THURSDAY 31TH MARCH 2022

N1.2trn Unclaimed Funds: House C'ttee Discovers N300bn in Banks, MDAs Accuses Citibank of falsifying documents

Udora Orizu and Juliet Akoje in Abuja The House of Representatives AdHoc Committee on the recovery

of N1.2 trillion unclaimed funds in commercial banks; Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government; and the Central

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it had discovered over N300 billion since the beginning of its investigation.

Chairman of the committee, Unyime

Idem (PDP, Akwa Ibom) disclosed this yesterday after a session with Citibank.

In a related development, the

House Committee on Public Accounts on Tuesday demanded documentary evidence of assets imported by MTN, which amounted

to the total sum of N2.6 trillion capital allowances collected by the telco from Continued on page 10

WHO Certifies NAFDAC Fit to Regulate Production of COVID-19 Vaccine… Page 41 Thursday 31 March, 2022 Vol 27. No 9851. Price: N250

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Mobile Money Industry Processed $1trn Worth of Financial Transactions in 2021... Page 6

Buni to New NWC: I Bequeathed Better, Stronger APC to You Adamu begins tenure, pledges to continue party’s winning ways in 2023 Warns new committee members against disloyalty Emameh Gabriel in Abuja The newly elected National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu,

yesterday received his staff of office from the outgoing Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai

Mala Buni, at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

Buni, in his handing over speech, congratulated APC’s new national and zonal executives as well as

President Muhammadu Buhari, who, according to him, provided the needed leadership and atmosphere for a rancour-free convention.

The governor, who had come

under fire in the weeks before the convention, explained how his efforts in the last few months helped to reposition the party. However, he acknowledged there were still a lot

to do to consolidate on the success recorded by the party under him.

Buni stated, “First, to sustain Continued on page 10

Again,Terrorists Strike in Zaria as El-Rufai Insists There's Enough Intelligence to Prevent Attacks Says DSS has informants everywhere, monitoring plans of criminal elements Hints security agencies have their phone numbers and listen in on their conversations Queries why security agencies don't attack them first Declares he’s angry, frustrated and feels totally helpless Amaechi visits victims at army hospital, says Airforce may return to escorting trains Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan, Kingsley Nwezeh, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Udora Orizu in Abuja, Emma Okonji, Nosa Alekhuogie in Lagos, John Shiklam and Kasim Sumaina in Kaduna Another forty-eight hours after

bombing an Abuja-Kaduna train, killing, maiming and kidnapping passengers onboard, some daredevil terrorists, again, invaded a low cost housing estate in Zaria city, Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, yesterday, inflicting damage Continued on page 10

River Pollution: Osun Declares ADAMU'S REIGN BEGINS...

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (left), receiving the mantle of leadership from the former chairman, Caretaker War on Illegal Miners... Page 43 Newly-elected Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mallam Mai-Mala Buni, during the handing over ceremony at APC national secretariat in Abuja... yesterday

Photo: ENOCK REUBEN

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

NEWS

IN SEARCH OF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN DUBAI...

L-R: United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad AL-Taffaq; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; his Edo State counterpart, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Under Secretary, Foreign Trade and Industry at the UAE Ministry of Economy, Abdulla Al Saleh; Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, his Bayelsa State counterpart, Douye Diri; Chief Executive Officer, Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), Boye Oyewumi, at the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) in Dubai

Barkindo: OPEC Has No Capacity to Compensate for Loss of Russian Oil Producers’ group may keep to 400,000bd incremental plan Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja With Russia now becoming a pariah nation, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said yesterday that it would be difficult to compensate for the country’s production if it is completely shut out from exporting the commodity.

Speaking at the 61st Meeting of the Joint Technical Committee (JTC), OPEC Secretary General, Dr. Sanusi Barkindo, noted that the group was currently confronting a war in Ukraine whose far-reaching

consequences could reshape the geopolitical landscape as well as world order itself. He stated that the conflict had also compounded the uncertainties related to the pandemic by stoking economic volatility and further elevating risk premiums for oil and other essential commodities, given that both Ukraine and Russia are key global exporters, including of essential agricultural goods.

Many nations in Europe and the Americas recently begun abandoning Russian oil after it invaded Ukraine, saying the war was unjustifiable.

But Barkindo stated that the potential loss of more than seven million bpd of Russian oil and other liquids exports, around seven per cent of current global demand, either through sanctions or voluntary actions, was already having major repercussions on energy markets.

“No matter how you crunch the numbers, there is simply no way to make up for a loss in volumes of this magnitude given the current demand outlook. In fact, the last major supply disruption of this size, 5.6 million bpd, occurred in

1978 and 1979 during the Iranian Revolution.

“At that time, the spare production capacity was 9 million bpd, nearly three times OPEC-10’s current levels of around 3.3 million bpd,” Barkindo stated.

The Nigerian-born OPEC head urged global leaders to follow the example of multilateralism set by the cartel and once again ensure an unhindered, stable and secure flow of energy to the whole world.

He explained that while the market remains on edge and producer countries are confronting forces that

Countries with Huge Debts Vulnerable to Financial Crises, Recession, IMF Warns Nume Ekeghe

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that economies with large external debts could be vulnerable to financial crises and deep recessions when capital flows out.

The IMF stated this in a Review of the Institutional View on the Liberalisation and Management of Capital flows it released yesterday.

It noted that while the overall presumption that capital flows could bring substantial benefits for countries and that capital flow management measures (CFMs) it should not substitute for warranted macroeconomic adjustment.

It stated: “Capital flows can help countries to grow and to share risks. But economies with large external debts can be vulnerable to financial crises and deep recessions when capital flows out. External liabilities are riskiest when they generate currency mismatches—when external debt is in foreign currency and is not offset by foreign currency assets or hedges.

“In a review of its Institutional View on capital flows released today, the IMF said that countries should have more flexibility to introduce measures that fall within the intersection of two categories of tools: capital flow management measures (CFMs) and macro-prudential measures (MPMs).

“Today’s review said that these measures, known as CFM/MPMs, can help countries to reduce capital inflows and thus mitigate risks to financial stability not only when capital inflows surge, but at other times too.”

It further noted that during a capital flow reversal, conventional policy instruments may not be effective in addressing the balance sheet effects related to FX mismatches.

“First, while a currency depreciation due to a capital flow reversal may boost net exports, it may also tighten external borrowing constraints by reducing the FX value of local-currency assets, collateral, and income relative to FX debt and liabilities.

“In such circumstances, monetary policy faces a difficult trade-off: raising the interest rate could result in excessively tight domestic monetary conditions, with pro-cyclical effects on credit and economic activity; while lowering it could lead to further depreciation, tightening external borrowing constraints further.

“Second, the capacity of the government or the central bank to provide FX liquidity to the private sector to satisfy rollover needs on FX debt may be limited, owing to insufficient FX reserves or other sources of FX funding,” it added.

It also added that FX debt

inflows may be useful in a preemptive manner, in the absence of an inflow surge, to prevent a further accumulation of alreadyelevated FX mismatches and the associated systemic financial risks.

“If the adverse balance sheet effects of a currency depreciation can be mitigated pre-emptively through CFM/MPMs that reduce FX mismatches, the exchange rate can be allowed to adjust more flexibly after external shocks, hence reducing the cost of capital flow reversals and facilitating the needed external adjustment. Such arguments have been developed in

the IPF workstream and the IEO report as rationales the pre-emptive use of inflow CFM/MPMs. “The accumulation of external debt in local currency can also pose financial vulnerabilities in the private sector, but a wider set of policy tools is typically available to address them. “Maturity mismatches and excessive leverage in local-currency debt positions increase rollover risks and the probability of fire-sales of domestic assets during capital flow reversals.

In those cases, adequate MPMs would typically address these risks effectively,” it added.

they cannot control, it is, however, within OPEC’s control to stay the course and faithfully implement the decisions it undertook jointly to support the market’s stability and growth.

Describing the current situation as fluid and constantly evolving, Barkindo stated that until more clarity is available, OPEC will for the moment maintain the underlying assumptions that pent-up demand will continue to drive economic growth, and along with it, the world’s thirst for energy.

Meanwhile, OPEC and its allies are expected to rebuff calls this week to fill in the supply gap left by falling oil exports from coalition member Russia.

The 23-nation group led by Saudi Arabia was expected to ratify plans for another modest production increase scheduled for May when it meets on Thursday (today) according to a Bloomberg survey.

Several delegates from the OPEC and its partners privately predicted the outcome, and public comments from key nations point the same way.

Russian oil exports have plunged by a quarter as many international buyers boycott the country following its invasion of Ukraine. Companies including Shell Plc and TotalEnergies have pledged to halt purchases on the short-term market and wind down long-term contracts.

With oil prices holding above

$100 a barrel, a lack of additional supplies to compensate for Russian losses threatens to further stoke the inflationary surge that was endangering the global recovery and inflicting a cost-of-living crisis on millions.

Major importers are urging OPEC+ nations with spare production capacity to open the taps faster, but the group’s key members have so far remained unmoved.

All 23 traders and analysts in the survey predicted the group would stick with its plan for an increase of 432,000 barrels a day in May. While that theoretically represents a slight increase from previous 400,000-barrel hikes as OPEC+ fine-tunes individual nations’ production quotas, most members have been struggling to deliver the full amount pledged for several months.

Global markets were under strain even before the invasion, as supplies failed to keep up with the vigorous recovery in fuel demand following the pandemic.

Part of the problem lies with OPEC+ itself, which is struggling to revive all the output halted during the Covid slump, after reduced investment eroded capacity in members like Angola and Nigeria.

Nigeria has been unable to meet its OPEC quota as a result of crude oil theft, long years of under-investment, vandalism and outright sabotage, losing over 400,000 bpd to the development.

Explore Bayelsa Beyond Oil, Diri Woos Investors at Dubai Forum Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has appealed to foreign investors to tap the economic potentialities of his state beyond its depleting oil resources.

Diri, who spoke on Tuesday evening at one of the closing sessions of the annual global investors meeting known as the Dubai Expo at the picturesque Dubai Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates, was quoted in a statement to have said Bayelsa is an amazing state with several investment opportunities waiting to be harnessed.

The Bayelsa governor said the state, created in 1996, seeks investors to develop its agricultural potential in areas it had comparative

advantage such as in rice, cassava, sugarcane, palm trees and palm oil production, plantain as well as in fisheries and aquaculture.

He invited investors to partner with the state to exploit its rich mangrove forests and natural beaches to make it a tourists’ haven.

Diri stressed that Bayelsa’s sprawling coastline, which was the longest in Nigeria, provided vast opportunities for power generation ranging from wind to tidal and solar energy.

“It gives me a special pleasure to introduce to you what I sincerely describe as an opportunity of a lifetime – to come invest in amazing Bayelsa State. We know that

investment is key to attaining the lofty socio-economic goals that will sustain our youths or alleviate the poverty that still challenges significant numbers of our people.

“We are taking the necessary steps with our Strategic State Development Plan, integrating the private sector in our development and growth agenda, and ensuring that the structures and policies are competitive and in tandem with international best practice,” he added.

The Bayelsa helmsman emphasised that actions already taken have put the state on a positive trajectory, stating that a recent Ease-of-Doing Business report rated the state

highest in the south-south region as well as being adjudged as one of the safest places to do business in the country.

“Our state is one of the leading producers of oil and gas in Nigeria.

There is however much more to Bayelsa than its abundant oil and gas deposits.

“These include but are not limited to agriculture, where our arable land gives us comparative advantage in the production of rice, cassava, sugarcane, palm tree and plantain.

“In the area of tourism, with our lush mangrove forests and natural beaches, we have humongous unexploited opportunities to make the state a tourists’ paradise.

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ABIODUN HOSTS THE ROYALS...

L-R: Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase III; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, during the royal visit of the paramount rulers to the Governor at the Presidential Lodge, Ibara, Abeokuta... yesterday

Mobile Money Industry Processed $1trn Worth of Financial Transactions in 2021

Emma Okonji

The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem for societal change, yesterday, released its 10th annual “State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money.”

The report released during a webinar, revealed that global mobile money adoption and use witnessed growth in 2021, processing a record $1 trillion annually.

According to the report, the milestone figure was a sign of strong industry growth, as accounts, value and volume of transactions all soared.

"The industry enjoyed a substantial increase in the number of registered accounts, up 18 per cent since 2020, reaching 1.35 billion globally. The volume of personto-person transactions were up to more than 1.5 million every hour," the report stated.

It further revealed that one of the most significant drivers of growth was merchant payment, which almost doubled year-on-year. It also highlighted how mobile money continued to act as a core pillar of financial and economic inclusion, particularly for women.

While presenting the report, Head of Financial Inclusion and AgriTech at GSMA, Ashley Olson Onyango, stated that mobile money had become an enabler of different services across sectors, solving critical, social, economic and environmental challenges, by providing access to essential

utilities.

Analysing the report during the webinar session, Executive at MTN Group and Head of Fintech Payment/Digital Channel/Strategy, Mr. Cedric NGuessan, explained how diversification helped in growing the mobile money ecosystem by expanding the merchant networks, after an elaborate expansion of the consumer market.

Giving an insight into the significant growth in merchant payments, the report said, "Mobile money diversified its value proposition beyond person-to-person transfers and cash-in/cash-out transactions in 2021. It is now playing an important role in the daily lives of people and businesses, especially in low and middle-income countries.

“The growth of ecosystem transactions, such as merchant payments, international remittances, bill payments, and bulk disbursements, together with interoperable transactions, are accounting for a more significant share of the global mobile money transaction mix."

The report said merchant payments were instrumental to the growth of the mobile money industry in 2021. The value of merchant payments almost doubled, reaching an average of $5.5 billion in transactions per month.

The report added, “Providers are demonstrating that they can attract businesses to their platform with better incentives, such as efficient remote onboarding processes. For example, since Safaricom’s M-PESA began allowing companies to register for an account online in Kenya,

more than 18 per cent of new merchants are self-onboarding.”

Head of Mobile for Development at GSMA, Max Cuvellier, stated, “2021 was the year mobile money started to really diversify into Business-to-Business (B2B) services. Beyond traditional person-to-person transactions, such as transferring money to family or friends, the industry is now central in helping small businesses operate more efficiently, and serve their customers better.”

In the area of increasing financial inclusion for women, the report noted, "Mobile money has also

been a driving force for financial inclusion for the world’s most vulnerable, particularly women.

Mobile money is empowering women to take more control over their finances and purchase goods that they urgently need.

“Additionally, 44 per cent of providers responding to the GSMA Global Adoption Survey now offer credit, savings or insurance products, creating opportunities for underserved individuals to invest in their livelihoods and futures."

According to the report, with the gender gap in mobile money

account ownership ranging from seven per cent in Kenya, to 71 per cent in Pakistan, there remain some barriers to vulnerable people benefitting from mobile money.

The report said, “Owning a mobile phone is an obvious pre-requisite to using mobile money, and women across low and medium income countries are seven per cent less likely than men to own a mobile phone.

“Overall, 143 million fewer women own a mobile than men.

Additional barriers to mobile money access include a lack of awareness of mobile money and

Adesina: 250 Million Africans Live on Empty Stomach Daily Says hunger has become a way of life in the continent Peter Uzoho The President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has estimated that about 250 million men, women and children across the continent go on empty stomach from dusk to dawn.

Adesina stated this in an article he wrote that was posted on the AfDB’s website on Tuesday, noting that hunger has become a way of life in many African countries.

He said food systems in the

continent were failing to deliver diets that are healthy, affordable, secure and safe for vast majority of Africa's population.

“Africa’s food systems are failing to deliver diets that are healthy, affordable, secure, and safe for vast swathes of its population. For many in Africa, persistent food shortages mean that they struggle to put food on the table — hunger has become a way of life.

“Almost 250 million men, women, and children across the continent go on an empty stomach

from dawn to dusk," Adesina said.

He emphasised the need to invest in sustainable and healthy diets to ensure the advancement of the health and well-being of Africans.

He maintained that African countries had for too long failed to make investments necessary to provide sustainable and healthy diets for their citizens.

Noting that the continent cannot go on in this way, the AfDB boss said better nutrition in African countries was the foundation to

Andela Launches New Platform to Power the Future of Work

Emma Okonji

Andela, the global marketplace for remote technical talent, yesterday announced the launch of its new platform designed to create a more direct, personalised, and successful hiring experience for both talent and recruiters.

The company, already known for its focus on high-quality global engineering talent from over 100 countries, has now expanded its offering to include designers, product managers, and data talent.

To reflect this growth, Andela is also unveiling its new brand identity, and these are coming shortly after Andela closed a $200 million Series E, valuing the company at $1.5 billion.

Speaking about the initiative, the CEO and co-founder of Andela, Jeremy Johnson, said: "Amazon, Apple and Netflix have changed every aspect of our lives, from how we shop to how we consume culture and everything in between.

As a result, personalisation has become a basic expectation.”

According to Johnson, “This is why we have built our new platform to help talent find jobs that match more than just their technical skills. Instead, we help them find careers that match their lives.

“This works well for recruiters, too. Instead of wasting time sifting through resumes and screening calls, our platform identifies talent that fits their exact needs, helping

a deficit in perceived relevance, knowledge and skills.”

While some progress has been made, the report made it clear that more must be done to address the mobile money gender gap across low and medium income countries.

The report further stated that concerted action would be required from policymakers, the private sector, donors and other stakeholders to learn from success stories, address the issue, and ensure that existing gender inequalities are not further entrenched, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

companies find top talent in less than two weeks, and often in just two to three days.”

The Director, Andela Learning Community at Andela, Agnes Muthoni, said: “Our data-driven approach to connecting talent with global opportunities now offers personalised and bespoke experiences for recruiters and candidates alike.

“Talent can now choose offerings that better suit their skills and lifestyle, while recruiters can quickly identify and hire candidates with the right skills and experience for their organisation in as little as 48 hours, helping them increase efficiency and productivity.”

To get started on the new platform, hiring managers simply

create a company profile, post a job, and can see their curated candidates instantly. Andela’s matching accounts for depth and breadth of skill requirements, timezone and working hour overlaps, industry expertise, and team fit, Muthoni said.

“Talent can see how well their skills match up to roles via a clean and easy-to-digest graph, helping users both talent and recruiters, visualise compatibility, including overlap in skills and preferences.

“The Andela platform is constantly learning, helping to refine its personalised recommendations.

As users accept or reject recommendations, they are also asked for specific feedback. With each bit of feedback, the platform becomes

more personalised,” Muthoni further said.

Alongside a new platform, Andela revealed a new visual brand identity meant to better reflect the evolution of both the company as well as the global talent industry that it has helped to spawn.

“It’s always hard to change a brand that’s become iconic. In many ways, Andela’s brand has been a source of inspiration to software developers around the world who share our belief that brilliance is evenly distributed.

“That said, brands have to evolve alongside the companies they represent. I am proud of what the team delivered and excited to show the new Andela to the world.”

Johnson said.

advance health and well-being, educational attainment, prosperity, and equity.

Pointing out that it was time to deliver food security at scale and to nourish Africa once and for all, Adesina also stressed the role of AfDB in ensuring food security and proper nutrition in Africa.

He added, “We will not succeed unless we all play our part. Since the start of my first term as President of the African Development Bank Group in 2015, Feed Africa has been one of the bank’s ‘High five strategic priorities’ “Over the past six years, almost 76 million people have benefited from agricultural technologies for food security through our Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation programme.

“Furthermore, Special AgroIndustrial Processing Zones, which are promoted by the African Development Bank in partnership with other institutions, provide world-class infrastructure to develop competitive value chains and transform rural areas into zones of prosperity.

"Seven SAPZs have been rolled out in Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Senegal, and Togo. SAPZs are planned for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. However, much more needs to be done.”

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THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS NIGERIA AT MARINA...

L-R: Chairman, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Nigeria, Chief Akingbola Akinola, SAN; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, during a courtesy visit by CIArb Nigeria to the Governor, at Lagos House, Marina, Lagos... yesterday

Lawmakers Urge NNPC to Submit Status Details of $12bn Natural Gas Pipeline Project To investigate soot pollution in Niger Delta Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to provide information regarding the implementation, utilisation of funds as well as the status of its $12 billion, 4,128 kilometers Natural Gas Pipeline Project.

Similarly, the House of Representatives also mandated its Committees on Gas, Niger Delta Development Commission and Healthcare Services to investigate

soot pollution in the Niger Delta region and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

The House also urged the NNPC to review the National Gas Master Plan relating to the project to conform with the variables of today's global economy.

The resolutions by the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion on the urgent need to address prolonged construction of the Trans Saharan natural gas pipeline project, sponsored Hon. Ahmed Munir at yesterday’s plenary.

Moving the motion, Munir recalled that on January 14, 2002, the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Algerian National Oil and Gas Company (Sonatrach) had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a $12 billion, 4,128 kilometers Natural Gas Pipeline Project with a projected annual capacity of 30 billion cubic meters that will extend Gas supply to Europe.

He noted that in June 2005, then NNPC and Sonatrach also signed a contract with Penspen

Limited for a feasibility study of the project, which was completed in September 2006, and the pipeline was discovered to be technically and economically feasible and reliable which in turn led to the inter- governmental agreement on the pipeline signed by the Energy Ministers of Nigeria, Niger and Algeria on July 3, 2009, in Abuja.

He expressed concerns that in 2013, the federal government approved a budget of $400 million for commencement of the project originally scheduled to be operational by 2020, with no

Direct DSTV, Others to Charge Per View, Senate Tells Ministry, NCC Sets up panel to probe incessant price increment

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Senate yesterday directed the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to direct all pay-tv providers to introduce a pay-per-view model of subscription as against the month-to-month prepaid model presently in place.

The red chamber also directed all pay-tv service providers in Nigeria to immediately review their bouquet prices downward in tandem with the prevailing reality of the economic situation in the country.

The lawmakers also set up an adhoc committee to carry out a full-scale investigation into the incessant increment by the satellite pay-tv operators.

The Senate passed the resolution after considering a motion

by Senator Abba Moro (PDP Benue South).

The motion was titled: "Nigerians dumbfounded, outraged over Pay-Tv Tariff Hikes, demand for Pay-Per-View subscription model."

Moro noted with great concern the uproar within the public over tariff hikes, price increases

by Pay-tv service providers on their bouquets.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, consequently constituted a seven-man ad-hoc committee to probe the tariff hike introduced by pay-tv service providers operating in the country.

The Senate President tasked the panel to carry out a comprehensive investigation into how other countries are billed by pay-tv service providers.

The Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North), was appointed by Senator Lawan to Chair the ad-hoc committee.

Members of the committee included Senators Sulaiman Abdu Kwari, Oluremi Tinubu, Yusuf A. Yusuf, Lekan Mustapha, Chukwuka Utazi, Akon Eyakenyi.

The sponsor of the motion, noted with concern the uproar within the public over tariff hikes, price increases by Pay-tv service providers on their bouquets; He stated that the leading pay-tv service provider in Nigeria, (MultiChoice Nigeria) informed all DStv compact subscribers on August, 22 2020, to expect a 13.3 per cent price increase to N7,900 up from N6, 975 commencing from September 1, 2020.

Moro bemoaned the hike in subscription fee for DStv compact plus by 9.8 percent from N10,925 to N12,000, and DStv premium from N16, 200 to N18,400 indicating a 13.6 per cent hike.

According to him, “MultiChoice Nigeria willfully and perpetually increases the cost of its bundles because there is no regulation whatsoever in the area of fixing rates.

“Notes further that as usual, without recourse to the economic situation of the country MultiChoice has again raised the cost of its DStv and GOtv bundles stating them as follows, DStv Premium (#21,000), Compact (#14,250), Compact (#9, 000), Confam (#5, 300), Yanga (#2, 950), Padi (#2, 150), Business(#2, 669), Xtraview PVR access fee (2, 900).

“Those of GOtv are as follows; GOtv Max (4,150), GOtv Jolli (#2,

6669), GOtv Jinja (#1, 900), GOtv Lite (#900)”, he said.

The lawmaker expressed concern that thousands of pay-tv subscribers in Nigeria have bitterly reacted to the development on different social media platforms, ranging from deep shock to pure outrage with many asking the Nigerian government to checkmate the activities of pay-tv service providers in Nigeria especially in the area of fixing prices.

He added that among the bitter complaints of Nigerian subscribers of pay-tv services is the poor network service experienced as a result of bad weather/ epileptic electricity supply, which sometimes makes a whole month subscription wasteful without the subscriber

watching anything before the expiration.

Moro said Nigerians were demanding that, rather than paying fixed rates for packages monthly, pay-tv service providers should introduce a subscription model which allows subscribers pay per-view to enable them match their TV consumption to subscription as it is the case with electricity metering and mobile telephony.

He explained that the pay-perview that Nigerian subscribers are demanding for, is a flexible model plan of subscription which allows subscribers of pay-tv to pay-per watch, to avoid Paying for services which they do not consume.

commensurate progress made to date.

He explained: "Cognisant that a new Gas Master Plan (GMP) needs to be crafted due to the current geo-political realities such as newly completed 20,000 barrel per day Zinder Refinery in the Niger Republic, new Niger-Benin Republic Pipeline due for completion in 2023, discovery and exploitation of hydrocarbons in commercial quantity in the Lake Chad Region of Chad Republic, prospecting of oil and gas on the Nigerian side of Lake Chad, discovery of hydrocarbons in Bauchi, spike in the cost of hydrocarbon, security situation along the right of way across the Sahel, as well as the Russia-Ukraine Conflict leading to Western Nation looking for alternative options to meet energy demands.

“Also cognisant that the successful completion of this vital project will create jobs, spur economic growth, and enhance energy and regional security."

Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committee on Gas Resources to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Gas, Niger Delta Development Commission, and Healthcare Services to investigate soot pollution in the Niger Delta and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

The lawmakers also urged the federal government to seek a permanent solution to the soot pollution by enforcing relevant laws and proper regulation of

House Grills NSITF over N6.8bn Unaccounted Expenditure, Unpaid Taxes Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives, yesterday, grilled the Managing Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Michael Akabogu, over N6.889 billion unaccounted expenditures and N1 billion unremitted Value Added Tax (VAT).

Speaking during the investigative hearing into the 50 audit queries issued by the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF), Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Wole Oke, stressed the need for the House intervention

to recover all the debts owed by the Fund.

The lawmakers also demanded for details of the unaccounted for revenue worth N72.8 million accrued from some of the properties owned by the company.

In his response, Akabogu, while denying knowledge of the money allegedly spent by the former NSITF Board Chairman, Mrs. Ngozi Olojeme, and others, urged the lawmakers to invite them for necessary questioning.

Addressing a question on the unaccounted revenue, which accrued from the properties

owned by the Fund, the MD disclosed that the Fund had been able to recover part of the unremitted rents collected by the Agent, Mohammed & Co. Oke, however, directed the Clerk to write the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to provide NSITF bank details since 2015 till 2021 under Treasury Single Account (TSA), adding that NSITF management should provide list of its bankers.

He stressed the need for the committee to visit all the NSITF properties with a view to conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the assets.

gas flaring.

The resolutions of the lawmakers were sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Bamidele Salam.

Moving the motion, Salam noted that soot was one of the deadliest forms of air pollution as it contains dangerous chemical substances that cause cancer, heart attacks, skin diseases, bronchitis, aggravated asthma, strokes, other respiratory and reproductive issues all of which can lead to premature death.

He also noted that since 2016, there have been several reports of soot pollution in the Niger Delta with a 30 per cent increase in morbidity and mortality rates in Rivers State.

He further noted that in 2018, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike commissioned an investigation on soot pollution in Rivers State, and it was established that the pollution was largely caused by illegal bunkering and gas flaring.

Salam expressed concerns that the situation was allegedly aggravated by the recent oil spillage that occurred at Aiteo Exploration and Production Company Limited oil well last November.

He further expressed concerns that as of December 2020, Port Harcourt was reported as the most polluted city in the world, with an air index of 207, which was far above the standard and moderate levels of 0-100, thus making the city the unhealthiest for residents.

He added that the federal government was far behind in its national flare-out target, which had aggravated the soot pollution in the Niger Delta region.

In a related development, the lawmakers adopting a motion sponsored by Hon. Gboluga Dele Ikengboju mandated its Committees on Healthcare Services, Health Institutions and Environment to interface with the Chief Medical Directors of University Teaching Hospitals, Medical Directors of Federal Medical Centres, and other Health Facilities in Nigeria which produce Healthcare Waste and other relevant stakeholders to determine possible government and institutional interventions that will promote proper Healthcare Waste Management in Nigeria.

The Committees at the meeting with the stakeholders are also to develop and propose a permanent and sustainable solution to the current challenges of Healthcare Waste Management and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.

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TEN AGAIN, TERRORISTS STRIKE IN ZARIA AS EL-RUFAI INSISTS THERE'S ENOUGH INTELLIGENCE TO PREVENT ATTACKS on residents and everything on sight, after allegedly kidnapping some people.

This is as the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, seething with anger, frustration and evident helplessness, yesterday, said with the amount of information and intelligence in the hands of the nation’s security agencies, they had all it would take to prevent attacks by terrorists and other criminal elements in the country.

El-Rufai, who claimed that the Department of Security Services (DSS), had informants everywhere, who were on top of their game, monitoring plans and communications of criminals, said he was angry, frustrated and felt totally helpless with the current turn of events.

But the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who visited some of the victims at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, has disclosed that the government might resort to using the Airforce to escort the trains, pending when the approval for the security detection devices pulled through.

In an equal stroke, an opposition figure, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday, offered suggestions to the federal government on how to tame the increasing insecurity in the country, stating that there were five things that must be done urgently if the government intended to stamp out insecurity from the country.

However, although details about last night’s attacks were still scanty when filing this report, a source in the area confirmed there was a strike by terrorists.

Notwithstanding the sketchy details, an unspecified number of people, including a custom officer and his son, were allegedly abducted during the new raid One of the sources, who confirmed the development, said the terrorists invaded the community at about 10pm yesterday, even though he could not give details of what happened.

“Yes, there was heavy attack in Low Cost area at about 10pm. I cannot say whether some people were abducted or not because I have no such details now. I will give you the details tomorrow,” he said.

According to THISDAY’s findings, the criminals, who were in large numbers, stormed the area

and started shooting sporadically, before making away with some people, believed to have included the customs officer and his son.

When contacted, Spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mohammed Jalige, said, he was not aware of the incident as he was yet to receive any report on the development.

“I cannot confirm it because I have not received any report on the incident, but I will contact our men in the area and find out,” he said.

But El-Rufai, who spoke, when Amaechi paid a courtesy visit to his office shortly after visiting victims of the Monday night train attack by terrorists, declared that the state was currently in a war zone and asked the security agencies to take adequate action to mitigate terrorism and banditry ravaging the once peaceful state.

"We have enough intelligence for us to take action. We have enough.

The Air force undertakes enough ISR, the SSS has informants all over the place. We know what they are planning, we get the reports; the problem is for the agencies to take action.

"They don't have to wait until they attack before they respond. The Army should go after their enclave and wipe them off. Let the Air force bomb them," he said, speaking to the press.

Continuing, the outspoken governor explained that, "Before, they were categorised as bandits if you bombed them, you will have issues with human rights organisations and international criminal courts and so on.

But now that they have been declared terrorists by the court, they can be legally killed without any consequences to international human rights organisations.

"We know where their camps are, we know where they are, the SSS has their phone numbers, they listen to them, and they give me the report.

We know what they are planning.

We shouldn’t be waiting for them to attack. Why can't we go after them?

"We are in a state of war. This place should be declared a war zone.

The army, the Airforce, the police should go in there and kill them.

Will there be innocent casualties?

Yes! In every war situation, there

are casualties.

"We have written to the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) twice to stop the evening service. The last train from Kaduna to Abuja should leave by 4pm, so it will get to Abuja in daylight.

"If anything is to happen, the response time will be quick, maybe in 30 minutes response time. When something happens, the response time will be faster in the day time.

We were lucky the military response was just within an hour, because it was dead in the night.

"I'm angry, frustrated and feel totally helpless. Let us establish military basses within Katari and Rijana and there will be response quickly when there is any attack," El-Rufai said.

Amaechi, while speaking too, said, "I will speak with the president. He has already given directives. I'm sure by the time we finish the repairs of the rail tracks, we would have gotten approval for the security equipment and we would possibly have installed.

"But even if we didn't install, yet, we have spoken with the management of the Nigerian Airforce to escort the trains. They were previously escorting the trains but recently, the weather has been very bad and visibility dropped to below 500 meters so they couldn't fly. So, they have not being flying with us and it’s why the latest attack was successful.”

According to the minister, Buhari has approved that, “we should employ people, who will be working on the rail tracks for the next six to seven months until we install the equipment. We intend to employ villagers on the corridor, so that they can report any suspicious movements to us and the security.

"We will commence work immediately and the military has promised us security as we work. It’s less than 2 kilometers of rail tracks.

We will complete the work as soon as possible."

He explained that, "If the ministry of finance releases the funds, then we can know the number of those to employ. But we will involve the DSS in screening the people we will employ.

Amaechi, while at the Nigeria Army Reference Hospital, said, "We are grateful to the Army. The

CMD and I have been talking. The Army hasn't charged a dime on any patient, not one naira and they have given the maximum medical care you can give to any patient.

"They treated the patients with bomb wounds and the lady with gun wounds in her heart, they are bringing in specialist, a cardiologist to attend to her. They have just seven patients left, the rest have been discharged, the federal government is grateful to the military for the assistance.

"We will liaise with the hospital to see how much money we can contribute to the victim's medical bills. Obviously, the drugs are not manufactured here. The experts they are bringing from the outside don't work for the Nigerian Army, they will have to pay them "The hospital management has not made specific requests from us but we wouldn't wait for them to request. If the ministry can afford to assist, the ministry should assist," he said, stressing that, "We are still contact-tracking to establish those missing."

