TUESDAY 29TH MARCH 2022

Emefiele: My Focus is on Robust Monetary Policy, Building Strong Financial System Says CBN disbursed N948bn to boost farming, 12.5million jobs created James Emejo in Abuja and Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday, reiterated

that he was currently focused on achieving a robust monetary policy and fighting inflation, which

he stressed remained a global problem. Emefiele stated this via his verified Twitter handle,

@GodwinIEmefiele, on the same day he revealed that the federal government had disbursed a

total of N948 billion to 4,478,381 Continued on page 10

Wigwe Now GMD/CEO Access Holdings, Ogbonna Appointed Bank MD… Page 8 Tuesday 29 March, 2022 Vol 27. No 9849. Price: N250

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AMCON Recovers N1trn Debts as Kuru Hints of ‘Bad Bank’s’ Exit Strategy... Page 5

Lai Mohammed Blames PDP for Laying Foundation for Nigeria’s Misery Says inflation a global trend Opposition party replies minister, says media briefing arrogant stunt to mislead Nigerians Chuks Okocha and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) for being the architect of the country’s economic hardship. The government alleged that the mismanagement of national resources by the opposition party at a time

the economy was buoyant laid the foundation for the current woes.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the accusation yesterday at

a no-holds-barred press briefing in Abuja.

But in a swift reaction yesterday, PDP dismissed the press conference addressed by the minister as

another anthology of lies and bogus performance claims “by the failed and rudderless All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.”

Mohammed accused the op-

position of gloating that Nigerians were suffering under the present administration and indulging in misContinued on page 10

48 Hours After Attacking Kaduna Airport, Terrorists Blow Up Abuja-Kaduna Train Scores of families seek information on loved ones, as El-Rufai visits scene accompanied by troops Many feared kidnapped, scores shot NRC MD confirm attack, recounts how he spoke to train driver Kingsley Nwezeh, Kasim Sumaina in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna Forty-eight hours after attacking the Kaduna airport, killing an aviation worker and injuring many others, terrorists, yesterday, escalated their attacks by bombing an Abuja-Kaduna train, with some 970 passengers onboard.

It was, however, not the first time that the extremists had targeted the train in furtherance of their attacks.

Already, scores of families had begun to seek information on their loved ones, who were believed to be onboard the train, trying to mark them safe.

Although reports on casualties were still sketchy, unconfirmed details claimed many of the passengers were kidnapped, while scores were shot by the terrorists while forcing their way into the train.

Managing Director of Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC), Fidet Continued on page 10

'RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF CONSOLIDATING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE'...

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; former vice president of Gambia, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang; former Nigeria's President and Chair, Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former President of Serria Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma and former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan at the opening of a CoDA High-level Dialogue with the theme: West Africa: Rising to the Challenge of Consolidating Democratic Governance held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta... yesterday

Obasanjo, Osinbajo: Africa Going through Perilous Times... Page 44

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

NEWS

ACCESS BANK'S 33RD AGM...

L-R: GMD/CEO, Access Holdings Plc, Dr. Herbert Wigwe; Non-executive Director and former Chairman of the bank, Dr. Ajoritsedere Awosika and Company Secretary, Mr. Sunday Ekwochi, at the bank’s 33rd Annual General Meeting held in Lagos...yesterday

AMCON Recovers N1trn Debts as Kuru Hints of ‘Bad Bank’s’ Exit Strategy James Emejo and Alex Enumah in Abuja Managing Director/Chief Executive, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Ahmed Kuru, yesterday said the corporation had recovered over N1 trillion in debts from its debtors.

However, Kuru said debt recovery

under the AMCON scheme could not continue forever, adding, “Going forward, we will want to focus on how we close those transactions so that everybody can rest.”

Speaking when he received a delegation from the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN), led by its President, Ayodele Akintunde,

the AMCON boss pointed out that the corporation was basically created to buy bad debts as well as resolve them.

He said AMCON was ready and willing to work with all stakeholders to bring an end to loan recovery issues as this would not continue in perpetuity.

He said AMCON had been

focused on debt recovery inherited since the 2008/2009 global financial crises and was yet to tackle current issues.

Kuru said, “There must be an end. If there is an account that you have been pursuing in the last 20 years, I think you should be able to draw a line. Going forward, we will want to focus on how we close

Edo Attracts $531.2m Oil Palm Investment in Nine Months The Edo State government yesterday revealed that it attracted over $531 million in the last nine months to its oil palm sector through the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP).

Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Stephen Idehenre, disclosed this to journalists at the inauguration of FOARE Mushroom Production Centre and the commencement of the 2022 Farming Season in Benin City.

He said the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration had prioritised agriculture to ensure the realisation of the Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Agenda.

Idehenre noted: “So far, we have

attracted investments valued at 531.2 million dollars in nine months to the oil palm sector alone via ESOPP. It was created to bring opportunities to large, medium and small-scale investors in the oil palm sub-sector with the goal of de-risking investments in agriculture.

"The programme approach involves the use of Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) Guidelines to engage communities in land allocation. A total of 62,500 hectares have been allocated to investors. The programme is expected to create over 200,000 jobs across the value chain.

"We will add over 1,000,000

metrics tons to local production of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) by 2030.”

He stated that the newly inaugurated production centre would create 50 direct and 200 indirect jobs, adding, “I thank the proponents of this venture for their commitment to the cause of supporting the government in wealth creation through innovative approaches such as this.

"I urge all, especially the farmers, to take the advantage of this event to interact with experts and major actors in the agricultural value chain to grow and increase productivity in their enterprise of interest.”

"We are distributing 21 motorbikes to frontline agriculture extension workers at this event

to further strengthen extension service delivery and knowledge management. The state is making steady progress in the agriculture sphere, which will drive home the sector as a major economic pillar for job and wealth creation,” Idehenre was quoted in statement to have said.

Earlier, the State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Wellington Omoragbon, hailed the government’s sustained collaboration and investment in the agric sector.

Omoragbon urged citizens to support the government’s programmes designed to accelerate food production, processing and marketing along the various agribusiness value chain.

those transactions so that everybody can rest.”

Nonetheless, he said the agency had also helped thousands of businesses that encountered financial challenges get back on their feet, adding that it is prepared to work with relevant bodies in the country to actualise its mandate.

He noted that while there could be non-performing loans in the banks currently, AMCON had not yet considered purchasing such liabilities but rather was concentrating on the debts inherited over the past decade.

He added, “AMCON has been dealing with the ones they have taken more than 10 years ago…We don’t take and we have not taken new businesses, we are still battling with the ones that were taken during the global financial crisis.

“We have recovered in excess of one trillion, we have helped quite a lot of businesses that are currently running, and we have resolved more than four to five thousand relationships.

According to him, “AMCON is created to buy non-performing loans, resuscitate the non-performing loans even though some of these non-performing loans have been with these banks for more than 10 years to 15 years before

being transferred to AMCON and it has been able to resolve quite a lot of those transactions and in doing that it has recover a lot of funds.”

Earlier, Akintunde said the association was at AMCON to see how it could synergise with the corporation to build capacity in the area of recovery and insolvency.

He said although AMCON had achieved some successes, there were still challenges to surmount.

Akintunde said, "AMCON still has challenges and that is why its tenure of 10 years have been extended. Debt recovery in Nigeria is still a work in progress such that law reforms, training and necessary support to ensure that recovery of debts, sale of assets is easily achievable.

"We are expecting increased capacity building because in the new CAMA Act there are new provisions relating to business rescue and as such need for qualified and well-trained professionals to be able to engage in this assignment.”

He said BRIPAN, as a leading trainer of insolvency practitioners in Nigeria, would continue to improve training and capacity so that they could get better results and better outcomes as they tried to resolve insolvency.

He noted that two years after the pandemic, Africa and other developing countries continued to see disparities in access to vaccines, which he said had prolonged the pandemic for Africa and deepened existing inequalities across the continent.

According to a report released

by Oxfam on March 3, 2022, while effective vaccines provide hope, their rollout has tipped, from a natural desire to protect citizens into nationalism, greed and self-interest.

Oluseyi said: “Large numbers of people in low-income countries face the virus unprotected and millions of people would still be alive today if they had had access to a vaccine. Big pharmaceutical corporations have been given free rein to patronise profits ahead of vaccine equality.

“Although, officially, the records show that the casualties of the pandemic were more in developed nations, the reality is that countries

in the African continent recorded a major loss of lives due to the pandemic but lack of concrete data is likely why we may never have the figures to show a truer reflection of the pact of the pandemic on our continent.

“Reports indicate that 54 per cent of all deaths caused by COVID-19 have been in low and lower middleincome countries, where 10.6 million people have died while 2.7 million people are estimated to have died in high income countries.

“Urgently agree to and implement a global roadmap to deliver the World Health Organisation (WHO) goal of fully vaccinating 70 percent of people by mid2022, and beyond this ensure sustained, timely and equitable access worldwide to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, tests and other medical technologies, including all effective and safe next-generation COVID-19 vaccines and medical technologies.”

US Consulate Signs Tripartite Agreement, Announces 2022 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs NGO Calls for End to Intellectual Property Waiver on COVID-19 Technology Segun James

The United State government has reiterated its commitment to supporting women’s full and free participation in the Nigerian economy as they seek to thrive in the workforce, succeed as entrepreneurs, and create stability and prosperity in their communities.

Owing to this, a collaboration between the US Consulate General in Lagos, Venture Garden Foundation and Ascend Studios Foundation are supporting the implementation of the 2022 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, a US government program that advances women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

To achieve this, the US Consulate Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Jennifer Foltz; Group Head of Venture Garden Foundation, Tesilimi Yusuf and President of Ascend Studios Foundation, Inya Lawal, yesterday signed a Statement of Intended Cooperation to equip

250 Nigerian women with the practical skills needed to create sustainable businesses through the AWE program.

Delivering remarks during the agreement signing ceremony hosted in Lagos, Foltz underscored that the successes recorded with AWE program in Nigeria illustrated how targeted US government sponsored training could change lives, take enterprises to the next level, create employment and empower women entrepreneurs.

“The Venture Garden Foundation team will bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program in Nigeria,” Foltz said.

“We are confident that their contributions to and engagement with the AWE participants will result in improved leadership, public speaking, time management, self-confidence and financing options,” he added.

On his part, Yusuf highlighted the importance of helping women to fully participate in and contribute

to the local and global economy.

“Technology makes business growth possible. As a technology company, our support for the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs will ensure that we help prospective and emerging women entrepreneurs and business owners compete more effectively with a whole array of cutting-edge technological solutions,” Yusuf added.

Lawal, said 250 participants would be selected for the 2022 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, a highly competitive entrepreneurship program. Now in its fourth year, the program has graduated over 520 participants, Nigeria wide.

She noted that the AWE initiative was a great opportunity for Nigerian women entrepreneurs to gain university-level business and management training, strengthen their networks, and grow sustainable businesses.

“We warmly welcome Venture Garden Foundation to the AWE family,” Lawal said.

Ugo Aliogo The Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGOs) has urged the federal government and stakeholders to call on Britain, Germany, the United States and France to stop blocking intellectual property waivers on all COVID-19 related technologies.

The NGO advised the government on the need to invest in public healthcare and ensure that women and other vulnerable groups have equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Speaking at a media briefing to mark the second anniversary of COVID-19 recently, the Executive Director, NNNGO, Oyebisi Oluseyi, said these would revolutionise global vaccine manufacturing, unlock the productive capacity needed to end the pandemic and build the scientific and industry networks needed to protect Africa and the rest of the world from future disease outbreaks.

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WALKING THE AISLE IN STYLE...

L-R; Former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Founder, Eleganza Group of Companies/Celebrant, Chief Razak Akani Okoya; and Chairman, Geregu PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN Power Plc, Mr. Femi Otedola at Jubril Adedoyin Okoya and Sara Martinelli Otone wedding reception ceremony in Lagos…. yesterday

Kyari: Nigeria’s Economy No Longer Dependent on Oil Revenues Says country not ready for electric vehicles Barkindo insists oil to remain relevant in foreseeable future

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari, yesterday said the Nigerian economy had weaned itself of total dependence on oil revenues, unlike what was obtained in the past.

Speaking on Day 1 of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi, Kyari, stated that presently, the contribution of the sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was just nine per cent.

Kyari who elucidated on the need to give Africa special consideration in the movement away from fossil fuels, maintained that Nigeria was not ready for Electronic Vehicles (EVs) as it is currently dealing with basic issues of power supply.

The NNPC GMD argued that while Nigeria believes in the net zero drive and has already committed to it, it would continue to build on its gas infrastructure as a buffer before the achievement of the net zero target in 2060.

“First of all, let me put it in a general context, our country's GDP contribution from the oil and gas is just nine per cent. So, we are not really an oil-dependent economy. Secondly, the US Bureau

of Statistics has estimated that by year 2047, Nigeria's population will be around 379 million people and will be the third most populous country in the world.

“The combination of this is that you have a very rapidly growing population with a huge gap in terms of energy accessibility and you have a huge economic disparity between the poor and the rich and this is growing.

“There is no way you can take the context of energy transition out of this, but our country is clearly committed to net zero by 2060 to reduce our carbon footprint in a manner that will contribute to net zero by 2060,” he said.

Kyari stressed that while Nigeria was trying to move its dependence on thermal sources of power to other sources of energy, more than 70 per cent of energy need was currently coming from the source.

“And most of them are not even coming from gas, so most of them are coming from fuel oil and other dirtier fuels,” he said.

He added: “What we are going to do is some kind of replacement so that we will move from the dirtier fuels to cleaner fuels which is gas, and therefore our focus is to see gas as a transition fuel.”

According to him, what Nigeria had tried to do in recent years was to build enormous gas infrastruc-

ture to ensure it is able to supply gas to the domestic market and export to the international market.

He explained that the energy poverty that Nigeria was confronted with, was also true of other African countries.

“Therefore, we are trying to see how we can build a network of pipelines and infrastructure that will deliver gas throughout the West African region and potentially into Europe through Morocco and Algeria.

“We are a 306tcf gas nation and this is enough to cover a lot of our needs in Africa, but our people still use charcoal as cooking fuel and that's the lowest fuel that you can put forward,” he stressed.

Lamenting that public transportation was weak in Nigeria, Kyari stated that the only way to reduce the number of internal combustion

engines was to increase the gas infrastructure and close the gap.

He noted that differentiation remains very critical as the world moves towards 2060, because different countries have peculiar circumstances.

Kyari added: “Total lack of investment in this sector will mean some kind of exclusion for a very large population in Africa and very many other nations. Therefore, this bandwagon approach to stop funding for fossil fuels won’t work.

“This is because, today, we have much more basic problems in Sub-Saharan Africa than worrying about EVs. We are not in the EVs age and definitely the electricity supply is still the weakest.

“Less than 30 per cent has access to clean electricity and you need to fill this gap. And there’s no

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme is central to the attainment of robust economic cooperation among governments globally, the Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, has said.

He noted that this was particularly in the realisation of the decade of action for SDGs as defined by the United Nations (UN).

In a keynote address at the African Union (AU) continental workshop on Africa’s Voluntary National Reviews for the 2022 High Level Political Forum (HLPF) and Domestication of Agenda 2063 in Abuja, the vice president also said it was obvious that the agenda was Africa’s blueprint and masterplan for transforming the continent to the global power house of the future.

Osinbaj, who was represented at the event by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed

said: “It is obvious that Agenda 2063 is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future as well as the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development.”

According to him, the Agenda 2063 was a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, selfdetermination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under pan-Africanism and African renaissance.

He added: “The genesis of Agenda 2063 was the realisation

by African leaders that there was a need to refocus and re-prioritise Africa’s agenda from the struggle against apartheid and the attainment of political independence for the continent.

"It is also an arrangement that prioritise inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic

acquire all sources of energy.

What is required at the moment is to revisit how we explore and consume hydrocarbons and to bring them in line with current realities, especially in terms of sustainability.

“The energy trilemma: energy access, affordability and sustainability should be taken in the holistic manner. Oil and gas, according to our oil outlook, will continue to account for more than 45 per cent to 50 per cent of the global energy mix.

“This number has not changed in the last 30 to 40 years because population has been growing rapidly over 3 per cent. we project that potential to grow till 2045 and the vast majority of that growth will come from developing countries where energy poverty is already epidemic,” he stated.

CAN, Amnesty International, Others Kick as Senate Amend CAMA Sunday Aborisade in Abuja Various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), yesterday disagreed with certain provisions of a bill meant to amend the Company and Allied Matters Act 2020, proposed by the Senate

They spoke at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment; Diaspora and the NGOs. The Sponsor of the bill, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, said the proposed amendments were meant to strengthen the operations of the NGOs in Nigeria.

However, in their presentations

Osinbajo: SDGs Cardinal to Global Economic Cooperation Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

way the scale of investment in renewables will do this. So, the world must sit back and take a second look at this.

“Can we differentiate this? Can the cleaner energy come later for some countries? Can we fund fossil fuels so that resources can be available to some countries to fund the transition journey itself?

“Also, can we segregate and say we want to fund gas in certain countries and certainly locations so they can provide cleaner, quicker and more practical fuels? Clearly, there has to be differentiation.”

In his remarks, the Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Sanusi Barkindo, argued that the role of oil and gas is guaranteed in the foreseeable future.

“The world will continue to

governance, peace and security among other issues, the objective of which is to reposition Africa to becoming a dominant player in the global arena.”

Referencing the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, Osinbajo said: “As you may be aware, the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development adopted by all UN member states in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

“At its heart are the 17 SDGs, which are an urgent call for action by all countries, both developed and developing in a global partnership.”

To recognise that, he noted that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand in hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forest.

Osinbajo further said the SDGs had remained cardinal to the attainment of robust economic cooperation among governments globally particularly in the realisation of the decade of action for SDGs as defined by the UN. He stressed: “You will agree with me that the strategic partnership embedded in the SDGs has availed Nigeria a huge implementation context due to its large population, landmass and ethnic diversity.

“To achieve the SDGs and its effective implementation, Nigeria has established six SDGs innovation hubs, one in each geo-political zone; this provides an opportunity for states to leverage and dialogue with all relevant stakeholders to accelerate innovative solutions, prioritising social protection as a tool to overcome the bottlenecks and expanding financing options to accelerate the achievement of SDGs in Nigeria.

at the event, stakeholders including CAN, the Amnesty International and other NGOs, insisted that the amendments being sought to CAMA was repressive and would infringe on the fundamental human rights of the groups' promoters.

The stakeholders said it was wrong to mandate the NGOs to submit their audit reports twice in a year.

They also rejected the appointment of interim managers to take over the duties of their board of trustees whenever there was crisis.

They insisted that the organisations could solve their crisis without the intervention of a third party.

Apart from this, they claimed that the provisions for merger among smaller NGOs would end up in crisis.

The memo submitted to the Senate joint panel by the CAN was signed by its President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle; General Secretary, Joseph Daramola and Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Comfort Chigbue.

CAN kicked against Section 839 of the bill and declared that it negates the principles of freedom and association, religion, freedom to won a property and freedom of expression as provided for in Sections 38, 39, 40, 43, and 44 of tur 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Part of the memo read, " CAN is also calling for amendments of

sections 842 of the CAMA 2020 which gives power to direct transfer of credit in dormant account to the Corporation Affairs Commission.

"This undermine the provisions of Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which guarantees the rights to privacy.”

The Amnesty International opposed some provisions in Part F of the CAMA 2020, claiming that some of the measures contained were ill- conceived, disproportionate, unnecessary, and discriminatory.

However, Amnesty International, said it welcomed the proposed deletion of sections 831, 842, 843 and 844 from the CAMA 2020.

Part of its memo presented by Osai Ojigho on behalf of AI, read, "Notwithstanding these proposed amendments, Part F of CAMA 2020 still contains overly broad powers and vague provisions and provides for an excessive degree of state control and interference in the activities of any association.

"Some of these provisions have not been remedied by the proposed CAMA Bill, 2022, and they still impose impermissible restrictions on human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

"Amnesty International hereby urges the National Assembly to immediately remove the offending provisions highlighted in this memorandum from the legislation in its proposed amendment."

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SCENE OF APONGBON BRIDGE FIRE INCIDENT...

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Osanyitolu-Oke; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Special Adviser on Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye and Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, during a visit to the scene of the Apongbon bridge fire incident ...yesterday

Wigwe Now GMD/CEO Access Holdings, Ogbonna Appointed Bank MD Bank repositioned for greater value for shareholders Kayode Tokede Following the completion of its scheme of arrangement with all approvals gotten for its holding company (HoldCo) structure, Mr. Herbert Wigwe was yesterday announced as the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) of Access Holdings Plc. A notification to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, signed

by Company Secretary, Mr. Sunday Ekwochi, also announced Mr. Bababode Osunkoya as the chairman of Access Holdings, while for the banking subsidiary, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna was appointed the

Managing Director/CEO. In addition, Mr. Victor Etuokwu is now the Deputy Managing Director (North) and Mrs. Chizoba Okoli, Deputy Managing Director (South) of the bank respectively.

Under the new re-organisation, Access Holding Company Plc would serve as the parent company for the group and it would have many subsidiaries.

Specifically, while Access Holdco would be the parent company in the new structure, the subsidiaries to be created are: Access Bank Group; Access Payco Group; Access Lendco; Access Insureco; Access Real Estate, and Others (e.g., ecommerce).

As part of its 20th anniversary, Access Bank had decided to start implementing its HoldCo strategy.

The HoldCo is expected to invest in pension assets, the payment sector, insurance, fintech, among others.

With that, the commercial banking arm of the business now represents only one vertical in the whole arrangement. That means Access Bank has been repositioned for growth and would be creating more value for shareholders, which analysts have commended.

Wigwe has also been praised for the vision and as GMD/CEO, he would be responsible for driving other verticals in the new arrange-

ment.

It is also worthy to note that Wigwe decided to step down as the CEO of the bank two years ahead of the expiration of his tenure. a rarity in this clime. Analysts pointed out that the move is the hallmark of a leader with eyes on the goal.

According to the statement to the NGX, the parent company now holds 100 per cent shares of Access Bank Nigeria and 100 per cent shares of all non-banking subsidiaries of the bank.

Also, Access Bank Nigeria now owns all its banking subsidiaries (15 in total) and all its three representative offices in India, China and Lebanon.

FG Inaugurates Committee on Review of Trade Policy James Emejo in Abuja The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, yesterday inaugurated a committee on the review of Nigeria's trade policy, which had become moribund for some years now.

The minister said the ceremony marked a significant new trajectory on how the country uses international trade and investment as veritable tools for economic growth and poverty reduction.

He said the major objectives of Nigeria’s trade policy which were first articulated in a document in 1989 under the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was later revised in 2002, and had not been reviewed or revised since then.

Adebayo, at the occasion, said national trade policy frameworks needed to explicitly address all aspects of development, including sustainable development, in a holistic manner by providing opportunities for creating wealth through income generation and distribution, increased employment and competitiveness, as well as economic and social well-being.

Analysts had variously argued that the country lacked a trade policy that was in consonance with modern economic reality and urged the government to make necessary amends.

The minister, however, said in spite of the prevailing environment of geo-political tensions, particularly the Brexit Vote, the 2016 US elections and the intensification of trade tensions with China, as well as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, the international trading system had continued to experience several

initiatives on trade reforms, leading to various new preferential trade agreements, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (FTA) Agreement that entered into force on May 30, 2019.

The minister noted that going forward, it was essential that the national trade policy framework was continuously augmented or complemented by year-to-year import and export policy guidelines, thereby reducing trade costs and enhancing a more transparent trade-enabling environment in the country.

He added that for this to be effective and efficient, a robust and intensive mechanism for consultations with stakeholders, particularly the private sector and civil society is required.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Sayo Ifedayo, the minister explained: "So, today, we have begun a new phase in the ongoing efforts by the Ministry to review and update the National Trade Policy of Nigeria 2002, with a view to ensuring that the new trade policy framework reflects the very dramatic changes that have taken place in the global trade and economic policy landscape, especially the 2008/2009 global financial and economic crises, as well as the current health, economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He said an updated trade policy document would effectively capture the nine core policy priorities of the recently launched MediumTerm National Development Plan 2021-2025.

The minister listed the priorities to include building a thriving and

sustainable economy; enlarge agricultural output for food security; attain energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products; and expand transport and other infrastructure development.

Others included expanding business growth, entrepreneurship and industrialisation; improve access to quality education, affordable health care and productivity; enhance social inclusion and reduce poverty; build systems to fight corruption, improve governance and create national cohesion; and improve

security for all.

He said, "Under these circumstances, it is important for us to ensure that the new Trade Policy of Nigeria is not only consistent with international best practices to enhance productivity and competitiveness, but also fully takes into account the realities of the national economy in the 21st Century.”

Among other things, he said trade remained central to ending global poverty and continues to contribute to the economic growth and development of all economies.

Other members of Access Holdings Plc board are: Mr. Abubakar Jimoh (Independent Non-Executive Director), Mrs. Fatimah Bello-Ismail (Independent Non-Executive Director), Mrs. Ojinika Olaghere (Non-Executive Director), Mr. Olusegun Ogbonnewo (Non-Executive Director), Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna (Non-Executive Director), Mr. Oluseyi Kumapayi (Non-Executive Director) and Ms. Bolaji Olaitan Agbede (Executive Director).

The company secretary also announced the resignation of Mr. Adeola Bajomo as Executive director, information technology and operations with effective from September 30,2022.

The statement added that: "This follows his decision to pursue other personal interest."

Meanwhile, shareholders of Access bank yesterday re-elect Dr. Ajoritsedere Awosika as a non-executive director and also re-elect Mr. Adeniyi Adekoya as an independent Non-executive Director.

Precisely, there are five reasons the bank is transitioning towards a holdco and it includes value creation – to maximise revenue and value by establishing ecosystems; Agility – to enable the corporation to rapidly respond to a consistently changing market environment while

maintaining oversight; to Leverage scale – that is to capture opportunities from local and global positioning to drive top and bottom-line growth; Best-in-class talent – to create an environment that would enable the corporation to hire the best and invest in innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership development, as well as to pool resources – by promote resource sharing and maximise synergies.

The bank is also using the wider banking model to build a self-reinforcing ecosystem that would be embedded in consumers’ lives It strongly believes that the new structure would leading to great ambitions for the institution supported by selected strong partnerships & enablers to scale and among other things, it would see the institution move from a local bank to a global brand, from banking only, to an institution that is beyond banking; from one that connects Nigeria, to one that connects the world.

In addition, Access Bank would move from just touching consumers to becoming an institution that is embedded in the consumer life and from a situation where one in every two Nigerians have accounts with the bank, to one where one in every three Africans are its customers and also from being limited by the sovereign to one that is piercing the sovereign ceiling.

Group Congratulates New APC Leadership, Makes Case for Emefiele’s Presidency Agbor-based association joins call for CBN governor to contest 2023 election John Shiklam in Kaduna The Unified Northern Nigeria Youth Forum (UNNYF) has called on the new leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to consider a technocrat, economist and financial expert like the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Godwin Emefiele, as its Presidential candidate in 2023.

Although the CBN governor was yet to declare his intention, the group has been calling on him to contest for the presidency in the 2023 general elections.

To this end, in a statement yesterday in Kaduna, the group congratulated Senator Abdullahi Adamu for emerging as the National Chairman of the APC, urging him to use his wealth of experience to

change the political narrative of the party and the country.

The statement signed by the convener of the group, Mohammed Danlami said, “Emefiele’s Presidency will promote good governance, brotherhood and a more united Nigeria for peace, progress and prosperity.”

The group noted that, Adamu, as Chairman of Senate Committee on Agriculture, could testify to the CBN’s agricultural revolution under Emefiele.

The group noted that, “Emefiele is indeed the answer to Nigeria's leadership problem, a great icon and an emancipator of the masses, providing jobs for the youths and equipping our economy to withstand the global changes all economies of the world are facing.

“Emefiele is playing a critical role in saving and driving Nigeria's economy and in so doing has introduced critical intervention programs that directly benefit the masses.

“We urge and pray the new APC leadership will use its wealth of knowledge and experience to select one of the finest private sector player, financial experts, technocrat, bridge builder, economist, a South southerner and a detribalised Nigerian who has the capacity to continue with all the good policies of President Muhammadu Buhari and ensure more united and prosperous Nigeria.”

The UNNYF said with the new leadership, it was confident that APC would only wax stronger and grow deeper under the leadership

Senator Adamu.

The group also applauded President Muhammadu Buhari, “for his timely and fatherly interventions that have no doubt helped in putting our great party back on track.”

The statement added that Adamu's, “victory is victory for all and we advise him to be magnanimous in managing this victory.”

“The group said expressed confidence in Adamu’s leadership “as he has the experience, knowledge and versatility needed for the office he presently occupies as he has been in the forefront of making peace and uniting members of our great party as the chairman of the APC reconciliatory committee and did a wonderful job.

Continued on page 44

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TEN 48 HOURS AFTER ATTACKING KADUNA AIRPORT, TERRORISTS BLOW UP ABUJA-KADUNA TRAIN Okhiria, who confirmed the development, recounted how he spoke to the train driver, saying, "We cannot give you much information now,” as no one was able to give an accurate account of what happened as at press time.

At the same time, the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, had immediately visited the scene of the attack last night, accompanied by some troops to have a firsthand information on the situation.

This is as the state government, which had earlier confirmed the incident, stating that, the government had since secured the train through mobilisation and reinforcement of the security.

There have been various accounts about how the terrorists might have succeeded in derailing the train, which reportedly left station in Abuja around 6pm yesterday.

Some accounts alleged that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were planted in one of the coaches, which exploded, derailing and destroying some of the coaches and leaving the fate of the 970 passengers onboard or the casualty figures uncertain.

Another account claimed the attack was carried out using a detonated device suspected to be a bomb planted on the rail track, which exploded on impact as train rode on the spot.

But THISDAY could not independently confirm if the bomb was planted on the train or rail track.

THISDAY, however, gathered that

as part of moves to secure the trains, Minister of Transportation Chibuike Amaechi, had long made efforts to bring in some special security detection devices, that would aid the operators of the trains to detect IEDs and other like components for passengers’ safety, but the move had been stalled for some time now as a result of bureaucratic bottlenecks in the system.

Sources said many of the passengers were abducted while others were trapped on the floor of the train at the time of filling this report.

In the addition to the myriad of information coming in pieces, THISDAY learnt the attack occurred at a point between Katari and Rijana.

An eye-witness account said the impact of the explosion was what derailed the train.

"They planted IED. When it went off, it derailed the train. There was pandemonium everywhere and some people may be kidnapped,” the source said.

One of the passengers, who reportedly confirmed the incident in a telephone call, said the attackers had surrounded the train and shot sporadically.

Another panic-stricken passenger explained, "All the passengers are currently lying on the floor of the train. The bandits are shooting sporadically. We are in serious danger.”

Speaking with a national daily (not THISDAY), a passenger said he counted six people with bullet wounds but could not say if they

were dead.

“There are six people we have counted with bullet wounds, there maybe more but so far this is what I can confirm. Security agents are trying to get them medical attention.

We also learnt that the bandits forced their way into some coaches and have abducted some people,” he said.

Zainab Musa, another passenger, according to the national daily, which could not independently verify some of the claims, described the attack as shocking. She explained, “Currently we are all lying down flat and security forces have started converging to drive the terrorists away. We are grateful to be safe and not harmed.”

Passenger Anas Iron Danmusa said the explosives planted by the terrorists “destroyed” the engine of the train.

Please this is an emergency. We are inside train at the moment.

Kidnappers planted explosives and the train engines have been ruined. We are helpless. Abuja to Kaduna train. Gunshots still being fired right around us. We are just under the seats praying to God while waiting for help."

He said, “since 8pm, we have been here. The gunmen were shooting sporadically around Katari-Rijana area. I am a living witness.”

There were at least 970 passengers onboard the train, according to official sources familiar with the train service.

Okhiria, who was already in

Abuja, said, "Most of the passengers have gone into hiding and they cannot be giving information, but there are reports of gunshots, continued gunshot as the train stopped,” confirming too, that the attack occurred at a point between Katari and Rijana.

The managing director added that some passengers could not leave the train, which meant nobody knew what might happen to them.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government said last night that relevant agencies were urgently contacted, and robust deployments of personnel were swiftly made to the area to secure the passengers on board.

The government said, “The Kaduna State Government received multiple reports of an attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train service at around Kateri-Rijana general areas.

Efforts are on-going to convey the passengers from the location and others that sustained injuries have been rushed to hospitals for medical attention.

The Kaduna State government said, "The government of Kaduna State will be liaising with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to ascertain the list from the passengers' manifest for efficient tracking. This is to acquire an accurate inventory of all passengers and their actual status.

"Governor Nasir El-Rufa'I, who has been in constant touch with the security forces, commended them for their prompt response, and thanked them for successfully

securing the train and passengers on board."

The statement issued by the Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said security forces had continued to comb the general area in additional rescue efforts.

"Emerging developments will be communicated to the public," the state government stated, adding, “Security agencies have reported to the Kaduna State government that the military has secured the Kaduna bound train from Abuja trapped by terrorists.”

According to government sources, the continuous attacks informed the reason Amaechi bought into the idea of further securing the trains, when he approved the purchase of some security detection devices, unfortunately, the bottlenecks in the system stalled the move.

Although the minister, according to sources, has continued to reiterate the need for the devices to come in as soon as possible in the interest of the public, some vested interest hiding behind due process had continued to delay the project.

12 of Kaduna Airport Attackers Killed, Says Army

In a related development, the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, yesterday, said, “About 12” of the terrorists that attacked the Kaduna International Airport on Saturday were killed through air strike.

Briefing journalists after conduct-

ing them round the scene of the incident, the Garrison Commander of the Division, Brig-Gen. Uriah Opuene, said, preliminary investigations revealed that the bandits were just passing through the back of the Airport.

Opuene said the terrorists were heading towards Riyawa village, when they sighted (and killed) the security man engaged by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to watch over their metrological equipment around the axis.

