MONDAY 5TH APRIL 2021

Oil Price Uptick Boosts External Reserves’ Accretion by $404m Reserves rise to $34.8bn in two weeks

Obinna Chima

Nigeria’s external reserves have maintained a positive momentum in the past two weeks, rising by $404 million to $34.820 billion as of March

31, 2021.

This, according to figures compiled from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) website, represented an increase by 1.2 per cent, compared with the $34.417

billion it was as of March 18, 2021.

The uptick was primarily due to a rise in the benchmark Brent crude oil price, which has remained around $60 per barrel. This is about $20

per barrel above the $40 per barrel which the federal government’s 2021 budget is predicated on.

Nevertheless, Nigeria continues to face macroeconomic challenges, which

have seen foreign portfolio investors remain edgy.

Fitch Ratings recently predicted that Nigeria’s external reserves would rise to $42 billion in 2021.

In a report titled,

“Depreciatory Pressures on Key Sub-Saharan African Currencies to Lessen,” the global credit rating agency had hinged the forecast on Continued on page 10

Pantami, Emefiele Settle Banks, MTN’s Dispute over USSD... Page 8 Monday 5 April, 2021 Vol 26. No 9493. Price: N250

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Wreckage of Missing NAF Alpha Jet 475 Found in Bama Body of one pilot intact, other still lost Kingsley Nweze in Abuja The wreckage of the Nigerian Air Force fighter jet that went missing last week may have been found in Bama,

Borno State, an authoritative military source told THISDAY yesterday.

The source said it was found with the body of one of the pilots intact. The pilot was

Flight Lieutenant Chapele Ebiakpo. He, however, said the body of the other pilot, Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa, is still being searched for, explaining that troops on the

ground have been asked to intensify their search.

The Air Force had declared the Alpha Jet fighter aircraft, NAF 475, missing on March 31, saying a few days later

that it might have crashed.

The terrorist group, Boko Haram, had claimed responsibility for the crash but the military refuted the claim.

THISDAY source said last night that the jet, which took off from Maiduguri Airport crashed five minutes after takeContinued on page 10

Obasanjo, Gumi Push for Special Courts to Try Bandits, Kidnappers Again, Kaduna rules out negotiation with bandits John Shiklam in Kaduna and Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and a prominent Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, have called on the federal government to set up special courts to try bandits, kidnappers and bearers of unlawful weapons.

Besides, they urged the federal government to work for a regional solution to the seemingly intractable security challenges facing the country, by seeking the involvement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Also yesterday, the Kaduna State government, again, ruled out negotiations with bandits, warning that anyone caught engaging in such negotiations would be prosecuted.

In a communiqué issued after a two-hour closed-

door meeting in Abeokuta between Obasanjo and some Northern elders, led by Gumi, they charged the federal government to rehabilitate, train in skills, and employ kidnappers and other criminals who are willing to repent.

They, however, said the hardened ones should be smoked out and made to face the law.

In the communiqué jointly signed by Obasanjo and Gumi, they said the federal government was being overwhelmed by the insecurity facing the country and urged it to seek the collaboration of ECOWAS, to contain the situation.

"The federal government should take the issue up seriously within ECOWAS to work for a regional solution," they added.

Continued on page 11

Consultants Overwhelmed as Resident Doctors’ Strike Persists... Page 5

SEARCHING FOR PEACE...

L-R: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf; and Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, during a visit to the former president on insecurity in the country in Abeokuta…yesterday

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

Consultants Overwhelmed as Resident Doctors’ Strike Persists More relatives evacuate patients to private hospitals

Our Correspondents Consultants have taken over the provision of skeletal services to patients following the ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which enters the fifth day today.

Relatives have also intensified the evacuation of patients to private hospitals, THISDAY has learnt.

When THISDAY visited the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi and Federal Medical Centre in Azare, only very senior physicians and nurses were attending to patients.

Bauchi State branch Chairman of NARD, Dr. Muhammad Nur Algazali, said members of the union had withdrawn their services in compliance with the directive of the national body of the union.

"We are still on strike in line with the directives of the national body. We cannot do otherwise. None of our members is rendering any service until the issues are resolved and the industrial action called off by the national body," he stated.

The Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Bauchi, Dr. Jibrin Yusuf Bara, however, told THISDAY that "for now, we have mobilised all our consultants who are rendering services to the patients, assisted by the few house medical workers we have around to keep the situation under control.

"Before the strike commenced, we made sure that patients in all the medical and surgical wards who did not need much medical attention as they were getting set for discharge were allowed to go home while only a few who still needed close attention were allowed to remain behind."

The Chief Medical Director of FMC, Azare, Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, also told THISDAY that the hospital could no longer run the normal 18 hours outpatient and other services because of the strike.

"Though we have consultants, medical officers and other health workers on the ground to provide services to patients, the services of the resident doctors are greatly missed and we hope that the issue will be resolved very soon," he added.

Activities at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, (ABUTH), Zaria; Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital; the National Eye Centre and National Ear Care Centre, all in Kaduna, have also been paralysed following the ongoing strike.

The hospitals are owned by the federal government.

Most of the patients in the hospitals have either relocated to private hospitals or the state government hospitals, while the rest were being attended to by consultants.

According to the Chairman, Kaduna State branch of NARD, Dr. Umar Ikara, doctors in state government- owned hospitals did not join the strike, because the issues at the federal and state levels were not the same.

Doctors at the Barau Dikko Specialists Hospital and Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital, in the metropolis, were also attending to patients.

But at the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna, consultants were carrying out skeletal services by attending to patients.

At the National Ear Centre, patients had to leave as the doctors also joined the strike.

Chairman of NARD at the Ear Care Centre, Dr. Magaji Auwal, told THISDAY that the hospital joined the indefinite strike as directed by the national secretariat of NARD. Activities at governmentowned hospitals in Katsina State were also paralysed following the indefinite strike

by NARD. When THISDAY visited some of the hospitals, it was observed that there was full compliance with the strike directive as resident doctors stayed away from work.

When THISDAY visited Federal Medical Centre (FMC), National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Babbar Ruga, General Ahmadi Rimi Orthopaedic Hospital, Katsina General Hospital, all within the Katsina metropolis, most patients had vacated their beds, saying they were not sure of proper healthcare.

The President, Association of Resident Doctors, FMC chapter, Dr. Salihu Boladale, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that a full compliance with the strike order by doctors was being enforced.

He added that the doctors would not attend to cases, including emergencies.

He said: "If this strike persisted beyond Tuesday, all hospitals would be closed because there is nothing to do again. And mind you, resident doctors constitute 90 per cent of doctors' workforce."

Patients were also groaning at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin, due to the national strike.

The UITH branch Chairman of NARD, Dr. Badmus Habeeb, said the doctors had joined the national strike in obedience to the national association of the union over issues of salaries, allowances and poor working condition.

Also speaking on the strike, the Chairman of the UITH branch of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Mr.0 Olawumi Olutunde, said: "Of course, the strike would affect some services, because the doctors are the health experts really doing the work. The consultants are just there to supervise and they are not always around like the doctors.

“That services are already paralysed now."

However, a visit by

ON THE SPOT ASSESSMENT...

Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde (left), and Secretary to State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, during the inspection of the burnt Araromi Spare Parts Market in Ibadan...yesterday THISDAY to the hospital on Saturday showed that families of the patients have begun to evacuate them to private hospitals in Ilorin.

The chairman of NARD at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr. Nalda Nanfal, has also confirmed that his branch had joined the nationwide strike.

However, the consultants and other health workers have filled in the gap.

Reacting to the strike, the Public Relations Officer of JUTH, Mrs. Bridget Omini, confirmed that the consultants and other health workers were currently offering skeletal services as the strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) enters the fifth day today, close the gap.

At the Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Dala Orthopedic Hospital in Kano, patients were forced to go to private hospitals, while others engaged doctors for home services.

NARD officials at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, who spoke under anonymity, said 75 per cent of the doctors were members of the union and were on strike.

Also relatives of patients at Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH ), Sokoto who are well to do have resorted to seeking medical attention at private hospitals.

Speaking with THISDAY at the weekend, the Chairman of NARD, UDUTH branch, Dr. Sifiyanu Umar Yabo, said his members complied with the directive from the national headquarters by embarking on the strike.

According to him, till the federal government meets their demands, they will not call off the strike.

Yabo stated that as part

of the compliance, they had handed over the patients to consultants.

He added that the ratio of consultants to resident doctors in the hospital is 20:80 per cent.

Yabo added that most works in the hospital were being done by resident doctors and there is no way consultants would cope with the pressure arising from the high number of patients in the hospital.

He said services rendered by consultants were skeletal considering their numbers.

Medical services have also been paralysed at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, following the nationwide strike.

THISDAY learnt that before the strike, which took effect from April 1, services at the hospital were below 40 per cent due to the partial renovation of some of the facilities.

A source at the hospital told THISDAY that many patients were advised to seek help in private hospitals by consultants, who were overwhelmed by work.

The ARD President, UCH chapter, Dr. Temitope Hussain, while speaking on the strike, said the management of the hospital reached out to the association for its members to offer skeletal services, stating, however, that the association insisted on a total and indefinite strike to press home its demands.

The strike also paralysed activities at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

This prompted relatives of patients at the hospital seek medical attention elsewhere for their loved ones.

Speaking to THISDAY on the phone, the chairman of NARD, University of Benin (UBTH), Dr. E. Ofuani, said the industrial action was total.

When THISDAY visited

some federal hospitals in Enugu State, including the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) and the National Orthopedic Hospital, patients were seen with only nurses attending to them.

The hospital looked deserted as most patients had been discharged before the commencement of the indefinite strike.

The same situation was observed at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu.

President of NARD at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Dr. China Edoga, told THISDAY that the branch met and decided to join the national body on the strike.

Patients who visited the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State, were not attended to due to the strike.

However, the strike did not paralyse much activities at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa State, because the medical centre had engaged the assistance of medical consultants to bridge the gap.

When THISDAY visited the hospital, consultants were seen attending to patients and emergencies cases.

The Chairman of NARD in the state, Dr. Bartholomew Murey, said the strike would continue until government meet their demands.

He said there were consultants attending to emergency issues and patients but it would not be enough.

At the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, the outpatient department was almost empty with few people queuing to register for medical treatment.

When THISDAY asked one of the staff who pleaded anornimity the situation of things, she said NARD members joined their

colleagues on the strike.

However, she said the hospital had put up measures to contain the impact.

She added that all the consultants and senior physicians have been posted to attend to patients and conduct ward rounds.

According to her, doctors on leave have been recalled to join others to ensure that the hospital remains fully operational.

It was the same thing at the General Hospital in Kubwa, where consultants have been assigned to attend to accident and emergency cases.

THISDAY gathered that some patients were being asked to seek treatment at private clinics since the consultants are giving more attention to serious cases and patients on admission.

The Chairman of the National Hospital, Abuja chapter of NARD, Dr. Akanimo Onaolapo Ebong, told THISDAY that the level of compliance was 100 per cent.

He added that all the members of NARD in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have withdrawn their services as directed by the leadership of the association.

When THISDAY sought to know if the doctors were considering suspending the strike following promises made by the government to pay their arrears of salaries and allowances, the National President of NARD, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, said the strike would continue.

"As far as we are concerned, the strike continues. We will call it off as soon as government implements our agreement and pay arrears of salaries and allowances. As at today (Saturday) we have not received any payment, " he said.

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Pantami, Emefiele Settle Banks, MTN’s Dispute over USSD Emma Okonji Four days after commercial banks disconnected customers of MTN Nigeria from the use of the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) code for airtime vending, the banks yesterday reconnected them following the intervention of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

The banks on Thursday night had disconnected only MTN customers from accessing the USSD code on airtime vending from all channels linked to USSD code.

According to the banks, they took the decision because MTN reduced the discount offered to banks on airtime sales from four per cent to 2.5 per cent.

MTN’s action did not go down well with the banks, who cited the cut making the cost of managing the infrastructure and other operational costs they incurred as being unprofitable for them.

THISDAY investigation showed that as at yesterday, the customers were reconnected and they could access the USSD code.

Majority of MTN customers who accessed the code yesterday bought MTN airtime from their bank

accounts.

Both MTN and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, confirmed to THISDAY yesterday that the banks had reconnected all MTN customers that were disconnected.

Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, told THISDAY that the minister was upset with the disconnection, just like the telecoms operators, adding that he had to intervene by calling Emefiele, to a meeting yesterday.

According to him, the CBN governor and the minister addressed the commercial issue that led to the disconnection and directed the banks to reconnect the telecommunication company immediately, in order not to further disenfranchise MTN customers that were adversely affected by the disconnection order.

“Now that the customers have been reconnected, the telecoms industry is happy, MTN customers are happy and the banks are also happy,” Adinde said.

Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, had earlier expressed his displeasure over the disconnection and blamed the banks for taking such

action without first discussing the issue with the NCC. ““If this is the way the banks want to react to the USSD issue between banks and telcos, by disconnecting

innocent subscribers belonging to MTN, only time will tell, but I can assure them that their action will not lead to the N42 billion debt forgiveness because the telecoms industry

will not overlook the N42 billion the banks are owing telecoms operators over the use of USSD code for financial transactions. The banks had claimed that

they do not charge for USSD transactions, but report has it that the banks have been charging customers for USSD transactions,” Adebayo had earlier told THISDAY.

CELEBRATING EASTER...

L-R: Conference Convectional Secretary for Evangelism and Discipleship, Methodist Church Nigeria, Rev. Samuel Obeka; Prelate, Dr. Samuel Uche; and Bishop, Trinity Church Council, Rev. Oladapo Babalola, after Easter Sunday service of the church in Lagos...yesterday

NNPC: Nigeria Lifted $33bn Crude, Condensates in One Year Posts $17.9bn revenue reduction, 55m barrels decrease Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A cumulative volume of 734 million barrels of crude oil and condensates were lifted by all parties, including oil multinationals and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) between October 2019 and October 2020, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said.

In terms of accrual values for the lifted barrels, the NNPC data showed that from all government sources, a gross revenue of $9.71 billion was raked in while the corporation's Joint Venture (JV) with International Oil Companies (IOCs) yielded $22.9 billion in the period under review.

Also, Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) taxes were $1.84 billion, royalties paid to the Department of

Petroleum Resources (DPR) were $430.7 million, revenue from federation export was $2.0 billion, domestic sales were $5.4 billion, amounting to roughly $33.7 billion sales between October 2019 and December 2020.

Figures obtained from the national oil company on its operations for the period indicated that compared to the same period between 2018 and 2019, 789 million barrels of crude oil, valued at $51.6 billion, was lifted. The average price of a barrel for the year was $65.14, a reduction of about $17.9 billion in revenue and a decrease of 55 million barrels of lifted crude.

The NNPC said it was ramping up the capacity of its Exploration and Production (E&P) subsidiary, the NPDC, to independently produce at least 250,000 barrels a day.

The data showed that April 2020 remained the worst year for the global oil market, as reflected in the average oil price of $16.69 in that month, down from $61.98 in January, $53.50 in February, $24.55 in March of the same year and then rising to $55.14 around August 2020.

“From October 2019 to October 2020, a total volume of 734 million barrels of crude oil and condensate was lifted by all parties. In October 2020, NNPC lifted 10,333,451 barrels of crude oil from the daily allocation for domestic utilisation translating to an average volume of 333,337 barrels of oil per day in terms of performance,” the corporation stated.

In order to meet domestic product supply requirement for October 2020, the corporation stated that the entire 10,333,451 barrels were processed under

the Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) scheme while there were no deliveries to the domestic refineries for processing.

According to the NNPC, the NPDC October 2019 to October 2020 cumulative production from all fields totalled 74,394,523 barrels of crude oil translating to an average daily production of 187,392 barrels per day.

“Comparing PTD NPDC performance to national production, the company's production share is 10.11 per cent. NPDC is projected to ramp up production level to 250,000bp/d in the near future,” the report stated.

The NPDC wholly operated assets, NNPC stated, amounted to 27,619,416 barrels (or 37.13 per cent of the total NPDC production) with Okono Okpoho (OML 119) alone

producing 20.44 per cent of the NPDC wholly owned operated assets and 7.59 per cent of the total NPDC production.

Also, on the NPDC operated JV assets, in which NPDC owns 55 per cent controlling interest, crude oil production amounted to 33,981,568 barrels (or 45.68 per cent of the NPDC total production) while on the non-operated assets, production level stood at 12,793,540 barrels or 17.20 per cent of the company’s production.

Also, from November 2019 to November 2020, a total of 3,004.06 BCF of gas was produced, representing an average daily production of 7,642.69 mmscfd during the period.

Period to date production from JVs, PSCs and NPDC contributed about 67.29 per cent, 19.97 per cent and 12.74 per cent respectively to the total

national gas production.

The document indicated that of the 15.60 million barrels lifted on account of the NNPC in October 2020, 10.33 million barrels and 1.88 million barrels were for domestic and export markets respectively.

It stated that out of the 219.67 BCF of gas supplied in November 2020, a total of 137.41 BCF of gas was commercialised; consisting of 39.99 BCF and 97.42 BCF for the domestic and export market respectively. This translates to a total supply of 1,332.82 mmscfd of gas to the domestic market and 3,247.44 mmscfd of gas supplied to the export market for the month.

“This implies that 62.55 per cent of the average daily gas produced was commercialised while the balance of 37.45 per cent was re-injected, used as upstream fuel gas or flared.

FG Activates N240bn AfDB Facility for Technology, Creative Sectors Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Buhari administration has commenced the process that will pump the technology, entertainment and creative sectors with over N240 billion in financing and investment set to take off by the end of the year.

A presidential source said at the weekend that the financing, which is a $500 million loan to be sourced

from the African Development Bank (AfDB), could harness potential in Nigeria's creative and technology industries.

The plan, the sources said, was to collaborate with the AfDB and other finance partners to set up the $500 million fund in support of the Nigeria Innovation Programme (NIP).

Already, eight states: Lagos, Osun, Edo, Cross River, Anambra, Kaduna, Adamawa,

Plateau and Abuja, were initially selected as focus states, while Borno, Gombe and Kwara States were recommended

by The Presidency for the programme.

Arrangements for the establishment of a $500 million fund in support of what has been named the NIP, is now being activated, especially with a report of the first draft project proposal presented by the AfDB and other stakeholders recently

at a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Confirming the meeting, Osinbajo's media aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, said yesterday that it was public knowledge that the vice president had spoken publicly about the $500m facility.

According to him, details of how the facility will work were discussed at last Thursday's meeting presided over by Osinbajo, and attended by

ministers, a representative of the African Development Bank (AfDB), among other stakeholders.

Akande stated that the plan to get the funding is an outcome of the Technology and Creativity Working Group set up a few years ago with members drawn from the private and public sectors.

The working group was carved out of the Nigerian Industrial Policy and

Competitiveness Advisory Council earlier set up by President Muhammadu Buhari, and chaired by Osinbajo.

The NIP proposed by the federal government, will close the gaps in the technology and creative industries in the country.

It will also seek to boost innovation, job creation, and foster growth in the technology and creativity entrepreneurship ecosystem.

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Spending on Weapons Despite Pandemic Scandalous, Says Pope Osinbajo: Things will get better for Nigeria Kukah cautions against rewarding repentant criminals Deji Elumoye, Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report Pope Francis yesterday urged countries to quicken the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly to the world's poor, describing the spending on armed conflict and military during a pandemic as "scandalous."

In his Easter message after saying the Mass, Francis read his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message, in which he traditionally reviewed the world’s problems and appealed for peace, Reuters reported.

A similar message by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also called on Nigerians not to despair over the state of the nation, expressing optimism that things are bound to look better for the country with time.

Like the Pope, the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah, condemned the policy of rewarding repentant criminals who have killed, maimed Nigerians and destroyed property worth millions to the detriment of their victims.

But the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said that the efforts of the Buhari administration in the past six years have been inadequate in dealing with the root causes of the country’s challenges.

With the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 is the second year in a row that Easter papal services were attended by small gatherings at a secondary altar of St. Peter's Basilica, instead of by crowds in the church or in the square outside.

The pope said: "The pandemic is still spreading, while the social and economic crisis remains severe, especially for the poor.

Nonetheless – and this is scandalous – armed conflicts have not ended and military arsenals are being strengthened."

Francis, who would normally have given the address to up to 100,000 people in St. Peter's Square, spoke to fewer than 200 in the church while the message was broadcast to tens of millions around the world.

The square was empty except for a few police officers enforcing a strict three-day national lockdown.

The pope asked God to comfort the sick, those who have lost a loved one, and the unemployed, urging authorities to give families in greatest need a "decent sustenance."

He praised medical workers, sympathised with young people unable to attend school, and said everyone was called to combat the pandemic.

"I urge the entire international community, in a spirit of global

responsibility, to commit to overcoming delays in the distribution of vaccines and to facilitate their distribution, especially in the poorest countries," he added.

Francis, who has often called for disarmament and a total ban on the possession of nuclear weapons, said: "There are still too many wars and too much violence in the world! May the Lord, who is our peace, help us to overcome the mindset of war."

Noting that it was International Awareness Day against antipersonnel landmines, he called such weapons "insidious and horrible devices.”

He stated that the world would be much better “without these instruments of death!"

In mentioning conflict areas, he singled out for praise "the young people of Myanmar committed to supporting democracy and making their voices heard peacefully".

More than 550 protesters have been killed since a February 1 military coup in Myanmar, which the pope visited in 2017.

The pope called for peace in several conflict areas in Africa, including the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia and the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, noting that the crisis in Yemen has been "met with a deafening and scandalous silence".

He appealed to Israelis and Palestinians to "rediscover the power of dialogue" to reach a two-state solution where both can live side by side in peace and prosperity.

Francis said he realised many Christians were still persecuted and called for all restrictions on freedom of worship and religion worldwide to be lifted.

Things will Get Better for Nigeria, Says Osinbajo Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has asked Nigerians not to despair over the state of the nation as things are bound to look better with time.

Osinbajo who spoke on the sideline of the Easter Sunday service at Aso Rock Chapel at the State House, Abuja, told Nigerians to have great hope that things are going to get better for the country.

He said: "I just want to thank God for our nation, and pray that our nation will experience the grace and mercy of God in so many different ways that we are expecting His grace and mercy.

All will be well in Jesus Christ's name."

He added that the message of Easter was a message of the special and exceeding love and grace of God. "God's plan for humanity was that Christ will die and will resurrect. The resurrection

is evidence of the fact that those who believe would be saved eternally and would live eternal joy and peace with the Almighty.

And that promise is open to every single person.

"Whoever you are, that promise is open to you. That is, if you subscribe to that plan if you accept that Christ died for you and rose again and that the plan is fulfilled in the resurrection," he stated.

Osinbajo also described the Easter season as one "of great joy because we celebrate the evidence of the plan of God. In some way, God has given us a receipt of our salvation and it's really exciting."

Kukah Cautions against Rewarding Repentant Terrorists, Bandits The Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah has bemoaned the policy of rewarding repentant criminals who have killed, maimed Nigerians and destroyed property worth millions of naira to the detriment of their victims.

Kukah added that the resort to use of propaganda, selling of half-truths and outright lies by those in authority to blackmail genuine critics could only worsen the already bad situation in the country.

In his message to mark this year's Easter celebration, Kukah said the so-called repentant terrorists, bandits and kidnappers have waged war against their country, murdered thousands of citizens, destroyed infrastructure and rendered families permanently displaced and dislocated.

He urged the government to stop investing billions of naira in rehabilitating bandits rather than bringing succour to the victims.

He lamented that the relations of most of these victims have been left to mourn alone and bury their loved ones alone in agony and penury.

He said: "When kidnapped or killed, victims and their families are left to their wits. They cry alone, bury their loved ones alone.

And our government expects us to be patriotic?”

According to him, victims of terrorism and banditry need empathy and succour, which have not been forthcoming from government.

He added: "Sadly, human life is hemorrhaging so badly in Nigeria, but the greatest tragedy is the death of empathy from those in power. Mysteriously, the government is investing billions of naira in rehabilitating so-called Boko Haram repentant members and their other partners in crime in the belief that they want to turn a new leaf.

"These criminals have waged

OIL PRICE UPTICK BOOSTS EXTERNAL RESERVES’ ACCRETION BY $404M

its expectation that Brent crude

would average $53 per barrel, compared to the $43.1 per barrel recorded in 2020. Moreover, the agency anticipated that the CBN would allow the official naira exchange rate to depreciate further over the course of 2021, notwithstanding improved terms of trade and foreign exchange reserves.

“Given rising oil prices in 2021,

we expect forex reserves to rise to an average of around $42 billion in 2021 (around eight months of import cover), compared to $36 billion in 2020.

“However, this will not negate the impact of persistent depreciatory pressures on the naira, notably as a result of rising dollar demand driven by the domestic economic recovery,” it stated.

Speaking at the last Monetary Policy Committee meeting, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, stated that contrary to reports, Nigeria has not altered its forex management policy.

Emefiele added that the country has not changed from its managed float forex management policy.

He had said: “Nigeria still remains on a managed float.

war against their country, murdered thousands of citizens, destroyed infrastructure and rendered entire families permanently displaced and dislocated.

Why should rehabilitating the perpetrator be more important than bringing succour to the victims?"

Kukah also lamented the level of frustrations in the country resulting from endemic corruption and poverty.

He stated that Nigeria is drifting almost irreversibly into a dark tunnel.

"Things are falling apart with unnerving rapidity because those who govern have only a pact to protect their interests. Politics is merely its conveyor belt of ambition. Nigeria has a date with destiny. If we do not turn around, The axe is already laid to the roots of the tree," he said.

According to Kukah, while the country is sinking deeper into crisis, those in government are busy "manufacturing consent by creating imaginary enemies, setting citizens against one another by deploying religion, ethnicity, region, and other platforms."

"Recently, according to the World Happiness Report, we are one of the unhappiest nations in the world. This is unacceptable but understandable. Our clayfooted fight against corruption has not moved the needle of transparency forward.

"Of course, being the poverty capital of the world comes with its rewards such as banditry, violence, death, sorrow, blood, poverty, misery, and tears. Our cup of sorrow is permanently full; hence the exponential rise in the frustration curve across the country," he said.

The bishop spoke on the controversy and crisis generated by the issue of Muslims wearing hijab in Christian schools in Kwara State, describing it as one of those selfish political actions that tend to undermine national cohesion.

He said: "The rumblings over the wearing of a hijab in Kwara State suggest that we have not seen the end of individuals sacrificing national cohesion to feed their personal ambitions by starting small."Most politicians hardly think through the long-term effects of these pyrrhic victories of using religion.

What started as a small fire with adoption of Sharia in Zamfara in 1999, spread across the northern states. "Ordinary people broke into ecstatic joy. Today, what has

become of the North? What are the lessons?"

Kukah urged Nigerians not to lose hope but to be steadfast in prayers and supplications.

While wishing Nigerians a happy and peaceful Easter celebration, Kukah said Prophet Isaiah’s words should give them hope and consolation.

He said: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

Meanwhile, the presidency yesterday faulted the submission of Kukah over the security situation in the country.

In a statement by the media assistant to tge president, Garba Shehu, the presidency said Kukah's vituperation during this Easter festive period was ungodly.

The statement stated that Kukah was playing politics with the homily he delivered during the Easter Sunday service stressing that the president should not be dragged into his politics.

Garba traced the security challenges facing the nation to the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying there was no basis to blame the Buhari’s administration which is less than six years in office.

"All citizens have their individual ideologies, even their own versions of truth. But if you profess to being a man of God, as Father Mathew Hassan Kukah does, ideology should not stand in the way of facts and fairness.

Father Kukah has said some things that are inexplicable in his Easter massage.

"But, in saying that the Boko Haram terrorism is worse than it was in 2015, he did not speak like a man of God,” the statement explained.

The presidency urged Kukah to go to Borno or Adamawa to ask the citizens the difference between 2014 and 2021.

It added that the hijab issue in Kwara State on which Kukah dwelt was a state matter which the courts of the land had adjudicated.

According to the statement, they are matters that have appeared in several states as far back as the Obasanjo administration.

“In all of that, when and where did the name of President Buhari feature? He is playing partisan politics by dragging the President

into it.

"An administration that has created a whole ministry, for the first time in the country’s history, appropriating enormous resources to it, to deal with issues of internally displaced persons cannot, in all rightfulness be accused of not caring for them.

Some of the comments are no more than a sample of the unrestrained rhetoric Fr. Kukah trades in, which he often does in the guise of a homily,” the statement added.

It urged the people to continue to support the ongoing efforts by the administration to secure the country and move it forward.

Nigeria’s Survival Hanging in the Balance, Says Bakare The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said that the efforts of this present administration in the past six years have been inadequate in dealing with the root causes of the country’s challenges, adding that the country’s survival is hanging in the balance.

Bakare, in his Easter message with the theme: “The Conspicuous Handwriting on the Wall,” which was delivered yesterday in Lagos, stated that Nigeria’s national survival is precariously hanging in the balance due to the inability of the present administration to address the country’s fundamental fault lines that would require constitutional restructuring and devolution of powers from the federal to federating states to address.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had spent time papering over cracks and dressing windows while the weak foundational structures were crumbling under the weight of neglect.

“To paraphrase the words of W. B. Yeats popularised by Chinua Achebe, “things are falling apart; the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon our land,” he said.

He added that the Buhari administration might be suffering from what political analysts had termed the “second-term curse,” which has been described as the perceived tendency of presidents to be less successful in their second terms than their first terms.

WRECKAGE OF MISSING NAF ALPHA JET 475 FOUND IN BAMA at that height no missile by Boko Haram could have hit and brought it down.

“Given what we have seen, the jet could not have been hit by any missile. It must have been

caused by a technical fault that would be revealed by ongoing investigations,” he said.

The jet, according to Air Force spokesman, Commodore Edward Gabkwet, was on an interdiction mission in support of ground troops as part of the

ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North-east when it lost contact with the radar.

“The loss of radar contact occurred at about 5:08 p.m. on 31 March 2021,” he said in a statement last week.