Chief Medical Director (CMD), of the hospital, Col. Stephen Onochukwu, said, "The situation is that the patients we received from the incidents are all stable. We had 25 of them that where admitted. We discharged some of them that are stable, but we are still following them up.

Currently, we have seven of them still left in the hospital.

"We deployed our contingency resources to manage the situation.

There are no challenges. There is none of the cases that is beyond us, because we also have collaboration with the teaching hospitals so far.

The expertise we do not have, we borrow to manage the patients," Onochukwu said.

Saraki: Five Things FG Must Do Urgently to End Insecurity

A former President of the Senate and prominent opposition leader, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has listed five things that the federal government must do to end the current insecurity across the country.

In a series of posts on his verified Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, Saraki, who presided over the 8th Senate, said 20-point Security

N1.2TRN UNCLAIMED FUNDS: HOUSE COMMITTEE DISCOVERS N300BN IN BANKS, MDAS the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Chairman of the committee, Hon. Wole Oke, made the demand during an investigative hearing on the audit queries issued by the office of Auditor General of the Federation (oAuGF) following allegations of tax evasion.

Idem stressed that the committee was mandated, after a resolution of the House on January 26, to investigate and recover the N1.2 trillion due to the federal government that was trapped in commercial banks, MDAs, and other places.

He said the trapped funds were in dormant bank accounts in domestic and foreign currencies, accounts without Bank Verification Number (BVN), failed contracts, and excess unremitted funds.

During the investigative hearing, the lawmakers alleged that Citibank owed the federal government N99 billion from accumulated failed transactions and hanging funds.

Idem stressed, "A situation where we have been borrowing money to fund major capital projects while we can get such within is unacceptable. So far we have discovered N300 billion, which is just a little percentage of what we are trying to recover."

He said the committee was still studying documents and reports sent to it by banks and government agencies, adding that this would help the committee to recover more funds.

According to Idem, "The commercial banks are regulated by government and they cannot refuse us. This assignment is crucial.

We will not allow any government agency or commercial bank to undermine our power.

"If the commercial banks fail to appear, the next line of action will be to summon."

Members of the adhoc committee had raised the alarm over the differences in the documents submitted by Citibank, which showed dissimilar figures and

number of customers from the previous documents submitted by the bank.

Hon. Mohammed Bio alleged that the action of the bank was criminal and insisted that the representative of the financial institution should be put on oath to explain the difference.

Bio stated, "They (Citi bank) had earlier submitted an account record of customers without BVN with a number of 11 people with huge sums of money but today they made another submission on the content but the figures and number of customers stood at seven, with just little money to their names, which makes it curious.

“What are they trying to hide or could this be an afterthought that they had to bring this new documents.”

Responding to the lawmakers’ queries, Executive Director, Operations and Technology, Citibank, Mrs. Ngozi Omokeme, who represented the bank, said the financial institution had nothing to hide and the documents submitted were not falsified.

"With all due respect, we are not here to change any documents,” Omokeme said, adding, “Also, I am not here to falsify any documents.

The documents are consistently the same."

Meanwhile, the House Committee on Public Accounts demanded evidence from MTN to justify N2.6 trillion capital allowances it collected from FIRS. The chairman of the committee, however, acknowledged the communication sent by MTN’s accounting officer, which was delivered by a delegation led by its Head, Public Affairs, Mr. Anas Galadima.

The letter read, in part, "We refer to your letter on the above subject matter dated March 24, 2022 inviting us to furnish the House of Representatives Public Account Committee with additional documents on or before Tuesday,

March 29, 2022 and appear before the committee on Wednesday, March 30th, 2022.

“We are currently reviewing the content of the letter and require more time. In this regard, we therefore request for your kind consideration to revert to the committee on April, with our position."

The committee chairman expressed concern over the misgivings surrounding the investigative hearing on the alleged tax evasion

by MTN, but assured the company and all the stakeholders that the committee had no intention of witch-hunting anyone.

Oke said, "Let me state very clearly why we invited MTN. We invited MTN based on the infractions spotted by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation on non-presentation, evaluation of certificates of acceptance of capital allowances. That is the query issued by the Auditor General of the Federation.

“If you are not a financial person, you may not know or understand the implications. I want to clear this so that there is no ambiguity over the presentation in any medium of media platform.

“We are investigating tax evasion; tax evasion is possible through abuse of fiscal regulations. The committee has not come to conclusion to say that MTN has evaded payment of taxes.

"The Ministry of Industry came here, made submission. MTN also made submission; they have claimed total capital allowances from inception to date up to N2.6 trillion. So the question we are asking Federal Ministry of Industry is to adduce records, evidence that they inspected their (MTN) assets based on which they issued the certificates, which MTN has taken to FIRS to secure tax rebate.

“It is expected of the Federal Ministry of Industry to have inspected the assets before they issue the certificates. If the ministry is in

default, then we might be thinking of collusion between the beneficiary of the certificate and Federal Ministry of Industry, which will amount to undermining Nigeria; which will amount to loss of revenue.”

He said further, "We also asked for proof, the dates because you cannot enter MTN premises without records. The assets claimed by MTN can be categorised into two: you have the local content and you have the foreign content. We have written Nigeria Customs to give us records of the imports, the assets imported by MTN and proof of duty payment. Because if they (MTN) don't pay the duty as expected, it also amounts to loss of revenue to the federation.”

Recommendations were forwarded to the executive, and emphasised the need for effective intelligence sharing and the use of technology in order to combat terrorism in Nigeria.

“In the last 96 hours, terrorists have overrun an airport, bombed two trains with thousands of Nigerians, killed and injured several innocent citizens. As angry as I am — and we all are — about these attacks, one thing is clear: THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. “The recent attack we have seen at the Gidan train station is yet another example of why people no longer feel safe in Nigeria.

“We have seen too many attacks in too many communities across the country. We have lost far too many lives to still be at this point —commiserating daily with one family, one community, or the other. We need real solutions.

“As I have reiterated for many years, drastic and decisive steps need to be taken to review our nation’s basic security infrastructure to protect lives and property.

“One, the federal government must immediately establish an inter-agency task force that will formulate strategies to smoke out all bandits on the Kaduna-Abuja rail and vehicle routes. The recommendations of this task force must be acted upon immediately. In the long term, the task force should provide Nigerians with a strategy for ridding the entire country of bandits, insurgents, and kidnappers.

“Two, the service chiefs must have a meeting and develop an immediate plan for inter-agency collaboration. The gaps in coordination, intelligence-sharing, and synergy amongst our security agencies must be immediately redressed.

“Three, we must adopt 21stcentury solutions to our present-day problems. We must make better use of technology to track the activities of these terrorists. We must equip our security operatives with the modern tools and equipment that they need to keep us all safe and prevent such attacks in the future.

“Four, we cannot view these attacks in isolation. Our intelligence network must be proactive. We must be able to analyse and plan effectively to deal with all p rceived threats and all enemies of the Nigerian people.

“Five, we must show the strength of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by making sure that our Police, DSS, and Armed Forces immediately find, apprehend and prosecute all those that planned, participated, or facilitated these attacks in any way.

“We cannot continue like this.

Two days ago, 970 people were attacked on a train between Katari and Rijana. Yesterday, Gidan. A few days ago, terrorists attacked the Kaduna Airport. Our people cannot continue to live with the constant pervasive fear of: ‘Where next?’ For the sake of all Nigerians, we need real solutions and decisive action,” Saraki stated.

NGF, Anyim Lament Attack, Charge Security Agencies on Peace

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), yesterday, lamented the Kaduna-Abuja train attack on Monday night, and described it as a horror dream orchestrated by the wicked merchants of death, urging Nigerians to wake up and address once and for all, the recurring security challenges in the country.

Also, a frontline presidential aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has expressed concern over the fate of innocent Nigerians some of whom lost their lives, while others were injured, still being held hostage or traumatised as a result of the Monday night terrorists’ attack.

The NGF, in a statement by its chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said, "This is one attack too many. It must stop. First, as leaders, we owe the victims and their relations an apology" Fayemi, who said these security challenges as "unwarranted acts of violence are becoming too regular and they basically question our collective capacity to govern.”

He prayed God to grant those that lost their lives eternal peace and a place in the deepest recesses of heaven, while wishing those that were injured speedy recovery to resume their lives and put their heartless aggressors to shame.

"If the intention of these murderers is to disrupt the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians, they will not succeed and when eventually total peace returns to the country, they will surely either be lifeless or excluded. I can assure you that this is an ugly phase in our national experience; it will certainly pass" "We recognise the enormous risk you take every day. The cowards behind this will certainly not take over our country. Their violent demeanour will not result in anything positive, instead, it will confine them to an uncomfortable life in the jungle until the long arm of the law catches up with them," Fayemi said.

Anyim in a statement by the spokesperson of his presidential campaign organisation, Ahmed Buhari, recalled his open letter to President Buhari in 2021, in which he counseled the government that military actions alone were not enough to solve the current insecurity problems in the country.

He said he recommended to the government, a process akin to the Willinks Commission of 1958 to thoroughly look into and find lasting solutions to the issues that were fueling insecurity and disharmony in the country.

Anyim said whatever had pushed Nigerians into killing their fellow citizens in these large numbers and at such frequency, was a serious matter that must command the urgent attention of both the government and every leader in the country.

He, therefore, urged the security agencies to spare no effort in rescuing any of the passengers of the ill-fated train that were still being held by the criminals.

Continued on page 15

BUNI TO NEW NWC: I BEQUEATHED BETTER, STRONGER APC TO YOU the gains and coming at a time when this party will soon start its nomination process, obviously the tasks before you are enormous.

“We have done our best from the registration, to the congresses, the ward, local government, state and up to the convention. But that cannot be without problems here and there. By and large, we have succeeded.

“We can say we have recorded 70 per cent success. A bigger and larger political party like APC with over 41 million memberships. Part of democracy is to agree and disagree at some points. But it is all about human management. The ability to manage the situation is what will keep this party together and stronger again, and again.

“So, as it is and as members of NWC, you should study Mr. President's speech and that should be your guide. And also, I want to thank you, most importantly, for this opportunity, for all your efforts, both individually and collectively, for making our task easier throughout our stewardship.”

The new national chairman of the party declared that his first task in office was to strategise with his team, both at national and zonal levels, on how to win the 2023 general election. Adamu noted that despite the successful outcome of the convention, enormous tasks remained ahead.

He said, ‘‘I want to say on behalf of the new NWC that it is not going to be an easy time for us. We have a major event that is going to test the water, but how stable are we as a party now that the general election is coming?

“For me, by the time we start working, our main task will be how we handle the elections as a party. How will we win the general election? People are talking, saying the APC does not have an incumbent on the ticket.

“We will have the honour and the integrity and the legacy of the current president on the ticket.

We will work day and night. We have less than 12 months to face the general election. So, everybody

should buckle up.”

Adamu promised to maintain APC’s winning streak. He appealed for openness and cooperation from the NWC and other leadership structures of the party, saying, “Don't begrudge me. If there is any issue, let me know.”

He added, “I promise you, in the spirit of collective leadership, that team work is the only way.

I cannot deliver alone. What I am asking for is something called 'loyalty,' you have to be loyal. We must have one team. If you bring a divisive tendency, we will deal with it.

“This country is greater than any one of us. And this party is bigger than any single member of this party.

“Politics is sometimes a job that should be done well. Ingratitude always accompanies whatever we do. But, what should keep you moving on is what you know you did in good faith. That which you know will give you desired results.

This is the spirit with which we are going to work.”

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POLITICS

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

Northern Youth Forum: Why We Want Emefiele to Contest 2023 Presidency The Unified Northern Nigeria Youth Forum (UNNYF), a coalition of 40 youth groups has been in the forefront for calls on the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Godwin Emefiele to contest for the 2023 Presidency. The group has been criss-crossing some northern states to mobilize youths to impress on the CBN governor to run for the Presidency. In this encounter with John Shiklam in Kaduna, the Convener of the UNNYF, Abdulsalami Kazeem, speaks on why his group wants the CBN governor to run for the Presidency. Excerpts:

Y

our group has been in the forefront for calls on the CBN governor, Dr. Godwin Emefiele, to run for the 2023 Presidential elections. Why do you want him to be president?

We want him to be President because of the numerous initiatives and revolution he brought in the agricultural sector Here in Northern Nigeria, our backbone is Agriculture and since he took over the apex bank our people have benefited tremendously on his agricultural policies.

For example the anchor borrowers programme has made financing of Agriculture easier. Most of our farmers have graduated from small scale farming to commercial farming. This has led to emergence of industries and cottage industries.

You will agree with me that Nigeria recovered faster from the devasting Impact of COVID-19, this was possible through the numerous interventions the CBN rolled out.

He equally stopped importation of rice, this has led to the emergence over 60 rice processing mills, thereby creating both direct and indirect jobs.

Furthermore, for the interest of peace, we will continue to stand with those agitating for power shift to the South and most importantly, the Igbos. Fortunately, Dr Emefiele is an Igbo man even though from South South Nigeria.

This is will help, pacify those that are calling for the dismemberment of our country.

Has he indicated interest to run?

No, that’s why we are mobilizing our people to show him how acceptable he is amongst us and other Nigerians.

We are hopeful that our activities will spur him to defy all odds and contest because he has much acceptability everywhere.

People are clamouring for technocrats, someone with vast experience on economy of the country and he is among few intellectuals

Kazeem

with deep understanding on how to improve our economy.

We hope, he will consider our call and declare for the Presidency.

The APC seems to be embroiled in crisis, will you advise him to join another party to run for the Presidency?

These crises doesn’t speak well of the APC, but we are sure there is nothing that cannot be resolved once the leadership and stakeholders come together. Besides, every party is rocked with crisis at one point or another so Dr. Emefiele can contest under the APC and I am sure that will not be an issue Nigerians have grown to an extent as far as democracy goes, they are the ones who know who they want and that is all that matter.

What is your take on the new electoral law? Do you think it will make the electoral process more transparent?

Mr. President has shown to Nigerians that his word is his bond. You will recall that he assured Nigerians of his resolve to strengthen the electoral process, that he has fulfilled.

The electronic voting and accreditation that helped to sanitize our electoral system has now gotten the force of the law, multiple voting is no longer possible.

The deployment of thugs on election day will now become an old fashion, politicians will have to field popular candidates as the vote of the people will count.

The end product is that dividend of democracy will spread to all Nigerians.

However, we are strongly against the Section 84 that was smuggled into the Act. We believe that our lawmakers were guided by selfish interest, otherwise, they wouldn’t have infringed on the right of other Nigerians who are working or holding offices.

If they feel you can’t work and contest election concurrently, why won’t they resign too?

They want to have comparative advantage over others.

As a movement, we have resolved to challenge the legality of that section of the law in the court. In the next few days, our lawyers will tidy up the process.

What do you think should be the agenda for the next President, considering the myriads of problems facing the country, ranging from insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, etc?

There is a nexus between poverty on one side and insecurity and unemployment on the other side. The next President must be a sound economist who is capable of ensuring prosperity across our country, stamped out poverty promote peace and prosperity will

flow like a river in our country That is why we are advocating for Dr. Godwin Emefiele, a private sector player who is result oriented, a technocrat and and economists who is already building the economy of the nation to take over the leadership.

Some Nigerians are opposed to zoning or power shift. They say a young and competent person from any part of the country should be voted President without regional consideration? What are your views on power rotation?

Only selfish and unpatriotic Nigerians are the ones that are opposed to zoning.

The inclusion of Federal Character in our constitution tacitly supports zoning. Otherwise, Northern Nigeria with most polling units and registered voters will continue to dominate the leadership of the country.

Even those that are selfishly preaching against zoning will end up sharing the positions of principal officers in National Assembly according to zones. Those who think they want to play ethnic, regional or whatever divisive card to navigate their way to Villa will be in for a shocker.

There must be a Nigeria before we can talk of Nigerian President, therefore, we shall mobilize our members to vote for Southern Candidate in 2023 in order to calm fray nerves of those that want our country to be dismembered. There are competent people in all states of the federation, but they cannot be President at the same time .

Competence is not the exclusive right of one section of Nigeria. Those who want to waste their money from our region in the name of Presidential contest, should channel the money to help our displaced brothers in Northeast and Northwest, as their aspiration is dead on arrival.

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

Olawepo-Hashim: Consensus is Not Strange to Democracy Nseobong Okon-Ekong spoke with Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential candidate and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the sidelines of the party’s recent national convention

F

inally, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Congress is here after a lot of apprehension. We had so many chairmanship candidates who stepped down at the last minute for a consensus candidate, how difficult was it to get them to concede?

Most of the members of party want to see a successful convention. That is the only way in which the party can cure some of its deficiencies that the absence of a full operation of the party would have imposed on it. This could be some kind of albatross in the future, so when you have a successful national convention, having the supreme organ of the party gather to ratify the power, to energize the various organs, structures, policy decisions that have been taken; the national convention is the highest organ of the party. This motivation is what has made members to say let us have a national convention first. If you have a party, there are many things that members of the party can aspire to, but if there is no party, then everybody’s interest is jeorpadised, I think it is the love of the party more than anything else that has made the chairmanship aspirants agree to a consensus.

Do you think there are no ill-feelings harboured in the heart of these people; that they only conceded out of respect to

Olawepo-Hashim

Mr. President?

This is a democracy. You will not have 100 percent of people agreeing to a decision. All we need is a substantial majority, but whether the minority are less than two percent, it is always good to give people the opportunity to compete.

I think that in subsequent processes rather than this convention that we

needed to do today. We really needed to do it today. Most of the processes of the party would have reached the ability to give a chance to all contending interests to have a level playing field so that all contending interests will have an opportunity to ventilate themselves. You saw what we had at the Lagos convention that produced President Buhari as a candidate of the APC. You had Alhaji Atiku, himself a veteran contender for that position. He participated from the North-east. You had Rochas Okorocha, a veteran of several presidential contests. He came out from South-east. You had our friend, late Sam Nda-Isaiah, Publisher of Leadership Newspapers. He participated from Northcentral in the convention. At the end of the day, everybody had a sense of satisfaction that they participated. They competed and they were given a chance to be what they wanted to be. They were happy to respect the final result. I believe this is still the only way for us as a party to be able to go united to the general election. The next series of processes when you have a full operation of the party, I will expect that this process of consensus building that is based on voluntariness and a fair competition be allowed to dominate the affairs of the party Do you think that party has enough time to carry out meaningful reconciliation

before the general election?

Reconciliation is an ongoing process . I am sure that the talk has already started. I don’t see anyone in the party that will have a sense of entitlement. Once you have a sense of entitlement you will feel bitter and injured.

Nobody can do anything about that. There will be people who feel this position belongs to me. There is nothing you do about that. Such people will be difficult to reconcile. You better focus on what other things you can do. I am qualified just the way you are qualified for a position, if you feel this way, your reaction is likely to be measured.

Do you expect that the presidential primary will be decided by consensus, as well?

Whether it is consensus or whatever mechanism, there is none of it that is strange to democracy. What is important is that it should not be forced. It should not be imposed. Let every interest compete and let candidates negotiate among themselves to reach that consensus. I am not afraid of a consensus arrangement and I don’t think it is strange to democracy. But it must be through the principle of voluntary participation in the process in such a way that no one is seen to have been cheated out of the process. This is key. This is important.

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NEWS

Hayatu-Deen, Ohuabunwa, Emmanuel Pick PDP Presidential Nomination Forms Fintiri expresses interest to contest for second term Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former investor banker and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-deen and founder and former CEO of Neimeth Pharmaceutical, Sam Ohuabunwa yesterday paid N40 million each to collect the expression of interest and presidential nomination forms to contest for the presidency in the 2023 elections under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Also, a group known as the Berekete Human Rights Radio yesterday paid N40 million for the governor of Akwa Ibom state, Emmanuel Udom to enable him purchase the nomination for the presidential ticket of the PDP. The Berekete Human Rights Radio presidential forms was purchased

by Innocent Igwebuike Orji for the Akwa Ibom State governor

and they based their decision to purchase the form for him on the governor’s transformation of Akwa Ibom state and their belief that he can as well transform Nigeria.

The group said they intend to purchase 10 other nomination forms for other category of aspirations on a bipartisan bases.

Meanwhile, Hayatu-Deen who picked his presidential nomination form said he joined the presidential race in order to transform Nigeria and address the insecurity and growing unemployment in the country, if elected as president.

Speaking on the security situations in the country after picking his form, Hayatu-deen said: "This is extraordinary times and calls for extraordinary solutions, we need to build up the size of the military, retrain and re-arm them, provide

them with the motivational tools that they need so that they can fight this battle successfully.

"They should invest in intelligence assets, all these things are very important and it will take time to develop these kind of capabilities.

“We require Nigerians to also support them in this battle. We need to give them support, the government need to do everything possible to fight this ugly situation."

Accordingly, he said, "My motivations to join the presidential race are very clear, I did not go into the race lightly, I have taught about it very carefully, I am different because I have a very unique resume.

"I am not your classic politician, I am a technocrat, all my life I have gotten things done. I have worked in major institutions as chief executive officer, and I understand quite a

few issues.

“I understand why certain nations succeed and why some fail, I understand what it takes for a nation to be great, successful and I understand change management and I have been a turnaround manager.”

He added: "Human organisations are all the same, you just need to adopt. Nigeria today is in very serious trouble. I know what it takes to put people to deliver on the mandate of the Nigerian people, people with integrity.

"As an economists and haven gotten experience in dealing with issues, I think I have an understanding of what to do to settle the Nigerian issue. I have been a presidential adviser to three presidents, I was chairman of a committee on economy during the Buhari transition and we put in a beautiful report on finance and

economy.

"I was chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group. With my resume I welcome the challenge."

Commenting on zoning, he said: "This country has 210 million people, the constitution of Nigeria is very clear and all its relevant provisions, as to who is eligible to vote and be voted for.

“The electoral law of the land is clear as amended recently that anybody among these 210 million people is free to vote for who they want and to contest for any office.

We are governed by the constitution.

"I am not aware of any referendum for the Nigerian people to vote on zoning, zoning is a matter of convenience for certain leaders and for parties to discuss and agree among themselves, it is not an imposition that everyone is

bound to abide by.”

On his part, Ohuabunwa said he was in the presidential race to give birth to a new Nigeria where things work.

According to Ohuabunwa, "Today, you are all witnesses to history as I take a significant step towards my vision of leading like-minded Nigerians to build a new Nigeria that works for all.

“I have come to officially obtain the PDP form as an expression of my interest to contest for the office of President of Nigeria in the coming 2023 elections.

“By this step today, I am matching words with action, aspiration with sincerity, vision with seriousness, and a sense of responsibility with humility to confront the most urgent challenge of our time in Nigeria.

Continued online

AGAIN, TERRORISTS STRIKE IN ZARIA AS EL-RUFAI INSISTS THERE'S ENOUGH INTELLIGENCE TO PREVENT ATTACKS

Military Blames Social Media for Escalating Misinformation

The Nigerian Military, has blamed the social media for escalating misinformation about the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train a few days ago.

A former spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Sani Usman (rtd), said there were so much misinformation about the attack on the train passengers along the Abuja-Kaduna line, and blamed such unguided misinformation on the abuse of social media platforms.

According to him, "Nigeria is technologically deficient, because the protection of critical infrastructure such as railway requires physical barriers, surveillance, sensors, among others and that is what the country lacks, but the people, who do not understand the nature of the critical infrastructure, went to the social media to escalate false information about the attack."

Speaking yesterday on the Morning Show of Arise News Channel, he noted that those issues had always been on the ground but nobody took them seriously, even as he criticised the services of the train station for commuting at that time, given the precarious security situation in the country.

He, therefore, condemned the attack and called for the intensification of efforts to make sure the perpetrators were apprehended and victims rescued.

“I drove from Abuja to Kaduna on Tuesday and a lot of video clips of corpses of soldiers were in circulation, and this is the problem of social media.

"I was privileged to go to 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital and also the mortuary, I know the number of dead bodies that were there. A lot of information is on the social media, and we need to be responsible to other citizens and verify information before sharing it. There are credible sources of information that one can confirm with,” he said.

He also called for proper investigation to be carried out to know who did what and who has not done what in order to ensure that these kinds of things were mitigated.

On the response time it took for help to get to the attack scene, the retired General hailed the security forces particularly, the military, stating that the Abuja-Kano highway, which was under re-construction caused the delay and should be taken into cognisance.

“Personally, I was in touch and had the privilege of talking to the General Officer Commanding One Division. When he was moving and was able to get on the train, he told me, so the response time was quite marvelous. The most important thing we should emphasise is rescue efforts and putting in place mechanisms that these attacks should not happen again.”

On his part, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Freeborn Okhiria, explained that the slow response was as a result

of poor signal and communication in the area, but insisted the soldiers responded in good time and that was the best that could be done at the time.

He further explained that the train left the station at 6.10 pm and when it did not get to the next station at the right time, that’s when they started asking questions and confirmed there was an incident.

Going forward, Okhiria explained that security couldn’t be embedded in the NRC alone as certain approvals needed to be gotten, noting that, Drones couldn’t be flown without getting relevant approval and licenses needed to be acquired.

“We want to have security 24/7 so if one fails, another can take over and that’s what we are working on. We have limitations with the present one we have and we have to improve on them. Technology is a daily thing that evolves everyday, we have to look ahead to be ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” Okhiria added: He, however, implored Nigerians to continue using the railway lines as it was still the safest mode of travel, urging them to report suspected activities in their environments and promised to continue improving on security measures to ensure a safe and secure use of train.

IG Orders Deployment of Drones

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, has ordered the deployment of five high-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) otherwise known as drones to improve surveillance operations in order to checkmate criminal activities in the country.

The police high command, in a statement, said the deployment of the drones underscored its determination to integrate the use of innovative technology in the law enforcement duties of the Nigeria Police and enhance its intelligence gathering and operational capabilities.

It said the drones would assist the police in monitoring active crime scenes, coordinating response operations and providing aerial support to responding officers.

The UAVs included an ALTI Transition, capable of covering up to 150km in a single flight with high endurance of up to 14 hours and an Elistair Orion fixed-wing aircraft, capable of covering up to 92m altitude with high endurance of up to 50 hours and other sensitive and forensic-based features.

The statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the "UAVs will be remotely operated by police pilots from the Police Airwing, who have undergone specialised training by engineers of the Elistair company, who were flown in from France at the instance of the IGP, for a week-long training schedule, and have acquired technical skills and requisite know-how in the operation and maintenance of the procured UAVs".

It said the IG had directed the

immediate, adequate, and strategic deployment of the drones to areas prone to high-security breaches for monitoring and intelligence gathering to tackle criminality headlong.

Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command denied reports that bandits invaded Kubwa District of Abuja.

A statement by the command debunked claims that a number of miscreants stormed and raided pipeline extension area in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council in the FCT, dispossessing residents of their belongings.

"The command, therefore, wishes to categorically refute this erroneous and misleading news, stating emphatically that it is baseless, unfounded and designed to instill fear and apprehension in the minds of the residents and the good people of the territory as a whole.

"The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Babaji Sunday, urges members of the public to disregard this news and discontinue its propagation in any form, and go about their lawful businesses without the fear of harassment or molestation," it said.

Lawmakers Furious as NSA, Service Chiefs, Others Shun Summon

The leadership of the House of Representatives, and its Security Committees, yesterday, fumed at the absence of some security operatives, who were summoned to offer explanation on the current state of play.

Among those asked to appear before the security committees of the House were, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd); Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi; Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.

They were to come for a meeting scheduled to discuss the recent Kaduna Airport and Train attack by bandits and how to tackle the current challenges.

The lawmakers, had at its Tuesday plenary, invited the above named government officials and other relevant heads of agencies like the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Department of Security Services (DSS), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Managing Railway Corporation and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

But, at the meeting, only the Managing Director of NAMA, Matthew Pwajok, was present while other government officials and heads of agencies sent representatives.

Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, in his remarks, said the meeting was a matter of urgent importance, because Nigerians no longer have recipe in terms of means of movement, ease of communication and many lives have been lost.

Bemoaning the absence of the officials, he said the meeting could not go on and should be rescheduled.

"So, we cannot proceed and I am saying with a heavy heart that no

matter the assignment that our generals are handling, I believe the parliament requires a listening ear.

This is the House of the people.

I am saddened, I am not happy.

“I am expressing my disappointment. I do not know if you have any tangible excuse, because in all the agencies, none have the respect to have one chief executive here. It means then, maybe, we are considered to be jokers but we are not jokers. We are not," he said.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Abel Enitan tried to explain that his minister, Hadi Sirika, was out of the country on official assignment as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari before the attacks took place.

But a visibly angry Wase, warned him not to use the president's name as excuse for his boss' trip, saying the parliament was an institution on its own.

"Please do not use the name of the president. Please, excuse do not use the name of the president. If he is out of the country, he is out of the country. This institution is not under the presidency. It is an institution of its own," Wase said.

Representative of Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs, Major General Akinjobi O.T, explained that they couldn't be present at the meeting, because they were currently in a meeting on the directive of the president for the same reason and have been at it since last night.

On his part, the representative of the Police, DIG Sanusi Lemu, said, "The Nigerian police force and other security agencies are pained by the happenings. We apologise for the absence of our commandants. It’s not really deliberate, it’s because of the importance they attached to the parliament that’s why they asked us to come."

Not satisfied with their excuses, however, Wase interrupting, lamented that it was only in Nigerian parliament that you summon accounting officers and they won’t come. Insisting that the government officials and heads of agencies should be present at the meeting and not send representatives, he opined that if there’s synergy in operation by security agencies, these attacks wouldn't have happened.

He thereafter asked the representatives to go back, and ruled that the meeting should be rescheduled to Thursday 3pm.

NIPR, CAN Condemn Attack, Urge FG to Flush Out Terrorists

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), have called on the federal government to find a lasting solution to the mindless killings and destructions by terrorists in the country, especially in the north, saying government must flush out the terrorists of the Kaduna train attack.

In separate statements yesterday in Kaduna, the two groups condemned Monday’s attack on the

Abuja - Kaduna passenger train in which many people were killed, kidnapped and killed wounded by terrorists.

The NIPR, in its statement by its President and Chairman, Governing Council, Mukhtar Sirajo, urged security agencies to restrategise and get on top of the security situation posing serious threat to the country.

He said nobody or group had the right to continuously subject people to reign of terror, dehumanising them and seemingly getting away with it.

The NIPR, however, expressed sympathy with Nigerians “over the callous attack on the Kaduna-Abuja train.”

Sirajo said the attack was followed by deaths injury to, and abduction of unspecified number of passengers is not only unfortunate and unacceptable, but also a sad reminder of the descent into the abyss that security situation, especially, in the part of the country, has fallen.

“Nobody or group has the right to continuously subject people to this kind of reign of terror, dehumanising them and seemingly getting away with it,” Sirajo said.

Commending the gallant role of the armed forces and other security and law enforcement agencies, he stressing that there was the need “to square up to the bandits perpetrating these heinous acts. It is clear that that a lot more needs to be done to inspire the confidence of the people.

“The earlier attack on the same route, which occurred in October last year ought to have served as a wake up call for the system to be more proactive to forestall what was a not so unexpected occurrence, given the seeming over reliance of commuters on the train service as a safer alternative to plying the Abuja-Kaduna road.

“There is the very urgent need for our security agencies to restrategise and get on top of the situation rather than wait to react.

Government on its part must spare no effort in continuing to provide the armed forces and security agencies with all logistical requirements to enable them up the ante in this must-win war.

“The intelligence gathering processes must also be given a shot in the arm to enable the agencies get ahead of these criminals in all ways imaginable. The NIPR expresses its heartfelt condolences to families of the deceased, federal and Kaduna State governments; prayed for the prompt rescue of those abducted as well as speedy recovery for the injured.”

CAN, in its statement by the state chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, called on the federal government to deploy everything at its disposal to crush the terrorists, who have had a field day in Kaduna and elsewhere in Nigeria.

The CAN Chairman said, the train attack, has “further amplified the vulnerability of Kaduna people and everyone who does business in the state, due to the rise in banditry and terrorism.

“CAN and all well-meaning folks have cried that Kaduna residents and visitors are living in perpetual fear of terrorists, who have demonstrated more audacity by constantly attacking people without the government doing much to end the killings.

“Even though banditry is a heinous crime, the bandits appear to have evolved an extended network for intelligence gathering and planning on how to fulfil their mission of terrorising innocent citizens.

“On the contrary, the resilience of the government and her intelligence gathering happens to be more about settling scores with perceived foes.

CAN call on the federal government to deploy everything at her disposal to crush the bandits, who have had a field day in Kaduna and elsewhere in Nigeria…”

The association, therefore, appealed to the security agencies to employ innovative professional strategies for dealing with the situation and repudiate any political interference in security matters.

“A nation where mourning has become an everyday ordeal cannot be productive, because a heart that mourns becomes fragile, unable to think, plan or organize well,” CAN stated.

Ngige Mourns TUC Chair, Farouq Sympathises with Victims

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has commiserated with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the death of its Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal Ozigi and Kwara State Chairman, Comrade Akinsola Akinwunmi, who were killed in the Kaduna train terror attack.

In a condolence letter to the union, the minister described the death of Ozigi and Akinwunmi as a huge loss to Nigeria’s tripartite community, even as he described the late Ozigi as “a dogged and consummate labour leader."

Ngige said his tragic death at the unfortunate Kaduna rail terror attack, “is a devastating blow at a time Nigeria’s tripartite is ever united in finding solutions to the bestriding challenges in the world of work, nay the nation at large.

"We shall all miss his contributions. Ozigi’s self-effacing personality often belied his depth of thought and ideas. His seminal contributions to discussions on labour issues, no doubt, earned him a place in over two decades of service to unionism starting from the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, where he was Secretary General to joining the Congress in 2012.”