Opuene stated, “As you can see, this place is about six kilometres away from the airport terminal. The bandits were only passing behind the airport perimeter fence, when they saw the security man engaged

by NAMA and they fired at him.

They just took advantage of that to pass a message that they have attacked the airport.

“There are several layers of security at the airport, this is the first layer and even this first layer was not breached, because from the moment of hearing that shot, it took our men just about three minutes to get here from the next layer of security.

“On arrival, the bandits were already running away, so we engaged them through the use of ground forces. Then, we called for air strike and an helicopter was deployed and from the air report, about 12 of the bandits were killed.”

Speaking further, the Garrison Continued on page 42

LAI MOHAMMED BLAMES PDP FOR LAYING FOUNDATION FOR NIGERIA’S MISERY representation in their desperation to return to power to complete their demolition work on the country.

“But we say that while they laid the groundwork for today's suffering with their mismanagement of national resources at a time of plenty, we have introduced unprecedented measures to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, especially the very vulnerable,” the minister said.

He added, “Our National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) is the biggest of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. The N-Power benefits one million people; the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) has benefitted four million people; the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) is providing quality meals daily to 10 million primary school pupils, in addition to empowering over 100,000 cooks and the same number of small holder farmers in the local areas where the schools are located; the Household Uplifting Programme (HUP), which has the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) as its flagship intervention, provides N5,000 monthly grants to almost two million eligible households across the country, in addition benefitting from the Conditional Cash Transfers, under the directive of Mr. President to further expand the programme due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Mohammed criticised PDP, which was in power from 1999 to 2015, for depriving the country of the full benefits of oil windfall at a time of rising oil prices. He said

the opposition party neglected the oil industry and for many years, failed to stimulate growth in the oil industry by refusing to put in place the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), until President Muhammadu Buhari signed it into law last year. He said the law was envisaged as a tool to foster investment in the industry and delineate responsibilities to the various institutions.

The minister flayed the opposition party for going overboard and doing everything in recent times to overheat the polity and distort the achievements of the administration through misinformation about the country's state of affairs.

He described PDP as a “hungry and desperate opposition” that did want to wait for the 2023 elections to test their popularity or acceptability at the polls.

Mohammed stated further, “Gentlemen, there is nothing wrong in having a fiery and viable opposition in a democracy. We were there before and we remain the ones to beat in terms of a determined, viable and relentless opposition.

“But, in our time, not once did we advocate the destruction of Nigeria just because we couldn't have our way. Not once did we seek to gain power via a desperate court action.

If you destroy the country you are seeking to govern, what country will you govern? Must you cut your nose to spite your face?”

Mohammed accused PDP of seeking to erase the seven years of unprecedented achievements by the Buhari administration in spite of

bringing the country to its kneels in their 16 years of non-performance.

He explained, “They said they are ready to rescue Nigeria. Pray, where do kidnappers rescue their victims? These same guys who kidnapped the fortunes of their country are suddenly posing as rescuers. Caveat Emptor. Buyers Beware! Nigerians Beware!

“Gentlemen, we are not unmindful of the challenges facing this administration, either in the area of economy, security, power, etc.

But we have risen stoutly to the challenges, judiciously utilising the very scarce resources that we have, and we are making an impact. Nigerians are making great sacrifices because they know that today's difficulties are like the pangs heralding the birth of a new baby.

“Today's pains won't endure, but the new Nigeria that will emerge will surely do. The people on the other side say infrastructure is not important. In their derisive posturing, they ask: 'na infrastructure we go chop?'

“But they have forgotten the role of infrastructure in economic development via higher productivity and service delivery, job creation and poverty alleviation, just to mention a few. Little wonder they frittered away the resources of the commonwealth instead of using such to develop our infrastructure during their time in the saddle.”

He lauded the Buhari administration in the areas of security, repair and completion of long abandoned roads and bridges, rehabilitation of

railway projects across the country, and delivery of four new state-ofthe-art airport terminals in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.

He added that the government was about to kick-start the construction of the second runway for the Abuja airport.

He said the only runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, was left dilapidated until the present administration repaired it.

Mohammed noted that through the Police Trust Fund, 200 buffalo branded vehicles, bulletproof vests, protective helmets, drugs, and medical equipment as well as arms and ammunition, riot control equipment, and combat equipment were procured for the Police Special Weapon and Tactical Squad (SWAT).

The minister said Buhari had approved a 20 per cent review and upgrade of salaries for police personnel, in addition to enhanced duty tour allowance and tax waiver in the sum of N18.6 billion for junior officers to increase their take home pay.

He accused the opposition of mischief, being clever by half, and misusing statistics by comparing the prices of some foodstuffs, petrol, and diesel, among others, before 2015, with what currently prevailed.

“This misuse of statistics is clear mischief,” he insisted.

According to him, a check on the prices of foodstuffs and petrol in other countries, especially the UK and the US, would show a steep rise, indicating the increase is a global trend and not limited to

any country. He said it would be disingenuous to present the price increases as a Nigerian problem.

Opposition Party Replies Minister, Says, Media Briefing Arrogant Stunt to Mislead Nigerians

However, PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the press conference addressed by Mohammed was, “Another desperate and disoriented stunt by the APC administration to divert public attention from the exposed corruption records of the APC national leadership as well as the manifest collapse of security, command and control structure under President Buhari.”

PDP said, "The APC administration in its arrogance in failure attempted again to downplay and treat with levity, the excruciating economic hardship, hunger and other life discounting experiences being faced by Nigerians daily because of severe food crisis, lingering fuel emergency, high cost of essential commodities and services, closure of schools, insecurity and mass killing, collapse of healthcare system and decayed public infrastructure under its watch.

"It is the height of impunity and arrogance that the Minister of Information and Culture could address the media to claim that the APC government has achieved food sufficiency, particularly in rice production, when in reality, there is famine in the land with the price of food items, especially rice soaring

EMEFIELE: MY FOCUS IS ON ROBUST MONETARY POLICY, BUILDING STRONG FINANCIAL SYSTEM smallholder farmers to boost food production in Nigeria.

In the Tweet, Emefiele stated that he was committed to building a strong financial system in an increasingly uncertain global economy. He said he was also focused on boosting development finance and supporting farmers and manufacturers in the apex bank’s self-sufficiency and import substitution drive.

He added that he remained committed to raising N15 trillion for the Infrastructure Company (InfraCo) to boost infrastructure financing in the country.

The CBN governor furthermore stated that he was committed to delivering a world-class International Financial Centre (IFC) in Lagos as well as providing the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari with the needed support to finish strong.

Earlier in February, Emefiele, while reacting to speculations

around his purported interest in the 2023 presidential race, had said it was the prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari to execute his succession plan in line with global best practice, for good governance and continuing peace and progress of the country.

The CBN governor stressed that he was focused on his job, even as he pledged to continue to support the federal government’s economic recovery drive.

Meanwhile, at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, while presenting a convocation lecture titled, “The Role of Central Bank in Managing Economic Downturns,” to mark the 40th anniversary of the university yesterday, Emefiele revealed that the federal government had disbursed a total of N948 billion to 4,478,381 smallholder farmers to boost food production in the country.

He added that apart from en-

couraging farming, the programme had generated an aggregate of 12.5 million direct and indirect jobs for the Nigerian youth.

The CBN governor said under the credit facility to help households and businesses that suffered significant losses during the pandemic, the central bank had disbursed N368.79 billion to 778,000 beneficiaries.

Giving the breakdown of how the facility was disbursed, Emefiele revealed that 648,052 households and owners of small and medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) benefited from the federal government-driven policy.

He stated, "As you all know, one of the major challenges facing Nigerian economy is over-reliance on revenues and foreign exchange earnings from the sale of crude oil, even though the petrol represents just 10 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

"More so, the non-oil sector,

particularly agricultural and manufacturing sectors, which contributes about 30 and 13 per cent to our GDP, have been confronted with low investments, inadequate credit to real sector and weak infrastructure.

"Furthermore, with an annual population growth rate of 2.8 per cent, it was important that all efforts are made available for Nigerians, particularly in sectors that had the potential to absorb youths.

“We were aware that if necessary support was given to households and business, productivity will rise and investment will flow into our economy."

Emefiele hinged the current economic downturn and hardship on the economic recession of 2015-2017 and the COVID-19 pandemic that led to revenue drop and reduction in foreign investment portfolio.

In his submission, Vice Chancellor of EKSU, Professor Edward Olanipekun, described the 40 years of the university as impactful in the life of the state, saying the university has been a reliable training ground for future leaders.

Olanipekun said though the university was experiencing some challenges, no effort would be spared to keep the flag flying in its resolve to be a good citadel of learning for Nigerians.

Chairman of the occasion and Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Reverend Felix Ajakaye, urged the governments to be more pragmatic in the implementation of its policies for them to be impactful on the citizens.

"Our thought and actions must be practical-oriented. We have to go beyond lectures by being practical in dealing with policies that can benefit poor Nigerians," the Bishop advised.

by over 400 per cent under the APC with its ‘pyramid of lies’” According to PDP, a bag of rice which sold for N7,500 under PDP now sells for over N30,000; a measure of beans, which sold for N350 under PDP now sells for over N1,000; a measure of garri, which sold for N120 under PDP now sells for N700, a bottle of palm oil, which sold for N250 under PDP now sells for over N1000.

PDP pointed out that a kilo of meat, which sold for N700 under its administration, now sold for N3,000; a litre of petrol, which sold for N87 under PDP, was now as high as N400 to N500, while a litre of diesel, which sold for N110 under PDP, now cost over N800.

The main opposition party slammed Mohammed for provocatively claiming that Nigerians were better off under the APC. According to Ologunagba, Nigerians now know better, “and the question to ask is, Is your life better now in 2022 under the APC than it was in 2015 under the PDP?” He said it was ludicrous and insensitive that “the APC government went to the media to list non-existent roads, bridges, agricultural and health projects as achievements.

“More pathetic is the APC’s attempt to claim credit for development projects initiated and implemented by successive PDP administrations, including our railways, aviation, agricultural, healthcare, education, telecommunications, banking and manufacturing sectors, among others.”

PDP said it was “laughable that the APC government is also claiming credit for critical projects in various parts of the country, which are being funded by resources mobilised by the PDP administrations under the framework of counterpart funding from international partners and bodies.”

It added, "The only legitimate achievements of the APC government include its corruption record (second most corrupt in West Africa and 154 out of 180 in Global Corruption Index), over 33 per cent unemployment rate, a weakened currency at over N500 to a dollar, N33 trillion foreign debt and still counting, and the siphoning of over N16 trillion by APC leaders.”

PDP cautioned APC to note that “its continued arrogance in failure is daily confronting and reminding Nigerians of the statement made by one of its founding members, the late Prince Tony Momoh in April 2016 and the consequences are better imagined.”

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T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 2022 Tuesday 29 29, March, 2022 Vol 27. No 9849 TR

2023: TERROR ON TRANSIT? BUBA MALA GEIDAM urges the authorities to do more to ensure peace and security See page 24 NOT A STORM IN A TEACUP Government must put a stop to rural insecurity as it creates room for both food shortages and oil theft, argues JEREMY GAINES See page 25 OKOH’S LEGACIES IN THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA FOLU OLAMITI pays tribute to Nicholas Okoh, the immediate past Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion See page 25 EDITORIAL FLY, SUPER EAGLES, FLY! See page 26

& RE A S O

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

ENUGU 2023: THE IKE EKWEREMADU SCENARIO...

Enugu State requires bold, game-changing leadership, writes LOUIS ACHI See page 24

UT H

MICHAEL OWHOKO foresees a year of upheaval fuelled by miseries and poverty

NIGERIA’S 2023 OUTLOOK AND THE LOOMING DANGER I am neither a prophet nor a clairvoyant, but from the manifestation in my crystal ball, I see Nigeria in 2023 being shaped by upheaval fuelled by miseries and hopelessness. Agitation reminiscent of the ENDSARS protests will break out.

Primary triggers are the country’s pathetic economic indices, including growing unemployment, cynical gross domestic product *'3 LQÁDWLRQ DQG WKH XQGLYHUVLÀHG ZHDN mono-commodity economy, lacking leadership and managerial oxygen.

Secondary triggers are the dampened economic opportunities induced by nonchalance over worsening corruption, mounting debt burden, crude oil and foreign exchange manipulation, PDFURHFRQRPLF ÁX[ LQVHFXULW\ KXQJHU SRRU electricity supply, and lack of constitutionalism and rule of law.

Tertiary trigger is the unresolved national question pertaining to incompatibility of the country’s political system and its diverse ethnicities, which is negatively impacting on WKH FRXQWU\·V IXQGDPHQWDOV 3XW GLͿHUHQWO\ the country’s unitary system is antithetical to a multiethnic society like Nigeria, which undoubtedly, is the root cause of the country’s regression and despairs.

These concerns will transpire immediately after power transition in May 2023 with increased build-up towards the end of the year and beyond.

This unprecedented development will mark a watershed in the history of Nigeria.

Nigerians are fed up. Suicide cases arising from hunger are on the increase. Over 82 million Nigerians now live on less than a $1 dollar a day.

At a conservative black-market rate of N580 to a dollar, the average Nigerian survives on less than N580 daily. This amount cannot buy a standard loaf of bread of N600. You now know why Nigerians are looking malnourished except those that have access to the country’s treasury, and the privileged few who are involved in underthe-table transactions, either in public or private sector.

Nigeria was ranked 103rd out of 116 countries

by Global Hunger Index (GHI) as one of the hunger-plagued countries in the world, an indication of government’s failure over provision RI ZHOIDUH (YHQ WKH :RUOG %DQN UHFHQWO\ D΀UPHG in its 2022 Poverty Assessment Report that four out of every 10 Nigerians live below the national poverty line.

The report added further that only 17 percent of Nigerian working class earn wages that can lift them out of poverty while the wages of the remaining 83 percent are too meagre to guarantee exit from the poverty domain.

This is a mirror image of the depth of poverty in the country where some Nigerians go to bed KXQJU\ ZKLOH PDMRULW\ DUH XQDEOH WR DͿRUG WZR quality meals a day, resulting in discontent and frustration. Yet, the country’s GDP is said to be growing, even as poverty capital of Africa and the World.

Can a growing band of unemployed and idle youths improve a country’s GDP? Majority are not employed, implicitly, are not adding value to production of goods and services. With no

income earned, purchasing power is prostrate.

Rather than shrink, GDP is growing. The Nigeria’s economy is a study in contradiction.

It is near impossible for a country’s GDP to grow in the face of a corresponding rise in unemployment, particularly among youths who constitute majority of the workforce. Data for youth unemployment rate in Nigeria is in the region of 35 percent, about the highest in the world. Obviously, this is exacerbated by lack of FUHDWLYH GHWHUPLQHG DQG YLVLEOH OHDGHUVKLS HͿRUWV at addressing this precarious anomaly. ,W LV XQKHOSIXO WKDW ÀJXUHV EHLQJ SXEOLVKHG E\ the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) do not inspire hope as they contradict market realities.

The NBS had said Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.98 percent (year-on-year) in real terms in the last quarter of 2021. Though, an optimistic trajectory, it is a paradox when viewed against the background of alarming rate of youth unemployment whose input into GDP is paramount.

Look at the number of graduates coming out of universities and other institutions of higher learning yearly, coupled with the country’s skillless educational curriculum, the rural-urban drift, and the astronomical rise in population, you will understand why all residential streets are busy with high presence of idle youths during working hours. This was not so in the past where the streets were empty and quiet during the day, indicative of people’s presence at work. Not anymore! $JDLQ ORRNLQJ DW WKH VXͿRFDWLQJ LQÁDWLRQDU\ rate, you begin to wonder whether the data deployed by NBS are tested or are just for political show. From the consumer price index (CPI), NBS KDG VDLG LQÁDWLRQ GURSSHG WR SHUFHQW \HDU on-year) in January 2022 when compared to 16.47 percent recorded in January 2021, a reduction of SHUFHQW 5HDOO\" ,W LV LPSHUDWLYH 1%6 R΀FLDOV go to market or grocery shops for personal purchases as part of feedback mechanism to DVFHUWDLQ ÀUVW KDQG WKH UHDO LQÁDWLRQ WH[WXUH LQ WKH country.

7KHVH HFRQRPLF ÁDZV DQG FXUUHQW G\VIXQFWLRQDO unitary system of government which has held the

Until the country is restructured from the current unitary system to federalism, a game-changing disruption for the realisation of a new Nigeria in 2023 is inevitable, and the 1999 Constitution will be the first port of call

country down, preventing states or regions from unleashing their optimum potential, remain a major threat to unity and peace in the country.

The powers that be have conceitedly subjugated as inconsequential, the contending questions.

Unfortunately, hitherto strategy of deceit, repression, oppression and domination aimed at diverting attention from the country’s many woes will not work, and will be disrupted in 2023. +DYLQJ IDLOHG LQ DOO IURQWV RI LWV SURPLVHV WR À[ security, economy and corruption, the exit of this administration in 2023, will mark a new era that will usher in renewed agitation for reposition of Nigeria’s polity for enduring peace and progress.

The gaps created by mismanagement of diversities and inability to convert opportunities into capital, including failure to take advantage of existing unifying catalysts to strengthen the country’s unity, will deepen inclination for selfGHWHUPLQDWLRQ LQ 7KLV PD\ OHDG WR UHVKX΁LQJ of existing structure aimed at dousing and averting eruption of bottled-up tension next year.

The year 2023 will also mark a new consciousness DPRQJ IUXVWUDWHG \RXWKV RI WKH LQHͿHFWXDOLW\ RI internet fraud (yahoo, yahoo), betting, gambling, drugs and other pseudo-revenue generation mechanisms. There will be a complete emotional shift based on new reality that these vices are not solution to their problems, and may elicit a resolve to take their destinies into their hands.

Indeed, the youths will be more concerned about their dimmed future, which they believe, has EHHQ VDFULÀFHG RQ WKH DOWDU RI JUHHG E\ SROLWLFLDQV and those in authorities. Impaired vision of the country’s leadership and lack of capacity to design programmes and set priorities to lift the country from its current dark clouds are believed to be FKLHÁ\ UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH GHWHULRUDWLQJ OLYLQJ conditions of Nigerians.

The reality is that no amount of rejigging of the country’s unitary constitution can make Nigeria work, except it is replaced with a federal structure FKDUDFWHUL]HG E\ ÀVFDO DXWRQRP\ ZKHUH HYHU\ state or region can freely aspire in line with its capacity and resourcefulness. The current system cannot unite and hold the various nationalities together.

What is fundamental is the real search for “solution to the disillusion”, to borrow from the great reggae artist, Peter Tosh. It is not about elections and leadership change but about disillusion in the land. The solution is total restructuring based on the 1963 Constitution.

This constitution had been tested, and it worked.

The current unitary structure breads corruption, ethnicism, nepotism and misery. That corruption has become a way of life in Nigeria, permeating all strata of government and society, is a proof of the country’s chronic and irredeemable state of decay.

Undeniably, the current political structure cannot even pass the Rotary Four Way Test, if used to measure the sincerity of purpose. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Does it build goodwill and EHWWHU IULHQGVKLS" ,V LW EHQHÀFLDO WR DOO FRQFHUQHG" The answer is a resonant NO.

Dr. Owhoko, Lagos-based journalist and author, can be reached at www.mikeowhoko.com

2 24

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2022

BUBA MALA GEIDAM urges the authorities to do more to ensure peace and security Enugu State requires bold, gamechanging leadership, writes LOUIS ACHI

ENUGU 2023: THE IKE EKWEREMADU SCENARIO...

Today, Enugu State, the South-East region and Nigeria at large stand on the brink of VLJQLÀFDQW GLVUXSWLRQ DQG RI VXEVWDQWLDO opportunity - as new political leadership models enter the fray to disrupt conventional governance playbooks and challenge WUDGLWLRQDO WHPSODWHV 2QO\ WHVWHG SDWKÀQGHUV with vision, knowledge and courage can provide the critical and inclusive leadership to ensure both stability and progression.

The position of a state chief executive carries considerable weight, especially in charting the course of bold engagements with the critical elements in a democratic mix. This requires political and organisational transformation, especially in a political space that has long been driven by traditional and often parochial metrics. More, it requires bold, game-changing leadership.

It is against this backdrop that thrice Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate and ÀYH WHUP 6HQDWRU UHSUHVHQWLQJ (QXJX :HVW Senatorial Zone of Enugu State, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has his political radar locked unto the state’s governorship saddle come the 2023.

On Friday, March 11, 2022, Ekweremadu formally announced his entry into the Enugu 2023 governorship race, shredding several months of speculations on his interest in the state’s number one political perch and upending conventional permutations.

In an impassioned position surprisingly devoid of hubris, Ekweremadu declared that Enugu State has given him huge opportunities of service. He spoke at a consultative meeting with the media where he unveiled his development blueprint for the state.

Some of these opportunities include being - “the pioneer Council Chairman of Aninri /RFDO *RYHUQPHQW $UHD &KLHI RI 6WDͿ WR WKH Governor, Secretary to the State Government, ÀYH WHUP 6HQDWRU WKUHH WHUP 'HSXW\ President of the Senate, Deputy Speaker and Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament” and critical global exposure.

“In the course of this journey, I have met world leaders, business leaders, and made friends in both the private and public sectors of the national and global economies. I have had the opportunity to understand how states and nations are transformed. A good example is a city like Dubai, the UAE, which was a desert, but has now become the world most digitalised city and a global investment hub. I have an insight into the economic transformation taking place in Rwanda and Ghana,” he told his rapt audience.

More, “As a Senator, I worked hard to put forward necessary bills and motions on constitutional amendments, security, education, economy, health and electoral reform that have impacted and are still impacting positively on the well-being of our people. I believe it is time to focus on and transform Enugu State and Enugu people without whom I would not be who and what I am today.

In a compelling 14-point development agenda, “A Pathway to New Enugu State,” Ekweremadu put forward his blueprint to change the Enugu narrative for good and set the stage for a larger South-East regional development revolution.

Interestingly, the strength of reactions from top-draw politicians from other Senatorial zones in the state who apparently oppose Senator Ekweremadu’s ambition is perhaps indicative of the federal lawmaker’s unsettling clout and political chutzpa.

With INEC’s rescheduling of governorship election for March 11, 2023, following the recent presidential assent birthing a new electoral law, multi-party jostling - both overt and covert - of who will succeed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is gaining considerable momentum.

Not unexpectedly, the issue of zoning/ power rotation in the state is taking center stage with often self-serving logic and contrived conceptual fog being generated to befuddle the conversation. Leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state are at loggerheads over the debate surrounding zoning of the state’s 2023 governorship ticket. The zoning ‘dispute’ has pitted ex-governor and senator representing Enugu East, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, against Senator Ekweremadu.

But according to Ekweremadu, the notion of the existence of a zoning formula for HOHFWLYH SROLWLFDO R΀FHV LQ (QXJX 6WDWH LV IDOVH the electorate should support candidates who have capacity to provide good governance.

The rotation clamour in some quarters is now being perceived as an elite powergrab conspiracy seeking to deny Ndi-Enugu quality governance as in reality, there actually is no political document that anchors the much-bandied zoning principle.

In an important sense, the idea of governorship rotation and its quasi FRGLÀFDWLRQ DV D JXLGLQJ HTXDWLRQ KDV UXQ LWV course in the state’s three senatorial zones: ¶EHJLQQLQJ· ZLWK (QXJX (DVW Enugu West (2007-2015) and currently Enugu North (from 2015- terminating 2023).

In the unfolding ding-dong, ex-Governor Sullivan Chime dismissed the zoning tale in an interview he granted to The SUN newspaper in 2018. His words: “When Chimaroke Nnamani became governor, it wasn’t zoned to Nkanu. He won against somebody from the West, even in his re-election bid. When I FRQWHVWHG LW ZDV IUHH IRU HYHU\ERG\ SHRSOH from the North, from the East, from the West, the same thing during my re-election…the people of Enugu never sat down at any time to agree on zoning of positions.

Development is apparently at the core of rotation debate. It would appear that governors who mount the saddle prioritise their zones, in terms of development policies.

For instance, this theory aligns with the perceived infrastructure developmental footing of the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration as the Nsukka Zone (Enugu North) he hails from is seen to have taken the lion share of the development cake.

To break this narrow-visioned template of democratic governance in Enugu State, and ease the state into the 21st Century, new, broader-minded and inclusive leadership that should also impact the region is imperative.

Many believe that Michael Okpara’s vision of development which put the defunct Eastern Nigeria ahead of the current Asian Tigers in the ‘60s is the governance model Enugu State badly needs.

At his political leadership level, Ekweremadu’s backers believe he has provided clear, pragmatic leadership at a period of self-doubt by a citizenry under political siege and that hence he can do the same for his home state.

Achi, ex-Associate Editor, THISDAY, writes from Abuja

2023: TERROR ON TRANSIT? In the thick of the horse-trading and cabal power games heralding the regime-change transition politics, it is now inevitable that the routine schedules of governance, including the trumpeted focus on the interest of the people, will fade into the background of the attention of WKH SROLWLFDO OHDGHUV 7KH GHPRFUDWLF GHÀFLW WKDW turned the trademark practice of voting into an abominable recipe for “disunity” on the altar of consensus at the APC national convention is a pointer to the unfolding drift from destined directions.

While the politics of governance will continue to dominate the thought and attention of powerseeking politicians, even at the risk of things threatening to fall apart, the burden of sustaining the nation, against all odds, must be borne by security agencies, whose agenda supersedes the partisan and clannish motivations of politicians to access power. The constitutional subordination of the latter to the authority of the former, despite

of the DSS intelligence on ISWAP training suicide bombers to carry out deadly attacks on security agencies and vulnerable communities is manifest in recent news reports. In the latest incident, the Operation Hadin Kai JTF in the North East on March 22 on routine checks at the Maimalari Cantonment gate arrested Sergeant Thaddeus Habila Abraham with various arms, ammunition and materials for making Improvised Explosive Devices(IED) in his travelling bag on his way to Kaduna without a valid pass.

Incidentally, Kaduna State has witnessed a new wave of bombings including an explosion, which occurred at Hayin Danmani community in Igabi local government area of Kaduna State and left at least two people injured after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted on a motorcycle in the area exploded. Police anti-bomb squad disabled a second device found at the scene. A month earlier, suspected terrorists planted a bomb at a hotel located in Kabala West area also of Igabi local government area. Commissioner IRU ,QWHUQDO 6HFXULW\ DQG +RPH $ͿDLUV Samuel Aruwan, has warned residents to be vigilant in view of reports of terrorists plans to plant IEDs at schools, markets and worship places.

Another aspect of the DSS North East Zonal &RQIHUHQFH EULHÀQJ WKDW LV QRW RQO\ RPLQRXV but also raises concerns is the revelation that elements of the Islamic State in the Greater 6DKDUD ,6*6 LQ WKH /DNH &KDG DUHD ZKR ÁHG Mali following increased military pressure from Russian mercenaries have entered Nigeria’s territory to support ISWAP terrorist activities. This report validates the longKHOG EHOLHI WKDW WKHUH LV LQÀOWUDWLRQ RI IRUHLJQ ÀJKWHUV LQ WKH HVFDODWLRQ RI LQVHFXULW\ DQG LQVXUJHQF\ LQ WKH DͿHFWHG QRUWKHUQ VWDWHV with reference to the collapse of the Libyan the proven hazards of such an arrangement state and the dispersal of various armed and the exigency of remedial review, remains militia into the ranks of other terrorist groups a disturbing dilemma confronting the battles in central and West Africa. against insecurity.

The Islamic State in the Greater Sahara Even as the politicians pre-occupy themselves ,6*6 ÀJKWHUV LQ WKH /DNH &KDG DUHD ZKR with the imminent transition of power in 2023, entered Nigerian territory to support ISWAP the need for unwavering attention and proactive WHUURULVW DFWLYLWLHV ZHUH UHSRUWHGO\ ÁHHLQJ initiatives on combating the scourge of insecurity, from increased military pressure by Russian particularly on the insurgency and terrorism WAGNER GROUP mercenaries operating front, cannot be over-emphasized.

In his in Mali. This is an indication of the impact UHOHQWOHVV HͿRUWV WR HQKDQFH FDSDFLW\ IRU HWHUQDO of the mercenaries on the terrorists’ activities vigilance and re-strategizing initiatives for more after the military regime there sent the robust counter-insecurity operations, the DGSS, French troops who have been in Mali for Yusuf Magaji Bichi introduced Zonal Quarterly \HDUV ZLWKRXW DQ\ VLJQLÀFDQW SURJUHVV LQ Conference of State Directors of Security (SDES) defeating the terrorists packing. Considering to identify basic and contemporary threats the similarly potent intervention of South FRQIURQWLQJ WKH UHJLRQV DQG SURͿHU FRXQWHU African Executive Outcomes group in measures. pushing Boko Haram insurgents out of Borno At the recent conference for the North State and back to the fringes of Lake Chad Eastern States held in Maiduguri, the Chairman, in league with Nigerian troops to facilitate Babagana Bulama, who is also Director DSS in smooth conduct of 2015 general elections, it Adamawa State, revealed that the Department of is worth reviewing the option of renewing State Services (DSS) has intelligence on members their partnership, as endorsed by the Borno of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Governor Zullum. training suicide bombers to carry out deadly It would be a very welcome development attacks on security agencies and vulnerable if the 2023 transition of political power communities. He added that elements of the could translate into a glorious termination Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) in the of the seemingly unwinnable war against /DNH &KDG DUHD ZKR ÁHG 0DOL IROORZLQJ LQFUHDVHG insurgency and all forms of violent crimes military pressure from Russian mercenaries have currently haunting the country with heavy entered Nigeria’s territory to support ISWAP toll in lives and economic adversity. For this terrorist activities. to be achieved, there needs to be a radical Forewarned by sheer proactive intelligence review of the battle plans and war policy operations, the DSS has demonstrated its focused on maximizing the demonstrable distinctive capability in the nation’s security gains of strategies and bold initiatives of the architecture and there is room for optimism that ever vigilant, willing and able defence and the intended objective of creating zonal forum security agencies as the DSS has deployed for exchange and consolidation of operational in the context of inter-agency collaboration intelligence and strategies shall continue to to restore lasting peace and security. Without PDQLIHVW IRU WKH EHQHÀW RI WKH QDWLRQ +RZHYHU eternal vigilance and robust defence, the implications of such exposure of the imminent democracy is doomed. escalation of insurgency and terrorism must override the distractions of electioneering in the national interest.

Geidam It is pertinent to point out that the veracity writes from Maiduguri

325

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2022

Government must put a stop to rural insecurity as it creates room for both food shortages and oil theft, argues JEREMY GAINES

NOT A STORM IN A TEACUP The signs are ominous. A perfect storm may be brewing over Nigeria. One with the potential to severely impact the lives of many ordinary citizens. The origin of the tempest is domestic insecurity, but it is now being fanned by international events, too.

Food prices are excessively high at present.

This is in part a response to food scarcity, which is itself in part a response to insecurity.

The exorbitant food prices are stoking the RYHUDOO LQÁ DWLRQ EDVNHW À JXUH $QG DV LQÁ DWLRQ rises, so the purchasing power of the Naira falls. As people can buy less and cannot make ends meet, so more people slip into poverty.

And poverty breeds desperation, which in itself is a potential driver of insecurity. This is the perfect storm in which insecurity begets insecurity.

Add to this toxic mixture the fact that the Naira’s value against the US Dollar is less WKDQ WKH R΀ FLDO UDWH RI 1 ZKLFK GRHV QRW UHÁ HFW LQÁ DWLRQDU\ SUHVVXUHV EXW LV DUWLÀ FLDOO\ set (and has been so for the past 13 months).

By contrast, the parallel market rate (and it is the one at which the average Nigerian could DFTXLUH GROODUV QRZ UXQV DW 1 WR WKH dollar, with implication that imported goods will increasingly become more expensive.

Food prices are excessively high at present. This is in part a response to food scarcity, which is itself in part a response to insecurity.

The exorbitant food prices are stoking the overall inflation basket figure And as the CBN runs out of dollars (because suddenly NNPC credits no dollars to the Federal account), so goods either do not come RQWR WKH PDUNHW LQ WKH À UVW SODFH DV LPSRUWHUV cannot raise the foreign currency, or, where they can, prices rise further.

Another factor is fanning the wings of the VWRUP (QHUJ\ SULFH LQÁ DWLRQ ZLWK GLHVHO KDYLQJ QRZ KLW 1 SHU OLWUH VXUJLQJ E\ some 60%. The cost of petroleum (PMS), by contrast, has not changed, if only because (like jet fuel) there is almost no petrol to be bought. And that lack of petrol has taken the headlines and worried government.

Electricity supply has plummeted recently with social and economic activities adversely DͿ HFWHG <HW VLPXOWDQHRXVO\ HOHFWULFLW\ WDULͿ V are on a upward trajectory as government has surreptitiously withdrawn the electricity subsidy – a step it was compelled to take by shortfalls in foreign earnings due to falling domestic oil and gas production, and an unsustainable petrol subsidy policy. Once again, two factors combine to darken the thunder clouds still further.

For all those thick black clouds on the horizon, when it comes to the underlying LQÁ DWLRQ DQG IRRG VFDUFLW\ SUREOHP WKH powers-that-be seem unperturbed. Indeed, the chief helmsman at the CBN even suggests WKDW LQÁ DWLRQ ZLOO IDOO +H ZHQW RQ UHFRUG on 21st March as reported in THISDAY newspaper saying: “And now what we are saying is that if farmers are able to access their farms, do they have the wherewithal to procure the inputs, seeds, fertilizer and other inputs with which

they can go back to the farm and farm? We are making all those available. And that is why we still remain reasonably optimistic that food prices would moderate in 2022.”

Unfortunately, words on a printed page do not make something be the case. In this case, a UHDO EUHDG DQG EXWWHU LVVXH *RGZLQ (PHÀ HOH simply omits to mention two sad facts. First, Ukraine is a major exporter of the minerals required for fertilizers and of mineral fertilizer, and one of its main clients is Nigeria. Ukraine has stopped exporting. Second, Russia is Nigeria’s third largest supplier of wheat. And has likewise stopped exporting. Some pundits said Nigeria’s wheat imports were secure, because the US and Canada could pick up the slack – the slack is almost the total amount Canada exports to us, so it is unlikely such a gap can be plugged overnight. Read: shortages.

