Nigeria’s target? We just developed the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) by 2017 while the SDG has been on since 2016. The discussion started from 2012 yet when we were doing ERGP we didn’t factor in the SDGs except we now begin to realign the ERGP into the SDGs. Remember, the SDG is about leaving no one behind, whether a child or an adult.

Are there reasons, in relation to the recently released Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) report why Nigeria may not achieve the goals?

The NDHS data points to this answer.

It took us several years, yet we did not attain mortality figures for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and even now, we do not.

Our health coverage is very low, despite the SDG goals of leaving no one behind.

We still have stunting rate of 37 per cent and we are supposed to bring it down to less than five per cent. Look at the number of years it took us to get to this level. The change is so small that by the end of 2030, we will not be there. It is just like the cheetah and the tortoise running a

race. Nigeria is the tortoise and the rest of the developing countries are the cheetahs.

They will get there and we will still be running. We are talking about universal education; we are not there. We still have 10 million children out of school. Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa with over $398 billion.

How much does Nigeria need to meet the goals?

Given the current data we have, if we have to achieve Universal Health Coverage for all, education for all, zero hunger for all by 2030, the country needs about $350billion. Our total income in 2018 was $398billon, so, it means we should just spend all that money to achieve the SDGs. The president said he wanted to lift 100 million people out of poveraty. As of 2019, we have 98 million people in poverty and we know where 70 percent of them are.

So what programmes are we putting in place? All these small interventions won’t help us. We must have policies that are effective, policies that are implemented, effective and of wide coverage. It’s not to do a small thing in one corner of Nigeria.

What plans do you think can be put

in place to meet these goals?

We must have policies that are effective, policies that are implemented and of wide coverage. The former minister of health said he wanted to achieve Universal Health Coverage but where are we today? We have been talking about National Health Insurance Scheme and as at 2018, only three per cent of Nigerians are covered.

That means people are left to access health services out of pockets. Unfortunately, our leaders are not accountable. They must be accountable for what they do and be held accountable for what they fail to do.

We have had Boko Haram in the North since 2009, so what are the states affected doing with their monthly allocation.

Donors are putting money on a regular basis, the whole state is putting money to solve insurgency, so what are they doing with it? They also have high numbers of Internally Displaced Persons, how much of the money have they used to help them?

What are the implications of not meeting the goals by 2030?

You know how Nigeria is being rated amongst other countries. Nigeria will continue to be at the bottom of the ladder.

GE Healthcare Trains 200 Professionals in Lagos, Abuja GE Healthcare in collaboration with ECHOLAB Radiology and Laboratory Services has held two medical clinical workshops across Abuja and Lagos which benefitted over 200 healthcare professionals.

The training forums, themed ‘Elevating Radiology’ focused on Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) in stroke management, among other topics which will help practitioners optimise their work. The training was designed for hospital professionals including radiologists, radiographers, specialists, and general practitioners.

Sharing his thoughts at the forum, the General Manager, West, Central & French Sub-Saharan Africa for GE Healthcare, Eyong Ebai said, “Precise diagnosis is a result of quality imaging services done by well-equipped and

well-trained clinicians.

“This can greatly help to improve patient satisfaction and the bottom line of both public and private healthcare providers. We are honoured to collaborate with ECHOLAB to ensure Nigeria’s medical professionals are equipped with the right skills to continue providing better outcomes for patients.” “Training and skill development have become an essential ingredient in ensuring the efficiency of healthcare staff.

Rapidly developing technologies and constant updates in procedures mean that staff needs to continually reevaluate their training needs.

“GE Healthcare’s objectives with the workshops, is to provide equipment’s users with opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills to optimize equipment usage, clinical practice and patient care,” he said.

WAR AGAINSTHIVAIDS

L-R, Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Gambo Aliyu; Coordinator, International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in West Africa and ASWHAN, Mrs Reginald Assumpta; and Director, Policy, NACA, Dr. Kayode Ogungbemi, during the end-ofproject dissemination meeting, and sexual and reproductive health and rights project implemented in Nigeria by ICWLHWA, held in Abuja recently

Nizamiye Hospital Pledges to Reduce Medical Tourism in Nigeria The Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja has stated its resolve to reduce medical tourism in Nigeria through its expansion drive and the introduction of new services. This was stated at a forum organised by the hospital to celebrate some of the successes it has recorded since 2014. The public relations officer of the hospital, Mohammed Abubakar, stated that the hospital has been able to meet the expectations of its patients through the continuous investments in advanced medical equipment and the opening of new clinics as well. He said the past six years of the operations of the hospital had witnessed

tremendous achievements as well as challenges that come with the terrain.

“The past six years of the operations of the hospital has witnessed medical breakthroughs in critical areas such as Open Heart Surgeries, interventional cardiology, and general surgeries.

We have successfully performed over 20,000 surgeries, with a 95 per cent success rate.” He stated.

He further added that this feat was achieved through the expertise of the medical team of the hospital. “The hospital invested a great deal in ensuring that it attracted some of the best hands from Europe and America and those that have indeed

distinguished themselves in their various specialties. All our clinics are headed by experienced expatriate consultants’ with years of experience in their fields.

“The hospital is also on an expansion drive. We have introduced new clinics to handle special cases. We now have a sports injuries and traumatology clinic headed by a professor of orthopedics and sports trauma with specialisation in arthroscopy, sports injuries, and joint surgery. “We also have a cardiovascular surgeon who has performed over 60 open-heart surgeries with a 95 per cent success rate at our open heart surgery clinic.”

Medical Experts Educate Nigerians on Importance of Organic Food Kasim Sumaina ÓØ ÌßÔË Medical experts have advised Nigerians to focus more on cultivating and eating organic products.

The Managing Director, QEI Concepts/ Lady Green Limited, Queen Ikwauzom noted that infertility rates have increased in men and women and that the country has become a dumping ground for junks, even though it has one of the best herbs in the world. Ikwauzom, while addressing participants during a press conference organised by QEI Concepts/ Lady Green Limitedin Abuja recently to sensitise the public on the benefits of cultivat-

ing organic products and providing employment opportunities, stated that avoiding junks and going back to the lifestyle of our grandparents will go a long way in ensuring that Nigerians live for a long time on earth, as many diseases people suffer today are as a result of the type of food they consume on a daily basis.

According to her, we have to turn our backs to how we farm, eat and drink and go back to our grandparents’ ways of farming and eating.

She said: “QEI Concept Limited is a leading group of doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs, army personnel and philanthropists, who believe in continuity of

advanced immune system, science with innovations in better health research, product formulation/ standards and more.”

Speaking further, she said: “I remember years ago as a teenager, there was nothing like cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, constant knee pains, autism, suicide, depression, blood pressure, arthritis, ulcer, etc. So, what we eat is important to combat avoidable diseases and infections.”

Similarly, President, Azog Incorporated, New Jersey, USA, Dr Azubuike Ogala, informed that the organisation hopes to create employment opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

38

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Popoola Highlights Role Credit Bureaus to Stimulating Economic Growth Dike Onwuamaeze Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Nume Ekeghe The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, CRC Credit Bureau Limited, Mr. ‘Tunde Popoola, said the presence of credit bureaus promote strong credit systems which in turn promote a productive economy by encouraging credit to SMEs and enhancing quality of life to people.

In addition, he pointed out that a strong credit system is usually have a strong credit risk management system (CRMS) to fill the trust gap with reliable information.

He said this yesterday at the bi-monthly forum organised by the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN), with the theme: ‘Stimulating Economic Growth through Improved Access to

Credit.’ He said the operation of the credit bureaus and credit rating agencies have boosted access to loan to the Nigerian private sector by more than 100 per cent in the past 10 years.

The CRC Credit Bureau boss also stated that the emergence of credit bureaus has led to a reduction in the level of nonperforming loans in the Nigerian banking industry from 32.8 per cent in 2009, to 9.3 per cent in 2019.

Popoola said: “Nigeria licensed three private credit bureaus in 2009 and their impacts on the volume of loans and reduction in the rate of non-performing loans (NPLs) have been remarkable.

Loans to the private sector rose from N7.7 trillion in 2008 to over N12 trillion in 2015 and N16 trillion in 2019. “Special credit products

for small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and the introduction of credit cards became possible with the advent of credit bureaus. Furthermore, NPL ratios declined significantly from about 32.8 per cent in 2009 to a single digit of 9.3 per cent as at June 2019. “The healthy loan portfolios were made possible, among other factors, by the presence of private credit bureaus and the establishment of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).�

He also emphasised that access to SMEs remained pivotal to the economic growth of the country as the SMEs are the largest contributors to Nigeria’s GDP “The challenge of access to credit confront consumers and SMEs much more than the large enterprises. Large firms have easy access to credit.

L-R: Outgoing Executive Director, Marine & Operations, Sokonte Davies; MD/CEO Jakys Limited, Henry Muogho, and in-coming Executive Director, Marine & Operations, Onari Brown, at a recent Stakeholders meeting with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Lagos...recently

9mobile Assures Customers, Associates of Improved Service Nume Ekeghe 9mobile Nigeria has assured its customers of cheaper and improved services in 2020.