What does a managed float regime mean? That the CBN, being the institution that has a core mandate for forex management in the country, we will run the market, see how the market operates, depending on its reading of how the exchange rate moves in the market, we will come from time to time to intervene in the foreign exchange market.

“I repeat, there is no need for anybody to panic. Luckily we have exited recession; so, that’s one positive. Two, crude prices are moving up; three, we are aggressively focusing on Diaspora remittances; four, we are looking to how to encourage foreign investors into the country.

“So we are very optimistic that there’s enough and there will continue to be enough foreign

exchange for people to meet their obligations. We just need people to be patient.

“And I am also saying so again that if you have any foreign currency obligation, your obligations will be met.

There’s no need for everybody to rush to the door at the same time, creating panic and giving speculators the opportunity to reap us off.”

off at an estimated altitude of 15,000 feet, explaining that

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PDP Meets over Venue of South-west Congress Makinde, Fayose feud deepens Chuks Okocha in Abuja Despite fixing April 10, 2021, for the South-west PDP zonal congress at Ibadan, Oyo State capital, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will still meet on Tuesday to agree on the venue.

THISDAY gathered that the decision of the NWC members to sit over the issue of the venue followed an opposition mounted by members of the party loyal to the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, against the decision of the party to hold the congress at Ibadan.

But the Oyo State governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde has, in a statement, warned against any shift of venue for the congress.

Makinde commended the National Working Committee (NWC) for the decision to go ahead with the South-West Congress, saying he is the

only serving PDP governor in the South-west.

He said he was glad that the PDP bowed to superior reasoning regarding the congress.

He also expressed happiness that the congress would be held in Ibadan, Oyo State, which he said was in line with the party’s constitution and as stipulated in paragraph 8 (1) (g) of the Guidelines for the Conduct of Ward, LGA, State, Zonal Congresses and National Convention for the purpose of electing Party Executive Committees at all levels which was issued and signed in January 2020.

“We look forward to hosting other members of the Southwest PDP come April 10.

“However, it has come to my notice that some divisive elements within the party are trying to unduly influence party decisions on the national level. It is shameful that while

the peace and reconciliation committee is going about trying to bring the party together, some people are determined to factionalise it. The NWC must not reward these individuals who are working against the party’s overall interests,” he explained.

The PDP had on March 31, 2021 fixed April 10 for its postponed zonal congresses in the South-west, North-west and North Central zones.

The new date was communicated in a March 31 letter to INEC, signed by National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and the National Secretary, Senator Umar Tsauri.

According to the letter, the South-west congress would take place in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while that of the North-west was scheduled for Kaduna and the North Central’s in Makurdi, Benue State.

But the decision to hold the South-west congress in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has not gone down well with some PDP NWC members loyal to Fayose.

Fayose and Makinde have been at loggerheads over the leadership of the party in the South-west.

While Makinde is said to be sponsoring Mr. Taofeek Arapaja, a former Oyo State deputy governor, Fayose is said to be backing Mr. Eddy Olafeso, a former governorship aspirant in Ondo State and the immediate past chairman of the party in the zone.

The feud between Makinde and Fayose has prevented the party from holding the zonal congress till now.

This crisis has continued despite efforts by the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki-led PDP reconciliation and strategy committee to reconcile both chieftains of the party.

It was also gathered that the PDP governors had vowed not to allow one of their own to be humiliated as they were backing Makinde.

A source from the PDP secretariat told THISDAY yesterday in Abuja that the governors were insisting that as the only governor in the zone, Makinde deserves more respect from the national leadership of the party than he is getting.

THISDAY gathered that it was their intervention that forced the NWC to adhere to the constitution and make the current arrangement.

A member of the PDP NWC confided in THISDAY that a final position would be taken Tuesday, while another said that he doubted if the NWC would change its position after communicating INEC in the letter of March 31 2021.

Meanwhile, the NWC has approved the nomination of the following party members

to serve on the screening of ward, local government electoral committees of the PDP in Yobe State.

The members of the committee are: Alhaji Abdulrahim Bobboi who will serve as Chairman; with Hassan Grema; Vincent Ogbulafor Alozie; and Bala Sada as members, while Dr. Nicholas Msheliza will serve as Secretary.

The mandate of the committee, according to the National Organising Secretary of PDP, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), is to conduct the Ward and LGA congresses for the purposes of electing the party executives at the appropriate level; and to Screen all the aspirants for the State Executive Committee positions.

The exercise is scheduled for Wednesday, April 7, to Saturday, April 10, 2021, in all the 178 Wards and 17 LGAs of Yobe State

Ooni, Amosun, SOKAPU, Falana, Others Pour Tributes on Odumakin John Shiklam in Kaduna, Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo and Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; a former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU); Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, (OAU); a presidential candidate in 2019 general election and global energy executive, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim; Nigeria Council of Yoruba Global Alliance and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) have mourned fiery social critic and spokesman of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who died on Saturday.

In a condolence message issued yesterday by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Moses Olafare, the Ooni of Ife described Odumakin, as an unforgettable patriotic descendant of Oduduwa and a positive factor in Nigeria's

democracy.

The revered monarch also described his death as a rude shock, lamenting that he died when the Yoruba nation in particular and Nigeria at large needed him the most.

"The news of Odumakin's demise was a very bitter pill to swallow for the entire country and to us particularly in the House of Oduduwa. He was a disciplined Yoruba leader who has been one of the loudest pro-democracy voices in the country,” the monarch said.

Amosun lamented the death of Odumakin, saying he died a dogged fighter and a man glued to his ideals.

He said from the outpouring of grief from Nigerians and especially from the South-west, there was no doubt that the deceased led a life of courage, conviction and dedication to a cause he believed in.

"He was dogged, consistent and persistent. He pursued the fine ideals of activism, democracy, freedom, and good governance for the benefit of the majority of Nigerians till

his last breath,” he said.

Falana joined the mourners to recall Odumakin’s past deeds, saying as a student activist he stood in defence of the rights of students.

“Based on his defence of students' rights Yinka was elected the Public Relations Officer of the Students Union (1987-88). That was the time that the Ibrahim Babangida military junta embarked on the deradicalisation of the universities in order to weaken the capacity of the Nigerian people to resist the imposition of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP),” he recalled.

The Chairman of Council Yoruba Global Alliance, Chief Tola Adeniyi, described Odumakin’s death as shocking, unbelievable, stressing that it occurred at absolutely cruel timing.

According to him, it was like a thunderbolt strike into the heart of Yoruba nationalism.

“Bold, bright and outspoken, Yinka was a study in courage and fearlessness.

His commitment to the Yoruba

struggle for liberation and emancipation was never in doubt. He put his whole life on the line for the crusade.

He stood stoutly against the recolonisation of Nigeria and the entire Nigerian indigenous nationalities,” he said.

SOKAPU described Odumakin, as a “fierce fighter for good governance, justice and democracy.”

In a statement issued yesterday, the President of SOKAPU, Mr. Jonathan Asake, said the news of the death of Odumakin was shocking.

“His demise hit the people of Southern Kaduna with great shock and sadness,” he said, adding: “Odumakin was a fierce fighter for good governance, justice and democracy, not only for his people but the entire country.”

The Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Ile Ife, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, described the death of Odumakin, as not only tragic but a monumental loss to the country, the human rights community and OAU. A statement by the Public

OBASANJO, GUMI PUSH FOR SPECIAL COURTS TO TRY BANDITS, KIDNAPPERS On immediate moves to rein in the kidnappers and other criminals, Obasanjo and Gumi stated: "Wean those who are ready to be weaned out of the bushes and crime.

"Settle and rehabilitate them; give them skills, empower them and let them have employment.

"The hardened criminals must be hard hit with stick.

Unlawful carrying of arms should be very seriously punished."

According to them, every community must be encouraged and empowered to fight criminals.

“Every community must be encouraged and empowered to stand firm and strong against

criminals.

"There should be protection and reward covertly for whistle-blowers against criminals living in the community.

"Special courts should be created to deal promptly with cases of banditry, kidnappings, ransom demanding and unlawful carrying of weapons," they said.

In the 21-point communiqué, they stated that the national slogan now should be, 'Security is the responsibility of all Nigerians.'

They agreed to sustain their collaboration in finding a lasting solution to the security challenges facing the country.

Gumi also invited Obasanjo

to Kaduna for a continuation of their meetings and consultations, which the latter graciously accepted.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has again ruled out negotiations with bandits, warning that anyone caught engaging in such negotiations would be prosecuted.

It also debunked reports that it had appointed representatives to negotiate with bandits.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, dismissed the speculations in a statement yesterday in Kaduna.

Aruwan said the state

government’s stance against negotiation or payment of ransom to bandits had not changed.

The statement said: “The attention of the Kaduna State Government under the leadership of Governor Nasir el-Rufai has been drawn to reports in the media that it has appointed representatives to interface with bandits on its behalf.

“The Kaduna State Government hereby clarifies firmly that such intermediaries have never been appointed.

“The position of the Kaduna State Government remains the same: the government will not negotiate with or pay ransoms to bandits”

Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the OAU community received the sudden demise of Odumakin with shock and disbelief, adding that he died when his wealth of experience was most needed to chart a new path for the overall development of Nigeria.

It recalled that Odumakin graduated from the Department of English Language, Obafemi Awolowo University, in 1989, and was a vibrant student activist, a mass mobiliser, a great orator and the Public Relations Officer of the Students Unions.

“As an Alumnus, he assisted the Faculty of Arts in raising funds for a few projects that were of immense benefits to the staff and students,” the statement added.

A former presidential candidate and global energy executive, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has also expressed his deep shock over the death of the Afenifere spokesman, saying Nigeria has

lost one of the greatest.

Olawepo-Hashim recalled that he met Odumakin 33 years ago when the deceased was PRO of Obafemi Awolowo University Students Union, while himself was the PRO of the Students Federation, National Association of Nigerian Students.

He added: "Yinka was always passionate with his point of view. He made his debut into partisan politics when he emerged as a spokesman for Buhari during the 2011 elections.

“He was passionate with Buhari's cause when the General had very few friends in the South-west. He probably displayed the same passion against the General when he changed his perspective. That was vintage Yinka. Fortunately, Yinka and I had mutual respect for ourselves despite our sometimes diametrically opposed perspective,” he explained.

Olawepo-Hashim said another lover of freedom had departed this clime.

The statement urged “citizens to report the details of any persons posing as official government negotiators to the Kaduna State Security Operations Room."

There has been agitations by parents of the 39 abducted students of the Federal College of Forestry, Afaka, Kaduna for the state government to negotiate with the their captors.

The students were abducted on March 11 at about 11:30pm when bandits invaded the school.

In a video clip that emerged on the social media few days after their abduction, the students had begged the government to negotiate with the bandits so that they could

be freed.

Their parents, at a press conference in Kaduna on March 22, had asked the government to take urgent steps to free their children.

It was learnt that a meeting between the parents and security officials in the state, held following persistent protests by the parents.

Details of their meetings with the security officials were not known, but it was gathered that the parents were asked to be patient as everything was being done to ensure the return of their children.

They were also asked to stop talking to the media, so as to avoid jeopardising efforts by security agencies.

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Middle Belt Threatens to Severe Links with Arewa over Attack on Ortom SerikiAdinoyiinJos The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) yesterday faulted the recent attack on the Governor of Benue State, Mr. SamuelOrtom by suspected herdsmen, describing it as “a declaration of war,” and threatening to pull out of what it described as an unhappy marriage with Arewa.

The organisation stressed that such assault was aimed at overwhelming “the Governor and the entire democratic structure in that state which is a coup d’état.”

The MBF affirmed that the “indigenous peoples of the Niger Area and Benue Valley hereby give notice that it is no longer comfortable in the unhappy marriage for the convenience of the Arewa and is ready and prepared to forge ahead as an entity of its own or in alliance with other groups/regions who are prepared to cast off the chains of Fulani hegemony.”

Thiswascontainedinacommunique signed by the National President of the MBF, Dr. Pogu Bitrus and Chairman of the Elders’ Council of MBF, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd), after a meeting that was attended by elders and leaders from all the 14 states of the Middle Belt Region and the FCT. While expressing shock at the reckless, daring, audacious and brazen attack on Ortom, the MBF expressed dismay at the incapacity of security agents to apprehend Miyetti Kyauta Hore said to have masterminded the attack.

They warned that sending a “detachment of operatives to investigate a crime whose perpetrators are known” was not enough response from the federal government.

The MBF commended the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who warned that the nation risked disintegration if any harm were to befall Ortom.

Wike’s position, it said, “is in tandem with that of the Middle Belt region.”

While insisting that either “on account of incompetence or collusion,” the federal government “has failed in its primary constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property of

Nigerians, leading to the takeover of the Nigerian space by merchants of death, kidnappers, rapists and other brigands,” the MBF resolved that “the Middle Belt Region stand solidly behind His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom in his brave and courageous defence of the people of Benue State from the persistent and unending attack by Fulani marauders whose open agenda is the Fulanisation of Nigeria, in general, and the occupation of the

Benue Valley, in particular, and warns these marauders and their sponsors that if any harm were to befall Ortom that incident will be a declaration of war on the indigenous peoples of the Middle Belt which will be repelled with all the fury and force at their disposal.”

The meeting also appealed to the “indigenous peoples of the Middle Belt to take urgent and deliberate steps to protect themselves and their communities from these merchants

of death, kidnappers, rapists and marauders; and to resist all attempts by the federal government and security agencies to disarm them and render them easy pickings for these killer machines.”

The communique reads, “The conditions that led to the demand for the creation of a separate region for ethnic nationalities within the Middle Belt Region at the Willinks Commission in 1948 are still with us, and only surpassed by an

urgency borne out of desperation, making the severing of the Lugardian umbilical cord binding Nigerians imperative as the recent declassification of British colonial documents have revealed that the Northern Regional Government, the Northern Peoples’ Congress and British colonial officers played conspiratorial roles in subjugating the rights of ethnic nationalities in the Middle Belt to serve the interest of Fulani oligarchy.”

GIVING THANKS…

L-R: Editor, THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi; CEO, Midas Communications, Mr. Kehinde Olaosebikan; Special Assistant on Media to All Progressives Congress’ National Leader, Mr. Tunde Rahman, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare; former media adviser to a former governor of Oyo State, Mr. Bolaji Tunji; and a business tycoon, Chief Kitan Balogun, during a special thanksgiving reception by the minister on his recent installation as Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland in Ogbomoso… yesterday

Immigration to Issue Passports in 774 LGAs The Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has disclosed that applicants would soon begin to get Nigerian passports within 24 hours.

In a statement issued yesterday, the minister said passports would be issued in each of the 774 local government areas in the country to reduce the problem of getting it.

Aregbesola stated this at the newly inaugurated Maitama Passport Express Centre.

He explained that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Passport Express Centre, Maitama Abuja was established in partnership with the private sector to make passport Issuance more convenient and quick.

Aregbesolastatedthattheopeningof

thecentre,whichsignifiedtheinauguration of the Passport Issuance decentralisation policy of the administration, was the first ofmanymoretobeestablished in every local government area in Nigeria and designed to offer specialized services to Nigerians.

Aregbesola said, “MPEC is in response to the yearnings of the general public for the Ministry of

Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service to devise additional ways that the passport Issuance process can be less stressful and more efficient. It is the future. The goal is to have a facility like this in every local government in the country.

“Every Nigerian has the right to a Nigerian passport and it is our responsibility to put it in the

hands of anyone desirous of it within the shortest possible time, without stress. The passport should be available in maximum of 72 hours of a successful application.

Where there are issues, the applicant must be notified within 48 hours.

“The commencement of the operations of this world-class facility will not only offer Nigerians services

of convenience and pleasure by taking away the hitherto stress in the conventional passport offices, it will also afford Nigerians the opportunity of getting their passports within 24 hours, at the high premium service and 72 hours at the ordinary premium service, albeit with added value and a little bit of extra cost.”

Senate Committee Queries FRC Buhari Urges Oshiomhole to Eschew Politics of Acrimony at 69 over N258m Extra-budgetary Extols virtues of Chukwuma Expenditure

Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has queried the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) over the extra-budgetary expenditure of N258 million on personnel cost in the agency’s budget for 2017 fiscal year.

The Committee chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide hinged the query on 2018 Audited Report prepared by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF), which is being considered by the National Assembly.

The query reads: ‘’We observed ,from audit, that the Council incurred the sum of N339,834,586.00 as against N81,245,107.00 contained in the 2017 approved budget. This resulted in an extra budgetary expenditure of N258,589,479.00 on Personnel cost.

“This non-compliance with the Appropriation Act was due to the failure of the Executive Secretary to seek approval for

supplementary budget from the appropriate authorities, that is, through the Ministry of Finance and National Assembly.”

But, the Executive Secretary of FRC, Mr. Daniel Asapokhai in his response, said in the year 2017, the sum of N81 million was appropriated as government subvention for personnel cost for the council, adding that the amount was to augment the Council’s personnel cost for the fiscal year.

“The Council customarily prepare its budget at the beginning of every year detailing both Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and government subvention. This is usually sent for approval before implementation. The Council has an approved salary structure which it pays from the IGR. The amount referenced by the Auditors as over expenditures not approved was staff salary funded via IGR which contained in the approved budget,’’ he explained

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with the former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as he marks his 69th birthday anniversary and urged the former two-time Governor of Edo State to eschew politics of division and acrimony.

Buhari has also extolled the

virtues of the late civil society leader, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, saying he was a credible voice of transparency who died when the nation needed his services most.

The President, in a congratulatory message issued yesterday by his Media Assistant, Malam Garba Shehu, urged Oshiomhole to eschew politics of division and acrimony while rededicating his life to working for the prosperity of those in need.

He also charged Oshiomhole to build bridges among people of diverse backgrounds and faith, and also inspire others to be patriotic.

The President joined family, friends and well-wishers around the country to celebrate the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) while thanking God for his life of service to the nation, good health and opportunity to commemorate this special day.

He also recognised the immense contributions the former national chairman has made to the nation and wished the people’s comrade more years of service to build a better country In another development, Buhari has also extolled the virtues of the late civil society leader, Innocent Chukwuma, describing him as a credible voice of transparency who died when the nation needed his services most.

NDLEA Intercepts Drug Trafficker at Abuja Airport with N564m Heroin Michael Olugbode in Abuja A 40-year-old Goodluck Igbineweka Odeh has been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with two kilogrammes of heroin, which has a street value of N564 million.

Odeh, who concealed the drug in the lining of false bottom of his

suitcase, is from Ikpoba Okha Local Government area of Edo state.

He was arrested at the departure lounge of the Abuja airport during an outward clearance of Ethopian aircraft 911 enroute Abuja-Addis Ababa-Italy.

According to a statement

issued yesterday by the Head, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, under interrogation, Odeh claimed he has been living in Italy since 2015 when he got into the country through Libya and that he works as a labourer in a farm in Italy with a pay of about 50 Euro a day.

Odeh added that he also works as a “flyer distributor” when farming season is over and gets as much as 50 Euro/ day, even as he claimed he came to Nigeria over two weeks ago to see his family in the country and also use same opportunity to buy foodstuffs to sell on his return to Italy.

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COMMENT

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

NIGERIA’S ECONOMY: A CALL FOR FISCAL WISDOM Government should spend money on those things that bring economic returns for the nation, argues Bola Tinubu

T

he nation-building contributions made by Sir Ahmadu Bello can never be overstated. More importantly, they should never be forgotten. He laboured tirelessly and with great tact and intelligence. Working together with other shining lights such as the late sage Papa Obafemi Awolowo and the esteemed Nnamdi Azikiwe, this great Sardauna of Sokoto helped establish Nigeria as one indivisible and independent nation. He was one of the chief architects and builders laying the foundation for the nation destined to be the leader of Africa and a model for the black race. It is upon the foundation laid by these extraordinary men that we must continue to build so that Nigeria may achieve its manifest destiny and realise the promise of a greatness too long deferred.

Let me at this point commend the organizers of this auspicious event for their consistency and perseverance in holding this lecture series which, over the years, has served as a platform to discuss issues of serious national importance. For a nation to know where it’s going, it must first know from where it comes.

The topic; Reduction of the Cost of Governance for Inclusive Growth and Youth Development in Northern Nigeria In a Post-COVID-19 era, is more than timely, particularly given the serious security challenges that have become one of the primary causes of despair and frustration among all Nigerians, young and old alike. That frustration and despair are, in large part, caused by chronic poverty and the breakdown in social institutions wrought by such longstanding suffering.

In the midst of our local challenges came the COVID-19 pandemic, with its debilitating impact on the global and domestic economies.

Nigeria, like many other countries, has not been spared the impact of the pandemic. Commendably, however, President Muhammadu Buhari has been carefully steering the country through the pandemic such that the negative impact on us and the economy has not been as harsh as it might have been. The economy’s relapse into recession has ended but we must admit the economy remains weak with too much unemployment and resources left idle.

Cost of governance is always a key factor in the socio-economic development of any nation. But it is also one side of an important coin.

We must not look at the cost alone. We must weigh the cost against the benefits derived therefrom. For example, one can pay a high cost on a productive enterprise but reap a higher benefit. Such would be considered a good investment. However, one can pay a low cost but reap no benefit at all because the endeavour was inherently unproductive. This would be a waste. Thus, we must be careful in what we say and truly mean when we talk of the costs of governance.

The development of any populous nation has always been dependent on the ability of government to allocate sufficient funds to projects and programs that create and encourage enduring growth and employment. We must reject that mode of thinking that assumes government expenditure is inherently unproductive as well as harmful to the overall economy. It is not the fact that government expenditure is intrinsically wrong any more than one can say all private sector activity is economically positive. Government can be wasteful or it can be the key component to growth just as a private sector business can function profitably or spend itself into bankruptcy. The issue is not whether government is spending money or not. The real issue is the economic utility and quality of the expenditure.

COST OF GOVERNANCE IS ALWAYS A KEY FACTOR IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ANY NATION. BUT IT IS ALSO ONE SIDE OF AN IMPORTANT COIN. WE MUST NOT LOOK AT THE COST ALONE. WE MUST WEIGH THE COST AGAINST THE BENEFITS DERIVED THEREFROM

Fiscal wisdom but not necessarily austerity is required for an economy like ours in a time like this, to ensure equitable wealth redistribution and meaningful use of resources. The years have shown that the private sector is much too weak to spur the growth we need. If the private sector could manage this feat, it would have already done so.

Where the private sector is too weak or unable, the government must fill the void. This means government must not be afraid to embark on an activist fiscal policy to create jobs, build infrastructure and develop our industrial sector as well as continue to improve agriculture. This means government must spend money but spend it on those things that bring the requisite economic returns for the nation.

Here, one must make the point about the urgency of the need to think outside of the box in finding solutions to the challenges posed by our unemployed youth. Because of the currency issuing power of the federal government, it is not bound to balance budgets like individuals and state governments are. Moreover, because of this currency power, federal expenditures are not constrained by federal tax or revenue intake. Just as importantly, what I advocate is something that can be applied to both the common and unique developmental challenges of the north and south so that the nation moves in unison without any group or region feeling left out or estranged from national progress.

Thus, while states and local government must shape their budgets to fit their revenues, the federal government can and should spend more to create more jobs for the youth in both the north and south which is key to eradicating restiveness and sundry criminality among the youth. Take a look at the world. Those nations that recovered most quickly from the 2009 economic crisis and now from COVID-19 are those nations that most engaged in government stimulus spending to revive their flagging economies. This was not by accident. It is due to purposeful policy and the deeper understanding of the nature of money and the role of a national government in saving a flagging economy. Thus, America recently embarked on US$1.9 trillion stimulus to buoy the economy. It was not said that this government spending would erode jobs but that it would create them. Thus, we should not be so against government spending. If it is for the right purposes, it can do essential things that the private sector cannot. What we should be against is wasteful government spending.

Building vital infrastructure such as irrigation and water catchment systems will help agriculture, arrest desertification and provide jobs.

Only government has the power and resources to call forth such a program. Another readily available area primed for investment is the agro-allied industry which, for the northern region is particularly advantageous.

Urban populations are growing but urban jobs are not. Here, government must implement a national industrial policy to encourage key industries that begin to employ this growing urban work force.

Like I said in my recent statement on the pressing issue of the herder and farmer dispute, we must appreciate that martial security measures alone will not suffice. Problems that are essentially of an economic origin must also have an economic solution. Enhanced security may be the necessary first step, but it cannot be the only step. We cannot resolve this problem by holding on to one-dimensional answers.

Excerpts from a speech delivered by former Lagos governor, Asiwaju Tinubu at this year’s Arewa House Lecture

POURING WATER INTO A BASKET

Babs Omotowa contends the $1.5bn proposed for rehabilitating the Port Harcourt refinery will be wasted

I

was aghast at an oil conference in 2007, when the then newly appointed NNPC GMD, Abubakar Yar’Adua announced with a swagger that the federal government had reversed the sale of two of the refineries, and that instead, NNPC was going to spend N100bn ($0.9bn then) on the Turnaround maintenance (TAM) to fix the refineries.

The previous President Obasanjo administration had sold two of the refineries to Aliko Dangote and a consortium who had paid $750m, which was unbelievably returned to them by the new administration of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

It was obvious to the discerning mind then that the decisions to cancel the sale and allocation of huge sums for the TAM were a colossal error and one with consequences and huge ramifications for the future.

One felt then that President Yar’Adua may not have been well advised by those who had his ears, but who may have had their eyes on the TAM allocation; that the then president’s socialist preferences may have influenced his decision, or that he lacked the courage to fend off the pressures from the Unions. The rest they say is history. Those decisions cost the country hugely both in the loss of value for the $0.9billion spent and more importantly, our scarce foreign exchange has had to be spent importing fuel. In addition, over N10trillion has had to be spent on subsidies since then.

Sadly, we seem to now find ourselves at a deja vu junction and history is about to repeat itself. The $1.5bn allocation for 18-44 months rehabilitation or TAM of PHC refinery by Tecnimont, Italy, is similarly odd, and it suggests that we either have not

learnt any lessons or that other things are at play.

Over $6bn has been supposedly spent in the last 15-years on various ‘failed’ TAM of these refineries and yet their reliability has hardly exceeded 25%.

The planned additional $1.5bn is troubling and is “pouring of water into a basket”.

The argument that the TAM will enable the refinery be in “good state “for sale flies in the face of logic. No one will buy an outdated refinery in unstable environment like Nigeria for any amount close to the TAM cost.

Firstly, the prices of even better managed refineries are not that high. 160,000bpd Martinez refinery in the better climes of California, USA was sold

by Shell for $960m. Petrobras sold its 323,000bpd RLAM refinery in Abu Dhabi for $1.65bn. Figures of other refineries sold like Total’s 110,000bpd Lindsey in UK and Shell’s 68,000 Fredericia in Denmark are not yet public. Thus the Martinez and RLAM figures show pre-pandemic price of $5-6,000pb. Thus at best, PHC refinery with its combined capacity of 210,000bpd could at best be sold for $$1-1.3b, which is much less than the $1.5b TAM cost and thus such spend would be “pouring water into a basket”.

Secondly, the chance of its sale is quite low, with the world gradually moving from hydrocarbons.

Several refineries are simply being shut and mothballed as many have been on the market for over a year without any interested buyers. These include 210,000bpd Convent and 227,000 Norco refineries in Louisiana, 145,000bpd Pugent refinery in Anacortes, 90,000bpd Mobile refinery in Alabama, Eneos 115,000bpd in Osaka, Japan; Tabangao 110,000bpd in Philippines, Gunvor Antwerp 110,000bpd in Holland, Petrolineos 200,000bpd in Scotland,

Kwinana refinery in Australia and Refining NZ in New Zealand. If these refineries, in more stable and business friendly countries, have been unable to find a buyer, what then is the chance of an old outdated refinery in troubled Nigeria?

Our political leaders deserve to be presented with better quality advise by our public civil servants, and they should then be listened to. The caliber and gravitas of civil servants in a country correlates with the country’s development and it was one of the key factors that made Nigeria a force to reckon with in the 60s to early 80s. Our nation seems to be suffering with the limited quality of our current civil service but one is also left to wonder where are the likes of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council in all of this?

If the refineries can be sold “as is”, even if for a few hundred million of dollars then that will be great, otherwise it should be privatized urgently to move it away from government ownership with its bureaucracy and all, into private majority ownership and control. The government can retain some minority interest (say 20%) to give comfort to the investors and ensure it is not cannibalized, and some of the ownership (say 10%) can be sold to Nigerians on the Nigeria Stock Exchange.

An example of a privatized company in Nigeria is Eleme petrochemical which had also been poorly managed after its commissioning in 1996. It was making losses for many years and had a huge debt burden of over $300m. It was then initially privatized in 2006 with 75% private equity and then later sold for $225m. Since then, the private investors have invested billions of dollars in the fertiliser and methanol plants and is today one of the world’s

largest producers of polyester and has paid tens of billions of Naira dividend to the government.

An example of a private company in Nigeria which has similarities with refineries in hydrocarbon processing in Nigeria is NLNG. The success of the model apart from its generation of huge revenue for the country, is that it has maintained reliability of over 95% since 1999, compared to below 25% in our refineries. These companies are more successful due to: one, private majority ownership drives performance; two, independent board ensues speedy decision; three, CEOs able to take decisions on merit, four, self-funding from revenues or loans., five, strong governance embedding best practice.

Government has no business running businesses, as government drivers (e.g. quota system, harmony) are antithetical to business drivers (e.g. performance, merit, speed). There are far too many examples of government’s failure in running businesses (Nigeria Airways, Nigeria Shipping Line, NITEL, NEPA, Iron and Steel, etc). Even Russia and China have moved away from these types of socialist-communist tendencies and their economies are doing better and North Korea that has held on to it, is a relic.

Privatization is a way to turn these refineries around if it cannot be sold “as is”. Government should reconsider the $1.5b rehabilitation or TAM and not sign the contract or negotiate its cancellation. Such money should rather be spent on critical infrastructure like electricity, rail, roads, health, education.

We should avoid “pouring more water into a basket” - we are better than this!