Moreover, what the commentators also fail to mention is that the world price of wheat has ULVHQ IURP 86' D EXVKHO DW WKH EHJLQQLQJ of the Russian invasion of Ukraine to a current price around US$ 1,100 a bushel. So, the bread on the average Nigerian table will soon start to become far more costly, once forward contracts cease to apply. This can only add to the power RI WKDW LQÁ DWLRQ VWRUP A call was heard in light of the pending food crisis to ban exports of maize. This seems a little strange as only a year ago the government, or rather the CBN, lifted its ban on providing US Dollars for maize imports.

Possibly, it did so because that ban had led to a 16% rise in domestically produced maize. It certainly did not do so because Nigeria had become a net exporter of maize. Indeed, the country produces about four million metric tonnes less than it consumes. Making exports of the commodity minimal.

What gets forgotten in such a context is how the CBN, by its interventions to promote maize and rice production domestically, itself forced the price of these staples up and helped the storm get underway. On the back of the ban being lifted, the price of maize has ULVHQ E\ VLQFH WKH EHJLQQLQJ RI ODVW \HDU Given that a Nigerian farmer’s one-hectare À HOG \LHOGV MXVW RYHU WZR WRQQHV RI PDL]H ZKLOH KLV (J\SWLDQ FRXQWHUSDUW DFKLHYHV WRQQHV LW seems logical that prices rise when you prevent cheaper foreign product entering the market.

Exactly the same phenomenon can be seen in rice production, and the CBN interventions, while increasing local production, once again did damage by pushing the price of rice up VLJQLÀ FDQWO\ Leaving aside these two extraneous factors that will cause shortages both in shops and LQ WKH À HOGV EUHDNLQJ WKH JDWKHULQJ VWRUP RI LQÁ DWLRQ DQG DYRLGLQJ WKH ZUHFNDJH RI people’s lives it will invariably cause, will only be possible if two things happen. One, the government must immediately put a stop to rural insecurity. It creates the environment for both food shortages and oil theft, oil that would otherwise bring US Dollars back to Nigeria. And two, it must abandon its policy of Central Bank interventions that focus on bans to encourage quantity. After all, average Nigerians do not want to “Buy Nigerian” if it means either getting something that is of a far lower quality or simply getting less for the same price. Instead, government must immediately implement policies that focus on quality and higher productivity. Only if government tackles those two issues immediately is there any hope of averting the storm breaking.

Gaines is of the African Politeia Institute, Abuja

FOLU OLAMITI pays tribute to Nicholas Okoh, the immediate past Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion

OKOH’S LEGACIES IN THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA In our world today, the biggest challenge to the church of God is how to maintain sanity in mankind in the midst of trending unusual behavioral patterns fast gaining social acceptance especially among the younger generation.

It is no more odd to see people shamelessly identify themselves publicly as lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals and transexuals as the political authorities in many countries have legitimized these deviant and anti-social behaviours under the guise of freedom, not minding the immoral implications and the resultant surge in dangerous crimes.

Ironically, these abominable social trends have crept into many churches globally even as some members of the priesthood who ought to know better have joined the bandwagon. And some have gone as far as engaging in some of the most reprehensible of these acts such as same-sex marriage.

For the church, this challenge which, obviously, is not the will of God for mankind, is a wake-up call for continuous revival to bring all of mankind to align with God’s original plan and purpose for the world while at the same time redirecting those who had lost the way back to the creator’s purpose for their lives.

One of the greatest advocates of this kingdom responsibility and obligation in contemporary times is Most Reverend Nicholas Dikeriehi Okoh, the immediate past Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, who retired in March this year after completing his mandatory tenure as head of the church.

For all of his full term of 10 years, he was able to shield the Nigerian congregation from these destructive trends and tendencies even as he spoke vehemently at several international forums against allowing the church of Christ to deviate from the eternal values ordained by God in the scriptures for mankind under the guise of modernity or any other excuse.

Under his leadership, the church of Nigeria resisted the urge to join the western world in accepting or tolerating these non -biblical acts.

He was able to carry the various authorities of the church along to decisively resolve some cases that came up. Some of the priests involved in such incidents resigned and left the church while some repented and retraced their steps.

As he retired this year, Primate Okoh felt IXOÀ OOHG WKDW WKH FKXUFK RI 1LJHULD PDLQWDLQHG the purity of the Anglican orthodox faith under his leadership. In his words: “We in the OHDGHUVKLS KDYH EHHQ YLOLÀ HG WKH\ VDLG ZH DUH illiterates. Now, standing from the point where I am and looking back to the past 10 years, I said God you have not let me down. I will hand over this church to my successor an orthodox Anglican church. So I will say that the ability to defend the Anglican orthodox faith is perhaps the most important thing we have done.”

To keep the church in line with the orthodox faith wasn’t such an easy task but with determination Primate Okoh achieved the feat through dedication to the spiritual growth and development of the church. He stirred up evangelical revival among the congregation to boost their knowledge of God through the teaching of the truth of God’s undiluted word and thereby prevent them from falling prey to IDOVH GRFWULQHV DQG VDWDQLF LQÁ XHQFHV In the process, he reinforced existing spiritual programmes in the church and also created new ones. Some of the new programmes he introduced include the Monthly Power Night,

an all night prayer vigil on the last Friday of every month. Another is The Way of the Cross, a spiritual meditation programme during the Lenten Season. It was inaugurated in 2014 DQG KDV FRQWLQXHG WR EH D VSLULW À OOHG DQQXDO gathering of the faithfuls. He also initiated the Divine Commonwealth Conference (DIVCCON ) an annual conference of ministers and believers anchored by the Anglican Church but also open to Christians of all denominations. It was introduced in 2011.

Still in the quest for the spiritual growth and development of the Church, Primate Okoh created many platforms for the fellowship of brethren towards kingdom stewardship. They include Christian Men’s Fellowship, Brides of the Lord ((Women’s) Fellowship, Youth Chaplaincy and Prison Chaplaincy.

Perhaps the most audacious project embarked upon by Primate Okoh in the pursuit of evangelical revival is the establishment of the Advent Cable Network Nigeria Television (ACNNTV). With this he took the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion to the hitech age with ability to reach homes and other places in any part of the world with the message of the gospel - The Undiluted Word of God. This has enhanced the spread of the gospel while also ensuring the spiritual nourishment of members in their homes, beyond their physical encounters in the four walls of the church.

Primate Okoh did not only cater for the spiritual nourishment of the church. He also took care of the physical welfare of the youths and women through empowerment projects to create employment opportunities for them under the auspices of the church. The projects which also generate revenue for the FKXUFK LQFOXGH D FLYLO VHFXULW\ RXWÀ W NQRZQ as Crowther Chariots Limited and the Women Water Project which produces the famous brand called Rose bottled water.

Other enterprise projects initiated by him include the Crowther Business Plaza and the Diocesan Training Center where youths are trained in various skills of trade and business enterprise such as Catering, Event Management, Fashion Designing, Farming, Home/Body care and Social Media enterprise.

Sir Olamiti is a Media Consultant and Chairman Board of Management Advent Cable Network Nigeria Television

4 26

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

FLY, SUPER EAGLES, FLY! The Super Eagles should strive to win

N

igeria’s bid to reach a fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup, and seventh in total, will be decided this evening at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja. Standing between the Super Eagles and WKH WLFNHW WR WKH ÀUVW :RUOG &XS WR KROG LQ WKH Middle East are their eternal rivals, the Black Stars RI *KDQD ,W LV D PRXWK ZDWHULQJ À[WXUH WKDW PD\ JR EH\RQG WKH UHJXODWLRQ WLPH WR GHFLGH 7KH ÀUVW OHJ LQ .XPDVL ODVW )ULGD\ HQGHG LQ VWDOHPDWH %XW D ZLQQHU PXVW HPHUJH WRGD\ LQ ZKDW LV EHLQJ described on social media as ‘the Jollof GHUE\· 7KH ULYDOU\ EHWZHHQ Nigeria and Ghana dates back to more than VL[ GHFDGHV $QG LQ DOO these clashes on the ÀHOG RI SOD\ QRQH FRPHV close to what is at stake WRGD\ 7KH ODVW WLPH both countries were involved in a FIFA World Cup TXDOLI\LQJ À[WXUH ZDV LQ ZKHQ WKH\ EDWWOHG IRU D VSRW DW WKH .RUHD -DSDQ ÀQDOV -XVW OLNH ZKDW KDSSHQHG LQ .XPDVL DW WKH ZHHNHQG WKH ÀUVW OHJ HQGHG JRDOOHVV \HDUV DJR %XW WKH 6XSHU (DJOHV FOLQFKHG D UHVRXQGLQJ YLFWRU\ DW WKH /LEHUDWLRQ 6WDGLXP LQ 3RUW +DUFRXUW RQ WK -XO\ WR HOLPLQDWH *KDQD +RZHYHU D WULS IXUWKHU GRZQ PHPRU\ ODQH shows two countries that have become West Africa’s biggest rivals in the Beautiful Game, with the Ghanaians dominating the earlier part of those PDWFK XSV 7KLV UHÁHFWV LQ WKH QXPEHU RI WLPHV WKH Black Stars have won the continent’s most prized football title, the Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON).

7KH *KDQDLDQ QDWLRQDO WHDP KDV ZRQ IRXU WLPHV against the three times Super Eagles have done so.

7KH *KDQDLDQ QDWLRQDO WHDP HTXDOO\ UHDFKHG WKH TXDUWHU ÀQDO RI WKH :RUOG &XS LQ 6RXWK $IULFD as against the perennial second round elimination E\ 1LJHULD ,Q DOO *KDQD KROGV D DGYDQWDJH RYHU

Nigeria on head-to-head standings. But all that is in the past now as those advantages were achieved LQ WKH V DQG V 6LQFH $EHGL 3HOH $\HZ OHG WKH %ODFN 6WDUV WR GHIHDW 1LJHULD E\ D SDLQIXO VFRUH DW 6HQHJDO ¶ WKH 6XSHU (DJOHV KDYH IRXQG the missing link in dealing with their eternal rivals.

With Nigeria’s three AFCON titles under belt in DQG WKH *KDQDLDQV KDYH QRW JRWWHQ DQ\ZKHUH QHDU WKH SRGLXP VLQFH ZKHQ WKH\ WULXPSKHG LQ /LE\D +RZHYHU VWDWLVWLFV ZLOO SOD\ QR UROH LQ GHFLGLQJ ZKR JUDEV WKH WLFNHW WR WKH :RUOG &XS LQ 4DWDU DQG WKH PLOOLRQ DERXW N5billion) group stage and preparations bonus at VWDNH WKLV HYHQLQJ 2QO\ the team with something H[WUD IURP WKH EDJ WR PDNH WKH GLͿHUHQFH ZLOO ZDON DZD\ ZLWK WKH prized ticket to join four other teams to represent Africa at the tournament. ,Q WKH ÀUVW OHJ RXWLQJ ODVW )ULGD\ 1LJHULD FUHDWHG more chances but failed to utilise them. Joseph $\RGHOH $ULER (PPDQXHO 'HQQLV DQG 0RVHV Simon came close on several occasions, but poor ÀQLVKLQJ GHQLHG 1LJHULDQ DQ HGJH 3RRU IHHGV IURP WKH PLGÀHOG GLGQ·W KHOS 1LJHULD·V WRS PDUNVPDQ and Napoli front man, Victor Osimhen. But all that VKRXOG FKDQJH WRGD\ LQ $EXMD Augustine Eguavoen and his assistant, Emmanuel $PXQHNH ZLOO MRLQ WKH OLNHV RI 6WHSKHQ .HVKL DQG $PRGX 6KDLEX LQ 1LJHULD·V IRRWEDOO KLVWRU\ LI WKH\ VXFFHHG DJDLQVW WKH *KDQDLDQV ,W UHPDLQV WR be seen how Eguavoen plans to plug the leak in WKH PLGÀHOG ZKHUH LQMXUHG LQÁXHQWLDO /HLFHVWHU &LW\ PLGÀHOGHU :LOIUHG 1GLGL ZDV ODFNLQJ ODVW )ULGD\ %XW WKH FRDFKHV DQG WKH SOD\HUV VKRXOG GR HYHU\WKLQJ WR HQVXUH WKDW WKH ÁDJ RI 1LJHULD LV KRLVWHG DW WKH ),)$ :RUOG &XS LQ 4DWDU ,W LV D KXJH JOREDO SODWIRUP IRU WKH H[KLELWLRQ RI QDWLRQDO SULGH that we should not miss. :H ZLVK WKH 6XSHU (DJOHV RI 1LJHULD YLFWRU\ tonight!

The coaches and the players should do everything to ensure that the flag of Nigeria is hoisted at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY 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 SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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Mukhtar Jarmajo, dattuwamanga@gmail.com

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Ibrahim Mustapha, Pambegua, Kaduna State

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2022

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POLITICS

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

Not Too Young to Rule, At 44, Hon Luke Eyes Akwa Ibom Governorship Seat In what could upset Akwa Ibom politics in the next few months, the member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and Chairman, Committee on Judiciary, Hon Onofiok Akpan Luke, has signified interest in the 2023 Akwa Ibom governorship election as he made public declaration of his ambition in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital recently Deji Elumoye reports

L

ast week 44 years old Onofiok Akpan Luke stood before a cheering crowd in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital when he announced that he would seek the nomination of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the governorship election of Akwa Ibom State in 2023, with a promise to run an all inclusive government if given the opportunity to serve.

Hence, he anchored his campaign on the slogan: Building Together and Growing Together.

Invoking the memory of the hall, Ibom Hall grounds, where he read his campaign manifesto to his kinsmen, a ground he described as a symbol of the growth and continued unity of the state, the federal lawmaker, reminded the enthusiastic crowd of the potentials the edifice they were all gathered in holds.

He said the Hall held many memories aimed at enthroning a visionary, purposeful and competent leadership for the future of the state.

The ranking House member told his teeming supporters: ‘‘Today I unveil my social contract with you title “Building Together, Growing Together”. I want to assure you that I am fully prepared for the task of serving you and building the Akwa Ibom of our dreams, and I intend to hit the ground running when given the opportunity. ‘‘Dear Akwa Ibomites, this is the time to reinvent our economy and society to ensure a rapid progression on economic development and shared prosperity trajectory; to hearken to the yearnings and aspirations of our people; to restore hope and earn the trust of our people in governance; to provide the critical infrastructure that has so easily eluded us; to end the neglect of rural communities; to empower the women and youth; to support our micro, small and medium scale enterprises; to reduce the incidence and severity of poverty in our land. ‘‘I represent the bridge between the past, the present and future, I represent the young and the old, the analogue and the digital generation, the rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots. This gives me a unique perspective on issues that cut across the various strata of our society’’, the 44-year-old said.

Luke told the crowd he would reposition Akwa Ibom as an economic powerhouse and promised to use his wealth of experience as a public sector administrator, a lawyer, and an advocate of good governance to serve the state with greater prosperity under the theme: Building Together, Growing Together.

He said his objective was to rally the abundant human resources towards building a vibrant and diverse economy in Akwa Ibom State, while leveraging on the infrastructural development and active youthful population to create jobs and provide visionary and selfless leadership to consolidate on the gains of past and present administrations. ‘‘We have been blessed with good leaders who have contributed in great measure towards the development of the State, with transformative projects and progressive policies in areas such as Agriculture, Education, and Infrastructure etc.

He promised to overhaul a political system that only provides limited access to the people.

His words: “Our government will be for everyone - from remote communities in the marshlands of Eastern Obolo to those in the highlands of Itu, from communities like Nditia and Ikot Udota in Eket LGA, to communities such as Obot Mme in Ini LGA and Ikpanya in Ibiono-Ibom LGA, to Akpa Mfri Ukim in Uruan LGA and Okorutip in Ibeno LGA. From communities like Eyulor in Urue Offong/ Oruko LGA, to Udesi Isong Inyang in Mbo LGA, from Esuk Oro in Oron LGA to Utu Ikot Ekpenyong in Ikot Ekpene LGA and Uta Ewa in Ikot Abasi LGA, among others

Luke

Hon Luke declared that he would leverage on the potential in partnering the private sector, diaspora community, Developmental Financial Institutions (DFIs) and International Donor Agencies to accelerate economic growth, improve quality of life, and create sustainable jobs for Akwa Ibom indigenes.

He listed among his policy direction to be rested on nine pillars, which include: Food Sufficiency & Agricultural Development; Education; Healthcare; Technology Development; Entrepreneurial & Industrial development; Tourism, Sports & Entertainment; Youth, Women & Social Inclusion; Security, Environment & Infrastructure and Good Governance & Administration “The most important part of my value proposition is increasing our productivity level to ensure that Akwa Ibom State can compete with other emerging economies. We can do this easily if we engender a greater sense of inclusiveness by ensuring that as we build together, we will also partake in the benefits, and grow together. Akwa Ibom is one of the most peaceful and resource-rich states in Nigeria, blessed with brilliant minds. It is therefore important for us to invest in human capacity development to improve skills and empower our people to build and grow, while improving infrastructure and attracting Foreign Direct Investment

(FDI) into the state.

“We see immense potential in partnering the private sector, our diaspora community, Developmental Financial Institutions (DFIs) and International Donor Agencies to accelerate economic growth, improve quality of life, and create sustainable jobs for Akwa Ibom indigenes.

“We will ensure that salaries, gratuities, and pensions are paid on time, and that our civil service is well-equipped and repositioned for increased productivity and efficiency.

“Thankfully, we have obtained the approval of the Full Business Case of the Ibom Deep seaport project and we can only imagine to what extent the completion of this project would lift our state and attract investors. The fundamental concern is on how to ensure our people our better prepared and their capacities enhanced to be part of this massive sector. In our efforts at Human Capacity Development, we will train our citizens in offshore pipe laying, marine and vessel engineering, port and ship management as well as maritime law, he said.

To increase revenue generation in the state, he proposed to look at two key areas.

“To achieve all these, we need to generate revenue and below are highlights of my plan on revenue generation. The future and sustainability of growth in our economy is dependent on how we can

The ranking House member told his teeming supporters: ‘‘Today I unveil my social contract with you title “Building Together, Growing Together”. I want to assure you that I am fully prepared for the task of serving you and building the Akwa Ibom of our dreams, and I intend to hit the ground running when given the opportunity

continue to grow our IGR and at what pace we can grow our IGR, increasing our database of remitting agents and significantly increasing our collection, as backed by enabling laws in the state, would make all the difference.

“Two Immediate areas of interest would be: Agriculture and Tourism.

Our administration will ensure gender equity social inclusiveness by investing in the creation of programs that provide opportunities for women to increase their incomes, gain relevant skills, participate in governance, and continue to contribute in even more impactful ways to our society.

Admitting the tactic is typical of aspiring, Luke promised to overhaul a political system he says is dominated by lobbyists and special interest groups “who’ve turned our government into a game only they can afford to play.”

“We will also ensure a more inclusive society for persons living with disabilities and the Vulnerable in the state by promoting social inclusion programs in schools and communities, and investing in structures that make living easier and safer.

“Youth, Sports and Talent Development are other areas where we intend to develop the capacity of our people in. We will provide our youths with the right platforms to help them gain marketable skills with which they can build livelihoods and excel in our nation.

We will be celebrating our wins no matter how small- be it intellectual, scholarly, and creative wins.

“We will promote the development of sports in our State by encouraging participation in sports at all levels through tournament sponsorships, athlete sponsorships, and sports scholarships. Our traditional sports will be celebrated and promoted.

“We will develop Akwa Ibom’s Tourism and Entertainment industry and promote the State as the ideal tourist destination and as a fast-growing entertainment hub. We intend to take full advantage of the beautiful landscapes, historical landmarks, creative talent and beautiful culture that we have been blessed with.

“Industrialization will be a major area of focus of our administration. We will strive for the completion and utilization of the Liberty Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, and the Ibom Deep Sea Port, among other projects, through effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders. I reiterate that we will also build capacity within the State by making sure that our youths have the right skills to take up roles in these emerging industrial hubs.

“The economy of our dear state would only take a downward spiral if we do not build a viable structure for Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs). These enterprises constitute the foundation on which any economy rests and we will prioritize them through the provision of interest free loans and grants as well as a special fund set aside for this purpose. This will be followed through by periodic evaluation of impact assessment.

“From the foregoing, it is palpably clear that the enthronement of the amazing grace project would be the enthronement of our people, an enhancement of their individual capacities and the promotion of their readiness for the massive investment of our economy for these investments would meet a ready people ready to be part of the growth of our dear state.

“We propose an all-inclusive government, where development across the state will be simultaneous and impactful, and where resources will be distributed equally and fairly.

“Our government will be one where every ethnic group in the State will be relevant. It will be one where meritorious public service and integrity will be rewarded, and capacity will be sourced from the state and beyond”.

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TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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MR YAKUBU C. MAIKYAU, SAN

‘I Stand for One Strong and United NBA’

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TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Court of Appeal’s Power to Summarily Dismiss Appeal for Want of Diligent Prosecution

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ong r t S e n O r o f d ‘I Stan ’ A B N d e t i n U and QUOTABLES ‘You cannot touch a piece of legislation, unless it is done by those who have the constitutional authority to do so…..I will appeal that the Attorney-General should stop and desist for now, and not foreclose on the constitutional right of appeal, and allow the law to be settled.’ - Honourable Olufemi Gbajabiamila, Lawyer, Speaker, House of Representatives, 9th National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria

‘….Section 4(8) of the Constitution also subjects the power of the Legislature to make those laws to judicial scrutiny….The order to delete is superfluous.’ - Dr Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN

Osinbajo, Malami, Others to Speak at 2022 NBA Legal Education Summit Page V

Democracy and the Legal Order: Shaping the Future Page VII

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

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

Electoral Act 2022: Issues in the Declaratory Judgement

L

ast week, I said that I received the decision of Anyadike J. in the now becoming famous case of the nullification of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 (EA) with mixed feelings. Some of these mixed feelings have arisen from the fact that like I said before, the suit seems somewhat contrived, and because of some legal questions and debates which have come to light as a result of the judgement.

For instance, having nullified the provision, whether the Judge should have ordered that the offending section be deleted from the statute; and whether the National Assembly (NASS) should have been joined in the suit as a necessary party, especially since they made the law.

Deletion of Section 84(12) from the Statute I have heard different arguments about whether the trial Judge should have ordered the deletion of Section 84(12) from the EA, but none that I have heard so far, has quite answered the question satisfactorily. I believe the answer is No, an order should not have been made for the deletion of Section 84(12) from the law. What the Judge handed down was a declaratory judgement based on an originating summons as to the question of whether a law is constitutional or not; and when such decisions are given, consequential orders which accompany a judgement to enforce it, are not made. The process was completed at the declaration of the provision as unconstitutional, invalid, null and void.

There is a plethora of authorities which explicitly hold that: "A declaratory judgement is a binding adjudication that establishes the rights and other relations of the parties, without providing for an ordering enforcement" - see the case of Government of Gongola State v Tukur 1989 4 N.W.L.R. Part 117 Page 592 per Oputa JSC. In this case, the Apex Court likened a declaratory judgement to “a toothless dog which can only bark….. but cannot bite to vindicate his overt anger and aggression". In Government of Gongola State v Tukur (Supra), the Supreme Court had been asked to stay or suspend an order, to which the court responded that it could not do so in law, since a declaratory judgement is incapable of enforcement, thereby stripping the court of any coercion or attendant procedural sanctions. In short, such a judgement ends at the declaration.

A declaratory judgement is simply a statement of the legal state of affairs. It does not order that anything should be done, or award damages. See the case of Iragbiji v Oyewinle 2013 13 N.W.L.R. Part 1372 Page 566 at 580 per RhodesVivour JSC. The Apex Court went on to say that: "a declaratory order merely declares a legal situation or rights or relationship. It is complete in itself, the declaration being the relief. It does not order anyone to do anything" - see Okoya v Santilli 1990 2 N.W.L.R. Part 131 Page 172 per Nnamani JSC. These authorities further state that, the proper thing to do after a declaratory order or judgement has been handed down, is to then file a subsequent action based on the declaration, praying the court for executory orders. It does sound like a waste of time!

Why can’t it all be accommodated within one process? But, the reason may be that, if a matter is commenced by means of an originating summons like the Section 84(12) case, such originating process is used for non-contentious matters only, in which the facts are not in dispute, but the court is simply asked to determine an issue on the construction of a statute or document. In Dalori v Sadikwu 1998 12 N.W.L.R. Part 576 Page 112 at 123 per Edozie JCA the Court of Appeal held inter alia that: “Although a declaratory judgement or order merely proclaims or declares a legal relationship, it may be the basis for subsequent proceedings to enforce particular rights recognised therein”.

That is, the right declared in the initial

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

The

Advocate “…. No, an order should not have been made for the deletion of Section 84(12) from the law….

The declaration by Anyadike J., effectively deleted Section 84(12) of the EA, without any further action required from the AGF; it has no binding force anyway, at least, for now” judgement can only become enforceable in a subsequent judgement which confers the power of execution. See the case of Okoya v Santilli (Supra) per Agbaje JSC. The Apex Court even went further to specifically state that, the date of the enforceability of the judgement must be the date of the subsequent executory judgement, and not the date of the declaratory judgement. See the case of Enekwe v I.M.B. Nig. Ltd 2006 19 N.W.L.R. Part 1013 Page 146 at 185-186 per Ogbuagu JSC. However, another school of thought maintains that declaratory reliefs and other prayers can be accommodated in a single action. Could it be that they may be referring to matters which are commenced by means of writ of summons, and not originating summons?

Be that as it may, it is trite that a provision that is declared unconstitutional, is null and void and of no effect. In Ogbu v State 53 Misc. 2d 740 the Supreme Court held inter alia that “when an act or a decision is declared null and void, it is incapable of giving rise to any rights or obligations under any circumstances”. It would not be out of place therefore, that this principle can be extended to a provision of a statute too. Such a statute that is declared null and void would be of no legal importance, and have no binding force. See the case of Imogiemhe v Alokwe 1995 7 N.W.L.R. Part 409 Page 581. I submit that presently, Section 84(12) has no binding force; and

that the declaratory judgement that was handed down by the court in this particular case is actually self-executory, because of the fact that the provision was declared unconstitutional and invalid; it needs no further consequential order to execute it.

We however, await the outcome of the appeal filed by NASS in this matter, which will undoubtedly not end until it reaches the final arbiter, the Supreme Court, where a final decision will be handed down.

NASS being a Necessary Party to the Suit A Necessary Party to an action, is a party from whom the litigant is claiming a relief from, or whose interests are affected directly by the end result of the case. In Green v Green 1987 3 N.W.L.R. Part 60 Page 480 per Oputa JSC the Supreme Court laid down the questions a court should ask in deciding the effect of non-joinder or mis-joinder of a party: “(a) Is the cause or matter liable to be defeated by non-joinder? (b) Is it possible to adjudicate on the cause or matter unless the 3rd party is added as a Defendant? (c) Is the 3rd party a person who should have been joined in the first instance? (d) Is the 3rd party a person whose presence before the court as a Defendant will be necessary, in order to enable the court to effectually and completely adjudicate or settle all the questions

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN

involved in the cause or matter?”.

Also see the case of Ibegwura Ordu Azubuike v PDP & Ors LER [2014] SC. 476/2012 per Fabiyi JSC. If a party would be bound by the decision of the action, or it is in the interest of justice to join a party, are other considerations in joinder - Ibegwura Azubuike v PDP & Ors (Supra) per Rhodes-Vivour JSC. In the instant case, the Plaintiff was not seeking any relief from NASS; the Plaintiff only asked the court to determine whether Section 84(12) was not inconsistent with certain provisions of the Constitution and the rights of Nigerian citizens. Certainly, not just NASS, but all Nigerians, at least those in one position or the other who may want to seek elective office within their political parties or generally, would be affected by the outcome of the case.

It would be possible for the matter to be decided (not adjudicated upon, since it is not a dispute but interpretation) without NASS. But, in the spirit of the principle of fair hearing (Section 36(1) of the Constitution), NASS should have been joined as a Defendant. While the bulk of the work lies with the court in the matter of an originating summons, where it is the court that is expected to give an interpretation of a document or statute, and not the litigants meant to prove their case, as there are no pleadings where facts are disputed by the litigants, many Lawyers who were in the ‘for Section 84(12) camp’ felt that the judgement was still obtained sneakily, if not almost ex-parte without the presence of NASS as a party to the suit. Others in the ‘against Section 84(12) camp’ argue that NASS’s presence was neither here nor there, since there was nothing to be proved in order to get the declaratory judgement.

The Final Questions I watched Channels TV’s ‘Politics Today’ last Friday, in which an APC stalwart stated that the party would not allow political appointees to vote as delegates at the Convention which held last Saturday, because of Section 84(12)! (Not that they were intending to vote anyway, since they were selecting consensus candidates!). The Programme’s Anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, pointedly asked the Governor of Nasarawa State who was the interviewee, whether former Governor, Babatunde Fashola, SAN would be a voting delegate at the Convention, now that he is a political appointee. The answer to that question should have been a firm Yes, since Mr Fashola is a former Governor, and therefore, a delegate by virtue of Article 12(1)(iv) of the APC Constitution. This makes it even more obvious that Section 84(12) was not particularly well thought out, as it also contradicts the APC Constitution, at least in this situation. However, Article 2 of the APC Constitution subjects the document to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and any other law in force; but the fact of the matter is, Anyadike J’s nullification and invalidation of Section 84(12) of the EA on the basis of unconstitutionality, makes it a provision/law that is no longer in force, because this decision remains the legal position until it is overturned on appeal.

Another question that then arises, is whether the APC should have crafted their party guidelines or policy for their Convention, based on a provision that has been declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, null and void? My dear colleagues, kindly, share your opinion on these questions.

Additionally, it is trite law that a declaratory judgement cannot be stayed; nor does the filing of an appeal act as a stay of execution of a judgement that can be stayed - in response to Hon. Gbajabiamila’s call to the AGF not to delete Section 84(12) from the EA until appeals are exhausted.

The declaration by Anyadike J., effectively deleted Section 84(12) of the EA without any further action required from the AGF; it has no binding force anyway, at least, for now.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Court of Appeal’s Power to Summarily Dismiss Appeal for Want of Diligent Prosecution Facts The Appellants, as employees of the Respondent, were allocated houses built by the Respondent at Satellite Town, Lagos State, on land allocated to the Respondent by the Federal Government of Nigeria, in line with Government policy of providing owner/occupier housing for employees in the private sector. Following the cessation of their employment, the Appellants remained in occupation of the houses. The Respondent challenged them, and this led to the commencement of an action by the Appellants at the High Court of Lagos State, in which they sought a declaration on the status of the houses and an injunction restraining the Respondent from evicting them from the houses. The Respondent in turn, counter-claimed for possession of the houses.

The trial court dismissed the Appellant’s action and upheld the Respondent’s counter-claim. Dissatisfied, the Appellants appealed to the Court of Appeal by a Notice of Appeal dated 2/3/2001.

Thereafter, they did not take any further action to prosecute the Appeal.

On 17/2/2006, after over five years that the Appellants had filed and abandoned the appeal, the Respondent filed an application to dismiss the appeal for want of diligent prosecution. On 1/11/2007, six years and eight months after the appeal was filed and a day to the hearing of the Respondent’s application to dismiss the appeal, the Appellants filed an application for extension of time to file their Brief of Argument.

When the application came up for hearing on 2/11/2007, the Respondent withdrew its application for dismissal of the appeal; however, it opposed the Appellants’ application for extension of time to file their Brief of Argument. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Appellants’ application on the basis that the extensive delay in filing their Brief of Argument was not satisfactorily explained.

The court made a further order dismissing the entire appeal pursuant to Order 17 Rule 10 of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2007. Dissatisfied, the Appellants appealed to the Supreme Court via a Notice of Appeal filed on 1/2/2008.

The parties exchanged Briefs of Argument at the Apex Court. The Respondent also filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection challenging the competence of the appeal, on the ground that the Notice of Appeal was filed outside the prescribed 90 days period after the decision was delivered.

Issues for Determination The Supreme Court proceeded to determine the appeal on the basis of the following two issues: 1.

Whether the Court of Appeal applied the right criteria in refusing the Appellants’ motion for extension of time to file the Appellants’ Brief of Argument.

2.

Whether the summary dismissal of the Appellants’ appeal by the Court of Appeal after refusing their application to regularise their brief, did not amount to denial of the Appellants’ right to fair hearing.

Arguments On issue one, counsel for the Appellants submitted that what is important in considering an application for extension of time, is that the request demonstrates good reasons and that there is good cause why the substantive case should be heard on the merits. He submitted that the Justices of the Court of Appeal wrongly exercised their discretionary powers by dismissing the application for extension of time, only on the basis of the unexplained delay by the Appellants in bringing the application, without taking into consideration the need to hear the appeal on the merit. Responding the to the argument, counsel for the Respondent submitted that the grant of an application for extension of time to regularise the Appellants’ Brief of Argument is an application to the court to exercise its discretion, and the onus was on the Appellants to put sufficient, convincing and cogent facts and evidence before the court to sway the court in their favour. He submitted that from the affidavit filed in support of the Appellants’ application, it was clear that the reason given by the Appellants for the delay in

Thus, the Appellants were within time having filed their Notice of Appeal within the three months stipulated, when computed as should be, from the date after 2/11/2007 when the Court of Appeal delivered its judgement, the period for filing an appeal ended on 2/2/2008.

Honourable Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 11th day of June, 2021 Before Their Lordships Amina Adamu Augie Uwani Musa Abba Aji Mohammed Lawal Garba Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji Emmanuel Akomaye Agim Justices, Supreme Court SC.326/2008 Between Mr M. Moore & 15 Ors

Appellants And

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

Respondent

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji, JSC)

bringing the said application was untenable.