In the same breath, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has condoled with the families and victims of the attack, and therefore, directed the immediate deployment of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Northwest Zonal Office team, to the scene and also visit the victims.

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FEATURES Bridging Nigeria's Housing Deficit

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

Precious Ugwuzor reports that with widening housing deficit, the recent incursion of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation into real estate saw the company unveil its luxury 21- storey apartment tower in Ikoyi to the delight of the Lagos State government, who also charged the construction giant to partner the state in extending to low income housing

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the ground breaking ceremony of Grand Panorama Towers with his deputy, Dr. Femi Hamzat; Consulate General of People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Chum Maoming; Chairman, CCECC, Jiang Yigao; and Managing Director, CCECC Real Estate Company Limited, Jimmy Zhong

"A

s you’re doing this at the high end area, we will also secure land for you, so that you can meet other spectrums of needs for medium and low-income earners. It is not only Ikoyi people you should be building for, but for people in Alimosho, Agege, Ikorodu and all other places.

"We know that the population of Lagos is growing and we can’t provide all facilities alone as a government, we need to partner with China and rely on your technology.”

The above statement was recently made by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the unveiling of a 21- storey luxury apartment tower in Alexander Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Promoted by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the building named Grand Panorama, when completed, is expected to feature 75 units of high-end residential apartments, 21 floors above ground level, a floor underground, 153 parking spaces, 36 sets of two bedrooms, 38 sets of three bedrooms and a set of four bedroom suites.

According to information made available to THISDAY, the tower will occupy a land area of 5, 000 square meters with the total construction area of 22, 356 square meters.

This will house facilities like meeting rooms, squash court, gymnasium, underground garage

and of course, swimming pool.

At the groundbreaking and foundation laying ceremony, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was accompanied by his deputy, Dr. Femi Hamzat, harped on synergy and cooperation among Nigerians and CCECC Group in developing the state, especially in delivering quality infrastructure of international standard.

Addressing the crowd including the Consulate General of People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Chum Maoming; Chairman, CCECC, Jiang Yigao; Managing Director, CCECC Real Estate Company Limited, Jimmy Zhong, the governor said: "We are here to show solidarity and support with you in this project. We, as a government, have commissioned and handed over houses to Lagosians. So, when we see those doing same thing in Lagos, we support them.

“We believe it will not be an abandoned project. I learnt that the project will be completed in two years.

"When we see partners like CCECC trying to improve the housing needs of our citizens, the least we can do is to encourage them, support and believe that it would further deepen partnership between Nigeria and the Republic of China."

Stressing on the structural integrity

of the building, Sanwo-Olu said he believes it would not be compromised.

While commending the company’s management for the decision to establish its presence in Lagos, he also urged them to build for low income earners, adding that his government would look for land for them to build houses for low-income earners in such places as Alimosho and Mushin.

Also speaking, Maoming, who congratulated the construction company for the milestone, noted that the Chinese government is ready to include Nigeria in its $10 billion credit facility.

He said: “Lagos State is not only your home but the homes of the local Chinese community in Nigeria. I congratulate CCECC for planning to build these apartments. At the eighth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) ministerial meeting that took place in Dakar, Senegal, I said that in the next three years, Chinese companies will be making an investment of $10 billion in Africa.

"China will provide credit facilities to every financial institution in the next three years. China is ready to channel its resources to African countries and Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, Zhong pledged that

the company would focus on quality in the real estate business, adding that "we have provisions to employ the Lagos workers during construction activities. The skilled foreman and project manager will be Chinese to guarantee quality, but all other workers and technicians will be locals in Lagos".

Explaining that the Grand Panorama was just an extension of the real estate investment arm of the construction company, Zhong disclosed that already the company started housing development in the Lekki area along the Lekki-Epe expressway that is already completed and fully occupied.

Stressing that the development in Ikoyi was the effort of the company to do more in housing, he also noted that the challenge thrown up by the governor was well accepted as it will provide the company an opportunity to spread its tentacles further.

He said: “You can see that we are not a portfolio company that steps into Nigeria and out. We have invested in facilities that are enduring and would do more in the years to come.

“Regarding the quality of the multi-floor Grand Panorama, we promise to give it the best quality and finishing. We would use our best engineers in the construction and deploy Nigerian workers as part of our efforts to create job opportunities for the people of Nigeria who are our partners in progress.”

Edmark’s Multi-billion Naira Project to Tackle Unemployment Mary Nnah

The Chief Operating Officer at Edmark City Development Company, Nigeria, Mr. Bien Wapanio has called on the government and private sector to invest in the Edmark City project, a luxury smart city in the heart of Lagos, aimed to reduce housing challenges and also tackle unemployment rate in the country.

Wapanio made the call in Lagos during the official

launch of Edmark City luxury apartment that is now selling.

The Edmark City project is driven by a high sense of growth and development to the housing sector and the Nigerian economy.

Also, he said that the firm has awarded the superstructure contract for the entire project to Al Mansour Engineering and Contracting Limited, noting that Al Mansour is a company with a long standing track record and he believes that

by working with them, Edmark City will achieve greater heights as a superstructure with quality finish.

"The iconic City located at Lagos Epe Express Road by 3rd roundabout, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, Nigeria is expected to be completed by 2024.

Wapanio noted that the property stands in a prime location and prestigious address making it a great investment towards a more modern, serene and conducive lifestyle, add-

ing, “with urbanisation rates, climbing globally pressure is mounting to make cities more efficient, using tech and innovation to manage the challenge of urban sustainability".

Wapanio, explained that “Edmark city was designed and shaped to create a modern and sustainable urban environment for people to shop, work, live, play at the heart of a growing city of Lekki.

"The city is in line with Lagos State government vision

to be a mega-hub city. It will be the first iconic smart city and block chain-powered real estate in Africa. The property offers a one-stop-shop luxury living at an affordable price.

"This will be everyone’s most comfortable home – away from the traffic jam, mall living experience, and 24/7 security and electrical power".

The chairman and CEO of Edmark International, Mr Sam Low Ban Chai in his address said; “Nigeria

remains pivotal towards the growth of Edmark in Africa, and we remain invested to see its people and communities prosper through our vision and healthy living products."

Ban Chai noted that as a means to give back to the people of Nigeria, Edmark remains in the country to continually contribute in infrastructural development and human resources, adding, “We see a long and bright future here.

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Femi Adeoye: Celebrating a Genial Gentleman and God's General Tunde Olusunle

W

hile I was a young boy, the military had a lot of fascination for me.

As Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo took their turns at the leadership of Nigeria, after various coups and counter putschs, I had this belief that military governance had come to stay for good. I thus aspired to join the institution, make my mark and ascend to the topmost heights of the profession.

An opportunity indeed provided itself in 1980, when I was given a place in the 28th regular combatants' programme. My name was published in the dailies as one of those to participate in the screening and training exercise at the Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA), Kaduna.

Understandably, there were loud objections from my family, notably from my mother, who couldn't imagine her only son enlisting in a profession which could possibly put him in the front of the fire of battle someday.

You couldn't blame Mama by the way, because she witnessed the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 to January 1970, first hand as a nursing mother, in Kaduna, where some of my siblings and I were born.

She vividly recalls those days when she had to cross to the south of River Kaduna, holding the hands of some of us, and carrying the baby at the time on her back, in obeisance to my father's counsel, whenever "settlers" in Kaduna were threatened by the war. My father was more amenable. He desired that I had a university degree in my pouch, before venturing, possibly, into the martial vocation or any profession of my choice.

Sequel to the completion of the mandatory post-graduation National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), after my undergraduate degree, I rekindled my affection for the military. One of my former professors, Tayo Peter Olafioye, had a relationship with a top military officer, Charles Bebeye Ndiomu, a Major General, who was Director-General, (DG), of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), at the time. Olafioye graciously gave me a note to Ndiomu, if that could enable my military dream in any way.

And so, off I went to Kuru, Jos, Plateau State, late 1986, from Ponyan in present day Yagba East local government area, where I was a school teacher at the time. I was cleared at all security intersections in the Institute, en route the office of the DG. I was received by a young army officer, who was the aide-de-camp, (ADC), to Ndiomu. It was a busy day for the big man as he shuttled from one meeting, to some presentation, to another reception for a visiting dignitary. I only got to see him at the approach of dusk by which time he was worn out and fatigued himself. He would try, he told me, assuring he will reach out to me through my professor.

I returned to the ADC's office on my way out, to inform him I was through with the DG, and would head out to the motor park to catch a vehicle to Kaduna, on my homeward trip to the old Kwara State. The ADC, who donned two stars on his shoulders, checked his wrist watch and looked up to me. "It's late to travel at this time. Must you get to Kaduna this night?"

I told him I had a constrained permit from my employers to undertake the trip to Kuru and needed to get back to work, promptly. He was concerned: "But you had a long day waiting for Oga here. You should be hungry." Before I could reply him, he called out to his orderly.

"Tell Oga I've dashed out to my apartment to get something, if he asks after me. I'm taking this man to get something to eat" We got into his car, a Volkswagen Beetle at the time, and he navigated the eye-catching campus of NIPPS, to his own address. He detailed his batman to quickly fix some food for me, because I had to travel that evening. While I ate my meal quietly, the sprightly young military officer reached for the intercom in his place and called the transport department of NIPSS. He requested for a vehicle to take the "guest of the DG" to the garage. The vehicle arrived as I finished my meal, the ADC handed me over to the driver and bade me a safe trip.

I returned to Ponyan and narrated my experience on my trip, to my colleagues, all young men who found themselves in the teaching profession, as a step-board to our preferred careers. In the course of my briefing over sips of palmwine, one of my listeners interjected: "The ADC you met in General Ndiomu's office in Kuru, is Lieutenant Femi Adeoye. He is your brother from Isanlu. You don't know him?" I answered in the negative. "I never lived in my hometown,"

General Adeoye and wife I told my audience. "There has never been a meeting point between the young military officer and I." More importantly, I told my friends that the Lt. Femi Adeoye I met, came to me as a cosmopolitan personality, who showed me respect and concern, and who would treat everyone he encountered, with such consideration, irrespective of where they came from.

There were no telephone facilities, land or mobile, in Ponyan to call Adeoye to appreciate his large-hearted reception, in 1986. I wrote a "thank you" letter though, which I sent through the post office in Isanlu, one of the largest communities in the Yagba strand of Okunland. His name, however, stuck like glue to my consciousness. Almost about 10 years after, Adeoye's name was a constant in the news, in Lagos State. I had left Ponyan to pursue a career in journalism and was a Member of the Editorial Board of the *Daily Times* in Lagos. Adeoye, now a Major, was Chairman of the Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences, under the administration of Olagunsoye Oyinlola, an army Colonel, the Military Administrator of the State.

Adeoye's taskforce had omnibus powers to arrest "environmental offenders" of various shades, including people caught "wandering," according to the job description of the outfit.

Not a few journalists commuting late at night in the line of duty were taken in and had to be identified and bailed by their colleagues.

I was eager to meet Adeoye again. I felt I owed him appreciation for being an unusual soldier in my view, during that our singular encounter.

Coincidentally, Tunde Ipinmisho, my senior colleague in *Daily Times* who equally had a preexisting relationship with Adeoye, also desired to see him again. Ipinmisho and I traced his office in Lagos together. We met him at the centre of activities, errant characters seated on the floor of what was supposed to be a lounge adjoining his office. He marvelled at my sense of recollection, and what he thought was fast becoming obsolete in our value system, my committed effort to locate him to express appreciation for what he considered an intangible favour. We all chatted briefly in our indigenous *Okun* dialects, cracked a few jokes, shook hands and left him to continue his work.

Thereafter, we all went our different ways

Florence at his pulling out ceremony and I didn't see Adeoye again, until the aftermath of Nigeria's return to democratic governance in 1999. He had ascended the rungs of the military hierarchy and become a Colonel. He was a student at the National War College, (NWC), while I was a presidential aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo. Adeoye's accommodation was being contested by someone else, while federal government houses were being monetized, preference accorded sitting occupants. This was sometime in 2006 or thereabouts.

He reached out to me and I promptly fired a letter to the Minister for Federal Capital Territory, (MFCT), Nasir El Rufai, who was in-charge of the nation's capitol, between 2003 and 2007, requesting that justice, equity and fairplay be enthroned in the adjudication of the issue. I guess there were "longer legs" in the system, so all we received from the Minister's office was a polite acknowledged signed by his Chief of Staff, explaining why we lost the house. Nonetheless, Adeoye and I have remained very close ever since.

Adeoye retired from the Nigerian Army as a Brigadier General in the Amoured Corps, in 2015. He set up a security solutions outfit in Abuja, an enterprise he runs simultaneously with his current secular calling as a clergyman and Pastor in one of the parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG), in Abuja.

The Abuja jurisdiction of the RCCG is administratively known as the "Region 10 Family," and encompasses the entire northern zone of the mission. It is ably led

by Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi, an Assistant General Overseer, (AGO).

Most people who knew him in his earlier years as a rugged, thoroughbred officer, with his famous jungle headgear, camouflage uniforms and gleaming black boots, find it very difficult to pitch his profile as a soldier, which is indelibly etched on their minds, side by side with his current episcopal calling.

To be sure, the RCCG encourages a formal dress code for its ministers, much in the manner of corporate business entities.

Adeoye was one of the 45 senior officers of the Armoured Corps of the Nigerian Army, who were "pulled out," Saturday March 12, 2022, at a colourful ceremony

"Most people who knew him in his earlier years as a rugged, thoroughbred officer, with his famous jungle headgear, camouflage uniforms and gleaming black boots, find it very difficult to pitch his profile as a soldier, which is indelibly etched on their minds, side by side with his current episcopal calling"

at the primordial home base of the Corps in Bauchi. This was in recognition of their selfless, meritorious services to the fatherland. The recent pulling out exercise, was the first in nearly a decade in the Armoured Corps.

For those on Adeoye's telephone contact list, they are most likely to receive his spiritual exhortations, every morning. The witty and humorous personality that he is, don't be surprised to receive the craziest and funniest jokes from him, as he attempts to help us all make light of our despairing predicament under the incumbent dispensation, and stave off probable disillusionment and depression. This God's own General, has a way of targeting your ribs.

Simon Olufemi Adeoye was born September 3, 1956 in Isanlu, Yagba East LGA. He attended ECWA Primary School, Isanlu and St. Michael's Catholic Primary School, Ogidi, Ijumu LGA, between 1966 and 1971. He proceeded to St. Augustine's College, Kabba, where he obtained his West African School Certificate, O'Level certificate in 1976. He was at the NDA from 1978 to 1981, from where he was commissioned into the Nigerian Armoured Corps. He attended several professional courses at home and abroad.

Adeoye served in various military positions, including: Acting Brigade Commander, 22 Brigade, Ilorin; General Staff Officer 1, Bakassi Operation; Directing Staff, Command and Staff College and Staff Officer, Headquarters, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps. He was Director, Army Records Office, Lokoja; Director Plans and Operations, Defence Headquarters and Chief of Staff, Operation Save Haven, Jos. He garnered several honours and awards in the course of his military career, notably: Pass Staff College, Psc(+); Meritorious Service Star, (MSS); Distinguished Service Star (DSS); Operation Medal, Bakassi (Operation Harmony) and Fellow of the National War College (FWC), Nigeria, among others. He is also a Fellow at the Institute of Management Consultants, (FIMC); Africa Institute of Public Administration (FAIPA) and the Nigeria Army Resource Centre, Abuja, respectively.

He has visited several countries across the world, particularly in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. He is at present, Member of the Board of Supergreen Security Nigeria Ltd, and Managing Director, Sapphire Security Consulting Ltd, both in Abuja. He enjoys travelling, meeting people, information gathering, knowledge acquisition and sports, and is happily married to Florence Omolara Adeoye, an attorney. The union is blessed with beautiful children.

Adeoye may be a retired senior army officer, nonetheless, he remains a serving and substantive grandfather whose second daughter, Esther IbukunOluwa got married in January this year, a few years after her elder sister. The quality and diversity of attendees at the event, was evidence of a man who has cultivated friendships and built bridges over time. He joins the conference of senior military officers from Isanlu who have made the cut of General, across the services including: Samuel Teidi (of blessed memory); Matthew Teidi and Idowu Ilemore, both retired naval Commodores. t5VOEF 0MVTVOMF 1I% QPFU KPVSOBMJTU BVUIPS BOE TDIPMBS JT B .FNCFS PG UIF /JHFSJBO (VJME PG &EJUPST /(&

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THURSDAY MARCH 31, 2022 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

19

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

3 0 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

14.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

565.29%

1/4 TO DATE

6.06%

N412.08/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

14.50%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

–0.11%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.66%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.41%

Telecoms Subscribers Jitter over SIM Deactivation as NIN-SIM Registration, Linkage Ends Today

Emma Okonji Telecoms subscribers who are yet to register and link their National Identification Number (NIN) with their Subscriber Identification Module (SIM card), are beginning to jitter over the initial threat by the federal government to deactivate all SIM cards that are not linked to NIN, after today’s deadline of March 31, 2022.

Allaying such fears, the Head, Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Kayode Adegoke, however said in as much as the deadline for

NIN-SIM registration and linkage is today, NIMC registration centres would still be open to telecoms subscribers who could not register before today’s deadline.

According to him, “NIN registration is continuous and registration will continue, even after the linkage deadline.”

Despite the assurance from NIMC on the continuous process of NIN registration, most subscribers who had already registered and obtained their NINs, are still afraid that they may be cut off from communication, should the federal government make do its threat to deactivate all SIM cards

that are not linked to their NINs after the March 31 deadline.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, had in December 2020, directed the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to order telecoms operators to deactivate any SIM card that was not duly registered and linked to subscribers’ NIN, after the initial December 31, 2020 deadline, given for NIN-SIM linkage.

Based on the inability of subscribers to meet up with the December 31, 2020 deadline, the federal government had to postpone

the deadline and had since then, postponed it 10 times to date.

At the last postponement, which was on December 31, 2021, Pantami conveyed the approval of the federal government to further extend the deadline for the National Identification Number (NIN)Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification, from December 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022.

Pantami, in a statement jointly signed by the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and the Head, Corporate Communications, at NIMC, Mr. Kayode Adegoke, said the extension became necessary, following the

request by stakeholders, including citizens, legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora, to extend the date in order to give Nigerians ample time to register their NINs. As the latest deadline ends today, some subscribers who spoke with THISDAY, expressed their fears of been cut off from telecommunications link, should the federal government make do its threat to deactivate any SIM that is not registered and linked to NIN, after today.

Their fears became heightened, since the federal government may not likely extend the deadline again, after extending it 10 times since December 2020.

Investigation carried out by THISDAY this week, showed that many subscribers were rushing to different registration centres to register their NIN and to link same to their SIM cards in order to beat the March 31 deadline.

Registration centres were taken to different churches in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan, just to ensure that telecoms subscribers were duly registered and their NINs were linked to their SIM cards.

Some subscribers however took to the alternative forms of registration and linkage provided by Continued on page 20

Agbaje: Holdco Structure Will Take our Valuation Way Beyond Current Position Eromosele Abiodun The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCo), Mr. Segun Agbaje has assured that the completion of its restructuring into a holding company structure, will take it beyond current valuation.

He likened the transition to the current structure to its foray into African countries revealing that results from West and East Africa has proven the company right.

He said GTCos subsidiaries will come good sooner that expected insisting that there is no quick fix.

He predicted that the group’s

profit before tax will hit N243.5 billion at the end of 2022 from the 2021 figure of N221.5 billion.

Speaking further on its holdco structure, he said the group will be very transparent in everything it does.

“I am going to promise you something today that doesn’t happen

often in the industry. None of the Fintech publish their financials, we are going to publish every quarter what our payment does. We are going to create a transparency in the Fintech industry that doesn’t exist. Today, we don’t know what their valuation is based upon, we don’t have their numbers. We will

show our financials every quarter going forward, “he said.

On its loan book growth, he said the bank decided to take a slow approach because of the macro economic conditions in the country.

“We can grow the loan book more but like I said, if you grow the loan book, we all live in this country,

the macros’ are not very strong and businesses are going through tough times. If you grow your loan book too aggressively, your are going to pick up Non Performing Loans (NPL) in the future. It is a time to be careful about loan growth otherwise Continued on page 20

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 3 0 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION 12.75 27-APR2023 14.20 14-MAR2024 13.53 23-MAR2025 12.50 22-JAN2026 16.2884 17MAR-2027

Price

Yield

108.73 4.45 111.47 7.80 111.39 9.10 107.26 10.15 123.05 10.26

Change Updated Time (%) 25, -0.02 March 2022 25, -0.01 March 2022 March 25, 0.00 2022 March 25, 0.00 2022 March 25, 0.00 2022

OTC F X F U T U R E S

C Ps

MATURITY

Discount

Yield Change Updated Time (%)

NTB 28-Apr22 NTB 12May-22 NTB 9-Jun22 NTB 14-Jul22

3.07

3.08

0.00

March 25, 2022

3.13

3.14

0.00

March 25, 2022

1.88

1.89

0.00

March 25, 2022

2.88

2.91

0.00

March 25, 2022

NTB 11Aug-22

3.18

3.22

-0.49

March 25, 2022

MATURITY

Discount Yield

Change Updated Time (%)

UNCP CP VI 2-MAY-22 NEVE CP I 24-MAY-22 DANC CP II 25-MAY-22 TRBH CP V 26-JUL-22 FSDH CP VI 1-AUG-22

8.77

8.85

0.00

March 24, 2022

16.12

16.55 0.00

March 24, 2022

8.37

8.48

0.00

March 24, 2022

10.88

11.29 -0.01

March 24, 2022

7.54

7.75

March 24, 2022

-0.01

CONTRACT TENOR Contract (MONTH) NGUS MAR 30 1 2022 NGUS APR 27 2 2022 NGUS MAY 25 3 2022 NGUS JUN 29 4 2022 NGUS JUL 27 5 2022

Current Rate ($/₦)

Updated Time

427.24

March 25, 2022

428.93

March 25, 2022

430.63

March 25, 2022

432.32

March 25, 2022

434.02

March 25, 2022

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Samsung’s Quest to Position Nigeria as Hub of Shipbuilding, Offshore Technology Peter Uzoho reports that the entry of the global shipbuilding giant, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) into the Nigerian market in 2011 was indeed a game-changer in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Floating Storage Unit, belonging to Brittania-U, undergoing maintenance works at the SHI-MCI Yard in Lagos

F

ollowing its establishment, SHI recorded a breakthrough in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry by investing over 300 million dollars to construct and operate the world-class SHI-MCI yard. The facility is the only FPSO integration yard in entire Africa equipped with the cutting-edgefacilities that are optimised for world-class, ultra-large, high-value-added projects. For instance, the blasting and painting shops at the Yard are capable of maintaining humidity and optimum temperature for enhanced durability of paintworks on fabricated modules and other large steel blocks.

The Yard also comprises the most robust integration and assembly quay wall in Africa with a load bearing capacity of 3,000tonnes, stretching over 502 meters, berthing water depth of 13.5 meters.

Using this state-of-the-art facility, Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria (SHIN) carried out Nigeria’s first in-country fabrication and integration of topside modules for Egina, the world’s largest FPSO vessel.

It was also the first time such complex tasks were executed while meeting the strict new Nigerian local content laws. Following the significant contributions to the local content development in Nigeria, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote, had commended the shipbuilding giant, for transforming Nigeria into a hub for fabrication and integration of FPSO units in Africa.

Mr. Simbi also noted that before the establishment of the SHI-MCI yard, all the previous FPSOs deployed in the Nigerian oil and gas sector were fabricated and integrated outside the shores of Nigeria, leading to loss of billions of dollars in capital flight and loss of employment opportunities as Nigeria was denied the opportunity to execute projects.

Even after almost a decade since the yard

was built, SHIN continues to receive recognition from several prestigious awards in the industry for its contributions to Nigeria and Africa as a whole. To this day, the SHI-MCI yard is commended as the most advanced fabrication and integration yard in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2021 for instance, SHIN received Forbes’ Best of Africa Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities Development Award at the prestigious Forbes Africa Energy Award in Burj Al Arab, Dubai. Furthermore, its domination in the industry was validated again this year as SHIN was announced as the winner of the “Best Offshore Oil and Gas Development Facilities Company” Award at the Nigeria International Energy Summit held in Abuja.

Even in the absence of any other major deepwater project since the successful completion of Egina, SHIN has continued to wax stronger and stronger with the expectation that the operating environment can be turned around with the right government’s policies.

Following the resolution of the dispute between SHIN and its joint venture partner through positive intervention and support from the government agencies, the SHI-MCI has now become a risk-free hub for growth and capacity development.

To fully utilise the SHI-MCI yard, SHIN has diversified into container handling and logistics operations for international and local clients such as Brittania-U, COSCO, and Nigerstar7. Additionally, due to its strategic location and capacities, the Yard is expected to bring in other valuable projects such as mooring and skid installation, ship upgrades, and fabrication of small modular works.

The company has also continued to

improve on its technological expertise to maintain its leadership position in the offshore technology industry.

SHI, the parent company of SHIN is widely recognised by the world’s leading oil producers for its accumulated shipbuilding technologies in offshore development facilities.

Despite challenges posed by worsening market conditions, SHI has continuously been awarded certifications for ecofriendly and smart technology. SHI has also made meaningful achievements to prepare for the future, such as by successfully conducting the onboard test for autonomous and remotely controlled ships.

The company has invested heavily to build more capacity and capability in offshore projects raising over 1 billion Dollars to develop Eco-Friendly ship technologies in line with increasing demands for carbon neutrality.

Some feats in this market are the wind turbine installation vessel (WITV), certified by all the leading global classification agencies, the implementation of the LNG fuel engine in some vessels, and the newly developed On-board Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

There are also more innovative steps being taken to deliver carbon neutrality by the company such as creating ammonia-fueled vessel that adopts ammonia fuel, which has a zero-carbon footprint, in line with SHI’s commitment to our planet.

SHI is a pioneer in Floating Liquid Natural Gas (FLNG) and the world’s leading fabricator of FLNG vessels, having built three out of four FLNG orders placed around the world.

In 2011 for instance, it received an

order to build the world’s first and largest FLNG with an annual production capacity of 3.6 million tonnes from Royal Dutch Shell and completed the delivery in 2017. After the successful completion of this project, SHI secured FLNG orders from Petronas of Malaysia and Italy’s ENI, taking the lead in the market.

With the policies in Nigeria today being more focused on gas production and deep offshore, SHI and SHIN seek to collaborate with Nigeria to achieve the energy needs of the country. This will increase the domestic gas availability for the Nation and bring about the emergence of Gas power plants all over Nigeria to end the power shortage in the country.

SHIN is also making proactive efforts to participate in the tendering of mega deep offshore projects in Nigeria such as Shell Bonga SW Aparo FPSO, H Block projects, etc.

With its global track record, SHIN will transform Nigeria into a shipbuilding and offshore technology hub if the right policies are put in place by the Nigerian government and partners such as the NNPC and NCDMB. Speaking on the company’s future in Nigeria in his first address to the SHIN employees, the new Managing Director of SHIN, Mr. Jongseok Kim had pointed out that the future seems promising for SHIN and its joint venture company, SHI-MCI with many potential projects on the pipeline.

“Samsung’s commitment and devotion in Nigeria are ongoing and I intend to remain focused in resuming full operation at SHI-MCI Yard, to carry out various business activities is not an only offshore fabrication, but also FPSO repair/alterations and other potential businesses. This will also ensure SHIN can continue to make positive contributions to the Nigerian economy and the society,” Kim explained.

AGBAJE: HOLDCO STRUCTURE WILL TAKE OUR VALUATION WAY BEYOND CURRENT POSITION you will cough up the money in the future. We know we can make more interest income, just book the loans, make the interest income this year and then cough it up the next year, “he said.

Also, he assured that the bank will bring down its non performing loans to below 6 per cent, “But there is no point deceiving ourselves, there are some loans banks call watch list, for us, if we know

that the watch list might crystalise we take the provision and then if we are able to recover it, we reverse the NPL. So what you see is a very aggressive stance, the other bank that does that in this industry is Stanbic. Rather than be obsessed with 5 percent NPLs, we will rather deal with the issues we have and then reverse them subsequently.

“Yes we will like to be below 5 per cent, but if we see inherent

problems on the balance sheet, just because of 5 per cent, the worst thing we can do is not taking provisions. We will rather take the provisions and reverse them in the future. Yes we can grow the interest income but we need to be careful. As the macro economic environment improves, we will ramp up the loan books because every probability of NPLs would have gone down.”

Agbaje called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to consider reducing the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) to enhance bank’s profitability.

“I think that we should bring down the level of CRR, the thing about CRR is that we don’t have to put it in treasury bills. We can actually put it in high end, retail loans, which will definitely earn you more than zero. Even if you

lend at 2 or 5 per cent you will earn money. Ultimately, if the CRR is released, even if you don’t want to give the banks the chance to put it in treasury bills, they will put it to use and earn more than zero. This means that profitability will go up.

“A lot of the non-interest income people see on the books Nigerian banks are swaps. Non-interest incomes are assets management

fees, credit fees and digital income fees. You see that our digital income fees went from N14 billion to N21 billion. Our money is going to come from traditional banking, we will drive it, we will do USSD, assets management, credit and digital income. My believe is that ultimately in Nigeria at some point we will have to reduce the level of CRR because I told you Ghana is 12 per cent, “he added.

TELECOMS SUBSCRIBERS JITTER OVER SIM DEACTIVATION AS NIN-SIM REGISTRATION, LINKAGE ENDS TODAY the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to carry out the process of linking their NINs to their SIM cards. NIMC provided a mobile app that subscribers could

download on their mobile phones and do self linkage, without visiting any NIMC registration centres or their registered agents.

Chukwuemeka Okafor, a

telecoms subscriber, said he was yet to register because he had no time to go to NIMC’s registration centres. He however said he tried to download the NIMC app but

was unable to link his NIN to his SIM, each time he tried doing so.

Mercy Olaniyan, another telecoms subscriber who said she was able to download the NIMC

app and did the linkage with ease, however said her relations and several others in remote areas of the country that could not access the internet, would find

it difficult to download the app and may be cut off from further communication, since there are no NIMC registration centers in most remote communities.

121

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 31, 2022 Thursday 31 March, 2022 Vol 27. No 9851 TR

See page 22

THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT ERIC TENIOLA writes that the office is filled with frustrations See page 22 THE IGBO AND THE 2023 PRESIDENCY Equity, justice and fairness demand that the Igbo should succeed Buhari in 2023, contends IFEANYI MADUAKO See page 27 SOLUDO AND THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE UZOR MAXIM UZOATU writes that the Soludo Solution is anchored on ‘eat-buy-use made-inAnambra

See page 27 EDITORIAL THE LAGOS AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL See page 28

& RE A S O

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

THE ABUJA-KADUNA RAILWAY BOMBING Nigeria is a nation on its kneels, writes SAMSON R. OSAGIE

UT H

MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE pays tribute to Grace Alele-Williams, former Vice Chancellor, University of Benin

ALELE-WILLIAMS, GRACE TRULY AMAZING I never imagined it would happen this way.

I had planned that come December, I would visit Professor Grace Awani Alele-Williams and have yet another conversation, something that ZRXOG HTXLS PH IRU D EHÀWWLQJ WULEXWH WR D OLYLQJ legend, a remarkable and substantial 90 years old woman. I was warming up to engage and sift through the old age blues of a very impactful soul to further understand her very essence. %XW WKHQ HYHQ ZLWK DGYDQFHPHQW LQ HYHU\ ÀHOG imaginable, how many existential factors are within the control of human beings anyway?

Days after the passing of the one I called my dearest professor, I am still grappling with the painful reality.

Even with her rich and diverse sojourn on earth, the vice chancellorship of the University RI %HQLQ ZDV WR PDQ\ SHRSOH WKH PRVW GHÀQLQJ and intriguing period of the public service of Prof Alele-Williams. Here is why. As the tenure of one of the country’s seasoned university administrators, Prof Adamu Baike, drew to a FORVH LQ WKH UDFH WR ÀOO WKH VSDFH EHJDQ LQ HDUQHVW (PLQHQWO\ TXDOLÀHG DVSLUDQWV ZLWKLQ the community were, expectedly, very hopeful and they began to strategise but none of them saw the masterstroke coming. And from who else? According to a school of thought, former military President Ibrahim Babangida, Visitor to the institution, saw an opportunity to look the way of the long patient women of Nigeria by appointing one of them into the coveted position.

Looking back as a student who witnessed that period and, later, as someone who got to know Alele-Williams closely after her retirement, I realise that the factors that contributed to making Uniben a theatre of foibles and animosity during the larger part of her stay there were not entirely straightforward, though not totally unexpected. The shock of the appointment was a major element. It was bad enough that an outsider (She was then the Director of Institute of Education, University of Lagos) was being EURXJKW LQ WR GLVSODFH ¶ERQD ÀGH· DSSOLFDQWV But being a woman whose credentials were still largely unknown accentuated that anger. So, ZKDW JDYH MR\ DQG D VHQVH RI IXOÀOPHQW WR WKH ‘Maradona’ in Dodan Barracks and the nation’s womenfolk failed to go down well with a chunk RI WKH DFDGHPLF VWDͿ DQG VWXGHQW SRSXODWLRQ )RU WKHP WKH ODVW RI WKH ÀUVW JHQHUDWLRQ XQLYHUVLWLHV did not deserve that experimental treatment.

One explanation that gained currency then was that the head of state had imposed his girlfriend on the university. Alele-Williams’ nickname Mamangida - proceeded naturally from that jaundiced notion.