Omotowa was Managing Director, Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas

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T H I S D AY • MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021

EDITORIAL RESETTING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA The authorities must pay more than a passing attention to the environment

O

f all the five most critical factors that affect the global environment, namely, air pollution, overpopulation, deforestation, climate change and global warming, the biggest threat to Nigeria’s environment remains deforestation.

This is without losing sight of the waste management challenges, flooding, desertification, gully soil and coastal erosion that bedevil various parts of the country. Therefore, the need for environmentally and socially equitable approaches to forest management is imperative, especially at a time the nation’s forests are being taken over by bandits and sundry other criminals.

Ordinarily, forests are home to wildlife which perform a broad range of critical environmental and climatic functions including the maintenance of constant supply of water and ensuring clean air and prevention of desertification, and erosion. Forests harbour species and at the same time have deep economic, aesthetic, industrial and religious significance for humans. Even before the issue of criminal encroachment, many of our forests had been threatened by bush burning and illegal logging; a situation made ENVIRONMENTAL hopeless by absence REMEDIATION MEASURES of measures aimed at SUCH AS THE GREAT their regeneration.

GREEN WALL PROJECT As things stand today, only less than SHOULD BE TAKEN 4% of the country’s MORE SERIOUSLY AND untouched forest cover ADEQUATELY FUNDED is left. More frightening is the fact that the loss has continued unabated at the rate of 3.5% annually.

Some 1.5 million trees are felled everyday owing to illegal logging. About 484 plant species are also threatened with extinction in Nigeria. Between 1981 and the year 2000, Nigeria lost 3.7 million hectares of forests.

Nevertheless, Nigeria’s remaining forests harbour about 4000 different species of plants including those that have been found to be effective in the development of alternative medicine. There are also animals, including birds that can only be found in Nigeria and nowhere else.

Letters to the Editor

These include the Ibadan Malimbe, the Anambra Waxbill, the Jos Indigo Bird and the white throated Monkey (Cercopithecus erythrogaster pococki), the Niger Delta Pigmy Hippo and the Niger Delta Red Colobus Monkey.

All these important species are threatened by habitat loss apart from other anthropogenic or human factors.

T

T H I S DAY

EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI AJAYI, DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

he desert is still encroaching at the speed of more than 1.6 kilometres annually. There are almost 3,000 erosion sites in the South East. Flooding in Lagos is anything but ordinary. Rising temperature is increasingly becoming unbearable while agriculturists are struggling to adapt to the attendant climate variability with serious socio-economic implications. The National Park Service that is charged with the responsibility of protecting swathes of forests and their biodiversity is lacking in capacity apart from being inadequately funded and supported.

Against this backdrop, therefore, there is need to completely reset the country’s environmental agenda. The fight against insurgency and banditry should be ramped up to rein in the devastation and degradation of the natural environment across the country. Environmental remediation measures such as the Great Green Wall Project should be taken more seriously and adequately funded. The federal government must order a thorough review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of some huge projects of serious environment impact such as the Eko Atlantic City.

Stringent statutory provisions should be put in place to protect the various ecosystems and their biodiversity.

There should be more transparency and accountability in the application of Ecological Funds – the funds must be made to fully and directly serve its purpose. Tougher measures should be put in place to checkmate wanton emission of noxious and deleterious gases through gas flaring and use of outdated machines. Electricity challenges in the country should be addressed to minimise the use of power generating sets. The Green Recovery Project of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) must attract deserved encouragement and partnership.

If we must reclaim our country from the hazards of nature, the foregoing and other measures are important.

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

A Political Makeover For Isa Yuguda

P

erhaps, political observers in Bauchi State and elsewhere across Nigeria are yet to find out that Mallam Isa Yuguda’s popularity is latently getting greener as the 2023 general elections inch nearer.

With every sunrise, the former governor’s political image becomes better defined. What is obvious is that as his political relevance continues to increase, the Matawallen Bauchi will likely play significant roles in Nigeria’s future elections.

But this is not surprising for anyone who knows the political antecedents of the 14th Bauchi State governor. Isa Yuguda is a man of conviction who is politically calculative and deliberately patient. If he sets out for a cause, no amount of drudgery and back breaking toil will have him get out of the trenches. Rather, he will remain determined and patient enough to fight to finish.

And this is where both his political strength and weakness lie.

In both the general elections of 2007 and 2015 which were the most significant in his political annals, Isa Yuguda deployed all of his fire power to fight for what he believed were his best political options at the time. He got the former right and the latter wrong. But as a politician with the knowledge that irrespective of the outcome of election, what is important is the ability to manage the situation, the former aviation minister handled both victory and failure in such a manner that they all

ended up as huge success.

And today, Isa Yuguda is standing tall at the top of the ladder of Bauchi State politics. Kin observers of political development in the pearl of tourism can easily notice that the dynamism with which he plays politics has made it possible for Yuguda to be one of the main key political actors in the state. He has one of the strongest political wiring in Bauchi State today.

And this owes to the fact that in the annals of the state, no politician has built people more than Isa Yuguda. Over the years, he supported almost anyone who came across him in the pursuit of livelihood or worked with him at the bank, the federal executive council or Bauchi Government House. Thus Yuguda has helped many Nigerians developed wings and can now fly. The present Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed can testify to this.

Therefore, the All Progressives Congress (APC), both in Bauchi and at the national level, have in Mallam Isa Yuguda an untapped political resource, which if properly harnessed will give desired results. As the 2023 general elections draw closer, the party needs to involve the political juggernaut in its state, regional and national schemes of things so that it will all not end up like the Hausa proverbial chicken that slept all night on the bag of its feeds with empty stomach because of ignorance.

Mukhtar Jarmajo, Abuja

A Young Man’s New Job

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t appears ex-Prince Harry will be working for the Aspen Institute as one of fifteen people looking for ways of resolving fake news and media misreporting, an area that he has some familiarity with. The members will be journalists, politicians, professors and philanthropists and Harry, as it is not too easy to classify him amongst those options.

As they are only spending six months at the issue it is unlikely they can find a solution to one of the most difficult problems in the modern world.

It’s also odd to see a ‘victim’ trying to prevent the ‘crime’ since it may be damaging to their mental health.

I am afraid that fake news will be around for as long as people need to put out their views, especially views that are not accurate or not accepted by the majority of people. It would seem that politicians may be one of the greatest sources and victims of fake news.

Remember - being honest is easier, you don’t have to try to remember your story.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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MONDAY APRIL 5, 2021˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Kukah’s Position on Insecurity, Hijab Crisis, Ungodly, Says Presidency Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Presidency last night faulted the submission of The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Father Matthew Kukah over the security situation in the country and the hijab crisis in Kwara State.

In a statement by the Media Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu, the Presidency emphasised that Kukah’s vituperation during this Easter festive period is very ungodly.

The statement stated that Kukah was playing politics with the homily he delivered during the Easter Sunday service stressing that the President Muhammadu Buhari should not be dragged into his politics.

Garba traced the security challenges facing the nation to the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo saying there was no basis to blame the Buhari’s administration which is less than six years in office.

“All citizens have their individual ideologies, even their own versions of truth. But if you profess to being a man of God, as Father Mathew Hassan Kukah does, ideology should not stand in the way of facts and fairness. Father Kukah has said some things that are inexplicable in his Easter massage.

“But, in saying that the Boko Haram terrorism is worse than it was in 2015, he did not speak like a man of God,” the statement

explained.

The Presidency urged Kukah to go to Borno or Adamawa to ask the citizens the difference between 2014 and 2021.

The Presidency added that the Hijab issue in Kwara State on which Kukah dwelt was a state matter which the courts of the land had adjudicated.

Odongunyan Area of Ikorodu, Lagos, according to a statement shared on Twitter by the Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Gboyega Akosile.

The statement said, “Segun, a senior member of Eye Confraternity, had been on the run for a while since he got the wind that he had been

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Islamic Development Bank, (IsDB) in partnership with the Lives and Livelihood Fund (LLF) has released about N74 million for the purchase of vaccines

declared wanted by the police for his atrocities in Ikorodu Area of Lagos State. But he was sighted in Ikorodu today 4th April, 2021, while the DPO Sagamu Road Division and his men were on surveillance patrol around Ikorodu.”

The police also arrested a 43-year-old man for defiling his wife’s 15-year-old niece.

Bandits Kill Five in Kaduna JohnShiklaminKaduna No fewer than five people were killed by bandits following an attack on Katarma village in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna.

The commissioner said security agencies reported the attack in Katarma village to the state government.

He said the security report indicated that the “five persons killed in the attack were listed as:

Samson Danladi, Luka Gajere, Amos Ali, Titus Baba and Damali Musa”.

The commissioner added that one person was injured and was taken to the hospital in a neighbouring state for treatment.

The statement noted that, “in another incident, troops under the auspices of Operation Safe Haven reported a clash between some youths in Atuku village, Jema’a LGA. “During the clash, one Afiniki Thomas was attacked by two youths, and sustained a deep gash to the forehead.

“One of the assailants, Sani Safiyanu was arrested for profiling

“An administration that has created a whole Ministry, for the first time in the country’s history, appropriating enormous resources to it, to deal with issues of internally displaced persons cannot, in all rightfulness be accused of not caring for them.

Some of the comments are no more than a sample of the

unrestrained rhetoric Fr. Kukah trades in, which he often does in the guise of a homily,” the statement added.

It urged the well-meaning citizens to continue to support the ongoing efforts by the administration to secure the country and move it forward.

Kano Gets N74m from Islamic Devt Bank for LivestockVaccination

Lagos Police Arrest Serial Killer, Cultist Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a serial killer.

According to a statement, the arrest was made yesterday by police detectives attached to the Sagamu Road Division in an operation led by the Divisional Police Officer.

The serial killer, Segun Agodo, male, was arrested in

According to the statement, they are matters that have appeared in several states as far back as the Obasanjo administration.

“In all of that, when and where did the name of President Buhari feature? He is playing partisan politics by dragging the President into it.

and investigation.

“The injured victim was rushed to hospital for treatment”.

He stated further that, troops of Operation Safe Haven, while on patrol, discovered the decomposing corpse of one Paul Simon, a resident of Yagbak village in Zangon Kataf LGA. According to the statement, the deceased was reported missing on March 24, 2021, adding that the corpse had since been buried.

The commissioner said, “Governor Nasir El-Rufai prayed for the repose of those slain, and sent condolences to their families, while wishing the injured a quick recovery.

and other consumables for mass livestock vaccination campaign in Kano State.

The fund was allocated through the Islamic Solidarity Fund, the poverty alleviation arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group, to the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) for the vaccination of cattle, sheep and goats against major diseases challenging their productivity and health.

Livestock health and productivity are serious concerns

in not only Kano State but Nigeria in general. An indication of this problem is that the country imports 60 percent of its milk requirement, implying that local production cannot meet up with demand.

At the moment, Nigeria’s milk and dairy products importation stands at about $1. 5 billion, which is presumably as result of the prolonged neglect of the livestock sector by successive governments.

Flagging off the vaccination

at Dansoshiya Grazing Reserve, Kiru Local Government Area yesterday, the state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said: “I must emphasise that besides playing a major role in protecting animal health and reducing their suffering, this vaccination is an issue of serious public health concern because it prevents animal to human transmission of diseases and enables efficient production of halal animal-derived food products to feed our growing population.”

Zulum Urges Borno Christians, Muslims to Live in Peace Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum has felicitated with all Christians in the state on the Easter season and urged them and the Muslims in the state to live in peace..

Zulum, in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, also said he was very proud of Christians and Muslims in Borno State for maintaining peaceful coexistence in all the 27 Local Government Areas of the State, despite facing tough situations from Boko Haram since 2009, whose fighters have undertook numerous attacks on places of worship.

Zulum said: “As Christians all over the world mark this year’s Easter celebration, which began Friday, I felicitate with my Christian brothers and sisters in

Borno State.

“A season like this, which calls for deep and shared reflection on our lives in general, should remind us of not just the challenges we continually face, but also, to be grateful for some accomplishments we have made together as citizens with equal stakes in the Borno project.”

He said: “For me, one great accomplishment recorded in Borno State is the peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians across the 27 local government areas despite being faced with all manner of inciting tactics deployed by those who wish to knock our heads.

“I am immensely proud of the people of Borno for the religious harmony between Christians and Muslims in families, communities, schools, all our social and political gatherings,

at Government institutions, private work places, markets and other business places, in our sporting activities and other aspects of our shared existence.”

Zulum also said: “I thank and commend our traditional rulers, elders and religious leaders in both faith, for being role models for younger ones and for our children. Indeed, I am proud of the religious peace we have, and I urge us all to continue to do whatever we can to nurture and preserve that precious harmony between us.”

He however promised that his government remains committed to sustaining that bond of peace, stressing that critically, they are determined more than ever, to work behind the scene to find lasting end to the Boko Haram insurgency.

17

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY APRIL 5, 2021

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

Email: nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 SMS ONLY

M O N D AY D I S C O U R S E

With Continuous Voter Registration, INEC Targets More Credibility

Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that the impending commencement of Continuous Voter Registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission may be the first test to win stakeholders confidence towards successful conduct of national elections in 2023

Buhari

Yakubu

Itodo

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY APRIL 5, 2021

18

MONDAY DISCOURSE

Lawan

and seeks, as much as possible, to discharge himself equitably and remain on the right side of history.

Although, the COVID-19 pandemic was (and is still) a sufficient reason to cancel many items off the planned agenda of organizations, Yakubu would go deeper to seek stakeholders’ indulgence. He explained, “The CVR,” he said, “could not recommence in 2020 due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic.” For those who sought to put his back against the wall for conducting elections, while failing to hold the CVR. He made it clear that he could not go against the advice by health officials regarding events involving large groups of people. He said it was auspicious to focus mainly on elections proper to avoid constitutional crisis connected with end of tenure.

“In the light of the prevailing circumstances, the Commission promised the nation that it would recommence the CVR in the first quarter of 2021. Our thinking at the time was that at the turn of the new year, we would have completed all outstanding off-season governorship elections and that the pandemic would have eased. We also needed time to put in place new systems that would facilitate safer registration of voters, should the pandemic persist. The first quarter of 2021 ended and obviously the Commission was unable to restart the CVR exercise. It is, therefore, in line with our long-standing pledge to carry Nigerians along in all our activities and to make them aware of any challenge in the discharge of our functions, that the Commission has called this Press Conference,” Yakubu stated.

Perhaps, he should have added also that he needed the comfort of his re-appointment

by President Muhammadu Buhari and the confirmation by federal legislators.

With a couple of crucial by-elections across the country, successfully concluded, this year, Yakubu is understandably visiting the CVR and ancillary issues with more urgency. Of course, the CVR Press Conference addressed issues far beyond the immediate concern of CVR. The INEC Chairman used the opportunity to mention other critical activities to be accomplished within the following timelines leading to the recommencement of the exercise: Expansion of voter access to Polling Units – 11th May 2021; building and testing the online registration Portal – 15th May 2021; the arrival of the new generation of registration devices – the IVED – 31st May 2021; recruitment and training of Voter Enrolment Staff – 14th June 202 and restart of CVR – 28th June 2021. He said, “Effective from Monday 28th June, 2021, the CVR exercise will commence nationwide and carried out continuously for over one year until the third quarter of 2022.”

In line with the practice since INEC came under his watch, Yakubu uses a sample population to test his theories. In this case, “emphasis,” he said, “will initially be on Anambra State where more centres will be established in view of the governorship election already scheduled for Saturday 6th November 2021.” He explained further, “In order to complete preparations for the governorship election, the CVR exercise in the state will be temporarily suspended in August 2021. This will enable the Commission to clean up the data for the state and print the PVCs for registrants.”

Under Yakubu, INEC has made visible improvement on its performances. With each election, there is always a heartwarming novelty that reduces the chances for fraud and increases the trust of voters in the system. During the most recent governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, last year, INEC was commended by many stakeholders, across board. For the

Gbajabiamila

Obiano

Verification of voter’s card

first time, results were posted directly from polling units to its server, making it accessible to the electorate. This development conferred credibility on the elections results.

The first in the series of consultations with stakeholders to provide more details on the CVR exercise, particularly the innovations that will ensure a safe and stress-free experience for registrants will hold after the Easter break.

Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa, a leading election monitoring group, whose goal is to build democratic societies anchored on the principles of inclusion, justice and accountability led by its Executive Director, Mr. Solomon Itodo may be set to deploy its Watching The Vote (WTV) election observation methodology during the CVR exercise like it did in 2017. The Yiaga observation mission is geared towards enhancing the credibility and transparency of the voter registration process.

According to Itodo, ‘’It will also generate data and knowledge for influencing electoral policy formulation and implementation in the buildup to the general election.’’ YIAGA’s #WatchingTheVote is an advanced observation methodology that uses well-established statistical principles and sophisticated information technology for reporting and assessment of electoral activities. Using this methodology, YIAGA says it will provide the most timely and accurate information on the conduct of the CVR, PVC distribution and transfer of registered voters.

Yakubu has approached his assignment with amazing enthusiasm, always willing to explain, what he is doing or why he could not proceed with a certain decision. For instance, he shed light on the delayed commencement of CVR. “There are three cardinal reasons why the exercise could not start earlier. The first is the establishment of new systems that would ensure safer CVR exercise in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, the Commission is building a new online registration portal that would enable new registrants to commence registration online and subsequently complete the capture of their biometric data at designated registration centres. This is designed to reduce crowding. Through the online portal, they can schedule their visits to the registration centres to suit their convenience. Above all, a CVR Locator is integrated into the new portal which will enable online registrants to locate the nearest registration centre available to them complete their registration. Previously, registered voters who wished to transfer their voting locations, apply for replacement of their

PVCs or correct their personal information had to appear physically at the registration centres.

The development of this portal, which is being done in-house by our engineers, has taken a little more time to complete than the Commission anticipated.

“The second reason is the Commission’s determination to expand voter access to Polling Units. In addition, many of the Polling Units are inaccessible to voters, especially Persons With Disability (PWDs), and are not conducive to implementing the Commission’s election regulations, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are glad that most Nigerians agree with the Commission on this issue, and we have commenced a far-reaching programme of converting Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements into full-fledged Polling Units and relocating poorly situated Polling Units to better locations. The Commission needs more time to complete this exercise, so that the new Polling Units will be available for registrants to choose from during the CVR exercise.

“Thirdly, the Commission has decided to introduce a new voter registration equipment and technology. The present generation of voter registration equipment, which the Commission introduced in 2011, is the Direct Data Capture Machine (DDCM). This is based on a laptop and a series of peripherals connected to it.

In addition, it includes large power packs to power the laptops in the field. While the DDCMs have served the Commission well over the last 10 years, we believe that there are now more compact registration devices that will better serve Nigerians during the CVR exercise. The Commission is therefore migrating to the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED), which is based on an Android tablet. The procurement of the new devices, the modification of the registration software by our in-house engineers to make it compatible with the Android Operating System, as well as integrating these with the online registration portal require a little more time. For instance, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our partners abroad who manufacture the IVED hardware, are not operating at full capacity and the pandemic has also made the supply chain and delivery much slower,” he stated.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised INEC to stop interrupting the CVR. PDP Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, Taofik Gani, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was “embarrassing” that the process “is always announced as if it has intervals. That should not be; it should be a continuous and uninterrupted registration exercise.”

Gani told INEC to let Nigerians know if they

are facing logistics constraints. “Why should they say continuous voter registration while it is not really continuous?’’ he asked.

The spokesman said announcing the start and the end of the exercise was contrary to its aim of continuity. PDP noted that if not for the time frame, many more Nigerians would have registered. The opposition political party called for free and fair general elections that would reflect the will of the people in 2023.

Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) is an exercise meant for the registration of citizens who turned 18 years of age after the last registration exercise; or those who for one reason or another could not register in the previous exercises.

The 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) mandates the Commission to carry out CVR nationwide and to make available to every political party within 60 days, after each year, the names of the addresses of each person registered during that year.

In pursuance of this requirement, the Commission has developed the modality for the conduct of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise nationwide.

The Continuous Voter Registration shall be carried out in the Local Government Area offices or at such other locations within the Local Government Areas as may be designated by the Commission. The list of such centres for the CVR Exercise shall be publicized in the Local Government Areas.

The Preliminary Register of Voters (PRV) shall be displayed for public scrutiny at registration Centres at the end of every quarter before printing of PVCs. The Registration Area Officers (RAOs) will print the list of registered voters for the quarter and display same at the Registration Centres for seven days. The register shall be clearly marked Preliminary Register of Voters.

Meanwhile, INEC has cleared the air on the assumption in some quarters that the National Identification Number (NIN) may be necessary for voter registration, stating emphatically that NIN is not mandatory for voter registration.

Yakubu said that NIN was only a means of identification for registration as listed in the Electoral Act. “I want to make this important clarification. NIN is not going to be made mandatory for voter registration.

“This is for a simple reason that we are operating on basis of law establishing INEC. “Section 10 of the Electoral Act lists identifications to be presented by prospective registrants for the purpose of voter registration to includes birth certificate, national passport, national identity card,” he said.

The INEC chairman said the list also included driver’s licence or any other document that would prove the identity and age of the applicant.

He said that the NIN card was only one of the means of identification provided for, under section 10 sub-section 2 of the electoral act.

“We cannot single that out and make it mandatory. All the other requirements are requirements of the law and we must apply the law appropriately.

“If you have your national ID card we will register you on presentation of the card, but we will not make it a mandatory means of identification for the exercise.

“Since the law, the electoral act does not make it mandatory, it is only one of the many means of identification required,” Yakubu said. On COVID-19 pandemic, he said that 1,000 registration centres had been added to the existing 1,446 for the exercise to reach as many people as possible.

The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise is expected to gulp a sum of N1billion.

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY APRIL 5, 2021

POLITICS

As Tinubu Sustains His Quest for the Presidency Of all aspirants jostling for the 2023 presidential ticket of one of the two major political parties, Senator Bola Ahmed, the acclaimed National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, seems the only one who is not tiptoeing about his ambition, writes Segun James

B

y the time you are reading this, the one-week long celebration of the life, times and politics of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by his admirers would be over. One of the indicators that the politics of the 2023 election has resumed in earnest was the choice of Kano to kick start his 69th birthday celebration. Kano is the biggest and the most politically radical city in northern Nigeria.

The debate on which section of the country will produce the next presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is still shrouded in a mist, but for Tinubu, who has not hidden his interest in carrying the party’s presidential flag, this does not matter.

He has unilaterally thrown his hat on the ring.

If the idea behind the Kano venue was to measure his influence among the northern political elite, he achieved it with the array of people who graced the occasion. And if it was to know how the Talakawas of the north will react to his candidacy if he wins the APC presidential ticket, he got the answer.

The real beauty of the game of politics does not lie in deception. If a man plays to the gallery and he’s praised, it does not make him a man of the people. He could as well be a skillful player in the mould of Maradona (who became infamous for the earning an unjust goal in the ‘Hand of God’s episode), it is when using your brain to survive attacks from opponents trying to stop you from scoring a winning goal that determines if you are politically savvy.

To a lot of people, 22 years is such a long time to remain as the boss in a state as metropolitan as Lagos which prides itself as the Centre of Excellence.

But that is what Tinubu has enigmatically done. It is unprecedented in the history of politics in the country. In this enduring spell, Tinubu has successfully installed six governors, in Lagos and beyond, numerous members of the National and state houses of assemblies and others outside the sphere of politics. To many, he is an enigma, a man who is larger than life.

At 69, Tinubu is one of the riveting issues in politics. His loyalists are split between those who advise him to take his leave of partisanship and others who think he should continue to play the game. Some say because of his influence in the affairs of Lagos State, he holds the purse of the state government and they conclude that it is condemnable.

To such people, he has fleeced the state too much. Yet others will counter this is as a false narrative, claiming that Lagos remains the only state in the federation that is self-sustaining.

What’s more, it generates over N60 billion monthly in IGR. They say the Lagos State Government is the only one in the country that is working. All others are barely surviving, including the Federal Government.

While some say that Tinubu should continue to be the godfather that he has been since 2007 when he left office as Governor of Lagos State; or that he should just quit politics altogether because he has been a bad influence on the system, his admirers say that the suggestion smacks of jealousy. They even contend that the godfather and kingmaker should be allowed to be the preside over the country for once in order to sanitize the inefficiency at the federal level and make the system work as he did with Lagos. To them, he should be given the chance to replicate the magic of Lagos that is still working to date.

Today, while his adversaries are trying to bring him down, by all means,

Tinubu

Tinubu is pursuing an unprecedented campaign strategy. As he is fraternizing with the working-class who feel strongly about the political culture in the country and are disillusioned by successive governments in the country, he is also trying to connect with the man on the street, the people who vote during elections in the country.

Of course, many presidential aspirants have their strategies, but that of Tinubu has been deliberately focused with an emphasis on the political class, the people most like to oppose his candidacy and the very people who will ensure

that he gets the party’s ticket.

As things appear, most most politicians do not read their party’s manifestos, and most voters have made up their minds on what will determine where they vote. Also, the undecided majority will choose on the basis of personality, some by leadership qualities, and others on tribal sentiments; and not on election pledges.

Tinubu realizes that manifestos matter for two reasons: one, they count especially when there are movements along the political divide; two, because of the prevailing political situation in

Many pundits have predicted that the race to become the next president of Nigeria will be an especially nasty one, fraught with tribal sentiment and religious discord. There is one consolation for the depressing instability being predicted in the polity. The next president will not be decided by an individual or a group of tribal leaders, but by the people. Any attempt to foist a candidate on the people will be met with stiff resistance. Tinubu knows this. Tinubu is a complex and vibrant man - a firehouse of ideas, voluble and mercurial - yet cool under pressure.

Above all, he is a strategic thinker able to adapt to changing circumstances

the country, it is the only thing that would be held as sacrosanct when issues get bloody.

Many pundits have predicted that the race to become the next president of Nigeria will be an especially nasty one, fraught with tribal sentiment and religious discord. There is one consolation for the depressing instability being predicted in the polity. The next president will not be decided by an individual or a group of tribal leaders, but by the people. Any attempt to foist a candidate on the people will be met with stiff resistance. Tinubu knows this.

Tinubu is a complex and vibrant man - a firehouse of ideas, voluble and mercurial - yet cool under pressure.

Above all, he is a strategic thinker able to adapt to changing circumstances.

His men adore him, not least because he takes care not to waste their lives in futile ventures, but he watches their back all the time.

But for all his political dexterity Tinubu also has some blind spots. He apparently has failed to see the opposition that is welling up against his aspiration among his supposed supporters. Bloated by ambition, he is said to have become prejudicial and narrowminded in his quest. His opponents complain that his ambition has made him place little value on competence and knowledge, but blindly depends on the loyalty of people who have gone rouge. If nobody notices this, his enemies, especially within the APC do.

And that is the problem he will have to contend with as the national elections 2023 draw close.

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MONDAY APRIL 5, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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CITYSTRINGS

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

Passion for Giving Back to Society Rebecca Ejifoma writes that for the CEO of Zelo Homes Limited, Harvey Ugochukwu Igboanugo, who clocked four decades today, the true meaning of wealth is giving back to his community and society at large

The road he constructed for his Oraifite Community

Igboanugo, wife and others at the inauguration of the road

Igboanugo

"S

position. For him, whatever he does for his community, is borne out of love. For instance, to give back to the community that produced him, he used his resources to fix roads leading to some of the villages in his home. Aside that, he has carried out other projects to make sure his town is developed.

He is so passionate about his community and that is why since his birth 40 years ago, he has never spent any Christmas holiday anywhere in the world apart from his home town.

Another unique feature Igboanugo exhibits is his circle of friends. One thing that has contributed to the success that Igboanugo enjoys today is his closeness with his friends. As someone who believes there is a great value in friendship, he has overcome many challenges with the help of friends and those who he has never met before in life. In the trajectory of his life, people he didn't know before but who went extra miles to assist him in crucial moments are now his friends today and those relationships has yielded great fruits and created impact in him.

Some of the experiences he had while growing up and in the course of his business made him to give friendship 99 per cent because it favoured him most times. Today,

o teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom,” says Psalm 90:12. This Bible verse is relevant to Mr. Harvey Ugochukwu Igboanugo, a philanthropist and real-estate entrepreneur, who clocked 40 today.

Igboanugo, as the founder and CEO of Zelo Homes Limited, has distinguished himself in different capacities including carrying out several empowerment programmes, community development and providing thousands of housing units in different parts of Lagos.

There is a notion that a fool at 40 is a fool forever but for Igboanugo, popularly known as “Havy Don” he is not a fool at 40. At 40 he is a fulfilled man with a lot of positive results to show based on his success and achievements in life.

His fulfilment has gone beyond physical wealth to putting smiles on the faces of others through his philanthropic gestures.

For the businessman, clocking 40 is no mean feat given that he is celebrating it in abundance, most especially in good health and the love of the hundreds of lives he has touched over the years.

For him, the past 20 years has been all about testimonies because of great things

God has done for him, family and business.

This success is ascribed to God’s grace, hard-work and commitment to whatever he laid his hand on, he posited.

Right from childhood, Igboanugo had a big dream that he was going to be a great person in the future. Believing that heaven helps those who help themselves, he remain resolute, determined and steadfast in the pursuit of his big dream and today he is fulfilled because most of the things he desired in life has been accomplished with extra.

His company, Zelo Homes has provided shelter for thousands of Lagosians who quit the camp of tenants to become landlords.

But one thing that has stood him out is his desire to use his vast wealth to touch lives. Over the years, he has made credible impact on his immediate community. His passion to bring positive change to his community has meet the needs of both his community and people around him on many occasions, especially on things that has to do with community growth and development as well as empowering the people.

Although he is not a politician, he is quick to dissuade those that think his philanthropic gestures are borne of a need to curry their favour for a political

based on the way he values friendship, he has friends spread all over the world.

Giving thanks for clocking 40, Igboanugo, acknowledges that his life has been testimony without any regrets, noting that God has been so kind to him by blessing him with a good wife and three beautiful kids – a boy and two girls.