Arguing the second issue, counsel for the Appellants submitted that the dismissal of the appeal without affording the Appellants the opportunity to address the court on the propriety of summarily dismissing the appeal, was tantamount to a denial of the Appellants’ right of fair hearing. He submitted that a court is obligated, after having refused an application to file a brief out of time, to call upon the party concerned to proceed with its case regardless of whether or not it appears improbable that the Appellant may be unable to continue in the absence of an Appellant’s brief. This is more so, as the Court of Appeal Rules allow for parties to dispense with the filing of briefs or depart from the Rules. He argued further that the dismissal of an appeal under Order 17 Rule 10 of the Court of Appeal Rules is contingent on an application by the Respondent in that regard and in so far as there was no such application by the Respondent, the court ought not to have summarily dismissed the appeal. He cited MENKITI v MENKITI (2000) 8 NWLR (Pt. 667) 154, in support of his contention. Reacting to the submissions,

“…… the Appellate Court has the inherent jurisdiction to suo motu list any appeal, and summarily dismiss same for want of prosecution…..because the court has the constitutionally clothed inherent power to do away with frivolous, inept and dormant appeals…..”

counsel for the Respondent submitted that the right to fair hearing does not entitle a party to expect that the court or the entire judicial process should be eternally delayed, until the party chooses to take its opportunity to be heard. He contended that the Court of Appeal satisfied all the requirements in the exercise of its discretion when it dismissed the appeal because the affidavit in support of the Appellants’ application revealed the lacklustre approach of the Appellants since the Notice of Appeal was filed.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Resolution of the Respondent’s Notice of Preliminary Objection The Supreme Court considered the issue raised in the Preliminary Objection before deciding the appeal on the merit.

The court held that for the purpose of computation of period for doing any act as prescribed under any statute, recourse should be had to Section 15(2)(a) of the Interpretation Act which provides that where a period is reckoned from a particular event, the day on which the particular event occurred is excluded. Where a statute provides for an act to be done within a period from a named date to another or some period of weeks, months or years, the first date of the period will be excluded from the reckoning whilst the last day will be included - PETGAS RESOURCES LTD v MBANEFO (2008) 1 NWLR (Pt. 1601). In the computation of the three months period within which the Appellants are required to file an appeal under Section 27(2)(a) of the Supreme Court Act, the date when the judgement appealed again was delivered is excluded.

Resolution of Issues in the Main Appeal Deciding the first issue, Their Lordships held that the exercise of judicial discretion by a court ought to be founded upon the facts and circumstances presented to the court, from which it must draw a conclusion governed by law. The court relied on EYE v FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (2018) LPELR – 43599 (SC).

Further, when the exercise of discretion by a lower court is in issue, the question is not how the appellate court would have exercised it, but whether the lower court whose discretion it was to act one way or the other exercised it correctly, that is judicially, judiciously bona fide in accord with justice and having regard to all necessary and relevant considerations.

Regarding the Appellants’ complaint that the Court of Appeal ought to have considered the need to hear the appeal on the merits rather the issue of delay alone, the court held that the consideration for hearing a matter on the merit only comes into play in an application for extension of time to appeal or for leave to appeal, in which case an applicant is required to explain satisfactorily by an affidavit the reason for the delay in filing the appeal within the prescribed period and to furnish arguable grounds of appeal. This consideration was not applicable, in the instant case.

The Apex Court found that the facts as deposed to in the Appellants’ affidavit in support of their application, gave out the Appellants as having exhibited gross tardiness and nonchalance in prosecuting the appeal, between 2/3/2001 when the Notice of Appeal was filed till 1/11/2007 when they filed the application for extension of time to file their Brief of Argument. The reason given for the delay in filing the Appellants’ Brief of Argument that they were waiting for an administrative action by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development before pursuing the appeal, was an indictment on the tardiness of the Appellants in doing the needful. It was evident from the reasoning and conclusion of the Court of Appeal, that it took the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case into consideration before refusing to exercise its discretion in favour of granting the application, and there was no reason for the Supreme Court to interfere with the judicious and judicial exercise of discretion by the Court of Appeal in this regard.

Regarding the second issue, the court referred to its decision in ABIODUN ADENIJI & ANOR. v TINA GEORGE INDUSTRIES LTD & OR (2019) LPELR–48891 (SC), to hold that the Appellate Court has the inherent jurisdiction to suo motu list any appeal, and summarily dismiss same for want of prosecution, without waiting for the Respondent to make an application either orally or by way of motion on notice, because the court has the constitutionally clothed inherent power to do away with frivolous, inept and dormant appeals so as to decongest the over-bloated cause list, especially where there is evidence of nonchalance and tardiness on the part of the Appellant. The only saving grace will perhaps come into play, if there is pending before the court, an application for extension of time to regularise the situation. However, where such application is heard and refused for whatever reason, it exposes the appeal to the cold hands of dismissal for want of prosecution, whether on an application by the Respondent or by the court in the exercise of its inherent powers.

Therefore, the dismissal of the application for extension of time to file the Appellants’ brief, left the appeal liable to be dismissed for want of diligent prosecution under the provisions of Order 17 Rule 10 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2007, without the need for further recourse to the Appellants under the inherent jurisdiction of that court. The issue of breach of the right of fair hearing, did not arise in the circumstances of the case.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation I.O. Ajomo for the Appellants.

O.E. Osunbade for the Respondent.

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

V

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

NEWS

Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN

Prof Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN

Late Chief Sonny Odogwu

Osinbajo, Malami, Others to Speak at 2022 NBA Legal Education Summit Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, are among distinguished guests expected at the 2022 Legal Education Summit being organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Legal Education Committee in collaboration with Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.

The Summit, themed “Reimagining Legal Education in Nigeria”, is billed for Tuesday, 29th and Wednesday, 30th March, 2022 at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. It will take a hybrid format (limited in-person attendance, and online streaming via zoom). Some 300 participants are expected to attend the Summit in person, while over 4,000 will attend virtually from all regions of the world.

A statement signed by Prof

Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, Chairman, 2022 Summit Planning Committee, said the Summit will feature four main plenary sessions with over 25 speakers who will lead the conversation on transforming the legal education system in Nigeria.

Vice President Osinbajo is expected to declare the Summit open. Other expected guests and speakers include the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu; President of the NBA, Mr Olumide Akpata; Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof.

Abubakar Adamu Rasheed; Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN; Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN; Founder and Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, Vice Chancellors

NBA Women's Forum to Tackle Gender Bias at 2022 Conference The Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum has chosen “The ‘Invisible Hand’ of Gender Bias: Championing Collective Change” as the theme for its 2nd Annual International Women’s Day Conference scheduled for March 31, 2022.

The Forum has lined up six insightful and inspiring sessions with a total of 25 speakers, carefully selected from an array of remarkable and respected Lawyers who have recorded noteworthy strides in their different spheres of legal practice. The theme of the Conference will focus on the underlying gender bias in the legal profession, and how it influences individual behaviours that generate, legitimise, and mask broad patterns of inequality, according to the organisers.

NBAWF also announced that the First Lady of Imo State, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs) Chioma Uzodimma (also a Lawyer) is headlining the sponsorship of

the event.

His Royal Highness, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor and 14th Emir of Kano, has been confirmed to deliver the Keynote Address at the Conference, which will hold physically at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, with some participants joining virtually.

Olumide A. Akpata, NBA President, will give the opening remarks at the Conference, while Prof Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN, Chairperson, NBA Women Forum, will deliver the welcome address.

The Conference organisers said the sessions will underscore the continued importance of women’s collective work to address ‘invisible’, as well as visible biases.

The first session will be: “Hidden Biases in Courtroom Dynamics: Gender and the Judiciary” The second session, “Rising to the Occasion: Leadership from the Eyes of Contemporary Young Women”.

of Universities, Deans of Law Faculties, among others.

The Summit aims to examine the journey so far in the development of the legal education

system in Nigeria, and to chart the course for a desirable future built on pedagogical innovation and transformative development.

It will also provide an

opportunity for stakeholders, especially Judges, legal educators, Lawyers, non-Lawyers in business, economic and financial spheres, as well as government

and policy leaders, community leaders, experts, researchers and academics, to discuss, debate, and identify innovative pedagogies for the future.

Sonny Odogwu Estate: Court Fixes May 18 For Hearing of All Applications and Trial Steve Aya The Federal High Court, Lagos, has fixed May 18, 2022 for hearing of all pending applications in, and the commencement of trial in the suit filed by Access Bank Plc against the Administrators of the Estate of late business mogul, Chief Sonny Odogwu and other companies over an alleged N50 billion debt.

The trial Judge, Justice Daniel Emeka Osiagor fixed the date

after Access Bank Plc's counsel, Mr Oluwakemi Balogun, SAN, informed the court that he was just being served with two counter-affidavits to his client's originating summons and mareva injunction by the counsel to the Respondents in the suit.

Mr E. Akpan, Counsel to the Respondents, admitted serving Access Bank Plc's counsel late with the said counter-affidavits, but pleaded with the court that the situation that caused such

was beyond his ability, and that such will not happen again.

Access Bank Plc's counsel, Balogun, SAN, thereafter asked for leave of the court to file a further affidavit, and reply on points of law in response to the counter-affidavits. There was no objection to this.

However, Mr. Anthony Idigbe, SAN, counsel to the 1st-3rd Defendant in the suit, told the court that he was not objecting to the motion on notice, but

objecting to the written address in respect to his clients’ notice of preliminary objection.

Following the brief arguments of counsels, Justice Daniel Osiagor, adjourned the matter till May 18, for hearing of all applications in the suit and commencement of trial.

Access bank had instituted the suit, to take over the late businessman’s Project Finance property, over alleged unpaid N50 billion debt.

PMS Gift: Lagos Socialite Sentenced Steve Aya Lagos socialite, Ms Ogbulu Chindinma Pearl, standing trial before Chief Magistrate Kehinde Ogundare of the Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting at Oshodi, has been sentenced.

The Defendant who was earlier arraigned on

the March 14, 2022 for the offence of distributing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as souvenir, during her chieftaincy installation party on the March 5, 2022 at Havillah Event Centre, Lagos.

The offence violates Section 251(1), 168 (1), 244 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and

Section 195 (2)(b) of the Environmental Management Protection Law of Lagos State 2017.

The Court in its judgement sentenced the Defendant as follows: 1) To pay a fine of N15,000 or 3-months imprisonment on the first count.

2) To pay a fine of

N500,000 or one year imprisonment on the second count.

3) To pay a find of N500, 000 or one year imprisonment on the third count.

At the hearing of the suit on March 24, 2022, the Defendant changed her plea from not guilty to guilty on the three

counts.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Kehinde Ogundare, held that the Prosecution had successfully proven the charge against the Defendant beyond a reasonable doubt, and thereby, convicted and sentenced her accordingly.

Gov Emmanuel, IG, NBA President, Others Urged to Probe Death of Akwa Ibom Prosecutor Alex Enumah inAbuja Family members and the 2005 Class of Law graduates of the University of Calabar, have called on the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, Inspector General of Police, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, AttorneyGeneral of Akwa Ibom State and well meaning Nigerians, to investigate

the circumstances that led to the death of Mr Godwin Ikoiwak, a legal practitioner and Prosecutor with the State.

A member of the family, Miss Nne Ikoiwak, surrounded by her late brothers at a press conference in Abuja, claimed that the late Prosecutor did not die of natural causes, and there appears to be a high powered cover-up of the issue.

Miss Ikoiwak, told journalists that contrary to claim by her late brother's wife that Godwin died of asthmatic attack, the late Principal State Counsel, was brutally murdered by some persons.

According to her, the problem started when the family demanded for the corpse of Godwin, and discovered that "Bugzy" as the late Godwin was fondly called, "had severe

bruises and injuries to his body. He had a deep cut on his left eye, his hands and legs had marks like he had been tied up".

She said following the revelation, the family requested for a full autopsy with toxicology, where it was revealed that: “Godwin was murdered.

He was bound, held down and forced to ingest a very toxic substance, a popular rat poison called Sniper,

#upjudicialsalaries A judicial officer of the appellate courts who earned a monthly basic salary of approximately N250,000 10 years ago (many earn a bit less), earned about £1,000 (with an exchange rate of roughly N250 to £1). Today, still earning N250,000 - about £445 (at the CBN exchange rate of roughly N561 to £1…..).” – Onikepo Braithwaite, September 28, 2021

and locally referred to as Otapiapia”.

According to her, efforts by the family to reconcile the result of the latest autopsy with the earlier report of the cause of death, has resulted in a serious crisis between them and their late brother’s wife, and the Chief Medical Director at St Luke's Hospital, Anua, that certified the cause of death as an asthmatic attack.

VI

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

NASS Cannot Amend the Constitution through the Back Door (Part 2) Introduction Sections 84 & 318 of the Constitution Considered (Continues) ast week, we commenced our analysis of Sections 84(12) and 318 of the 1999 Constitution. Today, we will x-ray these sections further, to demonstrate that the sections have been so gravely misinterpreted that the NASS could frontally assail the sanctity of the Constitution by enacting Section 84(12) of the amended Electoral Act. More significantly, we must look at the definition of “public officer” in Part 1 of the 5th schedule of the Constitution. There, a “public officer” is defined as “a person holding any of the offices specified in Part II of this schedule.

The person holding the said offices specifically include, amongst others, the President; Vice President; Senate President and his Vice; Speaker of the House of Representatives; Governor; Deputy Governor; CJN; Justices of the Supreme Court; Appeal Court; Attorney-General of the Federation and of States; Ministers and Commissioners; SGF; Ambassadors; Chairman; Members and Staff of CCB/CCT; of LGCs; Statutory corporations and companies in which the federal or state Governments or LGCs have controlling interest.”

This category of persons therefore fall within the scope of “public officers” and “public servants”. I humbly submit therefore, that political appointees fall within the scope of public servants, such as to enjoy whatever favours are granted to persons within the public service of the Federation or of the State. “Service” is defined by by the Cambridge Dictionary as “as helping or doing work for someone”; “or providing a particular thing that people need”.

The word “includes” as defined Meridian Webster Dictionary, means “to take in or comprise as a part of a whole or group”.

It becomes clear therefore that Section 318 did not exhaustively list all those envisaged as “public servants”. Those listed merely comprise of “a part of a whole or group”, and nothing more. Can anyone seriously argue that Ministers, Commissioners and such persons who are in the “service” of the Federation and States in different capacities, are therefore political appointees not then in the public service of such governments? I humbly submit that the cases of DADA v ADEYEYE (2005) 3 NWLR (920) 1; ONI v FAYEMI (supra); WILSON v AG FEDERATION (supra); AG BENDEL STATE v AIDEYAN (supra); ADAMU V TAKORI (supra), have been grossly misapplied and misinterpreted by the exponents of the now struck down Section 84(12).

In any event, why should the NASS be involved in legislating for political parties as to who should be their contestants or voting delegates, thus, restricting their constitutionally guaranteed rights? In deepening the plenitude and amplitude of democracy, are the political parties not entitled to be accorded the freedom and latitude to regulate their own activities? I think they are.

Why then should the NASS make a law discriminating against political appointees when they themselves are free to contest, vote and be voted for as delegates at the same congress and conventions? How fair is that, on both moral and legal grounds, aside its unconstitutionality as I have strenuously pointed out above?

L

No Difference Between Voting at General Elections and Political Party Congresses or

Conventions I have heard the argument that the eligibility to vote or be voted for only affects general elections, and not elections at party congresses or conventions. I humbly disagree. Voting is voting; and election is election, whether at a general election, or at an election to elect candidates of political parties at party conventions or congresses. Both have to do with exercising one's right to make a choice, as between two or more candidates at an election through the ballot, or a show of hands. This is clear from the provisions of Sections 82, 83 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended). As in any general election, election by a political party at its congress or convention is invalid without the involvement of INEC. “Every registered political party shall give INEC 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its executive committee, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified in this Act” (section 82(1)). See also Sections 82 (2) and 82 (4).

The clincher is found in Sections 82(5), which provides that “failure of a political party to notify the Commission as stated in subsection 1 shall render the convention, congress, conference or meeting invalid”.

The non-observance of this critical provision was part of the reasons both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court declared the votes cast at the 2015 APC Primaries in Zamfara State “wasted votes”. I personally handled both cases against the APC. The Supreme Court agreed with my invocation of the doctrine of “consequential relief”, which I had commended to it, and ordered that the CANDIDATE of the political party (NOT the POLITICAL PARTY) that had the next highest number of votes and constitutional spread in the local government areas of Zamfara State, should produce the next Governor. That was how Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle became Governor of Zamfara State under the platform of the PDP. See APC & ANOR v KABIRU MARAFA & 170 ORS (2020) 6 NWLR (Pt 1721) 383; APC & ORS v KARFI & 2 ORS (2017) LPELR – 47024 (SC).

“I respectfully agree with this judgement, which remains valid until set aside by a higher appellate court”

This point becomes clearer when one reads Section 84 (3) of the Electoral Act, 2020, as amended. It prohibits a political party from imposing nomination qualification or disqualification criteria, measures, or conditions on any aspirant or candidate for any election in its Constitution, guidelines, or rules for nomination of candidates for elections, except as prescribed under Section 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 177 and 187 of the Constitution. Why will the same NASS audaciously ignore Section 84 (3) and make Section 84 (12) and (13) in the same Act to bar certain persons from contesting in those same elections which it had warned political parties not to go into, when the Constitution itself has not specifically provided for such? Respectfully, the provision of Section 84(12) is bizarre.

We must bring in here the rule of statutory interpretation, to the effect that the provisions of the Constitution are to be read as a whole; and not in parts. Can such critics argue that the same Constitution will take away with the left hand in Sections 84 (12) and 318 what it has itself donated in Sections 40, 42, 65 (1) and (2), 66 (1), 106, 107 (1), 137 (1) (g), 147 (4), 182 and192 (3), thereof? Can it be argued that the same Section 84 which in it sub-section (3) forbade political parties from imposing nomination qualifications or disqualifications criteria, or impose conditions on aspirants or candidates for any election, will turn around in subsections 12 and 13 to outrightly ban such candidates from voting or being voted for, simply because they are political appointees? I think not.

See the cases of Nafiu Rabiu v The State (1980) 8-11 SC-130; Abegunde v Ondo State House of Assembly & Ors (2015) LPELR-24588 (SC), wherein the Supreme Court emphasised the need to read provisions of the Constitution together as a whole, and not in parts.

Some people have cited in aid of their arguments, the provisions of Section 228(a) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that: “The NASS may by law provide guidelines and rules to ensure Internal Democracy within political parties, including making laws for the conduct of party primaries, party congresses and party conventions”.

This section actually encourages Internal Democracy within political parties, which is designed to open up the political space and give every member a feeling of belonging. It was never designed or intended to restrict such members from voting and being voted for. The section actually frontally defeats Section 84 (12) and (13) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as amended, and renders them unconstitutional, null and void.

The Judgement of the Umuahia High Court It is with the solid background of the law and constitutionalism espoused above, that I totally agree with the judgement recently delivered

by Honourable Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court, Umuahia Division.

She scored the bull’s eye in striking down the offensive subsection 12 of Section 84 of the new Electoral Act in Suit No. UM/CS/26/2022: CHIEF NDUKA EDEDE v AG FEDERATION. Most critics have never even cared to read the full order made by Justice Anyadike, so as to understand its true import and purport. She did not just restrict her order to only political appointees as is erroneously widely believed. She actually extended it to “any political appointee, political or public office holder”, as envisaged (according to these critics) in Sections 84 and 318 of the 1999 Constitution. She actually aligned her order with these sections with the intention to deepen, widen and liberalise the political space.

She thus, held as follows: “1. I Declare that Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022, cannot validly and constitutionally limit, remove, abrogate, disenfranchise, disqualify, and oust the constitutional right or eligibility of any political appointee, political or public office holder to vote or be voted for at any Convention or Congress of any political party for the purposes of nomination of such person or candidate for any election, where such person has “resigned, withdrawn or retired” from the said political or public office, at least 30 days before the date of the election”.

2. I Declare that the provisions of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which limits, removes, abrogates, disenfranchises, disqualifies, and ousts the constitutional right and eligibility of any political appointee, political or public office holder to vote or be voted for at any Convention or Congress of any political party for the purposes of nomination of such person or candidate for any election, where such person has “resigned, withdrawn or retired” from the said political or public office, at least 30 days before the date of the election, is grossly ultra vires and inconsistent with Sections 6(6)(a) & (b), 66(1)(f), 107(1)(f), 137(1)(g) and 182(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and therefore unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

3. I hereby nullify and set aside Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022, for being unconstitutional, invalid, null and void to the extent of its inconsistency with Sections 66(1)(f), 107(1)(f), 137(1)(g) and 182(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

4. I hereby order the Defendant (The Attorney General of the Federation) to delete the provisions of Section 84(12) from the Electoral Act, 2022, with immediate effect.”

I respectfully agree with this judgement, which remains valid until set aside by a higher appellate court. See the cases of AGBON-OJEME v SALO-OJEME (2020) LPELR 49688(CA); NKWOKEDI & ORS v OKUGO & ORS (2002) LPELR-2123(SC); EKPE v EKURE & ANOR (2014) LPELR-24674(CA); UNITY BANK v ONUMINYA (2019) LPELR47507(CA). We shall continue our discourse next week, by God's grace.

Serious and Trivial “I always feel happy. You know why? Because I don’t expect anything from anyone. Expectations always hurt. Life is short. So love your life. Be happy and keep smiling. Just live for yourself and before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you pray, forgive. Before you hurt, feel. Before you hate, love. Before you quit, try. Before you die, live.”

(Williams Shakespeare) THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer.” (Henry Kissinger)

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Democracy and the Legal Order: Shaping the Future Keynote Address delivered by Professor Akin Oyebode at the Nigerian Bar Association Lagos Branch 2022 Annual Law Week themed, “Democracy and the Legal Order: Shaping the Future”, which took place from March 18 - 25, 2022 Introduction

T

he lesson of inevitability of democratic values within the legal order is not lost on any serious legal practitioner, or even casual observer of goings-on in society and indeed, the human destiny. Of the multifarious problems afflicting the country currently, hardly is anything more benumbing than the crises and contradictions inherent in our practice of democracy vis-à-vis the legal order. The situation would have been laughable, if it was not so tragic.

That a country so blessed with human talents and incredible natural resources has continued to walk on its head, is totally stupefying and inexplicable.

However, it is appurtenant to interrogate the historical antecedents of Nigeria, in order to lay bare the characteristics of the contemporary legal order and difficulty to grapple with the desiderata of modernity and progress.

The Precursors of the Nigerian State Nigeria owes its creation to the antics of British imperialism. What is important to bear in mind is that, when the British arrived in these parts, they carried along in their knapsacks English law and instrumentalities of conquest and subjugation of the restless natives. Nigeria, being one of the last territories to be colonised by the perfidious Albion, was subjected to the most distasteful aspects of race supremacist ideology of disdain and disrespect for the traditions and mores of the indigenous population.

This attitude had been practised and perfected by the British in relation to the native peoples of America and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, India, etc.

This superiority complex among the English was so deeply ingrained in their psyche as the writings of Shakespeare reveal, Tempest and Othello, being notable examples. As recently as 1857, the US Supreme Court in the Dred Scot case still had the temerity to declare that the black man had no rights, that the whites needed respect, more so that he was only four-fifths of a man!

Wherever the English went, he could relish in the thought, as Palmerston had intoned, that the long arm of the English law would always protect him.

Indeed, they refused to subject themselves to the jurisdiction of the native courts which were thought to be infra dignitatem to English law which they had transported to far-flung colonial territories as instruments of colonial hegemony and control. In Nigeria as elsewhere, they had created their own special courts, applying English law and rejecting all native laws and customs as being “repugnant to natural law, equity and good conscience”, a code phrase for English law. It took the genius and courage of judges such as J.I.C. Taylor and other like-minded jurists to wean themselves off slavish adherence to English law and practice, by striking blows for authenticity and independence of the Nigerian legal order, be it in relation to the rights of children born out of wedlock or the recognition of polygamy and the right to inherit, as guaranteed under native law and customs. By the time Nigeria became politically independent, it had become cognisable to enlightened legal opinion that the repugnancy doctrine advocated by the British was indeed, repugnant to our sense of values, propriety and cultural wholesomeness.

Democracy, Nigeria Style It is no exaggeration to aver that, in Nigeria, democracy is very much a work in progress.

Having endured nearly 400 years of the slave trade and 100 years of British colonial exploitation and oppression, the Nigerian people had not been properly sensitised into the norms and practices of democratic governance. However, this is not totally unexpected of a people reared in unquestioning obedience to the whims and caprices of the traditional rulers, unelected elders and undemocratic belief systems stamped on the consciousness of the people after centuries of social conditioning and cultural manipulation.

Needless to say, the first few years of the practice of majoritarian democracy in Nigeria were marred by different military junta which had hijacked

Professor Akin Oyebode political power and held the country hostage for decades. Since militarism and democracy are odd bed-fellows, it was hardly surprising that the Nigerian militariat succeeded in arresting the country’s progress towards democracy, and sought to entrench undemocratic elements within Nigeria’s political firmament. The most galling bequest of the military dictators was Decree No. 24 of 1999, which it sought to pass off as the constitution of the country after its departure from the country’s political stage.

Regrettably, rather than jettisoning that evil and unbecoming instrument, the incoming civilian rulers continue to live the lie that Nigeria was operating under an autochthonous fundamental law, with fraudulent claims to the effect that it originated and had the consent of the people.

The ringing statement by the Patriots that the 1999 Constitution lied against itself, is one not to be forgotten in a hurry. Nigerians bought for themselves a pig in poke, and for as long as we refuse to consign the despicable instrument to limbo, for that long would the legitimacy of the country’s highest law be a rude joke and an unacceptable assault on international best practices.

Nevertheless, the lack of a universally agreed definition of democracy may avail our unrepentant defenders of the status quo in justifying the 1999 Constitution. Yet, truth be told, the illegitimacy of the Constitution puts a big question mark on nearly everything that has happened in this country, since the people in agbada replaced those wearing starched khaki uniforms. To borrow the words of Mr Justice Jackson of the US Supreme Court in describing pornography, although we might be unable to define democracy, we all know it when we see it.

Accordingly, the essential ingredients of democracy include supremacy of the law, separation of powers, checks and balances, sanctity of the ballot-box, presumption of innocence, freedom of expression, due process of law, independence of the judiciary, etc. In other words, democracy presupposes the finer elements of western liberal democracy.

So, can we really be said to be practising democracy? Many have averred that what we actually have is a civilian dispensation, while democracy would seem to be a never-never land. Except and only to the extent that we cannot practise democracy without democrats,

“The most galling bequest of the military dictators was Decree No. 24 of 1999, which it sought to pass off as the constitution of the country after its departure from the country’s political stage…..The beginning of wisdom about contemporary Nigeria is that we are not yet a democracy, but merely a civilian arrangement”

Nigeria still has a long way to go in order to arrive at the Eldorado of democracy.

The Nature of the Nigerian Legal Order Undoubtedly, Nigerian law and legal order are yet to shed their British complexion. As I had observed a few years ago, the “anglo-Saxons,” to borrow Ayandele’s colorful expression, are in no hurry to do away with their colonial antecedents, white wigs, black gowns, quaint mannerisms, strange forms of address and all, in a bid to retain the alien character and appearance of Lawyers of a bygone colonial era. Unlike some erstwhile colonial territories such as the United States and Canada which had admitted novelty and reforms into their legal systems, Nigeria has stubbornly refused to alter the modalities of both its law and practice.

Yet, the efficacy of a legal order stems very much from the extent to which it has captured and reflects the mores, values and idiosyncrasy of its addressees. So much we have learnt from advocates of the Historical School, and lately, from Thomas Friedman’s concept of legal culture. As underscored by Omoniyi Adewoye, Nigeria’s leading legal historian, the imposed British colonial law bore all the imprint of alien domination and oppression.

It is for this reason that any discussion of the Nigerian legal order, must begin with a recognition of its colonial heritage and continued dependency on an alien power. Whether we speak of the legal system or legal order, we must realise that legalism bereft of a nexus with the thought processes and attitudinal chemistry of the people, is of little relevance in coming to grips with the existential reality of a peripheral, dependent capitalist enclave such as ours.

If indeed we go by the dictum of a government of laws and not one of men as propounded by Chief Justice Marshall in Marbury v Madison (1803), it would be straining logic too far to aver that Nigeria’s legal order was indeed, one founded on law and due process. In a situation of an illegitimate Constitution, rancorous law-making, conflicting judicial orders, widespread disrespect for law and order, rising incidence of self-help, inability or refusal by the law-enforcement agencies to perform their duties and lack of trust and confidence by sections of the population in the State apparatus, it becomes highly problematic to envisage fidelity to law as an instrument of peace, order and good government.

In view of the foregoing, it would seem apposite to pose the question as to the potential of the legal order to shape and aid the evolution of a true democracy in Nigeria. Law being an instrument of social change, it would simply be futile to contemplate the inter-relationship of democracy and the legal order, more so in a setting as fractious as Nigeria.

The beginning of wisdom about contemporary Nigeria is that we are not yet a democracy, but merely a civilian arrangement. Accordingly, we need to embark on a transition from civil rule to a full-fledged democratic society, in order to

take full advantage of government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is only by so doing, that we can conceive an effective role for the legal order. To the extent that a legal order presupposes concomitants of democracy, to that extent would it be illusory to attempt to move Nigeria to another level through the instrumentality of the legal order. The coterminous nature of both democracy and the legal order is such that, one cannot be pursued without the other. Legalism unaccompanied by the benefits and allure of democratic values, is apt to result in outright fascism and blind adherence to the wiles of dictators and undemocratic forces. Therefore, a way has to be found to convince Nigerians on the desideratum of democracy as an integral part of the quest for an effective legal order.

Pursuant to this, Lawyers must be ready, willing and able to be at the vanguard of the struggle for a better society. We should always remember that V.I. Lenin, Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela were Lawyers who stood on the barricade of the liberation struggle of their people. Our Lawyers should, therefore, make a conscious choice to depart from self-seeking, self-serving and self-conceited motives, in favour of ideals that would ensure life more abundant for the preponderant majority of our people. Only thus can the profession attract greater understanding, relevance and empathy among compatriots.

The legal profession is today, at a cross-roads.

With a multiplicity of problems afflicting law and the legal order, Lawyers must rise up to the occasion by bringing to bear their special and unique knowledge of the workings of the legal system on ways and means of restoring hope, trust and confidence among the people generally. Since popular acceptability appears to be the touchstone of democracy and good governance, no effort should be spared towards being harnessed in steering the legal order along the path of consolidating democratic values, otherwise, yearnings for a better society might end up being really little more than a pie in the sky.

Concluding Remarks We are living in a world earnestly yearning for a better society. How this is to be achieved, presents some difficulty. To many, democracy presents a most viable mechanism for attaining this objective.

The situation in Nigeria is complicated somewhat by the deformed state of its democracy, as well as the overarching colonial coloration of its legal order.

The task of shedding its colonial heritage, is no less daunting than that of the legal system as focus for widening the democratic impetus in Nigeria’s trajectory to a higher level of social organisation.

Since democracy is irretrievably intertwined with a functioning legal order, it stands to reason that creating a viable society is a laudable goal worth pursuing.

It remains for me to express sincere appreciation to the Lagos Branch of the NBA, for enabling me to share with you my thoughts on democracy and the legal order and to wish you all a successful annual law week.

Professor Akin Oyebode

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Mr Yakubu C. Maikyau, SAN

‘I Stand for One Strong and United NBA’ The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is not only the largest professional body in Africa, but also the most cohesive in terms of its broad-based programmes which impact its over 200,000 members. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi took out time to speak with the Chairman of the NBA Welfare Committee, Mr Yakubu C. Maikyau, SAN. The first Senior Advocate from Kebbi State, spoke extensively on crucial issues, including the recent outright rejection of the gender-based bills by the National Assembly; the bid by the Senate to build six new Law School Campuses when the existing ones are not in the best of conditions due to a paucity of funds, and what would be the resultant effect of following through with such a ridiculous decision; and why he thinks Nigeria doesn’t have enough Lawyers

A

s Chairman of Welfare Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, kindly, shed some light on the work of your Committee and the extent to which it has impacted Nigerian Lawyers so far, both young and old.

When the Welfare Committee, which I am privileged to serve as its Chairman, was constituted, we were charged with the responsibility of, amongst other things, identify-

ing areas of welfare needs of members, and designing robust and implementable scheme that will ensure the advancement of the welfare of Nigerian Lawyers.

We immediately set to work, and so far we have been able to attend to some welfare needs of the generality of our members as identified.

We struck a deal with LawPavilion, to make their electronic law report/search engine available to members at a very subsidised

“The decision to create additional campuses of the Law School, will only further dilute what is left of the quality of legal education in Nigeria”

rate. To this end, the LawPavilion Primsol Search Engine, which ordinarily cost N90, 000.00 (Ninety Thousand Naira) was made available to members of NBA at the following discounted rates: 8–15 years = N3, 000, 16–30 years = 10, 000, 31–40 years = 15, 000, 41 years and above + SAN = N25, 000. For Lawyers 1–7 years post call who paid their Bar Practising Fee within time, the NBA paid one year subscription for them, so they got to access the product free of charge.

What is perhaps, the most significant achievement of my Committee is the NBA/NHIS Partnership for Health Insurance – Group, Individual, Family, Social Health Insurance Programme christened Apkatacares. Under this programme, every member of the NBA who has paid his/her BPF

can access health insurance fee for a premium of N15,000. The premium was negotiated from N45,000. This does not only benefit the Lawyer, but is also extended to his family members and dependents, including employees – they can all have access to primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare at just N15, 000 per annum for each person. Under the pilot scheme of the programme, the NBA paid the subscription fee for 1000 of its members pooled from the 125 branches of the Association. These 1000 persons thus subscribed to the scheme free-of-charge, the subscription fee having been paid by the NBA. The 1000 beneficiaries of the pilot scheme have been enrolled by NHIS; access cards were issued, and are being distributed by the Committee to the members. This partnership with the NHIS and NBA as a non-formal sector, is the first of its kind in the history of

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‘I Stand for One Strong and United NBA’ NHIS and as NBA; we are determined to take the lead in sensitising and encouraging Nigerians to get health insurance cover. The NBA Welfare Committee is preparing to hold town hall meetings around the country, where we will further enlighten our members on the scheme.