The cover headline of the June 16, 1986 edition of Newswatch magazine was characteristic and unmistakable. It read: Iron Lady of Benin. It chronicled the travails of a campus in transition. A portion of the “Preface to Cover” written by Ray Ekpu painted the phenomenon thus: “Several women are, today, moving, maybe slowly, but they are moving, from the kitchen and the bedroom into the boardroom and the executive VXLWH IURP WKH JURXQG ÁRRU WR WKH EDOFRQ\ DQG WKHQ WR WKH WRS ÁRRU RI WKH SROLWLFDO RU LQGXVWULDO

pyramid. They are audaciously invading the turf that men had hitherto made their preserve and they are making some men uncomfortable. The walls of their (men’s) kingdoms are beginning to crack. They (men) are beginning to share the commanding heights with the ‘weaker sex,’ and you can hear the men cry: The Amazons are coming.”

So it was that the audacity and surprise that heralded the announcement of the mathematician’s placement were, on their own, recipe for instant hostility. Alele-Williams resumed in October 1985 but in November, what had looked like a cordial welcome quickly gave way to distrust and rancour. Psychologists saw a 53 years old mother frantically deploying defence mechanism against palpable male chauvinism. She probably felt that any sign of weakness from her would seal her doom in WKDW XQIULHQGO\ VHWWLQJ )RU VRPH RI KHU IRUPHU colleagues especially at Unilag, however, toughness or doggedness was not what she had to hurriedly imbibe for the new assignment. It was already an integral aspect of her personality.

Alele-Williams soon had a bagful of alleged transgressions: Disruption of existing hostel arrangement in favour of girls; cancelation of foreign study leave of some lecturers; cutting of water supply to Ekosodin (a nearby village); dissolution of student congress and union; rearranging sitting positions in the senate; initiating arrest of lecturers and students; proscription of perceived rebellious groups.

Uniben was home to a number of leftist, socialistoriented individuals and organisations in those days. The backlash came in the form of protests and court cases. The fact that she overcame the challenges in Benin, achieved tangible results and then went on to claim a second tenure was a function of fate, her faith and strength of character.

7KH UHFRUG RI ÀUVWV RI WKH IRUPHU SXSLO RI *RYHUQPHQW 6FKRRO :DUUL LV URFN FDVW )LUVW Nigerian female to obtain a doctorate degree in DQ\ ÀHOG 3K' 8QLYHUVLW\ RI &KLFDJR ,OOLQRLV 86$ )LUVW 1LJHULDQ IHPDOH SURIHVVRU RI PDWKHPDWLFV )LUVW IHPDOH YLFH FKDQFHOORU in Africa. A late former Prime Minister of

Britain, Margaret Thatcher (from whom AleleWilliams earned another label), once told her in London that she could actually not think of any other woman in that capacity throughout the Commonwealth. Life does appear partial.

Sometimes.

Even with those unique achievements and more, many people who encountered AleleWilliams could identify with her humility and VHQVH RI IDLUQHVV 6KH HPERGLHG D ÀQH EOHQG of dignity and simplicity. It should be stated, though, that persons who insist on strict rules, discipline and excellence could be mistaken for being harsh, intolerant and high-minded. Part of the mystique of the holder of the national award RI 2΀FHU RI WKH )HGHUDO 5HSXEOLF 2)5 ZDV KHU ability to make the people she met comfortable with her. Not one to rub any social class in, her spirituality often showed in her devotion to prayers and counselling. )RU PH WKH SRVLWLYH HQHUJLHV RI WKLV distinguished scholar which I witnessed and experienced will remain with me forever.

Sometime around 2000, the National Association of Women Academics (NAWACS) wanted to inaugurate her as its grand patron. I was asked to assist in securing her resume and attendance of the event. A look at her CV convinced me that if Uniben students had access to adequate information about their VC, most of them would KDYH WUHDWHG KHU EHWWHU DQG DFWHG GLͿHUHQWO\ )URP WKHQ RQ DV , LQWHUDFWHG PRUH ZLWK WKH brilliant, elegant Itsekiri woman, my prejudices gradually gave way to informed appreciation.

The day Alele-Williams knew I only possessed D ÀUVW GHJUHH VKH VDLG ´2K QR 7KDW·V QRW JRRG enough for you. Go for higher degrees and ensure you choose my Alma Mater (University of Ibadan). She was among the second set of the then University College, Ibadan, in 1949 and graduated with B.A. Honours in Mathematics.

I thought of my father who also adored UI and made my decision on the spot.

The day the Old Girl of Queens College /DJRV ÀOOHG WKH UHIHUHQFH IRUP IRU P\ GRFWRUDWH programme, she looked at me and declared, “God willing, I will attend your convocation.”

And, behold, years down the line, against her own comfort, she travelled to Ibadan a day before the event just to keep her promise. As she sat at the venue as my personal guest beside Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, former Vice Chancellor of UI, and as her presence was being acknowledged from the podium, I was thoroughly humbled and overwhelmed by emotions. Her loyalty, commitment and honour were at work. It was indeed a priceless, most memorable moment.

My dear mentor, mother and friend, I declare that my humble, mini library that you graciously visited the other day shall now be called: Prof Grace Alele-Williams Study. This token is my own little way of coping with your exit. You deserve a sound eternal rest.

Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 31, 2022

Nigeria is a nation on its kneels, writes SAMSON R. OSAGIE

THE ABUJA-KADUNA RAILWAY BOMBING On Monday 28th March, 2022 news ÀOWHUHG LQWR WKH PHGLD VSDFH RI KRZ D train heading to Kaduna from Abuja was bombed and passengers shot by terrorists.

7KLV LV QRW WKH ÀUVW WLPH VXFK LQFLGHQW LV happening. In times past, commuters on the Abuja - Kaduna train have experienced similar attacks although none has been of this magnitude.

In the recent attack, among the casualties is a young, promising Dentist, Dr. Chinelo Megafu, who is said to have concluded arrangements to emigrate from the country a few days before her untimely death. She was caught down in her prime alongside many others. The following day, Tuesday 29th, terrorists also attacked another train station still along the Kaduna - Abuja rail line.

With these incidents, the concomitant impact on people’s lives and the nation’s political economy is in tatters, I am tempted to say that even though Nigeria LV QRW 8NUDLQH ZH KDYH D ´5XVVLDµ RI problems shelling at us as a nation.

The objective conditions of the Nigerian state just now are beyond the ascription of blame to one political party, any particular political party or to the President. After all, cases of insecurity, biting economic conditions, corruption, indiscipline and other vices have been our lot since independence, up to when we managed to democratise in 1999, and even till date.

The nation, truth be told, is on its knees, rudderless and almost shipwrecked.

Anyone pandering to partisanship at this moment while commenting on the current Nigerian situation must either be naive or is part of the problem. We must remember that we were individually born as Nigerians before those who chose partisan politics took the decision.

6R WKH TXHVWLRQ LV DV D 1LJHULDQ GR , cherish the gruesome killing of my country men, women, boys, girls and children?

The answer is NO. Do I enjoy good living conditions in the midst of millions of jobless family members, friends and youths? NO! Can we ignore the fact of the ULVLQJ LQÁDWLRQ DQG DEMHFW SRYHUW\ LQ WKH land. NO! In all honesty, the solutions to our QDWLRQDO FULVLV GRQ·W OLH LQ SDUW\ D΀OLDWLRQ or individuals in the political parties.

According to Duro Fasakin, Nigeria’s problems cannot be solved by personnel change in government houses or legislative assemblies, but in the systemic overhaul of our political structure, criminalising even the minutest malfeasance in government and in mobilizing the people for a new radical and comprehensive reform that will promote collective national interests above those of the privileged few.

The late Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kwuan Yew, while describing how Singapore emerged from an underdeveloped island nation out of Malaysia to become a success story, once noted that a few men came together to commit themselves to building a developed nation - which mission was to be the cause for which they were ready to die for. Today, Singapore is one of the goto places for gluttonous African leaders for holidays rather than tutelage. Where are the Lee Kuan Yews of Nigeria?

Sad enough, I have been part of the legislative governance of the country at national and subnational levels of government from 1999 up until 2015, both as a member of the opposition and of the ruling party. Looking from outside the government arena now, I can see that there appears to be no change or hope in the horizon. If Nigeria was a patient years ago on general care, its ailment has since landed it in the Intensive Care Unit.

Can anyone tell me what is working?

7KH HͿRUW RI JRYHUQPHQW LQ LQIUDVWUXFWXUDO GHYHORSPHQW SDOHV LQWR LQVLJQLÀFDQFH LQ view of the enormity of the challenges.

In the last few years, the railway sector received a boost in terms of attention and investment by this government although previous governments started the process. This has been at great cost to the country. Despite the enormous cost, recent developments in the sector has now made travelling by rail the most dangerous in Nigeria. Where did we get it wrong?

Could there have been forward looking PHFKDQLVPV WR SUHYHQW WKLV VWDWH RI DͿDLUV" <HV RI FRXUVH EHFDXVH WKH ZDUQLQJ VLJQDOV have been loud and audible for a long time, but we have played possum.

In the midst of grave insecurity, food prices have skyrocketed, electric power supply has remained elusive thus seriously hurting small and medium scale businesses, and making living conditions even more unbearable. Yet, the political class appears oblivious to this unfortunate and avoidable state of anomie.

With each passing day news of deaths, kidnapping and banditry rent the air.

'HVSDLU GLVRUGHU XQHQGLQJ FRQÁLFWV DQG insecurity are now like the new normal. $V LI WKDW LV LQVX΀FLHQW WUDXPD IRU WKH populace, we have continued to witness irresponsible conduct among those occupying the top echelon of government, leaving one to wonder about their sense of patriotism and empathy.

A learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Ehiogie West-Idahosa captured the mood of a vast majority when he queried the response of the Minister of Transportation, 5RWLPL $PDHFKL ZKR WULHG WR H[FXVH the recent train bombing, citing nonprocurement of digital security technology for the trains as the reason for the incessant attacks. In the view of the Learned Silk, which I fully agree with, “Procurement process has not stopped them from plundering the nation’s resources in a manner never before seen. Where in the world would a serving Governor of Central Bank have his face printed on posters and bill boards with the insignia of a political party campaigning for the R΀FH RI SUHVLGHQW ZLWKRXW KH YLJRURXVO\ denouncing such rubbish if (he is not part RI WKH RͿHQVLYH FDPSDLJQ " +RZ FDQ KH EH doling out funds for such unpatriotic and opportunistic fancy while pretending to be managing a dying economy? It’s time to stop these irresponsible behaviour.”

Dr Osagie (ACIArb (UK) ) is a Legal Practitioner; Chairman, Africa Bar Association (Nigerian Forum) and Lecturer, National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abuja

ERIC TENIOLA writes that the office is filled with frustrations

THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT Mistrust is always inherent in the relationship between the President and the Vice-President.

Even if they deny it, it is constantly there. The R΀FH RI WKH 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW LV JHQHUDOO\ FRQVLGHUHG to be the graveyard of political careers. It is a ORQHO\ R΀FH ,W LV DOVR D PLVHUDEOH R΀FH 7KH name vice means “in place of”. It typically serves as a pro-tempore (Latin) for the time being to the President.

Former US Vice-President, Walter Mondale says “since the start of our nation, the vice SUHVLGHQF\ KDV EHHQ DQ DZNZDUG R΀FH LWV occupants have, by and large, been notoriously unhappy.” ,Q 1LJHULD WKH R΀FH RI WKH 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW LV D VROLWDU\ R΀FH VR GHVRODWH WKDW LW KDV DQ XQHOHFWHG R΀FLDO WKH &KLHI RI 6WDͿ WR WKH 3UHVLGHQW DURXQG who is not recognized by the Constitution and who the President directed must be the safest and EHVW JDWHZD\ WR KLV R΀FH 7KH GLUHFWLYH ZKLFK LV abnormal and atypical has not been abrogated in spite of the demise of the former holder of the R΀FH 7KDW GLUHFWLYH PDNHV WKH R΀FH RI WKH 9LFH President to be extremely intricate and complex.

9LFH 3UHVLGHQWV VXͿHU DQG HQGXUH LQ VLOHQFH ,Q some cases they are targets of attacks, ridicule and fake news. The worst thing is that there is little they can do about it. Getting out of sight is a solution most favoured by Presidents, hence, most often the job schedule of vice presidents is to attend funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, lectures, seminars, retreats, etc. They do not really belong to the inner caucus of the President. If anything goes wrong they are always suspects. In WKH PRVW SRZHUIXO SHUVRQ LQ WKH FRXQWU\ E\ then, apart from President Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari was not his Vice President, Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme but the then Minister of Transport, Alhaji Umaru Abdurahman Dikko.

The excuse for this then was that the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) did not win in Anambra State, the home state of Dr. Ekwueme RU LQ ,PR 6WDWH ,Q WKH HOHFWLRQV 'U 1QDPGL Benjamin Azikiwe of the NPP still controlled his empire of Imo and Anambra States. If you wanted anything in Shagari’s era, you need to contact Alhaji Umaru Dikko, who was also the &KDLUPDQ RI WKH 3UHVLGHQWLDO 7DVNIRUFH RQ 5LFH The argument then was that, Dr. Ekwueme KDG QR HOHFWRUDO DVVHW RU SROLWLFDO EDVH LQ That argument was demolished in 1999 in that President Olusegun Obasanjo was not voted by the people of his own region, the Southwest region. The man the people of Southwest voted for in 1999, Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae by irony was himself a recipient of General Obasanjo’s generosity when he made him Permanent 6HFUHWDU\ LQ DQG DOVR LQWURGXFHG KLP WR General Ibrahim Babangida who made him Secretary to the Government of the Federation LQ 3HUKDSV WKH ZHDNQHVV RI WKH R΀FH RI the Vice President in Nigeria since 1999 could be WUDFHG WR WKH HͿHFW WKDW WKHUH KDV QRW EHHQ PXWXDO relationship between the President and the Vice President before they were appointed Vice President. The process for selecting Vice President in this country since 1999 is faulty.

For example, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was the PDP candidate for the January 9 gubernatorial election in Adamawa State in 1999. He was not close to President Obasanjo who was the Presidential nominee of the PDP at that time. +LV ÀQDQFLDO SXUVH DQG D OLWWOH KHOS IURP VRPH RI his friends including Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, Chief Tony Anenih prevailed on Chief Obasanjo to make Atiku Abubakar as the Vice Presidential candidate for the PDP, over Alhaji Adamu &LURPD $OKDML $EXEDNDU 5LPL DQG 3URIHVVRU Jerry Gana after the PDP convention held in Jos on February 16, 1999. Atiku’s running mate at that time as deputy governor Boni Haruna later became governor by defeating Bala Takaya by

329,595 to 283,863 votes in the 1999 Adamawa State gubernatorial election. In the December 16, 2006 convention held in Abuja, it was President Obasanjo who forced Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, then Governor of Bayelsa State on President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, to be his running mate. Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua preferred either Dr. Peter Odili or Chief James Onanefe Ibori. President Jonathan picked Alhaji Namadi Sambo, the former governor of Kaduna State, to be his Vice President on May 19, 2010 following pressure from the governor’s forum, who wanted their own to be vice president. President Muhammadu Buhari picked Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in very interesting circumstances. The rejection RI WKH 0XVOLP 0XVOLP ZDV ÁRDWHG LQ because certain elements within the APC at that time never wanted Chief Bola Tinubu to be Vice President. ,Q IDLUQHVV 3UHVLGHQW %XKDUL IXOÀOOHG KLV obligation to Chief Bola Tinubu at that time.

2Q 'HFHPEHU 3UHVLGHQW %XKDUL defeated his political rivals in the APC with YRWHV 'U 5DELX .ZDQNZDVR KDG YRWHV $OKDML $WLNX $EXEDNDU YRWHV *RYHUQRU 5RFKDV 2NRURFKD YRWHV ZLWK 'U .D\RGH )D\HPL DV WKH UHWXUQLQJ R΀FHU DW the Teslim Balogun stadium in Lagos at the party’s Convention.

In order to calm nerves, General Buhari left the decision to pick the Vice President in the hands of Chief Bola Tinubu. He could have picked Chief Pius Olu Akinyelure, a former Mobil Chief Executive, who is a Methodist Knight. He could as well have picked Chief Olusegun Osoba, the twice elected governor of Ogun State. He could have dared his critics as well and picked Chief Bisi Akande, a Muslim and a former governor of Osun State DQG 2JEHQL 5DXI $GHVRML $UHJEHVROD IRUPHU governor of Osun State, now Minister of Interior and the course of history would have changed.

A few days later Chief Tinubu picked Professor Osinbajo. Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos resident DQG D 3DVWRU ZLWK WKH 5HGHHPHG &KULVWLDQ Church of God had earlier served as the Commissioner for Justice during the tenure of Chief Bola Tinubu as the Governor of Lagos State. It was the costliest decision made

by Chief Tinubu, a human developer, in his political career. The question now is what has he gained from that decision? )LQDOO\ RQ 'HFHPEHU LQ $EXMD General Buhari announced Professor Osinbajo as his running mate. Till today I am still at a loss as to why General Buhari did not QDPH &KLHI &KLEXLNH 5RWLPL $PDHFKL DV KLV running mate. These decisions by President Buhari and Chief Tinubu are still causing serious “Katakata” in APC till today.

Either Vice Presidents have political base RU VWUXFWXUH WKH R΀FH LV D IXWLOH MRE IXOO RI frustrations. The Vice Presidency is like the human appendix, a vestigial organ on the ERG\ SROLWLF ,W LV GL΀FXOW IRU D 3UHVLGHQW to take the Vice President completely into KLV FRQÀGHQFH 7KH 3UHVLGHQW E\ QHFHVVLW\ EXLOGV KLV RZQ VWDͿ DQG PDNHV KLV RZQ decision and the Vice President remains an outsider. Even at present, the incumbent Vice-President, Professor Osinbajo cannot be claimed to belong to the so called CABAL, the inner caucus ruling the country, made mostly of CPC members who have become stupendously rich in the last six years and this has drawn the envy of other APC members.

Teniola is a veteran Journalist

THURSDAY MARCH 31, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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Equity, justice and fairness demand that the Igbo should succeed Buhari in 2023, contends IFEANYI MADUAKO

THE IGBO AND THE 2023 PRESIDENCY The 2023 general election is less than a year from now. With the recent conclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention where Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu was elected by consensus as the national chairman of the Party, activities for the 2023 general election have commenced in earnest.

The election of Alhaji Adamu as the national chairman presupposes that the presidential candidate of the APC should come from the southern part of Nigeria.

With President Buhari from the north, the presidential candidate and ultimately the elected president of Nigeria, three southerners viz; Chief Bisi Akande, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole were the national chairmen of the party. It would be somewhat incongruous for the party to produce the presidential candidate from the north for the 2023 general elections with Adamu as the national chairman.

Since 1999, among the three geopolitical zones in the South, the Yoruba had produced a president for eight years in Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

By 2023 the same Yoruba should have produced a Vice President for eight years in Professor Yemi Osinbajo. The same Yoruba also produced the current Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. The SouthSouth produced the Vice President and

Ndigbo have no problems with the Yoruba aspirants for the position, but in fairness should they take another shot at the plum position when Igbo have not tasted it for even one day since 1999?

President of Nigeria in former President Goodluck Jonathan for eight years between 2007 and 2015.

7KH ÀYH VWDWHV RI WKH VRXWKHDVW had shared the position of the Senate President between 1999 and 2007. Since this Fourth Republic dispensation, the Igbo have not had the opportunity of producing either a Vice President or a President for the past 24 years by 2023.

If a Yoruba man succeeds Buhari in KH ZLOO PRVW OLNHO\ EH LQ R΀FH IRU another eight years. The Vice president RI D <RUXED SUHVLGHQW ZLOO GHÀQLWHO\ come from the North. When the Yoruba 3UHVLGHQW ÀQLVKHV KLV HLJKW \HDUV WKHUH·V no possibility that he would hand over to an Igbo man. It then means that the number one position will go back to the

north. The northern president may also be LQ R΀FH IRU DQRWKHU HLJKW \HDUV 7KH PRVW the northern president can do for the Igbo is to choose an Igbo man as his running PDWH ZKHQ WKH <RUXED PDQ ÀQLVKHV KLV tenure.

Therefore, if a Yoruba succeeds President Buhari, and subsequently returns power to the North after his tenure, an Igbo man could lay claim to the presidency in 2039, which is the next 16 years. By 2039 the Igbo would have been denied the presidency for 40 years in this current democratic experiment.

In any case, there is no guarantee that even in 2039 when the Igbo should supposedly have their turn that the SouthSouth will not lay claim to it as well. By this permutation, a Yoruba president in ZLOO NHHS WKH R΀FH DZD\ IURP WKH Igbo for the next 16 years. Equity, Justice and Fairness demand that the Igbo should succeed Buhari in 2023.

If APC hands over the ticket to the Yoruba, the Igbo are likely to continue WKHLU D΀QLW\ ZLWK WKH 3HRSOHV 'HPRFUDWLF Party (PDP). This is because even if the PDP gives the Presidential ticket to the north in 2023, either Alhaji Atiku Abubakar or Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal is likely to pick an Igbo man as running mate as had been demonstrated over the years. It then means that the Igbo have a EHWWHU RͿHU LQ WKH 3'3 EHFDXVH RQFH WKH 3'3 SUHVLGHQWLDO FDQGLGDWH ÀQLVKHV KLV tenure in 2031, the seat may return to Igbo in 2031 instead of 2039 in the APC. Like I earlier said, a Yoruba president in 2023 can’t produce an Igbo Vice President.

But a northern president in 2023 can produce an Igbo Vice President in 2023.

A Vice President for Ndigbo in any party in Nigeria will give them a sense of belonging in the Nigerian project as a country. Both APC and PDP should look at the direction of the Igbo for the Presidency of Nigeria for the forthcoming presidential election as equity, justice and fairness demand.

However, in the event of the Igbo not becoming the presidential candidates of the two major political parties in the country, any of them that gives Ndigbo the Vice-Presidential shot will get the bulk votes of the Igbo across Nigeria because half bread is better than none.

Ndigbo have no problems with the Yoruba aspirants for the position, but in fairness should they take another shot at the plum position when Igbo have not tasted it for even one day since 1999? A Yoruba president can never guarantee Igbo Vice President in Nigeria and Ndigbo do not need the position of the Senate President in 2023. Let the Yoruba exchange the number three position in the land with the Igbo in 2023. Those who bandy competence as the only criterion to throw the presidential race open should know that there is no LGA in Igbo land that doesn’t have competent presidential materials.

Maduako, writes from Owerri Via ifeanyimaduako2017@gmail.com

UZOR MAXIM UZOATU writes that the Soludo Solution is anchored on ‘eat-buy-use made-in-Anambra’

SOLUDO AND THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE A popular mandate always comes with great expectations. The election of Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo as the Governor of Anambra State has elicited overwhelming support and hope from all sections of the state.

From peasants to potentates, the belief is that the right man is at last on the saddle of power, and the anointed one has magic in his pouch to solve all the problems. It is as though Soludo is superhuman, with qualities beyond the ken of humankind, even as he simply carries on without airs as the boy next door.

Expectations need to be matched with the hard realities on the ground. The economy of the state is in a bad shape, and needs to be urgently addressed before high marks can be attained. The joy though is that Soludo has a can-do spirit that somewhat reassures that all the issues can be redressed. The new governor has been painstaking in making his initial appointments, crucially retaining the Secretary to the State Government who, it is believed, would help a great deal in ensuring a smooth transition.

Governor Soludo’s pioneer activity of going to the Okpoko slum in Ogbaru Local Government Area showcases a governor who wants to see and do things by himself. He of course knows that the problems are legion that need his painstaking attention. The roads need comprehensive reconstruction. The waterworks do not work. Insecurity is all the rage. There is the crying need to increase food productivity.

In addressing the multiform problems, Soludo is armed with his manifesto, the report of the 80-member Transition Committee he instituted, and the document of the Anambra-2070 Committee he headed. The balm is that Soludo is not pleading lack of preparation for the dire jobs at hand.

As he said in his inaugural speech, “I know WKH OHDQ ÀQDQFLDO EDVH RI WKH VWDWH , NQRZ WKH limitations imposed upon a subnational state such as Anambra by the peculiar structure of our federation. But here’s my promise: I will give it my all. I will work very hard every day, with you, to make Anambra proud. Every kobo of your tax money will be deployed to provide you maximum value.”

At the visionary level, Soludo banks on “the plans, values, passion, and accomplishments of some of Africa’s liberation-cum-independence leaders such as Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba, Nnamdi Azikiwe, etc.”

There is no hiding the fact that Soludo is poised to transcend the feats of Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara in the old Eastern Region.

Soludo’s template on agriculture, for instance, is groundbreaking. In education, he leads by example, having set up a school which he funded before becoming an elected governor.

He has already put ill-assorted touts and illicit tax collectors on the run into dungeons.

The man in the Anambra saddle is courageously putting himself upfront to liberate the masses from rentier politics and politicians. Soludo is quite uncomfortable that politics has been reduced to the so-called “stomach infrastructure” and coming-to-eat the dividends of democracy. He is obviously against today’s slogan that goes thus: “If all else fails, try politics!”

As a leader who sees politics as service instead of a job, he holds aloft the light of productive work instead of putting up the bizarre bazaar of HDWLQJ RͿ WKH SDOPV RI WKLHYLQJ SROLWLFLDQV ,W LV said that when a malfeasance lasts for so long, it becomes a tradition. For Soludo, the task of ending the evil tradition of looting the public purse in the name of political freebies is on the

front burner.

Soludo preaches the gospel of the old school that sees honesty as the best policy. He remains unafraid to jump into terrains where angels fear to tread. It is fresh in the memory how he dared all dangers as Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, as he reveals: “At a personal level, undertaking the banking revolution in Nigeria came with 19 written threats to me and my family, including physical attacks.”

The challenge of driving change in Anambra State will of course come with its own dangers.

People of Anambra State cannot forget in a hurry that a former governor of the state was kidnapped! It takes deep commitment to a cause to put oneself forward to confront these dangers. The dangerous political godfathers never sleep.

In his insightful essay entitled “The purpose and price of disruptive change”, Soludo highlights the clear and present dangers thusly: “Disrupting the existing social order is GDQJHURXV %HQHÀFLDULHV RI WKH FXUUHQW RUGHU DUH SRZHUIXO HQRXJK WR RUJDQLVH DQG ÀJKW back viciously to protect their privileges. On the contrary, the masses who are the ultimate EHQHÀFLDULHV DUH QRW RUJDQLVHG HQRXJK WR DFW as a bulwark against the special interests. As things stand currently, we are between a rock and a hard place. With the objective to retain power within the context of short electoral cycles, politicians are afraid to undertake the necessary disruptive changes to guarantee long term safety and prosperity for all. On the other hand, the existing trends are totally unsustainable and the system is living on borrowed times. Everyone is sleepwalking to the hard place, and praying that somehow a miracle will happen along the way.”

For me, Soludo happens to be that leader “who is ready to put his head on the line to lead such productive but dangerous disruptions.”

It is indeed pleasing that the kind of disruptive change Soludo wants to bring to bear on Anambra State is akin to that wrought in Singapore, as Mister Governor writes: “I recently re-read Lee Kuan Yew’s book From Third World to First, and can’t stop being inspired. The combination of competence and driven by a higher purpose produced such a transformational leadership that orchestrated a miracle in development. In one of his last speeches before his death, Lee Kuan Yew observed that he and his colleagues were prepared that even if they died trying to make Singapore great, they would have been happy to die for a worthy cause.”

Uzoatu is a Journalist and Poet

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 31, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

THE LAGOS AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL Some remedial measures are needed for optimal performance

I

n Lagos last week, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned a new international terminal exactly 43 years after the old terminal, modelled after Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, was built. This new aviation HGLÀFH ZDV EXLOW E\ WKH &KLQD &LYLO (QJLQHHULQJ &RQVWUXFWLRQ &RUSRUDWLRQ &&(&& along with three other terminals located at Kano, Abuja, and Port Harcourt airports. It was funded ZLWK LQLWLDO PLOOLRQ IURP &KLQD ([LP EDQN with $100 million counterpart fund from the federal government. With capacity for 14 million passengers per annum, the terminal will provide a relief for air travellers ZKR KDYH VXͿHUHG in the congested old international terminal, originally built for less than one million passengers per annum but was processing about four million passengers in the last few years.

The new facility occupies 50,887m2 acres of land with expansion of the ramp currently ongoing. It has four-storey main terminal building, three-storey ÀQJHU EXLOGLQJ WZR VWRUH\ FDUJR WHUPLQDO EXLOGLQJ three-dimensional multi-layer sorting baggage system, seven boarding bridges, 60 sets of check-in counters and 2,014 sets of passenger seats. It is also multi-functional with hotels, restaurants, and leisure.

This new facility is an obvious improvement on the old one which, despite many turnarounds, has failed to meet modern needs of passenger facilitation, FRPIRUW DQG H΀FLHQF\ However, there are issues with the new terminal. It LV FRQVLGHUHG VWUXFWXUDOO\ GHÀFLHQW WKH ORFDWLRQ QRW ideal and the cost is quite enormous, if not scandalous.

There are buildings and facilities expected to be removed before the terminal could accommodate wide-body aircraft. Some of these buildings have been demolished. But we understand that the location of the facility was a second choice.

The terminal ought to have been built near the

international runway 18R but for the legal tussle between the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria )$$1 DQG WKH ODWH &KLHI +DUU\ $NDQGH ZKR VHFXUHG RZQHUVKLS RI WKH ODQG PDQ\ \HDUV DJR A study on the infrastructural limitation of the terminal, funded by the then Ministry of Transportation, disclosed that there were many facilities that must be relocated before it would become operational. The report, which was carried out in 2018 by Arcaid Architects and Environmental &RQVXOWDQWV RQ IRXU QHZ LQWHUQDWLRQDO WHUPLQDOV at the airports in Kano, Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt revealed that they lacked essential facilities. In Lagos, for the terminal to become IXOO\ IXQFWLRQDO WKH ÀUH service building and control tower must be relocated. The report also highlighted other essential facilities that were absent in the new terminals although most of them have now been provided at huge cost.

The initial sum of $600 million was stated to be WKH FRVW RI DOO WKH QHZ WHUPLQDOV EXLOW E\ &&(&& But the total cost of the projects has since escalated for several reasons. In 2018, the consultants said that many facilities that would link the new terminals to the existing ones in Abuja and Lagos for seamless passenger facilitation would cost about $500 million.

Huge sums of money are currently being spent on the demolition of structures that constituted obstruction to the new facilities. When you add LQÁDWLRQ DQG GHSUHFLDWLQJ YDOXH RI WKH QDLUD RQH can understand the enormity of the problem.

It is disconcerting that the project completion has been delayed for nearly a decade. Even more worrisome is the fact that part of the delay was the result of avoidable design and location oversights.

Now that the terminal has been commissioned, it is imperative that all remedial measures be taken to ensure that the Nigerian public derives maximum satisfaction from the new terminal.

This new facility is an obvious improvement on the old one which, despite many turnarounds, has failed to meet modern needs of passenger facilitation, comfort, and efficiency 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

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS APC, ‘PDP EMIGRANTS’ AND THE LIST Continued from the backpage On Monday, I was with Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State who spoke highly of Dayo Israel, the young man who was adopted as the National Youth Leader last Saturday. But less than 24 hours EHIRUH , PHW WKH .DWVLQD JRYHUQRU , DOVR HQFRXQWHUHG D \RXQJ $3& member from Kaduna State who expressed bitter disappointment that Olusegun Dada was forced to withdraw from the race. He claimed to be DW WKH FRQYHQWLRQ DQG WKDW PRVW \RXQJ $3& PHPEHUV IURP WKH QRUWK ZHUH EDFNLQJ 'DGD , GRQ·W NQRZ ,VUDHO ZKR PDQ\ SHRSOH GHVFULEH DV EULOOLDQW DQG UHVRXUFHIXO RU 'DGD EXW ZKDW NLQG RI GHPRFUDF\ DUH ZH building if we cannot even allow young people to elect a leader of their choice? , KRSH WKH $3& ZLOO QRW GHSOR\ WKLV ¶FRQVHQVXV· RSWLRQ WR SLFN LWV SUHVidential candidate. But I will not be surprised if the party does, given the SROLWLFDO KLVWRU\ RI WKH SUHVLGHQW ,Q KLV ÀUVW DWWHPSW %XKDUL REWDLQHG the presidential ticket in that way. On 7th January 2003, as I once recalled, I witnessed the dramatic national convention of the defunct All 1LJHULDQ 3HRSOHV 3DUW\ $133 LQ $EXMD 7KH SUHVLGHQWLDO FRQWHQGHUV then were the late Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, Rochas Okorocha, Pere Ajuwa, ODWH +DUU\ $NDQGH ODWH &KXED 2NDGLJER DQG %XKDUL +DYLQJ UHDOL]HG

that if the contest were allowed to proceed Okorocha would most likely SLFN WKH WLFNHW WKH JRYHUQRUV FDPH XS ZLWK WKH ¶FRQVHQVXV· RSWLRQ DW WKH last minute. The idea was for Buhari to be endorsed as presidential candidate with Okadigbo as running mate while others would withdraw from the race. But the governors and party leaders merely opened themselves up for the onslaught of the aggrieved presidential aspirants led E\ WKH LPPHGLDWH SDVW 2KDQDH]H SUHVLGHQW &KLHI -RKQ 1QLD 1ZRGR Before announcing his withdrawal from the race at Eagle Square that night, Nwodo said: “My heart bleeds that our great party is about to be destroyed. The process that has characterized this convention is totally without transparency and as I speak to you now, all of you wearing accreditation cards do not have your name on it. It could be dashed to anyone. As I speak to you, none of you has seen a dummy of the ballot paper that you are about to vote with.” As Nwodo spoke, one could see embarrassment written on the faces of the ANPP Governors and other leaders as bemused Nigerians watched the political tragicomedy on live television. But Nwodo was not done yet: “As I speak to you now, DOO SUHVLGHQWLDO DVSLUDQWV KDYH EHHQ GHQLHG WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ RI HͿHFWLYH participation in arriving at this so-called consensus. In all humility, my brothers, and sisters, I do not lend my name to this charade. I cannot stand on this ballot to disgrace the democratic process….”