A family-oriented man, it was not surprising that one of the happiest moments of his life was the day his son was born.

Despite his tight schedule and commitment to his businesses, Igboanugo is a family man, who cherishes his immediate family as well as the extended family.

He also acknowledged that one of the things that helped him to live a fulfilled life is the good wife he was blessed with, noting that he enjoys a wonderful marriage because he cherishes his wife and usually celebrate her always likewise the children who are God’s blessing to the family.

A firm believer that all work and no play makes one a dull boy, Igboanugo enjoys playing games in his past time- one of his favourite games is Formula1, which is not surprising as he is someone that has been actively involved in sporting activities from his childhood days. Back in secondary school, he used to be play tennis, football, badminton and javelin.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͳ, 2021

CRIME&SECURITY

Commitment to Sustained Peace, Security in Lagos, Ogun Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army under the leadership of the new General Officer Commanding, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu, is committed to ensuring sustained peace and security, as well respect for human rights in Lagos and Ogun areas of responsibility

General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army (NA) Major General Lawrence Fejokwu and his predecessor, Major General Godwin Umelo, at the handing/taking over ceremony

Major General Lawrence Fejokwu during his visit to students and staff of Holy Child College, Ikoyi, Lagos

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ast year October, the #EndSARS protest rocked the nation but the state that bore most of the brunt was Lagos owing to the wanton destruction of properties and loss of lives perpetuated by those who hijacked the peaceful protest.

Also at the centre of the protest was the 81 Division of the Nigeria Army, whose role in the Lekki Tollgate saga is still subject for deliberation, although the command still maintains its stance that they played by the books.

Although the state is steadily recovering from the debacle of the aftermath of the hijacked protest, it still faces other issues of insecurity and pockets of criminalities.

All these and many more are some of the challenges facing the state and which the new General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu, is bent on tackling.

Already, he has put his right foot forward specially during his maiden familiarisation tour of formations and units to see things physically in order to improve the state of readiness of units and formations under command.

Handover Major General Lawrence Fejokwu recently assumed command as the 30th General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army, 81 Division headquarters on February 24, 2021, after the recent reorganisation of the top hierarchy of the army.

Fejokwu took over following the handing and taking over ceremony with his predecessor, Major General Godwin Umelo, that took place at Headquarters 81 Division Conference Room in Lagos.

In his remarks during the handing and taking over ceremony, the new GOC charged officers and soldiers in Lagos and Ogun to be ready to work harder.

While thanking the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru for the opportunity given to serve the Nigerian Army in a higher capacity, the GOC further assured commanders and principal staff officers that his doors are opened for new ideas on how to move the division forward.

Until his recent appointment, the GOC was once a Directing Staff at Armed Forces Command and Staff College and National Defence College.

His last appointment was Director Personnel Services at the Department of Administration Army Headquarters.

Meanwhile, in his remarks earlier, General Umelo , who spent eight months on the saddle, described his experience as rewarding. Reminding them the country was going through trying times, he urged them to remain loyal, dedicated and professional to the core.

He commended the officers and men for standing by him during their trying moments, urging them to extend same to the new GOC. He said: "Whatever we have achieved as a division couldn't have been possible without the steadfastness and cooperation of all of you seated here. I want to thank all of you for rallying round me during our trying time and making

by engaging our officers to have mastery of the laws so that they will not take laws into their hands,” Nuhu added.

The GOC with the Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi 1 at his palace the division what it is today.

"I therefore want to urge all of you to extend to him the same cooperation you gave to me during my tour of duty. I know and I am confident that Lawrence is going to surpass whatever achievement we were able to achieve in this division."

Highlights of the ceremony included the signing of handing and taking over notes, decoration of the the new GOC with the division insignia and hand over of the division flag, which marks the symbol of authority.

Assurance of Safety During his tour, he visited Holy Child College, Ikoyi, Lagos, where he assured them of safety and adequate security. The GOC maintained that in view of the current realities in the country, particularly on security, there is the need for everyone to be proactive and not reactive.

He said on his part, he would ensure adequate security is provided for the college as part of the effort of the NA to ensure safety of education institutions in the country.

Major General Fejokwu noted that the kidnapping of students in recent time has necessitated the need for proactiveness of everyone. Speaking further, he said although kidnapping of male students often generates alarm, however the kidnapping of female students generates more alarm.

To this end he said he would circulate phone directories of nearest unit and formations of the NA that could be reached during periods of emergencies.

The Administrator of the Holy Child College, Reverend Sister Antoinette Opara, while receiving the GOC expressed delight over the visit.

According to her, the visit alone was an assurance that the college is now safer as she can always reach out to the GOC if there is any emergency, adding that the college is for girls only and that is why adequate measures are needed to guarantee security in the college.

Highlights of the visit of the GOC included presentation of flower by a student to the GOC, tour of the college and group photograph with staff and student.

Commitment to Uphold Human Rights, Humanitarian Laws Soon after he assumed command, the division held a two-day workshop to educate officers on Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws. Speaking at the opening of the workshop in Lagos, the GOC said the training would help to support the strategic vision of the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Generao Lucky Irabor.

The GOC, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Nsikak Edet, said the COAS vision was to build a Nigerian Army repositioned to professionally defeat all adversity in a joint environment.

“For instance, the case of EndSARS which we handled as a division brought about a lot of issues bothering on proper management of social media space. So, this lecture will instill high quality character on how officers should comport themselves when on duties."

Fejokwu further said that another key lesson to be learnt from the protest would be the legal status of a soldier and the justification of the use of force. According to him, a soldier should know when to use force and the degree of the kind of force to be applied to conform with the principle of use of minimum force.

“One of the principles of the international security treaty is the use of minimum force. So, the troops need to know how to apply force, what will make them apply that excessive force or minimum force as the case may be..Therefore, the officers and soldiers will be sensitised on these laws to guide them in all their operations to work in accordance with the law,” he said.

The Division’s Training Officer, Brigadier General Shuaibu Nuhu, said the workshop would also educate officers on the importance and challenges of having a next of kin, adding that there had been cases where at the demise of an officer dies in the course of duty, several family members would come to claim the officer’s benefits.

“The workshop, therefore, serves as a platform to educate on professionalism, responsiveness in the Nigerian Army through appropriate awareness of human rights and humanitarian laws. We want to make sure that everything we do is transparent

Charge on Discipline, Dedication At 9 Brigade, he charged the troops to be more disciplined, dedicated and loyal in discharging their duties professionally at all times. This is just as he had briefed commanders at various levels to caution their troops to avoid any acts capable of causing disrepute to them as individuals and the Nigerian Army in general.

Also harping on patriotism, steadfastness and courageous acts in their service to the nation, he enjoined leaders at various levels to take the welfare of their troops as priority in order to enhance their working capacity and good output generally. He also warned the troops against posting of unauthorised information and pictures on social media.

In his speech, the Commander 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Sale Kawugana, congratulated the GOC on his recent appointment and appreciated his visit to the Brigade.

Appeal for Peaceful Coexistence The GOC's familiarisation tour soon extended to Badagry as he visited the Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi 1 at his palace, where he appealed for continuous cooperation and peaceful coexistence between residents of Badagry and the military.

Gen Fejokwu, during the courtesy visit, stated that that he came to the palace to pay homage to the his Royal Majesty having come to Badagry to see the units under command and to seek the blessings of the Akran of Badagry on assumption of command as the GOC 81 Division.

The Akran of Badagry thanked the GOC for visit and expressed appreciation for the continuous support received from the army units in Badagry, adding that commanders of the units have been very effective in ensuring the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in Badagry, noting that this was evident during the ENDSARS saga as they were able to bring the situation under control.

The Badagry Monarch said there was no time the unit commanders have ever disappointed him whenever he calls for their support. He therefore prayed for the GOC and wished him a successful tenure Synergy In a similar vein, the GOC paid a courtesy call on the Seme Border Area Comptroller of Customs BM Jibo where he commended the cordial relationship and synergy offered by the sister service to the military. He said he is just one call away for any additional assistance or support as his office is opened for any assistance from the army.

The GOC was accompanied to the Badagry Monarch Palace by the Commanders of 81 Div Provost, Brig Gen A Garba; Division Military Intelligence Brigade, Brig Gen A Yellow Duke; 55 Signal Brigade, Brig Gen H Yanet, among many other Principal Staff Officers and the Commanding Officers of 245 battalion and 15 Field Engineering Regimen.

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ ͳ, 2021

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

Global Coordinator, Young Christian Ladies’ Association, Mrs. Itohan Osayame (right) and CEO, e-pay Limited/2023 Presidential Aspirant, Mr. Victor Ani-Laju during an award of excellence presented to Ani-Laju at a press conference where his 2023 presidential ambition was declared in Lagos...recently

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Develoment, Dr Ernesat Umakhihe; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Develoment Sabo Nanono and permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance and Budget Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse at a meeting between the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts and Stake holders on the 2016-2018 External borrowing plan in Abuja...recently PHOTO: JULIUS ATOI

L-R: Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo United Kingdom Minister for the Armed Forces, Rt Hon James Heappey MP during the Minister’s visit to the Naval Headquarters, Abuja…recently

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, inspects a ‘Guard of Honour’ mounted by the 2021 Batch ‘A’ Stream One Corps Members at NYSC FCT Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja...recently

L-R: Executive Secretary, Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, Ibrahim Mairiga and Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment & Public Service, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau during an oversight visit to the Board in Abuja,...recently PHOTO: AYO AJAYI

L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo; Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu; and Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya during the Vice President’s visit to the Emir’s Palace in Gombe...recently

L-R: Lady Ben Obi, wife of Senator Ben Obi, the newly weds Chidinma and Nomso, Senator Ben Obi and the bride’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Iyke Willie-Nwobu at the wedding reception of the couple in Port Harcourt...recently

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

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Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

A P R I L

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

558.78% 0.00% - 0.67%

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EXCHANGE RATE ͱ͵ͷ˹ͯ ̩ ̩

Quick Takes ‘Ekiti Didn’t Sell Its Wema Bank Shares’

Wema Bank Plc at the weekend clarified that the Ekiti State government has not sold its shares in the bank.

The Head, Marketing, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, Wema Bank Plc, Funmilayo Falola, made the clarification in a statement.

According to her, “The attention of the bank has been drawn to some misleading reports in the media which state that Ekiti State government has sold some of its shares in Wema Bank Plc, thereby reducing its holdings in the bank.

“We wish to state that this report is not correct and should be disregarded by the public. Ekiti State Government only transferred its shares to the State investment company and are still the ultimate owners of the mentioned units of Wema Bank Plc shares.

“Ekiti State Government is also a part owner of Odua group which is a core shareholder in Wema Bank Plc.”

EKEDC Assures of Quality Service Delivery

CHANGE OF BATON

L – R: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NGX Regulation Limited, Tinuade Awe; Group CEO, Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Oscar Onyema; and CEO, Nigerian Exchange Limited, Temi Popoola, during a handover following the completion of the demutualisation of the Exchange, at a ceremony held in Lagos…recently

‘MSMEs Clusters to Boost Competitiveness, Export Drive’ James Emejo in Abuja The Director-General/Chief Executive, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, has assured that its furniture cluster park, currently under construction at the Industrial Development Centre (IDC), Idu, Abuja, will on completion in 2021, enhance the competitiveness of micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in the country and boost efforts to diversify the economy.

He pointed out that by design, clusters provide economies of scale by having shared infrastructure and common facility for small businesses, adding that this will have spill off effects on other enterprises.

Speaking during a facility tour of the Furniture Cluster Park Radda said, the project was

ECONOMY conceived by the agency in 2017 to among other things, provide a favourable environment for furniture entrepreneurs to thrive.

He said though most MSMEs have had access to grants, the present unfavourable environment had limited impact.

He noted that the ongoing project was meant to enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs to produce quality products that are not only competitive within the West African market but also globally.

Represented by Deputy Director, Department of Engineering Technology and Infrastructure, SMEDAN, Mr. Anthony Igba, the SMEDAN DG, said the project would take advantage of the African Continental Free

Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) by delivering products to other African countries, thereby boosting economic development.

He told THISDAY that there are 23 IDCs across the country for fast moving consumer goods, textiles, spices, leather and among others, specifically established based on the comparative advantage of the states.

He said though the IDCs had existed before the creation of SMEDAN, they had not been functioning.

He said: “So SMEDAN wanted to know what to do with it and got a grant of $600,000 from African Development Bank (AfDB) to conduct a viability study on its conversion to cluster park.

“And the study showed that the conversion of Idu IDC to furniture Cluster Park will be a very viable project.

“The beauty of clusters is that

you have economies of scale by having shared infrastructure and common facility and will attract spill offs for other enterprises.”

Harping on the benefits, Radda said project would boost the development of small businesses as well as enhance their contribution to the economy through job creation.

He said the concept was unique as it brings together government, the academia and industry to reign in the initiative.

He said the furniture park, which is about 80 per cent completed will accommodate about 525 MSMEs and provide a one-stop-shop for businesses to get easy regulatory certification for their products.

He said the complex will house regulatory agencies including Continued on page 58

WTO, FranceSeal€6mDealtoDeepen Trade in Developing Countries Obinna Chima France is donating approximately €6 million to finance the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) technical assistance programmes for developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) from 2021 to 2023.

The intervention is aimed at improving participants’ understanding of global trade rules and standards.

French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire and the country’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Franck Riester, confirmed the contribution at a signing ceremony with WTO Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, held at Geneva, recently.

In the meeting with OkonjoIweala, they discussed a number

ECONOMY of issues, including the role of the WTO in supporting a postCOVID-19 economic recovery, WTO reform, climate change and sustainability issues, gender and e-commerce.

The internship programme sponsored by France and Ireland would receive an annual contribution of €900,000 to finance internship for government officials at the permanent missions of developing countries and LDCs in Geneva.

According to the statement, a yearly amount of €550,000 would be targeted to support the new phase of the WTO’s Chairs Programme aimed at helping academic institutions in developing countries and

LDCs build their expertise in trade policy, international trade economics, international relations and international economic law.

Since the launch of the Programme, which has been part of the Global Trust Fund for ten years and is covered by the technical assistance plans, the WTO has provided financial support.

The Standards and Trade Development Facility would receive annually €400,000 to help developing countries and LDCs implement food safety, animal health and plant health standards required for international trade and to improve their sanitary and phytosanitary capacity.

Commenting on the agreement, Okonjo-Iweala said: “The technical assistance activities which France is supporting will provide developing countries and LDCs with

essential skills and knowledge so that they may more effectively participate in multilateral trade, including trade negotiations, and achieve meaningful outcomes for the people they serve. I welcome France’s continued generosity.”

On his part, Maire, said: “France is convinced that the WTO has a major role to play in the wake of the economic crisis. We need to move forward on a number of reforms so that the WTO can play its role again in easing trade tensions and settling disputes, so that every country can reap the benefits that international trade offers, including developing countries.

“Our discussions with the Director-General focused on transforming and improving

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has congratulated Christians on this year’s Easter celebration. The company in a statement by its General Manager, Corporate Communications Godwin Idemudia, said Easter is a time of reflection and gratitude to God for His demonstration of love to mankind.

“We join Christians across the country to celebrate this year’s Easter. As we celebrate, we are reminded of the profound demonstration of God’s love to humanity, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“Easter is therefore not just a religious observation, it is a celebration that holds profound lessons of humility, humanity, kindness, empathy and selfless sacrifice as demonstrated by the circumstance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Idemudia said the company was aware that many individuals and families may not be celebrating Easter in its usual fanfare, considering that the world is only just recovering from the effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic, but added that while such difficulty and challenge may have lasted for a while, it is convinced that in no time the world will be back to normal.

“The impact of COVID-19 is still not lost on us, this year’s Easter celebration will still be celebrated amid mild restrictions and public health guideline, Easter however comes with the reassurance that our world will soon be back to normal” He said the company remains committed to improving the current power supply situation to ensure there is adequate power supply to its customers during the period of the celebration and beyond. According to him, the continuous upgrade of its facilities and distribution infrastructure was to enable the company consolidate its promise of improved supply to all the customers within its distribution network.

MERCOSUR Marks 30th Anniversary

The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) has marked its 30 years of peaceful operations.

MERCOSUR was founded upon the signing of the Treaty of Asuncion in 1991 by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The bloc was a historic achievement in the region and one of the major milestones in Latin American economic integration, which was intended to overcome the previous logic of rivalry between the countries and establish cooperation dynamics.

According to a statement signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship for Argentina, Felipe Solá, with a population of almost 300 million and an area of about 15 million square kilometres MERCOSUR is known for its great natural resource and food potential.

He said the bloc exports 63 per cent of the world’s soy and is the largest global exporter of beef, chicken, corn, coffee and iron, as well as the eighth largest global automobile producer.

Based on its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which in 2019 reached $4.467 trillion (measured by purchasing power parity), “the bloc is the world’s fifth largest economy,” he highlighted.

According to Solá, although the explicit goals of MERCOSUR upon its foundation were of an economic and commercial nature, the bloc plays an important role in the consolidation of democracy and the avoidance of conflict.

“The strategic actions that the bank has taken over the past 12 months evidence a strong focus on retail banking and financial inclusion, an African expansion strategy and a drive for scale for sustainable value creation” CEO, Access Bank,

Continued on page 58

Herbert Wigwe

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͳ˜ 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

‘MSMES CLUSTERS TO BOOST COMPETITIVENESS, EXPORT DRIVE’ SON, NAFDAC and the environmental regulatory board to grant on the spot certification.

He added that the study is to provide facilities- work space, machinery to ensure that what they produce is competitive, has good quality as well as guarantee value for money.

The DG said: “When the study was completed in 2018, SMEDAN deemed it fit to approach the government that a pilot of it should be carried out and Abuja was chosen” adding that the furniture cluster is to provide a favourable environment for them to thrive.”

He explained that the programme was predicated on PPP arrangement, pointing out however, that the government had resolved to use the Abuja project as pilot scheme to demonstrate its workability.

In a separate development, Radda has commiserated with the government and people of Katsina State over the recent fire incident that destroyed hundreds of shops at the central market in the state capital and that of jibia and Funtua market respectively.

WTO, FRANCE SEAL €6M DEAL TO DEEPEN TRADE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

the WTO’s Appellate Body, on clarifying and respecting multilateral trade rules, and on strengthening the WTO’s role in the fight against global warming.

“Trade must serve sustainable development. France is committed to limiting the impact of global warming on a global scale, and to supporting developing countries in this effort, through the strengthening of their industrial and commercial capacities.”

In his comment at the meeting, Riester, said: “This is a crucial moment for the WTO. We are experiencing an unprecedented paralysis. At the same time, this period offers exceptional opportunities to reform the Organisation so that it can build dynamic, fair, just and sustainable international trade.

Supporting MSMEs Will Boost Economy, Says Minister James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Mariam Katagum, has said creating opportunities for micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) remains essential for increasing productivity, job creation as well as boosting the economy.

She said creating an enabling environment for them to thrive has become extremely important given that small businesses currently contributed about 50 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounted for over 80 per cent eighty per cent of employment Katagum, at the 27th edition of the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic in Gombe State, said the sector remained the engine of growth of any economy.

She pointed out that the federal government was not relenting on its efforts to partnering stakeholders across all sectors to ensure that MSMEs have the support they needed to grow.

She added that current interventions were geared towards enhancing the competitiveness and quality of services rendered by small businesses, as well as to position them to compete with their counterparts both within the country and globally.

Consequently, Katagum said

there’s a compelling need for every state and local government areas in the country to identify areas of comparative advantage, particularly in agriculture and other resource endowments, and build competences for food sufficiency and export.

She added that this had become more pressing, considering that trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) had already commenced on 1st January 1, 2021.

The minister said the federal government was fully committed to empowering Nigerians, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, through the National Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) which aimed to douse the impact of the pandemic on small businesses.

Katagum, who is the Chairperson of the Survival Fund and Guaranteed Offtake schemes under the NESP said: “These interventions, which have reached considerable implementation

levels and received accolades and positive testimonies nationwide, have provisions for 45 per cent female-owned businesses, as well as five per cent for those with special needs.

“Some key tracks include, Payroll Support; General MSME Grant; Artisan/Transport Grant; and Free Business Registration”.

The minister further emphasised that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had recently approved the revised National MSMEs, which provides the

framework to resolve the challenges faced by the sector.

She explained that the aim of the review process was to ensure that the revised policy reflects unfolding economic and social imperatives affecting MSMEs in the country and align with international best practices in MSMEs development.

The minister expressed optimism that the implementation of the policy will set the MSMEs on the path of sustainable growth and development.

DECADEOFGASFORUM

L-R:ExecutiveSecretary,NigerianContentDevelopmentandMonitoringBoard(NCDMB),SimbiWabote;MinisterofStateforPetroleumResources,Timipre Sylva;ManagingDirector/ChiefExecutive,NigeriaLNGLimited(NLNG) TonyAttah andBoardMember,NigerianNationalPetroleumCorporation(NNPC)Lami OnayiAhmed,attheDecadeofGasConferenceorganisedbytheMinistryofPetroleumResourcesandsponsoredbytheNLNGinAbuja...recently

‘Technology Adoption for Tax Compliance Still Low’ Emma Okonji In spite of widespread technology adoption in managing several aspects of operations in Nigeria’s financial services sector, technology is yet to be leveraged in managing taxes.

This formed part of the findings in a recent survey carried out by PwC Nigeria on senior level executives from various sub-sectors in Nigeria’s financial services industry.

The survey, which revealed an abysmal low technology adoption for tax compliance in Nigeria’s financial services industry, explained that only in managing payroll, has technology been widely adopted

for tax compliance.

Other notable findings of the survey, were the lack of tax strategy and the high transaction taxes such as Withholding Tax (WHT) and Value Added Tax (VAT).

According to the survey, about 47 per cent of tax functions in Nigeria’s financial services sector either do not have a tax strategy or they are not aware of one.

The survey polled the major industry players in financial services, including banking, insurance, and pension fund custodians. Executive directors and chief finance officers combined, made up 60 per cent of the respondents, while other respondents included tax

managers and financial controllers at 33 per cent and seven per cent respectively.

Analysing the survey, Partner, Tax Reporting and Strategy at PwC Nigeria, Mr. Kenneth Erikume, said: “Organisations are currently operating in highly dynamic local and global tax environments.

“Locally, we are seeing an aggressive drive from tax authorities to shore-up state and federal government’s revenue generation goals.

“This places greater responsibility on the tax function, like never before. It also constrains the tax function, often reducing it to a compliance-focused unit,

rather than a potential strategic partner helping to achieve corporate vision, and to execute business strategy.”

The majority of organisations surveyed, especially in the banking sector, either had a fullyfledged tax function, or were in the process of creating one to be staffed with a minimum of five employees.

The survey report advised organisations going through the journey of creating a fully-fledged tax function, to consider how they can be optimised.

This will involve identifying possible processes that could be outsourced or insourced.

Reorganising the tax function

around tasks that refocus the energy of employees towards more strategic processes, would define a successful tax function.

Tax as a function should have a documented strategy that aligns with the overall business strategy.

“It not unusual that transaction taxes such as Withholding Tax (WHT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) are high up the list of taxes with a greater probability of leading to additional tax liabilities, or significant exposure to tax audits.

This is because Nigeria’s financial services industry is characterised by high volume of transactions, multiple locations, and is prone to tax risks with manual tax processes,” Erikume said.

FirstBank Disburses N58bn to 81,000 Female-owned Businesses Nume Ekeghe Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

FirstBank Nigeria Limited has disclosed that it disbursed a total of N58 billion to female-owned businesses in 2020.

The Chief Executive Officer FirstBank Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan said this on Wednesday, during the First Gem 4.0 Conference which was a hybrid event that saw participation from local and international analysts, with the topic: ‘The Art of Negotiation.’

He also said FirstBank remains committed to supporting women-owned businesses and the economy generally with its expanding retail lending as well as its drive for financial inclusion.

He said: “FirstBank, through the FirstGem initiative is committed to supporting the contemporary woman’s financial services needs across the various stages of her life.

“Our FirstGem value proposition provides real solutions to challenges faced by female entrepreneurs and working professionals.

“Today, our work is more important and impactful than ever! A review of the performance of the FirstGem initiative shows the effectiveness of our efforts to elevate and empower the Nigerian woman.

“In 2020, we gave out loans of NGN 58 billion to over 81,000 female entrepreneurs and professionals.”

Furthermore, he added: “Empowering women via agent banking proposition is one of the outcomes of the FirstGem initiative.

“Across our agent banking network, the largest verified bank-led agent banking network in Nigeria, we have about 24,500 female agents representing 28 per cent of the agents in our network.

It gives us much joy to see that more women are embracing this proposition and getting empowered.”

He noted that the FirstGem Initiative takes an inclusive approach to empowering women with respect to their business, family and future.

“Whether you are the primary financial decision maker, a partner

or financially independent, the time is now to power your own financial success by being part of the FirstGem Initiative, open a FirstGem account and join the FirstGem community,” he added.

On his part, the Head of Consulting at Agusto Consulting, Mr. Jimi Ogbobine, in his presentation spoke extensively on the Nigerian economy. He urged participants to ensure they capitalise on the growing e-commerce space.

He said: “e-Transactions in Nigeria is now larger than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria even without the telcos putting full hug into it.

“So as a business, if you do not have an e-payment system,

you are missing out in a major growth area in the country and by 2022 to 2023, it could grow double the size of the GDP nearing the N250 trillion mark.”

“Post-covid, consumers are going to remain with buying things online, so as a business, your online pay has to be strong enough to help you scale. As a business, you have to expand your market because the average consumer is poorer and you can do this with an online play buy attracting diaspora buyer who are not poorer in naira terms.

“In fact, they are richer in naira terms and that would lead to an expansion to your market. The diaspora is an integral part of your market.”

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Transcorp Records N75bn Revenue, N3.8bn Profit Goddy Egene Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) has released its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020, showing a revenue of N75.271 billion and profit after tax (PAT) of N3.792 billion.

Total assets of the group grew by eight per cent from N313.1billion to N338.1billion, while shareholders’ funds increased by five per cent, from N108.7 billion in 2019 to N114.4 billion in 2020.

According to President/Group CEO, Transcorp Plc, Owen Omogiafo, the performance was underpinned by execution of the group’s well-defined strategies to deliver growth and achieve its long term goals.

“We sustained and drove our growth agenda across all our business sectors in 2020, notwithstanding the challenging operating environment, emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We significantly advanced our strategic position as a leading player in the power sector, with the successful acquisition of 100

per cent ownership stake in Afam Power Plc and Afam III Fast Power Limited, together with a combined installed capacity of about 1,000MW, bringing our total power generation capacity to approximately 2,000 MW,” she said.

She said the company has commenced distributing internationally in the West African regional electricity market, as a member of the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

The CEO added that it continues to seek opportunities to deepen its position across

the power value chain, as it delivers on its promise to power Nigeria.

“Despite the impact of the pandemic on our hospitality business, we responded quickly by embarking on several initiatives to adapt to the new normal and meet the needs of guests and staff in the pandemic era, whilst intensifying cost-saving mechanisms to minimise the losses brought about by the pandemic,” Omogiafo added.

Speaking on Transcorp’s outlook for 2021, Omogiafo emphasised that the group was

focused on increasing momentum across all business lines.

“Transcorp Hotels Plc recently launched its asset-light business, ‘Aura by Transcorp Hotels’, which leverages technology to provide travellers with accommodation options across Africa.

“Aura is a digital play that would revolutionalise the African hospitality industry and position Transcorp Hotels, to continue to dominate and increase its footprint across Africa,” she said.

Commenting on the results, the Chairman of Transcorp,

Tony Elumelu, said: “Businesses across the globe had to adapt, be innovative and learn to manoeuvre the volatile macroeconomic environment the Covid-19 pandemic created.

“Though tough for all, we demonstrated our resilience and continued relentlessly in our mission to ensure we improve lives and transform Nigeria.

By growing our investments in power and hospitality, we were able to continue to develop our businesses and generate the long-term value our shareholders expect.”

Plentywaka, Libra Motors Partner to Improve Transportation Oluchi Chibuzor Plentywaka and Libra Motors Limited, who are both players in the interstate traveling industry have announced a partnership that involves simplifying booking activities.

The partnership will see both companies combine technology, fleet size and marketing, to bring transport into one simple product through Plentywaka mobile app.

Speaking on the partnership recently, Co-Founder, and President of Plentywaka, Johnny Ena, said: “The partnership with Libra Motors is great for our users especially at this time where a lot of Nigerians are traveling home for the Easter season.

“We are very excited to have developed the technology behind an easy-to-use mobile app that will make the travel experience seamless for Nigerians.

“And we see these heavily discounted bus ticket prices as a give back to Nigerians for their support over the years, even as we expand our services beyond the shores of the country.”

Through the partnership, both firms would be providing bus commuters access to explore different states across Nigeria with the opportunity to plan their entire journey without having to leave the comfort of their homes or stand in long queues.

Also, this is coming as Plentywaka recently launched its interstate travel service called city-to-city, which provides affordable tickets from major bus travel companies such as Libra Motors to create ease of ticket purchase for travel commuters across the country.

For Libra motors, their fleet size of over 200 buses which it currently operates in 18 terminals in 10 states is expected to play a critical role in the recently signed deal.

The CEO of Libra Motors, Godwin Odoruyi, said the aim was, “to help more people travel around Nigeria easily, and conveniently. We firmly believe that the travel experience can be made even easier for Nigerians traveling daily from one city to another.

Cititrust Targets 50% Earnings’ Increase by Year-end Peter Uzoho Cititrust Financial Services Group Plc, a member of Cititrust Holdings Group, has outlined plans for the future, among which is to increase its current N36 billion balance sheet size by 50 per cent, at the end of 2021.

The group also plans to grow its lending even as it intends to raise its current N12 billion risk asset portfolio by another 50 per cent by the end of this year.