The Acting Managing Director, 9mobile, Mr. Stephane Beuvelet, made this known while speaking at the company’s annual Channel Partners Conference themed ‘Facing the future together’ held in Lagos recently.

A statement from the telco explained the 9mobile team used the conference as an opportunity to share its business strategies with its trade partners.

He said: “The idea behind this conference is to converge with our channel partners and dealers to create the energy and momentum that we need to grow

in 2020 and beyond. We have fixed the challenges we had in the past, and now we are in the right trajectory to succeed. “We have started on the right footing with the deployment of our infrastructure and 4GLTE across the country. “We have also slashed down our prices, and people have realised that 9mobile is the preferred network. We have also created this new demand that will favor our partners and sales dealers,� he said.

Beuvelet, while outlining some proposition of 9mobile, he said: “We have the cheapest and best quality service. We also have an amicable and efficient customer care that is second to none. “We want to reassure Nigerians and our customers that we have

more competitive products and services with the best value at the most affordable rate. We recognise that we need our partners and dealers to grow, and the reason we have brought our trade partners together is not only to share our plans and vision but also to strengthen our partnership and relationship.�

Managing Director of Sonite Communications Limited, Mr. Olajide Samson said 9mobile has been resilient despite all the challenges it had faced.

Also, the Managing Director, Clickatell, Mr. Samson Isa said: “They are very concerned about the profitability of our partnership. One of the things I appreciate about the management team of 9mobile is their honesty.�

Sterling Bank Partners HEI on Relief for Accident Victims Nume Ekeghe Sterling Bank has partnered with Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) to provide emergency medical assistance to accident and emergency patients in public health institutions.

The collaboration would also entail that the bank would be assisting destitutes in public hospitals for treatment not exceeding N20,000 as well as provide training to address the public apathy in pre-hospital emergency care, stimulate public interest and also close the emergency response skill gap.

Speaking at press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, the Divisional Head, Health & Education Sterling Bank, Mr. Obinna Ukachukwu, said the

collaboration was dear to the bank in its bid at solving a social issue in the country.

He said: “This partnership is a direct focus on health and transport and we are looking at how we can work with HEI to improve emergency response in Nigeria which is critical because the first hour from an accident actually determines if a person is going to live or die or suffer a permanent life disability.� “We are committed to aiding emergency response on the road or payments to hospitals when they need to take care of people in emergencies. We are committed to contribution our real quota to ensuring this initiative work.�

On his part, the Executive Director HEI, Mr. Paschal Achunine said the collaboration

was aimed at providing timely response to healthcare. “This collaboration is also creating a first respondents brigade such that all over the country and in every space, neighborhood and office there would persons who have the capacity to administer CPR and other first aid skills and this is a partnership to bring systemic change.�

Furthermore, the Commissioner of health Lagos state, Prof. Akin Abayomi who was represented by Projects Manager, Ministry of Health, Lagos state, Mrs. Yemi Caxton applauded the collaboration for pledging to providing relief for accident victims and urged other corpoprtaes to follow suit.

Ecobank Announces Board Changes Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, ETI, the LomĂŠ-based parent company of the Ecobank Group, has announced two new appointments and changes on its Board of Directors.

Dr. Georges Agyekum Nana Donkor has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director to replace Mr. Bashir Mamman Ifo as the representative of Ecowas Bank for Investment & Development (EBID) on the Board of ETI. Donkor, was recently appointed President of EBID following the

retirement of his predecessor, Mr. Bashir Ifo. Donkor is a lawyer, banker and marketing consultant with over 25 years’ experience in Senior Management capacities across several fields such as Finance, Strategic Management, Marketing, Legal, Compliance and Administration.

According to a statement, the Board also announced the appointment of Mrs. Zanele Monnakgotla as a Non-Executive Director and

nominee of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) of South Africa on the Board.

Mrs. Monnakgotla has over 20 years’ public and private sector experience in Structured Finance and Strategy. She is replacing Dr. Daniel Matjila who resigned from the ETI Board when he left his role as Chief Executive Officer of PIC. Commenting on the appointments, the Chairman of ETI board, Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, said:

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

11,007,422.79

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ÍŻÍľ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $30.36 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $30.63 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

39

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ 2020

MARKET NEWS

Investors Regain N128 Billion as Bulls Return to Stock Market Goddy Egene There was a little relief for investors yesterday as the stock market posted a positive performance after losing two days. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) appreciated by 1.09 per cent to close at 22,789.64, while market capitalisation recovered N128.5 billion to close at N11.876 trillion.

Bellwethers such as MTN Nigeria Communications Plc

and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc boosted the performance witnessed in the market. In all, 19 stocks appreciated, while 14 depreciated. LASACO Assurance Plc and MTN recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent. Oando Plc, Eterna Plc, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc gained 9.9 per cent apiece, while Cadbury Nigeria Plc and Caverton Offshore Services Group Plc added 9.6 per cent each. Unity Bank Plc appreciated by 9.5

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

per cent.

Conversely, the price losers were led by Sterling Bank Plc with 10 per cent, trailed by Chams Plc with 9.0 per cent.

Okomu Oil Palm Plc shed 8.2 per cent, just as African Prudential Plc and Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc dipped by 7.4 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively.

AIICO Insurance Plc, WAPIC Insurance Plc and UAC of Nigeria Plc shed 4.8 per cent, 4.3 per cent and 4.0 per cent

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

in that order. Nestle Nigeria Plc also went down by 3.8 per cent.

Nestle Nigeria Plc recently declared a final dividend of N45 per share for the 2019 financial following improved performance recorded for the year.

According to the results, the company posted revenue of N 283.9 billion, indicating an increase of 6.6 per cent above the N266.275 billion in 2018.

Nestle Nigeria ended the

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

year with profit before tax (PBT) of N71.212 billion compared with N59.751 billion, while profit after tax (PAT) rose from N43.008 billion to N45.651 billion in 2019.

Hence, the board of company proposed a final dividend of N45 per share in addition to the N25 interim dividend earlier paid to bring the total dividend to N70 per share.

Commenting on the results, Managing Director/CEO of Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr. Mau-

O F

ricio Alarcon said: “In 2019, we reaffirmed our market leadership by delivering increased profits and dividends to shareholders. We achieved this by responding speedily to consumer preferences, by offering product innovation and improving our distribution channels. Our high-performing team adapted quickly to changing consumer expectations by adopting new ways of delighting our consumers in the market place.�

1 8 / 0 3 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

40

MARKET NEWS

Senate Committee States Commitment to Safe Capital Market Goddy Egene

The Senate Committee on Capital Markets has expressed its determination to safety of investments in the Nigerian capital market. The Chairman of the committee, Senator Ibikunle

Amosun stated this during a meeting with the management of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Abuja, According to him, the Nigerian economy as it is today is in dire need of investments from both local and international

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

investors, noting that there is need to support all efforts aimed at attracting such investments.

He said: “We are here today to meet with the management of the commission, to know their areas of difficulties and explore ways we can introduce new laws

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 17Mar-2020, unless otherwise stated.

or amend old ones to ensure that Nigeria becomes investors destination of choice. We are aware some of the enabling laws were made many years ago and probably no longer meet present day realities. The capital market can help fund a

lot of our infrastructure deficit and that is why we are here.”

In her remarks, Acting Director General of the SEC, Ms. Mary Uduk said the commission being the apex regulator in the capital market is responsible for overseeing the affairs of the

capital market.

“We oversee a lot of enforcement issues like Ponzi scheme. Presently we are going to expand our enforcement activities around Ponzi schemes to sensitise Nigerians on the dangers of investing in them.