+DYLQJ VSRNHQ WR VHYHUDO $3& *RYHUQRUV DQG RWKHU VWDNHKROGHUV ZLWKLQ WKH SDUW\ , DP DZDUH RI WKH FRQWHQW RI HDFK RI WKH WKUHH GLͿHUHQW OHWWHUV VHQW E\ 3UHVLGHQW %XKDUL WR WKH QRZ GHIXQFW &(&3& FKDLUPDQ *RYHUQRU 0DL %XQL RI <REH WKH ÀUVW RQ WK )HEUXDU\ VHFRQG RQ VW 0DUFK DQG WKH WKLUG RQ WK 0DUFK DQG WKH IRUFHV EHKLQG WKH GLͿHUHQW OLVWV , DP DOVR DZDUH WKDW DW WKH ODVW PLQXWH $3& JRYHUQRUV FKHFNPDWHG not so much the president but those they believed were using his authority by blocking certain nominees for the positions of National SecUHWDU\ 'HSXW\ 1DWLRQDO 6HFUHWDU\ 1RUWK 'HSXW\ 1DWLRQDO 6HFUHWDU\ 6RXWK DQG 1DWLRQDO 2UJDQLVLQJ 6HFUHWDU\ It is bad enough that we do not know where those who seek to preVLGH RYHU RXU DͿDLUV VWDQG RQ WKH SUREOHPV FRQIURQWLQJ XV DV D QDWLRQ or how to tackle them. The challenge will be compounded if, by any act of omission or commission, party rules are manipulated to advantage VRPH DVSLUDQWV DJDLQVW RWKHUV $W D WLPH ZH QHHG WR SXOO WRJHWKHU WR ÀJKW insecurity, nothing can be more dangerous than creating internal dissension from which desperate politicians can feed. I hope there are people wise enough in the two parties to understand what I am talking about.

Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

29

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Addressing Customers’ Challenges with Embedded Financial Services From the inception of traditional banking to digital banking, bank customers have faced various levels of challenges in payments transactions, but Fidelity Bank’s embedded financial services platform demystifies such challenges, writes Emma Okonji

A

s financial institutions continue to seek new and alternative ways of improving customers’ services, emerging technologies, which are fast evolving, are helping the banks to actualise their mission in addressing customers’ challenges in all payments transactions.

The old traditional banking system, where customers were given tally numbers and were made to queue for hours before being attended to by bank staff to perform simple financial transactions, are fast eroding with the introduction of digital financial services.

With digital service offerings, banks have been able to reduce to a greater extent, human traffic in banking halls. This is because bank customers who make use of the available digital payment channels offered by banks, can now perform various forms of financial transactions from the comfort of their homes and offices, without visiting the banking halls.

Banks are beginning to realise the importance of collaboration with technical partners, to develop more solutions that will enhance customer experience during financial transactions from outside of the banking hall.

In order to further simplify online payments and accelerate its adoption process among its bank customers, Fidelity Bank, in collaboration with its technology partner, OnePipe, recently launched PayGatePlus, an embedded financial services platform that enables customers and merchants to do more of seamless financial transactions with ease.

EMBEDDED FINANCIAL SERVICES

Last week, Fidelity Bank, in collaboration with OnePipe, launched its embedded financial services platform, designed to make payments transactions a lot easier for its customers and merchants.

The embedded financial services platform, known as PayGatePlus, is an upgrade of its PayGate solution.

Speaking at the launch of the solution, the Executive Director and Chief Operations and Information Officer of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Stanley Amuche, who represented the banks’ managing director, said: “Innovation is the key pillar of our strategic framework and we are constantly looking for new ways to improve our services and delight our customers. Everything we do as a financial organisation including the design of our products and services has

on embedded financial services, stressed the need for financial technology innovation in the banking sector, and explained how Fidelity Bank had positioned itself over the years to drive innovation in the financial services sector.

One of the panelists, who is the Managing Director, Payment Processing and Switching at Interswitch, Mr. Akeem Lawal, commended the initiative of Fidelity Bank over its embedded financial services offerings, insisting that banks have evolved over the years as trusted financial institutions because they hold a lot of customer data that enable them to develop solutions that enhance customers’ experience.

CEO and Founder of OnePipe, Ope Adeoye, expressed the Company’s excitement in partnering Fidelity Bank to upgrade the payment gateway. He said the aggressive drive by Fidelity Bank to digitise payment services, has helped customers to do more financial transactions outside of the banking hall.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

the customer as the main focus. It is on this basis that we have worked with our technical partner, Onepipe over the past few months to innovate a solution that enables businesses across different sectors to easily integrate financial services with their product offerings. The new PayGatePlus is a significant upgrade of the legacy PayGate product and we are very optimistic that it will open more opportunities for revenue growth for our customers.”

According to Amuche, “Working with OnePipe as an innovation partner, Fidelity Bank has evolved PayGate into PayGatePlus, a comprehensive embedded finance platform that empowers organisations in any sector to integrate financial services within their businesses and offerings.

PayGatePlus’ services now include virtual accounts, web payments, online collections via NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP), funds transfer, direct debit, balance inquiry, statement, BVN validation, direct credit and Buy Now, Pay Later services.”

Amuche added: “PayGatePlus helps take away the hassles of irreconcilable payments, reporting and settlement. Since its soft launch about a year

ago, several brands across FMCG, Aviation, Agency banking and fintech sectors have embedded a range of the services available on the platform.”

Giving further details of PayGatePlus, the Divisional Head, E-Banking at Fidelity Bank, Mrs. Ifeoma Onibuje, described the embedded financial services platform as an ecosystem of products, developed as a one-stop-shop solution to empower customers and merchants to do varieties of financial transactions with utmost ease. She further said the solution would enable instant cash payment for merchants and instant cash transaction for customers.

“The PayGatePlus is an enhanced version of PayGate, which is Fidelity Bank’s flagship gateway that enables businesses and merchants to collect online payments,” Onibuje said.

EXPERTS’ VIEWS

During the launch of PayGatePlus in Lagos last week, a panel session was organised to discuss the theme: ‘Embedded Financial Services As A Driver For Seamless Customer Experience’.

The panelists who gave their excerpt views

Speaking during the panel session about the business opportunities in embedded financial services, Lawal said for many years, banking services have been carried out in the traditional way, but that over the years, technology has changed the face of banking and has moved banking services to the level where banks now engage with customers in a digital way, through various digital channels. “Embedded banking services are significant in various ways because it has but the distribution of financial services in the hands of the customers, away from the control of banks and Fintechs. Embedded financing is creating new opportunities for partnerships with more customers,” Lawal said.

The Founder and CEO of Capricon, Mr. Debola Abudu, who also spoke during the panel session about the importance of embedded financing and how it would expand the finance industry, said Fidelity Bank had over the years, pioneered various financial solutions that enhanced customers’ experience.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Implications of Rejecting Gender Equality Bills Ugo Aliogo examines the implications of the gender bills which was rejected by the National Assembly, even though the House of Representatives has rescinded its decision on three gender-related bills

T

he recent rejection of five gender equality bills that sought to alter the Constitution by the National Assembly has once again brought to the fore the need to consistently challenge the oppression that our patriarchal society imposes on women as well as the urgent need to revamp and purge democratic system of obscure bias.

The bills which had been pending before the national assembly, sought affirmative actions for women in governance and political representation including 35 per cent appointed positions for women and 20 per cent affirmative action in party administration.

The decision of the National Assembly to reject the gender equality bills engendered severe criticism, backlash and even protest from women groups and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) groups. The Deputy Minority Whip of the House, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who is the only female member of the body of principal officers of the house and also sponsored some of the rejected bills, was reported to have been extremely disappointed with the non-passage of the bills.

He added that it is painful and unconscionable that these bills which provide a fillip for accommodating women who make up more than 50 per cent of the voting population, are subjected to such sorry fate.

He said: “In Edo State, we have a healthy mix of women in our cabinet, as they occupy more than 30 per cent of positions of commissioners and Special Advisers in government.

“Edo people hope that their own representatives at the National Assembly did not vote along the lines of disenfranchising their women population because to do so will mean that they do not care about those who sent them to represent them at the Assembly.

Our administration has continued to provide women with the opportunity to take up important roles in governance.”

CDD REPORT

THE PROPOSED BILLS

The rejected proposed bills, which seek to alter the Constitution include bills 35, 36, 37, 38 and 68.

The aims of the bills were to provide: Special seats for women at national assembly; Affirmative action for women in political party administration; To grant citizenship to foreign-born husbands of a Nigerian woman. Already, a Nigerian man’s foreign-born wife is automatically a Nigerian citizen. Another bill also sought to allocate 35 per cent of political positions based on appointment to women and creation of additional 111 seats in National Assembly as well as at the state constituent assemblies. The bill also seeks the inclusion of at least 10 per cent affirmative action in favour of women in ministerial appointments.

BILL REJECTION AND IMPLICATIONS

Consequent upon the rejection of these Bills, the 9th National Assembly has been strongly berated for deliberately missing an opportunity to etch their tenure in gold and for insisting on a pathway that can only take the country backwards.

It is also evident that the National Assembly did not

consider the salient provisions of section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Articles 2, 3 and 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), in arriving at their disappointing decision to kill the bills on the floor of the house.

Reacting to the rejection of the bills, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, expressed displeasure, stating that it is heartbreaking that the National Assembly members missed a golden opportunity to

redesign Nigeria’s political landscape by enshrining landmark legislation that promotes inclusion.

He also noted that the bill would provide women with the legal backing to gain equitable representation at the apex level of lawmaking and political participation.

He said the rejection was not the appropriate in the right direction for the NASS because the legislature is the bastion of democracy and a critical platform for fair representation and inclusion in government.

The Centre for Development of Democracy (CDD) report noted that women’s political representation had steadily declined in recent electoral cycles. About 45 per cent fewer women took office across all levels in 2019 than they did in 2011, marking women’s poorest electoral outing since 2003. In 2019, women won less than 5 per cent of all contested seats and were restricted to only 17 per cent of all ministerial appointment.

The report also noted that another partial reason relates to the nature of the party platforms which are most likely to enable women contestant to get on the ballot.

According to the report, “Our studies found that the vast majority of women candidates ran for office under the banner of “third” parties — that is, parties other than the two largest political parties, the All-Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Indeed, of the 232 female candidates that stood for senatorial contests across Nigeria, only 17 were candidates of the APC or the PDP. Other national electoral races had even higher proportions of third-party women candidates: nearly 94% of women candidates for the House of Representatives were from third par ties, while, of the six women contestants for presidential office, no contender belonged to the APC or the PDP.” NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

GoNigeria Initiative as Boost toYouths Participation in Electoral Process The subtle effort of boardroom guru, Mr. Atedo Peterside and his GoNigeria, an offshoot of Anap Foundation, to galvanize the 60 percent youth population in Nigeria, towards political participation, appears to be yielding result, considering the feedbacks and the social media followership the campaign enjoys daily. Raheem Akingbolu reports

T

he quote from the notable seventh SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Kofi Atta Annan, shows the pivotal roles of youths in any democracy. He stated “No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline; it is condemned to bleed to death.”

The statement implies that no nation can do without its youthful citizens and should be included in their democratic system, as future leaders, with its larger percentage of the global population. It also shows that youths should endeavour to participate in electoral processes. This young generation according to the United Nations (UN), are people between the ages of 15 and 24. It also took into cognizance, the fact that member states and other entities use different definitions, with ages from 15 to 35 years, as applied by the African Youth Charter of the African Union in 2006.

Today, there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years, accounting for 16 percent of the global population, and a look at the African scene shows that in 2020, the continent’s population under age 35 represents almost a billion people (540.8 million 0-14 years and 454.5 million of young people between ages 15-34), amounting to 22.7 percent of the world’s total youth population, the second largest after Asia’s 58 percent.

In Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy with over 214 million people, the youth demographic forms over 60 percent of her population and has made their voices heard through various platforms.

While youths globally are often involved in informal, politically relevant processes, such as activism or civic engagement, they are not formally represented in national political institutions such as parliaments and many of them do not participate in elections, and this has impacted the quality of democratic governance which is not favourable to them.

The scenario has brought to the fore the United

Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report in 2013 which shows that globally, youths are not at the centre of political decision making, though almost half the world’s population is under 30 years old; that less than six percent of the parliamentarians are under 35 years old, while less than two percent are under 30 years of age.

It also contained that only 1.65 percent of legislators around the world are in their 20s and for a third of countries, eligibility for national parliament starts at 25 years old. Furthermore, it was subsequently disclosed that voters’ turnout among 18-25 years continues to be lower than other age-groups while two out of three countries do not consult young people as a part of the process of preparing poverty reduction strategies or national development plans, which makes it critical for youths to be involved in the electoral processes of their countries for proper inclusion in decision-making.

Truly, for a political system to be representative, all parts of society must be included. When young people are disenfranchised or disengaged from political processes, a significant portion of the population has little or no voice or influence in decisions that affect them.

To make a difference in the longer term, the youths must be engaged in formal political processes and have a say in formulating today’s and tomorrow’s politics. Inclusive political participation is not only a fundamental political and democratic right but also is crucial to building stable and peaceful societies and developing policies that respond to the specific needs of younger generations. This can lead to the avoidance of ugly scenarios like the EndSARS debacle, a protest by young Nigerians against police brutality that rocked the nation in October 2020.

However, in new and emerging democracies, youths’ participation in electoral processes, which ensures getting their Personal Voters’ Cards [PVC] in preparation for voting during

elections, for forward-thinking candidates that would incorporate their interests is vital, for a desired and deserved country.

This formed the basis of the enlightenment campaign themed, GoNigeria, a campaign to sensitize Nigerian youths to participate in the electoral process leading to the election of visionary leaders come 2023 initiated by Anap Foundation, a non-profit organisation committed to promoting good governance.

Anap Foundation will be partnering with the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), select advocates numbering 18, celebrity ambassadors, corporate bodies as well as volunteers in ensuring that success is attained, in the move towards encouraging the youths in understanding that their votes count in having passionate leaders at the country’s helm of affairs.

The initiative is aimed at admonishing eligible Nigerians from 18 years and above to register with INEC, against the backdrop of the plea by the Commission that all eligible voters in the country should get registered by the end of June 2022. The campaign is in full gear with the initial partners of Anap Foundation, who have intensified efforts at encouraging young Nigerians to register and collect their PVC to vote in next year’s general elections towards ensuring good governance and accessing the true dividends of democracy.

It was against this backdrop that the President and Founder of Anap Foundation, Mr. Atedo Peterside stated that GoNigeria is the surest way of encouraging Nigerian youths which forms a higher percentage of the voting public to be involved in the nation’s elections scheduled for 2023, according to INEC’s statistical data that over 1.2 million out of the 1,731,618 Nigerians that have completed their registration in November 2021 are young people between the ages of 18 and 34.

He said a situation whereby the youths do not show interest in the country’s electoral process would mean selling their birthrights

to politicians, whose policies may not reflect the collective objective of the populace, especially the young Nigerians who have broader views of the society.

Peterside affirmed that the most popular reason which educated youths give for opting out of elections is that their votes will not count and the candidates are uninspiring, but he hinged his advocacy on the words of the famous Socrates which states “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors”.

The erudite entrepreneur, investment banker, and economist, who is the Founder and Pioneer Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, also urged Nigerian youths to shun all sorts of violence and killings in different parts of the country and encourages participation in the 2023 elections.

He said the numerous killings of innocent citizens in the country is not the solution to youths’ aggressiveness for a better Nigeria, that such should be channeled to the 2023 elections by voting for credible candidates of their choice that would make the country a better place for all.

With notable quotes by the late Herbert Hoover, America’s 31st President which states “Older men declare war, but it is the youth that must fight and die;” Niko Bellic, the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto IV, that “War is when the young and stupid are tricked by the old and bitter into killing each other;” and Bertrand Russel, the British Philosopher, and Logician, that “War does not determine who is right, but who is left,” Peterside advised the youths for a rethink of their stance on aggrieved issues by voting for trustworthy leaders that can make their dreams come to fruition.

Interestingly, the GoNigeria campaign advocates have also intensified persuasive efforts at advocating youths’ involvement in Nigeria’s elections for inclusion in governance.

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

THURSDAY MARCH 31, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ , MARCH 31, 2022

32

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ Chiemelie Ezeobi ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

NSSF, NPHCDA Lead Campaign to Vaccinate 70% of Nigeria’s Population Rebecca Ejifoma writes that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency L in partnership with the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund is championing campaign in vaccine confidence and the vaccination of 70 per cent of the population as part of the universal call for coordinated activity at the global, regional, national, and local levels

Cross section of participants at the virtual roundtable discussion

W

hile the aftermath of the pandemic continues to keep the world on its feet, clinical trials and surveillance have shown the crucial need for COVID-19 vaccination in preventing deaths even as health professionals have raised concerns on the role of vaccine confidence.

Vaccine confidence, according to the Centre for Disease and Control (CDC), is the belief that vaccines work, are safe and are part of a trustworthy medical system. As an urgent public health issue with research, development, and communications around quality vaccines on the rise, the NPHCDA and NSSF held a virtual roundtable discussion tagged “Vaccine Confidence in Nigeria” recently.

In his opening remarks, the vice-chairman, NSSF, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said, “This roundtable discussion puts us in the right place and at the right time to accelerate the exchange of ideas and scaling-up of good practices to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.”

Addressing over 150 attendees, the ED/CEO, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, brought participants up to speed on the successful campaign of the six-state vaccination drive partnership, which is between the NSSF and NPHCDA. According to him, it remarkably impacted over 1.6 million Nigerians, with an important lesson on how vaccine hesitancy and non-compliance can delay the achievement of health targets. “The issue of vaccine hesitancy is something that is global but within the context of Nigeria there are different issues driving this hesitancy. Tapping into global practices is going to be very critical for us as a country,” added Shuaib.

The event was also joined by a group of panelists which included policy experts, foundations, civil society organisations, community leaders and faith-based organisations. Among them were Prof Larson, Michael Fornwall of Merck For Mothers.

Others included Tijjani Mohammed, Advocacy and Communications - Nigeria; Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera, Emir of Argungu Camp, Chairman, Northern Traditional Leaders Committee NTLC); Bishop Sunday Onuoha (Nigerian Interfaith Action Association NIFAA) and Peter Hawkins UNICEF Country Representative.

One common theme among the panelists was the need for mid-collaboration while exploring the factors responsible for vaccine hesitancy and proffering context specific solutions for vaccine

Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, GM of NSSF education campaigns across the country.

Speaking also, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at NPHCDA, Dr. Bassey Okposen, harped on the significance of going to the grassroots and providing information around why vaccines work.

He emphasised that it would help the goal of being able to exit the pandemic as they look forward to delivering COVID-19 vaccines to at least 70 per cent of the eligible population this year. “Whether there’s a pandemic or not, we will always continue to try to improve

childhood immunisation by vaccinating children against vaccine-preventable diseases.

In her reaction, Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, General Manager at NSSF outlined that, “There is a need to integrate COVID-19 vaccinations into routine vaccinations for added benefit for Nigeria” On best practices in building vaccine confidence, COVID-19 New Vaccine Information, Communication, and Education (CONVINCE), Prof. Heidi Larson maintained that the most important lesson in building

“The most important lesson in building vaccine confidence is to listen and understand, map the issues, and design the interventions to fit the needs of the people first”

vaccine confidence is to listen and understand, map the issues, and design the interventions to fit the needs of the people first.

The Prof, however, cited examples of how countries doused negative emotions about the vaccines and were able to build trust and uptake by leveraging emotions of hope and empathy.

For Bishop Sunday Onuoha, representing Nigerian Interfaith Action Association (NIFAA), the government needs to mobilise religious leaders in building vaccine confidence within communities.

According to Onuoha, religious leaders are the key to encouraging communities to participate in the vaccination programmes, as this seems to have worked in the past polio vaccine programme.

One of the panelists, Micheal Fornwall, from Merck for Mothers, highlighted also that building confidence in vaccination and creating resilient immunisation programmes requires a coordinated approach. “It would require government, stakeholders and leadership commitment.

Effective health systems, policies, and programme coordination, supportive, positive community and individual experiences to drive confidence and demand in the country,” he suggested.

Although the roundtable discussion on vaccine confidence might officially be over, at the NSSF’s centre is the goal of accelerating vaccination advocacy campaigns and rates for each group and identity in the country.

The organisations, therefore, called for support for the initiative, noting that prospective donors can start by visiting the NSSF website. All donations will support the health and economic crises caused by the pandemic. The NSSF is a private-sector led institution born out of a partnership between the Global Citizen (GC) and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to complement efforts in combating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This it would achieve through fundraising to address three core COVID-19 response areas: supporting the most vulnerable, strengthening health care systems and re-skilling of Nigerian youth for The New Nigeria.

The institution believes that everyone should have access to quality and affordable healthcare services when they need it. It is also of the notion that young Nigerians should be enabled with opportunities for self-empowerment and wellskilled for a post-COVID-19 era and that the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised groups in Nigeria should not be left behind.

T H I S D AY ˾ , MARCH 31, 2022

33

NEWS

Abia Expects Improved Maternal Health as Family Planning Uptake Rises Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo iØ ×ßËÒÓË Health experts and stakeholders are expecting a remarkable improvement in the quality of maternal health in Abia State following an exponential rise in the uptake of family planning methods and commodities.

The new development has put health experts, development partners and the state government in upbeat mood given that the worrisome figure of over 3,345 Abia women that die from child birth annually, is sure to GBMM ESBTUJDBMMZ XJUI '1 VQUBLF Speaking at a meda round table organised to keep journalists and stakeholders abreast of family planning situation in Abia, the '1 $PPSEJOBUPS JO "CJB 4UBUF Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mrs. Iheama Adanna ,FMFDIJ TBJE NVDI HSPVOE IBT been covered over the past four years and Abia is happy for it.

5IF JNQSPWFNFOU JO '1 VQUBLF was achieved after sustained JOUFSWFOUJPO CZ UIF $IBMMFOHF *OJUJBUJWF 5$* BO JOUFSOBUJPOBM /(0 UIBU QSPNPUFT TVTUBJOBCJM-

ity and local ownership while demonstrating the feasibility of long-term investment in reproductive health . ,FMFDIJ TBJE UIF JNQSPWFNFOU SFDPSEFE JO '1 VQUBLF XBT NBEF possible through a combination of awareness creation, training of health workers on the provision of family planning as well as JNQSPWFE GVOEJOH PG '1 BDUJWJUJFT by the state government.

"DDPSEJOH UP UIF '1 $PPSEJnator, 145 health workers were trained on long acting reversible DPOUSBDFQUJWF -"3$ NFUIPET which many Abia women have already embraced.

The chairman of the Advocay $PSF (SPVQ "$( 1SPG 6STVMB "LBOXB DPNNFOEFE 5$* GPS making it possible for Abia to escalate family planning VQUBLF BEEJOH UIBU '1 JT OPX a household practice.

She revealed that increased upUBLF PG '1 JO "CJB XBT BDIJFWFE through the awareness generated from sustained advocacy visits to traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, among other stakeholders.

Apart from improving women

health and saving them from meeting death in the process of giving birth, Prof Akanwa BMTP OPUFE UIBU '1 iSFEVDFT child mortality”.

5IF MPHJTUJDT PGGJDFS $POUSBDFQUJWFT -PHJTUJDT 4ZTUFN "NBSBDIJ 6HPSKJ TBJE UIBU FWFO young persons, who hitherto shy BXBZ GSPN '1 BSF OPX DBVHIU up in the new wave of demand generation engendered by increased awareness.

8JUI QSPEEJOH GSPN 5$* "CJB has moved from zero to increased '1 CVEHFUJOH BOE CFUXFFO BOE / NJMMJPO XBT TQFOU JO '1 BDUJWJUJFT 5IF QBSUOFSTIJQ CFUXFFO 5$* and Abia government began in 2018 when the organisation signed a memorandum of understanding .P6 XIJDI GPDVTFE PO DSFBUJOH demand for family planning.

Its technical assistance involved using social and behavJPVS DIBOHF 4#$$ TUSBUFHZ JO SBNQJOH VQ '1 VQUBLF JO "CJB and has successfully raised up contraceptive prevalence rate $13 XIJDI IBE ESPQQFE UP 12.9 per cent in 2018 before the DPNJOH PG 5$*

KSM Launches Feed the Hungry Initiative, Reaches 7,000 Needy in Lagos

Sir. Don Ezeh, Rev. Fr. John Nutayi, and Dr. Ferdinand Odoemenem Rebecca Ejifoma 5IF 0SEFS PG ,OJHIUT PG 4U .VMVNCB /JHFSJB -BHPT .FUSPQPMJUBO $PVODJM MBTU 4BUVSEBZ March 26, launched a fresh effort to collectively reach out to the needy in the society.

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-BHPT .FUSP EJTUSJCVUFE GPPE QBDLT XPSUI / B QBDL UP over 7,000 persons across their 4VC DPVODJMT JO -BHPT 4UBUF covering the entire Archdiocese PG -BHPT Beneficiaries collected raw staple food like packs of pasta, rice and spices among several others, all neatly packaged. i,4. A'FFE UIF )VOHSZ Apostolate initiative is a charity project to reach out to the needy,” said the Metropolitan (SBOE ,OJHIU PG ,4. -BHPT .FUSP $PVODJM 4JS %PO &[FI "DDPSEJOH UP IJN iXF EFDJEFE to refocus our attention on the people around us in our variPVT QBSJTIFT &WFSZ 2VBSUFS XF will distribute food packs to the needy - to put joy in their hearts, a smile on their faces.”

0GàDJBMMZ MBVODIFE PO 4BUVSEBZ March 26 throughout the 29 subDPVODJMT JO -BHPT .FUSP 4JS %PO &[FI OPUFE UIBU UIJT 2VBSUFSMZ

programme has received strong endorsement and support from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in various Parishes across the "SDIEJPDFTF PG -BHPT 0VS UBSHFU is to keep on doing this every 2VBSUFS "DDPSEJOH UP UIF .FUSP (SBOE ,OJHIU XF ESBX JOTQJSBUJPO GSPN .BUUIFX m iUP GFFE UIF poor and hungry as a specific JOKVODUJPO GSPN $ISJTU PVS -PSE u i8F BSF DPWFSJOH UIF FOUJSF -BHPT "SDIEJPDFTF XIJDI JT UIF joy in doing it. We will learn NPSF BT XF HP BMPOH BOE (PE will continue to bless each and everyone of us. Whoever has contributed to this – whether working physically or in any form of contributions, my prayer JT UIBU UIF HPPE (PE XJMM CMFTT them.”

5IF ,OJHIUT PG 4U .VMVNCB -BHPT .FUSP IBWF DPOUJOVFE UP deal with several challenges in our society. A few years ago they built B $IBQFM BU ,JSJLJSJ QSJTPO CVJMU BOE FRVJQQFE B $MJOJD BU 4U "MCFSU UIF (SFBU 4FNJOBSZ "CFPLVUB 0WFS UIF MBTU ZFBST UIFZ IBWF have carried out monthly Prison WJTJUBUJPO UP ,JSJLJSJ *LPZJ BOE Badagry prisons. They donate cash, clothes, and help engage the judiciary and prison authorities to free prisoners awaiting trial

over many years. i5IJT UJNF BSPVOE XF EFDJEFE to refocus our attention on the people around us in our QBSJTIFT u TBJE 4JS %PO &[FI Admitting that there are a lot of needy people in and outside UIF DIVSDI ,4. .FUSP $PVODJM resolved to do a collective project beyond its usual individual donations. i8F UPPL JU VQPO PVSTFMWFT UP do a collective outreach. We are not stopping the other things we are doing. We are making sure we reach the less privileged, set a day dedicated to them and put a smile on their faces.”

4QFBLJOH BU UIF $BUIPMJD $IVSDI PG UIF 5SBOTàHVSBUJPO 7($ XIFSF QBSU PG UIF FWFOU IFME UIF (SBOE ,OJHIU PG ,4.

7($ 4VC $PVODJM BOE UIF '5) DPPSEJOBUPS -BHPT .FUSP 3FHJPO 4JS %S 'FSEJOBOE 0EPFNFOFN FNQIBTJTFE UIBU UIF 0SEFS JT known for individual, group, and corporate charity. i8F UIBOL (PE GPS UIF BOTXFS to the clarion call by all Sub councils. It is quite inspiring to see that. We have pledged to ourselves, not because we have the money but because we feel (PE IBT CMFTTFE VT XF NVTU BMTP spare resources to be a blessing UP PUIFST u TBJE 0EPFNFOFN

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

VAGINITIS (INFLAMMATION OF THE VAGINA) PART 1

V

aginitisis an inflammation or infection of the vaginal canal.

The vulva, which is the external part of a woman’s genitals, can also be affectedwhere this is then known as vulvovaginitis. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as bacteria or fungal infections while others can be substances found in topical lotions, beauty products or even clothes coming in contact with this area. Several other conditions can lead to vaginitis, such as atrophic vaginitis, which is caused by lack of estrogen.

Symptoms of vaginitis can range from asymptomatic(showing no symptoms) to painful. The condition can be infectious or non-infectious. Women who are pregnant can develop an inflammatory case of vaginitis secondary to hormonal changes, and it can also occur with oral antibiotic use. Antibiotic treatment for another infection elsewhere in the body can affect the normal vaginal bacteria and allow for the overgrowth of yeast, leading to a yeast infection and inflammation.Burning sensations, redness, vaginal discharge, and sometimes painful urination are all signs and symptoms of vaginitis. It is also worth noting that the disease can sometimes coexist with a urinary tract infection. In this situation, antibiotics will be required to treat the urine infection.

Vaginitis is particularly common in women who are in their reproductive years. It can be caused by low estrogen levels and underdeveloped labia minora. Vulvovaginitis is common among teenagers.

TYPES OF VAGINITIS There are several types of vaginitis depending upon the cause. The most common are: r $BOEJEB PS :FBTU JOGFDUJPOT r #BDUFSJBM 7BHJOPTJT r 5SJDIPNPOJBTJT 7BHJOJUJT r $IMBNZEJB r 7JSBM 7BHJOJUJT r /PO *OGFDUJPVT 7BHJOJUJT r "USPQIJD 7BHJOJUJT $"64&4 0' 7"(*/*5*4 Vaginitis is a broad term that refers to a variety of infections and inflammatory disorders that affect the vaginal area. Determining the exact origin of infection is essential for accurate diagnosis. The following are some of the most common causes of vaginitis.

CANDIDA ALBICAN OR YEAST INFECTION $BOEJEB BMCJDBOT JT B ZFBTU DBVTFE GVOHBM infection. This infection can be caused by NPSF UIBO EJGGFSFOU ZFBTU TQFDJFT $BOEJEB albicans is the most prevalent of them. This yeast is one of the vagina flora’s microorganisms (a group of micro-organisms that MJWFT JO UIF WBHJOB $BOEJEB BMCJDBOT DPFYJTUT quietly in the vagina with other bacteria and yeast. However, certain factors cause them to thrive and multiply. They begin to dominate the vagina as their numbers multiply and disrupt the body’s general equilibrium. When this yeast grows too much, it might cause JOGFDUJPOT TVDI BT WBHJOJUJT :FBTU JOGFDUJPOT

do not usually produce a foul odor, but the vaginal area may become red and itchy, and you may feel a burning sensation when QFFJOH :FBTU JOGFDUJPOT BSF OPU BMXBZT DBVTFE by sexual contact, though having several sexual partners raise your risk.

BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (BV) Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a condition in which the bacteria in the vagina are imbalance.

This may result in inflammation, itching and unpleasant vaginal discharge with a foul odor. It is a mild infection that is usually harmless and treatable with medication.

BV is most common in women who have multiple sex partners but it can also affect non-sexually active women.It is unclear what causes the imbalance. Bacterial vaginosis can exist without causing symptoms.

TRICHOMONAS VAGINITIS Trichomonas vaginitis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by trichomonas vaginalis, a small protozoan parasite. Within a month of infection, symptoms usually appear.

However, in certain circumstances, people do not show any signs or symptoms at all and because the symptoms are identical to those of many other STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), early identification is challenging. The infection is characterized by soreness, pain, swelling and foul discharge.

The infection is seen in the vaginal and urethral areas of women. Sexual partners should be treated and abstain from sex for at least seven days after treatment since it is sexually transmitted.

CHLAMYDIA The most common sexually transmitted JOGFDUJPO JT DIMBNZEJB 45* $IMBNZEJBM vaginitis is most common in young adults between the ages of 15 and 24, especially those who have several sexual partners.While antibiotics can be used to treat chlamydia infections, the best treatment for chlamydia JT QSFWFOUJPO $POEPNT BOE EFOUBM EBNT should be used correctly and consistently to reduce your chance of developing chlamydia and other sexually transmitted illnesses. To avoid re-infection, sex partners should be monitored and treated appropriately.

VIRAL VAGINITIS This is another prevalent cause of vaginitis.

The Herpes simplex virus is a common cause of viral vaginitis. It is spread by sexual contact and is frequently accompanied by pain from sores or lesions that develop on the vulva or vagina. During oral sex, the virus could potentially be spread to the mouth.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) may also cause vaginitis, which can lead to genital warts on the vulva, vagina, rectum, and groin. Most HPV warts may be detected with a physical examination, however you may discover white, grey, pink, or purple warts on your genitalia.