The Country Chief Executive, Cititrust Financial Services Group Plc, Mr. Ikechukwu Peter, disclosed this in Lagos at a parley with journalists, adding that the group wants all its subsidiaries to play at the top in order to increase value.

“Then, talking about our projection for the future, there is a whole lot. As we speak, as a group company that has a balance sheet of about N36 billion, we are looking at growing that incrementally by 50 per cent by the end of this year.

“We are also looking at growing our lending powers, we have a risk asset portfolio of about N12 billion as we speak. We are also looking at growing that by another 50 per cent incrementally by the end of this year”, Peter said.

He stated that another aspiration of the group was to migrate

its Living Trust Mortgage Bank from a state mortgage bank to a national mortgage bank by the end of this year, adding that by then, all the filings would have been completed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He noted that by 2023, the company also hoped to migrate and transform the mortgage bank to a regional commercial bank.

Peter further said: “Then also, we are looking at getting our asset management space a bit elevated and to see how we can come up with our merchant bank by 2024.

“We are looking at getting a merchant banking licence. But of course, what we have presently, to help us migrate to that point, we have our Cititrust Asset Management Fund, and the investment banking is already in motion as an issuing house.

“But of course, when we now get the licence, it will help us in our aspiration to become a merchant bank in 2024. Also, we expect that by mid next year, all of our subsidiaries should be top industry players in the space where they play in.

“At least, they should be named among the first five in their industry space. That’s exactly what we want to achieve.”

The country chief executive, however, revealed the group’s plan to list on the stock exchange this year.

STRENGTHENINGPARTNERSHIP

L-R:ManagingDirector,TotalNigeriaPlc,Mr.ImraneBarry;Chairman,Mr.StanislasMittelman;Co-founder,MooveAfrica,Mr.JideOdunsi;andDirectorof OperationsandProjects,GraceLakePartners,Mrs.OlamideAdebiyi,atthesigningofMemorandumofUnderstandingonpartnershipbetweenTotalNigeriaand MooveAfrica,inLagos…recently ABAYOMIAKINYELE

Firm Organises Capacity Building Programme for Real Sector Operators Sunday Okobi A property development and management company, Calabella Integritas Project Limited, has launched a platform known as Achieve 1.0 conference, to provide opportunity for Nigerian businessmen and realtors to develop in their field and expand the way they generate revenue.

The conference, which held recently in Lagos, in line with the COVID-19 protocols, was attended physical and virtually by hundreds of realtors, including real estate industry experts, who were exposed to different programme that would enhance their way of doing business in the industry.

Some of the stakeholders who

spoke on different opportunities in the industry, advised the attendees on how to generate even more streams of income in the economy as well as improving on their business.

While speaking on the possibilities in the real estate market and the significance of the conference, the Managing Director/CEO of the organisation, Oladipo Odunola, lamented the dwindling case of unemployment in Nigeria and the rise of fraudulent activities, which he said stemmed from increasing poverty in the country.

He said: “According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistic’s recent report, through the three months leading to December 2020, the unemployment rate rose to 33 percent from 27.1 percent in the previous quarter. “We cannot say

that after Q1 2021, the employment rate has reduced. As a result of this, we have seen rising cases of crimes and fraudulent activities because people need to survive.

“Therefore, we have introduced this Achieve 1.0 conference to show more people how exactly to survive the economy by increasing their streams of income.

“We have also used the opportunity to introduce a standard mode of payment for construction referral and marketing. We believe that if more people get involved in real estate, they will lift themselves and families from poverty.”

Odunola noted that, ‘Earn Big With Achieve 1.0’ is the first of its kind in the industry, adding that Calebella is also creating a chance for realtors to earn more alongside the opportunity to acquire more

knowledge about real estates.

He added: “We are offering the public the opportunity to expand their earnings through real estates.

Before now, the common way to earn used to be through land sales and commissions through referrals, but we are now extending that in such a way that when you refer anyone to our company, either for construction or other services, we pay you for that, leading to expansion of your earning. We also like to provide knowledge on all the stages involved in land acquisition to construction so as to stem the tide of buildings collapsing.

“Anybody can be a realtor from someone who has flare for marketing to a banker or any other profession. Our doors are open to people seeking to collaborate

Jaiz Bank Doles-out N125m to Innovators, Entrepreneurs James Emejo in Abuja Jaiz Bank Plc has issued cheques valued at N125 million to four entrepreneurs and innovators who were adjudged winners of the bank’s COVID-19 Challenge Competition.

The challenge was part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CRS) aimed at spurring ideas and innovation on how to curb the effects of the pandemic.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy,

Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, presented cash awards to the beneficiaries in Abuja, urging them to prudently utilise the funds to grow their businesses and challenge themselves to more innovations and superior ideas.

The minister said: “I congratulate all those that participated in the competition. This is not the end of it.

You are just beginning. I urge you to be consistent, persevere and steadfast and I am sure that with consistency, we will

get another Dangote from the winners of today.

“I commend Jaiz Bank for making this sacrifice by providing this huge money to support the growth of the winners’ concepts. The federal government is proud of you. I hope these innovators would use the money judiciously.”

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Jaiz Bank, Mr. Hassan Usman, urged the winners to judiciously utilise the funds and ensure that it translated into the fulfilment of their aspirations as

social enterprises with optimum impact to the society.

He said the idea was part of the bank’s contribution to equip the country and encourage innovation.

He said: “We want to assure all that the social entrepreneurship innovation challenge shall be a continuous program by the bank.

“Our arms are open to entrepreneurs that genuinely want to grow their ideas as long as they have something that can add value to the society.

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NEPZA Seeks FEC Support to Establish Medical Zones James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), has sought the buy-in of Federal Executive Council (FEC) in its current efforts to establish Medical Special Economic Zones across the six geo-political zones of the country.

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive, NEPZA, Prof.

Adesoji Adesugba, said FEC should adopt the concept as a national project, adding that it would curb medical tourism and boost economic development.

Speaking while formally

presenting the concept to the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, Adesugba, said the authority in its attempt to use the zone scheme to fast-track the country’s industrialisation process, found it expedient to extend such a mandate to scale-up the healthcare system.

He explained that it was of critical importance for the concept to be adopted by the FEC as a national project, adding that such show of political-will was needed to ward-off the would-be investors’ fears and reservations.

The presentation provided

a basis and justification for a notation to be made by the minister to FEC for buy-in and support to commence the project, pointing out that the over $2 billion capital flight on medical tourism annually was a needless astronomical cost of medical services abroad which had a serious negative effect on the economy.

The NEPZA boss also provided introduction and rationale for the project based on the COVID-19 effect, adding that the prevalence of communicable and noncommunicable diseases in a more threatening manner unequivocally necessitated

the urgent need to improve and invest in the country’s healthcare.

He added that the project when brought to limelight would invariably showcase Nigeria’s potential as a medical tourism destination.

The NEPZA boss, further outlined the authority’s vision for the project with details on the pilot project, benefits to Nigeria, components of the MSEZ, criteria for site selection, criteria for success as well as the steps taken to date which included stakeholder engagement, gazetting of MSEZ in third schedule of activities, state engagement and budget

allocation and the proposed implementation strategy.

In a statement issued by Head, Corporate Communications, NEPZA, Martins Odeh, Adesugba said: “The statistics of this morning indicate that we have lost 2,057 people to COVID-19 but we have lost more to malaria this year as we speak, we have lost more to TB, HIV so our intention is to put together the kind of scheme that would holistically address the country’s healthcare challenges.

“We have been able to pick some locations and we discovered that it’s even easier for us because there are

some states that have already indicated interest to host the project.

“Lagos, Kwara and Katsina States are waiting for the commencement of this great initiative. While Katsina is on the verge of allotting us 400 hectares of land near the Airport for this scheme, we have taken delivery of large sites in Lekki, Lagos and Kwara respectively.”

However, Adebayo, alongside the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs, Mariam Katagum, expressed delight on this initiative and promised to take it to FEC for consideration.

CAPPlcPosts N1.2bnProfit, toPay 210kDividend Goddy Egene Chemical and Allied Products Plc (CAP), one of Nigeria’s leading paints and decorative companies, has recorded a revenue of N8.7 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020, indicating an increase of 3.9 per cent compared to N8.4 billion recorded in 2019.

Selling and marketing expenses fell 3.5 per cent from N584 million to N564 million, while administrative expenses rose 19.7 per cent to N1.636 billion.

Gross profit declined 5.5 per cent to N3.755 billion from N3.973 billion decline due to input cost pressures on account of currency devaluation and supply chain disruptions. Earnings interest and tax(EBIT) fell from N2.120 billion to N1.645 billion due to the decline in gross profit and investments in talent to strengthen the work force and drive profitable growth. Profit before tax stood at N1.896 billion in 2020, compared to N2.546 billion in 2019, while profit after tax (PAT) printed at N1.289 billion as against N1.742 billion in 2019.

Based on the performance, the board of directors has recommended a dividend of N2.10 per share.

Commenting on the results, Managing Director/CEO of CAP, Mr. David Wright, said: “CAP recorded modest top-line growth last year despite the COVID-19 lockdown in the second quarter of 2020 and protests in the fourth quarter of 2020, effectively losing seven weeks of sales. “We are encouraged by the growth in revenue which has been solely driven by underlying volume growth in line with our strategy.

“Alongside the rest of the world, we experienced supply chain disruptions which impacted our raw material sourcing and resulted in input costs pressures.”

According to him, they have embarked on initiatives focused on mitigating those disruptions and expect to see positive results in 2021. “We announced the proposed merger between CAP and Portland Paints and Products Nigeria Plc in the fourth quarter of 2020. We have made significant progress and expect to conclude the merger in the second quarter of 2021, subject to receiving final regulatory approvals. I am pleased to announce that the Board approved that a dividend of 210 kobo per ordinary share be recommended for payment to our shareholders,” he said.

Winner Emerges in Cussons Baby Competition Raheem Akingbolu Baby Naomi Essienawan EffanOkon has beaten about 9,000 other entrants to the biggest prize of N2 million at the recently concluded seventh edition of the Cussons Baby Moments competition.

Cussons Baby, an international brand with a range of premium baby products and a flagship brand of PZ Cussons, one of the world’s leading FMCG giants launched the Cussons Baby Moments competition eight years ago in Nigeria to celebrate babies as well as their families, crown the ‘Baby of the Year’, and reward them via a transparent free and fair system of online voting and judging.

Baby Effan-Okon was crowned, ‘Baby of the year’, the overall winner of a grand prize of Two million naira cash prize, and a season’s supply of the Cussons Baby products.

Baby Ojelade Daphne emerged the first runner up, winning N1 million and 6 months’ supply of

Cussons Baby products; while the Second Runner up, Aliu Ayomide got N500, 000 and 6 months’ supply of Cussons Baby products. The Top 7 finalists were very well compensated as the 4th7th positions walked away with N100, 000- and 3 months’ supply of Cussons Baby products each; while others were each awarded a month supply of Cussons Baby products.

In the special categories, Chukwubuikem Anthony won Best Candid Shot, Williams Adebola was rewarded for Best Concept/Composition; and Victory Chimdindu went home with the award for Best Toothy Smile. These special category winners each received N50, 000 and a 3-month supply of Cussons Baby products.

The digitally-driven competition was seamlessly conducted online, as it has always been designed for more online engagement than physical; from entries and selection processes, to the top ten finalists.

And with strict adherence to the

FACILITYTOUR

L-R:CountrySafety,Health&EnvironmentalSustainabilityManager,NestleNigeriaPlc,Mr.RaphaelFischer;AGMAdmin,LagosStateWasteManagement Agency(LAWMA),Mr.TaoreedDosunmuandHead,Geocycle,Mr.DanielAdedokun,duringatourofLafargeAfricaPlc’sGeocyclePlantinEwekoro...recently

Operators Set Up Price Modulating Committee for Paper Industry Oluchi Chibuzor In the bid to address the incessant increase in the price of paper in Nigeria, operators in the industry have agreed to set up a price modulating committee.

The committee is to determine and regulate the price of paper on a monthly basis.

According to the group which includes the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria and Paper Importers Association (PIA), the decision was necessitated by the daily increase in the cost of papers which has risen above 300 per cent in recent times and has caused a lot of damages to the printing industry.

They reached the decision unanimously at an emergency factfinding meeting of stakeholders in the printing industry in Lagos, where stakeholders expressed frustrations on how they have lost businesses and income as a result of unstable price of paper.

The President of Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria, Mr. Olugbemi Malomo, described the scenario as a threat to national security, noting that the cost of papers was leading to increase in unemployment.

“It is also depriving our young ones of education as most parents will not be able to afford books when school resumes next session,” he stated.

According to CIPPON, “we have had to return legal purchase orders to clients as they could no longer afford the paper, which constitutes about seventy per cent of their materials.

“The consequence of this for the printers is that more printers are closing shops, selling off their machines, and laying off their staff.”

Meanwhile, PIA has highlighted the plight of the printers, stating that the banking crisis, devaluation of naira, port congestion and increase in the cost of paper from manufacturers were factors responsible for the increase in the cost of papers. The Association’s Chairman, Mr. Bayo Abdul said: “Paper importers have been compelled to source foreign exchange from black market because it has been tough to get from the central bank of Nigeria at the official rate.

“Knowing the importance of paper in our lives and economy, the federal government should have given paper importers special access to forex to reduce the cost of paper,” he added.

Present at the meeting included the Director, Printing and Paper Group, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Layo Okeowo and Deputy Director, Paper, Pulp, Wood and Industrial Development, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Olumuyiwa Ade-Ajayi.

Customers Set for Polaris Bank’s N26m Promo Emma Okonji Polaris Bank customers are gearing up for the grand finale of the ongoing nationwide ‘Save & Win’ promo, which is scheduled to hold this month.

At the end of the promo, a total of N26 million would have been won by 188 Polaris Bank customers nationwide.

The promo has so far recorded two draws in February and March with the Grande-finale scheduled for April 2021.

The grand finale draw would see six millionaires emerge from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and 60 other customers would go home with a consolation sum of N100, 000 each.

All winners will emerge through a transparent, electronically-generated process that regulatory institutions will supervise.

The promo aims to make millionaires of Nigerians by encouraging current and new customers to save a minimum of N10,000 monthly.

The promo was launched in November 2020, and so far, two millionaires: Lucky Okunzuwa, a customer

of Akpakpava branch in Benin City, Edo State and Ikechukwu Bartholomew Obiefuna, a customer of Okeke Street Branch, Awka, Anambra State, have emerged.

In addition, 120 customers have also walked away with N100, 000 each across the previous two draws which took place on the February 9 and March 9, respectively, bringing the total amount won to N14,000,000 so far.

Commenting on their win, both the first and second millionaire, Lucky and Ikechukwu expressed appreciation to the bank and had positive things to say on the Save & Win promo cash prize.

Representatives from relevant regulatory bodies attested to the free, fair and transparent process of the draw used in selecting the winners.

Giving a background to what informed the promo, Polaris Bank’s Acting Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Innocent Ike, said, “It is a reward for our customers, who despite the challenging times, can put aside some money as savings.”

He disclosed that, “both existing and new savings account customers of the bank are eligible to participate in the promo.”

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CBN’s Interventions in Infrastructure Jennifer Michael It is already a known fact that the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) which later became a pandemic hit the world like a tsunami.

Countries responded to its devastating effects in ways that were peculiar to their own circumstances. Around the world, nations moved away from multilateralism and responded by fighting for themselves with several measures to protect their own people and economies, regardless of the spillover effects on the rest of the world.

Nigeria was not an exception as the Governor of Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, inspired a response mechanism that motivated and propelled activities in all sectors towards managing a crisis that is deadly in its immensity.

Even at that, Emefiele, seemingly, was not fazed by the pandemic as he noted that “although these developments are troubling, they present a clear opportunity to re-echo a persistent message the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been sending for a long time, and at this time even more urgently so.”

In other words, for him, the pandemic, as frightening as it was, presented Nigeria with an opportunity to reassess its development strategies and redirect them on a path that will ensure the realisation of her aspirations as a nation.

He further said that, “we must look inwards as a nation and guarantee food security, high quality and affordable healthcare, and cutting-edge education for our people. For a country of over 200 million people, and projected to be about 450 million in a few decades, we can no longer ignore repeated warnings about the dangers that lie ahead if we do not begin to depend largely on what we produce locally.

“The security and wellbeing of our nation is contingent on building a well-diversified and inclusive productive economy.”

As at the time Emefiele proactively commenced an economic re-engineering process in the country that eventually helped Nigeria absorb the shock of the pandemic, his critics saw him as a man not too sure of what his job schedule was as the nation’s number one banker. But with the dramatic entrance of COVID-19, all those rabble-rousing proclivities are now in the past as his policies continue to impact positively on the economy.

In such areas like agriculture, the intervention of CBN was, without mincing words, prophetic, if not messianic. With food supply not severely threatened, it was easier to manage the other

Emefiele side effects of the pandemic. The CBN also deployed monetary policy measures such as reduction of customs duty and customs audits just as they were not officially announced and the skilful management of the foreign exchange regime.

It was in that context that Emefiele introduced some economic stimulus measures that ultimately prevented business collapse and ensured that there was sufficient liquidity to tide the country over the crisis while scientists endeavoured to find ways of medically addressing the health issues raise by the virus.

The Bank introduced the use of labour intensive methods to retain or create jobs in key economic areas, undertake jobs that enhance growth and create infrastructural investments in roads, bridges, solar power, and communication technologies, promote manufacturing and local productions at all levels and curb unnecessary demand for foreign exchange to stem the pressure on exchange rate while at

GNI Pledges Improved Service Delivery Ebere Nwoji The Managing Director, Great Nigeria Insurance Plc (GNI), Mrs. Cecelia Osipitan, has said the company is currently focusing more attention on excellent service delivery and global best practices in all areas of its operations.

Osipitan, who stated this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, said the company, has put in place modalities to ensure that this is made possible.

“We are out to reshape the industry, we are also aware that we cannot attain the top five position in the industry if our service delivery is questionable, we will at the same time strive to imbibe global best practice in all facets of our operation to ensure we remain front-liners in the industry,” she said.

According to her, the company, has put in place modalities that would ensure effective coordination of its repositioning and re-structuring strategies as well as the formulation of strategies to deepen direct market penetration, while

also monitoring the production and collection performance for the company and provision of advisory support when needed in correcting shortfalls.

She further said her administration would ensure regular review of the company’s internal processes and procedures for continued performance improvement.

She further said the organisation would remain committed to its vision, mission and shared values, and would also come up with innovative ideas on how to move GNI forward while also ensuring the implementation of all measures and strategies to engender the achievement of the company’s various goals and strategies.

She said the regular review of the company’s internal processes and procedures would be done for continued performance improvement.

“We have clearly set out to chart a professional course in the practice of insurance business in Nigeria and GNI will not leave any stone unturned in the quest to attain the status of a world-class insurance company,” she added.

the same time protecting the very poor and most vulnerable through pro-poor spending.

The Central Bank of Nigeria injected a N50 billion stimulus package intended to reactivate direct labour in national infrastructure projects to create jobs for youths in relevant priority sectors. It also launched a programme to create jobs in digital outsourcing.

There was also a N60 billion fund package designed to create 296,000 jobs in the construction and rehabilitation of roads in the six geo-political zones of the country through the use of local resources as well as N90 billion for the launch of a national programme to promote domestic use of compressed natural gas (CNG) and support the creation of one million jobs in the process.

Similarly, the CBN injected N23.4 billion into the economy to support the creation of one million jobs through the conversion of 30 million homes from dirty fuels (kerosene, charcoal and diesel) to liquefied petroleum

Samsung’s New Smartphones Excite Customers Emma Okonji Launched in December last year, the Samsung Galaxy A12 and its other ‘A’ series smartphones have continued to excite customers because of its innovative features like smart camera and longer battery usage.

Head of Marketing, Samsung Nigeria, Ms Iretiogo Oke, in a statement, said since the launch, customers have not seized asking for the smartphone in the Nigerian market and other markets were it was launched.

According to Oke, the Samsung’s Galaxy A12 was designed with exciting and innovative features that were previously only seen in the company’s flagship phones-Note and S series, adding that with the launch of Galaxy A12 puts an end to the search for a reliable, affordable device with a long-lasting battery, high-quality screen, multi-lens camera, and plenty of storage.

The A12 comes with four dedicated cameras, 16MP Main, 5MP Ultra Wide, 2MP Macro and 2MP Depth Camera. The front camera also features an 8MP, with Selfie Focus and

Smart Beauty features. The Ultra Wide camera feature has a 123 degree angle lens, giving users the same view as the human eye and if the shot requires it, the intelligent switch function kicks in and automatically switches users to the Wide Shot function capturing every aspect of the shot.

With the Macro camera, users can focus on objects, creating crystal clear images, capturing every last detail while the Depth camera lets the subjects of the picture stand out using Live Focus effects.

The Galaxy A12 also comes with a large 5,000 mAh batteries respectively allowing users stay on their devices longer throughout the day. With 15W fast charging capabilities, users can get their battery charge up from zero to 50 per cent capacity in just 30 minutes. Its ultra-power saving mode also lets users make the most of their battery power, helping them stay connected for longer periods. The device has undergone Samsung’s Point Battery Safety Check, the most rigorous in the industry, Oke said.

gas (LPG) and achieve emissions reduction in greenhouse gases while also applying LPG in other sectors such as agriculture, power generation, transport, industry and technology.

Still, it was obvious that the nation needed capital from the private and public sectors to support infrastructure investment that will have a multiplier effect on growth across critical sectors. As important as this was, the situation was not helped by the decline in revenues due to federal and state governments.

Therefore, it became inevitable that additional and alternative ways of funding infrastructure have to be devised so as to generate and sustain the growth of the nation’s economy. There is no gain saying it that a well-built infrastructure system can and do have a multiplier effect on growth by enabling the expansion of business activities in the desired direction.

Most investors, foreign and local see infrastructure as key in the consideration of factors likely to influence their investment decisions one way or the other. The availability of infrastructure, mostly, that is to say, roads, power, water and so on are what differentiates between developed economies and developing ones. That are the key determinants in the assessment of the ability of a nation to create wealth and improve on its human development index.

It was to achieve this important goal the CBN initiated and got the necessary presidential approvals and support to establish the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria Limited.

InfraCorp, as it is known, will be co-owned by the CBN, the African Finance Corporation and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and would become fully operational by the second quarter of this year 2021. It is expected that this vehicle would enable the use of private and public capital to support infrastructure investment that will have a multiplier effect on growth across critical sectors.

InfraCorp will be a world class infrastructure development vehicle, wholly focused on Nigeria, with combined debt and equity take-off capital of N15 trillion, and managed by an independent infrastructure fund manager. This fund will be utilized to support the Federal Government in building the transport infrastructure required to move agriculture products to processors, raw materials to factories, and finished goods to markets, as envisaged at the CBN Going for Growth Roundtable in March 2020. t.JDIBFM B QVCMJD BGGBJST BOBMZTU XSPUF GSPN :PMB

HP Launches New Laptops Emma Okonji HP is introducing new ENVY laptops, HP ENVY x360 15 and HP ENVY 17 that are designed for creators, thus giving people the freedom to create and stay connected from anywhere.

With 74 per cent of creative consumers doing more creative activities during COVID, they are often participating in hobbies that require a computer for more intensive workloads like photography, live blogging, and making/editing short videos.

The HP ENVY x360 15 is a stunning mobile creative convertible laptop, with 88.7 per cent screento-body ratio and thin and light design at 1.8 kg. From the optional 4K OLED display, available up to AMD Ryzen 7 or 11th Gen Intel Core processor and NVIDIA MX450 graphics, and Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth® 5 for fast connectivity.

The HP ENVY 17 is a mobile creative powerhouse, with an 86.3 per cent screen-to-body ratio at 2.5kg and features 11th Gen Intel Core processorsiv and NVIDIA MX450 graphics with up to a 4K UHD display, along with Wi-Fi 6iv and Bluetooth® 5. The device also offers up to 1TB PCIe SSD storage and a performance boost for multitasking with up to 32 GB memory.

The new ENVY laptops deliver a personalised creative experience, with features like: factory color calibration on the displays, an all-in-one keyboard for quick shortcuts, a 19 per cent larger touchpad for gestures, a physical camera shutter, performance optimisation in Thermal Profile, creative scenarios to optimise your display in HP Display Control, HP QuickDrop to easily transfer files to and from devices, and HP Enhanced Lighting – which turns the display into a built-in selfie light for video calls. Both devices come with a 30-day trial period of Adobe Creative Cloud, including: Premiere Rush, Premiere Pro, and Creative Cloud Photography Plan.

Managing Director of HP Nigeria, Ifeyinwa Afe, said: “At HP, we continue to drive sustainable features into our portfolio. The new ENVYs are made with recycled aluminium and the ENVY 17 also utilises post-consumer recycled and ocean-bound plastics in its construction. The packaging for both also focuses on our move away from single-use plastics, with wood fiber that is made from 100% recycled materials and molded fiber packaging to replace plastic foam, which is also 100 per cent recyclable.”

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Free Trade Zone Scheme: Model for Infrastructure Devolution Martins Odeh The periods when nations’ development indices, growth and viability were measured based on solid infrastructure are gone.

The parameters shifted slightly to include income capita per head powered by both National Domestic Product (NDP) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) respectively.

These economic trajectories are like rockets as they propel seamlessly without special consideration for nations that lag behind.

Not done, the trajectories again, leapfrogged from just considerations of infrastructure, national domestic product and gross domestic product of countries to include nations’ External Reserves (ERs) and Human Capacity Resource (HCR).

Judging then from the above, it is no gainsaying that our country has continued to grapple with the challenges of meeting these global economic expectations Credit must, however, be given to the United Nations and other Development agencies that have and continued to extend plethora of economic interventions to the developing economies, albeit with minimal impressions due to the herculean nature of these deficits.

Beyond just setting up socio-politico cum economic goals, development can only happen when result-oriented development concepts evolved, are understood and can be applied within the content of specific conceptualisation and public acceptability.

The Free Trade Zones Scheme is therefore, a good example of a global development model with capacity to propel industrialisation in developing economies.

It is imperative to state that the developed economies have continually leveraged on the zone scheme, a concept that supports free market system within an enclave to grow in lips and bounds with positive ripple effects in the nations and citizens.

In the light of this, developing nations like China, Brazil, Malaysia, Taipei, United Arab Emirate (UAE), Dubai to be specific, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt and host of others have long found economic respites in zone operation.

No doubt, the free trade zone concept remains a wonderful global economic concept that promotes Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Local Direct Investment (LDI), Manufacturing and Production, Employment, Revenues, Infrastructural transfer with industrialization as its ultimate end product.

It is indeed a one-stop-shop business ecosystem where operators and investors are exempted from taxes, levies and duties within the zone to enhance export.

Nigeria has never been found wanting in policy development, conceptualisation or adoption. The constraint has always been with clear lack of political-will to religiously implement such a policy.

The country like its peers mentioned above signed off to free trade zone concept in 1992 when the Nigeria Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) was established by an Act of parliament to oversee the scheme.

The attempts of previous governments in sustaining the scheme cannot by any stroke of imagination be eroded, but the fact is that not much attention was given to this

Adesugba regulatory body to contribute substantially to the country’s industrialisation.

Respite, however, came when President Muhammadu Buhari returned from an onthe- spot tour of the scheme in China in 2016.

The Chinese Government had during the period of the country’s `isolation’ used the zone concept to develop its infrastructure, revamped the economy to a competitive level that today stands as an envy of the world.

President Buhari had to quickly re-evaluate NEPZA and its workforce with the bid to strengthening it in order to replicate the China’s model of free trade zone. An all-encompassing economic development model that does not localize development. It remains the desire of the president to use the zone scheme to firmly integrate the country.

Like a servant who understands the mind of his master, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, himself, a renowned International Investment Promoter, has been brought into the saddle by the president as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPZA to fast track all processes that could facilitate the success of the scheme.

As a measure of commitment to the success of the scheme and beyond improving on the budgetary allocation for NEPZA, the president went further to approve six Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across the six geo-political zones of the country. These zones when fully developed would alter the country’s present development obscurity.

Prof. Adesugba upon assumption of duty on July 1, 2020 reeled out five focus areas which included Medical/Pharmaceutical, Technology,

Agriculture, Mining and Tourism.

The managing director has neatly intertwined these abovementioned areas to power these approved six special economic zones made by the president.

Already, tangible steps have been taken to commence the development of three of the approved special zones for the year billed to be sighted in Lagos, Kwara and Katsina States respectively. The ones for Ebonyi, Benue and Sokoto would constitute the second phase of implementation.

Furtherance to this, the Authority took delivery of the Certificate of Occupancy for 500 hectares for the Medical Special Economic Zone and 276 hectares for Agro-allied Special Economic Zone respectively March 10 in Ilorin.

The NEPZA Chief Executive had described Kwara state as a charming investment destination while making his remark at the occasion.

Adesugba had hinged his remark on what he called: `` the glaring improvement on infrastructure in the state by Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’’, which according to him has increased the value of the state as a ``magnetic`` investment destination.

The NEPZA boss further stated that history was been made with the take-over of the site for the special economic zones, adding that arrangement were underway to commence the development of the locations as both state-of-the-arts medical and business hubs.

Adesugba also explained that the medical zone would be home to world class hospitals and pharmaceutical industries while the agroallied zone would serve as convergence spot

for agricultural food chain where farmers, agro-allied investors and industries would reap the economic advantages associated with zone operation.

“Investment does not stay in the air, investment goes to destinations, investment looks for succor where it is most welcomed. Investment goes to where there is a will to support it. We have discovered that Kwara state seems to be a welcoming state that we can work with in terms of setting up of a special economic zone.

“I dare to say that this must have been the contemplation of those who have been here before me and that of President Muhammadu Buhari who is supporting the industrialization of Nigeria and also ensuring that we who are the implementers do our jobs unhindered.

“The vision of the president is to use the free trade zone scheme to fast track the industrialization of the country. Let me reiterate by saying that the opportunity to warehouse trade zone is open to all states of the Federation.