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 118.78 122.39 -18.99% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.55% Nigeria International Debt Fund 300.92 300.92 -3.73% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.87 0.87 3.03% ACAP Income Funds 0.76 0.76 34.29% 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 6.99% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.42 2.47 -1.67% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 13.03 13.43 -14.92% ARM Discovery Fund 313.98 323.44 -9.11% ARM Ethical Fund 25.59 26.36 -12.01% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.49% 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 88.36 88.98 -8.03% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.06% 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 1.98 1.98 14.24% 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 0.07 0.05 7.09% Paramount Equity Fund 10.40 11.61 -12.87% Women's Investment Fund 106.78 107.79 -3.26% 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 6.37% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 95.57 95.99 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 102.47 102.98 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.06% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.82 0.83 -11.19% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.31 1.31 -1.48% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 5.60% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 4.87% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,192.28 1,195.33 2.64% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,292.83 1,294.33 0.14% FBN Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.08% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 110.92 111.79 -6.98% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 111.67 112.54 -6.81% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 104.39 105.62 -19.78% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.07% Legacy Debt Fund 3.71 3.71 1.51% Legacy Equity Fund 0.97 0.98 -14.64% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.09 1.09 0.92% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,818.86 2,849.20 -5.49% Coral Income Fund 3,135.99 3,135.99 14.40% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 6.31% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.26% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 114.93 115.61 6.86%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.07% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.04 2.07 -7.03% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 11.41% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 139.15 139.55 -3.02% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.13 1.15 -3.12% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,125.71 1,125.71 2.47% 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 7.52 7.60 -23.23% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.52% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.31 1.33 7.68% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.30 12.32 8.72% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.10 1.10 PACAM EuroBond Fund 101.56 103.48 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 107.51 109.41 1.54% 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 2.45% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 -4.07% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 1.41% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -11.24% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 1.73% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -10.34% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.26% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -11.23% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 1.23% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.07 1.09 -10.75% United Capital Bond Fund 1.77 1.77 2.21% United Capital Equity Fund 0.59 0.61 -16.28% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.22% United Capital Eurobond Fund 113.52 113.52 1.49% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.04 1.04 -4.85% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 9.24 9.37 -9.99% Zenith Ethical Fund 10.93 11.05 -5.85% Zenith Income Fund 23.21 23.21 4.41% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.22%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.20 120.66 52.41

-66.85% 1.31% 0.69%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

7.53 77.29 58.64

7.63 78.92 59.73

-13.40% -16.43% -20.46%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded 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

2.55 3.63 10.37 10.60 167.14

2.59 3.71 10.47 10.80 169.14

-28.04% -38.37% -14.13% 2.05% -10.55%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.69

17.60%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2020 • T H I S D AY

41

42

THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

COVID-19: Italy Records 475 Deaths in a Day as Burkina Faso Reports First Casualty With 475 deaths in 24 hours, Italy now has the worst case in the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

This is as Burkina Faso yesterday joined the long list of countries where deaths from the virus have been recorded with the announcement of its first death in sub-Saharan Africa.

China where the disease broke out in December did not have up to such number of deaths in a single day like Italy.

Lombardy, the worst-hit region in Italy, recorded 319 deaths in one day, according to the BBC. Last week, Giacomo Angeloni, councillor in charge of cemeteries at Bergamo, a town in the Lombardy, said patients are now buried every 30 minutes.

“We are facing an emergency there is no doubting that. We are having a burial every half an hour. We had 18 on Saturday, 44 over Sunday and Monday, 33 on Tuesday and 51 on Wednesday.

We’ve had to close Bergamo cemetery for the time being to cope,” he had said.

The country had earlier ordered a lock down in the entire northern region which has a population of 16 million people to check the spread of the disease.

In Iran, 147 people died of coronavirus within 24 hours, the highest to be recorded in the country in a single day.

The death toll in the country has now risen to 1,135.

“Now everyone knows about

this disease, and what is very strange is that some don’t take it seriously,” Alireza Raisi, Iran deputy health minister, said at a news conference Wednesday.

He said if people help, they can control it, and if not, they should expect it to last more than two months.

The deputy minister said 1,192 new infections were also confirmed in the past 24 hours, raising the total cases to 17,161.

He added that Tehran province had the highest number of new cases, 213.

Hussein Sheikholeslam, an Iranian diplomat, had died of coronavirus , and about 23 Iranian members of parliament had tested positive.

Fatalities have also risen to 558 in Spain where the authorities recorded 60 deaths within 24 hours.

Fernando Simon, head of the country’s health emergency centre, said the number of cases rose from a previous tally of 11,178 cases and 491 fatalities as at Tuesday.

Reacting, Pedro Sanchez, the country’s prime minister said: “We have never lived through anything like this. And our society, which had grown used to changes that expand our possibilities of knowledge, health and life, now finds itself in a war to defend all we have taken for granted.”

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso yesterday joined the long list of countries where deaths from coronavirus have been recorded with the announcement of its first

South Africa’sVirus Cases Fast Rising, Jump to 116 SouthAfrica on Wednesday recorded its highest 24-hour increase in coronavirus infections to date, with 31 new cases taking the country’s tally up to 116, government announced.

Africa’s most industrialised economy is the most affected in sub-Saharan Africa and secondmost impacted on the continent after Egypt, which has recorded 196 cases.

The country’s first coronavirus infection, confirmed on March 5, was detected in a man who had arrived from Italy — the new centre of a pandemic that has infected more than 19,000 people worldwide and killed over 7,800.

“As of this morning, 18 March 2020, South Africa now has 116 confirmed cases of COVID-19,” Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in a statement.

Of the new cases announced this week, six were children aged five or under.

Most of the people who have tested positive in South Africa had recently travelled to highly-affected

countries in Europe and the Middle East.

But at least 14 internal transmissions were detected this week, raising fears the novel virus could spread into overcrowded townships with poor access to sanitation and little scope for self-isolation.

“Now we are seeing transmission between people in South Africa,” said Lynn Morris, a senior executive at the country’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases.

“What we are trying to avoid is seeing those clusters spreading into the community,” she explained on local radio, adding that the “true rate of transmission” was still unknown.

President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of national disaster after numbers more than tripled over the weekend.

“It is spreading, so it is necessary that we close ranks as we stand together,” Ramaphosa told reporters after meeting with opposition political party leaders on Wednesday.

Workers May Lose up to $3.4tn in 2020 Income, Says UN The COVID-19 pandemic will push millions more into unemployment, underemployment and working poverty, the United Nations said Wednesday, warning that workers globally stood to lose up to $3.4 trillion in income this year alone.

“Falls in employment… mean large income losses for workers,” the International Labour Organisation said, releasing a report showing workers stand to lose between $860 billion and $3.4 trillion by the end of 2020.

death, which is also the first known fatality in sub-Saharan Africa.

“We recorded the death overnight of a female patient aged 62, who suffered from diabetes and was in intensive care,” Burkina’s National Coordinator for responding to the virus, Prof.

Martial Ouedraogo, told the press.

Some reports on social media say it is a top lawmaker, Ms Rose Marie Compaore, who was the first-vice president of the parliament.

With the addition of seven new cases, “the number of patients (in Burkina Faso) stands at 27,

comprising 15 women and 12 men,” Ouedraogo said.

Africa has lagged behind the global curve for coronavirus infections and deaths, although the reasons for this are unclear.

As of Wednesday, a tally of reported cases, compiled by AFP, stood at 576 for all of Africa.

Of these, 15 cases have been fatal: six in Egypt, five in Algeria, two in Morocco, one in Sudan and one in Burkina Faso.

Experts have sounded loud warnings about the vulnerability of sub-Saharan countries to the

highly contagious respiratory virus.

Many countries are at high risk, given weak health systems, poverty, urban slums, porous borders and poor sanitation.

A 2016 analysis by the Rand Corporation, a US thinktank, found that of the 25 countries in the world that were most vulnerable to infectious outbreaks, 22 were in Africa — the others were Afghanistan, Yemen and Haiti.

The report put the finger on a “disease hot spot belt” extending on a line of countries, running across the southern rim of the

Sahara through the Sahel to the Horn of Africa, many of which are struggling with conflicts.

“Were a communicable disease to emerge within this chain of countries, it could easily spread across borders in all directions, abetted by high overall vulnerability and a string of weak national health systems along the way,” the report warned.

On Saturday, Burkina Faso ordered the closure of all schools and a ban on all public and private gatherings until the end of April.

TACKLING OIL SPILLS…

L-R: The Ambassador of The Netherlands to Nigeria, Mr. Harry van Dijk; Paramount Traditional Head of Bodo, His Royal Highness, John Beredon; Deputy Paramount Head, Mene Monday Koote-Lah Bon; and Manager, Ogoni Restoration Project, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Dr. Vincent Nwabueze, during the Ambassador’s visit to oil spill clean-up site in Bodo, Rivers State…yesterday

Australian Researchers Claim Two Existing Drugs Can Cure COVID-19 Australian researchers have claimed two existing drugs could ‘cure coronavirus (COVID-19) after patients they tested responded ‘very well’ to treatment According to the scientists, the drugs used to treat HIV and malaria could be used to tackle the coronavirus.

The team of infectious disease experts at the University of Queensland in Brisbane said they have seen two existing medications manage to wipe out COVID-19 infections.

Chloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, and HIV-suppressing combination lopinavir/ritonavir have both reportedly shown promising results in human tests and made the virus ‘disappear’ in infected patients.

The drugs are being tested as

researchers and doctors around the world scramble to try and find a vaccine, cure or treatment for the deadly virus.

Around 170,000 people across the globe have now been infected with the coronavirus and over 6,500 have died.

After China managed to get a handle on its sudden outbreak other countries were blindsided by huge epidemics – almost 25,000 people have caught it in Italy, around 14,000 in Iran, 8,000 in Spain and more than 5,000 apiece in Germany and France.

Queensland researcher, Professor David Paterson, said he hopes to enrol people in larger scale pharmaceutical trials by the end of the month.

Professor Paterson said it wouldn’t be wrong to consider

the drugs a possible ‘treatment or cure’ for the deadly respiratory infection.