With the rising number of cancer diagnosis, our Committee entered into discussions with the CEO of MEDICAID Cancer Foundation, for a possible partnership with the NBA on cancer screening of our members. Flowing from our discussions, the MEDICAID Cancer Foundation graciously offered us generous rebates on screening, and is willing to decentralise the screening venues for accessibility to members.

Under this arrangement, members who have cancer can get treatment at a discounted rate. With the approval of the President, Mr Olumide Akpata, the Welfare Committee has commenced fund raising, and the goal is to raise funds so as to offer free cancer screening to 3000 members of our Association.

There are several other welfare packages in the works, and I believe that before the end of this administration, members would have benefited from more of this.

The NBA recently reviewed its Constitution and has since filed it with the Corporate Affairs Commission. What sections do you find innovative, what aspects of this review interest you and why?

The recent amendment of the NBA Constitution, made a lot of bold innovations that has changed the status quo ante in our great Association. Most of the new provisions, deletions and alterations, are quite commendable. For me, the most significant is the restructuring of the administration of the National Secretariat – I find that very innovative and quite expedient. In Article 11, the amended Constitution created the office of an Executive Director to handle the day to day running of the secretariat. This structure will help shield the NBA Secretariat from the unnecessary interference and interruptions of politics/elections of the Bar, and will guarantee sustenance of programmes of the Association, proper record-keeping and the preservation of institutional memory. A strengthened and efficient secretariat will offer some relief to the national officers, particularly the President and General Secretary while their tenure subsists, and will mean less focus on them and more on the institution in the running of affairs of the Association.

Also, the reduction of the number of National Executive Council members, by scrapping the office of NEC Representatives and reducing the number of co-opted NEC members from 180 to 150, thus reducing the number of NEC members by 155 persons! This, I strongly believe,

Mr Yakubu C. Maikyau, SAN

will make NEC meetings and the decision-making process less unwieldy, and will also significantly minimize the cost of hosting NEC meetings.

What are your views on Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022? Do you agree with the judgement of Anyadike J. declaring it unconstitutional, or do you belong to the other school of thought that it is in order?

I will refrain from commenting on this for two reasons: (1) Like you rightly pointed out, the matter is currently being litigated; it is sub judice. It will be unprofessional to comment on the matter as that would be preempting the decision of the Appellate Courts.

(2) The NBA leadership has already issued a statement on this issue and I stand by that statement.

Suffice to say that in law, the process is as important as the result. Whatever the decision of the court, due process must be observed and dissatisfied parties are at liberty to seek redress on appeal. This is the process we know, and it is the only process that must be followed.

Many see the recent creation of additional Law School campuses not only as a waste, but counterproductive. Some also see it as a pure political gimmick.

What is your take on this?

Given the lean resources of Government in the face of our dire economic situation and the

“…..so one is not surprised at the stance of the National Assembly over some of the Bills, but I did not expect that the bills would be dismissed summarily.

This is because, it sends the message that Nigeria is not ready to recognise the equal status of women”

deplorable state of the existing law school campuses, I am yet to understand the rationale for the decision to create six additional Law School campuses. Complaints about the urgent need to renovate and properly furnish and equip the existing campuses had been met with, “there’s no money”.

So, why are we creating more?

We couldn’t maintain six, why approve an additional six, plus the one already under construction in Rivers State – that is 13! If we couldn’t maintain six before now, how do we propose to handle 13 – what magic are we expecting to happen?

The NBA, during the public hearing conducted by the Nigerian Senate, opposed the bill because of the poor quality of handling of the existing campuses, due largely to paucity of funds. The decision to create additional campuses of the Law School, will only further dilute what is left of the quality of legal education in Nigeria. I do not think the decision-makers thought of it beyond the mere establishment of these campuses.

Juxtaposing the curriculum of the Law degree programmes in the Universities and the one year Law School programme, what areas would you say need re-tweaking? Many think the programmes as presently operated, no longer meet the realities of modern law practice.

I have in several fora, submitted that the liberation of any society will as of necessity entail the discharge of the primary responsibilities of Lawyers in the pursuit of justice. The existing curriculum of our legal education did not and I dare say could not have been able to unleash the potentials of Lawyers into our society, because of what may have been the deliberate walls erected around the ideal legal education that would have prepared the Lawyers for

this assignment; the socio economic and political transformation of the nation. A system of education that produces a Lawyer who is not only knowledgeable in law but conscious of his identity as an agent of social, economic and political change in the nation, is what is needed for the prosperity of the nation. Legal education must, as of necessity, be standardised.

Legal Education in Nigeria; the system as well as the content, has pauperised the psyche of Lawyers and reduced our function to that of traders or artisans who merely render services for fees. This has made ‘fees’ as opposed to “the search for justice”, the motivation for the practice of law as we know and do it. And, as long as this remains the status quo, Nigeria will continue along its present trajectory of lawlessness, disorderliness and disrespect for the rule of law with the attendant adverse effect on the wellbeing of Lawyers.

It is sad that the curriculum of legal education in Nigeria, has not changed much from the days I was in school in the 80s. With globalisation and the impact of technology, Lawyers can only remain relevant and efficient in the discharge of services, when we have expanded our scope of practice to meet the demand of changing times.

We have to improve our capacities by venturing into other emerging areas of law practice; Fin-Tech, IT; Environmental Law; E-Commerce, Space Law, Agric Law, Biotech Law, Entertainment, Sports, Mining, and other areas which are reflective of the changing times. Efforts must be channeled towards developing course contents that will afford hands-on training in the Faculties of Law and the Nigerian Law School, in order to cultivate Lawyers that will serve to meet the 21st century need of the society.

Would you support the creation of State Bars as is being canvassed by some? Is Nigeria ripe for State cont'd on page X

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‘I Stand for One Strong and United NBA’ cont'd from page IX

Bars, as obtainable in the United States?

I do not think this is an immediate issue in our society, having regard to our local peculiarities. I stand for one National Bar, properly regulated.

What did you think about the National Assembly shooting down all the gender-related Bills, only to be reconsidered as a result of public condemnation? It seems as if there is still a lot of discrimination against women. Why is that so? Or is that the men are feeling threatened?

The outright rejection of all the gender-related Bills, almost with a wave of hand, did not portray a good picture. I know that Nigeria is not there yet on a number of issues, and so one is not surprised at the stance of the National Assembly over some of the Bills, but I did not expect that the bills would be dismissed summarily. This is because, it sends the message that Nigeria is not ready to recognise the equal status of women. It reveals a tenacious hold to the old order of things with regard to the status and treatment of women, and that is worrisome. After so many years of advocacy for the inclusion of women and improvement of their status, it appears we have not progressed much from the pre-Beijing days. As a father of two biological daughters and several adopted daughters, it is a matter of great concern to me and I do hope that something will be done urgently that will change the narrative. In any event, I am keeping hope alive and I urge all women to do the same. Having said this, I am not unmindful of the impact of cultural, traditional and religious beliefs as they relate to this subject; but, the right balance must be struck and it must be in favour of recognising and improving the status of women in our society.

Given the exponential increase in the number of Lawyers in Nigeria in the past 15 years, do you support the call to separate the profession into Barristers and Solicitors as obtainable in England and Wales?

I do not think we have too many Lawyers in Nigeria. I just think we have too many Lawyers doing the same things! There are many aspects of the law that are begging for attention, and with globalisation, there has been an exponential rise of emerging legal market where Lawyers can key in to make a living. But, they are not doing so, primarily because they do not know about these markets, and secondly, because they are not equipped to handle the market demands.

This takes me back to what I said earlier, about the need for extensive

Mr Yakubu C. Maikyau, SAN

review of the curriculum of legal education in Nigeria, which is presently outdated. Then, we have to sustain aggressive Continuous Legal Education training for Lawyers, to prepare them to participate in these emerging market areas. The United States of America with a population of 350 million people has about 1.3 million Lawyers, and they are not complaining. On the other hand, Nigeria with a population of about 220 million people (about twothirds of America’s population), has only about 200,000 Lawyers.

A simple mathematical ratio will show you that Nigeria has too few Lawyers – we need over half a million more Lawyers! Why it looks like we are too many, is simply because so many of us are clustered in a limited practice space – land matters, chieftaincy, landlord and tenant, debt recovery, the occasional election petition and then the criminal cases – that’s it! Meanwhile, there are so many emerging areas of practice, with great potentials that remain untapped. That is why, as a matter of urgency if not emergency, we must not only take the liberate steps to protect the small legal practice space that we currently occupy, we must embark on massive capacity building and expansion of practice areas.

The present NBA administration has surprisingly surpassed the expectations of many in terms of the execution of its programmes and new initiatives.

Things can never be perfect, what therefore would you

“….but, if we put the right policies in place with strong men that will steer the economic ship, I believe that in a few years, we will not just dig ourselves out of this hole, we will be better and stronger economy-wise”

suggest that the Exco should improve on holistically before the end of its tenure?

It is undeniable that the current administration has done so well in many areas. I had previously mentioned the welfare of members; establishment of access to finance for Lawyers with an NBA stabilisation fund of over N1.5 billion; NBA life/accident insurance cover for members in good financial standing, just to mention but a few. There have been massive training/capacity building exercises, under the auspices of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Several public interest litigations have been initiated. Earlier this year, in conjunction with other group and bodies, the NBA organised a Justice Sector Summit, which involved all the stakeholders in the justice delivery sector, with the theme: “Devising Practical Solutions Towards Improved Performance, Enhanced Accountability and Independence in the Justice Sector”. At the Summit, there was a general consensus amongst the stakeholders that there is urgent need for reform of our justice system, and several resolutions were made in that regard. I know the present administration will ensure the full implementation of the resolutions reached, as contained in the Communiqué issued at the end of the Summit.

The NBA is indeed, taking the lead. It is my firm conviction that the responsibility of recovering, reforming and repositioning our Nation, rests principally on the shoulders of Lawyers, and these efforts must be sustained.

Things seem to have quietened down with regard to kidnapping, banditry and insurgency. Do you think that the Government is finally succeeding regarding its campaign promise to eradicate insecurity in Nigeria? However, it does seem that the economy on the other hand, is not doing too well, judging by the financial hardship that majority of

Nigerians are experiencing. Kindly, comment on this The aim of the efforts and resources that have been, and are being channeled to security, is to minimise, if not wholly eradicate the cases of kidnappings, banditry, insurgency and suchlike. If things seem to have quietened down, every optimist in the nation, of whom I am one, will like to believe that the Government is finally winning this fight. We hope and pray that the relative peace we seem to be experiencing at the moment, will be permanent. While I commend the efforts and sacrifices of our gallant men/women of the armed forces and other security agencies, many of whom have paid the ultimate price, in the fight against this menace, within the limits of the tools/equipment available to them, I must also not fail to call on Government to do more. We have suffered so much bloodshed, and we cannot, both as Government and people of this nation, carry on as if nothing is happening.

We must all rise to the occasion, and be decisive in dealing with matters of insecurity in whatever shape or form.

We are however, not faring well at all economically, and that is attributable to a lot of factors. I can say that the current state of things didn’t just happen overnight; it was a long time coming – economists warned us for years that we were living in a bubble with our oil boom, but, our leaders refused to listen until the price of oil crashed all over the world, and our bubble burst. From there, it has been a downward spiral, going from bad to worse every day, with the average Nigerian being worst hit by the harsh conditions. No thanks to the insecurity challenges.

We need strong economic policies that will help us grow our economy, so that we can come out of our present situation. It will take time; but, if we put the right policies in place with strong men that will steer the economic ship, I believe that in a few years, we will not just dig ourselves out of this hole, we will be better and stronger economy-wise.

Thank you Learned Silk.

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FEATURES

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

Advocating for Clean Environmental Practices In commemoration of Global Recycling Day, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency partnered other stakeholders to clean up Oniru Beach while advocating for sustainable environmental practices, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

Lasepa family at the Oniru Beach Clean up

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment& Water Resources, Dr Bolaji Gaji with LASEPA, LAWMA and LASWA Team at the Clean up exercise

LASEPA GM with cash gift and a hug for best cleaner at Oniru Beach Clean up

Dr. Fasawe packing up the refuse at the clean up

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t was recently Global Recycling Day and for the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), what better way to commemorate it than to partner key stakeholders in cleaning up Oniru Beach?

Global Recycling Day is a day that further highlights the important role recycling plays in preserving the earth's natural resources and securing the future of the planet. It has become expedient because according to researchers, very year, the earth yields billions of tons of natural resources to transform into consumables. At some point, there will be nothing left”.

So on that fateful Saturday, LASEPA General Manager, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, while joining other environmentalists to clean up the Oniru beach, called for clean environmental practices among the people and adoption of recycling for a more sustainable ecosystem and protection of our planet.

Themed "Recycling Fraternity”, the event was put together by Sterling One Foundation in partnership with HRH Abisogun II Foundation (HAIIF), Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal to mark the year 2022 Global Recycling Day. Fasawe canvased for improved sanitary attitude and the need for citizens’ involvement in achieving environmental sustainability as polluted society negatively affects the socio-economic structure of the entire residents.

She noted further that the collaboration between the state government and other stakeholders is in recognition of the crucial need for a change in the mind-set of the people towards proper waste disposal etiquette, recycling and adoption of a circular economy system that is beneficial to businesses, society and the environment.

“Plastic pollution has become a global concern, we cannot undermine the value use of plastics in our daily needs, our societies have become highly dependent on single-use or disposable plastic, while ignoring its severe environmental consequences. Our planet is drowning in plastic litter and microplastics, as we make our drainages, beaches and oceans their Final destinations.

"It is time we pay attention, so, as we clean our surroundings every day, we should also clean the waterways and make them habitable

L-R: Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation; Dr Dolapo Fasawe, GM LASEPA; Dr Bolaji Gaji, PS, OES representing the HC, MOE & WR; HRM Oba Abdul Wasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Oniru of Iru Kingdom; Olori Mariam Lawal; Mr Ibrahim Odumboni, MD, LAWMA; Mr Tunde Areola, Executive Director, Commercial and institutional Banking, Sterling Bank; and Chief Olumide Oniru, Olopon of Iru Kingdom, Otunba of Ilashe for sea animals and prevent food poison as a result of sea contamination. It is our collective responsibility to salvage our environment from all forms of degradation and makes it a better place for all” she expressed.

According to her, it's disturbing to know that part of the waste generated in the state still end up on the streets and drainage channels causing flooding and other human made disasters capable of reducing the quality of life and negatively impact the economy.

She further disclosed that her agency took a bold step to salvage the environment by

banning single use plastics within its premise and providing alternative multiple use product that is not only friendly but also cost effective.

On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resource (office of the Environmental Services) Dr Tajudeen Omobolaji Gaji pointed out that the ministry has put in motion, effort to tackle the dire issues of environmental pollution in the state, particularly, in relation to plastic pollution and further encouraged the separation of

"Plastic pollution has become a global concern, we cannot undermine the value use of plastics in our daily needs, our societies have become highly dependent on single-use or disposable plastic, while ignoring its severe environmental consequences"

recyclable materials from the general waste at the point of generation.

“We recognise the urgent need to formulate various environmentally friendly policies as the crusade for a better, safer and cleaner environment.

Other corporate and non-governmental institutions are also enjoined to emulate the kind gesture of the organisers by supporting us in our quest to achieve an environmentally sustainable society, so the narrative can change in a not-too-distant future," Gaji averred.

Speaking at his palace, the Oniru of Iru kingdom, Oba Gbolahan Lawal commended LASEPA for being a progressive partner in its bid to rid the state off pollution.

According to him, the clean-up campaign was design to raise awareness on the aftermath of abusing and neglecting the environment, as well as helping communities to live a fulfilling life.

He called for a more robust environmental laws and effective enforcement to serve as deterrent to fragrant polluters.

"The agency should reach out to shopping malls/ supermarket to drive home its zero-tolerance campaign on plastic pollution, especially to promote the habit of using recyclable multiple use shopping bags in replacement of the single use / throwaway plastics carrier bags.

"This can be achieved through means of token gratification or incentive to shoppers with reusable bags and imposition of extra tax on single use nylons to discourage its use," he added.

The King recognised the relentless effort of the agency as a regulatory body in executing several environmentally friendly initiatives like, Tree Planting, Recycling and Green Energy program.

Advocating further for attitudinal change towards the environment, Oba Lawal revealed that he has planted over 1000 trees as his personal contribution to the environmental sustainability and charged Lagosians to take ownership of their environment and make regular cleaning exercise a lifestyle for an improved good living.

The event had in attendance, the Commissioner for Tourism, Art & Culture, Pharm. Uzamot Akinbile- Yusuf; DG LAWMA, Ibrahim Odumboni; and GM LASWA, Damilola Emmanuel, amongst others

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2022

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT $967bn Inadequate to Reverse Biodiversity Loss, Say Environmentalists Bennett Oghifo

A

new report released last week by the International Support Network for Africa Development (ISNAD-Africa) in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), says the $967 billion needed annually to reverse biodiversity loss in Africa and other parts of the world may be inadequate.

Scientists say already varieties of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up the natural world are under threat, stating that there is global financial need for biodiversity conservation and restoration, as well as reversing biodiversity loss.

Executive Director of ISNAD-Africa, Adedoyin Adeleke said while 78 per cent of the world’s

biodiversity finance is generated in developed economies, about 22 per cent is generated in developing economies, adding that COVID-19 and other issues have worsened the funding challenges for the reversal of affected biodiversity.

He said, “Moreover, the African continent still depends on traditional funding sources for conservation, such as government and donor support, as well as self-generated revenue, which is needed yet inadequate to bridge this funding gap. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the conservation-related funding significantly due to decline of tourism across African countries.

Hence, there is a crucial need to diversify and increase self-generated revenues and develop innovative financing mechanisms.”

To achieve the goal of the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, Adeleke said there

was a need to include the 2030 milestones in the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), stressing that the move must include easily communicable and define outcomes that must be achieved by 2030 to reverse biodiversity loss and put the world on track to achieve the 2050 Vision.

Adeleke added that it was crucial to improve measurability of outcomes needed by 2030. “We recommend that Parties refine and complement the milestones provided in the first draft of GBF to ensure they help focus the attention and actions of key decision makers, stakeholders and sectors on what needs to be achieved by 2030.

According to Adeleke, “In order to avoid confusion, we need to be clear that while milestones focus on outcomes, all targets should focus on the transformative actions needed to achieve the 2030

Mission, and strategies aimed at implementing the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework should be integrated with efforts aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change. “Thus, the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework targets should be linked to international climate goals for climate mitigation and adaptation through mechanisms such as nature-based solutions (NbS) to ensure nature-positive investment.

“Disclosure and transparency on financial contribution and investment on the protection of biodiversity similar to the Enhanced Transparency Framework in the Paris agreement.”

Adeleke added that there was a need to align and link strategies for implementing the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework with green strategies and net zero emissions in order to create an opportunity for more biodiversity funding.

Cavalli Group Awards Vantage Bourdillon Project to Vita Construction Bennett Oghifo Cavalli Business & Investment Group has awarded a contract for the building of its iconic The Vantage Bourdillon to leading Construction and Civil Engineering firm, Vita Construction.

Speaking at the Contract Award and Signing Event at the weekend in Lagos, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Cavalli Business & Investment Group, Mr. Emmanuel Odemayowa, said Vita Construction was selected after a very rigorous and competitive bidding process involving several world-class firms.

Mr. Odemayowa added that Vita Construction’s vast experience in the Nigerian Construction industry and their proven expertise with projects of the scale The Vantage Bourdillon entailed were key considerations in the award of the Construction contract to the firm.

“Knowing the importance of Bourdillon when it comes to prime real estate in Lagos, we had to come up with something that would wow everyone that beholds it and that informed the idea behind Vantage Bourdillon,” Odemayowa said.

He said Piling works and relevant tests on the project site had been completed, adding

that the completed Vantage Bourdillon would be a key landmark on the highbrow Bourdillon Road, meeting the lifestyle needs of its highly demanding clientele with the Building’s unique features.

The Managing Director/CEO of Vita Construction, Mr. Yiannakis Christodoulou, thanked Cavalli Group for the award of the contract, describing Vantage Bourdillon as a “fantastic architecture” that he was confident would be sold out.

He assured the Cavalli Group of his Company’s commitment to delivering of outstanding quality, drawing from their over four decades of experience of handling projects of such sophisticated magnitude, especially in Ikoyi.

The Vantage Bourdillon is a luxury Real Estate Development on 12 Suspended floors, comprising 11 Apartment Floors that would accommodate 22 private residences and a recreational floor with State-of-the-Art facilities including a swimming pool, cinema room, gym and spa.

The Apartment floors comprise fully serviced three bedroom apartments and five bedroom Penthouse maisonettes with various amenities designed, according to Mr. Odemayowa, to compare favourably with luxury apartments in the advanced economies.

L-R: The MD/CEO of Vita Construction, Mr. Yiannakis Christodoulou; and the GMD/CEO, Cavalli Business & Investment Group, Mr. Emmanuel Odemayowa, at the contract signing ceremony for the construction of the Vantage Bourdillon in Lagos… recently

How Remote Work is Bridging the Gender Gap Ola Williams Flexible, hybrid work is here to stay. That was the prevailing sentiment from Microsoft’s 2021 Work Trend Index (WTI). This is good news for innovation. Why? Because innovation surges when diversity increases, and one thing that remote and hybrid workplaces have enabled is more diverse hiring. The WTI notes that remote-work opportunities were found to be more attractive to diverse applicants: women, Gen Z jobseekers (those currently aged 18 to 25), and those without a graduate degree were more likely to apply for remote positions on LinkedIn. For gendered diversity in the workplace, remote work is driving much-needed improvement.

Global statistics on gender equality in employment reveal a deeply entrenched disparity, with men participating more in the labour force and advancing more within it than their female counterparts. Alarmingly, if we remain on the current hiring and promoting trajectory, it will take just over 135 years to close the gender gap worldwide. This was the finding of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in its latest 2021 Global Gender Gap Report.

The pandemic has served to widen this gap, with WEF sharing early projections that show 5 percent of all employed women lost their jobs in the resulting economic disruption, compared with 3.9 percent of employed men.

Women are also poorly represented in the ‘jobs of the future’ sector. Such roles arose alongside digital transformation, which accelerated rapidly in response to the pandemic with businesses being forced to operate online during lockdown closures of physical spaces. WEF found that only two of the eight jobs of the future that they tracked had reached gender equality. For

example, there are only 32.4 percent of women in Data and AI-focused roles across the world.

Employment gender parity in Nigeria Looking at the category of Economic Participation and Opportunity, WEF reported favourable results for sub-Saharan Africa, with the region having closed just over 66 percent of the gender gap, outperforming the global average of 58.3 percent. However, homing in on a per-country view shows this progress varies wildly.

Out of the 156 countries surveyed globally, Nigeria comes in at 139 on the list for overall gender parity, placing it at number 32 out of the 35 countries surveyed across sub-Saharan Africa.

Nigeria fares far better looking at gendered hiring and promoting, ranking 78 globally in the Economic Participation and Opportunity category.

While participation between men and women in the country’s labour force shows slight disparity (19.9 million women versus 22.9 million men), senior roles are largely gendered in favour of men. Just under 14 percent of Nigeria’s firms have women in top management positions.

Clearly, more work must be done to bridge the employment gender divide in Nigeria.

Remote work bridging the gendered gap Being able to work remotely has opened many new career opportunities for workers across the globe. Not being confined to one geographical area means the ability to accept jobs based anywhere. As the WTI notes, ‘this fundamental shift expands economic opportunity for individuals and enables organisations to build high-performing, diverse teams from a near-limitless talent pool.’

The index found that the number of women applying for remote work over locally based

jobs on LinkedIn increased by six percent.

This growing trend presents an opportunity for business leaders to hire a more diverse team where women are equally represented. On how employers can help nurture this trend for a more representative workforce, the WTI asked LinkedIn Chief Economist Karen Kimbrough

for her expert advice: “Employers can help by actively seeking female talent, removing bias from job descriptions, and offering more flexibility to allow for a better work-life balance.”

-Ola Williams, Country Manager for Microsoft Nigeria

Securex Returns to Lagos to Inspire, Engage, Reconnect its Community Securex West Africa has said it would return to Lagos in May, to reunite its community and act as a catalyst in kicking off business sales in the new normal.

West Africa’s leading exhibition and conference for the security, safety, fire and facilities management sectors promises to engage, inspire and connect its more than 3,000 audience members over three days from the 10th – 12th May 2022 at the Landmark Centre, Lagos.

Returning for its 10th Edition, delayed since 2019 due to the pandemic, the organisers are excited for what’s in store.

Speaking with the Regional Director, George Pearson, said “With the time since the last event we have been hard at work bringing in new elements to the show and refreshing the offering and we can’t wait to showcase it in Lagos once

again.”

The new elements are the launch of dedicated exhibition areas and conference themes aimed at the Fire, Safety, Smart Cities and Facilities Management industries.

These will support the parent brand of Securex to provide a full 360 approach for public and private sector workers who manage the security and safety needs of their organisations, buildings or sites.

Sponsors for this year’s event include Halogen Group, Net Global Systems, Redleaf, Servo Direct and ZK Teco with supporting partners to include Nigeria Security and Civil Deference Corps, The British Deputy High Commission, ASIS Lagos Chapter, International Institute of Professional Security and OSHAssociation among others.

Mr Pearson added that he

“was delighted to be supported by such a quality array of partners.”

The exhibitor lineup is also something to shout about with many companies in attendance for the first time, including Aeronautics, Danfoss, Detego, Powerec Global Services, Tysers andTrackforce Valiantas well as some of the long standing partners to the exhibition including A1-Fence, Multimesh, Nemtek, SB Tel and Synergetics to name but a few of the over eighty brands present.

The organsiers also said that for the first time the exhibition has partnered with the industry leading networking platform that will enable all participants to reach out and connect with all other attendees before they arrive onsite in order to set up meetings and ensure they don’t miss anyone at the live event.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

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

08056356325

M A R C H

S & P INDEX

2 8 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

9.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

564.02%

1/4 TO DATE

5.82%

N413.03/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

10.75%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

–0.17%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.85%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.19%

In Major Improvement, Vandalism on Oil Facilities Falls by 68% in February Production Circle Nigeria lost 7.503m barrels in December NNPC’s federation remittance deficit now N351.9bn

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government and its partners in the oil and gas industry recorded a huge slump in crude oil losses in the January/February production circle, a THISDAY review of industry data has shown.

The decrease to 2.2 million barrels during the period, is a significant improvement on Nigeria’s perennial crude oil losses which hit as high as 7.2 million barrels the previous month.

Although, during the period under review, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) declared a force majeure in one of its facilities, the new data released by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Plc, indicated that it’s the least loss for the nation in months.

Nigeria has for months been unable to meet the production quota allocated to it by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) due to losses to vandalism

and outright sabotage as well as community issues.

The menace has further impacted on government institutions as well as individual operators who have recently raised the alarm over the humongous losses the nation and private entities are being subjected to.

Earlier, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, who spoke at the end of the 284th monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja,

blamed the trend of oil theft for the inability of Nigeria to meet its oil production quota.

Describing the situation as unprecedented, he stated that the occurrence has had a debilitating effect on government revenue and accretion to reserves, adding that the global prices have gone up and are compounded by the shortage of supply of petroleum products.

Similarly, the association of indigenous exploration and production companies, the

Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), recently put it succinctly when it described the occurrence as an “existential threat.”

Chairman, IPPG, Mr Abdulrasaq Isa, speaking a fortnight ago at the 5th Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES), said that the challenge should be tackled before it finally kills the sector.

Less than two weeks ago, Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operators of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line

(NCTL) pipeline, threatened to exit the facility due to incessant vandalism, sabotage and outright theft.

Similarly, a Co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc, Mr Austin Avuru called for a state of emergency in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, revealing that up to 80 per cent of oil pumped in the country, particularly in the East, is stolen.

Continued on page 26

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: AfDB to Mobilise $1bn for Wheat Production in Africa Gilbert Ekugbe The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced plans to mobilise $1 billion to boost the production of wheat and other crops in Africa.

In a statement obtained from its website, the AfDB said that its Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme is already helping the continent to fulfill its enormous potential in the

agriculture sector by employing high-impact technologies to boost output.

Report had revealed that wheat imports accounted for about 90 per cent of Africa’s $4 billion trade with Russia and nearly half of

FOOD

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N23,000–N25,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N23,500-N25,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

50KG

RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

50KG 50KG

N23,000–N26,500

SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 EDO

N17,000–N20,000

the continent’s $4.5 billion trade.

“This is now raising the spectre of mass starvation on a continent that depends on food imports to feed itself. If ever there was a time to drastically raise food production in Africa, it is now,”

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

the statement added.

The multilateral agency added that the goal is to help 40 million farmers increase their harvests of heat-tolerant wheat varieties, rice, soybean and other crops to feed about 200 million people.

AfDB said that central to these efforts is the need to train farmers in new techniques that would increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change, Continued on page 26

T O D AY

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

N9,000

C O C OA

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON

ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

1 TON

OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

100KG

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

1 TON

CROSS RIVER

N700,000 – N720,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

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TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

PH

NAME OF COMMODITY

TOMATOES

N21,000 – 24,000

COMMODITIES SIZE

STATE

40KG BENUE

PRICE

N15,000

40KG

KADUNA

N5,000

40KG

ABIA

N18,000

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

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

25CL ABUJA

N19500- N25000

25KG LAGOS 40KG DELTA

N9,500 N17000

PRICE

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

ABIA

NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG ABIA

N14000

50KG LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

NEITI: Over 1.64m Tonnes of Solid Minerals Exported Without Permit in 2020 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has indicated that over 1.64 million tonnes of solid minerals were exported without the required government permits in 2020.

In the latest document released by the organisation, it noted that there was a discrepancy between the volume of the minerals recorded by the Minerals Inspectorate Department (MID) Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

“Minerals export as per the records derived from the export permits issued

by Minerals Inspectorate Department (MID) was 34.

634 million tonnes of minerals while the record of NCS showed 32.992 tonnes. There were minerals exported for which there were no evidence of export permit,” NEITI said.

It urged government to continue with deepening the ongoing reforms in the sector as well as oversee the full implementation of the roadmap to achieve the set goals.

“There should be periodic reconciliation of export permit issued by the ministry of solid minerals and actual export records of NCS. This will ensure that only minerals with valid permits are exported,” NEITI recommended.

Stressing that the target of government is to increases the contribution of the solid minerals sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 5 per cent, NEITI called for investment in the generation of geological data, access to funding and engagement with the relevant stakeholders in

order to sustain investment and revenue growth in the sector.

While there was significant compliance with the NEITI audit process, the initiative recommended that government should put in place strict sanctions against non responsive companies to deter future occurrence.

Furthermore, it called on the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) to intensify effort and vigorously pursue the recovery of the outstanding liability into government coffers.

“MCO should invoke the

relevant sections of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and the regulations made pursuant thereto, and revoke mineral titles whose holders have defaulted in the payment of their annual service fee to the federal government of Nigeria.

“Similarly, after the revocation of such titles, the holders should be made to pay all outstanding liabilities prior to the revocation in accordance with the Act,” the report noted.

On recommendations, NEITI called on government

and private sector business operators to collaborate on developing and implementing digital and electronic business transaction platforms or models that are efficient and require less human interface.

In addition, NEITI urged government to encourage the development and exploitation of the identified strategic minerals through the establishment of mineral corridors, clusters and partnering with competent investors and other stakeholders to explore and develop the mineral resources.

Banning Russian Oil Will Destabilise Energy Market, OPEC Tells EU Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has told the European Union (EU) that global energy markets would be destabilised if the countries follow through with a threat to ban imports of Russian oil.

S&P Global quoted sources in the producer group as having confirmed an official communication on the matter, with traders warning of massive price spikes beyond the surge already seen

OPEC, which formed an alliance with Russia in late 2016 to manage the oil market, has been intensely lobbied by western countries and major consumers to increase crude output to offset the impact of sanctions imposed for the Ukraine war.

But it has insisted that the disruptions to the market are not its responsibility to mitigate, and delegates say the bloc remains disinclined to cast aside its production quotas or raise them more aggressively.

OPEC is scheduled to meet with Russia and its nine other allies on March 31 to discuss May production levels.

“The world can’t replace Russia’s exports,” one source said of the group’s message to the EU, which was delivered in an online meeting between Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson and OPEC Secretary General, Sanusi Barkindo.

Ireland and Lithuania are among the EU member states calling for a ban on Russian oil.

Russia is one of the top three crude producers in the

world and exports more than 7 million bpd of crude and refined products.

Europe imported about 2.7 million bpd of Russian crude and another 1.5 million bpd of refined products, mostly diesel, before the invasion of Ukraine, S&P noted.

The meeting, which was requested by the EU, was called to discuss the “extraordinary times for the energy market and the unprecedented oil prices,” which pose “a serious risk to the world economy,” Simson said on Twitter.

The Platts Dated Brent benchmark was assessed at $126.50/b on March 23 and has been extremely volatile in recent weeks, hitting a 14-year high of $137.64/b on March 8 before falling to the month’s low of $107.96/b on March 16.

Western sanctions targeting Russia’s financial sector over the war have tightened the oil market and caused European buyers to seek alternative supplies. Some traders have warned that prices could hit $200/b or more with further hits to Russian oil flows.

S&P Global analysts estimate that about 2 million bpd of Russian crude and 700,000 bpd of product exports have been disrupted so far.