“This is why Kwara state happens to be one out of the six special economic zones we are supposed to start-off with. And today, we are happy to be here to start off with Kwara among the first three that we are working on this year.

“We will work with the state to provide the state-of-the-art infrastructure. We will work with you to promote investments in the area.

Already, we have prospective investors and companies from Turkey, Egypt, China and other parts of the world asking us where to locate their industries. This would definitely be a good location for them’’, Adesugba said.

On his part, Abdulrasaq said the importance of the zone scheme on economic emancipation could not be easily measured, adding that the upcoming Kwara SEZ would accelerate infrastructure development and job opportunities for youth in the state.

Abdulrasaq explained that free trade zone created unique opportunities globally, adding that Kwara would fully key into the scheme to stimulate wealth.

“These zones will serve as stimulants for exports and a strategic point for technological transfer. With these two special economic zones, Kwara state is in a strong race to compete nationally and beyond’’, the governor said.

While the Lekki axis of Lagos would harbour the Medical Special Economic Zone, the Katsina Special Economic would be sighted in Funtau as a Fabric zone. Plans are also underway for the Funtau SEZ to warehouse a Medical SEZ and other allied industries.

The aforementioned structure would bestow these various business enclaves with status of smart cities warehousing world class hotels, real estates, golf courses, helipads as may be necessary, as well as leather tared road networks.

The conglomeration of these proposed special economic zones across the country would reduce these known development deficits and to serve as model for infrastructure devolution that enhances industrialisation.

This lofty project when completed would also marginally disable the obvious imbalance in the country’s development template, just as its success would boost all the tranches of development indices earlier mentioned. t0EFI UIF )FBE $PSQPSBUF $PNNVOJDBUJPOT /&1;" XSJUFT GSPN "CVKB

OCP Africa Partners Agencies to Grow Wheat with Specialised Fertilizer Ugo Aliogo As part of its commitment to support the development of Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem, OCP Africa has partnered with research institutions in the country to enhance wheat production by developing a specialised fertilizer.

The organisation in a statement said the partnership with the Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), the institute with the mandate to improve wheat production in Nigeria; the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T)- the institute with the mandate on

soil fertility; and the Centre for Dryland Agriculture, BUK- the Centre of Excellence for dryland agriculture, would proffer solutions that would increase wheat production in the country astronomically from the 2 percent being struggled to be produced.

OCP Africa, Nigeria Country Manager, Caleb Usoh, disclosed this at a two-day workshop organised to mark the commencement of the project, with the theme: “Soil Mapping and Fertility Evaluation for Formulation and Validation of Wheat specific Fertilizer in Nigeria,” held in Kaduna.

Usoh, represented by the Business Development Manager,

Akin Akiwande, said they took the mandate to grow local wheat production after the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture beckoned on it in 2020 for assistance with soil testing.

“This subsequently led to the development of bespoke fertilizer for about 142,000 hectares cleared for wheat production in the Birnin Gwari area of the state,” he added.

He also stated they felt challenged because of the enormity of work involved, noting that wheat production was faced with several problems which include poor access to improved seed varieties, inappropriate fertilizers and agrochemicals, poor

irrigation systems and others.

Usoh further explained that as part of the strategy to develop the nation’s agriculture ecosystem, the company urged their research partners to respond to the call with them.

He appealed to stakeholders in agriculture, governments, donor, developmental agencies, farmers, and the farming community to support the laudable project that requires collective efforts to achieve the desired result.

In his paper presentation on the status of, “Wheat Research and Production in Nigeria,” Executive Director

at LCRI, Dr. Oluwasina Olabanji, said Nigeria requires 5.1 million tons of wheat grain annually, but presently produces only 300,000 metric tonnes (2017) “and thus depend on imports to meet the huge deficit.”

He added: “Nigeria spends about $4.7 billion annually importing wheat before the advent of wheat value chain in 2013 and support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops (SARD-SC) in Africa funded by African Development Bank.

“The intervention of these projects in 12 states of Nigeria, which included: Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina,

Gombe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna and Plateau reduced the importation of wheat by 30 per cent in 2017.

“Wheat consumption in Nigeria is bound to increase from the present import level of $5.1billion between now and year 2050 due to growing population especially at the urban cities if proactive actions are not taken.”

In her remarks, the Executive Director, Institute of Agric Research and Training (IAR &T), Prof. Veronica Obatolu, said for any successful agriculture, one needs to take care of the soil because soil is the bedrock for increasing yield.

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Research Identifies Factors Delaying Energy Transmission Targets in Africa Goddy Egene More than half of African companies are delaying their energy transition targets, leaving them in danger of missing the Paris Agreement target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, a new research by Standard Chartered has revealed.

Zeronomics, a study into the financing of a net zero world, surveyed the senior leadership of 250 large companies and 100 investment specialists around the world between September and

October 2020 and found that 55 per cent of Africa-based business leaders believe their companies are not transitioning fast enough (55 per cent of companies globally).

It also found that lack of access to finance is the biggest barrier to progress for African companies, cited as a significant obstacle by 78 per cent (67 per cent globally), while only 35 per cent of African companies fully support the aims of the Paris Agreement compared with 47 per cent globally.

According to the research, many companies based in Africa

are looking to delay significant action to after 2030, with the 2020s looking set to be a lost decade.

Some 32 per cent of business leaders (34 per cent globally) said their companies will make the most progress between 2030 and 2040, while a further 40 per cent (37 per cent globally) said they would take most action between 2040 and 2050.

“Also, most companies are delaying transition because they do not feel they are currently equipped to meet the target.

Some 78 per cent (59 per cent

globally) said they need extensive organisational change before tackling net zero. A lack of finance isn’t the only hurdle companies in Africa face on the road to 2050.

“Seventy-two per cent (63 per cent globally) believe a lack of consensus on net zero definitions and targets is hampering progress, while the same percentage (60 per cent globally) say a lack of support for net zero transition from their organisation’s investors is a significant barrier to net zero,” the research added.

The research showed that COVID-19 is forcing many businesses in the region to focus on immediate survival, with A whopping 80 per cent (85 per cent globally) of African senior executives saying the pandemic had delayed their company’s net-zero transition.

The research also reveals what business leaders believe is needed in order to speed up transition as 90 per cent ( 77 per cent globally) believe an effective global carbon tax, based on a carbon price that reflects the true cost of climate

change, would help transition.

A further 88 per cent (81 per cent globally) said cost savings from sustainable practices could help the world hit net zero by 2050. Meanwhile, the same percentage (81 per cent globally) believe standardised net-zero measurement frameworks would help with transition, underlining the fact that what we have currently, a matrix of different definitions, measurement and reporting requirements is a major challenge for senior executives.

Invest More on Your Wellbeing, Experts Advise Nigerians Goddy Egene Some experts in the health and financial sectors have advised Nigerians on the need to pay more attention to their health while still building investments for future.

The experts gave the advice at a webinar organised by the Consumer Awareness and Financial Enlightenment Initiative (CAFEI) in Lagos at the weekend, as part of efforts to encourage Nigerians to be health conscious to guarantee a secure future without any health challenges.

CAFEi is a non-profit organisation focused on research, enlightenment and advocacy for consumer protection.

Speaking at the webinar, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, said, “people’s most valuable resource was the care for the physical, mental and social well-being, advising further that creating work-life balance guarantees good and healthy living whilst elongating the life span by another 30 years.”

Ogunsola urged everyone to take the COVID -19 vaccine, assuring on the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine provided

by the federal government.

Also speaking, former Head, Advisory Services, KPMG, Mrs. Bisi Lamikanra said: “When health is absent, wealth is useless, you can only increase the disposable income if you are healthy, therefore take a long term interest and investment in the market.”

She explained that sound health increases financial success by improving productivity, increasing disposable income, reducing financial debts and increasing proportions for savings and investments.

While using his personal experience as an example, the Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Johnson Chukwu, said, “good mind should reside in a healthy body.” According to him, exercising, eating right and living right are good recipe for a healthy living” noting that in order to achieve financial freedom, investment in our health is incontestable.

“We must produce more than we consume and should we consume more than we earn, this certainly will lead to crisis.

When what is earned is exhausted the person becomes a burden to the society,” Chukwu said.

IBEDC Assures Customers of Hitch-free Services Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc has assured customers across its network of its commitment to ensure quality services during the Easter holidays.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company, Mr. John Ayodele, in a statement made available to THISDAY, while wishing all the customers and Nigerians a safe and memorable Easter holiday, said in order to ensure steady service delivery during the period, a special rapid response team has been put together to reinforce and strengthen our service delivery.

According to him, “We recognise the fact that the demand for electricity always increases during the festive season, we have therefore positioned our technical crew to monitor and patrol the network to ensure faults are cleared as and when due and also mitigate the effect of any disruption to electricity supply.”

Ayodele also enjoined all Nigerians to reflect on the lessons of piety, love and self-sacrifice for the good of others, which are the essences of the Easter celebration.

“These lessons of Easter and other injunctions on brotherly love, peaceful co-existence, tolerance, honesty, humility, justice, equity and fairness to all are of particular importance to us as a nation as we continue to strive for a better Nigeria”, he said.

He also appealed for the strict observance of the COVID-19 precautionary measures as recommended by NCDC of wearing face masks in public places, regular washing of hands and use of sanitisers and physical distancing during the celebrations.

He, however, warned against vandalism and tampering with equipment across IBEDC network, saying it could cause deaths or serious injuries, urging consumers to ensure that their homes and business premises are properly wired and earthed only by approved technicians to ensure safety of lives and property.

Ayodele similarly encouraged customers to take advantage of the hassle-free channels of the company to pay bills and vend such as quick teller, etransact, Payarena, Jumia and ATM to avoid disconnection during the holiday period.’’

PROMOTINGSUSTAINABILITY

L-R:CompanySecretary/GeneralCounsel,InternationalBreweriesPlc(IBPLC),MuyiwaAyojimi;Chairman,RisksManagementandSustainabilityBoard Committee,OlugbengaAwomolo;LegalandCorporateAffairsDirector,TemitopeOguntokun;andDirectorofProcurementandSustainability,WilfriedFameni, atthelaunchofthemaideneditionofIBPLC’sSustainabilityReportinLagos...recently ETOPUKUTT

MTNDonates 300,000Covid-19VaccinestoNigeria Raheem Akingbolu To further boost its support for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, MTN, has donated 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the Nigerian government.

Earlier in January, the MTN group in conjunction with the African Union(AU) had pledged a $25million donation for the supply of Covid-19 vaccines to member countries of AU to support the fight against the global pandemic.

According to the telco, the 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine was in partial fulfillment of the 1.4 million doses designated for Nigeria by the AU. A statement issued by MTN

recently titled, noted that the telco had contributed $25 million for the vaccines, a combination of doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX facility and from the AU COVID-19 vaccination programme.

The Presidential Task Force(PTF) Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha had confirmed the receipt of the vaccines from MTN. He said: “On March 21, 2021, the PTF received 300,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from MTN Nigeria. This is acknowledged with thanks as we encourage other partners to contribute towards the fight against COVID-19.”

The vaccine is expected to be

distributed amongst health workers in Nigeria by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA).

The Director-General of the NPHDA, Faisal Shuaib, commended the MTN Group’s collaboration with the Nigeria government.

According to Shuaib, the arrival of the vaccines was a major step, and he advocated for more collaborations, imploring organisations to join the drive for the Nigerian people.

Also speaking, DG of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, expressed appreciation on behalf of the government.

He said: “The donation of COVID-19 vaccines is truly

helpful, and we are grateful.

We can only succeed against COVID-19 when we fight together. These vaccines will go a long way in protecting health workers, who are on the frontline, and need all the protection they can get at this critical moment, hence the prioritisation of their vaccinations.”

Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, emphasised the power of partnership and collaboration, explaining that the ongoing threat of COVID-19 required a vast and accelerated effort by both private and public sectors.

Toriola said the partnership demonstrated what could be achieved when working together for the progress of Nigeria Africa.

UK-Nigeria Tech Hub Opens Business Platform Emma Okonji The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub has launched an open-source Business Intelligence Platform aimed at providing transparent and reliable data about the Nigerian tech sector.

Funded by the UK Government’s Africa Technology and Innovation Partnership (ATIP) programme, the platform aims at reducing the informational barriers to entry for companies, investors, and researchers interested in doing business in the country.

Nigeria remains a leader across sub-Saharan Africa for vibrancy and volumes when it comes to the tech landscape and there is an increasing need to provide reliable and legible points of reference.

The new Business Intelligence Platform draws directly on data from Briter Bridges and leverages the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub brand and network to maximise inclusion and access to information about the state of tech in the country. As part of this commitment, the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub and Briter Bridges, the delivery partners for the platform, would be joining forces and leveraging their dual positioning as local based, globally-focused organisations to bring the ecosystem together via initiatives, research content, and unlocking future funding opportunities.

Speaking on the launch, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Ben Llewellyn-Jones said: “The launch of this open-source Business Intelligence Platform

will enhance access to valuable information and data necessary for fostering partnership across the UK and the Nigerian tech ecosystems. “This is a testament to the role the UK Government can play in supporting the tech ecosystem in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the importance of the Business Intelligence Platform and the UK’s support, Team Lead, West Africa Research and Innovation, Leanne Jones, said: “We are glad that the UK Government’s Africa Technology and Innovation Partnership (ATIP) programme can support the development of this open-source Business Intelligence Platform for the Nigerian technology sector.

“Access to this kind of information by all industry players will go a long way in addressing

information gaps, identifying opportunities for collaboration and increasing access to funding.”

The Interim Country Director of the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, Lamide Johnson stated: “We are excited to have partnered with Briter Bridges to co-develop and launch the Open-Source Business Intelligence Platform, aimed at the providing tech- stakeholders across the board easy access to information required to promote high-end digital tech opportunities.” The new platform will allow users: Access to a comprehensive database of startups, tech hubs, and investors operating in Nigeria; Access to a live investment tracker showcasing all deals happening in the country; Crowdsource new entities/players in the Nigerian tech ecosystem, among others.

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FG Harnesses Renewables to Power Schools, Hospitals Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has pledged to continue to ramp up the deployment of renewable energy in electrifying, schools, hospitals and homes across the country.

Minister of State, Power, Mr Goddy Jedy-Agba, who spoke at the Obudu Cattle Ranch, Cross River State, during the inauguration of a 60KWP solar

hybrid mini-grid power plant, stated that the federal government was fine-tuning its policies in the diversification of the energy sector.

He explained that the capital appropriation for the projects was being put to good use by the implementing agency, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in order to provide clean, safe and reliable energy to unserved and the underserved communities

in the country.

Jedy-Agba posited that it has become obvious that renewable energy plays a critical role in accelerating energy access across the nation, noting that the plan is to continue to do all it takes to ensure that Nigeria’s massive renewable energy resources are efficiently utilised.

He lauded the commitment of the REA in the commencement and completion of several off-grid

projects through the several programmes being implemented and encouraged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the facility.

“No stone will be left unturned in ensuring that unserved and underserved communities continue to enjoy basic amenities such as stable power. We must continue to leverage this clean, safe and reliable energy technologies,” he stated.

In his remarks, the Manag-

ing Director, REA, Mr. Ahmad Salihijo, noted that the project was deployed under capital appropriation, stressing that it is evident that the intervention in off-grid communities was key to accelerating true national development. He urged the management of the Obudu Ranch as well as the people to optimise the intervention and leverage the availability of clean, safe and reliable energy for impact

and growth.

“Only when used productively and sustainably will the community witness the full impact of energy,” the REA boss noted.

The Non-Executive Director, South-south Zone, Mr. Eddy Julius, lauded the ministry of power and the national assembly for creating an enabling environment for the successful implementation of the projects across the nation.

KilRox Alcohol Disinfecting Wipes Debuts in Nigeria Nosa Alekhuogie KilRox alcohol Disinfecting wipes has made its entry into the Nigerian market.

The wipes which kills germs also cleans and disinfects nonporous surfaces as a dual action when in use.

The Managing Director, Saftermobo Nigeria Limited, marketers of the product in Nigeria, Nnamdi Nwokike, explained that the entry of product into the Nigerian hygiene conscious space was a game changer.

According to him, “KilRox wipes have been introduced into the Nigerian disinfectants space to be amongst the COVID-19 protocol advisory namely; maintaining social distance, wearing a mask, washing your hands with soap and disinfecting with KilRox alcohol disinfecting wipes.

“Alcohol which is one of the active ingredients of KilRox wipes kills germs by denaturing the outer proteins of microbes and dissolving their membranes according to Google.”

He added: “Germs are abound everywhere, even more now with the global pandemic, which has inevitably heightened the consciousness and knowledge toward maintaining effective hygiene and general wellness.

“Viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa are germs which infect humans causing diseases and if unchecked can lead to death.

“KilRox wipes are made with bleach free formula that Kills

99.9 per cent of virus, bacteria and fungi including cold and flu viruses.

“Nigeria discerning consumers will always adapt to the immeasurable benefits of using KilRox wipes to clean hands, smartphone, ATM machines, doorknobs, office tables and computers, and a reliable assurance in our ever germ infected surroundings.

“Some are now certain with KilRox wipes, that hitherto been skeptical about the use of sanitisers (with the proliferation and not knowing the contents of most sanitisers in the market) are going to trust KilRox wipes for effective disinfection.”

According to the marketers, KilRox wipes also kills Staphylococcus (staph), Escherichia coli (E.Coli), Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), amongst others.

The disinfecting wipes comes in two distinctive packing - the canister package and the soft bag package with a lemon scented option, each loaded with the 99.9 per cent germs-killing promise that the KilRox brand guarantees due to the active ingredients of 75 per cent medical alcohol, Benzalkonium chloride, Cetylpyridinium chloride and Agua as a strong catalyst.

The disinfecting wipes has been approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as suitable to be used in hospitals, athletic facilities (stadia, locker rooms), hospitality (hotels, restaurants, etc), travels.

Customs Generates N16m in 18 Months Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Joint Border Patrol Team Sector three has disclosed that it raked in over of N16 million from 43 seizures of various items within 18 months.

Also, the team arrested five suspected immigrants in connection with the locally made pistol and cartridges and handed them over to the police and immigration during the operation.

The Coordinator of the team in charge of North Central, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, stated this while speaking with newsmen on the activities of the operation line last 18 months According to him, “the patrol team has also arrested five illegal immigrants with arms and ammunitions.”

He said some of the items seized included 1,274 bags of foreign rice neatly packed in 13 pick-up vans, 23 units of used vehicles, one locally made gun and eight catridges.

Peters explained that other items were nine drums of AGO, 242 jerry cans of petrol, seven motorcycles as well as seven jerry cans of 25 litres of groundnut oil.

He noted that the five suspected illegal immigrants have been handed over to the appropriate agencies for prompt action.

Peters said the partial border closure was meant to encourage local farmers and control the smuggling of prohibited items into the country.

He, however, warned that anyone caught engaging in illegal trade would be

HeritageBankCelebratesWorldWaterDay Heritage Bank Plc recently joined the rest of the globe to celebrate the World Water Day (WWD) 2021, with plans to assist a community in dire need of clean water by installing a bore hole.

The theme for this year’s WWD 2021 was, “Valuing Water,” which focuses on the importance of freshwater and presses for sustainable management of water resources.

According to the United Nations, the day is aimed at raising awareness about 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water resources globally.

“The value of water is about much more than its price.”

This day is celebrated keeping in line with Sustainable

Development Goal number six which is aimed at achieving water and sanitation by all for 2030,” the UN stated.

It further explained that global water demand is likely to rise by over 50 per cent by 2040.

To this effect, as part of efforts to implement the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) sustainable banking principle, Heritage Bank Plc has instituted a corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaign project to assist a community in dire need of clean water by installing a bore hole.

This campaign project, according to the bank will be executed in two phases: the first involves nominations call for community that is in dire

need of water put on its social platforms from 22nd March 2021, which will run for 30 days.

The bank in a statement signed by the Divisional Head, Corporate Communications, Fela Ibidapo, disclosed that thorough research will be conducted on communities that put up for nominations and the most in need will be chosen.

In furtherance, the community leaders would be engaged, which would herald commencement of the project and handing over the borehole to the community.

Speaking on WWD 2021, the MD/CEO of the Bank, Ifie Sekibo said the adoption of the campaign project

showed how Heritage Bank values water and making clean water accessible to the under-privilege, living in urban slums and rural areas.

According to him, to access safe water resources globally, higher value must be given to protecting the ecosystem in ensuring good quality water supply.

Sekibo, who further canvassed for the implementation of Sustainable Banking Principle, tasked stakeholders to continually promote the need for more productive value of water, which would bring about developmental impact to society, while protecting the communities and environment in which financial institutions and their clients operate.

Sovereign Trust Insurance to Embark on Branch Expansion Ebere Nwoji Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, said it will embark on a branch development strategy that will position the company and its services as a household brand.

Presently, the company has presence in Lagos with three area offices in Apapa, Ikeja, Lagos Central and an agency office in Lekki as well as its head office in Victoria Island. It also has offices in other cities including Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abuja, Aba, Akure, Enugu and Kaduna.

But in a recent statement, the company’s Managing Director, Mr Olaotan Soyinka, said the company is currently in a good position to spread its branches across commercial towns in the country to ensure proper

distribution of its products.

“As a transiting world-class organisation conscious of its brand equity, the company has a well-entrenched culture of upholding sound moral and professional ethics beyond profit.

“From inception, the company has significantly shown upward progression in every area of its operations making it one of the fastest growing and upwardly mobile insurance companies in the country,” Soyinka said.

According to him, for Sovereign Trust Insurance, new things are just coming into the market, saying the company was ready to bring in innovation that would turnaround the industry.

“The journey has just begun,

and the insurance industry is set to witness a new and more innovative way of doing insurance business in Nigeria amidst the challenges and opportunities that have trailed the emergence of covid-19 in the country and beyond,” he said.

Speaking further he said, “the journey of a thousand miles, they say begin with a step. No matter how rough that journey might be, the dogged and focused ones never lose sight of where they are headed. They keep forging ahead until the mission is finally achieved”.

He said the above illustration captures the journey that Sovereign Trust Insurance had embarked upon, maintaining that Sovereign Trust Insurance has clearly shown that it is in a different and distinct league

from other insurance companies in Nigeria as regards brand positioning.

Soyinka, said Sovereign Trust Insurance has a futuristic vision of wanting to be a leading brand, providing insurance and financial services of global standard.

He also said the company is the only insurance company that has undertaken an all-expense paid trip for soccer loving Nigerians to an international football competition when it sponsored some lucky Nigerians to the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Accra, Ghana.

According to Soyinka, Sovereign Trust Insurance was the official Insurer for the Nigerian Contingent to the All-African Games in Algiers, Algeria in 2007.

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NCAA Lists Azman’s Safety Violations, Gives Conditions for Flight Resumption Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has listed safety violations and the conditions, which the domestic carrier, Azman Air must meet before it would be allowed to resume flight operations.

The flight resumption, it was learnt, would be after the regulatory authority has undertaken comprehensive audit

of the operations of the airline and identified technical limitations and safety breaches in Azman Air’s aircraft management.

In the audit findings published

by NCAA and signed by the Director General, Captain Nuhu Musa on April 2, 2021, the agency listed many violations of the airline and said Azman Air does not have the right personnel required for Commercial Air Transport Operations.

Air Crash: Remain Resolute, Air Force Chief Urges Personnel Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, at the weekend urged troops and air force personnel to remain undeterred and unrelenting in the fight against terrorism in spite of the crashed NAF Alpha-Jet aircraft.

A statement issued last night by NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the air chief spoke while on another visit to the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri after receiving a brief from the Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Nnamdi Ananaba, on the ongoing collaborative efforts with the Nigerian Army (NA) to locate the actual site of the Alpha Jet crash.

Amao stated that “the events of the past few days involving the unfortunate crash of an Alpha-Jet aircraft should inspire and spur Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots, technicians and ground troops to remain resolute, unrelenting and undeterred in the fight against insurgency in the North-east and other parts of the country”.

According to the CAS, “despite the sad events of the past few days, now more than ever before is the time that the NAF must

show strength, determination and remain undeterred and unrelenting until the entire North East is rid of terrorists and other criminal elements”.

Amao said while a lot had been achieved towards degrading the capacity and capability of the insurgents, much more was needed to achieve the desired level of peace and security in the region.

According to him, “we must continue to work assiduously, in synergy with sister services and other security agencies to ensure that peace and security of lives and property are achieved”.

On the issue of the crashed NAF Alpha-Jet aircraft, which was declared missing on March 31, 2021 after losing radar contact, the CAS stated that the videos being circulated on social media alluding that the aircraft was shot down were false.

“From critical analysis of all available intelligence, it was obvious that the air accident was caused by other factors soon to be unraveled”, he said.

He further stated that “efforts were still on in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to find the crashed aircraft as well as the two pilots so as to bring the matter to a close”.

APGA Calls for National Reconciliation Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja As Christians all over the world celebrated Easter, the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ozonkpu Victor Ike Oye, yesterday went spiritual for Nigeria’s survival, praying for the power of resurrection of Jesus Christ to help reconcile the country and shield it from destruction.

He said the party welcomed the safe release of the abducted Anambra State Commissioner for Public Utilities, Emeka Ezenwanne.

In his Easter message made available to THISDAY in Abuja yesterday, Oye expressed great optimism that the inherent power behind the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ would have an extensive impact on Nigeria, especially at this time of critical challenges facing the country.

In the statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Tex Okechukwu, he said the 40 days of fasting, prayer and almsgiving by Christians would touch the heart of God to have

mercy on the country and save it from destruction, strife and backwardness.

Oye called on all Nigerians to show love to one another, avoid sin and all forms of hatred and bigotry, and embrace peace, unity and equality.

He also sued for tolerance among Nigerians irrespective of the regions, tribal and political differences.

According to him, “For us to achieve greatness collectively, we must turn a new leave, mend our hearts and reconcile with one another. This is the only way we can demonstrate in practical terms the lessons we learned from Lent and Holy Week.”

The APGA chairman expressed happiness over the safe release of the Anambra State Commissioner for Public Utilities, Emeka Ezenwanne.

“The release of the commissioner is the best Easter gift from the Divine Throne of God, and this has gladdened our hearts. We give God the glory,” he said.

The airline was also found not to be in compliance with the provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 9.2.2.2 (a) and (e) (2) with regards to provision of resources and discharge of the duties of the Accountable Manager.

The audit revealed that there was complete non-staffing of the Safety Management Department, while the Quality Management Department was staffed with only one officer, thereby making it impossible to effectively implement Safety and Quality Management Systems functions as required by Nig.CARs 9.2.2.3 and 9.2.2.10, respectively.

The report also stated that

Azman Air was found to be in violation of Nig.CARs 18.10.3 regarding the submission of monthly financial health reports to the NCAA. “This is evidenced in Azman Air’s failure to meet up with the monthly obligation in submitting the required financial health report for months despite several reminders. Last submission was in July, 2020. During this audit, Azman submitted reports for December, 2020 and January 2021,” the report said.

Azman Air was also found to be in violation of Section 12 (1) of Civil Aviation Act, 2006 as regards to non-remittance of five per cent Ticket Sales Charge.

“This is evidenced by the airline being indebted to the authority to the tune of One billion Five Hundred and Forty Five million, Two hundred and Sixty Two thousand One hundred and Twenty naira, Thirty One kobo (N1,545,262,120.31) as at December, 2020. The airline was found to be in violation of Nig. CARs 18.12.6 as regards to signing an agreement with the authority for direct debit. This is evidenced by delay in signing of the Direct Debit Tripartite Agreement with NCAA,” NCAA said.

NCAA further said the airline’s Accountable Manager exhibited a lack of understanding of his duties and responsibilities as contained

in the Operations Manuals, which indicated lack of evidence of the Accountable Manager’s involvement in Management Reviews of Quality Audit Findings.

According to the report, Azman was found also not to be in compliance with the provisions of Nig.CARs 9.2.2.2 (e) (2) with regards to discharge of the duties of the Director of Flight Operations (DFO) thereby unable to maintain safe commercial flight operations.

“This is evidenced by the fact that FDR analysis on the B737 5N-SYS revealed a number of issues and the DFO could not show any evidence of actions taken to check the trend.

WELCOME TO COAL CITY…

L-R: Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah; Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Eric Kelechi Igwe; Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during the arrival of the vice president at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, enroute Ebonyi State…yesterday.

Two PDP Members Lay Claim to Cross River North Senatorial Seat Parade two INEC certificates of return Deji Elumoye in Abuja The battle for the soul of the Cross River North senatorial seat appears to be far from over as two members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are laying claims to the seat, which the party won in the by-election held on December 5, 2020.

While Senator Stephen Odey is insisting that he remains the duly elected candidate of the PDP in the by-election held to fill the vacuum created by the death of Senator Rose Oko in March, 2020, a serving member of the House

of Representatives (PDP), Hon. Agom Jarigbe is also laying claim to the coveted seat.

Jarigbe supported his claim with a Certificate of Return issued him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following a recent Abuja Court of Appeal ruling which upheld a Federal High Court ruling that he should be accorded the rights of a candidate in a case filed by one John Agada against him.

However, Odey, who holds the nomination of the party and having been declared the

authentic candidate of the party by the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Calabar few days to the by-election was not a party to that suit.

Addressing journalists on the issue in Abuja at the weekend, Odey accused Jarigbe of “forum shopping and deliberately misleading various courts that do not have jurisdiction in the matter to secure an order to unseat him and steal his mandate freely given to him by the people of Cross River North.

Odey accused INEC of

hastily granting Jarigbe the document, adding however that he would not heap the blame on either the electoral Commission or the courts.

He insisted that the fault lies squarely with Jarigbe whom he accused of trying to criminally deceive the two institutions to steal his mandate.

Odey however demands apology from INEC for the inconveniences caused him in the entire episode that pitted him with Jarigbe for the Cross River North senatorial seat.

Ndume: Boko Haram Injured Four Soldiers during Attack on Monguno The Senator representing Borno South senatorial district and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, said four soldiers were wounded when the Boko Haram insurgents attacked Monguno and other communities last Friday.