He explained that when the HIV medication lopinavir/ritonavir was given to people infected with the coronavirus in Australia it led to the ‘disappearance of the virus’.

He told Australian news site news.com.au: ‘It’s a potentially effective treatment.

‘Patients would end up with no viable coronavirus in their system at all after the end of the therapy.’

Although the treatment had been effective in a smattering of cases, there hasn’t been any controlled testing like what would be needed to test a new drug, Professor Paterson said.

‘That first wave of Chinese patients we had (in Australia), they all did very, very well when

they were treated with the HIV drug,’ Professor Paterson said.

‘What we want to do at the moment is a large clinical trial across Australia, looking at 50 hospitals, and what we’re going to compare is one drug, versus another drug, versus the combination of the two drugs,’ Professor Paterson said.

There have been around 300 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Australia and three people have died.

Lopinavir/ritonavir, the antiHIV drug being tested, is most commonly sold under the name Kaletra.

It is an antiviral medication which can be taken twice a day by people infected with HIV in order to reduce levels of the virus circulating in the body.

Saudi Calls For ‘Virtual’ G20 Summit over Virus Saudi Arabia has called for a “virtual” summit of leaders from the Group of 20 major economies next week to address the coronavirus pandemic, a statement said Wednesday.

“The Saudi G20 presidency is communicating with G20 countries to convene an extraordinary virtual G20 leaders’ summit next week to advance a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its human and economic implications,” the statement said.

“G20 Leaders will put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy.”

The announcement comes after G20 financial chiefs voiced “real concern” last month at a summit in Riyadh over the economic shock waves from the spread of the deadly virus.

Since then, global stock and oil markets have slumped amid heightened concerns over the worsening outbreak.

Most market commentators

agree that the virus-wracked world economy will likely plunge into recession, which means a minimum of two successive quarters of economic contraction.

The United States and Britain are spearheading a multi-billiondollar international fightback against economic havoc unleashed by the coronavirus, as the European Union shuts its borders to travellers from outside for 30 days.

The summit’s announcement

by Saudi Arabia, the first

Arab nation to hold the G20 presidency, comes amid some criticism that the G20 group was slow to address the pandemic.

“The G20 is missing in action today, unlike 2008,” Ian Bremmer, president and founder of the Eurasia Group, said on Twitter.

Another commentator wrote on Twitter: “No one told the Saudis anything about managing a crisis. They said ok to host a big event that would improve their image!”

THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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South-west PDP Welcomes Oyinlola, Others Only enemies of the people will oppose Amotekun, says Makinde

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, yesterday joined the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-west geopolitical zone to receive bigwigs from rival political parties to the party, declaring that a fresh wave of unity, which will move across Nigeria, has begun in the South-west.

The governor, who was speaking at the South-west unification rally, held at the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan, stated that the return of

a former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, his supporters and other chieftains of different political parties to the PDP was a signal of a party on the rise.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as stating that if the South-West geopolitical zone is united, the whole country will be united.

The unification rally witnessed the return of erstwhile chieftains of the PDP including its former National Secretary and former Osun State Governor, Oyinlola, chieftains

of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including its governorship candidate in the Osun State governorship election, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade; a former deputy governor of Oyo State, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and a former Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial district, Dr.

Gbenga Babalola.

Others included former chieftains of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) as well as some former members of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

Also in attendance at the rally were the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Duoye Diri;

National Chairman of the PDP, who was represented by the National Organisaing Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd); the Deputy National Chairman (South), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi; former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George; former Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele

Fayose, among other leaders.

Makinde said: “Today is the beginning of unity in the Southwest region. If South-west is united, the whole country will be united.

We are using this opportunity to welcome our brothers and sisters from APC, ADP, ZLP, SDP and ADC.

Ganduje Challenges Court Order on Probe of Sanusi The Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the state Attorney General ad Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ibrahim Mukhtar, yesterday challenged the jurisdiction of a Federal High Court sitting in Kano to stop the probe of allegation of land scam levelled against the dethroned Emir Muhammad Sanusi II. The state counsel, Khalifa A. Hashim representing Ganduje and the Attorney General filed the application challenging the jurisdiction of the court on March 17, 2020.

The former Kano monarch had on March 6, 2020 approached the court with an exparte motion against the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (1st respondent), Muhyi Magaji Rimingado, Attorney General of Kano State and the governor as 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents respectively seeking that the court restrain the 1st and 2nd respondents (Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission and its Chairman, Muhyi Magaji Rimingado respectively) from investigating the affairs (the

applicant), pending the hearing of originating motion in which the court granted the order and adjourned till March 18, 2020.

When the case came up for hearing yesterday, deposed Emir Sanusi’s lawyer, Mr. Nasir Dangiri (SAN) informed the court about the application filed by Ganduje and Mukhtar joined in the case as 3rd and 4th respondents respectively, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

Dangiri, however, sought for extension of time to respond to the application filed by the duo of Ganduje and the AG, Mukhtar.

The judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa, however adjourned the case till March 23, 2020 for hearing of the motion, challenging the jurisdiction of the court and to also hear the originating motion pending before the court.

Hashim was the counsel for the Attorney General and Governor (3rd and 4th applicant) while Usman Fari led other counsel to represent 1st and 2nd respondents (Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission and it Chairman, Muhyi Magaji Rimingado respectively) in the case.

US Indicts Nigeria on Human Rights Abuses The United States has indicted Nigeria on serious human rights abuses.

In its 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, it alleged that various forms of rights abuses in the country.

The report noted that the insurgency in the North-east by the militant terrorist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa (ISIS-WA) has continued.

The groups it said, “conducted numerous attacks on government and civilian targets, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, widespread destruction, the internal displacement of more than two million persons, and external displacement of an estimated 243,875 Nigerian refugees to neighboring countries as of September 30”.

“Significant human rights issues included unlawful and arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary detention, all the above by both government and nonstate actors; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; unlawful infringement on citizens’ privacy rights; criminal libel; violence against and unjustified arrests of journalists; substantial interference with the rights of

peaceful assembly and freedom of association in particular for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons and religious minorities; widespread and pervasive corruption; crimes involving violence targeting LGBTI persons; criminalization of samesex sexual conduct between adults; and forced and bonded labour.”

It noted that the government took some steps to investigate alleged abuses but there were few public reports of prosecutions of officials who committed violations, whether in the security forces or elsewhere in the government.

The report alleged that impunity remained widespread at all levels of government.

“No charges were filed in some of the significant allegations of human rights violations by security forces and cases of police or military extortion or other abuse of power.The Borno State government provided financial and in-kind resources to the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a nongovernmental self-defense militia that at times coordinated with the military.

Human rights organizations and press reporting alleged the CJTF committed human rights abuses,” it explained.

FEAR OF COVID-19…

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige (left), and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, during the FEC meeting held at the Council Chambers, Abuja...yesterday

APC will Break up in 2021, Says PDP National Secretary Francis Sardauna in Katsina The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Umar Ibrahim Tsauri, has said the possibility of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) breaking up in 2021 as result of its leadership tussle is not in doubt because the party is headed for the rocks.

Consequently, he said the PDP is coming with what he described as political tsunami that would send APC on a mission to strangle itself to death in the forthcoming general election.

Tsauri, who spoke in an exclusive interview with THISDAY yesterday, added that the PDP will defeat the ruling party as well as any other political party that dared to challenge its “supremacy” in the country.

He said: “APC is not a political party but a collection of interest.

So, give them between now and next year, 2021; the party will dissipate and those interests will divide themselves. Nobody can claim ownership of the PDP but in APC, there are people who own the party.

“Did APC succeed in doing anything good for this country?

No! During campaigns, they made promise on three fundamental challenges in this country —security, economy and corruption. They did not succeed in any of these promises.

“The economy has failed woefully; the security challenge has increased to the level that people cannot sleep with their two eyes closed in any part of this country. The security situation of this country is very sad and sympathetic”.

He expressed concern over the

ongoing anti-corruption war by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, saying it is shocking that other parties’ chieftains accused of corrupt practices have turned to angels after joining APC. “The chairman of APC came out and told the world that whatever you might had committed if you come to APC, you are a saint. All the people who are being pursue in terms of corruption today are from the opposition. If you are from APC, you are a scent, if you are PDP you are devil.

YPP Drags FCT High Court Judge before NJC Alex Enumah in Abuja The Young Progressive Party (YPP) yesterday dragged an Abuja High Court Judge, Justice Bello Kawu before the National Judicial Council (NJC) over alleged act of professional misconduct amongst others in the case between one Anani Chuka and Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

Justice Kawu had in the said case ordered the removal of

Senator Ubah from office as a Senator having allegedly found him guilty of forging his National Examination Council (NECO) certificate to aid his qualification for the Anambra South senatorial district election, which held on February 23, 2019.

Ubah has appealed the judgment with the appellate to deliver its verdict in the appeal latest Thursday, March 19, 2020 (today).

But the YPP has however approached the national body and urged it to investigate Kawu with the aim of correcting any perceived wrong the judge may have engaged in during the course of hearing and determining the case.