Meanwhile, OPEC SecretaryGeneral and Chief Coordinator of the 23-member countries OPEC+, Barkindo, is in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the World Government Summit (WGS) and the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum (GEF) holding in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively, between March 27 and 30.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT: AFDB TO MOBILISE $1BN FOR WHEAT PRODUCTION IN AFRICA pointing out that to feed a hungry and rapidly growing population in the continent, farmers need to produce more food with fewer resources while confronting erratic weather patterns, floods, droughts, the spread of pathogens and the loss of biodiversity.

“Thanks to the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, an Africa-led initiative launched last year to reverse the continent’s vulnerability to climate change, the Global Center on Adaptation

(GCA) and other development partners are already working to bring climate-resilient techniques to small-scale producers who grow most of Africa’s food,” the statement added.

AfDB added: “The GCA estimates that investing to climateproof African farms costs less than one-tenth of the damage inflicted by climate disasters, including crop losses, disaster relief, rebuilding roads and getting farmers back on their feet. For sub-Saharan Africa,

these sunk costs are estimated at $201 billion a year, compared to the investments needed for climate adaptation in agriculture, which is estimated at $15 billion, again according to the GCA.” Farmers in sub-Saharan Africa face the combined challenges of a rapidly changing climate, malnutrition and a growing population. They will need more resilient, productive and nutritious crops if they are to meet this challenge. Such change

must happen quickly and at scale.

In Africa, climate change could wipe out 15 per cent of gross domestic product by 2030. This means an additional 100 million people forced into poverty by the end of the decade.

Protecting the continent’s rich biodiversity is a route to boosting agricultural yields and finding new crop varieties that are better suited to drier and hotter climates.

Genebanks conserve thousands of important plant samples which

scientists can use to develop better varieties, but for years they have suffered from insufficient funding and inadequate staffing, putting plant collections – and future food security – at risk.

The BOLD Project, run by the Crop Trust and funded by Norway and the European Union, provided financial and technical support for genebanks in Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana to reach international standards of operation, ensuring collections are

safe – and available for use – over the long term.

With food prices climbing and supplies disrupted by conflict, Africa needs to harness as many climate-resilient solutions as it can, quickly and at scale, to stave off the threat of a catastrophic food crisis. Investing in climate adaptation for agriculture is the smartest, most cost-efficient way to guarantee the continent’s food security. There is no time to waste.

IN MAJOR IMPROVEMENT, VANDALISM ON OIL FACILITIES FALLS BY 68% IN FEBRUARY PRODUCTION CIRCLE Avuru’s comments came days after a businessman and Chairman Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu, in the same vein, bemoaned the worsening state of the industry, stressing that about 95 per cent of oil production does not get to the terminal.

But the new information made available from the NNPC presentation to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), this month, showed that the latest losses occurred in nine incidents.

The affected terminals include Forcados, Bonga, Excravos, Odudu, Brass, Ones Cree, Ajapa and Aje. Forcados shed 60,959 barrels, Bonga lost 22,612 barrels, while Excravos and Odudu lost 306,200 barrels and 1,050,183 million barrels respectively.

Production on the Brass line was

curtailed by 325,7,50 barrels; in Ones Cree it decreased by 420,000 barrels while in Ajapa and Aje, losses hit 11,000 barrels and 21,000 barrels respectively during the period.

While SPDC declared force Majeure, due to a serious incident, involving jack up barge, the report stated that the community crisis continued in south swamp resulting in loss of production of 9,000 barrels per day.

Excravos experienced a flow line damage resulting to a loss of about 1,700 barrel per day while Odudu and Ima were also shut in during the period due to maintenance work.

Also, sabotage was recorded at the Tebidada and Ogbaibiri flow stations while the NNPC said funding was a challenge for the Jones creek production leading to the disruption of operations as a

result of non-payment of workers, while Aje was also shut down.

Last month, Nigeria recorded its highest single-month crude oil loss in a long time, as a result of disruptions due to maintenance, community issues and force majeure at the Forcados terminal.

Although the interruptions mainly occurred in December last year, it reverberated in the January activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), during which the firm was unable to contribute anything to the Federation Account.

In a document in which the national oil company explained its operations to the FAAC, it told the body that the nation lost 7.503 million barrels during the month, in eight major incidents.

Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector has struggled in the last one

year, due to deteriorating facilities occasioned by waning investment as well as oil theft, sabotage and community issues.

With an average oil price for the month of January hovering at around $90, it is estimated that the country may have lost as much as $675 million to the phenomena during the period under review.

Recently, THISDAY reported that a combination of huge oil pipeline repair cost and high-level theft of crude oil was bleeding out the Nigerian economy, with losses amounting to at least $29 billion in the last six years, spanning between 2015 and 2021.

In February 2021, the NNPC Limited had said the country lost an average of 200,000 barrels per day of its crude oil production to saboteurs and illegal pilfering by criminals.

Last Friday, THISDAY reported that for the second month running, NNPC failed to remit its statutory funding of the Federation Account, a joint pool collectively operated by the federal, state and local governments in February.

The situation portrays a deepening inability of the national oil company to meet its obligations to its biggest stakeholder, the federation, with the planned N328 billion deduction scheduled for next month, arguably the highest since it began the payment of petrol subsidy.

Available data indicated that it had so far exceeded its subsidy budget by N356.3 billion to hit N430.165 billion in January and February.

Whereas the NNPC was supposed to have paid the federation about N351.9 billion

this year, it had only succeeded in remitting zero naira to the three tiers of government at February, according to the March presentation.

It also did not fund many of its hitherto mandatory cost centres, during the month under review, including the non-functional refineries, which it spends close to N10 billion on every month, the Nigeria/Morocco pipeline, frontier exploration services, among others.

Despite the rising international prices of oil, in January also, the NNPC in the same manner failed to remit its usual funding to the joint account.

This would be the third time in less than a year that the company would be unable to deliver a kobo to the joint account, following the same occurrence in April last year, when the firm announced zero remittance for the month.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

31

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Adeniyi: We’ll Drive the Economy Like Crazy in First Half of 2022 The President of Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, speaks about the associations oncoming employers’ summit and the implications of the current high cost of energy, especially diesel, on the economy. Dike Onwuamaeze brings the excerpts: May you explain objectives of the oncoming Nigeria Employers’ Summit, which is being promoted by NECA? want to thank you for the interest you have in our activities. This particular summit is special. We go to meetings to report that the unemployment figures are going up without any concerted effort, and I am choosing my words now, to bring down the figures. For us as members of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN), and NECA in particular, we have decided to do it differently by organising an employers’ summit.

The summit is aimed at providing the OPSN and other stakeholders the privilege to identify and explore the nexus between a thriving private sector and national economy.

The second aim is to provide a platform that will help to identify the impediments to enterprise competitiveness and employment creation in the country and proffer solutions to these impediments. We are aware that graduates are being shunned out every year in tens of thousands from the universities and higher institutions of learning. But I always ask myself, where is the job market that will absorb them?

We have statistics that showed that we have the highest number of unemployed youths. NECA is coming as a go- in-between to bridge that gap by providing that platform.

We also want to put together a workable action plans and mechanisms that will include specified targets that will enable us to measure milestones and identify what we have been able to achieve within a given period. It may appear small but it is better to be gaining tractions than just talking without making movements.

We are also hoping that the outcomes, recommendations and the communiqué that will come from this employers’ summit will serve as a strategic advocacy roadmap for the operators of the Nigerian economy. It will serve as the employers’ input to national planning, to national budgeting, and other developmental plans of the country. We want to bring people together and be able to measure the outcome of that gathering over time.

Why should customs have a target?

What will the target achieve?

Remove customs from revenue target and ask it to make ensure that all cargoes that arrive in this country must be cleared within 48 hours. Its ability to do this will help the industries. Somebody should do the critical analysis on the benefits to the economy of having customs as a revenue collection agency.

I

What is the extent of government’s involvement in this summit to ensure that its outcome will be implemented?

Doing anything of this nature without government’s input will mean that failure is already embedded in it. What we have done is to reach out to the presidency and invite key stake holders that run this economy. We are expecting the special guest of honour to be the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari. We have invited the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to be the guest of honour. We have invited the President of AfDB to be the keynote speaker. We have also invited the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajiabila, and the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning as well as the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, etc., will all be participating.

Basically we want to bridge that gap so that we will have a rallying point for the government and the OPSN. What level of participation are we expecting from other segments of the OPSN in this summit?

Currently, the secretariat of the OPSN is resident in NECA. We have a technical committees working on this project that involves the representatives of other arms of the OPSN. It is not NECA going it alone. We have the buy in of the MAN, NACCIMA,

Adeniyi

NASMEs and NASSI. NECA is the one spearheading this particular summit because its focus is on employment, which is one of NECA’s cardinal points.

If the summit is about manufacturing, then the MAN will be driving it.

How do we help the industries to create these jobs?

The government of today has been doing a lot to create avenues for employment. It has come with all manner of grants, loans and funding windows.

But what you found is that even to though these funds are available; most of our graduates do not know how to access them and therefore not being able to set up their own businesses.

What we want, for example, is that in drafting the national budget we must ensure that we take into account the need to create jobs, which is beyond giving money to firms even though that it is good to support industries.

We have to start being strategic about deploying these funds. And that is what this summit is trying to achieve.

Everybody is saying that the economy is improving but we want to know how many jobs that have been added.

How do you perceive the economic environment this year?

The economy of Nigeria this year is divided into two halves. In the first half of this year, we are going to drive the economy and almost drive it crazy in the sense that there will be so many unusual things happening and we are beginning to see them. Diesel at the beginning of this year iwa around N280 per litre, it is almost N750 per litre now.

And a lot of this will happen within the first six months of this year.

But I can assure you that the second half of this year will be likened to a stiff abandoned engine that has been lubricated. So, I can assure that by the second half of this year, by the time the primaries of the political parties will

commence, a lot of money will get into this economy and will force a change because people will have more access to financing to do things they had not been able to do earlier. So, I know there will be a change in the second half of this year. And it will drive us till a new administration comes in in 2023.

What is the relationship between NECA and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in terms of capacity building?

Well, I must give kudos to the ITF. What it is doing is to provide backing for skill acquisition and development in Nigeria. It is doing this across the industrial sectors by training manpower in all spheres of endavour. We are getting results.

What impact are FIIRO and RMRCN making on the industrial sector?

I remember that I sat at a committee with the RMRCN over a company that wanted to produce calcium carbonate because I worked for a company that is an end user of calcium carbonate.

When I got the papers and went through them, I told them that this is a fraud.

The RMRCN claimed to have inspected the factory but I insisted that it was a fraud. We interviewed the gentleman representing the company.

After the interview it was obvious that all that the gentleman wanted to do was to get RMRCN to fund a project that is never going to be actualised.

This is what you find in a number of these government agencies. These agencies sit in their offices and expect that things will just happen. They all have budget heads but who checks what they do with them other than recurrent spending? Each time I think of these things I pray that one day the government will hear me, and I am not sure that I am the only person talking about this.

Is this what you meant by asking government to set its priorities right by avoiding policies that are counterproductive?

This is one of them. Our economy is at a critical stage where we cannot continue to be repeating the same mistake that is not giving us the desired result. We need to review this and operate differently for three months to see what the result will be. Is not as quickly as I get my raw materials that I will quickly turn it around?

Is Nigeria getting its economic priorities right as a country? We cannot say that totally we are not doing well in some areas. I will tell you a small story. In 2010 an organisation that I had worked for wanted to establish a factory in Sierra Leone. It approached the Bank of Industry (BoI) for N750 million.

The BoI requested a bank guarantee from the organisation. That organisation went to one of its banks and requested for a bank guarantee. That request was turned down.

The organisation went away disappointed because the money did not come out. In 2016, the same organisation went to BoI and this time around the executives of the BoI have been changed immediately President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration came in 2015. The same organisation went back to ask for loan from BoI. The personnel’s of BoI guided the organisation in putting its documents together that by the time it got to the bank it will not be rejected. The BoI became intentional and were ready to give out the money. The organiation ended up getting N4 billion against the initial request of N750 million. I know a number of other organisations that have also benefitted from that because the government was deliberate about it by changing the governance structure in BoI and measuring the bank based on the number of loans it granted to support industries. Who is measuring customs based on the number of cargoes that were cleared?

How prepared is Nigeria for the AfCFTA? My fear about AfCFTA is that we are going to open up this economy, there is no doubt about it, but the question begging for an answer is will Nigeria benefit from it because our borders are so porous. What I suspect that is going to happen is that people will bring in goods from Europe and elsewhere into our neighbouring countries, repackage them and bring them into Nigeria in the name of AfCFTA. That is why we are talking about the Rules of Origin (RoO).

If you ask the law enforcement agencies in Nigeria to enforce the RoO they will do it excellently well. But go across the border and ask them to implement the RoO and the story will be different. Mitigating this means that our government will be deliberate about it by Identifying key items of importation and set up industrial centres where they will be produced in millions, even funding the production of those items. We are not approaching the AfCFTA at the same speed other member countries are advancing toward it. They are moving very fast because they know that there is a market in Nigeria. We pray that our country will not become a destination trade centre where only trading will be happening and not manufacturing.

32

TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

33

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NEPC Harps on National Trade Facilitation Bodies to Boost Nigeria’s Non-oil Export Gilbert Ekugbe The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has emphasised the need for Nigeria to embrace National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NFTBs) to drive the nation’s non-oil exports.

According to NEPC, NTFBs are very vital in trade facilitation, noting that in some developed economies, these bodies have become independent agencies facilitating trade activities across the globe.

The Regional Coordinator, South West, NEPC, Lagos, Mr. Samuel Oyeyipo, at a sensitisation workshop on encouraging private sector participation in meetings of National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs), said the workshop on trade facilitation is aimed at enabling participants’ access

information needed to enable them appreciate the need to participate in meetings of NFTBs. Represented by the Director, Office of the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, NEPC, Ms. Estelle Igwe, stated on the sidelines of the workshop that since the introduction of single window in 2003, Nigeria is yet to have a national single window.

He stated that the absence of a national single window is inhibiting Nigeria’s ability to maximise its export potentials to the world.

In his words: “The NTFP went moribund and because we are not party to any single window recommendations that is being developed, this IS why we do not have a national single window.”

Also speaking, the Deputy Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos Chapter,

Aero Introduced Four for Five Promo for Air Travellers In a bid to encourage families to travel this Easter season, Nigeria’s oldest aviation company, Aero Contractors is introducing a promo tagged four-for-five (FFF) promo.

The company said with this promo, anyone who buys four tickets gets a fifth one for free.

According to the Management of Aero Contractors, “To be eligible for this promo, booking for all four passengers must be on the same reference, passengers are advised to make bookings within the window period in order to enjoy this promo.

The fifth ticket will be valid till the end of June 2022 from the date of

purchase and it can be used at any time within the period.

This offer is timely for our existing customers and new customers who will have the opportunity to visit or spend time with their loved ones during the holiday season.

“We are delighted to introduce this promotional package which will assist our customers to re-unite with their loved ones during this Easter holiday season. At Aero Contractors, we are committed to making flying accessible and making sure our customers have the opportunity to celebrate with their loved ones every holiday.”

Mr. Shakin Agbeyewa, said the workshop is apt and coming at a time where lots of food

products are being wasted at the farm gates.

He said the programme

would avail participants the opportunity to understand how vital NTFBs are to boosting cross

border transactions while also increasing the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

SECURITIES ISSUANCE AWARENESS…

L-R: Head, Business Development, CSL Stockbrokers Limited, Mr. Olukayode Olayemi; Head, Retail Business, CSL Stockbrokers, Ifeoma Ukwunna; Managing Director, FBNQuest Limited, Mrs. Fiona Ahime and Chief Executive Officer, CSL Stockbrokers, Mr. Abiodun Fagbulu, during an awareness programme on securities issuance organised by the DMO in partnership with CSL Stockbrokers and other stakeholders, held in Lagos… recently

Firm Earmarks €15m to Raise Solar Power Generation to 15mw Peter Uzoho The Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) says it has set aside €15 million to achieve its plan of increasing solar power generation across all its plants in the country to 15 megawatts by the end of 2022.

Managing Director, NBC, Mr. Matthieu Seguin, disclosed this during a tour of the company’s

plant in Ikeja, Lagos, intended to showcase the firm’s efforts towards total migration to renewable energy in its operations in Nigeria.

Seguin also revealed that the company spends almost N2 billion annually to run its Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants numbering six, n Nigeria.

Director, Public Affairs and Communications, NBC, Mr. Ekuma

Eze, also called on the federal government to review the Nigerian Gas Master Plan in a way that will make gas more available to manufacturers and logistics firms to support the nation’s drive towards clean energy and environmental sustainability.

He emphasised the need for government to formulate and implement enabling policies that will

encourage proper waste management and other actions that will contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and environmental hazards.

Eze advised that government should encourage emission reduction by ensuring that more Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations are set up across the country to migrate logistics companies to using CNG on their trucks.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa said: “Looking at the technical details of this project and its benefits, an upgrade from 2.5MVA to 7.5MVA, I believe it will address two critical areas of concern to our administration in this corridor.

“This is another landmark achievement in the power sector.

There is no gainsaying the fact that power supply is very significant to our individual and national lives.”

He added that Nigeria has had a long history of problematic public power supply but that the current administration was determined to resolve the country’s infrastructure deficit.

“Access to adequate electricity in educational facilities like Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, will certainly improve learning processes and the general condition. It will no doubt enable night academic activities, which are critical to academic pursuit.

“Also, illumination of campus premises in the night will aid security operations and discourage criminal activities. It will also increase economic activities on campus and its environs.

“With regular power supply on campus, students will have access to electrical appliances and tools like computer and internet facilities to enhance their education which

will further grant them access to further educational resources online, improve their assimilation rate and narrow the digital divide through information and communication technology, ”he said.

Earlier, NDPHC’s Executive Director, Networks, IfeOluwa Oyedele had said that while it is not the duty of NDPHC, since the company’s primary mandate is to generate electricity, the company intervenes because those with the mandate to provide transmission and distribution services “do not have the capacities to extend power supply to all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.”

P E C B U n ive r s i t y Partners Digital Encode Akeredolu Flags Off Construction of on Quality Education NDPHC’s Power Substation in Ondo Emma Okonji PECB University has signed a new academic partnership agreement with Digital Encode Limited, to commit their knowledge, resources, and efforts to provide top-class education to students in Nigeria.

PECB University is an independent institution of higher education focused on business education, which is inspired by the tenets of professionalism of its parent company, PECB Inc. – a world-class certification body for persons on international standards.

On the other hand, Digital Encode is a leading Pan-African professional service and integration firm founded in 2003 that specializes in the design, management, and security of business-critical networks,

telecommunications environments, and other Information Technology (IT) infrastructures.

Dean of PECB University, Eric Lachapelle, said: “PECB University has built a strong reputation in the worldwide market for its expertise in academic degree offerings, and will ensure that our study programs preserve international standards.”

The Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) at Digital Encode Limited, Dr. Obadare Peter Adewale, said: “We are exhilarated with this strategic academic partnership with PECB University and we believe the partnership will increase our capacity building drive to make Nigeria the Cyber security and IT GRC Knowledge Hub of Africa,” Adewale said.

Red Star Express Confirms Auwalu Babura as New CEO Chinedu Eze The Board of Directors of Red Star Express Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. Auwalu Badamasi Babura, the incumbent Executive Director (Finance and Administration) as the new Managing Director/CEO of the company.

The company in a statement said Babura would replace the current

Group Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Sola Obabori whose tenure comes to an end on March 31st 2022, in line with Red Star’s meticulous succession planning process.

Mr. Charles Ejekam, currently Divisional Managing Director, Red Star Logistics, was also announced by the Board, as the new Executive Director Sales and Marketing. Both appointments are effective April 1, 2022.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has flagged off a distribution intervention project for the improvement of electricity supply at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, Ondo State, built by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Limited.

The project is the construction of 1×2.5MVA 33/11kV injection substation with associated 33kV/11kV & LT lines & installation of three 500kVA distribution substation transformers.

At the ceremony, Akeredolu who was represented by his Deputy, Mr.

Tingo Mobile to Boost Farmers’ Productivity, Checkmate Food Wastage with Smart Technologies Gilbert Ekugbe An Agri-Fintech company, Tingo Mobile, has announced plans to boost the productivity of Nigerian farmers by about 60 per cent with its smart farming technologies.

The company stated that the move is timely since boosting farmers’ productivity could not be over emphasised in view of the nation’s rising population.

The Chief Operating Officer, Tingo Mobile, Mr. Alao Ayoade, said at the launch of Tingopay super app in Lagos with its smart technology would connect millions of farmers through their various cooperative societies to enable them to market

their produce locally and internationally from their comfort zones.

Ayoade said: “With this, farmers have unlimited access and market information such that their worries about infrastructural challenges, time and product wastage is totally addressed. It is a win, win, situation for these farmers and commodity traders across the world as well as our company serves as the link bridge.

“To simplify this process and also assist these farmers, we had to provide them with our customised mobile devices. We currently have over 15 million of such devices in the market.”

He stated that Tingo Mobile has been able to reduce time wastage,

increase productivity of farmers and enhanced their wellbeing as they have more time to rest.

He also stated that with Tingo Mobile, farmers would be able to increase their profitability by 40 -60 per cent, thereby boosting their investment to produce more while also connect to a global market and network that help resolves challenges in their farming value chain “It will help to reduce food waste by over 50 per cent, increase Nigeria’s share of non-oil export, address poverty in rural community as well as rural to urban migration and help the country to achieve Sustainable Development Goals,” he added.

According to him, statistics from

Nigerian Bureau of Statistic (NBS) and PwC analysis shows that contribution of the agricultural sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been between 22 and 26 per cent from 2013 to 2020.

“The population of Nigeria is growing very vast. We are projected to more than double by 2050, possibly the largest in the world. While our population is growing rapidly, so also is the poverty rate, we have second largest poor population after India took the first place earlier this month. Before then we occupied the first position. Amidst these issues, food insecurity already remains a serious national concern for us as a nation,” he warned.

34

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͷ˜ 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

ABCON Implores CBN to Reverse Ban on FX Sales to BDCs Nume Ekeghe The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has solicited the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) support in ensuring that Bureaux De Change (BDCs) continue to sell dollars to retail end forex buyers.

In a notice to its members, ABCON National Executive Council (NEC), appealed to the regulator to revisit the stoppage of dollar sales to BDCs, to bring lasting stability to the naira.

The group disagreed with claims that naira has remained largely stable and converging following the stoppage of dollar allocation to BDCs. According to ABCON NEC, BDCs remain the most potent tool for the CBN to achieve its foreign

exchange rate management.

“Our position to CBN is that our members should be considered in whatever mechanism of dollar supply to the end users as it is done in other countries instead of a total blanket removal from the market. We therefore reject the statements claiming that the naira exchange rate has improved following stoppage of dollar sales to BDCs and urge our members to ignore those pronouncements,” it said.

The ABCON NEC said it will continue to take steps that ensure that the business of its members are restored and operators continue their legitimate operations as is done in other parts of the world.

“We the EXCOS are not sleeping on our responsibility to ensure that our members’ businesses are

sustained. We therefore call on all our members to continue to ignore statements against the BDCs and continue to give us the necessary supports in ensuring normalcy is restored to the market,” the statement said.

ABCON NEC said the BDC sub-sector is not responsible for naira exchange rate volatility.

“The naira exchanges at N416.25/$ at the official market.

However, at the parallel market, where majority of forex is sourced by manufacturers and retail end users, the naira exchanges at N587/$, representing over N170 premium between both markets, “it said.

It said inclusion of BDCs in dollar supply mechanisms will help reduce the challenges faced

by Forex end users and support naira stability.

MAAN Commends Unity Bank for Supporting CBN’S Anchor Borrowers’ Programme

MARKET INDICATORS

Kayode Tokede

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

Nigerian maize farmers under the auspices of Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria (MAAN) have commended Unity Bank Plc for their role in facilitating the financing of maize production by smallholder farmers in the country through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The President of MAAN, Dr Bello Abubakar gave the commendation while delivering an address at the official unveiling of 21 maize pyramids in Kaduna recently. Abubakar said Unity Bank has proved to be a trusted and reliable partner of Nigerian maize farmers in their journey to sustain sufficiency in maize production in the country.

“What we celebrate today would have been impossible without our finance partner, Unity Bank. The Bank has been a reliable partner in the journey and we shall continue to partner to greater heights,” Abubakar said.

Through Unity Bank’s strategic partnership with the maize farmers under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the CBN, which focuses on commodities with significant concerns for foreign exchange, maize production output has risen to 11 million metric tons from 10.1 million metric tonnes in 2014.

As a major financial institution partner of the ABP, the Bank has facilitated the disbursement of billions of naira to no fewer than 4.52 million smallholder farmers across the various commodity

value chains supported by the ABP, including to an additional 120,000 maize farmers in 2021 alone. Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Oluwatomi Somefun said the Bank remains committed to its strategic partnership with maize farmers to support their capacity to sustain the sufficiency in maize production.

She said, “When we say that we are farmers’ best friends, we walk our talk. And I am glad that the association appreciates the invaluable support that we provide by facilitating the financing of their activities. As a Bank, we are driven by the overarching objectives of the federal government to drive food sufficiency, while creating the much-needed jobs for sustainable development.”

Mining Cadastre Office Records N9.3bn Revenue The Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO) has announced that it generated N9.384 billion in the last three years, a record figure within that period of time.

Director General, NMCO, Simon Obadiah Nkom, who disclosed this to select journalists in Abuja, said the revenue growth was enabled by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, which in its effort to mainstream the sector, developed a road map which has made the sector attractive to investors.

According to Nkom, in 2019, the agency raked in N2.58 billion while in 2020, it generated N2.303 billion, a remarkable figure

considering it was the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

By the first quarter of 2021, from January to May, the NMCO earned N2.016 billion while by December 31, 2021, it rose to N4.3 billion, the highest revenue generated ever by the office.

Nkom, who took office in January 11, 201 9, said before he assumed office, the office earned N2.13 billion in 2017 and N1.55 billion in 2018 for the federation account.

Nkom told journalists that the right to search for or exploit any mineral in Nigeria is governed by different mineral titles which include Reconnaissance Permit (RP), Exploration Licence (EL),

Small Scale Mining Lease (SSML), Mining Lease (ML), Quarry Lease (QL) and the Water Use Permit (WUP).

According to him, even though it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to regulate mining, many states and local governments are encroaching on this right by going ahead to illegally impose their own rules and regulations on foreign and local licensed mining companies and operators, including levies, issuing permits, community development agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on miners, in a bid to raise their internally generated revenue (IGR) profile.

Polaris Bank CEO Harps on Savings, Financial Inclusion forYouths Nume Ekeghe Polaris Bank Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Innocent C. Ike, has stressed the need for teens and youth in Nigeria to imbibe the culture of saving money early in life, to enable them secure their future.

Mr. Ike gave this advice while addressing students of First Golden Grace International School, Abeokuta, Ogun state.

He was represented by the Group Head, South West 1, Dr. Abimbola Akorede in his presentation to the students, expressed concern at the

negative consequences young people with little or no savings or financial investment awareness have to contend with. He assured that Polaris Bank will continue to sustain efforts aimed at promoting financial literacy among youths in particular, and Nigerians in general.

According to the top Banker, “We need to learn, earn, save, and invest money”. You do not save after spending but rather, you save first before spending. The idea of inculcating financial awareness and knowledge, is to catch them

young through education on finance and financial investment so that in future, their personal and financial lives can be guaranteed. To achieve this, we need to imbibe the culture of saving, no matter how little”.

Earlier in her welcome address, Principal of the School warmly welcomed and thanked the Polaris Bank team for the support towards the Global Money Week program. She told the students about the need to be attentive as they have a lot to learn and benefit from the programme, in the immediate and long run.

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͵

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

35

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͷ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

NGX Lists Access Holdings as Shareholders Approve N0.70 Final Dividend Kayode Tokede The management of the Nigerian Exchange Limited, (NGX), yesterday, listed Access Holdings Plc 35.54 billion shares as it successfully transited into a Holding Company (Holdco) structure from its commercial banking structure.

By this development, Access Bank Plc will now be referred to as Access Holdings (Accesscorp)

Plc. Meanwhile, shareholders of Access Bank yesterday approved a final dividend payment of N0.70 for the financial year ended December 31, 2021.

The board had paid shareholders interm dividend of N0.30 kobo per share, bringing the total full year dividend to N1.00 per share.

Speaking yesterday at the 33rd Annual General Meeting of the Bank held in Lagos, the

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Group managing director, Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, said “To realign the Group for growth and create strategic flexibility and diversification of its revenues, we announced our transition to a non-operating financial holding company that would hold investment in banking and non-banking subsidiaries to enable the Group benefit from available market opportunities and grow scale in the regulated consumer

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

lending market, African electronic payments industry and Nigerian retail insurance market.”

He said, “Having met regulatory requirements and obtained court’s sanction after shareholders approved the scheme of arrangement establishing Access Holdings Plc as a non-operating financial holding company, we expect Access Holdings Plc to commence operations in the first half of 2022.”

T R A D E D

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

A S

On the outlook of the bank, Wigwe expressed optimism that the Group would do well, saying that its planned strategies in 2022 are intended to unlock opportunities for its stakeholders as well as its shareholders.

“We plan to do this by building a dynamic, efficient and agile bank with a digital-first mindset, capable of providing best in class service with strong returns,” he said. Also, the chairman, Board

O F

2 8

of Directors, Access Bank, Dr Ajoritsedere Awosika, said the bank will continue to pursue its strategies while building on its strengths and foundations to overcome the challenges the year will present.

Awosika revealed that Access Bank shareholders will receive a total of N35.5 billion in total dividends for 2021 financial year which is subject to appropriate withholding tax.

/ 0 3 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

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MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 25Mar-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.32% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.48 3.53 -1.86% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 6.81% Anchoria Equity Fund 141.01 142.66 1.67% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.21 1.21 6.26% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 20.84 21.47 2.73% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 477.14 491.52 5.76% ARM Ethical Fund 39.78 40.98 2.11% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.06 -2.08% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.03 1.03 1.67% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.82% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 109.07 109.07 7.24% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,088.69 1,088.69 8.87% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.11 2.11 11.75% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.27 2.32 18.45% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 2.06% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.75% Cordros Milestone Fund 138.50 139.41 4.66% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.69 111.69 4.80% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.09% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.02 1.02 6.08% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.04 1.04 13.87% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 101.87 101.87 3.81% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,430.77 1,430.77 10.29% FBN Balanced Fund 185.92 187.34 6.09% FBN Halal Fund 117.96 117.96 8.98% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.14% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

123.18 157.40

123.18 4.07% 159.54 4.25% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.98 1.78 1.22

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 6.59% 3.98 -0.50% 1.82 2.39% 1.22 0.99% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A

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 N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A 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 1.49 1.51 3.33% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,164.31 1,164.31 2.40% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.36 12.46 4.90% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.40% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 103.60 103.60 8.26% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.03% 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 1.64 1.66 1.87% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.67 11.67 4.28% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.28% PACAM Equity Fund 1.46 1.47 1.12% PACAM EuroBond Fund 113.99 116.55 -1.02% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 128.83 130.97 7.35% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.02 9.49% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,579.98 3,620.31 3.99% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 237.44 237.44 0.73% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.38 1.40 6.92% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 317.42 317.42 1.30% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 250.68 254.52 3.57% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.75% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,544.59 11,708.21 3.93% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.31 1.31 1.08% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 117.86 117.86 0.76% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 108.32 108.32 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.98 1.00 5.31% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.42 1.45 4.56% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.15 1.17 6.06% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.09 1.09 1.73% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.99 1.99 1.69% United Capital Eurobond Fund 123.83 123.83 1.22% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.36% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.49 13.62 2.29% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.56 15.74 6.52% Zenith Income Fund 22.38 22.38 1.73% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.95%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

122.07 53.16

1.55% 0.82%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.11 136.09 107.15 20.39 22.18

14.21 139.44 109.46 20.49 22.28

1.00% 3.38% 3.38% 0.00% 0.00%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.36 5.60 18.44 1.00 21.07 168.85

4.46 5.70 18.64 1.00 21.27 170.85

15.69% 9.82% 7.27% 6.88% 8.60% 6.98%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

Fund Name NAV Per Share Yield / T-Rtn Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund 107.28 10.80% 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.

FSDH Dollar Fund

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THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Stop Obeying Your Emotions, Rather Let Them Obey You U

nexpectedly, on Monday March 21, 2022, I was nominated by probably the world’s top business-focused magazine, Business Insider, as the Business Influencer of the Year, 2022, along with four other distinguished personalities, viz. Tony Elumelu, Dr. Ola Brown, Vusi Thembekwayo, and Victor Asemota.

A week after the nomination, I have emerged the front runner, having garnered about 65% of the total votes cast thus far.

I am indeed humbled and honoured at the same time (I do not even know how it is possible to experience both these feelings, but I do).

As a thank you to those who voted for me, this week’s #TheAlternative is going to be a chapter (Chapter 5) from my upcoming book (due out late summer 2022).

Please enjoy it.

Stop Obeying Your Emotions and Let Your Emotions Obey You. Everyone has an unconscious memory and intelligence, but the world is full of noise that keeps you unaware of your unconscious memory and intelligence. It is why you must wake when the world is asleep, and calm yourself, until you can access your subconscious mind.

You are capable of having the Mind of Christ as Philippians 2:5 states. But if you constantly wake up and refuse to use your theta state to immediately connect to God, by stilling your mind and insulating it from the carnal until the spiritual infuses it, you will have the mind of crisis.

Look at the words from Scripture: “Be still and know”-Psalm 46:10.

Unless you are still, you cannot know.

There are just too many stimuli in this world and your human brain and mind responds to stimuli and gets agitated. That is why you do not know.

But if you can calm yourself.You will know. Know what to do. Know why to do it. And know how to do it.

God’s Voice has been described in Scripture as the: “Still small Voice”-1 Kings 19:12.

If you are not capable of calming yourself and

You have the power to summon a stronger positive thought into your mind whenever a negative thought attempts to break into your mind separating yourself from the world to a place of quietness, where you can be alone with God, you may never hear that still small Voice.