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Ndume, however, said all the terrorists were killed by a joint task force comprising soldiers, police and some civilian volunteers.

“A joint task force comprising the soldiers, police and the civilian JTF on Friday killed all the insurgents that came to attack monguno and other adjoining communities.

“I commend the military and other security agencies that contributed to the success of the operation.

“Unfortunately during the attack, about four soldiers sustained injuries while pursuing the insurgents.

“We encourage them to do more in order to bring the issue of insurgency under control.”

The senator said the country was spending a lot of money on the Armed Forces, but lamented that enough funds were not being given for the procurement of modern equipment to fight the war.

“I have been crying out that the budget every year for the Procurement of arms and ammunition is too small.

“When you spend N500bn on the Army but spend less than N30bn goes to procurement of arms and ammunition. It is just as if you are paying labourers without giving them the necessary tools to work with.

“As for the $1billion taken from the excess crude account, the House of Representatives is already probing it but the truth of the matter is that we have not seen the reception or the deployment of the new equipment.”

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Ebonyi Massacre: Osinbajo Promises Relief Materials, Justice Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, has assured that the federal government would mobilise the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ministry of Humanitarian Service and Disaster Management to provide relief materials to the victims of bandits’ attack in Egedegede, Obegu and Amuzu communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Osibanjo, who spoke during a stakeholders meeting after he visited the communities, noted that the federal government was deeply worried over the unfortunate attack.

He was accompanied by the Minister for Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed and the Minister for State Mines and Steel, Mr. Uche Ogah.

He also noted that he visited the state on the direction of President Muhammad Buhari and added that the federal government has beefed up security especially in the affected communities and is seeking justice for those who were killed and for those who have lost their properties,.

Osibanjo also visited the EzzaEffium community where several lives were lost in a communal clash in the state.

He said: “This massacre is very sad indeed and very unfortunate.

I am here at the direction of Mr. President. At times when things

like this happen, when people are killed, when incidents like this happen and you feel particularly outraged.

“The reason is that those who have been mercilessly massacred are people like you and I who have hopes and aspiration; young ones, females and children who are people who woke up in the morning and are expected to go about their normal business, they are expected to go out and fend for themselves but they ended up dead not because of anything they have done wrong but because of cowardly wicked act by some of some other people who live in the same community with them.

“I sympathise with not just the governor and the people of Ebonyi State but in particular people of the communities that have been affected. I think that what we have seen here is very cowardly and wicked and all of us condemn it and we say that it must not be allowed to happen again.”

The Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi, warned that there would be serious consequences if another attack happens anywhere in this state because nobody would be able to restrain the youths and people of the state.

Umahi appealed to the federal government to pay N2 billion as compensation to the victims of the Ishielu massacre and N3 billion for Ezza-Effium’s victims.

He said: “Let me as the chief security officer in this state say that

Bandits Sack Niger Community Laleye Dipo in Minna Three days after operatives of the Joint Security Task force left their camps at Allawa and Bassa towns in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, bandits again invaded the communities, sacking the villagers from their abodes.

The bandits raided the camps after men of the taskforce left their bases last Friday, setting the camps on fire after burning their operational vehicles.

The state government had defended the action of the security operatives, saying it was to enable them restrategise for the task ahead.

However, a report from the area has indicated that not less than 100 gunmen invaded the Allawa area yesterday morning during which they reportedly operated for close to four hours.

The bandits, according to the report, did not bother to shoot into the air to scare the villagers , but went from hut to hut making away with the people’s property.

The villagers, however, ran helter-skelter while the bandits rustled all their animals with ease.

“Nobody was killed by the bandits during the operation,” an eyewitness said, but added that “the bandits went about destroying the shops and houses of the villagers.”

The eyewitness said a pregnant woman who escaped into the bush for safety was delivered of a baby, but the bandits surprisingly made sure other women assisted her.

The Allawa community is now deserted as the people had all

fled to neighboring Pandogari town where they are currently taking refuge in primary schools and in open spaces without food and water.

The eyewitness said: “As I talk to you now, the situation is very pathetic; the whole community is deserted, the people have fled the town without taking any of their belongings along with them.”

The Co-convener of the Shiroro Youth Movement, Mr. Abubakar Yussuf Koki, when contacted on the phone, confirmed the report, saying virtually everyone has left the village since soldiers were withdrawn from the place.

Neither the police nor the government officials could be reached for comments on the latest development.

The state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, had last Saturday defended the withdrawal of soldiers from the Allawa forests, saying their redeployment was to help them “restrategise.”

Bello, who regretted the “deadly attack” and killing of the security agents, in a statement made available to journalists in Minna at the weekend, told the communities “not to be apprehensive but should remain calm as the security agents have retreated to re-strategise, and have not left them completely.”

However, the Senator representing Niger East senatorial zone in the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Musa, had pleaded that the action (withdrwal of security agents) be reconsidered as it will be counterproductive.

there will be serious consequences if another attack happens here in Ebonyi State because nobody will be able to hold the youths, nobody will be able to hold the people. It is very important that we do everything very important to forestall any other attack not

only in Ebonyi but in the entire South-east”.

“I want to thank you and thank Mr. President for this prompt action you have taken to visit this peace loving community. We are touched and we are encouraged by this visit.

“If the government fails to do something sir, it will be on record that the people did their best by providing these very vital information. The killers are not hidden. They are there, Sir, with their pictures, the call logs. I am told that there was

a particular person they were calling. They called him Bishop Frank Shakespeare, and they called him before the attack, called him after the attack. Your Excellency, I am told there are over 50 contacts there, over 50 call logs there.”

SIGNED AND SEALED...

L-R: Businessman, Dr. Najib Kettani; President of the Rabat Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Abbat Abdullah; and the Chairman of Nigerian delegation, Mr. Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of Nigeria-Morocco Business Council at the Rabat Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Rabat, Morocco...weekend

Ekiti Police Begin Manhunt for Abductors of Farmer Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Some suspected gunmen at the weekend abducted a farmer, Isaac Agbanigo, in Ikere Ekiti Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Agabnigo was said to have been abducted in the presence of his family members while returning home from his farm at Ajengbede on Ikere-Ise road by 4p.m. at the weekend.

Upon receiving the information, the police were said to have begun investigation into the matter to fast-track the swift rescue of the man from captivity.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Sunday Abutu, in a statement issued yesterday said the victim’s wife told the police that she, her husband and their children were about entering their vehicle to return

home after finishing their farm work when they were accosted by seven heavily armed masked men.

Abutu said the woman recounted that the kidnappers immediately ordered them to lie face down or risk being shot.

According to Mrs. Agbanigo, “After the suspects asked us series of questions, they escorted me and my children

to the main road and took my husband away to an unknown destination.

“My husband’s family members have been in dispute over the same farm with a lot of threats before the incident happened, hence, I suspect that the other side of the family must be behind the abduction of my husband, as the abductors were all speaking Ikere dialect.”

Don’t Lose Faith in Nigeria, Fayemi Tells Students Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has appealed to Nigerian students not to lose faith in the Nigerian project.

Fayemi said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari would continue to prioritise education and initiate policies that would add values to the youths and students’ lives.

Fayemi, the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), stated these in Ado Ekiti, the state

capital, at the weekend during a reception organised by the Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof. Eddy Olanipekun, for the President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Sunday Asefon.

Asefon, who is an alumnus of the university, is also a postgraduate student of the school.

Fayemi, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Students’ Affairs, Olalekan Soyombo, commended the NANS’ leader for promptly fulfilling many revolutionary promises targeted at alleviating the sufferings of the students.

The governor said: “You should keep faith with the entity called Nigeria. You must be patriotic and work as progressive tendencies to move Nigeria forward.

“This project called Nigeria must not fail and students have a lot of roles to play. Students are potential future leaders. As you are being trained here, you are gradually being prepared for leadership in the future.

“It is important that you have to be morally upright with your academic competence; these are what make a complete leader. Stay away from all vices like cultism, internet fraud, drug and those

things that can mar your future.”

He added: “You (Asefon) got massive support from all quarters while vying for NANS presidency.

With this, you must ensure that you don’t betray the confidence reposed in you by EKSU, where you are an alumnus, as well as the Ekiti State, where you are a citizen and among students, which are your main constituency.”

On his own, the Vice Chancellor of EKSU, Prof. Eddy Olanipekun, assured the students that the university would continually initiating student-friendly programmes to boost the standard of education as well as ensure stability on campus.

SERAP Sues Buhari over Alleged Missing N3.8bn Health Fund Udora Orizu in Abuja Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari over his failure to probe allegations that N3,836,685,213.13 of public funds meant for the Federal Ministry of Health, teaching hospitals, medical centres, and others were missing, as documented in the 2018 audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

In the suit number FHC/ ABJ/CS/433/2021 filed last week at the Federal High Court

in Abuja, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus directing and compelling President Buhari to investigate alleged missing N3.8billion health funds, and to promptly investigate the extent and patterns of widespread corruption in the Federal Ministry of Health, teaching hospitals, medical centres and NAFDAC. The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Mr. Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part; ‘’An order granting leave to the Applicant to apply for judicial review to enable the Applicant seek an order of mandamus

directing and compelling the 1st Respondent to direct the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations; ‘’An order granting leave to the Applicant to apply for judicial review to enable the Applicant seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling the 1st Respondent to direct the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly investigate the extent and patterns of widespread corruption in the Federal

Ministry of Health, Teaching Hospitals, Medical Centres and NAFDAC indicted in the 2018 Audit Report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation; ‘’An order granting leave to the Applicant to apply for judicial review to enable the Applicant seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling the 1st and 2nd Respondents to take meaningful and effective measures to clean up an apparently entrenched system of corruption in the health sector.’’

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit

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Suspected Herdsmen Kidnap Five Persons in Anambra Community Abducted commissioner regains freedom David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Five persons were on Saturday night kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen near Aguleri community in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.

This is coming as the state Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr. Emeka Ezenwanne who was kidnapped during last Wednesday’s attack on the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwumah Soludo, has regained his freedom.

The five kidnap victims hail from Aguleri, where the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano also comes from, and were returning from Awka, the state capital, where they attended a wedding ceremony when they were abducted.

A victim of the attack simply identified as Chidi, who escaped the abduction, narrated his experience in an audio clip, which he circulated in social media.

“I escaped. My Aguleri brothers were captured by them. I don’t know if they were killed or not.

Four men and one lady from Aguleri were taken away. There were shootings in the area but I escaped.”

Spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with THISDAY. He said that of the five kidnapped persons, two were rescued by police operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer of Otuocha division, while the identity of the kidnappers was

yet to be ascertained.

“It was a kidnap incident and it happened at night. Five persons were kidnapped but the operatives led by the DPO Otuocha quickly moved into action and rescued two persons. They are still in manhunt to rescue the other three. We are yet to identify those people that kidnapped them.

“The abducted persons are five in number - four men and a lady. The lady and one of the men were however rescued, while three male victims are still in captivity,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr. Emeka Ezenwanne, who was kidnapped on Wednesday night has been released.

Ezenwanne was kidnapped by gunmen who invaded the venue of an interactive session between an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship aspirant, Prof. Chukwumah Soludo and youths of his community, Isuofia.

The gunmen killed three police men, and abducted the commissioner who was said to have scaled the fence in attempt to escape, but ran into the gunmen.

Police authorities in Anambra State confirmed his release in a press statement signed by its spokesperson, Ikenga.

Ikenga said: “The Anambra State Police Command today April 4, 2021, wishes to confirm to the members of the public, especially Ndi Anambra the safety of Mr. Emeka Ezenwanne, the state Commissioner for Public Utilities.

“The police, military and other Security Agencies had mounted intense search and rescue efforts,

Wakili: Adams Seeks Redeployment of Oyo CP Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, has urged the Inspector General of Police, (IG), Mohammed Adamu, to redeploy the Oyo state Commissioner of police, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, Adams blamed Onadeko for her roles in the detention of the three members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) that handed over the suspected kidnapper, Iskilu Wakili, to the police.

Three members of the OPC - Awodele Adedigba, Dauda Kazeem, and Hassan Ramon are standing trial and are currently in detention for alleged murder and arson.

Adams faulted the murder and arson charges slammed against the trio, maintaining that such cases were capable of destroying the trust reposed in the police.

He said, “Last week, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, expressed concern at the spate of insecurity in the state. Kabiesi lamented that over 70 per cent of farmers in Oke Ogun, Ibarapa and its environs could no longer go to their farms because of the fear of

being kidnapped and killed by bandits and criminal Fulani herdsmen.

“From what Kabiesi had said, it is no doubt that there is impending danger lurking around the state. If farmers couldn’t go to their farms, then there would be famine and shortage of food in the State.

“I am appealing to IG Adamu and the police service commission to redeploy the Oyo CP.” He said, “I want to also urge the Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, to cooperate with the IG in ensuring that the state is safe for all and sundry because from the reports at my disposal, kidnappers are now returning to Ibarapa.

“What becomes of the police when people cannot trust them as an institution? It is unfortunate for the police to accuse the three members of our group for murder and arson after they had assisted them in apprehending Iskilu Wakili, a suspected Kidnap warlord that had been terrorising the people of Ibarapa and its environs.

“But, we wouldn’t be discouraged in our effort. We will continue to play our roles in ensuring that our region is safe against criminal elements.”

which had closed in on his abductors, thereby forcing his release.

“The Hon. Commissioner returned home unhurt, in the early hours of today, April

4, 2021.”

Ikenga quoted the CP as calling for calm and reiterated

the Command’s commitment towards ensuring safety and security.

EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION…

L-R: Acting Director Planning Research and Forecasting, National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA), Hajiya Fatima Kasim; Deputy Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Mr. Ibraheem Alghamedi; Director General, NEMA, Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Muhammed (rtd); and Director, Relief and Rehabilitation, NEMA, Mr. Kayode Fagbemi, during the visit of the Ambassador to NEMA headquarters, Abuja…recently

FG Raises Awareness over Unexploded Mines in North-east Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government is collaborating with the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and a local partner, Makesafe Humanitarian Safety and Demining Services to raise awareness and mitigate the risks posed by unexploded ordnance, mines and other explosive

remnants of war in conflict affected communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq revealed in a statement yesterday the ongoing efforts towards a series of mine risk awareness training for communities in the three states.

She commended actions taken by UNMAS in Nigeria and the Armed Forces of Nigeria and NEDC towards raising awareness and preventing the risks posed by unexploded ordnance, mines and other explosive remnants of war in communities ravaged by insurgency in the North-east of the country.

She stressed that on the

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the federal government is seeking an environment free of mines and other unexploded ordinance where the people can live and work in a safe environment conducive to development and be fully sensitised about mine risks and needs of victims are met.

Nigeria, Morocco Entrepreneurs Establish Business Council Following an agreement to boost economic cooperation, a NigeriaMorocco Business Council has been established.

The agreement was signed by entrepreneurs from Nigeria and their Moroccan counterparts in Rabat, Morocco.

The Chairman of the Nigerian delegation, Mr. Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar said the agreement, which was signed and adopted

by both sides, is expected to explore and break new grounds for business opportunities in the two countries.

He said the partnership would create better economy and closer relationship between Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa and Morocco, the highest Francophone investor after France.

He said “both countries have had a long standing cultural, religious

and commercial links to leverage on, formalise and expanded.

He said: “We came together with the council to determine the modalities of harnessing business areas beneficial to the stakeholders.

“The leaders of our two countries, President Muhammadu Buhari and his Majesty King Mohammed IV have laid out the vision and establish the framework for businesses to cooperate through partnerships

and collaboration by leveraging on the comparative advantages of both countries for the benefit of our two countries and Africa in general.”

He said at the moment, Nigeria and Morocco have 21 bilateral agreements signed by their leaders in different areas of business interests that need private sector participation for better result.

PDP Releases Guidelines for FCT Council Election Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has exempted all female aspirants from paying for their nomination forms in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election.

The party disclosed this in a timetable/schedule of activities and fees for the 2021 FCT area

council election which was released yesterday in Abuja by the National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd).

According to the PDP, the sale of nomination and Expression of Interest forms for chairmanship and councillorship would commence on April 6 and end on April 13 at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The party also fixed the cost of

nomination fees for chairmanship aspirants at N400, 000 and N100,000 for Expression of Interest.

For councillorship, aspirants are to pay N75, 000 for the nomination form and N25, 000 for Expression of Interest form.

It also fixed N3, 000 for adhoc forms for three-man ward delegates as well as for national delegates.

PDP also fixed April 14 as

the last day for the submission of completed forms, while all aspirants would be screened from April 16 to 17.

It added that ward congresses to elect councillorship candidates and three ad-hoc delegates for the LGAs congresses would hold on April 19, while the area council congresses to elect chairmanship candidates would hold on April 22.

Obaseki Lauds Buhari on Appointment of Aghughu as Auditor General The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Mr. Adolphus Aghughu, an indigene of Edo State, as the new Auditor General of the Federation.

The governor gave the commendation yesterday during a thanksgiving mass to mark the appointment

of Aghughu as the Auditor General of the Federation, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Ewatto in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Other dignitaries at the thanksgiving service are Senator representing Edo South, Senator Matthew Urhoghide; Sen. Clifford Ordia, representing Edo Central and the Minister of State for Budget and National

Planning, Mr. Clem Agba, among others.

Obaseki said, “I am going to thank President Buhari for considering merit above everything else. He has certain values that earned him the job; honesty, hard work and diligence. My advice is that he should continue to maintain these values.

“I am very proud that we

have produced the Auditor General of the Federation.

This is the doing of the Lord because he has been applying for this position since 2018 and is more than qualified but the Lord in his own time has made it possible. Aghughu achieved this position not through any godfather but through hard work; I am a witness to it.”

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In Easter Message, Saraki Urges Nigerians to Adopt Spirit of Sacrifice Immediate past Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has congratulated Christians across the world, particularly the ones in Nigeria, on this year’s Easter celebration, which symbolised the resurrection of Jesus Christ and also urged them to embrace the spirit of sacrifice for the survival and development of the country.

Saraki in a statement from his Media Office in Abuja noted that Easter represents the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for the benefit of mankind, stressing that those who believe and follow his teachings must also accept the need to play positive roles in making the country and the world they live in safer, united and develop.

He noted that while Nigeria is being confronted by various challenges- economic, security, social, health and political - the decision of her citizens to display the virtues and values represented

by Jesus Christ will help in quickly reversing the negative trend and put the country on a path of genuine development.

“I appeal to all Nigerians to adopt a spirit of sacrifice borne out of love - for each other and for our dear country. I firmly believe that adopting such a spirit will help us overcome the many negative developments that threaten to break the bonds of our nationhood, reunite us and help us grow together as a nation.

“That is the only way that the lengthy fasting our brothers and sisters went through during the just ended Lent period will be a

beneficial exercise. We must use this period to demonstrate that we are first Nigerians before being Christians or Muslims. Nigerians, no

matter in what way they worship God, should embrace the fear of God and not just being overtly religious.

“Once again, I congratulate all our Christian brothers and sisters on this 2021 Easter. Happy Easter to all of you,” Saraki explained.

CDHR Demands Reversal of EVENING SUMMIT… L-R: The Convener, Industry Evening summit, Mr. Goddie Ofose; Group Managing Director, CMC Connect, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; Suspension of UNIBEN SUG Chairman, Troyka Holdings, Mr. Jimi Awosika; and Group Managing Director, Oracle Experience, Dr. Felix King Eireniokhae, at the Industry Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city The Committee for the Defence of Human Right (CDHR) has asked the authorities of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin-city, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Edo State Government to reverse the dissolution of the UNIBEN Students’ Union Government (SUG).

Early last week, the University of Benin authorities suspended the Students’ Union executive of the institution and installed a caretaker committee in its place.

In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the institution, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, the school Senate took the action to forestall a breakdown of law and order following a planned protest by the SUG in reaction to the shift in the school’s academic calendar.

“The students’ union had persistently engaged in subversive activities, including incitement of other students to disobey lawful instructions by the school authorities.

Evening Summit 2 held in Lagos… weekend

“This is in spite of concerted efforts by the management led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, to provide their basic needs of water and electricity, as well as enhanced infrastructure for learning.

“Consequently, the account of the students’ union has been suspended and their secretariat sealed. All members of the erstwhile union executives are to hand over their students’ union identity cards to the Chief Security Officer of the university immediately.

“They are also to vacate the privileged hostel accommodations accorded them by 6 p.m. March 30, 2021,” the statement added.

The university’s image-maker further praised majority of the students who she said had resisted attempts by the union executives to drag them into unwarranted agitations.

“The Senate wishes the students the best in their ongoing examinations and a restful break from April 1, 2021, until their return to campus for the second semester on April 18, 2021,” she said.

Cleric Cautions Nigerians against Ill-gotten Wealth Oluchi Chibuzor The spiritual leader the Pentium Miniseries Worldwide, a nondenominational outreach, Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu, has cautioned Nigerians over ill-gotten wealth “as it does not epitomise the death of Christ on the cross of Calvary.”

He stated this at the ministries’ programme tagged: ‘Dinner with the King’, which was held in Lagos yesterday in partnership with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), as Christian faithful celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in line with their ‘one billion souls for Jesus project.

Ajagu also stated that the church has to come together in hope and faith to do exploit for God before it’s overrun by the enemies of Christ.

“Today we gathered in deliberate moves with the divine mandate necessary to redeem the people held hostage, and collectively win one billion souls

for Christ. The world is winning with fantasy; we have to win with reality. Be informed as the army of Christ in the battle field that the battle is far from over. This is the time to break into the enemy’s camp and rescue the hostage.

“Every person must give account of how he or she spends his or her life on earth to the creator.

“We have to take the battle there, it is our responsibility to respond adequately against the proliferation of demons’ money by muscling strength together and giving employment to the unemployed in the church, supporting the weak among us and be a dependable backup for ministers, missionaries and the evangelists,” he stated.

Stressing on the lesson from the death of Christ on the cross, the cleric urged the people to give up their right, learn humility and embrace servant-leadership for their families, community and country.

SUNDAY ADIGUN

Three Security Guards Arrested for AllegedVandalism of Equipment at Warri Refinery Sylvester Idowu in Warri Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested three persons for allegedly vandalising armored cables and other electrical installations at the Warri Refinery and Petro-Chemical Company (WRPC) in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

The acting state Police Public

Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspects are staff of a private security company attached to the refinery.

He gave the names of the suspects as Saturday Idoge, Sunday Ishenive and Philip Ngbodi, adding that efforts have been intensified to apprehend proposed receivers of the

vandalised equipment.

The suspects were arrested last Thursday following a tip off the police by a resident in the area.

Edafe said one ladder, industrial iron cutters, vandalised armored cables and other items were recovered from the suspects.

In another development, the PPRO disclosed that two

kidnapped victims, who were abducted at separate locations, were rescued unhurt by operatives of the command.

He said through technical intelligence, the operatives located where a kidnapped victim, William Aduwoma, was kept in the bush in Aradhe community in Isoko area.

India Donates 100,000 Doses of COVID-19Vaccines to Nigeria The Indian government has donated 100,000 doses of Covishield COVID-19 vaccines to the federal government.

The vaccines manufactured at the Serum Institute of India, Pune, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturing facility, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from Mumbai on March 26, 2021.

A statement issued yesterday from the Indian High Commission explained that the consignment was delivered to the National Primary Health Care Development.

The statement titled, ‘Donation of 100,000 doses of made in India Covishield vaccines to Nigeria,’ indicated that the Covishield vaccine was the first vaccine approved by

the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

It stated that the first lot of 3.92 million doses of vaccines under COVAX reached Nigeria on March 2, adding that the latest donation was in fulfilment of the announcement by the Indian High Commissioner, Abbay Thakur.

The statement said, “On the occasion, the high commissioner stated that the supply of vaccines to Nigeria is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment made at the UNGA in September 2020, that India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help humanity in fighting COVID-19.”

Bauchi to Convert PHCs HealthVolunteers to Permanent Workers Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi In its efforts to enhance primary healthcare services in the state, the Bauchi State Government has assured volunteers working in the state Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state of its commitment to absorb them permanently as health workers.

The state Governor, Bala Mohammed, who gave the assurance at the Urban Maternity Health Care Centre in Azare yesterday in continuation of the

ongoing inspection of projects across the state, said very soon, the state government would free resources and employ the volunteers.

He noted that upgrading of primary healthcare centres in the state is an intervention where the state government has used its counterpart funding to meet the health needs of the state, particularly for women and children.

The governor said under the primary health care development

agency, the state government is expending more than N1 billion monthly, but many of the permanent health staff do not turn up for work while the real workers are the volunteers.

According to him, “I am very happy with the volunteers here because of the work you are doing, but where are the permanent workers? It is because of manipulations that we cannot get it right. So I urge you to continue to exercise patience, very soon, we will ensure that you are fully

employed.

“We are going to free resources and are going to employ those that will be employed, and when we are not going to employ friends of political associates. We will put the plan that you are going to compete for the available vacancies. Very soon, we want to normalise your salaries because we are eager to remove ghost workers from our system as some people are innocently suffering.”

NYCN Preaches Peace, Unity, Forgiveness Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has called on Nigerians, especially the youths, to use the occasion of the Easter celebration to pray and work for peace and unity in the country.

The apex youth body in the country also urged Nigerians to use the occasion to show love by reaching out and supporting one another, especially those who

are in critical condition or going through trying moments in their lives.

Its President, Mr. Sukubo SaraIgbe Sukubo, made the appeal in a statement issued yesterday where he urged Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of love, truth and justice.

He stated: “Easter is a Christian festival which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His resurrection three days after being crucified did not just mark the

occasion of Easter, this day also symbolises forgiveness, love, peace and unity.”

Sokubo expressed hope that just as the triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ from the death stands as a powerful testimony to the ultimate victory of good over evil, the eventual triumph of light over darkness and the much hope for conquest of wickedness, aggression, violence and death by the forces of love, peace, non-

violence and life, so shall Nigeria overcome all its challenges.

The youths’ leader added: “As Nigerians, we must remember that the life, teaching, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are a lesson on the efficacy of humility, service, selfsacrifice and true love, by which one is prepared to die not only for one’s friends but also for the higher values of truth and justice.”

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Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

EDO 2020

Kogi Contingent Records 100% Negative Covid-19 Tests 2\R 7DUDED DWKOHWHV GLVTXDOLÀHG IRU IDLOLQJ WHVWV

Adibe Emenyonuin Benin City The Kogi State contingent to the 20th edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) which includes 41 athletes and 35 officials have tested negative for the Covid-19 virus carried out at the sports fiesta in Benin City, Edo State.

Local Organising Committee (LOC) however said that the contingents from Oyo and Taraba states stand disqualified from the sports festival as their contingents failed to meet with the Covid-19 guidelines for the games.

Kogi State recorded the 100 per cent negative tests for its contingent after undergoing a rigorous screening conducted by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) officials.

Observers noted that NCDC officials were particularly cautious about the contingent from Lokoja because of Kogi State’s official stance on the coronavirus disease which has killed millions around the world and 2,058 in Nigeria.

In the early days of the

pandemic when most world leaders responded to curtail the virus, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, was caught on video declaring, ‘we ain’t gat no covid!’ as he dismissed reports that he either had the disease or that it had not reached his state.

That video, which subsequently went viral early in 2020, set the pace for the young governor’s controversial positions on the disease over the next one year.

Swimming against popular tides, Gov. Bello refused to institute a universal mask mandate in the state.

He refused to join in the lengthy lockdowns adopted by his colleague governors at the NCDC’s insistence. He kept his state and its economy open throughout the lockdown in the country. Bello is still campaigning against copycat advisories and use of unproven vaccines till date.

Although his position has set him on a collision course severally with the NCDC, the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 and other bodies in the coalition managing

the disease for the country have left Bello and Kogi to their fates.

When an NCDC team visited his state in May of 2020 to test for the disease, he tried to quarantine them for the 14 days duration and they fled back to Abuja. He would later point to the WHO team which went on investigation to Wuhan in January 2021 and accepted quarantine for the 14 days duration by the Chinese

authorities, as proof that he was right and they, wrong.

It was against this backdrop that special focus was placed on the Kogi contingent on entering Benin City for the festival by NCDC officials.

Briefing journalists at the screening centre in the Games Village concerning Oyo and Taraba states contingents that failed the Covid-19 tests, Deputy

Governor and Chairman of the LOC, Philip Shaibu, noted that the state had to be strict with the guidelines so as not to use the games as an avenue to spread Covid-19 in the state which has already been flattened.

Shaibu explained that in the event PTF gives approval for both states to be admitted, the teams may have to go through strict Covid-19 screening and testing

again before they will be allowed into camp.

Shaibu said the two athletes which tested positive to Covid-19 instant PCR test on arrival have been taken to the Stella Obasanjo Hospital Isolation Centre.

He said unless the PTF on Covid-19 gives a counter directive, both states have failed to meet with the Covid-19 guidelines of the games.

...Team Delta Picks First Gold at Edo 2020 Team Delta started the 2020 National Sports Festival where they left it after emerging overall champions in 2018.

Delta State Cyclist, Ese Ukpeseraye, emerged the first gold medalist on Day One of the National Sports Festival tagged EDO 2020 after finishing ahead of 12 other competitors in the 80 km Cycling roadrace.

Ukpeseraye beat two siblings; Comfort and Grace Ayuba from host state Edo to the silver and bronze medal positions to further deepen the rivalry between the two states.

Team Delta is the chosen champions in this year’s tournament, however, there will be tough competition from Lagos, Edo and Rivers.

Meanwhile, reports yesterday indicated that no fewer than ten athletess have tested positive for Covid 19.

Confirming this to the media, Dr M. Obi, the Incident Manager Covid-19 Response, Edo State revealed that seven affected persons have been moved to Stella Obasanjo Isolation Centre where medical team are attending to them to get them back to their fitness level.

The other three tested positive Sunday morning and are still at the University of Benin Hall 2 hostel where the tests were conducted.

“So far, we have ten persons tested positive and seven of them have been moved to the Stella Obasanjo Isolation Centre.