TO BE CONTINUED

34

T H I S D AY ˾ , MARCH 31, 2022

NEWS

Restoring Sight, Keeping the Lions Legacy In a bid to keep with Lions Club International’s legacy of fighting blindness and vision loss as well as assisting those who are blind or visually impaired get back their sight, the International Association of Lions Club, Lagos Mainland Legacy Lions Club, District 404B2, Nigeria, recently held one of her legacy projects, which basically dwelled on restoring sights to those with eye impediment. Writes MARY NNAH

President, Lagos Mainland Legacy Lions Club, Mrs. Rukevwe Origho–Nwoye (2nd from left), and a Lion’s Director, Phina Origho flanked by beneficiaries of the recent eye surgeries carried out by the club in Ikeja, Lagos

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orn in Tuscumbia, Alabama, USA, in 1880, Helen Keller developed a fever at 18 months of age that left her blind and deaf. With the help of an exceptional teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan of the Perkins School for the Blind, Helen Keller learned sign language and braille. A few years later, she learned to speak. As an adult, she became a tireless advocate for people with disabilities.

And in 1925, she attended the Lions Clubs International Convention where she challenged Lions to become “Knights of the Blind” in the crusade against blindness.

The Lions accepted her challenge and the club’s work ever since has included sight programmes aimed at preventable blindness.

Although founded in 1917, ever since Helen Keller’s challenge in 1925, the Lions Club International became known for fighting blindness, while it also volunteers for many other kinds of community projects - including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry, and aiding the elderly and the disabled.

Most importantly, Lions give sight by conducting vision screenings, equipping hospitals and clinics, distributing medicine, and raising awareness of eye disease with a mission of providing vision for all.

Ever since, Lions Club International has played a major role in helping restore, improve and preserve the vision of millions around the world.

To keep this legacy going of fighting blindness and vision loss as well as assist those who are blind or visually impaired get back their sight back, the Lagos Mainland Legacy Lions Club, District 404B2 recently presented one of her legacy projects, which was basically restoring sights to those with eye impediment. free eyes screening, Cataract, and Glaucoma surgeries for 10 persons in Lagos.

The exercise took place at the Eye Foundation, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, on March 9 and was extended till March 10.The President, Lagos Mainland Legacy Lions Club, Mrs. Rukevwe Origho–Nwoye, explained that for a long time now, the District, in general, has been partnering with the Eye Foundation, Ikeja which was why her own club also decided to partner the Eye Foundation on this particular legacy project.

Besides that, Rukevwe Origho–Nwoye said the Eye Foundation has always given the Club discounts, which makes it easier for them to touch more lives.

Over 20 people benefited from the exercise, excluding people who got free eyes screening which was over a hundred people.

The club president who said the exercise didn’t just stop at screening, giving out glasses, and carrying our surgeries, noted, “We always do follow up on our benefactors.

After we have paid for the screening and surgery, they are given treatments and later they come back months later to look at

their eyes if they are good or not.”

She stressed further that it was always safe to do a regular check on the eyes to detect any sight problem on time and find a solution to it before it deteriorate.

“Early detection is very important so that you don’t go blind. Sight is everything.

Without sight, you are in darkness, so I am challenging Nigerians to always go for eye checkups. “ Everybody is supposed to check on their eyesight every year whether you are wearing glasses or not. There are a lot of people who have stayed for years and did not know they had a particular eye issue until now that they came for screening. “ So it is always good to make your eyesight checkups as regular as you do checkups on your body”, Origho–Nwoye noted.

One of the Directors at Lagos Mainland Legacy Lions Club, Lion Phina Origho, explained that the beneficiaries of the eye screening and surgeries were members of the public; most especially the less privileged that cannot afford to pay for the treatments.

“We usually publicise our events, we place banners at strategic places, and we send those banners to churches to announce the free eye test. “ The eye screening is for everybody who comes but for those who need surgery we make a selection of those who obviously can’t pay for the surgery, and we then pay for them at a subsidised rate.”

The District Governor (DG), Lion Kayode Oshinuga reiterated that Lions Club International was originally primed as the greatest eye care charity service organisation in the world.

He explained that even though the club has added other areas to its endeavours now, its basic starting point was eye care.

“We are naturally known as the “Knights of the blind”, our position is to help people prevent blindness and to also help those who are blind or partially blind live normal life”, the DG said.He said therefore that the Lagos Mainland Legacy Lions Club through its recent legacy project has reaffirmed the originality of the Lion Club core service, adding, “two years ago this particular club was here, last year another Lions club was here. Even last October, we were at Lions Eye Centre, Ota, Ogun State where about 500 people underwent surgery”.

From the initial general screening of the eyes done for every individual that turned up for the exercise, the hospital then determined what each of the patients’ needed further and then give them the appropriate treatments. Those who needed cataracts were scheduled for operation.First Vice District Governor, District 404B2, Nigeria, Lion Aare Lekan Owolabi described the project as a laudable one, adding, “In Lions Club International, we place premium in assisting the underprivileged and we try to

reach out and touch lives and restoration of vision is one of our core service areas.”

“As far back as 1925, Lions Club International was adjudged and proclaimed the Knight of the Blind and the testimony is that we have always been there at least to help those who could not see or have a visual impairment “ So, Lagos Mainland Legacy Lions Club is just trying to uphold the ideal of lionism by gathering people whose eyesight need to be restored”, he said.

He advised Nigerians with visual impediments to taking advantage of the opportunity offered by the Lions Club, adding, “one of the things we have been doing as members of Lions International is not only to intervene in the area of eye screening, treatment and carrying out an operation for those who need it but we also do sensitisation programmes because when the citizens are well informed about the danger in not taking care of their health or not being sensitive to the happenings within their bodies when it becomes endemic, it is always very difficult to tackle.”

“So, what we can do is to step up the awareness to ensure that members of the public are aware and to also give them elementary medical tips that they can fall back on whenever they notice any sign of ailment within their body systems”, Owolabi noted.

Zone 3C Chairperson of District 404B2, Lion Lillian Harry Ukah said the exercise is one of the core values of the Lions Club, adding, “we take care of the less privileged, we take care of those who have vision impediment and also we take care of cancer patients.

“So basically, it is a thing of joy to witness that members of the Lagos Mainland Legacy Lions Club have taken out their time and resources to touch people who have vision issues. I must commend them. It is a great achievement.”

She advised that people should not neglect the eye, which is one of the important organs in the human body, adding, “Most of the time, we neglect the eyes, we can go to the hospital for headache and stomach but we neglect the eyes.”

She, therefore, advised that from time to time people should take out time to check their eyes to prevent blindness, which will incapacitate them for life.

She also appealed to the public to pray for the Lions Club to have more people who key into the vision of helping other people, adding, “We are just passing on what we have received from others before us and we pray that the legacy continues and that the Lions Club continues to grow in strength and numbers and that God will bless the beneficiaries because if they did not come we would not have anybody to service, so the beneficiaries are an integral part of the services we render.”

FG, Private Partners Unveil Digital Solution for Micronutrient, Better Health for Pregnant Women Rebecca Ejifoma

The Federal Ministry of Health with local and international partners in the food processing industry has said it is working closely and strategically with maternal centres across the nation – public and private – to improve consumption of micronutrient foods among pregnant women and children under-five.

This was made known at the launch of the digitalised Large Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) in Lagos hosted by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and TechnoServe (TNS) among others.

As outlined at the launch, anemia is said to be driven by insufficient iron in the diet among the country’s severe health challenges.

They disclosed that in 2019, 68.9 per cent of Nigerian children under-five were anemic, which causes permanent developmental setbacks. With Nigeria as the 4th nation having the highest rate of maternal deaths on earth, John Oruakpa from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) bemoaned that women suffering from severe anemia are more than twice as likely to die in childbirth. However, he noted that the fortification of wheat flour and maize flour with iron can reduce the prevalence of anemia by as much as 34 per cent.

And to further help pregnant women and Nigerians relish the benefits of fortified foods, Oruakpa highlighted some features to look out for. Each pack of fortified foods has either a symbol of two hands carrying the Nigerian map, or letter “A” inside an eye on the packs of food products.

With the unveiling of the digitised system, the partnership assured newsmen that it is ready to ensure staple foods are fortified with the right levels of essential vitamins and minerals to support good health and nutrition.

In his remark, the Director of Nutrition, BMGF, Andreas Bluethner, told newsmen that the foundation is investing in food fortification markets to provide quality nutritious foods that are affordable and accessible to all.

He emphasised: “Digital innovation will allow nutritional improvements to be assessed and maintained over time.

“The selected producers to participate in the pilot phase will receive support from a team of digital experts to codesign and install the new digital quality assurance/quality control system.”

Speaking also, the Country Director, GAIN Nigeria, Dr. Michael Ojo, insisted that the digitised system would allow companies to assure every customer that the nutrient content of their product is guaranteed, reducing health risks and offering a direct path to longer and healthier lives.

This synergy aims to help secure nutrients in foods to harness good health, resilience and productivity among Nigerians.

Mark Needs N20m For Kidney Transplant to Stay Alive

Etebong Mark Ayodeji Ake A Lagos resident identified as Peter Etebong Mark, needs N20 million for kidney transplant surgery.

According to information made available to THISDAY, Mark was in October 2021 diagnosed with End Stage Kidney Failure at the Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos State, and has been bedridden ever since.

While on admission, he has been on dialysis twice a week which has stripped him of his financials with a whopping sum of N140,000 spent on dialysis every week.

Friends and family are appealing to Nigerians for support to save the life of a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.

With N20 million for his kidney Transplant surgery, Mark will remain alive.He can be reached on +2348035531279, or through his wife’s phone on +2348134051679.

You can support him by paying into the Account details: Peters Mark, 0081930510, Sterling Bank.

35

T H I S D AY ˾ , MARCH 31, 2022

NEWS

Transitioning Nasarawa’s Dalhatu Araf toTeaching Hospital Igbawase Ukumba writes that the only tertiary healthcare institution owned by the Nasarawa State goverment, Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia, is transitioning to a teaching hospital

E

stablished in 2010, the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) has since commenced full academic activities in the Faculty of Medicine, therefore, yearning for the establishment of a Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital to facilitate commencement of clinical teaching.

When established, the teaching hospital is expected to provide facilities for the training of medical and other students as well as serve as referral centre for other hospitals in the catchment areas.

The teaching hospital will also provide facilities for diagnosis, curative, promotion and rehabilitative services in medical treatment.

The move for the establishment of the Federal University Lafia Teaching Hospital is also informed by the need to bridge the existing gap between primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare delivery in Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole.

It was in that order that the erstwhile governor of the state and Senator representing Nasarawa-south in the National Assembly, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, sponsored a bill seeking to the establishment of a Federal University Teaching Hospital in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital. Consequently, the Senate passed the bill into law last year paving the way for the establishment of the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital.

Senators at plenary in their various contributions, spoke glowingly on the desirability and timeliness of the bill and the need for its speedy passage saying it would provide the legal framework for the establishment of the teaching hospital.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, in his ruling committed the bill to the combined committees of Health and Tertiary Education to prepare it for the third and final reading.

The bill, which was subsequently passed at plenary following presentation and consideration of the report of the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary). Chairman of the Committee, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC-Kwara), while presenting the report, said the bill to establish the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital was conceived given the precarious health conditions faced by residents.

Acting on it, the government of Nasarawa State consequently donated its only tertiary healthcare institution, Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia to the federal government for onward conversion to a teaching hospital for the Federal University of Lafia. To this end, the specialist hospital in the past three years had gone through rapid development phases under the watchful eyes of its Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Hassan Ikrama.

The first phase was the rapid development in almost all sectors. That was when the hospital had unprecedented infrastructure, almost doubling its capacity. At a time, the state government employed about 200 health workers at once, just to mitigate that effect of health worker/patient ratio which was abysmally low. Fatigue was setting in and the hospital was increasing the capacity of its facilities hence needed more healthcare workers.

Speaking when he led Management of the DASH to reward some of its deligent hardworking workers who had worked tirelessly for the state to be able to fight COVID-19 and Lassa fever in Nasarawa State, CMD Hassan Ikrama said: “We needed equipment, and government provided brand new units in the Radiology. Our ICU is completely different from where it was many years ago. Our casualty more than double the capacity.

“In terms of training, we were able to get accreditation in five departments from just one department. And in the last two examinations, we were able to produce six consultants. Another area that we also did very well was in terms of research which was almost non-existent. But we were able to get some fundings for research for the first time. A few of our doctors, nurses, pharmacists, infact it cut across all the departments, were into the research. 15 papers have been published from that effort in the hospital.”

Perhaps, the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital was galloping, then COVID-19 came and everything came to a halt. Hitherto, the hospital had to abandon everything it was doing to race COVID-19 because it was a threat. Workers of healthcare institution had to fight for their lives especially at that time that one didn’t know what

Dalhatu-Araf-Specialist-Hospita the disease was. How it was decimating most developed countries.

“Now that we are out of COVID-19, we are entering a period of transition in the hospital.

All of us are aware of our desire to transit from a specialist hospital to a teaching hospital.

The state government is leading on this. “ If you listen to the governor’s speech when the president came, it was one of the only three requests he made. The bill has been passed at the National Assembly accepting this place to be a teaching hospital. So we are waiting and praying that it comes to fruition,” Ikrama said.

But before then, what did the management of the DASH needed to do, to prepare? It is conspicuous that DASH had improvement in its infrastructure. It had improvement in manpower. It had improvement in so many areas in the hospital. Therefore, it needed to improve in service delivery efficiency of the service delivery.

How to achieve that, the Chief Medical Director explained: “One of the things that we have done recently is that we set up a committee called reorientation committee, because we have realised that some of our staff; especially the newer staff, knew nothing about civil service role. What does it take to work in a hospital. What should be the attitude of a healthcare worker in a hospital; in relationship to your colleagues and in relationship to our patients.

“So, we set up a committee that organised a training and it has trained 1,800 people in DASH; from the cleaner up to the consultant in the hospital, on our way of working in the hospital. We are hoping that going forward, we are going to see new attitudes to work.

“A new attitude to service delivery. A new attitude with ourselves and with our patients. We are also putting things in place to see how we can improve efficiency in the different departments.”

By and large, one of the problems DASH had been having complaints about was the laboratory and physiology, which the Dr. Ikrama said the hospital management had taken measures to that effect.

One of the measures, according to Ikrama, was the Public Private Partnership that the hospital had gone into. And today the DASH has as part of it, one of the best laboratories in the country partnering with the hospital .

“So, the turn around time for investigation in DASH today has reduced remarkably and it is long that I heard complaints coming from the lab section. And we are doing the same

with radiology department. We have just taken delivery of a generator that is almost N25 million, because some of the machines we have required for the use of only generators.

“And one of the innovations is the use of Servicom. We introduced the Servicom Department and it has now been rejuvenated.

And one of the trainings that was done was on Servicom in the hospital.

“How can we ensure that we are doing the right thing. If a patient has a problem, where does he go to? How does he get his problem solved? Servicom is the one to solve that problem both for the hospital and the patient,” the DASH CMD maintained.

This was even as the CMD continued that the hospital has also introduced the patient welfare unit. Adding that management of the hospital has incorporated almost all staff from the various departments to the Patient Welfare Unit.

Nevertheless, one of the problems people used to have in the past was that if you don’t know anybody in DASH, you find difficulties in getting services, hence the Welfare Unit is supposed to be that person that one suppose to know to get that service.

Perhaps, it could be a deliberate effort to put the DASH edifice in tune with a teaching hospital prerequisites that management of the hospital recently rewarded some of its deligent hardworking workers who had worked tirelessly for the state to be able to fight COVID-19 and Lassa fever.

The event which took place at the conference hall of the hospital, also gave posthumous awards to relations of some of the hospital’s workers who lost their lives when fighting to save lives of patients contracted with either the COVID-19 or Lassa fever pandemics.

In his speech, the Chief Medical Director said: “We in Nasarawa State rose up to the occasion.

The management of COVID-19, especially, was superb and we received commendation from NCDC on how we were able to manage the pandemic in the state. Infact, we have reached a stage where patients were being referred from Abuja to Lafia when it came to management of COVID-19. We couldn’t have achieved this without the selfless and dedication exhibited by all workers.”

Therefore, the CMD maintained that the management of DASH definitely had to have the event so as to serve as a forum for the hospital management to show appreciation for the hardwork that some workers had all put in, and to ginger other workers so that they can also work harder.

Also speaking at the award night was the paramount ruler of Azara Chiefdom, Dr. Kabir Musa Ibrahim, who said the Dalhatu Araf healthcare institution was so strategic because of the general saying that “Health Is Wealth”. To the Sarkin Azara, it appeared that health workers are the most important personnel within a setting of any community, because if people are sick, there is nothing they can do.

So, recognition of people that put a lot of work in trying to see that the system works was not an ordinary event.

Dr. Ibrahim, who is also a consultant in the DASH, added: “I want to use this opportunity and congratulate those that have put as much as they could to ensure that this establishment is carried to the greater heights. And I urge that they will continue to keep to the momentum.

“The point I want to make here is that we are all religious people; wether you are a Muslim or Christian. This work we are doing here cannot be paid to us here on earth. The Koran has said that whatever little you have done, you will get the reward in the hereafter, wether it is positive or negative. So we have to be working not only to get our reward here. We have to work judiciously to get our reward, most especially to the hereafter.”

The paramount ruler of the Azara Chiefdom, therefore, hoped that as health workers, they should always remember that in their minds that they are not only working to get paid. But the Almighty will give them rewards more than what they were seeing.

Speaking on behalf of those that received the awards, Dr. Esther Audu, thanked management of the DASH for finding them worthy to get the awards. Dr Audu, however, observed that the task for the award exercise must have been a hurcalean task for the merit award committee to have sifted out a few from the many hard working staff of the hospital.

“To those that couldn’t get an award and are very hard working, I want to tell you that those of us that have gotten awards are standing here representing you. I plead that you continue with your hardwork. You should know that service to humanity is also service to God, and God is going to reward us eventually wether you get an award here or not.

“To those of us that have gotten award, this is a call to humility. You are not better than others.

You have been selected, but you are not better than others. Let’s be humble and probably, let’s do more. Let’s be dedicated and help others to also come up. Those that we found weak in our departments, let’s help them to also do better in their work,” Dr. Esther appealed.

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ MARCH 31, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FG Generated N563.72bn from Value Added Tax in Q4 James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË

The federal government generated a total of N563.72 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT) in the fourth quarter of last year (Q4 2021), according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

This represented a growth of 12.63 per cent compared to the N500.49 billion generated in the preceding quarter.

Local payments accounted for N333.29 billion in Q4 2021, while Foreign VAT Payment contributed N103.52 billion.

In terms of sectoral contributions, manufacturing, information and communication and mining

and quarrying accounted for 30.86 per cent, 18.72 per cent and 9.91 per cent of total VAT, representing the largest contributions for Q4.

On the other hand, the activities of extra-territorial organisations and bodies recorded the least share of VAT with 0.02 per cent followed by activities of households as employers, undifferentiated goods and services-producing activities of households for own use with 0.04 per cent.

Also, water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities contributed 0.11 per cent to consumption tax.

Quarter-on-quarter, the activities of extraterritorial organisations and

bodies recorded the highest VAT growth rate with 150.16 per cent, followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing with 92.48 per cent.

Year on year, however, VAT collections in Q4 2021 increased by 23.98 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter of 2020.

Administrative anf support services contributed N4.15 billin to VAT while agriculture, forestry and fishing accounted for N1.20 billion.

Others are contruction N4.43 billion, education N4.29 billion, financial and insurance activities N26.95 billion and wholesale and retail trade and repair of vehicles and motorcycles N14.22 billion.

Food Security: FG Moves to Reposition Research Institutes James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË The Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar yesterday inaugurated a committee for the implementation of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Amendment Act, 2021, in a bid to totally reposition the council and its affiliated institutes and colleges to ensure better performance, impactful research and development activities in the country.

The minister said agricultural research and development remained a crucial determinant of agricultural productivity and production as well as boosting food security.

Abubakar, at the inauguration reiterated the commitment of President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration towards advancing research and development activities for the effective and efficient use of agricultural resources and the diversification of the economy.

He said the government is focused on strengthening the coordination of research and development activities within the sector to create a single comprehensive governing board for the ARCN and its related Institutes and colleges for effective

management, streamlining and economic purposes.

The minister said, “ The council and its affiliated institutes and colleges should be encouraged to implement technologies to increase the nutrient density of commercial and staple crops through good agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology.”

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, stated the ministry’s responsibility in the newly amended legislative instrument, is to ensure that all ARCN activities are functional in line with the Act in terms of human management, material resources, policies, strategies, diffusion and commercialization of agricultural technologies.

He said, “Agriculture has been and still remains a major focus for engaging individuals and relevant corporate sector entities in Agribusiness, to support value chain addition to other commodities, production of adequate food for the teeming population and a major contributor to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)”.

Umakhihe maintained that the amended Act is also intended to attain a self-sufficient position in the production and use of

made-in-Nigeria agricultural machinery, tools and other inputs for food production and economic empowerment.

He urged all members of the committee to be dispassionate in aligning their decisions with the salient contents of the Amended ARCN Act in order to come out with good recommendations for the enhancement of the entire Agricultural Research ecosystem.

Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Bala Abubakar, in his response stated that the reform process that led to the amended Act commenced in 2012 after a team of staff of the council, the ministry and other stakeholders undertook a guided tour to Brazil, India, China to understudy global best practice in agricultural research models.

He said the comprehensive back-to -station report provided the key ingredients of the draft ARCN amendment bill which was eventually assented to

by Buhari in September 2021, adding that there is an urgent need to constitute panels that would extensively review the activities of all institutions of the reformed ARCN. He promised that the committee will deliver on the assignment to the best of its ability.

Nasarawa Holds Inaugural Business Town Hall Meeting on MSMEs Igbawase Ukumba ÓØ ËʨË The Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA) yesterday organised an inaugural business environment town hall meeting aimed at bringing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development closer to reforms being introduced by the present administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

The business environment town hall meeting, which was the first to be organised since the creation of the state, was held at the Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet Hall in the Government House, Lafia. In his opening remarks, Governor Sule said having recognised the importance of small businesses

in the growth of the economy of the country, his administration on assumption of office initiated several policies and laws geared towards creating a favourable business environment in the state.

According to the governor, “the essence of government is to help towards facilitating the development of its own people and society. The only way to actually develop any community or society is to ensure that people are economically independent of government. In this regards, my administration has come up with several laws, aimed at providing the ease of doing business.

“Aside of that, on coming into power, my administration unfolded the Nasarawa Economic

Development Strategy (NEDS), as well as set up the economic advisory committee chaired by Professor Konye Ajayi, a respected lawyer in the country who is also in the area of economic development.”

The governor continued that the state has a one-stop shop where small businesses would come in and then go to NASIDA for an idea of setting up the investment agency, maintaining that the whole idea was to assist people to set up their businesses.

Being the co-chair of the federal government’s steering committee on poverty reduction, Sule said he saw the need to take advantage of the scheme that will see 100 million Nigerians moved out of poverty in the next 10 years.

From Left to Right- Head of Corporate Services , Abuja Enterprise Agency, Mustapha Shaba, Head Of Asset Management, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Chudi Ugwada Ezerigwe, Head Human Resources, Development Bank of Nigeria, Uche Ogbonnaya and Head SME Banking Wema Bank, Arthur Nkemeh at the just concluded Third edition of the Wema Bank SME Business School in Abuja last Week.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

GAGE Awards Announces Nominees, Open Portals forVotes Nigeria’s leading digital awards organised to recognise, promote and reward digital personalities and brands on a global platform, the GAGE Awards has announced nominees for this year and opened its voting portals for the public.

Voting begins on the 28th of

March, 2022, and will span a total of 11 categories.

Making the declaration in Lagos, the organizers made public nominees of various categories, noting that the remaining 13 categories will be selected by GAGE Awards’ eminent jury.

“This call for votes is open to

the public and is an opportunity to select and promote your favorite digital personalities and brands on a global platform centred on the conversations around tech and the innovative solutions being churn out daily in the ecosystem along with its many applications in Africa,” the organizers said.

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).

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Investors Interest in MTN Nigeria Lifts Stock Market by N33bn Kayode Tokede The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday rebounded as the market capitalisation appreciated by N33billionn, ending two-day investors profit-taking.

Unlike in the past two trading sessions, performance in the domestic stock market was positive

following renewed interest in top telecommunication player, MTN Nigeria Communications (MTNN).

Precisely, the All-Share Index inched higher by 61.39 basis points or 0.13 per cent to close at 46,904.48 points, while the overall market capitalisation value gained N33 billion to close at N25.279 trillion. The market gain was driven by price appreciation in

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

large and medium capitalised stocks amongst which are; MTNN, Eterna, Ardova, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) and Ikeja Hotel. As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was positive as 16 stocks gained relative to 15 losers.

Cornerstone Insurance and Ikeja Hotel recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent each to close at 66 kobo and N1.32 respectively,

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

while Eterna followed with a gain 9.82 per cent to close at N5.48, per share.

Meyer Plc rose by 9.09 per cent each to close at 60 kobo, while Chams appreciated by five per cent to close at 21 kobo, per share.

On the other hand, Cadbury Nigeria led the losers’ chart by 6.67 per cent, to close at N8.40, per share. Japaul Gold and Ventures followed with a decline of 5.88

T R A D E D

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

A S

per cent to close at 32 kobo, while PZ Cussons Nigeria declined by 5.36 per cent to close at N10.60, per share.

Royal Exchange shed 5.22 per cent to close at N1.09, while Wapic Insurance and Multiverse Mining and Exploration depreciated by 4.17 per cent each to close at 46 kobo and 23 kobo respectively, per share.

However, the total volume

O F

3 0

traded declined by 6.1 per cent to 201.280 million units, valued at N2.621 billion, and exchanged in 4,017 deals. Transactions in the shares of ETI topped the activity chart with 61.893 million shares valued at N742.034 million. Access Holdings followed with 29.473 million shares worth N294.919 million, while Zenith Bank traded 15.836 million shares valued at N361.80 million.

/ 0 3 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

THURSDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͕ DĂƌĐŚ ϯϭ͕ ϮϬϮϮ

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶƐ Ϭ͘Ϯй dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘Ϯй ƚŽ ϭ͕ϵϴϮ͘ϰϲ ŝŶĚĞdž dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ďLJ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŽŶ DdEE ;нϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ d/ ;нϭ͘ϳйͿ͕ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ &/ >/dz ;нϭ͘ϬйͿ͘ ƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐͲ t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϬ͘ϵй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

Current Price

Ticker

dŚĞ ƵůůƐ ZĞŐĂŝŶ DĂƌŬĞƚ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϭй ^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ ƌŽƐĞ ,KEz&>KhZ ĮƌƐƚ ŐĂŝŶ ŽĨ ĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ E'yͲ ^/ Ϭ͘ϭй ƚŽ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1982.46

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

1,260.00

Price Previous Price Current Change Price Change Weighting Index to Change YTD Date

0.22% 0.0%

39.0%

6.9%

98.2%

31.9%

31.9%

ROE

15.0%

ROA

P/E

3.5%

5.3x

Dividend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

0.8x

5.7%

17.0%

1.5%

210.00

1.4%

8.4%

6.6%

6.6%

134.7%

14.1%

14.3x

22.1x

6.2%

7.0%

;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ďŽůͲ

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

70.75

0.0%

6.9%

5.5%

5.5%

19.1%

11.2%

34.0x

6.4x

4.0%

2.9%

23.00

-1.3%

5.6%

-11.5%

-11.5%

20.7%

3.3%

3.7x

0.8x

13.0%

26.8%

ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ

5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC

22.75

-2.2%

5.2%

-9.5%

-9.5%

20.4%

2.7%

2.9x

0.6x

13.5%

34.2%

273.50

0.0%

4.5%

6.4%

6.4%

39.2%

16.3%

12.9x

4.8x

7.3%

7.8%

^ŚĂƌĞ

7 Nestle Nigeria PLC 8 FBN Holdings Plc

1,395.00

0.0%

3.0%

-10.4%

-10.4%

106.8%

15.6%

27.1x

31.8x

3.6%

3.7%

ϰϲ͕ϵϬϰ͘ϰϴ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ DdEE ;нϭ͘ϱйͿ͕ d/ ;нϭ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;нϭ͘ϬйͿ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ zd ŝŶĚĞdž

ƌŽƐĞ

ďLJ

ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ƚŽ ϵ͘ϴй ĨƌŽŵ ϵ͘ϳй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝͲ ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ

ƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ʬϯϯ͘ϭďŶ ƚŽ ʬϮϱ͘ϯƚŶ͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ

9 Lafarge Africa PLC 10 Access Bank PLC

േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

11 United Bank for Africa PLC 12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϰϲ͘ϰй ƚŽ ʬϮ͘ϲďŶ͘

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 14 SEPLAT Energy PLC

ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕

18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC

E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

22 FCMB Group Plc 23 United Capital PLC

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ Ϭ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐͲ

24 Guinness Nigeria PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

ĐƌŽƐƐ ĚƵĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ KZE Z^d ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ƉƵƌǀŝĞǁ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϯ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͘ >ĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ

3.3%

1.8%

1.8%

8.4%

0.8%

6.8x

0.6x

3.9%

14.6%

3.2%

-0.6%

-0.6%

11.6%

8.4%

8.9x

1.0x

8.4%

11.2%

2.8%

7.0%

7.0%

17.9%

1.6%

2.2x

0.3x

8.5%

46.0%

0.6%

2.0%

-3.1%

-3.1%

15.8%

1.4%

2.3x

0.3x

12.8%

43.4% 13.1%

7.80

15 Ecobank Transnational Inc 16 International Brew eries PLC 17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

-0.9% -0.4%

9.95

ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϲ͘ϭй ƚŽ ϮϬϭ͘ϭŵ

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

11.60 23.80

34.00

0.0%

1.5%

-5.6%

-5.6%

15.1%

2.1%

7.6x

1.2x

12.0%

44.50

0.0%

1.4%

-11.0%

-11.0%

7.6%

2.7%

27.9x

2.1x

3.7%

3.6%

930.00

0.0%

2.2%

43.1%

43.1%

8.7%

4.1%

8.5x

0.7x

4.4%

11.8%

2.7x

0.4x

5.6%

12.00

1.7%

1.8%

37.9%

37.9%

16.9%

1.0%

4.50

0.0%

1.0%

-9.1%

-9.1%

-10.3%

-3.9%

0.8x

143.50

0.0%

1.1%

1.1%

1.1%

36.5%

23.3%

9.7x

3.2x

31.05

0.0%

1.0%

9.5%

9.5%

15.9%

4.5%

4.8x

0.7x

36.8% -12.7% 10.3%

5.3%

21.0%

3.15

1.0%

0.7%

23.5%

23.5%

13.3%

1.3%

2.4x

0.3x

7.0%

41.8%

2.16

0.0%

0.5%

-6.9%

-6.9%

9.3%

3.0%

6.6x

0.6x

10.2%

15.1%

8.8x

11.3%

16.00

0.0%

0.4%

-8.0%

-8.0%

17.4%

6.9%

3.40

0.0%

0.5%

13.7%

13.7%

10.3%

1.1%

12.55

0.0%

0.5%

26.8%

26.8%

71.20

0.0%

0.6%

82.6%

82.6%

13.3%

6.0%

15.0x

1.9x

0.6%

6.7%

1.01

2.0%

0.3%

5.2%

5.2%

11.1%

2.3%

5.4x

0.6x

1.0%

18.7%

26 Presco PLC 27 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

133.00

0.0%

0.4%

51.5%

51.5%

2.8x

0.8%

13.10

0.0%

0.3%

-0.8%

-0.8%

21.3%

6.9%

12.3x

2.5x

3.1%

8.1%

ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d D E &/d ;нϰ͘ϮйͿ͕ Z Ks ;нϮ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K

28 AIICO Insurance PLC 29 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri

0.66

0.0%

0.2%

-5.7%

-5.7%

7.2%

1.1%

366.7x

0.7x

264.90

0.0%

0.3%

19.4%

19.4%

48.0%

9.5%

5.4x

2.2x

1.7%

18.6%

ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ ;нϬ͘ϮйͿ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͕ Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϲй ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ E/d, ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ ĂŶĚ

30 Custodian and Allied Insurance 31 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 32 Unilever Nigeria PLC

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ : / E< ;ͲϮ͘ϵйͿ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 34 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

ĞƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϳй ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ

ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ DdEE ;нϭ͘ϱйͿ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ

ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕

hE/> s Z

;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕

>/E< ^^hZ

;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕

'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ϭϱďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϯďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

35 Oando PLC 36 Wema Bank PLC 37 NEM Insurance PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC

ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ hZz ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ W ;Ͳϱ͘ϰйͿ͕ t W K ;Ͳ ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

Ϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ hd/y ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘

39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ KƵƚůŽŽŬ Ğƌ͕

ƵƉ

ϭ͘ϴй

ĚƌŝǀĞŶ

ďLJ

ƉƌŝĐĞ

ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ

ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ͲϬ͘Ϭϭdž ĨƌŽŵ ͲϬ͘Ϭϯdž ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ϭϲ

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ͕ ϭϳ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϳϰ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽĚĂLJ͕ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚĞ ƐŽƵƚŚǁĂƌĚ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŽĮƚ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ

T ic k er

^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘

0.3%

0.0%

0.2%

-10.1%

-10.1%

19.5%

5.5%

4.2x

0.8x

7.0%

24.0%

0.0%

0.2%

-0.9%

-0.9%

38.7%

16.0%

5.7x

2.0x

6.8%

17.5%

13.30

0.0%

0.2%

-8.3%

-8.3%

7.8%

4.9%

29.5x

1.2x

26.50

0.0%

0.2%

18.6%

18.6%

18.9%

2.4%

4.0x

0.8x

1.5%

25.0%

4.0%

3.4%

6.25

0.0%

0.1%

5.9%

5.9%

7.1%

0.8%

7.0x

0.7x

4.82

0.2%

0.1%

9.0%

9.0%

14.5%

2.6%

2.1x

0.3x

2.76

200.0%

0.0%

283.3%

283.3%

14.1%

0.8%

12.0x

1.6x

1.6%

8.3%

4.04

0.0%

0.1%

-10.2%

-10.2%

35.6%

18.5%

6.3x

1.0x

5.8%

15.9%

2.0x

0.3x

3.3%

1.51

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

9.4%

0.9%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-28.3%

-6.1%

5.31

0.0%

0.0%

-1.3%

-1.3%

0.23

2.4x 0.9x

1.4%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

9.5%

F ID ELIT YB K

48.3

1.5%

26.1

-1.3%

3.60

7.5%

7.50

7.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

20.2

-1.1%

18.3

-0.7%

OA N D O

5.00

6.4%

UB A

A IIC O

0.70

6.1%

C UST OD IA N

17.5

7.1%

17.5

0.4%

UB N

6.50

5.7%

FB NH

C H A M P ION

2.15

5.4%

A IIC O

8.1

6.1%

UC A P

6.8

0.0%

F T N C OC OA

0.33

3.1%

F ID SON

8.15

3.0%

3.29

1.5%

SOVR EN IN S

5.4

0.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

4.4

-3.8%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er R T B R ISC OE C H IP LC ST ER LN B A N K

P ric e 0.65

P ric e C hg % -9.7%

0.60

-9.1%

1.52

-3.8%

F LOUR M ILL

31.00

-3.1%

J A IZ B A N K

0.66

-2.9%

C UT IX

2.30

-2.1%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.50

-2.0%

23.00

-1.9%

1.25

-1.6%

R OYA LEX GT C O

23.00

50.7% -13.8%

C UST OD IA N

F ID ELIT YB K

14.2% 48.2%

FCM B

N GXGR OUP

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

12.0%

GT C O

< Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ dZ E^ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ > ^ K ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ >/s Ͳ

2.5x

7.10

P ric e

VER IT A SKA P

6.3% 4.5%

22.30

T o p 10 G a in e r s

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕

1.5x 0.3x

-1.3%

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

GT C O

606.9

-1.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

540.4

-1.1%

FB NH

210.0

0.4%

F ID ELIT YB K

157.3

1.5%

M TNN

152.3

-0.7%

UB A

139.7

-0.7%

C UST OD IA N

125.2

7.1%

A IR T ELA F R I

124.8

0.0%

GUIN N ESS

92.6

0.0%

N GXGR OUP

90.1

-1.9%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

39

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 29Mar-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 N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com 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 20.96 21.59 3.31% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 478.46 492.89 6.05% ARM Ethical Fund 39.84 41.04 2.25% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.06 -2.02% ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.70% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 109.13 109.13 7.30% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,089.96 1,089.96 9.00% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.11 2.11 11.58% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.26 2.31 15.87% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 2.12% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.44% Paramount Equity Fund 18.09 18.43 7.54% Women's Investment Fund 144.03 145.67 3.58% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A 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 5.87% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.03 1.03 12.88% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 101.74 101.74 3.68% 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 1,431.44 1,431.44 10.03% FBN Balanced Fund 186.11 187.53 6.20% FBN Halal Fund 118.01 118.01 8.98% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.70% 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

123.20 155.39

123.20 4.07% 157.49 3.07% 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 4,019.30 3,519.70 100.00

Offer Price 4,083.25 3,519.70 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 3.29% 1.48% 6.33%

1.09

1.09

0.84%

INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.10% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.98 3.05 4.41% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 139.36 139.36 -10.46% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.26 1.31 0.32% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.08 1.08 4.14% 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 1.50 1.53 4.09% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,164.93 1,164.93 2.45% 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 12.25 12.35 3.98% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.42% 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) 103.38 103.38 8.26% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.16% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 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 9.25% 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 3,538.73 3,578.35 2.79% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 237.51 237.51 0.76% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.36 1.38 5.38% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 317.52 317.52 1.33% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 251.04 254.88 3.71% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.75% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,462.46 11,624.37 3.18% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.31 1.31 1.10% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 117.88 117.88 0.78% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 108.35 108.35 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 0.97 0.99 4.49% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.41 1.43 3.75% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.14 1.16 5.13% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.09 1.09 1.81% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.99 1.99 1.76% United Capital Eurobond Fund 123.91 123.91 1.28% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.70% 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 13.48 13.61 2.21% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.52 15.70 6.26% Zenith Income Fund 22.39 22.39 1.76% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.91%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

122.16 53.16

1.62% 0.82%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.17 134.52 106.38 20.41 21.38

14.27 137.83 108.68 20.51 21.48

1.44% 2.19% 2.64% 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

4.12 5.59 18.32 1.00 21.08 169.02

4.22 5.69 18.52 1.00 21.28 171.02

9.49% 9.70% 6.59% 7.00% 8.66% 7.09%

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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THURSDAY MARCH 31, 2022 •T H I S D AY

41

THURSDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

WHO Certifies NAFDAC Fit to Regulate Production of COVID-19 Vaccine

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had formally certified it as Maturity Level Three Regulatory agency. With this status, NAFDAC can now regulate and help to midwife the local production of vaccines, including the much-needed COVID-19 vaccines.