The whole idea of prayer is that it is to be a communication. A conversation. Not a soliloquy, or a monologue. For communication to exist, there must be a two-way traffic. You talk, God listens.

Then God talks, and you listen. Sadly, most of us just talk. We do not listen to God! Job 13:12 says: “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”

Notice that it refers to the words of God’s Mouth.

It is not referring to the written word of God. Job treasured hearing from God’s Mouth. More so than he treasured food. Some scholars believe that this means that Job would not even eat until he had heard from God’s Mouth.

God talks to us, but many of us are too busy to hear His still small Voice, because of the rat race of modern-day living. That is why if you read Scripture, you will notice that many of those who heard from God, heard from Him when they were alone and far from the world.

Abraham heard from God while he was alone in a mountain having bound his son, Isaac-Genesis 22:11.

Jacob had a speaking encounter with God while he was alone in the wilderness-Genesis 31:24-27.

Moses heard from God while he was alone in the wilderness-Exodus 3:1-2.

David heard from God while he was alone in the fields tending sheep-1 Samuel 17:34-37.

And if you read Luke 5:16, you would see that Christ made this a lifestyle: “So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”-(NKJV).

If Christ, the Son of God, had to withdraw Himself to pray, yet He was fully connected with God, then how do you think you can survive and thrive spiritually without doing it?

If you do not take out time to hear from God, your spirit man will not grow. Because “man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the Mouth of the LORD.”-Deuteronomy 8:3.

Notice the use of the word “Mouth”. The same word used in Job 23:12.

And it is when your spirit man does not grow that your soul-ish man starts to control you. That is when you find yourself being controlled by your emotions.

Your mind tells you to be angry and you obey it, because it is stronger than your spirit man, which is malnourished, having been starved of the presence of God. When you go to the gym to work out regularly, your body becomes stronger and you are able to lift heavier loads that you could not lift before. When you isolate yourself to hear from God, your spirit becomes stronger and more able to lift those heavy burdens that previously weighed you down.

Your body eats physical food. How did physical food come into existence? They were spoken into existence by the Mouth of God-Genesis 1:11. Your spirit also eats spiritual food that again proceeds from the Mouth of God-Deuteronomy 8:3. Do not be physically full and spiritually starved!

Almost all the trouble in the world today is caused by people who are physically strong, but spiritually weak.

Because the physical is the carnal part of man, and “to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”-Romans 8:6.

Why do you think the world today is devoid of peace? It is precisely because of the reasons stated above.

The most productive time for your mind is when you have just woken up. At that time, your mind is in a semi-spiritual daze state. Don’t waste that theta state by grabbing your phone or doing something carnal. Use that time to spiritually connect to God in prayer.

From Phantom Coup to Presidential Pardon and the Long Wait for Justice Bayo Akinloye

swiftly in the eyes of the public, but the soldiers feel deserving of it, and not a few Nigerians are pleading on their behalf that they enjoy the fruits of their labour. Their families and friends bear their trauma and yearnings for full compensation. No more, no less, they say. They are seen as victims of the June 12, 1993, presidential election annulment and the phantom coup allegation.

For those close to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, he is a man of integrity with a deep sense of justice. Understandably, the unfortunate soldiers look up to him. Their families and friends believe in Malami and that he has got the president's ears.

The goal is simple: the swift implementation of the Oputa panel's recommendation. In Malami, many people trust the goods will be delivered.

I

t is 27 years today. They are convinced of getting justice. Their wait has been described as a lifetime of waiting. Some believe they are waiting for Godot. Convicted of crimes they repeatedly deny committing, the so-called phantom coup plotters of 1995 and 1997 have yet to get the justice they insist they deserve.

Arrested and tortured by the late Gen. Sani Abacha regime, the soldiers in various interviews in 2017 recalled the horrors and indignities they had endured, the shame, deprivations, and disillusionment of giving their all to their country but getting absolutely nothing in return. Not that they did not try to hope. They claimed they did. They pointed to the Oputa panel that exonerated and compensations that came with it. That reprieve remained a mirage for more than a decade.

They looked up to one of their own, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, also jailed for planning a coup during the Abacha reign. It was an endless wait.

Once upon an Oputa panel

When asked in 2017 in an interview about Obasanjo's failure to implement the recommendations of the Oputa panel that the ex-president set up, one of the soldiers convicted in 1995, Col Jibrin Isa, said: "You know when you are in power you look at things differently. Perhaps, my thinking is that since he was in power as of that time (between 1999 and 2007), if he implemented the recommendations, people might have made a noise about it; which is natural. Maybe, he was waiting for an appropriate time after he had left office. But since he had left office as the president, I believe he should have taken more interest in the plight of people with whom he suffered unjustly in the hands of the Abacha junta. He should have pushed the case further; what is remaining is the implementation of the recommendations."

He had added that the matter went to the industrial court, and the court ruled that "all the

What the ex-soldiers are seeking

Late Sani Abacha

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

recommendations of the Oputa panel should be granted."

Since 2017, the so-called phantom coup plotters have renewed their struggle to get justice in the full sense. Death and incapacitations have visited some of them. With time dulling the collective memories of many, the soldiers remain adamant.

With Obasanjo, Umaru Yar'Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan's emergence and exit as presidents, the soldiers' hope seemed hopeless. Then, President Muhammadu Buhari won the 2015 presidential election. Their hope was renewed.

Yet, the ex-soldiers who see themselves as immediate victims of the fight for democracy see hope in the incumbent.

"I will urge President Muhammadu Buhari, who has come to make some changes in the country, to reconsider the recommendations and implement them," noted Isa in 2017. "I learnt that the report is in the attorney general’s office. I hope someone can whisper it into the president’s ear to take action on our behalf."

Fast-forward to 2022: as time ticks away, the ageing process, though, has not weakened the resolve of the soldiers.

THISDAY checks reveal that a whisper has gone into the incumbent president's ears, and he is genuinely eager to right those who have been wronged for decades. Justice has not come

President Buhari as the last hope

Many often allude to the SDP campaign mantra of the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, MKO Abiola, 'Hope '93' as hope dashed.

Among other things, they seek the promotion of military victims to their appropriate higher ranks in line with their coursemates in the Armed Forces.

They stated that they were high-flyers before their lofty careers were truncated. Added to that by the panel's recommendation is a letter of apology for wrongful detention, torture, deprivation, and ruthless rights violations and comprehensive rehabilitation of all military and civilian victims caught in the web of the phantom coup. There are other recommendations by the Oputa panel. The ex-soldiers await their full implementation eagerly before this year runs out.

Basis for hope

Major-General Domkat Bali was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general long after retiring from the Nigerian Army without the mandatory retirement notice. In addition to that, military officers had been promoted posthumously.

Observers have also cited the example of the Biafran soldiers reabsorbed into the Nigerian Army at the end of the Civil War and promoted to their appropriate higher ranks before voluntary retirement.

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NEWS

PRODUCT LAUNCH...

L-R: Chief Rating Officer, Datapro, Oladele Adeoye; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Abimbola Adeseyoju; Product Manager, Tigran- for - Datapro, Ms. Ademikun Adeseyoju; and Head, Consulting Services, Dr. Wence Nwoga, PHOTO; ETOP UKUTT. at the Tigran-for-Datapro Launch in Lagos… yesterday.

Court Denies Kyari, Four Others Bail in Alleged Cocaine Deal Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court yesterday refused to grant bail to detained Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Abba Kyari and

four others accused of complicity in hard drugs trafficking.

The court held that the NDLEA had placed sufficient evidence before it why the defendants should not be granted bail.

Kyari and six others were ar-

Lagos Leads as Capital Importation Rises to $2.19bn in Q4 Mauritius, US are Nigeria’s top investors James Emejo in Abuja The total value of capital importation into the country rose by 26.35 per cent to $2.19 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021 (Q4 2021) compared to $1.73 billion the preceding quarter, the national Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed yesterday.

According to the Nigerian Capital Importation (Q4 2021) report released by the NBS, the largest amount of capital importation by type was received through other investment, which accounted for 54.24 per cent or $1.19 billion, followed by portfolio investment with 29.39 per cent or $642.87 million.

However, the much needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amounted to 16.38 per cent or $358.23 million of total capital imported in the review period.

Disaggregated by sectors, capital importation into tanning had the highest inflow of $645.59 million amounting to 29.51 per cent of total capital imported.

This was followed by the production sector which was valued at $360.06 million or 16.46 per cent and the electrical sector which accounted for $325.55 million or 14.88 per cent.

When compared with the

corresponding quarter of 2020, however, capital importation increased by 109.28 per cent from $1.05 billion – this was at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when global economies were subjected to the negative impact of the public health crisis.

By destination, Lagos State attracted the largest capital inflows of $1.98 billion, while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) attracted $170.55 million.

Osun received $29.92 million, Oyo $2 million and Rivers $1 million.

However, investments in shares gulped $31 million while agriculture attracted $237.83 million, oil and gas $32.31 million, marketing $203.73 million and trading $311.18 million.

Mauritius topped capital inflows with $611.45 million followed by the United States of America (USA) which accounted for $321.03 million while South Africa contributed $285.83 million.

The Netherlands and Singapore represented $228.02 million and $223.82 million respectively.

States like Bauchi, Benue, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe and Imo, among several others did not attract any foreign capital during the review period.

48 HOURS AFTER ATTACKING KADUNA AIRPORT, TERRORISTS BLOW UP ABUJA-KADUNA TRAIN Commander, who was in company with the Kaduna Air Force Base Commander, Air Commodore Ademuyiwa Adedoyin and the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, dismissed reports that the bandits took over the airport.

Aruwan said, “So, as you can see from the distance, the insinuation that the terrorists took over the airport is not correct. If the terrorists had entered, they would have met us there,” the Garrison Commander said He maintained that there were several layers of security at the Airport, stressing that bandits

could not have dared to attack it.

Speaking also, NAF Base Commander, Air Commodore Adedoyin, said security around the airport area generally had been beefed up since the security breach at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) last year, adding that bandits didn’t have the audacity to attack Kaduna Airport.

Aruwan said the state government was engaging communities around the airport to scale up intelligence gathering, and that there was no threat to the immediate vicinity of the airport, because the military was ahead of the terrorists.

raigned before the court on charges bordering on alleged conspiracy, obstruction and dealings in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.

While Kyari and four of his colleagues in the Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police pleaded not guilty, two of the other defendants admitted to the crime.

However, delivering ruling in their bail applications, the court, held that if released, the defendants could likely interfere with proceedings and undermine the trial.

Justice Nwite subsequently refused to admit the defendants

to bail and rather ordered an accelerated trial.

While the court ordered that Kyari and his IRT members be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center, he held that the two other defendants who pleaded guilty should be kept at the Suleja Correctional Center.

In opposing the bail, prosecution lawyer, Mr. Joseph Sunday, had argued that it would be inappropriate to grant bail to the applicants because of the facts and circumstances of the case.

He added that Kyari was already facing extradition charges of alleged

wire fraud.

He informed the court that the medical challenges of the applicant were not beyond the capacity of the NDLEA, adding that the applicant was a flight risk and might jump bail.

In the case of the second applicant who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, prosecution said he was under investigation for money laundering and may face charges on same.

Kyari was on March 7, arraigned alongside four of his colleagues in the IRT, among whom are: Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon

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

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

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

Meanwhile, the judge has adjourned till April 27, for ruling of review of fact in the case of the two defendants who pleaded guilty to the charge.

Terrorists Invade Niger Communities, Kill Several Villagers, Kidnap Catholic Priest, Others Set up camp at Chibane Laleye Dipo in Minna An unspecified number of villagers have been killed in several communities in the Munya Local Government Area of Niger State when terrorists invaded their villagers between Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning.

In addition, the terrorists also kidnapped a catholic priest Reverend Leo Raphael Ozigi and some clergymen who ran into the gunmen as they were returning to Minna after the Sunday mass held in one of the communities.

This is even as the terrorists have now reportedly set up a camp at Kuchi town.

THISDAY was told that the

bandits raided Chibani, Injita, Tsohon, Kabula, Jesso as well as Gini and Gunu.

The gunmen according to THISDAY findings rode on more than 50 motorcycles with between two and three of them on each of the motorcycles and were all carrying sophisticated gun.

At a point it was learnt that they blocked the bridge linking the local government area with Shiroro local government from where they carried out their operations.

It was when the gunmen were on the bridge that the Catholic Priest and other clergymen ran into them leading to their abduction.

From the bridge area it was gathered that the terrorists moved

to Chibane where they have now set up their camp from where they launched attacks on the communities.

THISDAY learnt that they forced several houses open, burgled food bans and stores and made away with several items.

An eyewitness said though there was a military and other security posts at Sarkinpawa the headquarters of the local government there was no counter offensive for the terrorists.

Secretary of Munya Local Government Council Mr. James Jagaba in a telephone interview yesterday, confirmed the incident saying the terrorists have been operating unhindered for several

hours, " even now they are still there and nobody can tell you the number of people already killed or kidnapped, all I know is that there are casualties.”

The Commissioner for Local Government and Internal Security, Mr. Emmanuel Umar, when contacted also confirmed the incident saying a statement would be issued on the matter soon.

Also, the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Niger State Chapter, Reverend Mathias Echioda, confirmed the kidnap of the catholic priest and others.

“We are trying to get the identities of other clergymen with the kidnapped priest,” Echioda said.

Delta, US Company Seal $40m Agric Deal Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba In line with its plan to inject over $40 million into its specialised agricultural project, the Delta State Government has signed a an agreement with Adventium Global Delta Consortium Limited, a subsidiary of Adventium Global Incorporation, USA, for the transformation of the Songhai Delta Farm at Amukpe, Sapele Local Government Area, into an Agro-Industrial Processing, Tourism and Training Park.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, who signed on behalf of the government, stated that the agreement was in tandem with

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's vision of diversifying the state's revenue base from over reliance on crude oil revenue and in strengthening the administration's job and wealth creation programme.

While commending members of the steering committee for their commitment and timely delivering on the set goals, he charged the management team of the consortium to ensure that they kept to the terms of the shareholders’ agreement to achieve the goals of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with the state government.

Earlier, the Chief Operating Officer of the firm, Mr. Simeon

Asaboro, who stood in for the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Adventium Global Delta Consortium Limited, Mr. Isaac Oghogho, said the group's investment in Songhai Delta was under a PPP agreement where the consortium would inject $40 million forty million dollars) into the project.

The consortium would also bring technical partners for effective management the transformation of the farm.

The project would have socio-economic and developmental impact on the state such as creating direct and indirect jobs for numerous unemployed and under-employed Deltans,

particularly youths and women in the state, stir up development of several communities across the state where raw materials (crops and livestock) shall be produced on a large-scale commercial basis for feeding the processing plants at the Songhai Delta Farm, he assured.

“Moreover, the project will also generate revenue for the state, promote the tourism potentials in the state and project the investment opportunities in Delta State to the world,” Oghogho further said.

Nevertheless, he thanked the state government for the opportunity to partnership, assuring that all the Consortium will meet the terms of the agreement.

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COURTESY VISIT...

L-R: British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones; British Deputy High Commissioner, Trade Envoy of the United Kingdom, Helen Grant MP, and Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Idowu, when the envoy paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja... yesterday

Food Security: WTO Warns against Trade Restriction, Slashed Global Growth Forecast to 2.5% Dike Onwuamaeze

The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has emphasised the important role trade could play to help member countries head off what appeared to be emerging food crises due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Also a Geneva trade official told journalists yesterday, that global economic growth original projected by IMF of 4.2 per cent would now see slower growth somewhere between 3.1 and 3.7 per cent and trade growth could be cut by half from 4.7 per cent

projected in October to 2.5 per cent.

Okonjo-Iweala made this statement yesterday during an informal meeting of the general council of the WTO, and also called for coordinated action to address the recent sharp rise in commodity prices that threatens food security in many countries, especially in Africa and the Middle East.

She said: “Trade can help WTO members adjust to, and overcome, the shocks of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine.

"Trade has been and will remain a critical means of adaptation to the mounting global shocks that the world is currently experiencing."

She added: "This is not the time to retreat inward … This is the time to stress the importance of multilateralism, global solidarity and cooperation."

The director general of WTO observed that COVID-19 crisis and the war between Ukraine and Russia have raised concerns about the vulnerability of global supply chains and led to calls in some quarters to re-locate production and sourcing locally in order to ensure stable supplies of critical goods and staples.

She, however, underlined that supply resilience "will ultimately be best served by deeper and more diverse international markets.

"Concentrating sourcing and production at home, while understandable, could also create new vulnerabilities and may not be the best risk management strategy.

"A region's wheat crop could be destroyed by drought, flooding, or other weather-based phenomena.

A harsh winter and an earthquake could knock out electricity and factory production," she argued.

Okonjo-Iweala said that the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war had caused immense human suffering and loss of life and unleashed an ongoing humanitarian crisis.

“It has also dealt a severe blow to the global economy still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic

PDP Directs Adherence to Existing Power Rotation at All Levels in South-east Mandates governors, ZWC to ensure compliance

The debate surrounding the zoning of governorship position and other elective offices in Enugu State as well as other South-east states by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been laid to rest following the resolution of the PDP South-east Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) in its meeting in Enugu, on Sunday, directing that the principles of zoning and rotation of power should be strictly adhered to, “upheld and respected at all levels of the PDP in the south-east.”

The PDP National Vice Chairman (South-east), Chief Ali Odefa had while briefing journalists at the end of the closed-door meeting disclosed that the PDP south-east directed that the existing zoning patterns in states and constituencies of the zone must be strictly observed and adhered to in every state and constituency.

Odefa in a statement also disclosed that the PDP in the south-east zone had aligned with the position of the Southern Governors’ Forum that the next president of Nigeria

should come from the southern part of the country.

Addressing the issue of zoning in the region decisively, the PDP in its resolution at end of the ZEC meeting in Enugu, stressed the importance of zoning and rotation particularly, “in all situations where, prior to now there had been entrenched the practice of zoning political elective offices.”

The PDP therefore asked the governors of states in the south-east zone elected on the platform of the party to ensure strict compliance

N1.3bn NSITF Fraud: Olejeme Allegedly Slumps, Trial Adjourned Till April 13 Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The trial of former Chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, before Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi, Abuja, could not continue yesterday because the defendant allegedly slumped at home.

According to her counsel, Paul Erokoro, the defendant slumped at exactly 6:30 am yesterday while getting set for court and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre Jabi, Abuja, for medical attention.

Erokoro presented a letter informing the court about the development and prayed for an adjournment.

He further told the court that he could not present a medical report as the hospital was still reviewing her case.

Responding, the Prosecuting Counsel, Sir Steve Odiase, did not oppose the application for adjournment.

“My lord, they served us with a letter seeking for an adjournment based on the defendant’s ill health, and being the defendant's first time absenting herself in the court and for the interest of justice, we are not

opposing their application seeking adjournment.

“Meanwhile, for record purposes, we came prepared with five witnesses in court, and all of them stood up for recognition,” he said.

Justice Aliyu, thereafter, adjourned the matter till April 13, 2022, for continuation of trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) is prosecuting Olejeme on a nine-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering to the tune of over N11 billion.

with the resolution while the party’s Zonal Working Committee (ZWC) in other states was equally asked to liaise with the leaders to ensure compliance.

It stated: “It was resolved that in the election of candidates of the PDP in the south-east for the 2023 elections, the principles of zoning and rotation of power shall be adhered to, upheld and respected at all levels of the PDP in the south-east.

“This is particularly important in all situations where, prior to now there had been entrenched the practice of zoning political elective offices.

“For this purpose, where the governor is a member of the PDP, the governor shall ensure compliance with this resolution while the ZWC shall in liaison with the leaders ensure compliance in other state.”

The PDP South-east ZEC meeting which was presided over by Odefa was attended by the leader of the Party in the South East and Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu of Abia State, the National Secretary of the Party, Senator Sam Anyanwu, members of the State and National Assemblies from the zone, members of PDP National Executive Committee (NEC), Board of Trustees (BOT) members, among others.

and has raised the spectre of food shortages in countries dependent on Ukraine and Russia for imports of key staples like wheat. Already in Africa, prices of key commodities have risen by 20-50 per cent between January and March.

"For dozens of poor countries and tens of millions of people, basic food security is in danger.

These countries already have been some of the slowest economic recoveries from the pandemic, and international cooperation on trade is necessary to help mitigate risks of poverty, hunger, even famine and social unrest," she warned.

The Director-General noted that the UN Secretary-General has set up a three-tiered steering committee involving heads of government, heads of international organisations and technical experts to deal with the issue of surging energy and food prices.

The WTO was also expected to play a key role in finding solutions to the food crisis, the Director-General noted.

In addition, the chair of the WTO's agriculture negotiations, Ambassador Gloria Abraham Peralta of Costa Rica, was planning a food security conference that would take place at the end of April while WTO’s secretariat staff have also been carrying out analysis on food security issues which would be shared with members shortly.

"We at the WTO have a solid basis on which to consider workable solutions to the present crisis," the director general declared.

She highlighted that on the nearterm, international cooperation on trade would be needed to minimise the impact of supply crunches for key commodities where prices are already high by historical standards and to keep markets functioning smoothly.

While only 12 members have imposed export restrictions on food to date, coordinated government action is needed to avoid a repeat of the cascading export restrictions that exacerbated the rise of food prices in the crisis of 2008-2010.

The WTO also urged countries with buffer stocks that could afford to share could coordinate the release of wheat, barley, other cereals and grains and oils into international markets, thereby alleviating the supply squeeze.

The organisation noted that countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, and

France could increase wheat cultivation while others such as China, Germany, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Nigeria could increase global supply of fertilizer.

Africa, with plentiful land and other resources, could also take steps to produce more food itself by using more adaptable varieties of wheat, maize and other crops, the WTO stated.

The DG further noted that trade facilitation measures could also be brought into play to ease the free flow of goods, while efforts should be made to allow the UN's World Food Programme full access to humanitarian purchases.

“Prompt notification and information sharing regarding food supplies and stockpiles can help the international community better manage the situation and keep markets functioning more smoothly,” she added.

Several members took the floor after the director general's intervention to indicate support for the suggestions outlined by her.

Prior to the director general's statement, the chair of the General Council, Ambassador Didier Chambovey of Switzerland, provided a readout on his recent consultations with members on substantive and administrative aspects related to the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

The consultations took place over the first half of March and involved 42 delegations, including 12 group coordinators and one member group.

On the exact dates for the WTO's postponed 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), the chair said the emerging understanding is that the conference would take place from June 12 to 15, 2022, with the meeting taking place entirely at WTO headquarters.

The chair suggested that members should proceed with this working assumption and precise dates in mind. He noted the desire of members that MC12 be a streamlined, business-like conference.

“WTO members agreed on February 23 that MC12 would take place during the week of June 13 in Geneva following the easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in the host country Switzerland. MC12 was due to take place from 30 November to 3 December 2021 but was postponed due to the outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19,” WTO said.

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WORKING VISIT BY ENGIE TO THE FRENCH EMBASSY...

L-R: Head of Marketing and Communications, ENGIE Energy Access, Demilade Oresanya; Head of Mini Grids, Onyinye Anene-Nzelu; Head Regional Economic Department for Nigeria and Ghana, French Embassy, Pascal Furth; Managing Director, ENGIE Energy Access Nigeria, Bankole Cardoso, and Head of Business Partnerships, Sarah Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during a working visit by ENGIE Energy Access team to the French Embassy in Abuja... yesterday

Obasanjo, Osinbajo: Africa Going through Perilous Times James Sowole in Abeokuta Former President of Nigeria and Chairman of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, gave a damning verdict on political instability in some countries, declaring that West Africa and the Africa are currently going through a perilous storm.

The duo of Obasanjo and Osinbajo, spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, at the opening session of a high-level dialogue, organised by CoDA. The dialogue, which was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, also had in attendance, former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President of The Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajanb, former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma and Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, among others.

The two-day event, with the theme, "West Africa: Rising to The Challenges of Consolidating Democratic Governance,” was meant to deliberate on how to strengthen democracy in West Africa.

Obasanjo, in his welcome address, condemned military takeover of democratically elected governments in some African countries, saying democracy in West Africa and indeed Africa required urgent attention.

The former president lamented that, coup d'etat, election fraud and political violence and instability have crippled the growth of Africa.

Obasanjo insisted that, power grabbing and governance through

the gun would not help Africa nor procure democracy through judiciary, stressing that the continent needs, "a peaceful democracy that has respect for the will of the people and the future of our nations."

Obasanjo said, the only way Africa would be able to develop was through peaceful democratic transition of governments.

He said, "In recent years, we have witnessed a return of coup d'etat, election fraud and political violence resulting in instability and threatening the developmental gains we have made in the last couple of decades.

"I feel very sad and it gives me great concern when I see the democratic system we have painfully built collapsing. And I believe there must be a solution because the problem is human and all human problems can be solved by human beings.

“That is why the CoDA under my Chairmanship and the OOPL have brought all of us together today to discuss pertinent issues affecting governance in West Africa, including the challenges and then to seek the way forward.

"Achieving this may not be easy but it is a must if we want our nation to make progress, it must entail responsible management of diversity which makes everyone feel a sense of belonging and be a significant part of the whole.

"Peaceful co-existence has been a hallmark of Africans even before the emergence of colonial era and we cannot accept anything less in this modern age.

"We need stable environment to grow our economies and

ensure that countries develop in a sustainable way. Such all-inclusive democratic environment will fast track developing our economy and will strengthen our security and promote general progress."

While delivering the keynote address, Osinbajo, bemoaned military incursion into democratic regimes of some African countries.

He said, "This is a moment of peril for democracy in our region because we are navigating a perfect storm of adverse circumstances, a world economy that is reeling from recessional shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, price and supply disruption from the war in Ukraine, the emergency of armed non state actors, poor challenges

associated with catering for the youngest populations in the world."

He called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and other African organisations to rise up to the challenge and do more in ensuring political and economic stability of the West Africa and Africa at large.

Osinbajo said, "We must not allow our continent to become as it was in the cold war era. A fetter or proxy wars and great power conflict, we know from experience that this would result a deepening or the recession of democratic values in Africa.

"The militarisation of civil society whether by local military regimes

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), has asked Governor Samuel Orton of Benue State to resign and hands off the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning committee with immediate effect, because he has compromised.

National President of AYCF, Yerima Shettima, alleged that Ortom compromised and was bias without providing evidence.

Shettima alleged that Ortom accepted the sum of N200m on behalf of Benue State from Governor Nyesom Wike of

Rivers State, who is contesting the presidential election in 2023.

He further alleged that Ortom's action clearly put the North at a disadvantage as far as zoning was concerned in the PDP. Shettima called on the PDP chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to come clean of allegations of harbouring a hidden agenda in support of Ortom's actions and relieve him of the zoning task assigned to him or else would tagged a collaborator.

In a press statement in Abuja yesterday, Shettima also alleged that Wike clearly compromised the governor during his visit to

Faso was overthrown while only in February there was an attempted coup in Genuine Bissau which was thankfully repealed.

"This much is clear; we know that we cannot secure the Africa that we want by turning back the hands of the democratic clock.

"We have walked these thorny roads before, with many decades of bitter experience and impeachable lesson of our history, clear lessons of our history is that despotisms cannot guarantee the security and prosperity of our people.

"No matter how dire our circumstances may be; we now have concrete proof that resort to extra constitutional regimes is not the way forward."

INEC: We’ve Identified Challenges Associated With BVAS Reassures Nigerians of credible 2023 elections Chuks Okocha in Abuja Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday, assuaged the concerns of Nigerians over the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), stating that the commission had identified and resolved the challenges.

The INEC chairman spoke at a retreat in Lagos organised for newly appointed national commissioners of the commission.

According to the INEC chairman, "May I also seize this opportunity to reassure Nigerians that we have identified the chal-

lenges associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during voter accreditation."

Giving credence that the problems associated with the BVAS, the INEC chairman said in the recent bye-elections in six constituencies in four States of the federation across four geo-political zones, "the BVAS functioned optimally in rural, sub-urban and urban areas of Cross River, Imo, Ondo and Plateau States".

The INEC chairman claimed that the BVAS was no longer malfunctioning, saying, "We received no complaints from voters and no reports of glitches from observers in these bye-elections.

Arewa Youths Ask Ortom to Resign as PDP's Zoning Committee Chair Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

or rival foreign military industrial complexes can only set us back by several decades.

"Our commitment to democracy must be predicated on the aspiration of our people and not from the whims of foreign powers.

"The recent spate of military coups across our continent and attempts at military coups not only portends risk of a damaging democratic recession, but it also takes us back to the circles of extra constitutional disruptions that plagued us decades ago.

"Since 2017, there has been 12 military coups in Africa and half of them occurred since 2020. Two months ago, the democratically elected government of Burkina

Ortom, wherein he donated the sum of N200m after declaring his intention to vie for the presidency and tacitly got the endorsement of Ortom.

He said, "Benue State has faced security challenges over the years without Wike showing concern.

However, such gift coming at a time, when the issue of zoning, has been left to Ortom and others to decide, makes it very delicate and totally unacceptable.

"For the records, we have canvassed that both the APC and the PDP either zone the presidency to the North or throw it open. Given the person

of Ortom, who has always kicked against anything North and does not see himself as one from the region, aside his vast attacks on the Hausa Fulanis of the North, makes him totally unfit for the zoning committee chairman of the PDP. "That the North has only spent two and half years out of the 16 years PDP was in power, lays the moral justification for the PDP to zone its presidency to the north or at best open the race. To now have Governor Ortom fraternising with Wike in such manner leaves much to be desired of the PDP and its chieftains," Shettima stated.

"We will continue to perfect the system in the forthcoming bye-elections and the end of the governorship elections in Ekiti State on 18th June 2022 and Osun State on 16th July 2022," the INEC chairman said.

On the voters registration exercise, he said the commission was also working on the distribution of voters to polling units across the country, following the successful expansion of voter access to polling units.

Yakubu said, "Very soon, we will roll out the plan for achieving a more balanced distribution of voters to the polling units. As always, we will engage with

stakeholders across the board to ensure a more participatory approach so that the exercise is seamless and voters will have a more pleasant experience at polling units on Election Day." He said that the Commission was encouraged by the response of citizens to the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, adding, "Recently, the Commission devolved the physical registration beyond our state and local government offices nationwide. Millions of Nigerians have registered so far and we have been giving Weekly updates of the progress of the exercise for the last nine months."

GROUP CONGRATULATES NEW APC LEADERSHIP, MAKES CASE FOR EMEFIELE’S PRESIDENCY “We urge him to apply same spirit and commitment in carrying everybody along as one great family to enable us come out stronger to win the 2023 Presidential election with over 30 states governors and two third majority in the both Chambers of the National Assembly”, the group said.

In a related development, the Otu Nmu Ebon (An Association in Agbor) yesterday joined millions of Nigerians in calling on Emiefele to join the 2023 presidential race under the ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC).

The group stated this in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Peter Nwanneka and Secretary, Ishioma kuhodu.

They noted that the call on Emefiele to contest the 2023 election was very important, “as he has explicitly shown uncommon ability to unite, stabilize and move our dear country Nigeria to a greater

height.”

They added: “We are convinced that he can make our country work better. His program that has kept our country out of depression/recession is commendable and based on his pedigree, we are sure he can do more as a President of our dear country.

“We need a technocrat in the saddle of power now. In him we see a vibrant young and pragmatic economy builder who has actually delivered throughout his career and in his present assignment. “Especially, in the CBN Agricultural development program of the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme that has brought the present Rice Pyramids.

“Godwin Emefiele is the rightful man that can sustain the legacies of President Mohammed Buhari in the implementations of the Federal government policy on agriculture.

Emefiele Godwin, we need you, please join the race.”

TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Ishaku, Ortom Support Saraki, Tambuwal, Bala Mohammed’s Quest for Consensus Candidate Chuks Okocha in Abuja The three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirants, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Hon Aminu Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed have continued their quest for a consensus presidential candidate for their party ahead of the May 28, 29 presidential convention.

The three aspirants yesterday met the governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku ,who pledged his support for the party to produce a consensus candidate for the overall unity of the PDP. Speaking after the meetingin Abuja, the Taraba state governor, who is a member of the PDP 37-man committee on zoning pledged his support for the PDP to produce a consensus presidential candidate for unity and development of the party.

According to Ishaku, “This is a wonderful golden initiative.

PDP is known for being a family.

We have shown Nigerians how to rule and manage their affairs and I think we should still be the leaders.

“I very happy with this visit. You have my 100 per cent support. I am sure my colleagues too will give you the same support and any

right-thinking person should be able to support this mission.

“We only have to produce one person. Let walk together, hold our hands together and

agree that this person should be our leader and then will all fall in line. Then salvage this country, bring it back to what it is. Nigeria is one of

the most beautiful countries God has given this country but we need to make it more beautiful.”, he stated.

Ishaka, who explained

why the PDP must embrace a consensus approach said: “We need to salvage our people, we need to reduce the pains in our people, particularly security. In

the past, People can travel midnight from here to Lagos and Maiduguri before, but now even in the afternoon you cannot travel.

WIKE CONSULTS…

L-R: The National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (South-east), Chief Ali Odefa;Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State,and their Abia State counterpart, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, when Wike met with PDP stakeholders in Enugu...yesterday

Lawyer Declares for House, Promises Police Arraigns 31-year-old Chinese for Alleged N72.7m Theft the charges. money realised from sale of in like sum.

Uncommon Representation Wale Igbintade The prosecutor, ASP Rita furniture materials to his Magistrate Adedaya ordered Sunday Okobi

A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Morah, has promised to offer the people of Oyi/Ayamelum constituencies in Anambra State a special kind of representation in the National Assembly that would impact their lives positively if voted for.

Morah, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, made the declaration when she was escorted by the Omambalaã chapter of Umu-Ada Igbo International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that caters for women and children in rural communities worldwide, to purchase her nomination and Expression of Interest forms at the PDP national headquarters in Abuja.