They will be there taking their doses until they’re declared fit enough to get back into the public,” Dr Obi explained.

Meanwhile, athletes and officials of Team Kogi conducted their PCR tests

Enyimba Shoot Down ES Setif in CAF Confed Cup Enyimba FC of Aba secured a narrow 2-1 win over Algeria’s Es Setif at the Enyimba Stadium in a match-day three clash of the CAF Confederations Cup yesterday.

The People’s Elephant secure their first win of the group stages at home against Libya’s Al Ahli Benghazi but suffered loss on match-day two to South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and knew only a win against the Algerian outfit could see them reclaim top spot of the group.

Monsef Bakrar open scoring for the visitors in the 13th minute, as the Black Eagles put their heads in front.

Moments later, Enyimba’s skipper Austin Oladapo had the chance to restore parity for his side level from a spot, but he missed his kick.

However, Fatai Osho’s boys

missed two huge opportunities to punish the visitors, but could not convert those chances.

Captain Oladapo however restored parity five minutes from the break when he connected from a superb pass from Dayo Ojo Solomon to send an unstoppable long-range effort into the back of the net for the home side’s level.

However, Tosin Omoyele double the advantage for Enyimba at 60th minute, following excellent work from two-cap Nigeria international Anayo Iwuala.

The win cruise Enyimba back to the top of Group A with six points and the two-time African champions will remain at the summit should Orlando Pirates fail to pick maximum points later today in Libya against Al Ahli.

Enyimba FC Captain, Austin Oladapo (right) was on the scorers’ sheet yesterday as the Aba Elephant beat ES Setif of Algeria to climb to the top of Group A of the CAF Confederation Cup...yesterday

S’Eagles Get Dates for 2022 World Cup Qualifying Matches Femi Solaja With the match venues already confirmed, world’s football ruling body, FIFA at the weekend released the likely match-days for Super Eagles qualifying matches for the next World Cup finals in Qatar.

Super Eagles have been drawn alongside Lone Star of Liberia, Central African Republic (CAR) and Cape Verdes and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) last week confirmed Teslim Balogun Stadium as the new home ground of the

team for World Cup qualifying round of matches.

FIFA released the official match days leaving the host country to pick a suitable day for their fixtures.

According to the match fixtures, Nigeria will begin her qualifying campaign at home to Liberia on either of the following dates 5th, 6th, 7th or 8thof June, 2021in Lagos.

Traditionally, Nigeria tends to play more of it home matches on Saturday date and it is not unlikely that 5thJunemay end up as the chosen date while the next day which is Sunday is still

in-line with conventional match day for the team occasionally in the past.

Five days after the first match, the team will travel to Cape Verde for its first away tie which according to FIFA calendar comes up on any of the following dates; 11th, 12th, 13th or 14th of the month.

Interestingly, the match-day one and two fall within free period for the players as European football season would have ended.

Nigeria is expected to take on the Central African Republic in September, just a month into the new European seasons. The

match in Lagos will likely come up 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th of the month.

The team will then travel to Liberia on either the, 7th, 8th or 9th of Octoberfor the return leg of the opening qualifying match and then rap up the schedule with the home match against Cape Verde in October.

The final qualifying round of matches which would be a straight knock out matches will have 10 qualifiers from all the groups to produce five nations that will represent the continent in the final tournament next year in Qatar.

Jordan Nwora Foundation Elite Basketball Camps Hit Abuja Today After a successful camp in Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire, the Jordan Nwora Foundation Elite Basketball Camps enter the second leg with Abuja as the first of four cities that will host the camp initiated by Milwaukee Bucks rookie Jordan Nwora.

The elite camps which were endorsed by the basketball ruling body, Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) Africa Zone 3 under the leadership of Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd)

as well as the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBF) is powered by sports kits giants Adidas.

The Abuja leg of the camp which commences today and ends on Wednesdaywill have a total of 60 boys and 40 girls at the Package B of the National Stadium, Abuja. They would be learning basic skills of the game and life skills as well from renowned international basketball coaches and other reputable national coaches.

The camp would be conducted under strict

adherence to COVID-19 protocols and would be led by Jordan Nwora’s father Alex Nwora, who is Nigeria’s Associate Head Coach. The elder Nwora is also the head coach of Erie Community College, Buffalo, New York.

Coach Nwora led Nigeria to a second-place finish at the AfroBasket 2017. He helped Nigeria to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China where Nigeria punched her Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games as the best-placed

African team.

Other coaches at the camp are Coach Natosha Cummings-Price, head coach of Erie Community College women’s team.

She led Cameroon to the AfroBasket Women 2019 in Senegal. Also on ground is Nicholas Sepe, who is the head coach of Niagara Community College in the state of New York.

The foreign coaches will get assistance from Coaches Peter Ahmedu, Adeka Daudu, Emma Odah among others.

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Late Willock Goal Earns Newcastle Draw with Spurs Newcastle earned a vital point in their fight for Premier League survival thanks to a late equaliser against Tottenham from on-loan Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock at St James’ Park.

The 21-year-old reacted quickest, after Miguel Almiron’s effort was cleared off the line, to fire into the roof of the net and deny Spurs a place in the top four for the first time since 2 January.

In an entertaining game Newcastle took the lead when Joelinton slotted home a lovely threaded pass from Sean Longstaff after Spurs

were guilty of overplaying at the back.

Jose Mourinho’s side responded within 90 seconds as the hosts, and in particular Emil Krafth, failed to clear in the area, and an alert Kane prodded home for his 18th goal of the campaign.

The visitors were leading four minutes later when Kane, fed by a brilliant reverse pass from Tanguy Ndombele, clinically fired across Martin Dubravka from the right-hand corner of the penalty area.

The 27-year-old almost got a third, moments before Willock’s goal, but his effort

cannoned into the base of the post and behind.

Newcastle - who have now only won two of their past 19 Premier League games

- remain 17th, but have a three-point advantage over Fulham who occupy the final relegation spot after the Cottagers lost 3-1 at Aston

Villa.

Tottenham, who conceded a 97th-minute equaliser against Newcastle earlier in the season, move up to

fifth - above Liverpool and West Ham - but remain two points behind Chelsea who are in the final Champions League spot.

Alleged Racists Comments Force Valencia to Walk off Pitch Valencia walked off the pitch during their La Liga game at Cadiz in response to an alleged racist comment, before later returning to continue the match.

Mouctar Diakhaby reacted furiously following a clash with Cadiz defender Juan Cala and spoke with the referee.

Valencia’s players left the pitch in protest and the club said Diakhaby, 24, “received a racial insult”.external-link He later asked his teammates to return and they resumed the game but without Diakhaby, who was substituted.

“We offer our complete backing to Mouctar Diakhaby,” Valencia said.

Carabao Cup: 8000 Fans to Watch Spurs, Man City Final Live The Carabao Cup final between Tottenham and Manchester City will have 8,000 fans in attendance after it was confirmed as a pilot event to test the return of big crowds.

A proportion of tickets will be made available to both clubs for the game at Wembley Stadium on 25 April.

The rest will be given to local residents in Brent and NHS staff.

Rick Parry, chair of the English Football League (EFL), said it was an “important milestone”.

On 18 April, the FA Cup semi-final between Leicester City and Southampton will have 4,000 fans while the final on 15 May will welcome 21,000 spectators.

Those games may also trial a Covid passport scheme, where passes would show if a person had been vaccinated, had a recent negative test, or natural immunity.

The matches are three of nine events across sports and the arts - which also includes the snooker World Championship - which will be used to provide “key scientific data and research” into how events can safely re-open to fans in line with the roadmap out of lockdown.

Researchers at the events will “gather evidence associated with different settings and approaches to managing and mitigating transmission risk”.

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Our sports stars and great performers need us to find ways to get bums back on seats safely.

“This science-led pilot programme will be the springboard in getting the buzz back of live performance.

We’ve supported the sports and arts with unprecedented sums, but it’s now time to make that Great British Summer of live events a reality.”

It had already been confirmed that the FA Cup final and semi-final would be test events but Sunday’s announcement confirmed the number of fans to be permitted and the potential use of Covid passports.

The Carabao Cup final was rescheduled from Februarywith the objective of having “as many supporters in attendance as possible”.

Mark Bullingham, the FA’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to be hosting three test events at Wembley and are confident we can offer a safe environment.

“This is an important first step towards getting fans back, with the end goal of full stadia - hopefully by the end of the men’s Euros [in July].

We would like to thank all authorities for their support throughout this process.”

Football in England has been played behind closed doors since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, with the exception of a number of test events before the second lockdown later in the year.

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust said it was unhappy there was no consultation with fans before the decision to allow fans at the Carabao Cup final was made, and about the lack of details around the announcement.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (right) scored his first goal in six months for Fulham in the team’s 1-3 defeat at Aston Villa...yesterday

ISIMI Mini Course, Stimulus for Local Golf Growth Sam Emehelu As the population of Lagos grows towards 30million people, the challenge to solve housing challenge and not tilt the delicate ecosystem further into danger has been one major headache for urban planners.

Golf, despite being seen as a sport has actually been one of the tools to balance the risk of deforestation and maintain good use of open, green and well-manicured spaces.

Penultimate week, owners of Landwey properties unveiled their new project and announced that a mini-Golf course will be tucked into the layout of ISIMI; the ambitious housing project, located in Epe, Lagos.

According to Olawale Ayilara, the Chief Executive Officer of Landwey, “We need to, while developing our city, prepare for the future. There are a number of irreparable environmental decision we have taken (in the past) that need not happen again. We are conscious of that, and have keyed into the Lagos and Federal Government’s climate change policies, especially its adaptation for property development for a mega city like Lagos. ISIMI Lagos will dramatically alter what we currently consider the norm in Lagos.”

ISIMI, wont be the first housing solution to incorporate a golf course. There is Lakowe Lakes Golf Course that has an 18-hole championships course layout embedded with different housing projects. It stands presently in a class of its own (for now).

To get a better picture of the level of peace ISIMI’s three holes and driving range layout will bring, consider that the present Ikoyi Golf Course is the biggest green space available anywhere on the densely populated Lagos and Victoria Island.

Had there been other golf layouts, apart form the game it serves; there would have been

more alternatives they would have been useful for as the city population grew, spaces diminished.

According to one of golf’s ruling bodies, R&A, in a publication “Golf Around The World” published in 2019, Nigeria is the second biggest golf facility owner on the continent with 54 courses compared to South Africa, which topped the list by far with 489 courses.

Kenya has 43, Zimbabwe is joint fourth with Egypt at 38 courses apiece. Let us not bother about the rest for now.

To put the information into perspective, consider the population against the number of golf course available to a person (golf per capita ratio). Nigeria has the worst of such ratio, among its economic peers. It scored very low on environmental preservation.

For every golf course (in Nigeria), there are 3, 814, 814 persons waiting for its use. In South Africa, with 59million populace the ratio is 120, 654.

Kenya is 1, 232, 558. Zimbabwe has one golf course for every 394, 736 while Egypt numbers are 2, 684, 210.

There is really no proven correlation between these numbers and any means of

livelihood but one can hazard that it might point to the level of each government’s hang on environmental planning, deployment of green space policy and perhaps wild life preservation.

The list of countries above also includes the top three economies on the continent, but while South Africa is not currently top of that rung, we can deduce that there is a relationship between the numbers and each of the country’s GDP. The outlier here is Zimbabwe.

In 2013, The International Association of Golf Tour Operator (IAGTO) named Nigeria and Kenya as the biggest golf destinations on the continent.

And, Nigeria never built any major golf course prior to the year, except for Lakowe Lakes and Smokin Hills Golf Course (Akure), which were under construction during the period.

When querying the IAGTO research, the only matching reason for the spike in golf tourism came from the FDIs (Foreign Direct Investment). So, in simple terms, when foreign investors or their representatives show up in a country, they are likely to play golf or spend an extra day strolling your greens.

No research document has

put a seal on this; except for the hypothesis from the IAGTO. If this is true, it then means that the reverse may be true as well.

In Lagos, where the population has swelled to over 20.6million already, (approximately 10% of Nigeria’s population has lived in Lagos at any time), It is strongly believed that ISIMI will help relieve the unbearable traffic of golfers that throng Ikoyi Course.

This has made it difficult for any major remodeling or construction that have been proposed in over a decade to be actualized.

Along the Lagos Island-LekkiAjah corridor, the new upscale Lagos habitat, no major green space was fitted. Although talks of new possibilities has risen in the wake of some new land reclaiming projects through dredging, but it remains to be seen.

One other thing ISIMI will afford the country is to inspire more people to take up the noble game as the Nigeria Golf Federation is still grappling with the best possible way to get people to play the game in the absence of public courses.

ISIMI beyond being symbolic of peace; may turn the locks open and usher progress for golf development for the country.

The dream golf course that ISIMI is trying to replicate on the Lagos Island

T H I S D AY ˾MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021

71

MONDAYSPORTS

Greenwood Fires Man Utd Back to Second Spot in Fightback Win Manchester United came from behind to beat Brighton for the second time this season as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side took a significant step towards confirming a place in next year’s Champions League yesterday.

Brighton looked set for the first Old Trafford victory in their history when former United striker Danny Welbeck reacted quickest after his initial header had been saved, nodding the visitors in front from close range.

However, not for the first time this season, United improved from a lethargic opening period to sweep to victory in the second.

Marcus Rashford levelled when he opened up his body and rolled an excellent shot into the corner from Bruno Fernandes’ lay-off.

Then, with eight minutes remaining, teenager Mason Greenwood headed home his first Premier League goal at Old Trafford this season after Paul Pogba’s volley had bounced into the ground.

The result gives United an 11-point cushion in the battle for a top-four place, although West Ham and Everton could reduce that to eight if they both win their matches in hand.

Eventually, this game may be viewed as being more significant for what happened before it, rather than what occurred in it.

In the build-up, Solskjaer said both his goalkeepers would play matches before the end of the season.

However, the choice of Dean Henderson over David de Gea seemed significant.

Henderson played in six consecutive games immediately prior to the international break after De Gea returned to Spain for the birth of his first child.

Tonight though, there was no reason why De Gea should be sidelined other than manager Solskjaer’s preference.

It has been obvious for some time the present situation was untenable heading into next season and now United could have the tricky problem

Atletico Suffer Setback in La Liga Title Quest Atletico Madrid stumbled again in La Liga on Sunday as they were beaten 1-0 by Sevilla, giving Barcelona the chance to move to within a point of the top of the table on Monday.

Marcos Acuna headed in the winner for Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, with Atletico’s grip on first place loosening even further and their in-form rivals primed to take advantage.

Real Madrid are only three points behind after they beat Eibar on Saturday and Barcelona will reduce their deficit from four points to one if they can win on Monday at home to Real Valladolid.

It means Spain’s title race suddenly appears wide open, two months after Atletico sat 10 points clear of both Barca and Madrid, with a game in hand.

They have managed only four wins in 12 games since then, with defeats to Chelsea costing them their place in the Champions League and regular slips in La Liga potentially squandering their shot at the title.

After a narrow 1-0 win over bottom-club Alaves two weeks ago, Diego Simeone might have hoped the international break would offer his team a chance to refresh and reset.

Instead, they returned to another setback against a determined Sevilla side, who strengthened their own hold on fourth place, even if a push for the top three would seem beyond them.

Sevilla deserved their victory and it might have been more comfortable had Lucas Ocampos not missed a first-half penalty, Atletico’s Jan Oblak again coming to the rescue, like he did against Alaves.

But Acuna struck with 20 minutes left, heading in a looping Jesus Navas cross, even as Atletico protested against an Ocampos handball that had occurred almost a minute before.

There was a chance for a late equaliser as Luis Suarez did brilliantly to set up Angel Correa but Sevilla’s Bono, the goalkeeper who scored against Real Valladolid a fortnight ago, this time preserved the points with a smart save.

Victor Moses in Spartak Moscow’s Away Win Vi c t o r Moses was 3-2 away win against o n t a r g e t a s S p a r t a k against Rostov in their M o s c o w r e c o r d e d a Russian Premier League c l a s h o n S u n d a y.

Moses opened scoring for Spartak Moscow in the 23rd minute.

The winger has now scored three goals in 13 league appearances for the visitors.

He was replaced by A n d re y E s c h e n k o 1 0 minutes from time.

D o m e n i c o Te d e s c o ’ s side occupy second spot Victor Moses was on target for with 47 points from Moscow ...yesterday 24 games.

of trying to sell their highest earner when every club’s finances are being stretched.

That said, Henderson has to justify his place.

No blame could be attached

to the England man for Welbeck’s goal as he did remarkably well to keep the first effort out.

Spilling a routine cross not long afterwards that required

the intervention of Harry Maguire to clear the danger was a worry though.

Henderson was a bystander when Lewis Dunk clipped the bar as Brighton tried to increase

their lead but the calm way he dealt with the reduced work he was provided with after the interval offers no obvious reason why Solskjaer should regret his decision.

Mason Greenwood (left) in flight with the glancing header that earned Man United the three points in the 2-1 defeat of Brighton.....

Kwara Utd Return to Summit of NPFL, Kano Pillars Second Kwara United returned to the summit of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) yesterday with the a 2-0 defeat of Nasawara United in Ilorin.

The Harmony Boys we’re fired into front through Samuel Ganda in the 58th minute.

Michael Ohanu sealed the victory with nine minutes from time.

The Ilorin team ascended the top of the NPFL with 36 points from 19 games.

Kano Pillars moved to

second position on the table after a hard-fought 1-0 home win against Warri Wolves.

Rabiu Ali netted the winning goal from the spot in the 63rd minute.

At the Agege Stadium, MFM were held to a 1-1 draw by FC IfeayiUbah.

Justice Zachariah hit the curtain raiser for the hosts nine minutes before the break, while Lukman Aliu equalised for Ifeanyiubah in the 64th minute.

In Makurdi, Lobi Stars rallied

back from a goal down to beat Jigawa Golden Stars 2-1.

Ibrahim Umar gave Jigawa Golden Stars the lead in the 21st minute.

Lobi Stars levelled five minutes after the break courtesy of Chinonso Okonkwo’s fine strike.

Okonkwo netted the decisive goal six minutes later.

In another matchday 19 fixture, Wikki Tourists recorded a 3 -1 home win over Katsina United in Bauchi.

Wikki took the lead through

Manu Garba on four minutes, with Joseph Atule netting the equaliser for the visitors in the 22nd minute.

Garba scored his second of the game a minute before the half hour mark, while Stephen Chukwude extended Wikki’s lead 18 minutes from time.

RESULTS MFM 1-1 Ifeanyiubah Lobi 2-1 Jigawa GS Dakkada 4-2 Rivers Utd Kwara Utd 2-0 Nasarawa Wikki 3-1 Katsina Utd Kano Pillars 1-0 Wolves

New Nigeria Beach Soccer League Gets Underway The Elegushi Beach in Nigeria’s commercial city, Lagos was on Saturday set agog when NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick officially kicked off the new Nigeria Beach Soccer League.

The League, which is the baby project of the Amaju Pinnick-led board is also supported by Beach Soccer Worldwide, and Africa Beach Soccer Union.

Speaking on the sidelines after the inauguration, Pinnick who is also member, FIFA Council was in company with NFF 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, Nigeria Beach Soccer League Coordinator, Mahmoud Hadejia and other officials, said he was excited to be part of the historical moment.

He said he was at the event despite his busy schedule, to reiterate the NFF’s endorsement, whilst also pledging his total support for the newly formed Nigeria Beach

Soccer Association.

“I’m not going to talk much today because I’m very excited that we are finally kicking off the Beach Soccer League in Nigeria. I’m here to officially endorse this project and to also physically express the Federation’s full backing.

“I want to appreciate everyone that made this happen because it has been a collective effort despite the many hurdles.

It has been long overdue.

“By God’s grace, we will take beach soccer to greater heights of excellence,” said Pinnick.

In a thrilling first round Group A opener, Kebbi Beach Soccer Club beat Badagry United 4-2 to get their title contention underway.

Adams Taiwo set the ball rolling for them on the 8th minute when his low drive be a t goalkeeper Zomoto Idowu of Badagry to give Kebbi the lead.

Badagry came close to grabbing their equalizer

in the closing stages of the first period through Achior Valentine but his effort went wide to end the first period 1-0 in favour of Kebbi BSC. The Bashar Aliyututored boys began the second period like they did the first, as a freekick in the 5th minute by Badmus Faud gave them a comfortable two-goal lead. Down but not out, Badagry kept asking all the questions and were duly rewarded in the 8th minute through Akewusola Jamal. B Kebbi responded almost immediately when S. Ilimi Abubakar restored their two-goal cushion just on the stroke of the second period for 3-1.

Badagry started the 3rd period on the front foot and came close to getting their reward again through Atemo Samuel but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Arome Isah who had a terrific day between the sticks.

The ever-vibrant Isah could however do nothing

to stop Achior Valentine’s free-kick in the 10th minute as Badagry pulled one back for 3-2.

Kebbi then made sure that any hope of a comeback was off the table for Badagry as they responded almost immediately via Adams Taiwo, who bagged his brace on opening day to lead the race for the Golden Boot.

In other matches played in Group B on Sunday, Igbogbo BSC of Lagos pummeled Edo HCF 6-3, Anambra BSC were 5-3 better than Kwara BSC in Group A, and Kada BSC squeezed past Smart City of Lagos, 5-2.

All The Results

Group A Kebbi BSC 4-2 Badagry United Kwara BSC 3-5 Anambra BSC Group B Igbogbo BSC 6-3 Edo BSC Kada BSC 6-4 Smart City Sunday 4 April Fixtures Badagry United vs Kwara BSC Edo HCF vs Kada B Anambra vs Kebbi BSC Smart City vs Igbogbo BSC

TR

Monday April 5, 2021

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MISSILE

Amaechi to Governors “Most governors believe that once you construct roads, finish.

What about education and human capital development? When we were there as governors, we constructed roads, we didn’t invite anybody to come and commission them...”

– Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, baring his mind on some national issues plaguing the polity.

PATUTOMI GUEST COLUMNIST

The Roots of Our Troubles I

ronies litter the landscape. Newspapers chose to emphasize the back of the president as he climbed aboard the presidential jet to go for another medical check-up abroad. Many are still pondering if the meaning was desired in the symbolism of turning the back at a distraught people battling an inchoate economy and ever-present threat to life and property.

At the same time as the President’s medical travel, the US National Consumer Advisory Board was naming a Nigerian, Prof. Iyalla Elvis Peterside, one of the best physicians in the US. And the president’s Minister of State, Timipre Sylva, was announcing the approval of $1.5bn to refurbish the unrefurbishable, the Port Harcourt Refinery.

An angry Atedo Peterside who is heading the president’s committee to plan our future declared the $1.5bn could build 12 worldclass hospitals in Nigeria. From my quiet corner, I could imagine at least 200 Nigerian doctors as good as Iyalla Peterside, who, incidentally had his medical education in Nigeria, as he trained in UI’s UCH, like him, and many more from UNEC, CMUL, UNICAL and other medical schools in Nigeria now making waves in the US return to run these 12 hospitals, Nigeria would attract billions in medical tourism income. Much more I suppose than we are doing with religious tourism, thanks to the pastors and prophets.

In addition, these 12 hospitals would save the Nigerian people the jet fuel costs and parking fees for the aircraft taking our president to London for health checks. I can imagine how much of the misery in the land can be relieved by such savings.

One frustrated gentleman reflecting on the matters as he read the report of the Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum declaring the current government was the most corrupt since independence, lamented that its hard to tell which bandits are Nigeria’s greater problem, the ones in the bush causing insecurity, or the ones in positions of public authority.

The conversation shook me to the core because an anti-corruption mantra drove the charge for change in 2014/15 and led many decent people to jump in at the deep end. Were they sold the big lie?

The paradoxes do not end there. The National Bureau of Statistics released numbers showing unemployment at 33% and more than 45% youth unemployment. Properly synthesized, taking disguised unemployment and other factors into account more than 50 per cent of the youth graduating from university have little chance of becoming employed in the next five years.

I imagine what can be done with $1.5bn creating SME manufacturing clusters and agricultural out grower schemes for young people in all of the 774 local government areas of the country.

It just boggles the imagination that Nigeria has earned $1.2 trillion from oil alone and has hardly any infrastructure to show for it or a manufacturing base that Brazil had even when it was floundering in the wilderness before Fernando Cardoso and Lula DaSilva showed up. And that globalization has produced a bigger stock of capital than

President Muhammadu Buhari at any time in human history such that, even if French Economist Thomas Piketty is unhappy about its distribution, the plain fact is that $17.1 trillion is currently sitting at 0% interest out there but the indiscipline of the Nigerian political class prevents such money from entering Nigeria to power up the opportunities waiting to be exploited here. The Federal Secretariat in Lagos and tons of government assets are wasting or of marginal utility even as the economy is asphyxiated from illiquidity while countries like India and Brazil are funding development by financializing such assets. No wonder Forbes magazine concludes that Nigeria is Africa’s money-losing machine.

Meanwhile, the country’s elite is perplexed and watch in a soporific daze of Champagne infestation of the brain. Nigeria hurts the thinking mind.

So, what are the root causes of these avoidable costly errors in public choice?

When ‘the other room’ entered our lexicon the first set of ears to suffer through it were those of an extraordinary German woman who wears less than fashionable clothes, Angela Markel. Her life and her outstanding

The politicians rely on legal plunder for material accommodation of self and those close to them.

If the National Assembly approves for a parastatal to employ 100 people, they demand 50% of the positions be allocated to them

service to her people in the role of chancellor approach a close as we behold our troubles.

I suspect we can learn a thing or two from how her experience defines leadership, which many will agree with Chinua Achebe is the trouble with Nigeria.

I have argued that Markel is probably the greatest German leader since Otto von Bismarck. Even with a string of post-World War II leaders, including the much-dignified Konrad Adenauer and talented people like Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt, Merkel combined intelligence with an uncommon commitment to service and uplift the German condition and a selfless focus on purpose over power. This just seems impossible to find in many of the kinds of people that political and public culture in Nigeria tend to flush up into positions of public authority.

I have favoured Merkel over Adenauer just as I favoured Margaret Thatcher over Winston Churchill for Briton of the 20th Century but recognize something she has way over Thatcher, the capacity to look hubris in the face and push it aside.

In Nigeria, politics seems to be all hubris.

It consumes so much that our democracy is lost already. Everything is put into subverting the will of the people that politicians seem to commit everything to bankrupt the Treasury so they can buy the next elections. And then what? What really? To have power and money and be a laughing stock of history. How much of these loots can they meaningfully use?

So, the next study shows that beyond being the poverty capital of the world and inflation is galloping at a rate that is wiping out the income of the few who have overcome 50 per cent youth unemployment to be in the workforce, nothing of lasting value defines us.

Even with this state of despair politicians still fund from the shrinking Public Teal the purchase of state-of-the-art SUVs for their motorcades. More hubris. More vainglory where power triumphs over purpose.

How they manage to sleep at night puzzles me.

But ignorance is blitz. They have not read history. They know little about the times between Louis XIV and Louis XVI and the chopping off of the head of the King and the French Revolution. More hubris makes them say revolutions are not possible or likely in Nigeria even when anarchy is already upon us. But narcissism reigns and blinds them to logic and reason.

The politicians rely on legal plunder for material accommodation of self and those close to them. If the National Assembly approves for a parastatal to employ 100 people, they demand 50% of the positions be allocated to them. The minister gets 30 positions and the director-general, his directors grumble about how to share the few slots left. No one comes by merit. The Weberian merit bureaucracy is toast in Nigeria. It is progressively crippled, becoming a minefield of incompetence and corruption as nepotism determines appointments and promotion.

And we dare to wonder why things are not working.

What can we learn about leadership from Angela Merkel? The American guru

of personal effectiveness Stephen Covey dimensions it in the imperatives of knowledge and a sense of service. Without both being present, effective leadership is not possible, Covey postulates.

Angela Merkel is not only sound she clearly agrees with countryman Jurgen Habermas, the philosopher of the public sphere about rational public conversation as central to democracy and modernity from how she logically takes on the issues guided by ennobling values and what the American political scientist James McGregor Burns would call the intellectual’s moral authority.

She, therefore, deploys her prodigious intellect to marshal her views and often secured support for her position. But those who lead us cannot articulate their views neither do they care to talk to us. Even though it is supposed to be a democracy and we have the institutions of complex redundancy in the legislature we suddenly hear of cabinet approval of amounts that can turn around the future of our children and engender a demographic dividend for bringing a murdered horse like the PH Refinery back to live just so it can be sold.

Add to what we have indicated about Merkel, an amazing work ethic and desire to advance the good of the German people and you understand how a whole country, especially one that reverences work can pause for six minutes, come out to their balconies and offer what in Nigeria we would call a clap offering to applaud the end of her time as party leader and beginning of her transition from the chancellor position. Work ethic. Do our politicians know what that is?

The late Emir of Gombe, a former federal permanent secretary regretted that to be part of the trouble with Nigeria. He said this when I called on him in 2007.

Who will help us find a Merkel? Merkels abound in our midst Yet what we seem to get reduces our nation and pauperizes us.

State capture ensures the Merkels among us are kept far from governing arena. Indeed, it seems to be the primary purpose of major political parties in Nigeria. Compare with how this young lady, Angela Merkel, from Communist East Germany moved up CDU ranks after the reunification of Germany to become the most powerful woman in the world, would have been impossible in PDP or APC. Like Etc. the ballad singer lamented in a song, who will save us now.

In Europe of the 19th century when similar conditions prevailed the intellectuals cried out with the apocalyptic theories, from Malthus, the British Agronomist Young and the Economists Ricardo and Marx.

The church kicked in with Pope Leo XIII laying the foundations of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church with the Encyclical letter Rerum Novarum. But who will save us with a collapse of culture and state capture being the central issues of these times? Etc!!!

Shall we turn to Mickey Mouse for help?

You said they blamed it on Mickey Mouse.

Not sure who they would next blame it on.

Utomi, political economist and professor of Entrepreneurship, is the founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership

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