The letter entitled: “Petition on Judicial Misconduct against Hon. Justice Bello Kawu in Respect of Suit No: CV/3045/2018: Anani Anacletus Chuka vs Ubah Ifeanyi

Patrick and Others,” cited by THISDAY was dated March 16, 2020 and signed by the YPP’s National Secretary, Mr. Vidiyeno Bamaiyi.

Bamaiyi in the letter addressed to Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the NJC, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad prayed the council to give urgent and neces s a r y a t t e n t i o n to their complaint an d s a v e t h e j u d i c i a r y f ro m disrepute.

APC Faults PDP’s Unification Rally Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hold a unification rally in Ibadan, Oyo State, in the face of the rising incidence of COVID-19 pandemic as insensitive.

The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Lanre Issa-

Onilu, in a statement yesterday called on well-meaning Nigerians to plead with the PDP leaders to be responsible for once and apply some intelligence to their actions.

He said that it is reprehensible that the PDP saw the need to hold rally at a time when countries all over the world are taking deliberate, coordinated and concerted measures to

contain the global outbreak of the pandemic.

Issa-Onilu noted that five new cases were announced in the country yesterday and efforts were already underway to track persons who have had contact with these confirmed cases.

The ruling party stressed that the federal government has cancelled the scheduled National Sports Festival, closed down

National Youth Service Corps’ camps nationwide, imposed travel ban on government officials, restricted entry into the country for travellers from 13 countries, as well as improved emergency medical response across the country among other social distancing steps being taken to protect the country, in a bid to contain the spread of the virus

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FG to Launch National Carrier 3Q of 2020 Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The federal government yesterday in Abuja disclosed that it had not given up on its determination to float a national carrier for the country.

Consequently, it said the proposed national carrier, Air Nigeria, would be launched in the third quarter of this year.

Briefing journalists in the State House after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting,

the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said the airline would take-off with restricted operations only within Nigeria at the initial stage.

Sirika also disclosed that the difficulties in acquiring quarry dust for the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu were the major threat to its speedy completion.

However, he said the despite the challenge, he remained hopeful that the project would be delivered

before Easter as scheduled.

He described quarry dust as a more durable raw material than ordinary sand in the construction of runways, saying the intention is to build the most durable runway in the country in the airport.

He said the contractors needed nothing less than 2,000 tonnes

of quarry dust daily for the construction and had currently run out of the commodity in Enugu.

According to him, the contractors have had to resort to sourcing the material from neighbouring states where he said they could only get as little

as 900 tonnes per day.

He, however, emphasised that the completion date had not been shifted.

He said, “I think the main challenge we have in Enugu is the quarry dust. This quarry dust in the design of Enugu runway, so that we will get a very strong

runway better than any other runway in the country.

“We decided to change sand to quarry dust. Now that quarry dust we will be requiring 1,500 tonnes every day. If we are going to work day and night, we will be requiring 2,500 tonnes of quarry dust every day.

Insecurity: Senate Panel Decries Non-funding of NSA Office Since 2015

Says laws governing SSS, NIA, DIA defective Senate leadership to meet Buhari

Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Ad-hoc Committee on Security, which was set up last month by the Senate to interface with security agencies over the security challenges facing the country, has expressed concern over the non-funding of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) by the federal government since 2015.

The committee’s findings stated that the alleged nonfunding of the ONSA since 2015 “has undermined the effective performance of its coordinating function in the security architecture and led many agencies to question its authority and relevance in various fora thereby adversely affecting inter-service cooperation and intelligence sharing.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, disclosed that the panel discovered that there are ill-defined operational boundaries and overlapping jurisdictions among the security services during the course of its engagements with the heads of security agencies and stakeholders, Abdullahi, who presented the committee’s 74-page report on the Urgent Need to Restructure, Review and Re-organise the Security Architecture in the Country, said “there is a lot of incoherence and inter-personnel conflict which have led to a lot of antagonism within the security organisations.”

He blamed the high level of inefficiency among the security agencies on lingering inter-personnel disputes saying “the absence or inadequacies of effective corrective mechanisms within those institutions allowed inter-personal disputes to fester thereby undermining the operational efficiency of the services.”

Abdullahi added that most of the agencies were working on isolation with very little coordination

among them. He pointed at the recent unfortunate face-off between the Office of the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission, which degenerated into open litigation in the law courts as a reference case.

“Most recently, the public release of letters from the National Security Adviser’s Office to the Service Chiefs discountenancing their engagement with the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, bordering on security matters, is a loud testament of the level of disharmony, inter-personnel conflict and intrigue within the nation’s security and defence establishments,” he said.

He also blamed the failure to define functions and boundaries between intelligence agencies on defective laws governing the operation of the Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

The legislator posited that, “the general absence of a performance, monitoring and evaluation mechanism within the institutions and services has undermined discipline and due diligence in the conduct of security related operations.

“Allegations have been rife that the quest for personal wealth acquisition has undermined institutional coherence and discipline and resulted in allegations of wastage of funds and squandering of appropriated resources. This is one of the sources of unhealthy competition and inter-personal rivalries within the various services.”

The chairman stated that the tendency to acquire modern technology and other force multipliers by individual security organisation has resulted in the multiplication of incompatible platforms belonging to the different arms of services at the expense of beneficial relationship and coherence of security operations.

Kwara to Shut down Schools March 23 Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Amidst global spread of coronavirus, the Kwara State Government has announced the shutting down of all public schools in the state.

A statement issued in Ilorin on yesterday and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said that the shutting down of the

schools would commence on Monday, March 23.

Ajakaye explained that the shutdown was part of the efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We urge our people to maintain the highest level of hygiene and to remain calm and adhere to all safety measures earlier announced by the Kwara State Ministry of Health and other national bodies,” he said.

COURTESY VISIT…

L-R: Board Chairman, Polaris Bank, Mr. MK Ahmad, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Polaris Bank’s Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, when the bank’s board visited the governor to commiserate with the state on the recent Abule Ado NNPC pipeline explosion in his office in Alausa, Ikeja...Tuesday

House Suspended Consideration of $22.7bn Loan over Exclusion of South-east, Says Gbajabiamila Udora Orizu in Abuja The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that further discussion on the federal government’s request to borrow $22.7 billion was stepped down in the House because of the exclusion of the South-east as one of the beneficiaries of the loan.

Gbajabiamila made this revelation when he hosted Leaders of Faith Forum from

the South-south and South-east in Abuja yesterday, adding that he had personally spoken with the Minister of Finance and the Director General of the Budget Office to find a solution.

It would be recalled that the Speaker at the plenary recently postponed deliberation on the loan.

He said: “You said there is no need for the loan at this time, but that in itself is debatable. If government believes that there’s need for the loan, I think we

should support that, because they know as they’re the ones that see what is needed and what is not needed. What I think for me is more important is the equity of the law and whether or not we’re able to distribute these things fairly considering the very nature of the structure of our country.”

The speaker assured that the House is looking at the matter and hoped that there would be some kind of amicable resolution so that everybody would be carried along.

“Equity suggests that all zones must be carried along. With the quality of members that you have and the generality of the House, we’ll work towards a fair resolution of the issue so that it leads to something that will bring us together and unite us as a country,” he said.

Gbajabiamila also used the occasion to urge religious leaders to always pray for better leadership for the country, noting that Nigerian leaders needed prayers to succeed.

FCT Processes 40,000Vehicles for Document Renewal Impounds 2,629 vehicles for traffic infraction Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has announced that it processed 40,445 vehicles for registration and document renewals in the first two months of this year.

The Director of DRTS, Mr.

Wadata Bodinga, disclosed that a breakdown showed that 21,332 vehicle documents were renewed in January while 19,113 were renewed in February, adding that 18,754 vehicles were registered in the period under review.

According to Bodinga, 9,549 vehicles were registered in January, while 9,205 were

registered in February. He also said 845 vehicles were revalidated during the period.

The directorate also said it impounded 2,629 vehicles in the first two months of the year for several traffic offences, which ranged from worn out tyres, broken windscreens and electrical and mechanical faults.

He said 26 of the impounded

vehicles were permanently written off the FCT roads.

He also said 296 motorcycles, 68 unpainted taxis and 58 tricycles were confiscated by the authority.

He also put the number of drivers apprehended for traffic offences and arraigned before the mobile court at 461.

Benue to Provide Educational Opportunities for Chibok, Dapchi Girls George Okoh in Makurdi Female students from Chibok in Borno State and Dapchi in Yobe State, who have been denied Western education by the activities of Boko Haram, have been assured of educational opportunities in Benue State.

The state Governor, Samuel Ortom, gave the assurance yesterday while inspecting new facilities at the Government Girls Model Secondary School in Aliade, which runs exchange programme for students from the 19 northern states of the country.

The governor stated that as a special recognition and support to

the female children from Chibok and Dapchi, additional facilities, such as hostels accommodation, would be provided for the school to enable it admit anyone who seeks admission from the two northern towns as well as other states which fall under its catchment area.