The agency stated that the approval was communicated to it yesterday.

While breaking the news at a media briefing in Abuja, Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency and the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria scaled through many hurdles to achieve the feat.

Adeyeye stated, "I got the good news about 1am today and I quickly informed the closest people and some officials of the agency. We started the journey

in January 2018, five weeks after my resumption. It was torturous, tasking and highly demanding."

She said WHO’s global benchmarking was all about comparing regulatory agencies in the world.

Adeyeye explained, "We were told by WHO that we would meet 868 recommendations before we can get to Maturity Level 3.

“It sounded impossible but my directors stood by me all the way. Many others did all sacrifice to ensure we get here.

"In June 2019, WHO visited NAFDAC headquarters to commence the benchmarking process.

Out of the 868 recommendations, we were able to meet over 600 recommendations and had 147 left, which were the most difficult ones at that time.

"We started working at it with town hall meetings and retreats. We made sure NAFDAC was on quality system which helped us to achieve the feat.

In 2020, COVID-19 pandemic came and took a year out of our scheduled time.

"After the COVID-19 fever, we picked up from where we stopped in 2020. We revisited the 147 recommendations and commenced work on it."

Adeyeye said the global benchmarking had eight standards, adding that NAFDAC is the third in Africa to meet the standard.

The NAFDAC boss said the next step was to attain Maturity Level 4, which would give greater quality assurance for drugs manufactured in Nigeria.

She explained that in July 2021, WHO met with the agency virtually, adding that NAFDAC was able to reduce the 147 recommendations to 33, which were the most difficult ones, including regulations.

By October 2021, according to Adeyeye, WHO officials returned for an update visit, and found that the agency had cleared all the recommendations.

She added, "In February, they returned for final inspection and they were glad that all items we submitted and claimed to have were intact. That was when they told us that we were successful, but we should not announce it until we see the letter, which came around 1am on Wednesday.

“NAFDAC is the third in Africa and one of the very few in the world. It is a great achievement for NAFDAC. The next step is Maturity Level 4. It will bring greater news for our pharmaceutical companies. If we attain Maturity Level 4, it means

that any product NAFDAC approves can be traded globally.

"The Level 3 means that the quality of our drugs is better, clinical trials are better, guidelines are better, regulatory inspection, laboratory listing is better, market control, and other operations."

Adeyeye also praised the wisdom of President Muhammadu Buhari, who she said intervened by giving NAFDAC N736 million to equip its laboratories.

She said, "When COVID-19 came, we got N4 billion to get equipment for vaccine lab. What Maturity Level 3 prepares us for

now is manufacturing of vaccine through our manufacturers, which wouldn't have been possible if we didn't attend Maturity Level 3. That's immediate benefit.

“We are building the vaccine lab in Oshodi, which will be ready by the middle of the year or early third quarter.

The government supported us."

Chairman of NAFDAC Board, Yusuf Suleiman, while expressing satisfaction with the development, said the implication of the certification was that Nigeria now had global acceptance for all that NAFDAC does.

Edo PDP to APC: Tell Your Leaders in Abuja, Nigerians Are Suffering, Dying Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Edo State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the All Progressives

Congress (APC) in the state to draw the attention of the APC-led federal government that Nigerians have been boxed in to tight corner by their poor management of the nation’s economy, according to the PDP had led to excruciating living conditions for Nigerians across the country.

The PDP through a statement signed by its Acting State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Patrick Ojebuoboh, also demanded that the state chapter of the APC should tell Edo people if the APC-led federal government was living in a bubble and unconscious of the dire straits in which Nigerians now live.

It further inquired if the party was aware that a liter of diesel now sells for about N700, up from N240, while 1kg of gas now goes for N700 against N224 it was in 2015?

Furthermore, Edo PDP pointed out that the cost per unit consumption of electricity has also risen just as the cost for food.

In the statement which was issued yesterday in Benin City and made available to Journalists, the Edo PDP said it was disturbing that in the midst of, "these adversities, the APC by their utterances and posture

give the impression that they do not go to the same market as other Nigerians or consume electricity from the same public power source."

It added: "The Edo State chapter of the APC obviously does not care for the wellbeing of the people, which is why it is not bothered that the masses are suffering under the weight of the central government’s failures.

"The party seems more concerned about accessing public funds to squander. They obviously would prefer to ground the economy in Edo State as the federal government has done to the national economy.

"In case they may have forgotten, we want to remind them that Edo people are suffering from their government’s mismanagement of the country’s resources. Their inexplicable silence over the state of affairs of the economy is hypocritical.

"It is only soothing that Edo people know the APC for what it truly is and would continue to reject their self-seeking politics in favour of people-oriented, development-focused leadership being provided by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration and the PDP in the state."

EKEDC Appoints Tinuade Sanda Managing Director Peter Uzoho

HERE IS MY NOMINATION FORM...

L-R: PDP National Organizing Secretary, Mr. Bature Umar; with Presidential candidate of Peoples Domocratic Party (PDP), Mohammed PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE Hayatu-Deen, during the purchase of nomination form at PDP Secretariat in Abuja... yesterday

Bank Manager Arraigned over Alleged N1.2bn Fraud Wale Igbintade The Ikeja GRA Branch Manager of First City Monument Bank(FCMB) Tope Munis has been arraigned before a Lagos State High Court for allegedly aiding in a N1.2 billion fraud belonging to Star Orient Nigeria Limited.

Munis was arraigned on 15-count amended charge alongside Dare Osamo and Ayoola Bisola, who had earlier been arraigned over the alleged fraud before the court presided over by Justice Oyindamola Ogala.

When the matter came up yesterday, the Director, Lagos State Department of Public Prosecution, Dr. Jide Martins, informed the court that the state had an amended charge to include the branch manager who allegedly connived with Osamo to swindle Star Orient owned by a businessman, Mr. Babatunde Akanbi Babalola.

In the amended charge, Munis allegedly, on 15th of February, 2016, while acting as Branch Manager, FCMB situated at No 48, Isaac John Street, Government Residential Area (G R.A) Branch committed the offence.

The charge further stated that Munis and Osamo allegedly demonstrated intention to defraud and without lawful authority or excuses, approved the opening of a new account for Star Orient Nig. Ltd when there were no SCUML (i.e Special Control Unit against Money Laundering) certificate number on the account opening form.

The charge also stated that the duo of Munis and Osamo, allegedly ran foul of banking rules when they opened the account without full details of the directors of Star Orient Nigeria Limited, no means of identification nor BVN (Bank Verification Numbers) of the

directors of Star Orient Nigeria Limited and upon a forged resolution purportedly signed by Osamo as sole signatory when there are two directors who are signatories to Star Orient Nigeria Limited's account.

Martins, upon announcing to the court of the existence of the amended charge, urged the court to take his plea over the allegations leveled against him.

Consequently, Munis pleaded not guilty to four-count charge relating to him out of the 15 amended charges The state prosecutor, thereafter, asked the court for a trial date and a remand order pending the determination of his bail application.

In a counter reaction, J.O. Olushade who represents Dr. Wale Olawoyin, as a counsel to the branch manager, informed the court of his bail application while

praying for liberal terms.

The defence counsel moved the bail application and prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail because the offence allegedly commented by the defendants are bailable.

Opposing the bail application, the state DPP, urged the court to consider the severity of the offence, as he prayed the court to turn down the bail application of the defendant.

Delivering ruling on the bail application, Justice Ogala granted the 3rd defendant bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties.

The court ordered that the sureties must be resident in the state and have title to landed property. She said they must provide evidence of tax payment to state government as well as their residential address be verified. She further ordered the defendant to submit his international passport.

The Board of Directors of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has appointed Dr. Tinuade Sanda as the company's new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, with immediate effect.

EKEDC announced the appointment yesterday in a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Godwin Idemudia. It stated that the appointment makes Sanda the first female Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the company.

By the appointment, Sanda takes over from Adeoye Fadeyibi, who was EKEDC's MD/CEO for four years before he joined Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) on Tuesday.

The new CEO, according to the statement, was expected to consolidate on the successes achieved in the past few years while progressively advancing and charting a new course for efficient service delivery and excellent business sustainability.

The statement further stated that Sanda would lead the next phase of the company’s growth by aggressively reducing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (ATC&C) losses, increasing

energy reliability and availability and improving the distribution company (Disco)'s customer satisfaction index.

In 2013, she joined the company as the Chief Treasury and Taxation Officer and later became the Chief Accounting Officer, where she contributed immensely to the company’s growth by implementing revenue generation initiatives and overseeing critical projects.

She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Institute of Management Consultants, US, and Institute of Professional Financial Managers, London.

She is also an Associate Member of the Risk Management Association of Nigeria, and the Institute of Directors Nigeria.

Sanda obtained a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Edinburgh Business School, Herriot Watt University, Scotland, UK, after graduating with a second-class upper in Financial Accounting from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. On December 5, 2020, she was conferred by the Senate and Governing Council of ICON University of Management Science and Technology, Benin, with a Doctor of Philosophy in Financial Management & Entrepreneurship.

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THURSDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

SENATE’S OVERSIGHT VISIT...

L-R: Service Lead, Datasixth, Adewunmi Adegbemile; member, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime, Senator Emmanuel Orker Jeff; Datasixth Country Manager, Happiness Obioha; Senate Committee Chairman on ICT and Cybercrime, Senator Yakubu Oseni and another Senate member, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, during Senate’s oversight function to Datasixth in Lagos...recently

2023 Presidency: I am the Most Qualified, Says Saraki Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Ahead of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries, former Senate President and presidential aspirant, Dr. Bukola

Saraki has urged Nigerians to elect a president for the country based on competence and not on religion and ethnicity, adding that he is the most qualified for the job Saraki, a former governor of

Kwara State, stated this in Benin City when he paid a visit to PDP delegates in Edo State to solicit their support.

Represented by the Chairman, Contact and Advocacy Council,

Bukola Saraki Presidential Campaign Organisation, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, Saraki said though Nigerians had been using ethnic and religion in choosing leaders of the country, he was a man with no ethnic or

FEC Approves N33.81bn for Works, Justice, Industry Ministries’ Projects Okays N498.85m lie detecting equipment for NDLEA Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) rose from its weekly meeting yesterday with an approval of various contracts worth N33.81 billion for projects in three ministries namely Works and Housing, Justice and Industry, Trade and Investments.

It also gave the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) the go ahead to procure a lie detector equipment at a cost of N498.85 million to enhance the performance of the anti-drug agency.

The Council at its virtual meeting presided over by President Muhammudu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, approved the contracts based on the memos presented by the Ministers of the respective ministries.

Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, stated that the first memo approved for his ministry was for the augmentation of the contract of the Zaria-Funtua section of the Zaria-Sokoto-BirninKebbi highway.

According to him, the augmentation was for N9.446 billion, an increase, which took the contract price to a total of N16.924 billion.

His words: "The augmentation caters for an extension of the scope of works on that section from 26 kilometers to a total of 64 kilometers. It also caters for the improvement of the pavement from a laterite-based pavement to a cement-based, concrete-mixed, stone-base pavement.

“It also makes provision for extensive drainage works to accommodate increasing rain flow and flooding patterns that we have observed in the last few years. Council approved that memorandum."

He added that the second memorandum was presented by the ministry on behalf of one of its parastatals, the Federal Roads

Maintenance Agency (FERMA), which has statutory responsibility for maintenance and rehabilitation of certain roads.

He said based on FERMA's request, FEC approved contracts to rehabilitate Kwara-Peta-Milda road in Borno state in favor of Messrs.

CBC Global Civil Engineering and Building Construction. The value of the award was N6,271,985,441.2.

Similarly, the council approved the rehabilitation of the UturuIsikwato-Akara Road in Abia State at the cost of N13.624 billion, to 18th Engineering Company with a 24 months completion period.

Also briefing journalists, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, who spoke on the memos he presented on behalf of his ministry, said the council approved contracts for infrastructure in one of the six special economic zones that the Export Processing Zones Authority is creating for the special economic zones in Lekki.

The Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority is a parastatal under the ministry.

According to him: "As part of that special economic zone, there is a textile and garment part that is being put up and Council approved contract for the development of an initial five megawatt power plant and electrical reticulation within the park, in favour of Messrs.

Mustra Energy Limited, in the sum of N1.5 billion, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT with a delivery period of 52 weeks.

"Council also approved the construction of an access road, with associated drainage works from the Lekki-Epe Expressway, through the textile and garment park, in favor of Messrs. Proportion Construction Works Limited, in the sum of N1.9 billion, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT, with a delivery

period of 52 weeks.

"The objective of developing the Special Economic Zones is to establish an economic zone with multifunctions of industry, commerce, trade, medical tourism, recreation and residence to attract foreign investment, create employment and expedite economic growth.

"As you're all aware, constant power supply as well as provision of other infrastructure like roads is very important for the functioning of the Special Economic Zones and as a result of that, which Council approved the contract that I had previously mentioned.

“We are hopeful that once the Special Economic Zone is functional,

it will generate employment for about 3500 Nigerians in the short term, and in the long term, it will provide employment for about 10,000 Nigerians".

On his part, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed that FEC authorised the procurement of lie detector and digital night vision goggles for the NDLEA to enhance their performance.

Justifying the rationale for the approval, Malami said: "Two memos were presented this afternoon by the Federal Ministry of Justice on behalf and at the instance of national drugs, law enforcement agency.

Continued online

religion bias.

Other members of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Contact and Advocacy Council are: Dr. Ahmadu Musa, Secretary; Alhaji Aliyu Maigari, Senator Shaaba Lafiagi, Hassan Husseini MNI and Prince Oleteru Lekan.

Also in the team were, Dr. Cletus Akwaya, Judith Bindi and David Itopa, as well as Moses Aliyu.

Saraki stressed that he stands tall and remained the most competent and qualified aspirant among others.

According to him, the problem of Nigeria was not resources but lack of good leadership.

"Nigeria has refused to identify the right man and put him in a leadership position. We choose our leaders based on religion; we choose leaders based on zoning; we choose our leaders based on identity politics.

Nigeria is a diverse society.

“We cannot continue to use this parameters in choosing our leaders, especially the position of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, he is offering himself as the president that the whole Nigeria will identify with."

Hagher who disclosed that Saraki has promised women 35 per cent representation in leadership position if elected as president, adding that his principal would make youths below 35 years of age to be minister

in all the ministries.

Hagher who stated that his principal was committed to rescuing Nigeria from the major crisis the All Progressives Congress had plunged the nation into, lamented that, "Nigeria is in the emergency ward. Nigeria is sick. And if the country is sick, then it needs a medical doctor to attend to it, a man that will fix Nigeria by setting it back on it fit.

"When the PDP came to power, we offset all debt, but within seven years of the APC coming into power, we have been plunged into debt.

It has been loan upon loan and it is increasing every day.”

Hagher, who disclosed that he is above 70 years urged those also above 70 aspiring for the presidency to allow the younger ones to lead, stressing that they are more energetic and will do better.

Responding on behalf of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the Edo State chapter of the PDP, the party Deputy Chairman, Mr. Harrison Omagbon, alleged that if the APC was allowed to govern the country for another four years, Nigeria may seize to exist as a nation He said listening to the brilliant presentation by the Saraki Campaign Council, the aspiration is good to go as president of Nigeria.

2023 Presidency: Okupe Withdraws, Campaigns for Peter Obi Urges PDP leaders to respect zoning arrangement James Sowole in Abeokuta Citing principle of fairness, equity and zoning, Dr. Doyin Okupe, the former Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday withdrew from the 2023 presidential race.

Though, Okupe has yet to obtain his Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, he was among the first set of members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that declared their ambition for 2023 Presidency under the party.

Okupe, who announced his decision, at a news conference, in Abeokuta, Ogun State has decided to pitch his tent with the ambition of Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State.

While stating that the leadership of the PDP, was not handling the issue of zoning concerning the party's

presidential ticket well, Okupe said it appeared the party was driving all towards fait accompli.

He said, "The matter has been referred to a committee of 37 members with a member each from every state of the federation and the FCT Abuja. One would have expected that the mandate of this committee would be such that it would discharge its duties and report to the NEC of the party within a maximum of 5-7 days.

Sadly, this has not been so.

"It is clear to me that those at the helm of affairs of the party are trying to hoodwink those of us aspirants from the South to commit ourselves to obtain the requisite forms before coming up with the original position that ‘every zone can contest the presidency.’

"This position is politically fraudulent, unjust and inequitable.

But as a politician, I have come

to accept the ill-defined zoning arrangement, and still forge ahead with my unrepentant call for a rotation of power to the south."

Stating that he had consulted far and wide with the political stakeholders in his zone, Okupe said his position, was in line with that of Afenifere, who said that presidency must shift to the South-east.

He added: "In aligning myself with the wish of our elders and in the interest of equity and justice, I publicly admit that the 2023 political race must be conceded to the south-east; that is, the Igbos.

"I therefore, here and now proclaim that I am, as I have said publicly several times, withdrawing from the presidential race and I am declaring my support for the best aspirant not only in Igboland, but in Nigeria as a whole.

"I and my supporters within and

outside the PDP are teaming up with His Excellency, Peter Obi. "At the same time, I want to enjoin all other aspirants from the South: Chief Dele Momodu, Senator Pius Anyim, and His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike to come with me and let us team up with Peter Obi. So we can give the South the best possible chance.

"For the avoidance of doubt, I am not fanning the embers of division, rather I am by this action lightening the torch of unity by establishing political stability on the pillars of truth and justice upon which the Bible tells us that even the throne of the Almighty God is founded."

The former aspirant said though, the zoning was alien to Nigeria's constitution, he noted that the principle, had been the driving force since the advent of the Fourth Republic.

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NEWS

Group Raises N67m, Set to Purchase Nomination Form for Emefiele to Contest for President Says CBN governor most qualified to succeed Buhari

Peter Uzoho Members of the Emefiele Support Group (ESG) have disclosed that they have already raised N67 million with target of raising N100 million for the purchase of Expression of Interest and Nomination form for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele to contest for the presidency in the 2023 election.

The ESG also described Emefiele as the man that meets all the qualities needed to emerge as president.

The Director of Communications, ESG, Benigna Ejimba, who spoke on a national television yesterday, said the group remains confident that Emefiele would deliver good job for Nigeria if he becomes the

president by 2023.

Ejimba, who stressed that the CBN governor was the right man for the job, noted that Emefiele would bring his experience both as a professional and economist to be bear as he steers the ship of the country.

She said by being a loyalist, a detribalised person and by hailing from Delta State, south-south region as well as from the Igbo-speaking part of Delta State, Emefiele's chance of winning the presidential race was bright.

Ejimba said, "We in the Emefiele Support Group, we are basically a team of young professionals and citizens who are also interested in seeing a befitting leadership for our country.

"We have looked and searched within and we see Emefiele as the right man for the job. We have continuously stated our reasons for that.

"Why we think he's the right man for the job is because firstly, in his personality, he fits the bill.

He fits all the characteristics we are looking for, or we think that Nigeria needs as the president.

"Mr. Emefiele is a professional.

He's an experienced economist.

He's also a loyalist, and he's a detribalised person. He's from Delta State, South-South region as well as from the Igbo-speaking part of Delta State.

"So, with Mr. Emefiele, Nigeria can actually kill two birds with one stone. His candidacy can

help to quench the quest for Igbo presidency and also for the South-South's quest for one more term."

Describing Emefiele as somebody who has shown experience, passion and commitment for his job despite where his loyalty lies, Ejimba added that all through his term as the CBN governor, he has been dedicated to his work.

The ESG director, however, pointed out that Emefiele had not answered their call yet, saying "We are waiting on him and we are hoping and praying that he would actually take up and run for presidency."

She dispelled speculations that Emefiele asked them to campaign for him while he remains at the

background, saying his posters in circulation were done by the support group without Emefiele's knowledge.

"We did it because we believe in him. He was not the one that sent us to campaign for him. I have not even met the man. I don't know him personally. I only know of his work and the track record of his performance out there.

"So, that is what me and most people in my group have read and we are working with that. We don't know him. We don't know whether he will even take up this call. So, we are just putting pressure on him. We just feel that the opponent is just being scared", she stated.

Criticising the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over a

recent statement demanding the resignation of Emefiele from his position as the CBN governor, Ejimba said the PDP was already scared of being defeated at the poll by the CBN boss.

"We feel that the PDP are being scared. In fact, when we saw their press statement, we were very excited. We felt that indeed, we were on the right track. We feel that because PDP is the one that discovered this man.

"The know his capabilities. So, that's why they are scared. They know that if given this job, he will do well. That means PDP will be defeated. So, we really feel that that statement is coming from people who are scared of Emefiele entering the race," she added.

Lekki Toll Plaza: Lagos Govt, LCC Engage Stakeholders, Seek Understanding Segun James Lagos State Government has urged the people of the State, especially the residents of Lekki and Ikoyi, to show understanding ahead of the proposed reopening of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge Toll Plaza by the Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC).

The appeal was made by Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho and his counterparts in Transport, Dr. Fredericks Oladehinde as well as Home Affairs, Prince Anofi Elegushi respectively during a stakeholders' meeting held on Wednesday at The Lekki Coliseum in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

They assured the residents that Lagos State government would look into all the requests and recommendations made by the stakeholders and respond appropriately.

The stakeholders meeting which was held to engage key residents on LCC's plan to reopen the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge Toll Plaza, was attended by key stakeholders which included, the President of Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA), Olorogun James Emadoye; human rights activists, the media and several other residents of Lekki, among others.

Responding to the key stakeholders who expressed their views about the LCC decision to reopen the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge Toll Plaza in April, Omotoso commended the speakers and implored them to show some understanding with the Lagos State government.

He said: “We are here to seek your understanding as a government about the matter at hand. We are also citizens of Nigeria. We are all Lagosians. I have listened to all of you talking about our rights, privileges and how government should be responsible for everything. I also feel that as citizens, we should have some responsibilities.

“Lagos is a city of about 25million people and out of the 25million people there are about six million taxpayers and among six million taxpayers, only 4.2million are active taxpayers. So, let us reflect on all these things.

I know how people feel and I understand what has been said but I believe that the matter at hand is about seeking your understanding. It is a matter of showing some compassion for

people who have one thing or another to do with this company.”

Oladehinde who also appealed to the people not to be shortsighted said the decision of the government is not to punish people but to create an enabling environment for more jobs through private sector participation.

“What Lagos State is trying to do is to create an enabling environment to create more jobs and when you create more jobs.

We should not be shortsighted.

The only way to create jobs is to create an environment where we can attract the private sector to build more infrastructure in the state. Let us look at the issue from the view that we are trying to resuscitate the economy of Lagos State,” he said.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofi Elegushi, said the purpose of the stakeholders' meeting was to engage key stakeholders on the matter of reopening the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge Toll Plaza.

He appealed for cooperation from the people, saying “we must all work together.”

In his address, the Managing Director/CEO of Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC), Mr. Yomi Omomuwasan, said the resumption of operations was necessary for the company not to default on its payment of local and international loans as well as to cater for the welfare of its workers.

He said LCC has also introduced new technology and innovations to make movement at the Toll Plaza seamless and faster for commuters Speaking earlier some of the speakers expressed their views about the plan to reopen the toll plaza, pleading to the State Government to halt the process for now.

The residents based their plea on the harsh economic situation in the country, saying that the tolling would aggravate the situation.

In his response, Omotoso appealed to the residents to consider the number of Lagosians, whose sources of livelihood also depend on the Tollgate.

Meanwhile the Lekki Concession Company has stated that while tolling would kick off officially on April 1, motorists would be given a two-week free access at the toll plaza. According to Omomuwasan, payments for access would start on April 14, 2022.

WHAT IS MOROCCO DOING RIGHT...

Former Governor Peter Obi (left) with the Chairman of Casablanca Stock Exchange and CEO of Bank Populaire, Kamal Mokdad, after a meeting in Rabat, Morocco…recently

River Pollution: Osun Declares War on Illegal Miners As part of efforts toward sanitising the state's resource climate, the government of the State of Osun has read the riot act to mineral resources exploiters and defaulters of environmental standards in the state to forthwith comply with the government's regulations or face legal action.

Osun government bemoaned the flagrant abuse of its environment by illegal miners, especially the pollution of the Osun River, stating its readiness to launch a full blown war on those who have resisted guidance and refused to follow approved standards for mining in Osun.

In a statement yesterday by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, the government also warned natives who were leasing out their farmlands to illegal miners to desist from such acts or face the law.

According to the government: "Osun is the proud host of one of Nigeria’s UNESCO World Heritage sites that is the Sacred Grove in Osogbo through which the sacred Osun river winds. The Oyetola administration has been committed to maintaining and

promoting the state as a tourist destination, as one of its three pillars of economic growth and diversification.

“Central to this is eco-cultural tourism in the annual pilgrimage to the Sacred Grove a major milestone in Osun’s calendar.

A second pillar of the Oyetola administration’s blueprint for Osun is agriculture and the third is mining. A symbiotic tripod for the Osun Economic Agenda.

"The state government’s mining blueprint has sought through a combination of enforcement and formalisation via registration and capacity development of artisanal miners, to mitigate the degradation caused by mining.

“The state’s policy of inviting responsible commercial mining can be seen in Segilola Resources Operating Limited, Nigeria’s 1st commercial gold mine owned by Thor Explorations, a Toronto Stock Exchange Listed company committed to ESG principles.

“Other mining companies have partnered with the state as the state tries to make Osun a designation for sustainable investment.”

According to her, "while these achievements present the state’s

proactive policies designed to change the mining landscape, the state continues to deal with the scourge of illicit and irresponsible mining that is causing the pollution of the Osun river.

"Governor Oyetola has since deployed its limited enforcement resources to curbing illegal and informal mining to arrest the despoilation of our land and pollution of our rivers. To date, the enforcement actions have led to the arrests of several individuals for illicit mining, seizures and site closures.

"In addition to the enforcement activities the state has commissioned studies on the level of pollution and how to remediate it and also sought assistance from the Federal Government as well as Development partners, including from the Ecological fund, to remediate the damage.

"Osun will continue its enforcement and its efforts to remediate.

However, Osun’s scope for action is constrained by constitutional limits where federal government exercises exclusive jurisdiction over mining.

“The government therefore welcomes the international community

as it lends it voice to the scourge of pollution on our most prized heritage. We hope that by coming to Osun and shining the spotlight on this problem they bring with them the support the state and the affected communities have been advocating for to remedy this.

“Osun looks forward to engaging with partners and further harp on the continuous support of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Development in jointly addressing this problem in sustainable ways.

"Osun State Government is worried and deeply concerned about the flagrant abuse of its environment by illegal miners who are daily degrading and polluting the Osun River. In spite of efforts to curb the excesses of these fly-by-night business men, they have consistently resisted guidance and refused to follow approved standards for mining in Osun.

"It has therefore become imperative to serve them the last warning here and now. The state will no longer fold its hands while these miners (both legal and illegal) throw caution to the winds and ruin one of our heritage sites.

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NEWS

Ortom Mourns as Suspected Herdsmen Kill Six in Benue George Okoh in Makurdi Suspected herdsmen yesterday killed six people and displaced many residents in what appeared to be a coordinated attacks on Guma, Kwande and Gwer West Local Government Areas of the state.

The herdsmen, according to eyewitnesses attacked and shot sporadically at their victims.

According to a source, must of those killed were ambushed.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Command PPRO CSP Catherine Anene, said: “On 29/03/2022 at about 2005hrs, armed men invaded AgabgeNaka road, Gwer-west LGA and started shooting sporadically. In the process two persons were confirmed dead and corpses deposited at Fr. Mathias Morgue while investigation is ongoing.

Members of the public are advised to cooperate with detectives deployed to unraveled the case. This barbaric act is condemned and unacceptable. The command in collaboration with other security agencies have adjusted the security architecture in the area to prevent future recurrence.”

Meanwhile, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has expressed grief over the sustained invasion and killings

by Fulani herdsmen.

The governor, who was reacting to the recent killing of residents in unprovoked attacks,

called on Benue communities to rise up and defend themselves.

The governor said: “A report from the team leader of security agencies in Kasekyo near Tse Torkula village in Guma local government said that suspected Fulani herders at about 0930 hours on Tuesday, March 29th, 2022 shot one Turner Ajar and an unidentified elderly man

who were going to the farm on a motorcycle.”

The team of Agro Rangers, who were on patrol in the area ran into the attack, unfortunately, the victims had already been killed.

Their corpses were taken and deposited at a hospital in Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area of the state.

In Kpankeeke, a suburb on the outskirts of Naka, headquarters of Gwer West local government, gory images of persons killed by another set of herdsmen littered the streets.

The Agro Rangers team were alerted and they moved to the location alongside the Army and Police.

The patrol team found the

body of one Ahemba Apeelu, an aged man, at a sawmill from Saav/Ukusu council Ward who was slaughtered and his throat slit.