She told THISDAY that she would work to deliver a brand new constitution and equitable sharing of economic powers among states for economic growth and diversification.

Among those in her entourage

to get the forms were members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who charged her to also sustain her gender rights fight.

FIDA and Umu-Ada Igbo International members urged her not to bother about the hurdles she might encounter in the “process of liberating the people because they will be involved in this her election, and will muster everything required to emerge victorious, especially in the electioneering and financially,” as they believe in her ability and precedent to bringing fresh air to legislation in Nigeria.

The group made up of seasoned and qualified professional Igbo women and daughters from Anambra State all over the world, delegated their members at Omambalaã chapter to purchase the forms for her, also presented her with a Fidelity Bank and Zenith Bank cheque and vowed to unite and support her cause.

The Nigeria Police yesterday arraigned a 31-year-old Chinese, Tu Menglei, before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, for allegedly stealing N72.7m from his employer.

Menglei was charged with conspiracy and stealing.

He pleaded not guilty to

Momah, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between June 2021 and February 26, 2022, at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos State.

Momah said that the defendant, employed as a manager with Perfect Diamond Industries Limited converted

private use.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene sections 411 and 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Adeola Adedayo, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties

that one of the sureties must be a worker at the Chinese Embassy, while the other must be a Chinese citizen employed in Nigeria.

She further held that the defendant must deposit his passport. The case was adjourned till April 26 for mention.

A’Ibom Guber Aspirant Decries Prevalence of Cultism Okon Bassey in Uyo Worried by the prevalence of cultism, which has penetrated the basic schools system including primary school, one of the governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State in the 2023 general election, Obong Ide OwodiongIdemeko, has vowed to eradicate the menace, if he becomes the next governor of the state.

Owodiong, a former ExxonMobil manager, noted that cultism persists because of

lack of political will to contain the situation.

Fielding questions from Journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital,yesterday, the governorship hopeful stressed that the evil of cultism thrives in the state because of no appropriate punishment to deter the offenders, assuring that if elected, the menace would be tackled.

Owodiong, a former student union leader, is among nine governorship aspirants under

the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who have so far obtained nomination forms in the state.

Speaking on his development plan for the state, the gubernatorial aspirant said he would set up Diaspora fund to help in developing the state, noting that ‘governance is a continuum”.

Also, he said he would evaluate all the ongoing projects in the state including the science park initiated by former governor Obong Victor Attah’s administration, explaining

that his decision to complete all the ongoing projects in the state was “to add value to tax payers money”.

“All previous projects embarked upon by the previous administration that have not been completed will be evaluated.

“This is the first thing I will do when I come into office because I don’t believe that disagreeing with the previous administration should make you abandon projects sponsored by the tax payers.

Guber Zoning: Orji Warns PDP against Causing Crisis in Abia Tony Elumelu Receives 2023 the zoning of its governorship North where it started in 1999 The Abia PDP was plunged Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in ticket to both Abia North and as it has now gone round the into zoning chaos following the Umuahia TIME 100 Impact Award Abia Central Senatorial districts three zones. clamour by Governor Ikpeazu’s As the Chairman of United Bank for Africa Plc, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu, yesterday received the TIME 100 Impact Award at the Museum of the Future in Dubai, United Emirates, he said: “The world is in need of people like him more than ever before.”

Elumelu took the stage at yesterday night’s TIME100 Impact Awards and Gala, he spoke with a sense of urgency.

According to him, “The world is in need of people like us—more than ever before,” he said to the crowd, which included celebrities, politicians and prominent business leaders.

“We should pull resources together, we should commit now to help in any way possible in economically empowering others,” he added.

Elumelu’s plea is part of the reason he was on the stage at the Museum of the Future in Dubai in the first place. The TIME100 Impact Award recipient has spent his career advocating for economic empowerment in the less fortunate places in the world.

The Nigerian entrepreneur paid tribute to the “hard working young men and women in Africa who aspire to help their families and their communities.”

He shared his story of rising from a modest beginning to launching the Tony Elumelu Foundation in 2010, which is aimed at creating “significant opportunities and economic hope for others” while “helping redefine how all of us need to work together to uplift through the message of entrepreneurship.”

Former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji has waded into the controversy surrounding the “double zoning” arrangement adopted by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying that it was capable of causing crisis in the state.

The Abia PDP leadership had at the weekend announced that

in order “to be fair to all”.

But in a statement he personally signed yesterday and made available to journalists in Umuahia, Senator Orji, who represents Abia Central in the Senate said that his position on the issue of zoning has not changed. His position is that power should shift to Abia

“Let me state categorically clear that my earlier position on the subject matter remains sacrosanct and unambiguous.

“All those working to set Abia State on fire should toe the path of peace, do a rethink and sustain the peace we have been savouring as God’s State,” he said.

kinsmen to retain power for another eight years at the end of his tenure in 2023.

Apparently to accommodate the interest of the Ngwa bloc, the leadership of the ruling party was said to have been prevailed upon by the governor to go for the double zoning formula in order to be “fair to all”.

‘I Want to yesterday Savein Gusau Zamfara from Collapse’ while made up his mind to answer stated. He blamed the past Onuminya Innocent in Gusau

A governorship aspirant in Zamfara State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mallam Abubakar Nakwada Gusau, said he heeded the calls to contest for the governor of the state in 2023 in order to save the state from collapse.

Mallam Gusau stated this

addressing newsmen to declare his intention to contest for number one position in the state in 2023.

He maintained that Zamfara State was unlucky to have good leaders since the inception of democracy in 1999.

He said after wide consultation with critical stakeholders, he has

the clarion call and contest for the post of Governor of Zamfara state.

“I have accepted the challenge considering the level of crises in the leadership institution and also lack of focus for sustainable development which brought serious setback to genuine development in the state,” he

and present leadership for not being active and genuine to resolving the social crises affecting the people, and also for nor setting a genuine agenda for the transformation of the state.

He further lamented that the insecurity situation in the state has influenced virtually other sectors of life.

46

TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Buhari, Gbajabiamila, Sanwo-Olu, Lagos Lawmakers Felicitate Tinubu at 70

Deji Elumoye, Udora Orizu in Abujaand Segun James

President Muhammadu Buhari, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and members of Lagos State House Assembly, among others have felicitated former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 70th birthday anniversary on March 29, 2022.

The President, in a release issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, joined members, leaders and chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in rejoicing with National Leader of the party as he celebrates his birthday.

President Buhari affirmed the contributions of the party stalwart to the political, economic and social development of the country, setting a standard in leadership, governance and philanthropy.

The President noted and hailed Tinubu’s courage, resilience, selflessness and nobility in always placing the welfare and unity of the nation above self, backed with vision of a greater Nigeria through investments in people, institutions and governments, without minding tribe or creed.

President Buhari joined family members, friends, business and political associates in celebrating the septuagenarian, who has diligently and progressively risen on the nation’s political ladder since 1992, fighting for democratic rule against many odds, angling

for people-focused development and supporting visionary and purposeful leadership.

The President, therefore, prayed that the Almighty God will increase Asiwaju Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom, in strength, good health and wisdom to keep serving the nation, and humanity.

On his part, Gbajabiamila said the Tinubu has demonstrated an uncommon and unyielding commitment to a progressive and prosperous Nigeria.

He recalled how Tinubu used his acumen to turn things around in Lagos State when he served as governor for eight years.

While noting with delight Tinubu’s contributions to Nigeria’s democracy in the past decades, he said Tinubu’s services to his fatherland are most needed at a time like this.

Gbajabiamila added that he believes the APC national leader will go down in history as one of the best and most impactful democrats Nigeria has had.

Similarly, Sanwo-Olu, has described Tinubu as “visionary, consistent, loyal, enigmatic and master strategist” whose democratic credentials are scholarly materials for study in political economy.

According to the governor, Tinubu is very consistent in his thoughts and actions about the development of Lagos State and Nigeria.

He said Tinubu has donated the greater part of his adult life

for service to humanity as well as Lagos State and Nigeria, considering his contribution to democracy and good governance, especially the role he played during the aborted Third Republic and the struggle for the enthronement of democratic government after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential

election.

He said: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, like a colossus bestrides Nigeria’s socio-political space with vigour and vision. He stood firmly on the side of the Nigerian people, even at the risk of losing his life and personal belongings during the dark days of the military junta. A position he took along

with other progressives during the annulment of the June 12 struggle led to the end of the military interregnum and was replaced with normal government, which we all enjoy today.

“With the return to democracy, Asiwaju displayed political astuteness, courage and sagacity to save Nigeria from degenerating

into a one-party state.

“His financial wizardry and economic intellect, which he put to good use as the Governor of Lagos State, has taken our dear State to a greater height. Today, Lagos is the pride of Nigeria, occupying an enviable position as the fifth largest economy in Africa.

IDENTIFYING WITH ACCESS BANK…

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and President, Association for the Advancement of the Nigerian Shareholders, Dr. Faruk Umar, at a dinner party organised by Access Bank to mark 30 years of its transformation in Lagos…recently

$3& /DXGV 0HGLD IRU (;HFWLYH Telcos Threaten to Shut Down Facilities &RYHUDJH RI &RQYHQWLRQ in Kogi over Indiscriminate Taxes

Deji Elumoye inAbuja

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has lauded the media for the coverage of its extraordinary national convention which took place at the weekend in Abuja.

Its media subcommittee has, therefore, commended the media for the successful conduct of its national convention in Abuja, saying the role of the media in such an event cannot be ignored.

The Secretary of the Publicity Subcommittee, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a statement in Abuja yesterday that publicity was critical to creating public awareness of any issue.

He explained that without the contributions of the mass media, the convention wouldn’t have attained the degree of success it had achieved.

According to Garba, “we are

particularly impressed with the maximum publicity accorded the convention by the press and their patience to withstand inconveniences in the course of covering the event.”

He stressed that, in a democracy, the press plays a significant role in creating public awareness of political events and issues, explaining that majority of the citizens depends mainly on the media to gain information about the government or political activities.

“The level of commitment that you dedicated to the coverage of the event went a long way to bring about the success of the APC national convention.

Besides, members of the media were also able to provide analyses and insights on the convention, thereby helping members of the general public gain knowledge of the issues and candidates,” Garba said.

Eight Persons Killed as Ogun Cult Crisis Spreads to Sagamu James Sowole in Abeokuta Rather than abate, the cult activities related killings in Ogun State, worsened as eight persons were gruesomely killed in Sagamu, Headquarters of Sagamu Local Government between Sunday and yesterday.

In the last one week, no fewer than seven persons, were killed in various parts of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, causing confusion among residents.

It was gathered that clashes occurred among cult gangs particularly, between Eiye and Aiye confraternities over supremacy battle.

The clash between the rival cult groups, got to its peak

following the murder of an area boy popularly known as Tommy in Oluwo area of Abeokuta.

Since the death of Tommy, residents of Abeokuta have been leaving under fear of possible escalation of the crisis.

Though the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the Ogun State Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said 18 persons have been arrested, calm seems not to have been restored as there are cases of attacks on daily basis.

It was gathered that the Sagamu’s attacks started as early as 7:00am on Sunday, killing their targets.

Ugo Aliogo

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has expressed its concern about the shutting down of telecommunications facilities in Kogi State as a result of disputes arising from unusual taxes and levies demanded by the Kogi State Government through the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS).

The group in a statement issued by the Chairman,

Gbenga Adebayo, and Head, Operations, Gbolahan Awonuga, stated that the issue is likely to lead to a total communications blackout in the state, parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and possible impact on service availability in some parts of the followings: Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, and Niger States, because those states are sharing borders with Kogi.

The state further explained that the situation arose because a number of critical

telecommunications sites belonging to the members which have been closed and sealed up by the state government in an attempt to increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) collection.

The statement read in part: “This action followed an exparte court order obtained by the KIRS over unsubstantiated allegations that our members are in default of tax payments to the state government (which is not the truth) and access to these critical telecom sites has

been denied.

“As result of these actions by the state government, our members are unable to refuel power generators in these sites, a situation which has led to outage of over 70 sites including hub sites across parts of Kogi State. Now, with likely impact on Nine States surrounding Kogi (namely: Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger States. These are States sharing borders with Kogi State), and Abuja the FCT inclusive.”

Two More PDP Presidential Aspirants Collect Nomination Forms Chuks Okocha in Abuja The presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), increased yesterday as Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Oliver Teriela Diana yesterday collected their nomination forms.

Anakwenze, a United States based medical doctor paid N40 million to obtain the expression of interest and presidential nomination form.

In the vein, Oliver Diana from Imo State is the only

female presidential aspirant so far. She paid N6 million for both the expression of interest and presidential nomination form at a subsidized rate of N 1 million.

Speaking with newsmen after obtaining his presidential nomination form, Dr. Anakwenze said that he is opposed to zoning or micro zoning of the presidential ticket to either the southern part of the country or even to the southeast.

Anakwenze said that he has the capacity to govern Nigeria

and bring the country out of the present economic woes.

He explained that zoning will not allow the best candidate like him to emerge as the presidential candidate of the party, hence his decision that th3 contest be thrown open for the best to emerge.

Though, a medical doctor based in the United States, he claimed that he is also an industrialist that employs more than 4,000 youths.

He said that if he becomes

the president that he will bring back 10,000 medics of Nigerian origin back to help improve the medical sector in the country.

Anakwenze further said that with his election as the president, that it will bring an end to medical tourism in Nigeria.

The aspirant said that if he becomes successful and emerge as the presidential candidate of the PDP that he will ensure that he empowers the youths, whom he described as the engine room of the nation.

Police Explain Visit to former Kano Anti-corruption Chairman’s Residence Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano Police Command has given the reason why its officers laid siege to the residence of a suspended Chairman of Kano State Public Complaint and AntiCorruption Commission, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, on Sunday night.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna confirmed the development to reporters in

Kano yesterday, saying the officers were at the house to serve him a letter of invitation.

“Our men were at the house to serve him an invitation but we could not do that as they refused us to do so,” he said.

He said the invitation was sequel to the court order dismissing the suit filed by the suspended anti-graft chairman seeking order to stop his arrest. ‘’So our men decided to stay around the house so as to serve

him the invitation as we have information that he was in the house,’’ Haruna said.

When asked on the alleged shooting during the siege by the police, Haruna said that the police never shot at all, insisting that there was no need for that.’’

According to him, the sound of gunshots heard by residents of the area were from inside the house of Rimingado not from the police officers who went to deliver the invitation.

“When our people heard the gunshots they took cover and it was in that process a vehicle came out of the house and zoomed up,” Haruna said.

THISDAY gathered that the police stormed Rimingado’s residence on Yahaya Gusau road and ambushed him around 7pm, on Sunday.

All effort to speak with the embattled suspended chairman failed as his mobile phone was switched off.

47

TUESDAY, ͺ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Eguavoen: Eagles Will Make Our Chances Against Ghana Count

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Augustine Eguavoen, has assured Nigerians that the team will take all the chances that come their ways in today’s reverse Qatar 2022 playoff fixture against Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Eguavoen spoke when he addressed the media yesterday ahead of the make or break encounter between the two West African arch-rivals.

He said the team will attack the Black Stars because only a victory of whatever shade will guarantee Nigeria’s qualification for a seventh World Cup appearance.

"We need to score goals, because opportunities rarely come in high level matches like this, so when you have a chance you have to take it.

"Ghana played very well in the first leg. The Black Stars are no pushovers. They are a team that we respect, same way they respect us. There was no clear cut chance for the Ghanaian team, but we came close to

scoring, so what we need do in this match is to ensure that every chance we get must count.

That is what we must correct," Eguavoen insisted.

He appealed to Nigerians to rally in support of the team by turning up enmasse for the match, saying their support for the Eagles will count.

The former Kortrijk of Belgium defender similarly disclosed that in spite of the first leg match in Kumasi ending in a stalemate four days ago, the players and the technical crew were not under any form of pressure against the Ghanaians.

The coach also spoke about the match fitness of Samuel Chukwueze and Innocent Bonke, who both received knocks in Kumasi in the first match leading to their substitution in the second half.

According to him, Bonke was still under observation which explained while he has not participated in the training sessions since the team returned from Ghana, while the outcome of a scan on Chukwueze’s groin was still awaited.

NIGERIA, GHANA IN HISTORY 20 0ct 1951 (Jalco Cup): - Nigeria 5 Ghana 0 11 Oct 1953 (Jalco Cup): - Ghana 1 Nigeria 0 30 Oct 1954 (Jalco Cup): - Nigeria 3 Ghana 0 30 Oct 1955 (Jalco Cup): - Ghana 7 Nigeria 0 27 Oct 1956 (Jalco Cup): - Nigeria 3 Ghana 0 27 Oct 1957 (Jalco Cup): - Ghana 3 Nigeria 3 25 Oct 1958 (Jalco Cup): - Nigeria 3 Ghana 2 10 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): - Nigeria 3 Ghana 1 26 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): - Ghana 4 Nigeria 1 22 Nov 1959 (Jalco Cup): - Ghana 5 Nigeria 2 28 Aug 1960 (WC Qualifier): - Ghana 4 Nigeria 1 10 Sep 1960 (WC Qualifier): - Nigeria 2 Ghana 2 9 Oct 1960 (Nkrumah Cup): - Nigeria 0 Ghana 3 29 Oct 1960 (Zik Cup): - Nigeria 1 Ghana 1 8 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): - Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 30 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): - Ghana 2 Nigeria 2 - Ghana 5 Nigeria 1 17 Dec 1961 (Friendly): 10 Nov 1962 (Friendly): - Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 23 Feb 1963 (Nkrumah Cup); - Ghana 5 Nigeria 0 30 Oct 1965 (Zik Cup): - Nigeria 0 Ghana 4 7 Nov 1965 (Zik Cup): - Ghana 3 Nigeria 0 23 Jan 1967 (Zik Cup): - Nigeria 2 Ghana 2 12 Feb 1967 (Zik Cup): - Ghana 2 Nigeria 0 22 Oct 1967 (Zik Cup): - Ghana 2 Nigeria 1 23 Dec 1967 (Zik Cup): - Nigeria 2 Ghana 2 10 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): - Nigeria 2 Ghana 1 18 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): - Ghana 1 Nigeria 1 8 Jan 1973 (All-Africa Games): - Nigeria 4 Ghana 2 10 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): - Nigeria 2 Ghana 3 *(abandoned, match awarded 2-0 to Ghana) 25 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): - Ghana 0 Nigeria 0 11 Aug 1974 (Festival): - Nigeria 1 Ghana 0 17 Aug 1974 (Festival): - Nigeria 0 Ghana 1 24 Aug 1975 (Festival): - Ghana 1 Nigeria 2 30 Aug 1975 (Festival): - Ghana 3 Nigeria 0 4 Sep 1977 (Ecowas Cup): - Nigeria 2 Ghana 1 8 Mar 1978 (AFCON): - Ghana 1 Nigeria 1 21 July 1978 (All-Africa Games): - Ghana 0 Nigeria 0 1 May 1983 (ECA Anniversary): - Ghana 1 Nigeria 0 15 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): - Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 30 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): - Ghana 1 Nigeria 2 5 Mar 1984 (AFCON): - Ghana 1 Nigeria 2 27 July 1986 (Friendly): - Ghana 2 Nigeria 0 2 Sep 1990 (AFCON Qualifier): - Ghana 1 Nigeria 0 13 Apr 1991 (AFCON Qualifier): - Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 23 Jan 1992 (AFCON): - Ghana 2 Nigeria 1 9 Mar 1994 (Friendly): - Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 28 Aug 1999 (Friendly): - Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 11 Mar 2001 (WC Qualifier): - Ghana 0 Nigeria 0 29 July 2001 (WC Qualifier): - Nigeria 3 Ghana 0 3 Feb 2002 (AFCON): - Ghana 0 Nigeria 1 15 Dec 2002 (Friendly): - Ghana 0 Nigeria 1 30 May 2003 (LG Cup): - Nigeria 3 Ghana 1 23 Jan 2006 (AFCON): - Ghana 0 Nigeria 1 6 Feb 2007 (Friendly): - Ghana 4 Nigeria 1 3 Feb 2008 (AFCON): - Ghana 2 Nigeria 1 28 Jan 2010 (AFCON): - Ghana 1 Nigeria 0 11 Oct 2011 (Friendly): - Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

Super Eagles are primed for the make or mar clash with Ghana's Black Stars in Abuja this evening

90 Minutes of Fireworks in Abuja as Nigeria, Ghana Gun for World Cup Ticket Duro Ikhazuagbe Just 90 minutes stand between the Super Eagles and a ticket to a seventh World Cup appearance now. It is the most anticipated and potentially –explosive encounter between Nigeria and Ghana in their 71-year, 58-match rivalry.

Nothing comes close to it in all their previous encounters.

After playing a goalless draw with the Black Stars last Friday in Kumasi, Augustine Eguavoen and his technical crew are very much aware that everyone is on edge now, waiting for the match to kick off.

Where will the pendulum swing after regulation time? Will it be Nigeria or Ghana smiling to Qatar?

Will the game drag into added time and perhaps shootouts? A goalless draw after after added time will naturally drag the game into penalty shootouts. Score draw of any kind will automatically hand over the ticket to the visitors. It therefore is one game Nigeria cannot afford to lose by any margin. Shootout is not even an option because it is a lottery. It can go either way!

Apart from most of the senior players who have tasted World Cup actions like Odion Ighalo, Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong-Ekong, Leon Balogun and Oghenekaro Etebo, Kelechi Iheanacho Shehu Abdullahi, etc, failing to win will be a major heartbreak for the younger generation led by Victor Osimhen.

One mistake Eguavoen cannot afford to make today is to repeat his two-man midfield that gave free rein to the Ghanaians in the first leg.

Below is reactions of some of the

Innocent Bonke (right) and Samuel Chukwueze are doubtful for tonight’s clash with Ghana in Abuja

Augustine Eguavoen

players ahead of the must-win clash with Ghana this evening in Abuja;

competitive and physical. We expect that but we’ll be ready.”

Odion Ighalo: It is Going to Be a Tough Game But We Will Win

“This is an opportunity for the younger members of this team to be at the World Cup. It won’t mean much to them now but when they finish their career and look back, it is then they will realise what playing at the highest level of football (World Cup) means. . I have been there before and looking forward to going to another one in Qatar.

“The Ghanaians are going to come out now and play because they have nothing to lose. We just need to give our 110 per cent to the game and hope for the best.

It is going to be a tough game.”

Victor Osimhen: We are Determined to Qualify for

the World Cup

“This match means a lot to me, not just me but the whole team. We are looking forward to this game.

It won’t be easy. No game is easy in Africa anymore. It is going to be very physical. The ticket to the World Cup means a lot to us.

We are hoping our supporters to support us with maximum support from the stands. With due respect to the Ghanaians who I know have quality players, we are looking forward to winning on Tuesday in Abuja.”

Ademola Lookman: Black Stars Are Strong, Competitive and Physical

"This is a special event, special moments, the expectations are high. For us, it’s about winning and giving our best in the match,” Lookman continues.

“Ghana is a strong team, very

William Troost-Ekong: We Are Under Pressure But Will Qualify

“We are always under pressure playing for Nigeria everytime we are putting on the green and white shirt and representing millions of our countrymen and women. We know how much it means for us and for our families.

“Going to Kumasi and getting a draw I think it wasn’t a bad result and come Tuesday (today) we are hoping to secure the ticket.”

Chukwueze, Bonke Doubtful for Crunch Tie

Super Eagles winger, Samuel Chukwueze and midfielder Innocent Bonke remain doubtful for today’s crunchy second leg of the World Cup playoff against the Black Stars of Ghana.

FG Declares Half Work Day for Eagles Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja To ensure maximum support for the Super Eagles against Ghana, the Federal Government has directed all offices to close from 1. 00 pm today.

The circular to that effect, dated March 28, 2022 titled: "FIFA Qatar 2022 World Qualifier Between Nigeria and Ghana" was issued on behalf of the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi- Esan by the Permanent Secretary (Service Welfare), Ngozi Onwudiwe.

The circular was addressed to all federal permanent secretaries

to ensure full compliance.

Onwudiwe said the permanent secretaries were requested to give the circular wide publicity to achieve the desired result.

VAR Ready for Epic WinnerTakes-All Clash in Abuja

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the second leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Black Stars of Ghana was installed yesterday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

The equipment saved Ghana’s blushes in the first leg as a penalty awarded by Moroccan referee

Rédouane Jiyed, was annulled after the VAR confirmed Kelechi Iheanacho’s infringement led the Black Stars’ defender to handle the ball.

The VAR have also been tested and certified okay by officials ahead of the crunchy clash this evening.

Frenchman Jérôme Brisard will be in charge of VAR for the game and will be assisted by his compatriot Willy Louis Delajod.

The game will be officiated by Tunisian referee Sadok Selmi. He will be assisted by Khalil Hassani (Tunisia; assistant referee 1); Attia Amsaaed (Libyan; assistant referee 2) and Haythem Guirat (Tunisian;

fourth official) .

33 Export Lager Backs Super Eagles to Seal World Cup Ticket

33 Export Lager beer, the Official Beer of the national team has charged the Super Eagles to go all out to ensure they pick a ticket to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar tonight in Abuja.

Over the months, 33 Export Lager beer has solidly stayed behind the Eagles in their quest for a seventh World Cup appearance and the Premium brand is positive the Coach Augustine Eguavoen led team will qualify in style on Tuesday at the MKO Abiola Stadium.

TR

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Sultan to FG, Politicians

“Ramadan is coming, the cost of living is going higher. The cost of foodstuffs is high, going up and up; the government has to tackle this very serious challenge. By 2023, politicians will be up to their normal game; Please, play politics with the fear of Almighty Allah. Don’t make it a do-or-die affair, Allah already knows who will be the leader in 2023’’ ---Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, calling the government and politicians to do the needful.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

APC And The Consensus Question “O mo, shine your eyes oh, all of una wey say APC no go fit do Convention, una don see am, abi una no see am? No be say we just do Convention we do better one sef.. Orrr bih. APC on top!”

“Are you okay?”

“I am okay. My party is doing well. We will win this election in 2023 and we will rule this country forever.”

“APC is not forever. Be realistic. You call what you guys did a Convention? Was that a democratic process?”

“Yes it was. I don’t expect any member of the opposition to say we did well. As the new Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu said, you people are full of tears and sadness.

And as the President said, he does not expect the PDP to be happy. All of you predicting that the APC will collapse, or that the Convention will end up as a Third World War, please listen to this Breaking News. On Saturday, the APC, Nigeria’s ruling party organized a successful Convention.

The party respected all the rules. INEC kept a watching brief. Everything went smoothly. On Sunday, a new National Working Committee of the party was inaugurated. Oya, come on with your hate message” “The whole thing was illegal and unconstitutional.”

“Hate speech,” “Your new Chairman has EFCC cases all over his head. Many unresolved cases.”

“Hate speech. Nobody has ever convicted Senator Abdullahi Adamu. Be careful. You can be sued for defamation.”

“Is the man going to keep his seat as Senator representing Nasarawa West? You people don’t know the law.”

“That’s none of your business. When we get to that bridge we will cross it.”

“What was all that drama about unity list?

Governors behaving like Zombie. The President gave them a list and everybody just complied.

The whole APC Convention was a violation of the principles of internal party democracy.”

“In your head” “One aspirant from Lagos even wept. One woman refused to step down. Another one protested that he had been a founding member of the party, only for someone to come from nowhere and parading himself as a consensus candidate.”

“That is democracy. We are a party of many sides. We accommodate everybody including people who think it is good to weep in public.”

“Is that how to run a party? Make people weep?”

“It is supremely human for people to weep, shout and disagree. Tell me something else that I don’t know.”

“I hope you know that the PDP has a case in court about that your APC Convention” “PDP should go and worry about its own problems. That case is dead on arrival. It has become completely academic. Is it PDP that will determine what we do in APC? I keep telling you, una no well” “We want to take power from you people?

We will grab it.”

“Come and grab it and let’s see. Who will give you power?”

“No. Governor Wike has made the point. We will grab it.”

“Who is Wike?”

“Wike is the Governor of Rivers State. The

APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu Indaboski of PDP politics…. exponent of the mad man hypothesis in Nigerian politics” “I beg. You see that your Indaboski, go and advise him, because the day he leaves office as Governor and his immunity expires, he won’t even be allowed to enter his car. We will grab him.. You saw Willie Obiano wearing boxer shorts. Wike will not even be allowed to wear common singlet.”

“Are you people okay?”

“Try us. You people go about threatening madness. We will show you the meaning of madness. You think we are joking?

“So that is why you people run a Convention of coercion. You intimidate people and you think you can intimidate all Nigerians?”

“Our party is a party of disciplined people.

Our leaders took a decision and we all complied.

Those who did not comply were allowed to have their way. In the end, there was peace, progress, and solidarity.”

“In your mind, hen?”

“No. In your face!”

“I can tell you for free, that your party the APC is about to implode. Not everybody is happy. I see some of your party chieftains leaving the party and forming a Third Force.”

“You know what I think? Honestly? I really think the time has come for President Buhari to declare the fight against drug addiction a national emergency.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Just what I have said, because I don’t understand why an adult like you will stand before me, in this hot sun, and be hallucinating, jabbering and jam-talking. It doesn’t look normal.”

“I am very normal. Don’t insult me because of politics.”

“You are raising your voice.”

“Don’t tell me I am raising my voice? Because of APC politics?”

“Can you calm down?”

“Don’t tell me to calm down! Diesel is about N800 per litre. Where I live, they always put off light. We are told, the facility managers cannot

afford to give us electricity. Fuel is expensive.

Even prostitutes have raised their rates. They have become very arrogant. When you argue, they will tell you that the Dollar-Naira Exchange rate has gone up. What has FOREX got to do with monkey business?”

“Everything, actually, because - you have no shame. I think you know that. We are having a conversation and you are talking about prostitutes.

Am I expected to have an opinion on what prostitutes want or what they charge?”

“Prostitutes are human beings. They are an important part of this Nigerian economy. I can talk about them if I so wish. In fact, I can write a whole book on that sub-economy.”

“Sorry oh, the spokesman of the Prostitutes Association of Nigeria. I get that. Yes, I get it.”

“You cannot say that. In fact, your party is a party of prostitutes. Are you not even ashamed that all your major newly elected officers came originally from the Peoples Democratic party? The same people you pushed out of power in 2015, they are now the ones leading your party.”

“We like it like that. Leave us alone. It is called democracy” “So, who is going to be your be your Presidential candidate?”

“How is that your problem?”

“I am just asking as a stakeholder. Are you people going to have a Consensus Presidential Candidate? A CPC!” “Go and hold stakes in your own party” “I am a citizen, an eligible member of the electorate. Who is that CPC candidate going to be? Will the choice be Asiwaju Bola Tinubu or someone else? I want to know who I may vote for.”

“You can keep your vote. Go and give it to PDP and waste it.”

“Arrogant” “Yes, for a purpose. We are the ruling party.”

“Nonsense. In another two months, President Muhammadu Buhari would be lame duck. Nobody will listen to him again.”

“And so? And what if nobody listens to him?”

“And so” “Okay you wait and see. When that duck is ready, we will serve you for breakfast.”

“But jokes apart, I hope you know that your party is still going to have problems.”

“We are a unified party. Stop spreading fake news.”

“There will be political war in 2023.”

“If you start any violence, you people will end up in prison. We will not tolerate any nonsense!”

“Are you God?” Are you people God?” “You want power. Come and take it now.”

“Nigeria is in trouble. God help us.”

“Please. I hope you know all your Pastors are with us. You too should come and join us, join the winning train.”

“All your trains are always breaking down between Abuja and Kaduna and Ibadan and Lagos. Even airports are no longer safe.”

“It could have been worse. It could have been worse.”

“The philosophy of the defeated” “The mantra of the triumphant.”

“Just let us get to power in 2023 and you people will see.”

“The more reason we will fight and die on top this matter. We will not allow agents of hatred to take over this nation.”

“I just hope that the people know what they are doing.”

“Which people?”

“The Nigerian people and their PVCs.” “PVCs?”\ “Yes” “Like seriously” “Yes” “You must have been watching too much television. Please I have some other things to attend to.”

“No. I have not finished. I have a point to make.”

“Unfortunately, I am done. There is no point.”

“I want to say something about the power of the PVC and the electorate.”

“That’s fine, but please, can I take this phone call? Na God I take beg you…”

Super Eagles vs. Black Stars

T

he Super Eagles of Nigeria, the country’s national team would file out today to play against the Black Stars of Ghana in the return leg of the final qualifying match for the World Cup in Qatar, November 2022. Africa has five slots in the tournament. Four days ago, the Eagles and the Black Stars in the first leg of their final encounter ended the match 0-0. That was a very disappointing match. A winner must emerge today. The winner will go to Qatar 2022. The Ghanaians have been boasting that they would stop Nigeria. They must not be allowed to do so.

The matter between Nigeria and Ghana goes beyond football. It is all about national pride, brand and identity, from football, to jollof rice, women, men, culture and fashion. Austin Eguavoen and his team must be told very clearly, that they cannot and they must not disgrace us. We are Nigerians. Our political leaders may not mean well. Our institutions may not work. The national currency may be sliding. The country’s unemployment rate may

be high. But we, as a people, are diamonds.

We do not like to be disgraced. We do not enjoy humiliation. We love to win. Last week, the Super Eagles against Ghana at the Baba Yara, Kumasi Stadium played as if Ogbono soup had been splattered all over the football field. The only man who could stand firm was the goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho. Nobody must fall down anyhow today as if they are wearing banana peel boots. Nobody must put us to shame. Eguavoen and his team must not disgrace us. Play whatever pattern you want: 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2. Just score the goals and shut up the likes of John Dumelo, a Ghanaian actor who thinks he can run his mouth all over Nigeria’s reputation. Wake up Eagles, do something good! The best gift anyone can give Nigerians at this moment is a 2022 World Cup ticket. We may all be so busy watching the World Cup, the 2023 general election may end up as just another event.

Let’s show the Chanaians that our football, like our jollof, is better than theirs. As they say on the streets, today na today!

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