While expressing delight over the new face of the school, Ortom stated that he wept when he visited the school in April last year as a result of its dilapidated state, stressing that he had already directed the renovation of all staff quarters in the school.

The governor further directed the release of N80 million to

further furnish the school, saying the education commissioner had also been directed to provide sporting facilities for football, handball, volley ball and basketball for the students.

He also directed that the bill of quantities for the renovation of the nursery and primary sections within the school be submitted to him through the education commissioner for necessary action, pointing out that the school would also be provided with a bus soon.

The governor, who encouraged the studentstobecommittedtotheirstudies and never allow anyone to influence negatively, charged them to shun miracle examination centres, which

he said would only mar their future, even as he strongly warned against theft of the equipment in the school by the host community.

The state Commissioner for Education, Professor Dennis Ityavyar, said Ortom had excelled in the education sector, stressing that the school which could barely boast of 600 students now needed additional space to admit more students.

Principal of the school, Mrs. Lucy Tyav and Head Girl, Miss Doris Nyajo, all expressed appreciation to the governor for making their school one of the best in the state, promising that they would make judicious use of the facilities provided for them.

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Senate Wants Sacked PPPRA Casual Workers Reabsorbed Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate on Tuesday asked the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), to give soft landing to 34 of its casual staff that were disengaged from the organisation.

The casual staffs of the PPPRA were engaged in 2012 on contract of six months but subject to renewal were said to have been verbally disengaged in 2017.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions,

Oshiomhole Commends Buhari on Reduction of Petrol Price Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving a reduction in the pump price of petrol from N145 to N125 per litre.

He said that without a doubt, it was a measure of the administration’s responsiveness to the need for accountability in public finance management and openness in governance.

Oshiomhole, in a statement issued yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Simon Ebegbulem, described the president’s decision as a product of a progressive mind driving the machinery of a

responsive, responsible and compassionate government.

He said: “On behalf of the National Working Committee of our great party, the APC, I commend our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari, on his decision, which received the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to reduce the pump price of petrol from N145 to N125 per litre.

“This clearly shows how progressive-minded the APC administration under President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership is.

“It is also indicative of how compassionate the administration is in the desire and effort to align with the current global economic realities foisted on us by the fall in crude oil prices.”

Senator Ayo Akinyelure, who spoke at a public hearing on the reported sack of the casual workers, advised the PPPRA to consider the possibility of reabsorbing the affected workers.

The Senator expressed concern that some of the casual staff were trained and urged the agency to look at

the possibility of re-absorbing the sacked workers.

Earlier, a Human Rights Lawyer, Mr. Uche Ayogwu, who represented the disengaged PPRA workers, said the agency must find a way of absorbing the sacked casual staff who are currently struggling to feed themselves.

Ayogwu said: “They were

engaged from 2012- 2017 on a six months temporary engagement. They appealed to the management to reabsorb them, but the management sidelined them to recruit about 134 workers. One of the disengaged persons went to court. That was only one out of 34. One person is death.

“None of them was found

wanting in the course of their job. This people ought to be in the first priority list if there should be recruitment,” the lawyer said.

However, the Human Resources Manager of PPPRA, Mr. Yusuf Muazu, explained that only three out of the 34 met the criteria set by the board of the agency.

GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY…

L-R: Head, Sales, Mandilas Group Limited; Mr. Kenneth Nwauzoma; Head, Emergency Operations Centre, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Everistus Aniaku; Corporate Affairs Manager, Mandilas Group, Mrs. Funmi Akpan; and Deputy Director, Central Public Health Laboratory, Yaba, Mrs. Olajumoke Babatunde, when the Mandilas Group paid a visit to NCDC in Lagos ...yesterday

FG TO CUT 2020 BUDGET BY N1.5TN, DEREGULATES PETROL PRICING According to her, instructions had already been given to government institutions to stop both further recruitments and replacements of staff until the situation improves to avoid shooting up the wage bill.

However, she said there is no plan to downsize as the president had issued a directive that salaries and pensions should be promptly paid.

She also said the states are also expected to follow the path of the federal government by adjusting its fiscal plans.

“Of course, we have concerns (about going into recession). This is resulting in about 40 to 45 per cent reduction and also it will affect the states because it means FAAC will be significantly reduced. FAAC is just a pool of funds and we share what is realised..So, it will affect the states as well.

“So, we are expecting the states to take similar measures to amend the plans that we have made and bring them down to current realities. It is just a question of deferring some non-essential expenditure so that when things turn, we might actually go back to our plans...

“On recruitment, there is already an instruction to stop recruitment. What the agencies have been doing is a replacement but even that is being suspended.

When things improve, we will go back to the issue of recruitment but for now, our wage bill is already very high.

“The president has directed that salaries and pensions must be paid unfailingly. So, we are not looking at downsizing in any way. We are maintaining our workforce as it is but we are just stopping the increase in the size of the

nominal roll,” she said.

Ahmed also spoke on oil benchmark, saying the federal government was planning to reduce the benchmark from the current $57 per barrel in the budget to $30 per barrel but with the hope of ensuring the production of the projected 2.18 million barrels per day is achieved.

She added that the implication of such a drastic reduction is that budget deficit would increase from the N1.8 trillion in the budget adding the National Assembly would be engaged on the developments.

“On benchmark, we are working on the worse case scenario of $30 per barrel and also we are holding onto the production numbers of 2.18 million barrels per day. This you will remember is approved by the National Assembly. This is our own analysis and we will start engaging the National Assembly.

FG Reduces Petrol Pump Price to N125 Meanwhile, with effect from today, the pump price for petrol will drop to N125 under a new fuel pricing regime approved yesterday by President Muhammadu Buhari in the wake of the volatility in crude oil price occasioned by the twin factors of COVID-19 pandemic and price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

As at yesterday, the pump price of petrol was N145 per litre, a price regime that came into effect from May 11, 2016.

By the move, the federal government has completely deregulated the price of petrol because, with the slump in crude

oil price, the NNPC is faced with price over-recovery and no longer under-recovery.

The chief executive officer of one of the leading oil marketing companies in the country explained to THISDAY that with the development, oil marketers would also adjust their pump price down to the N125 per litre that has been announced.

According to him, because of the situation as well as the scarcity of forex in the country, oil marketers would now have to be depending on the NNPC for the supply of petrol.

“Right now, NNPC will be the sole importer because there is a shortage of forex. No oil marketer will be willing to use scarce dollars to import petrol that would be sold in naira and when you exhaust the product, you will now be faced with the difficulty of getting dollars,” the source who pleaded to remain anonymous said.

To ensure that the price always responds to any development in the oil sector, the president also directed the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to modulate pricing in accordance with prevailing market dynamics and further oil market development.

However, following the reduction of the pump price to reflect the drop in the international market price of crude oil, the marketers of petrol have called for higher margins on imported product.

The presidential approval, which was given at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja followed the presentation made by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre

Sylva.

Sylva had last Friday told State House reporters that the committee set up by the president to review the state of the economy following the drastic fall in the price of crude oil in the international market was still consulting on the possible reduction of fuel price.

The price of crude oil has been hovering between $24 and $28 in recent times following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the oil war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

This led to a drastic drop in the price of refined products, automatically knocking off the subsidy elements in the pricing regime.

A statement yesterday by Sylva said the federal government had directed the National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to reduce “Ex-coastal and ex-depot prices of PMS to reflect current market realities.”

The statement, which did not indicate the price, said the NNPC would henceforth issue a monthly guide on what he described as the appropriate pricing regime.

Sylva, who said the reduction would rejuvenate the economy and bring relief to Nigerians, added that the PPPRA would also provide a framework for a sustainable fuel supply.

He added that the Petroleum Ministry would continue to encourage the use of natural gas as an alternative to fuel consumption.

The statement said: “The drop in crude oil prices has lowered the expected open market price of imported petrol below the official pump price of N145 per liter.

“Therefore, Mr. President has approved that Nigerians should benefit from the reduction in the

price of PMS, which is a direct effect of the crash in global crude oil prices.

“In view of this situation, based on the price modulation template approved in 2015, the federal government is directing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to reduce the ex-coastal and ex-depot prices of PMS to reflect current market realities.

“Also, the PPPRA shall subsequently issue a monthly guide to NNPC and marketers on the appropriate pricing regime.

The agency is further directed to modulate pricing in accordance with prevailing market dynamics and respond appropriately to any further oil market development.

“It is believed that this measure will have a salutary effect on the economy, provide relief to Nigerians and would provide a framework for a sustainable supply of PMS to our country. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources will continue to encourage the use of compressed natural gas to complement PMS utilisation as a transport fuel.”

Following the minister’s directive, the NNPC yesterday reviewed its ex-coastal, ex-depot and retail pump prices accordingly.

“Effective March 19, 2020, NNPC’s ex-coastal price for PMS (petrol) has been reviewed downwards from N117.6 per litre to N99.44 per litre while the ex-depot price is reduced from N133.28 per litre to N113.28 per litre.