Others identified to have been killed by the invaders include Tersoo Yasough and a young lady known as Martha Ukange.

Eyewitnesses alleged that the herders were dressed

in military camouflage as a decoy.

Another body of a young man yet to be identified was later sighted along the road. Another body yet to be identified was recovered too.

The search for more persons who are said to be missing is ongoing in affected communities.”

CELEBRATING KLM’S 75 YEARS…

L-R: Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, Michel Deelen; Executive Vice-President, Commercial Division, Air France KLM, Pieter Bootsma, and Country Manager, Air France- KLM, Nigeria, Christine Quantin, at the celebration of the 75th anniversary of KLM in Lagos…recently

Okowa Commends Christian Customs Nabs Suspected Police Officer with Contraband in Katsina Leaders’ Growing Interest in Politics Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has described as a welcome development the decision of Christian leaders in Nigeria to arouse churches to participate more actively in politics and governance in the country.

Speaking yesterday at the First Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN)’s Directorate of Politics and Governance (DPG) Regional Conference at PFN’s Alpha and Omega City, Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State, Okowa said that Christians who constitute a significant part of the country’s population could not afford to stay away from governance issues as they affect

their lives in diverse ways.

Uniting Christians for active role in politics and governance is not meant to divide the country but to ensure that God-fearing persons participated in elections and are accountable to the people.

Participants from the six South-south states were joined by delegates from Yobe, Adamawa and Zamfara at the conference with the theme:”Project Nigeria: The Church, A Panacea For The Right Leadership.”

Okowa urged Christians to forge a united front for stronger spiritual activities as well in ensuring that only committed leaders are voted into office, saying Nigeria needs God to achieve the desired success in all ramifications.

Five Pupils Injured as School Bus Catches Fire in Ondo Fidelis David in Akure No fewer than 15 pupils have suffered life-threatening injuries following fire that gulfed a school bus belonging to Hope of Tomorrow Academy, a private school in Akungba Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

THISDAY gathered that the inciden,t which occurred around 8am on Tuesday, caused serious anxiety and tension in the University community, as parents ran helter-skelter when they learnt of the sad incident.

THISDAY also gathered that the injured pupils were hurried to the nearby General Hospital in Iwaro Oka, after receiving first aid treatment at the scene of the fire incident.

An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Olumide, stated that the driver of the illfated school bus, whose name

was not given as at press time, was picking up the wards from their various homes when fire suddenly gutted the mass transit vehicle.

He said: “There was smoke in the sky and people ran to the area and it was discovered that it was a fire accident involving school children.”

It took the intervention of residents who were said to have immediately broke the rear shield after discovering that the doors of the vehicle were locked.

“Though no life was lost to the incident, but we heard one of the pupils have been rushed to Federal Medical Centre in Owo”, the source said.

However, efforts to get comments from the management and staff of the school proved abortive as they declined to talk with our correspondent.

The Katsina Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has arrested a suspected Assistant Superintendent of Police, Sirajo Jelani Abdulkadir, with 25 bags of foreign parboiled rice, two cartons of spaghetti and macaroni.

The Acting Comptroller of the Command, D.C. Dalha Wada Chedi, disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists on the

achievements recorded by the command between February and March 2022.

He explained that the suspected police officer was nabbed along the Katsina-Kano Highway while conveying the contraband in a Toyota Sienna space wagon with registration number LSD 315 FD. Chedi added that the suspect was apprehended with police identification card, Citizen for Peace and First Aid Mission of

Nigeria, Nigeria Association of Agric Produce Dealers (NAAPD) and IMAN Federal Representative of Nigeria Tasforce, Kaduna State.

According to him, “the said Sienna LE with inscription ‘Federal Joint Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement against Multiple Taxes and Levies Along Nigerian Highway, Kaduna state Command,’ was arrested along Katsina-Kano Road.

“The suspect claimed to be

a police officer and we found in his possession four different identification cards and a Nigeria police ballistic jacket, a handcuff, an assistant Superintendent of Police’s rank badge and a can suspected to be tear-gas.”

He further explained that the suspected assistant superintendent of police has been handed over to the state command of the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.

Niger Villages Deserted as Terrorists Intensify Attacks Laleye Dipo in Minna

Not less than 1,000 villagers have deserted their communities in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State following sustained attacks by terrorists over the last two days.

Scores of people were also kidnapped in Kwampanybobi in the Mariga Local Government Area of the state yesterday.

This is even as there is growing apprehension about the safety of the Catholic priest, Reverend Leo Ozigi, who was abducted by gunmen along Sarkinpawa- Minna road last Sunday afternoon.

THISDAY learnt that the terrorists unleashed terror on the villagers in Kabo, Kutayi, Zebena, Baradna, Gufana and Sabon- gari between Tuesday and Wednesday.

The gunmen, in their characteristics, rode on many motorcycles and all had sophisticated guns it was learnt.

“They ransacked the villages injuring many of the villagers and making away with their valuable items especially food and cash. They also reportedly burnt police operational vehicles” an eyewitness told THISDAY He said the gunmen also set

some houses on fire making many of the villagers to escape to safer communities.

It was learnt that armed security men have been dispatched to the communities to restore law and order.

THISDAY also gathered that some terrorists stormed Kwampany-bobi town in the Mariga Local Government area of the state in the early hours of yesterday wreaking havoc.

Hanifa: Kano High Court Fixes April 12, 14 for Cross Examination Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano A Kano High court sitting yesterdy, fixed April 12 and 14 for continuation of hearing in the ongoing trial of a school proprietor Abdulmalik Tanko for alleged murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar.

At the resumed sitting for continuation of hearing, the prosecution counsel, Deputy Director Public Prosecution

(DDPP) Kano State, Barrister Rabi Shehu-Ahmad, presented late Hanifa’s mother as the seven prosecution witnesses and tendered 17 text messages as exhibit.

Murja Suleiman, 38, in her testimony told the court that she was the biological mother of five-year-old Hanifa.

She said she personally took Hanifa and handed over to her proprietor Abdulmalik at Noble

Kids Comprehensive College.

She maintained that on December 4,2021 at about 8:00 a.m she took late Hanifa to Sheik Dahiru Usman Bauchi Islamiyya School and the school normally closes at 5:30 pm.

According to her, the neighbours daughter Maimuna Abubakar after closing from Islamiyya school ran to the house and informed me that a tricyclist has gone with Hanifa

and Hanifa told her that it was her uncle that took her.

In a sober reflection the witness told the court that on January 2,2022, she received a call that the victim was with them and demanded for N6 million ransom.

After 28 days of Hanifa’s abduction, I saw a black leather in front of my house containing her cardigan, school badge and printed black and white picture of my daughter.

Edo Assembly Passes Anti-open Grazing Bill Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Edo House of Assembly yesterday passed the bill for a law to prohibit open grazing of cattle and regulate other livestocks in the state.

Before the bill was passed into law, the motion to dissolve the House into committee was

moved by the Deputy Speaker Roland Asoro and seconded by the member representing Esan North East (1)Francis Okiye.

While considering the bill clause by clause at the committee of the whole, the lawmakers passed relevant sections of the bill with amendments to sections 5(7) and 5(8)

The amendment to section 5 (7) now reads that a ranch committee to be constituted by the governor shall determine the size of the land suitable for ranching in conjunction with the community where the ranch is proposed.

Section 5 (8) was also amended to read that the

committee shall control the activities of cattle herdsmen within various communities.

Section eight, however, prohibits open grazing in the state.

According to the bill, Section 9(1) empowered the state governor to designate a land for ranching in the land.

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NEWSXTRA

NDLEA Smashes Lagos Airport Drug Syndicate Michael Olugbode in Abuja A drug kingpin, who heads a syndicate operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and six other members of his gang have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

According to a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, the arrested suspects were on the run.

He disclosed that the Lagos airport drug syndicate was behind the smuggling of 1,584,000 tablets of Tramadol seized on Tuesday 15th March by NDLEA operatives in collaboration with Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Customs service personnel at the airport, noting that the seizure includes 17 cartons of 250mg Tramadol branded as “Tamra” weighing 669.70 kilogrammes and five cartons of 225mg Tramadol under the brand name “Royal” with a gross weight of 217.15 kilogrammes.

Babafemi recalled that the psychotropic substance, which was imported into the country from Pakistan was smuggled through the airport tarmac using one of the vehicles of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) and was intercepted at the Federal Airports Authority of

Nigeria (FAAN) Personnel Yard with two suspects: Ofijeh Mowa, a SAHCO driver and Nyam Alex who is a security guard with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) were initially arrested in connection with the seizure.

He revealed that further investigations by NDLEA

operatives, however, led to the arrest of five other persons involved in the crime including the ringleader, Yunana Fidelis, who fled Lagos to Kaduna the moment their lid was blown open.

Other members of the syndicate are Adesanwo Temitope; Owoseni Temidayo;

Fasoranti Shola and Bamigbade Jonathan.

Babafemi said Yunana Fidelis, who is also a staff of NAHCO, had escaped and fled to Kaduna after depositing N19.8 million cash with a BDC operator to be paid later into his bank account.

He said after tracking him for days in Kaduna, on Friday 25th

Fidelis relocated to Abuja where he was eventually arrested by NDLEA operatives at 7pm last Sunday while he was trying to collect a million Naira cash from an undercover agent who posed as a BDC operator.

Babafemi said in addition to recovering the cash Fidelis deposited with the BDC operator

in Lagos, the agency had also placed a post no debit order on his identified bank accounts.

The NDLEA Spokesman also disclosed that a professional methamphetamine (Mkpuru Mmiri) cook and a lawyer were arrested in Owerri, Imo state and Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state respectively.

EYEING THE HOUSE…

L-R: Personal Assistant/ Campaign Consultant, Nnenna Michael; Media Consultant, Thelma Ukaegbu; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Federal House of Representatives aspirant, Ifeyinwa Morah; Media Consultant, Emenalo Maryann, and Fashion Entrepreneur, Rosabel Njosi during a meeting with Morah on campaign strategy in Abuja...recently

Ebele Obiano Apologises, EFCC Arrests 120 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Oyo, Enugu Declares Interest in Senatorial Election Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The immediate past First Lady of Anambra State, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, has formerly apologised to Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Ndigbo and friends of Ndigbo over the incident between her and Mrs Bianca Ojukwu in Awka at the inauguration programme of Soludo on March 17, 2022.

She has also declared her intention to join the contest for the forthcoming Anambra North Senatorial District election.

Mrs. Obiano made her

intention known in Awka saying: “My interest to join the Senatorial race is in response to an overwhelming pressure and calls from my people to represent them in the Senate at the National Assembly, Abuja”.

She said:”As has been attested to by the good people of Anambra State, service to people, humanity and sharing love and putting smiles on sad faces are my priority in life, and I know that it is the will of God because the Bible says that God is Love.

Bauchi Gives N150m Empowerment to Women, Youths SegunAwofadejiinBauchi

In his ongoing empowerment effort to uplift the standard of living of the people of the state, the Bauchi State Governor, Mr. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has empowered no fewer than 1,000 women and youths beneficiaries from Shira and Giade Local Government Area of the state with cash and economic tools at the sum of N150 million.

The Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme (KEEP) is an initiative of the Bauchi State Government that is aimed at empowering women and youths

with incentives that would alleviate poverty and provide them with job opportunities in the state.

The beneficiaries were empowered with motorcycles, grinding machines, sewing machines, sharon buses, grinding machines, among others.

Speaking during the empowerment programme at the two local government areas of the state yesterday, Governor Mohammed reiterated the commitment of his administration to gradually and relentlessly pursue economic empowerment programmes to alleviate the hardship of Bauchi citizens as a result of poverty.

Brace Up for Task Ahead, IT Experts Counsel Nigerian Youths Sunday Okobi

Nigerian youths have been enjoined to brace up for the task ahead of them, especially in the evolving digital world.

They were also asked to embrace the changes in the information communication technology (ICT) and position themselves to take advantage of the enormous opportunities in the digital era.

Experts from various walks of life stated this at a one-day summit tagged: ‘Achieving Consistent Goals’, organised for the youths

by the Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Lagos.

The programme, which attracted several personalities, was organised under the auspices of Lagos Province 2, Israel Assembly, Young Adults and Youth Affairs.

The experts, included the senior partner, Verraki, Mrs. Abayomi Olarinmoye; the Chief Operating Officer (COO), MDXi Data Centre, Mr. Gbenga Adegbiji; and the General Manager for Digital Advisory Services, Wragby Business Solutions and Technologies Limited, Mr. Akin Ayodele.

Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) yesterday arrested 80 suspects for alleged internetrelated activities in Ibadan, Oyo State.

A statement by the commission said 40 other suspects were arrested by operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the commission for the same suspected offences.

They were all arrested based on verified intelligence linking them with fraudulent internet activities.

It said incriminating documents were found in 35 of the 80 suspects arrested in Ibadan.

They include: Victor Abumere, Kehinde Samuel, Adedeji Ibrahim Olamilekan, Akinbowale Emmanuel, Taiwo Azeez, Adenuga Sunday, Sidiku Olubodun, Ekhuemelo Jerry, Agboola Khalid Babatunde, Alex

Kelvin, Akande Jonah, Tobiloba Adekanye, Fatai Olalekan T., Giwa Babatunde David and Emmanuel Victor Mayowa.

Others are Taofeek Toheeb Olamilekan, Olamilekan Fafilolu Quadri, Olayinka Taiwo Olaniyi, Emmanuel Abiodun Olalekan, Awoleke Opeyemi Uthman, Ikenna Anyanwu Victor, Mosuro Daniel Oluwaseun, Amoo Abdulmalik Ademola, Oluwaseun Adeniran, Kehinde Kehinde Olatunji, Bakare Kayode Augustine,

Okoli Propser, Kolawole Blessing, Okeolu Moshood, and Hammed Khalid Ayomide.

Others include: Hassan Waris Ademola, Taiwo Ademola, Adewale Ayomiposi, Abdullahi Maleek Olaniyi, Masika Adekunle Andrew.

The suspects were arrested in various locations in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Items recovered from them include: 13 exotic cars, three motor bikes and mobile phones and laptops of different brands.

Refugees, Migrants Commission Bill Awaiting Presidential Assent, Says Commissioner The Federal Commissioner, National Commission For Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons(NCFRMI), Hon Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has said that the NCFRMI does not have an Act yet but a bill awaiting presidential assent.

According to her, the bill is currently in its final phase and would be assented to soonest by President Muhammadu Buhari,

whom she said is so passionate about the plights of the vulnerable ones in the society.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim disclosed this yesterday while soliciting improved collaboration with the media to further deepen the existing relationship between her commission and the fourth estate of the realm.

The federal commissioner said the mandate of the commission is

to become a leading, world class humanitarian organisation with effective and sustainable solutions for all persons of concern.

To achieve the mandate, she said the commission is adopting the following strategy to achieve its mandate; “strengthening of internal framework, streamlining of existing data, standardised digitalization, sustainable and durable solution, and strategic

partnership for resource mobilisation.”

She added that the strategic project drivers of the commission’s vision are at varying stages of implementation like the NCFRMI Project Zero Hunger initiative, which is a project aimed at bringing immediate relief to vulnerable persons of concern and their families facing food insecurity.

‘Decentralise Supreme Court for Speedy Dispensation of Justice’ Michael Olugbode inAbuja A retired Judge of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, yesterday called for the decentralisation of the Supreme Court to allow for speedy dispensation of justice in the country.

Oniyangi gave this advice in Abuja while celebrating his retirement from the bench.

He suggested that the nation

should consider establishing an appellate court in every state in the country to reduce the volume of pending cases.

Oniyangi, who retired after twenty-six years on the bench, said: “Speedy dispensation of justice as far as I am concerned and my experience on the bench, on most occasions, the court sits either 9a.m. or just a little after 9a.m. But if case ‘A’ is called, you either find the prosecutor or the

defense counsel telling the judge my witnesses are not ready. The judge will never say I am not ready to handle this matter rather you would hear from the prosecutor or defense counsel saying: give us another date, or throw away the matter.

“The judge will still insist and say let’s give them some time. So the court is always ready. I am not beating my chest for everybody but you will find out that 98 per

cent of these courts sit on time.

“The Supreme Court has a number of cases but my question is why is the Supreme Court not decentralised in every geopolitical zone? The headquarter can be here in Abuja as well as the Chief Justice of Nigeria but when that division is created, the Justices of the Supreme Court sent there will attend to matters in that geopolitical zone but it will be the same one Supreme Court, no division.”

Estate Surveyors Discuss Executive Order on Monthly Rent in A’Ibom Okon Bassey in Uyo The recent executive order issued by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to the effect that payment of rent across the country should now be monthly instead of yearly would dominate discussions during a two-day meeting of members of The Nigerian

Institution of Estate Suveyors and Valuers (NIESV) assembly in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital today.

The Akwa Ibom State Chairman of NIESV, Mr. John Isangedighi, disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists on activities to mark the two-day meeting of the national body of NIESV in the state.

The meeting, which will feature the 28th Johnwood Ekpenyong memorial lecturer, 2022 Fellows’ Induction ceremony, and National Mandatory and Continuing Professional Development, has as its theme: “Property Investment and Rental Alternatives: Understanding the Implication to The Real Estate Market.”

“What is the implication for property owners and professionals estate surveyors and valuers? To what extent does it affect them and property owners?

“We want to have holistic discussion and examine implication of the minister’s new order that rent should by paid monthly instead of annually.

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THURSDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

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2022 WORLD CUP PLAYOFF FALLOUT

Irabor:You Cannot Reap What You Did Not Sow Says Eagles’ World Cup budget should be diverted to domestic football ’Sacking of NFF board no solution to solving football problems in Nigeria’ Duro Ikhazuagbe Former Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Hon. Nduka Irabor, insisted yesterday that now is not the time to cry over the inability of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Ghana’s Black Stars snatched the ticket with an away goal rule after an aggregate 1-1 draw over two legs.

But the former Member of the House of Representatives said instead of fuming over the loss of the ticket to eternal rival Ghana, the Federal Government and all stakeholders in Nigerian football should begin to look for how to change the funding of football in the country.

“Sacking the NFF board is not the solution. Even if you sack ten NFF boards and we continue to pay lip service to the funding of football, nothing is going to change. You cannot reap from what you did not sow,” began the former LMC chairman.

He stressed that we must return to the fundamentals of football and other sports by catching talents young from the grassroots.

“It is time for us to have Zonal Coaches who will handle kids at early age.

Irabor stressed that this task is not just for the NFF alone but different levels of governments to provide the funds and structures to achieve this.

“Thank God for the privately run soccer academies. New talents seldom emerge from this country, anymore.”

The veteran journalist who was presidential spokesman attached to the then Vice President, Augustus Aikhomu, when Dutchman Clemens Westerhof led Nigeria to her first World Cup appearance and the 1994 AFCON title, called for the strengthening of the domestic league rather than advocating funding of tournaments in chase of glory.

“When well-funded, football has multiplier effect. For instance, there are talents here and If we patronise our NPFL players, they would give enough competition to the foreign-born players. There are enough of good talents here.”

He wants the provision made for Super Eagles participation in the 2022 World Cup channelled to domestic football.

“Take for instance, there is

provision for Super Eagles participation at the World Cup in Qatar in this year’s budget. That money should be pumped into the country’s domestic football. If we do that, there will be no need to bring players who could not make teams of their countries of birth to the Super Eagles. There are enough talents here in our league,” the former LMC chief executive restated.

Irabor said funding participation solely at tournaments is not the same as developing football and sports from the grassroots. "This is clearly a band-aid strategy. You will be lucky if you get performance and result. This is impossible."

He pointed at the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) which has been without a broadcast sponsor, the mainstay

of most leagues around the world. “Can you emerging that government does not consider it appropriate for the NTA to buy rights as it is done in other countries where the corporates do not show up? When you do not have your local league on TV how do you know what quality there is?

“Organisers of the league LMC and NFF do not own TV stations.

It is a matter of national pride that we put our game on TV. "Yearly, the government failed to provide for the NTA , the tax payers’ television house money to buy broadcast right for the NPFL. So where would money to run the league come from?

“There are well over 700 players in this league with over 380 matches every season. To the best of my knowledge, the

Hon. Nduka Irabor...former LMC Chairman Federal Government does not think it is important to invest in this league to grow. "There are several hundreds of individuals

and corporates who can change the story of the domestic league but they choose not to because there are no incentives like tax holidays.”

Irabor recalls the harrowing experience of NPFL players and their families during the early part of the Covid-19 that they had to stay at home doing nothing. “I am told that even car hire drivers at the airports got palliatives. Again, it is common knowledge what many African countries did for their leagues this period.”

On the violence that erupted after the Nigeria versus Ghana match at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Tuesday, Irabor said it could have been avoided if police authorities over the years had responded to LMC’s requests for police personnel to be trained in crowd control at

Police resorted to use of tear gas to disperse rampaging fans from the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja...last Tuesday. Ghana qualified on the away goal rule to Qatar 2022 World Cup after holding the Super Eagles aggregate 1-1 over two legs

Presidency to Probe Post Nigeria/Ghana MatchViolence in Abuja Describes the violence at the Moshood Abiola Stadium as shameful Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Presidency is to probe the violence and destruction by irate fans of facilities at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Tuesday night after

the World Cup playoff between Nigeria and Ghana. The game ended 1-1 but the Black Stars qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The rampaging fans had stormed the mainbowl of the

stadium after the blast of the final whistle by the Tunisian referee, Selmi Sadok, destroying everything in sight.

Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, while responding on the post match violence in a press

statement yesterday evening, said government was concerned about destruction and will want to know why the incident took place.

According to him, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and

NFF Apologises to Govt, Nigerians over Super Eagles Failure Expresses shock over FIFA/CAF Medical Officer who died of cardiac arrest The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has tendered unreserved apology to the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria for the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for this year’s FIFA World Cup finals holding in Qatar.

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi regretted that the team failed to qualify despite the enormous support of government and the good people of Nigeria who turned out in throngs to fill up the 60,491-capacity Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja for the clash with Ghana’s Black Stars on Tuesday.

“There was nothing the team

sports facilities.

“At the LMC, we met with the police high command in Abuja several times in the past and wanted a dedicated department specially trained to be established at host cities where are NPFL clubs. LMC is still waiting.”

He said that it was unthinkable to have over 60,000 fans inside that Abuja stadium without welltrained stewards and policemen with experience in crowd control.

“But if it was a convention of any of the big political parties, all the policemen and other arms of security agencies would have been deployed.

“Our sports must draw from the experience of people who have made the sector thriving.

You cannot keep a child anaemic and expect it not to have a stunted growth,” concludes Irabor.

needed that was lacking. The Government provided necessary support; the NFF put all logistics in place with the active support of the Sports Ministry and; Nigerians turned out en masseto support the team. The truth is that we left nothing to chance. It is sad that things turned out the way they did.

“Sport is about winning and losing. Nobody wants to lose but sometimes it happens that way. We are quite sad that despite playing a draw in Kumasi, the Super Eagles could not win here in Abuja. We apologise unreservedly to the Government and people of Nigeria for this non-qualification.”

Meanwhile, the NFF has

expressed shock and sorrow over the death of FIFA/CAF Medical Officer, Dr Joseph Kabungo, who died on Tuesday after the FIFA World Cup playoff match between Nigeria and Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. Dr Kabungo was appointed as Doping Control Officer for the match.

“We are terribly shocked at this sad development. The NFF commiserates with world football –body FIFA, the Confederation of African Football, the Football Association of Zambia and the family of Dr Kabungo on his sudden passing. His death pains us very much and we are in a state of deep shock.

“However, it is important to state the facts as they are.

According to the information from our own medical officer, Dr Onimisi Ozi Salami who was appointed by FIFA as Medical Officer for the game, Dr Kabungo was found gasping for breath near the dressing room of the Ghanaian team. I was notified and ordered that he should be rushed to the hospital. He didn’t make it. He died just as they got to the hospital,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi said.

The FIFA Security Officer for the match, Mr Dixon Adol Okello from Uganda also witnessed the incident.

Dr Joseph Kabungo...died of cardiac arrest at Abuja stadium

the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare and other stakeholders are presently compiling a report on the violence which will be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari as soon as possible.

He gave an assurance that those who took part in the violence will be brought to book, saying the law will take its course.

The release stated inter alia: "Nigeria has been shamed by the violence and destruction at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium that followed Super Eagles’ defeat by Ghana in the playoff game for the World Cup championship in Qatar.

"What happened, and why did it happen? Why couldn’t we prevent this?

"The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha is working with the Minister of Sports and all stakeholders involved in preparation of a report President Muhammadu Buhari is expecting on the incident.

"The law will take its own course,” concludes the statement from the Presidency on the violence.

TR

Thursday, March 31, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Rafsanjani to Abdullahi Adamu

“Despite numerous jumbo salaries, allowances, benefits, and public paid expenses enjoyed by former governors, their deputies, former speakers, and their deputies who are currently serving as senators, ministers and in other political capacities, they ceaselessly receive double pay accrued from previously held political offices and current ones. An instance is the recent case of Abdullahi Adamu, who was a governor of Nasarawa State, sitting senator and now the new APC National Chairman”—CISLAC Director, Auwal Musa on public accountability

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Blood and Horror on the Railway T

he Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have issued statements mourning the death of their members. But it may take a while for Nigerians to get the complete picture of Monday’s horrific attack on the AbujaKaduna train. My heart goes out to families of the victims who will find it difficult coming to terms with their loss, especially given the tragic circumstance. This attack indicates the magnitude of the existential threat we face as a nation. And because our common humanity means nothing to these criminal gangs, we must come together to fight them.

To begin with, we must accept the fact that vast swathes of our country are increasingly becoming bandit territories. Authorities, at all levels and in all spheres (traditional, religious, civic), need to ask themselves what they can and must do to change this narrative. We must also understand that in the face of a national tragedy, divisive rhetoric and bigotry stemming from petty politics will only compound our problem.

In times like this, we must collectively commit to do all we can to take back our country from criminal gangs. There is no place for the kind of toxicity we see on social media. A medical doctor was shot on the train. She asked for prayers on twitter. Some of the responses that followed were, to put it mildly, unprintable.

The Abuja-Kaduna road has been practically ceded to kidnappers who operate freely at several points along the expressway. Many have therefore opted for the train, considered to be safer and more convenient. Not anymore.

Before last Monday’s attack, there had been attempts to breach security on the train. It is also not lost on Nigerians that the train attack came

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai only two days after the airport was similarly invaded by bandits. After killing many on the train, including the driver, the gunmen also abducted several passengers who are yet to be accounted for. Dozens were also injured either from gunshots or from fleeing into the bush following the mayhem.

Meanwhile, it is unfortunate that barely 24 hours after the incident, names of those who

bought tickets for the trip, along with their telephone numbers, were already in circulation on WhatsApp. Releasing the official manifest to the public without proper vetting to ascertain who actually boarded is insensitive. I hope there will be a proper inquisition into the tragedy.

Appropriate lessons need to be learnt for the future. But this is a huge problem that we must confront now as a nation.

At the invitation of my friend and former National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Director General, Major General Johnson Bamidele Olawumi (rtd), I was at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre yesterday morning for the 1st Annual Conference for Fellows and Members with the theme, “Nigeria’s Security in the 21st Century: Issues, Challenges and Panacea.”

Before the session started, I had an interesting conversation with the centre’s Director-General, Major General Garba Ayodele Wahab (rtd). But it was the paper by Brigadier General Arnold Onyekachi Okoro that I found most revealing.

An officer at the Department of Transformation and Innovation, Army Headquarters, Okoro spoke on ‘Banditry, Ungoverned Spaces and National Security in Nigeria: A Cursory Look of Kaduna and Zamfara States.’

Okoro, who calls Kaduna home, zeroed in some recent tragedies in the state. Kaduna, according to Okoro, has suffered “from the incursion of bandits who migrated from Chad and Niger Republic into Birnin Gwari general area” hence they kill, maim and rape without concern or emotions for their victims. The testimony of Maimuna Ibrahim, one of the victims on the Kaduna train tragedy, validates Okoro’s proposition. “They are young guys, they should be between 18 and 20. They did not look like Nigerians. Some of them had

APC, ‘PDP Emigrants’ and The List

‘S

enator Abdullahi Adamu. Unapologetically regionalist, ideologically conservative, unwaveringly, and subserviently loyal to his principal; can’t be toyed (tossed) around by Governors; hard nut to crack with limited tolerance; no nonsense autocrat, allergic to social media. Man of history and experience…’

The foregoing characterisation by Senator Shehu Sani in a tweet last Saturday sums up the man who the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has ‘consensusly’ elevated to the position of National Chairman. A former minister under the late General Sani Abacha and two term governor (1999 to 2007) of Nasarawa State on the platform of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu was also secretary of the party’s Board of Trustees and elected twice as PDP senator before moving to the APC in 2014. The president could not have recruited a deadlier enforcer for whatever may be his agenda for the next most crucial eight weeks as he draws down on his administration and plots his succession.

But the drama of last Saturday also suggests interesting days ahead for the ruling APC. In place of Ife Oyedele whose name was on the presidential list for the post of National Secretary, the governors deferred to one of their own, (Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State whose reelection comes up on 16th July this year) to yield the office to Iyiola Omisore, also a political veteran.

A former powerful PDP Senator (as chair of the

senate committee on finance and appropriation committee), Omisore in 2014 contested the Osun state gubernatorial election on the platform of the PDP and was defeated by the current Interior Minister and then incumbent governor, Rauf Aregbesola. When Omisore sought the PDP gubernatorial ticket again in 2018 and lost to the dancing senator, Ademola Adeleke, he picked the ticket of the fringe Social Democratic Party (SDP) to contest the election. Although he came third, when the election became inconclusive and supplementary poll was needed to determine the outcome, Omisore aligned with the APC to tilt the balance in Oyetola’s favour and now he can enjoy the reward. In February last year, Omisore formally declared for the APC where he is now effectively the second most powerful man in the National Working Committee (NWC).

Going by provision of the Electoral Act, “Every political party shall submit the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor in Form CF 002 duly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Political Party”. With that, who secure APC tickets for the 2023 general election is now firmly in the hands of two former PDP veterans: Adamu and Omisore. Interestingly, majority of the other officers inducted last Saturday into the party’s NWC were also former PDP top guns. Former Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Betta Edu, who defected from the PDP last year along with her Governor is now the APC national women

leader. Another former PDP Commissioner in Plateau State, Festus Fuanter is now the Deputy National Secretary of the APC. However, the issue is not so much that PDP has reincarnated in APC but rather that political parties are no more than platforms to grab power for the average Nigerian politician, as I have consistently argued on this page. Afterall, prominent members in both PDP and APC have criss-crossed parties at different times. So, when you see politicians venerating one party or vilifying another, just ignore their rantings.

APC and PDP are two sides of the same coin. It is particularly noteworthy that George Akume who signed the withdrawal notice of other APC chairmanship aspirants last Saturday was not only a two term PDP Governor and Senator, but he was also, early in his political life, a Special Assistant to Iyorchia Ayu, who is now the PDP National Chairman. Ayu, of course, was also a founding member of the APC! I will come back to this issue another day, but my main concern today is the use of ‘consensus’ as a tool for political manipulation. While consensus is not a bad idea, you don’t arrive at consensus by threats and force as happened last Saturday.

My concern stems from the fact that the APC may have found a dubious formula to foist on their members some unpopular candidates in the name of consensus for the upcoming general election.

Piece concluded on page 30

turbans on their heads and they were chanting Allahu Akbar,” she recounted.

Going by Okoro’s thesis, the audacity of foreign bandits has emboldened their local collaborators, whose numbers keep growing: “They occupy ungoverned spaces especially the forest of Alawa, Kamuku and Dansadau where they use as abodes and training areas.

They subsequently invade villages in the selected LGAs, both in Kaduna and Zamfara states at will and carry out various atrocities such as wanton killings, kidnapping, cattle rustling, armed robbery, raping women/girls of attacked communities, destruction of buildings/infrastructure, arson, political thuggery, burglary/house breaking and forceful seizures of farm produce and farmlands, amongst others.”

With statistical data on numbers of killings, cattle rustled, farmlands destroyed, persons kidnapped and women raped in different locations and at different periods sourced from the Nigerian Army Periodic Situation Report Archives, Okoro highlighted the causes of banditry in Kaduna and Zamfara States, as well as the effects of the malaise on the people and their livelihoods before proffering what he considers ‘the way forward’ by way of both kinetic and non-kinetic means.

My main take-away from Okoro’s presentation is that the challenge of insecurity in Kaduna cannot be resolved as a stand-alone problem.

It is a Northwest problem tied to the expansive forests that straddle Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina and Niger States. As a solution, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai has repeatedly suggested carpet-bombing the forest area. “I’ve always believed that we should carpet-bomb the forests; we can replant the trees after. Let’s carpet-bomb the forests and bomb all of them. There will be collateral damage, but it’s better to wipe them out and get people back to our communities so that agriculture and rural economics can pick up,” the governor told ARISE Television in January this year.

While I don’t know how that will play out, the point that we cannot shy from is that the situation we are in today demands more than mere expressions of pain and sadness in repetitive presidential statements. We need concrete action!

Congratulations, Samson Itodo

The appointment of the YIAGA Africa Executive Director, Samson Itodo to the Board of the Kofi Annan Foundation affirms the Biblical proposition that when a man is diligent in his work, he will stand before kings. Member of the Board of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Samson has also served as Research Facilitator for the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) before his current elevation to the Accra-based Anan Foundation Board. “At a time when half of the world’s population is younger than 30, and as urgent challenges require improved and more inclusive governance at all levels, his (Itodo’s) expertise and commitment to the inclusion of young people in politics and effective leadership will bring great value to our work,” according to the statement by the Board’s chair, Elhadj As Sy. Highly cerebral, Samson is without doubt one of the most promising leaders not only in Nigeria but across Africa. I wish him all the best in his new assignment.

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