These reductions will, therefore, translate to N125/litre retail pump price,” Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari, said in a statement.

He said despite the obvious

cost implication of the immediate adjustment to the corporation, NNPC was delighted to effect the massive reduction of N20 per litre for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“Accordingly, all NNPC retail stations nationwide have been directed to change the retail pump price to N125 per litre,” he added.

Marketers Seek Higher Margins Oil marketers, who spoke to THISDAY, however, said the new price did not address the issue of poor margins allocated to them by the PPPRA. “It is a welcome development but we still have issues we will take up with PPPRA and NNPC. Our margins in the old price regime were very poor. We thought the present regime will address it but from the details released by the NNPC, nothing has changed. We will take it up today (Thursday) with PPPRA,” said one of the marketers.

Another marketer told THISDAY that with the landing cost at N96 per litre, PPPRA should adjust its margins.

“If the landing cost is still N96 and PEF will take their own and transport will take their own, then there is still a problem for us. We don’t have good margins,” he added.

He, however, stated that if the minister’s directive was fully implemented, it would lead to deregulation.

“The fourth and fifth clauses in the minister’s memo will lead to deregulation if implemented. If PPPRA sticks to it, there will be deregulation without the federal government saying that it has deregulated,” he added.

47

THURSDAY MARCH 19, ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

COVID-19: Nigeria Shuts down All Sports Activities Indefinitely Duro Ikhazuagbe The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development Wednesday evening suspended all sports programmes and events in the country as a precautionary move against the spread of COVID-19.

In a circular sent to all the national sports federations under its watch and signed by a Director of FEAD, Mrs Tayo Oreweme, the Sports Ministry said this development was a follow up to the postponement of the 20th National Sports Festival and the closing

down of all NYSC camps.

“In the effort to further ensure safe health and wellbeing of all athletes and sports loving Nigerians at large, I am directed to inform you that all National Sports Federations should suspend the organisation and/ participation in all national and international competitions, including qualification tournaments for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” observed the statement from the ministry.

Similarly, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the cessation of all forms of football activities in the country for the next

four weeks, as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.

According to the country’s supreme football-governing body, the shutdown affects all on-field activities the various National Teams, the Nigeria Professional Football League, the other Leagues, youth football programmes

and even street football.

President of the NFF, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick said the cessation will be for four weeks after which the situation will be reviewed in line with events and trends worldwide.\ He also advised all members of the football

family to observe the various safety precautions and conduct as advised by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, such as hand-washing, the use of sanitizers and social distancing.

Pinnick also stated that

the only football activity that will be permitted is the work of the NFF investigation committee into the death of Chineme Martins, which was inaugurated yesterday in Benin City and will submit its report within the next 10 days.

NPFL: Plateau Maintain Lead as LMC Suspends League Till Further Notice Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) leaders, Plateau United maintained their four-point advantage at the end of Match-day 25 with Rivers United and Lobi Stars in second and third spots on the log respectively.

The Jos team defeated Kwara United 2-1 to stay in the lead.

The Pride of Rivers States also won at home with three unreplied goals against visiting Warri Wolves in Port Harcourt.

Lobi managed a 1-0 victory against FC IfeanyiUbah.

Kano Pillars’ loss in Bauchi drags them down from No 4 to seventh place as they are overtaken by Rangers (fourth), Enyimba (fifth) and Akwa United (sixth).

Wikki Tourists leapt out of the drop zone where Nasarawa United now find themselves along with Jigawa Golden Stars, Kwara United and base side Adamawa United.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian top flight League has been

put on hold due to the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The League Management Company (LMC) confirmed the suspension on its official Twitter handle last night. “#NPFL20 has been suspended till further notice in line with global health preventive protocol against the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” the tweet announced.

All major leagues around the world have been on hold since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Some initially started to play behind closed gates but positive tests of several players led to the postponement in Italy, Spain, England and in other European countries and the Americas.

MATCH DAY 25 Adamawa 0-2 Enyimba Rivers Utd 3-0 W’Wolves Wikki 1-0 Kano Pillars Plateau Utd 2-1 Kwara Utd Jigawa GS 2-1 Heartland Lobi Stars 1-0 IfeanyiUbah Nasarawa 0-0 Akwa Utd Sunshine 1-2 Katsina Utd MFM 2-1 Abia Warriors Dakkada FC 2-3 Rang

Eze Begins Pro-golf Career in Abuja After a blistering amateur golf career spanning over nine years, Ikoyi-based Monday Eze, will begin another phase as a professional golfer today when he steps on to the tee box to compete with over 100 others taking part in the 2020 edition of the annual Chief of Army Staff Golf Tournament taking place in Abuja between 19th and 20th of March.

Eze who picked his tour card in Port Harcourt in February is among few others who scaled through the keenly contested Q-school in the Garden City.

Tipped as one of the future of professional golf in Nigeria, Eze is a budding star waiting to explode, analysts have concluded.

As an amateur, Eze was domineering, wining back-toback one of the most coveted tournaments in Nigeria; The Lagos amateur Open Golf Championship.

The young man took to golf in 2009 at the Blue Elephant Cement Club in Sagamu, where he caddied for four years.

Worried by lack of opportunities in the Sagamu club, Eze found his way to the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938. It was not long before he was spotted by his mentor, Uche Obodoekwe and other members who helped him turned amateur at Ikoyi.

His prowess in the game also attracted the likes of Meka Olowola, whose company Zenera Consulting also helped nurtures his dream.

Others who supported Eze’s quest include; Iby Obatoyinbo, IGCNA, Jamz Group, Mike Ikpoki, Seni Edu, Remi Edu, Olatunde Olakunle, Kenny Thompson and the ladies section of Ikoyi Club among others of which he says he will forever be grateful.

Plateau United are leading the NPFL log before the 2019/20 was put on hold yesterday

No Regret Leaving Trabzonspor over COVID-19, Says Mikel Femi Solaja with agency report Former Super Eagles Captain, John Mikel Obi, has said that he has no regrets leaving Trabzonspor because his action on COVID-19 was in the best interest of the game.

On Monday night, the Turkish Super Lig club terminated the contract of the former Chelsea FC midfielder over what the club’s management see as offensive in the light of tenses moment in the country following severe outbreak of

coronavirus in most Western European countries leading to suspending of their leagues.

But yesterday, the AFCON 2013 winner took to Instagram and penned a farewell message to the management and fans of the Turkish Super Lig club.

Mikel described his exit from Trabzonspor as “one of the hardest decisions he has had to make” but reiterates his determination to put his family first.

The 32-year-old left the Turkish top flight club by

mutual consent on Tuesday, a couple of days after publicly expressing his fears of playing football amid the outbreak of dreaded disease.

“I would like to thank all the fans for their support. I also want to say thanks to all my teammates, technical crew, medical team and kit men for all we’ve achieved this season so far,” Mikel wrote on Instagram.

“Wish you guys best of luck in winning the league.

“It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make,

but in current situation we all need take care of our families, spend time with them and protect them.”

The midfielder joined the Black Sea Storm on a two-year deal last summer as a free agent at the end of his short stint in the Championship with Middlesbrough.

He made 27 appearances across all competitions this season. Mikel played a key role in Trabzonspor’s midfield, and they sit at the summit of the Turkish top flight table.

AFA Sports Becomes Official Apparel Sponsor of Ghana Basketball AFA Sports has signed on the Ghana Basketball Association to be the official apparel sponsor for the men and women’s basketball teams.

AFA Sports continues its support of African teams and leads the way in Africa’s sports apparel market.

The brand is staying true to their support of grassroots communities through the support of local and national teams.

“This partnership is milestone collaboration because the Ghana basketball teams have immense potential and talent to become a basketball powerhouse in Africa.

“It is also a step ahead for AFA in our standing

collaborations and empowerment of African athletes,” the CEO of AFA Sports, Ugo Udezue, stressed.

The President of Ghana Basketball Association, Iddrisu Gamel Ayambire, remarked on the fruitful collaboration by assuring that AFA is the best to handle the task of providing quality apparel to the team and help in the task of building grassroots basketball in Ghana.

“This collaboration is the best we’ve had in years and it’s a win-win for both organizations. Ghana Basketball Association will take advantage of this partnership to propel us forward in becoming a leading basketball organization in Africa.”

Community is at the core of AFA’s brand. The company, which started operations in 2017, started with a quest to empower local communities and athletes.

AFA Sports is the official apparel sponsor of the Nigerian Women’s Basketball Team and has supported the team through their two-time Afrobasketball win and earning a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

AFA Sports has also supported the Nigerian Parapowerlifting team in their efforts to become world champions.

Ugo Udezue, CEO and Co-founder of AFA Sports has dedicated his 17-year long

career to the advancement of athletes in the industry, first as an ex-NBA agent and then as the CEO of various sporting companies.

He came back to his country, Nigeria to focus on the growing potential in the sporting industry.

“We hope to keep adding value to the system and also show the world the greatness Africans have to offer through our community engagement.”

AFA Sports in partnership with Ghana Basketball Association intends to grow and solidify the Ghana basketball team to be among the top ranking basketball teams in the world.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

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Price: N250

MISSILE Hilda Dokubo to Actors Guild

“I am calling on all well-meaning, mentally balanced, honourable, male and female members of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria to stand up and reject Elisha Abbo as patron of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria. I am not going to have an abuser serve as patron in an organisation that I belong to” – Respected actress, Hilda Dikubo on the appointment of Senator Elisha Abbo as patron of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Leadership in a Time of COVID-19 THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

D

espite the fact that Nigeria recorded its first index case of COVID-19 on 27th February and five new cases yesterday, (eight in all), President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to personally take ownership of a crisis that has already sent the 2020 budget spinning like a yoyo. A barrel of crude is now selling at $29 against the budget benchmark of $57 at a period when there is no buffer (the Excess Crude Account has been depleted to $71 million). But the president continues to act as if our country is insulated from a pandemic that has practically turned our world upside down. Meanwhile, on the continent, the Presidents of South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda and several others are rallying their people and placing their authority behind measures to deal with the global emergency in their respective countries.

Let’s be clear here. In situations like this, precipitate actions may be unhelpful and exercising caution could be a positive virtue.

But it is also true that in times like this, citizens look to their leader for reassurance.

Yes, a presidential committee headed by the SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, was inaugurated on Tuesday. Statements have also been issued by presidential aides in the past 21 days since the first index case was detected. The SGF has announced a ban on all forms of travel by public officers and civil servants until further notice; and restrictions on entry into Nigeria by travellers from 13 countries.

I applaud the federal government for finally responding to the crisis. But unusual times call for extraordinary measures. The president (or prime minister) in countries big and small are leading on this matter, providing assurances, making commitments, initiating actions. Without diminishing the office of the SGF, this crisis is beyond what he can handle. Even the American President, Mr Donald Trump who initially handed the assignment to Vice President Mike Pence has since taken charge.

There is a reason why the Number One citizen in every country is leading from the front on this crisis: Although it is a health challenge, the response chain to COVID-19, or any pandemic for that matter, usually cuts across several sectors. In Nigeria, for instance, there are institutions and officials in the response chain that do not report to the SGF. Only the presidency can ensure any meaningful coordination of efforts that must involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the aviation sector, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Governors of the 36 states, especially now that we hear of cases in Ekiti and Katsina. Also, to secure essential supplies in a period of global emergency requires interventions from the highest authority. In a country of 200 million people, I understand we have less than a thousand test kits for Coronavirus. Chinese billionaire, Mr Jack Ma, has promised to send 100,000 face masks, 20,000 test kits and 1,000 medical use protective suits to each African nation. I hope someone has the presence of mind to take up the offer quickly.

There is a WhatsApp post going round credited to John Mabayoje, MD, a NigerianAmerican who practices medicine in

Buhari Huntsville, Alabama. On the Delta Airlines flight he boarded from Lagos to Atlanta at the weekend, Mabayoje claimed to have noticed many non-Nigerians at the check-in counter.

Upon inquiry, a crew member reportedly told him “a lot of passengers from Europe are flying to Nigeria to catch Delta flights to the USA.” As he pointed out, “That is a serious lapse in our security. That means that people from high COVID-19 areas are transiting through Lagos using the e-Visa loophole designed to ease business travel and raise foreign currency. That is a ticking time bomb.”

Handling such a national security situation is beyond the remit of the SGF, even if what he exercises is delegated presidential authority. The COVID-19 pandemic is a most destructive force, the kind that we have never witnessed before in this generation. Yes, we successfully dealt with the Ebola crisis. But this is not Ebola. This is something much more. I have heard stories from friends and relations in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada of how essentials like water and toiletries are being rationed in malls, schools are sending their students home without completing the academic calendar, airlines are slashing prices of flights to ridiculous rates, streets are being deserted and there is a general climate of fear. As one writer aptly captured the situation on Bloomberg, “we are living through extraordinary times.”

Increasingly, President Buhari retreats from engaging with Nigerians at critical moments, and this is the main issue here; even though some of his supporters are trivializing the call for him to address the nation which the Senate joined yesterday.

In January 2018, I wrote that the president “has most often looked aloof and distant when the occasion demanded that he be the consoler-in-chief. Yet, what Buhari and his handlers fail to appreciate is that whenever human emotions are exhibited in a leader, people take hope. A tear for the distressed, a sigh of contrition in moments of mistakes,

one heartfelt utterance of genuine grief when people are hurting are some of the attributes of a genuine leader—it is not about taking all tidings with equal indifference, as Buhari does most times.”

On Monday, the president held a meeting with APC Governors on the crisis within his party. Is that more important than the health crisis that looms on the horizon and for which other leaders around the world are taking charge? Instructively, that meeting with APC Governors resolved a crisis that had lingered for several weeks, simply by virtue of his moral authority. Could the president not have held a similar meeting with critical stakeholders on the COVID-19 crisis? How inconvenient can a recorded short address to the nation be? In good and bad times, citizens need their president to speak to them directly, rejoice and sympathize with them, inspire and soothe them, guide and reassure them. No matter the amount of work put in behind the scenes, and irrespective of having competent hands in place, appearing aloof in moments of national emergency is indefensible for any leader.

On Tuesday, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Abuja chapter, announced a “difficult decision” to proceed on an indefinite strike that could have profound implications on how we deal with this health emergency.

Yesterday on Channels Television, the ANAP Foundation Chairman, Mr Atedo Peterside highlighted four factors that make Nigeria particularly vulnerable in this COVID-19 crisis: The high population density which makes social distancing difficult; our major income source has been badly hit by the collapse of oil prices; the healthcare delivery system is in shambles while the delays caused by the global supply chain disruptions are being exacerbated by the congestion in and around our inefficient ports. These are critical

issues that demand more than a committee headed by the SGF to deal with. That is what the president must understand.

All said, we must acknowledge the work being done by the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Lagos State Ministry of Health. They are putting in a decent shift and they need our support and encouragement. As I wrote two weeks ago, the clear signal that has been delivered to Nigeria by Coronavirus, as with previous global epidemics, is that a nation of our demographic magnitude must remain on perennial alert for such public health emergencies in an interconnected world. And that requires leadership and comprehensive engagement. COVID-19 is a public health emergency on a scale never seen since after the Second World War. Dispatching presidential minions and taking uncoordinated piecemeal actions that fit into no strategy cannot be the way to go at a period when Nigerians need to be mobilized for the hard times that inevitably lie ahead.

It is possible that President Buhari is trying to manage expectations by heeding the admonition, “Be quick but don’t hurry” on this issue. But far too much is at stake for any form of complacency. Last week in Abuja, the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr Mele Kyari warned that we should “prepare for trouble for at least three months” and that “nobody knows what is going to happen tomorrow.”

Under such a regime of uncertainty, which has now gone beyond the vagaries of oil prices to that of life and death, we need assurance from our president that all will be well. And he cannot do that by keeping silent or outsourcing responsibility to the SGF. Since the buck stops at his desk, he must seize the moment.

Sex for Grades and Coronavirus In view of the uncertainties created by the coronavirus pandemic, I have decided to cancel the public presentation of my book, ‘NAKED ABUSE: Sex for Grades in African Universities’ earlier slated for 31st March. Yesterday, I reached out to Senator Daisy Danjuma who was to chair the event; the First Lady of Kaduna State, Mrs Hadiza Isma El-Rufai who was to present the book and the reviewer, Ms Maupe Ogun-Yusuf of Channels to explain and apologise. I have also contacted the Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu and the First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi who wrote the book’s Foreword. Special appreciation to the Norwegian Ambassador, Mr Jens-Petter Kjemprud; the British High Commissioner, Mrs Catriona Laing, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Mrs Yoyinsola Makanjuola. I regret cancelling the event but the timing is just not auspicious for a large gathering; in view of the complex health challenge we now deal with.

Given that the plan was to use the book presentation to open a conversation on the vexatious issue of sexual exploitation on the campuses of tertiary institutions in Africa, I did not take the decision lightly.

Indeed, the gravity of the situation was recently brought to me by a friend. On a recent visit to a town in the South-west where a federal university is located, according to his account, a friend of his who teaches on the campus came to his hotel and reportedly told him: “I will send one of my female students to keep you company for the night. Since our pay is meagre, that is the only ‘fringe benefit’ we enjoy on this job.”

Even if we ignore the issue of treating young girls to whom the man has a duty of care like pleasure chattels and the obvious abuse of power in such sordid arrangement, the only way that lecturer can ‘reward’ those exploited female students is by upgrading their examination scores. We need to rid our campuses of such irresponsible male lecturers. That is the essence of writing the book, for which I received a research grant from the Ford Foundation. While the public presentation may have been cancelled, the book will still be released to the market on Tuesday 31st March as planned.

NOTE: Please see ‘Still Playing with Fire’ on page 14.

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