MONDAY 20TH APRIL 2020

Report: Investment-led Strategy Critical for Economic Recovery Predicts further depreciation of naira, fiscal deficit spike to N4.3tn Obinna Chima The Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited and a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Economic Advisory

Council (EAC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has said an investment-led strategy is critical to stimulate economic growth in the country.

Rewane made the proposal in a report titled: “Consolation

in Isolation: The COVID-19 Scourge,” which he presented online to members of the Lagos Business School’s executive breakfast session, a copy of which THISDAY obtained at the weekend.

According to him, investment has a multiplier effect on aggregate income.

He canvassed the support of the private sector in rebuilding the economy, just as he predicted further exchange

rate depreciation.

He said the country’s fiscal deficit was expected to spike as revenue crashes faster than expected at N5 trillion.

“The Excess Crude Account (ECA) has already been fully

ransacked, while the sovereign wealth fund is expected to provide temporary relief.

“Debt service ratio is now 6.9 per cent of Gross Domestic Continued on page 9

With New Gas Supply Deal, FG to Sustain Peak Power Generation... Page 5 Monday 20 April, 2020 Vol 25. No 9142. Price: N250

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Dark Horses Set to Upset Race for Abba Kyari’s Job Pantami, Adamu listed Lawan, Oshiomhole, govs, NSCIA, IPI, others mourn Deji Elumoye, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Segun James in Lagos As more tributes poured in for

Mallam Abba Kyari, President Muhammadu Buhari's former chief of staff, who passed on last Friday, THISDAY presidential sources said

yesterday that dark horses were set for an upset in the race for the replacement of the late presidential aide.

The lightweights mentioned

yesterday were the Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu, and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Isa Pantami.

According to the sources, the president would prefer to appoint someone already in the system that he had worked closely with in the past that

he could personally vouch for.

Adamu is said to have been Buhari's secretary while he Continued on page 9

Concerns Mount as COVID-19 Cases Rise Sharply by 86 to 627 170 discharged, 21 dead Private sector coalition to distribute N23bn food to 10m Nigerians To unveil strategies to defeat pandemic today No country can fight COVID-19 alone, says NCDC Lagos to ramp up testing to 1,000 daily NMA mobilises 42 doctors as volunteers Goddy Egene, Martins Ifijeh in Lagos, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi There were mounting concerns yesterday that COVID-19 pandemic might be going through the roof as confirmed cases rose sharply by 86, bringing the tally to 627.

The rise was the highest in a single day since its breakout in the country on February 27, with Lagos State having 70 of the new cases.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which has said no country or state could fight the virus alone and called for cooperation in ridding the country of the virus, announced last night

that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded seven new cases, Akwa Ibom three, Katsina three, Borno one, Bauchi one, and Jigawa one.

It said 170 cases had been discharged while 21 deaths had been recorded in the country.

There was, however, good news: the Private Sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) said yesterday that it was set to distribute N23 billion worth of food items to 10 million Nigeria in 1.6 million households.

The distribution of the food items, billed to begin next week, is to cushion the effects of the hardship foisted on the people by the Continued on page 9

Buhari Condemns Killing of 47 Persons in Katsina Villages... Page 8

PRIVATE SECTOR TO THE RESCUE...

L-R: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi; Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; and President/CEO, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, during a media briefing after the inspection of the ongoing isolation center project by the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, Lagos...yesterday

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Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

With New Gas Supply Deal, FG to Sustain Peak Power Generation Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

A new gas supply agreement among the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), power Generation Companies (Gencos) and other major stakeholders may see the federal government sustaining the current peak performance by the sector, THISDAY learnt at the weekend.

Since the deal, which saw the NNPC paying about N220 billion to the gas suppliers, which the Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, said was to ensure consistent supply of gas to the power plants in the next three months, power generation has peaked consistently.

Last Wednesday, following the new development, for the first time ever, the country recorded a daily energy generation output of 111,591.83MWH of electricity, exceeding the existing record generation by about 507.22MWH more than any previous level.

On Friday, a new daily peak was achieved when the megawatts per hour hit 112,448.81MWH, exceeding the peak generation 48 hours before by about 856.98 MWH. The National Control Centre (NCC) Osogbo said the new daily energy peak of 112,448.81MWH, which was achieved on April 17,

was higher than the previous maximum value achieved on April 15 by 856.98 MWH. The peak generation for the period was 5,210.50MW while the lowest generation was 4,101.70MW. “It is really unprecedented - the performance of the sector continues to improve in spite of the COVID-19 lockdown. The new peak is also happening two days after the previous maximum daily energy peak,” General Manager , Public Affairs, TCN, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, said.

Mbah told THISDAY that if the trend continues, sustaining the current peak performance would not pose any challenge, stressing that the current consistent gas supply to the generation plants has ensured that some certainty now exists in the industry.

She traced the improvement in power generation to the resolution by the stakeholders to ensure adequate gas supply, noting that all the plants hitherto starved of gas and were not producing power at all had gradually picked up while those that were operating at lower capacities are now in peak performance.

On what is responsible for the improvement, she said: “ Remember the stakeholders had a meeting recently. So, now they are sending more gas to the plants and it has become more consistent.

“Some plants that were not

generating at full capacity are now doing so. Even some turbines that were out because of lack of gas are now generating and sending power to the national grid.

“So, it is no longer a matter of having gas in the morning and it is not available in the evening. There’s more consistency now which is really helping.”

Last month, the TCN raised some concerns that power supply in could collapse

following the shortage of gas to feed the power plants.

The company noted that Geregu, Sapele and Olorunsogo power stations were generating zero megawatts due to the gas supply challenge while almost all the power stations were faced with severe problems as a result of the shortage of gas.

For instance, the company said Geregu Gas station was generating 0MW against 435MW; Geregu NIPP,

generating 81MW with a shortfall of 354MW and Sapele NIPP was generating 0MW against 230MW. The TCN added that Olorunsogo NIPP was also generating 0MW against 112MW and Olorunsogo gas plant generation was 70.5MW with a shortfall of 195.5MW while the Gbarain plant was generating the same 0MW against 112MW. Also affected by the gas supply constraint was

Omotosho NIPP, which was generating 110MW with a shortfall of 220MW, while Egbin power plant, Alaoji NIPP, Delta, and Okpai were equally affected by the gas shortage.

At the time, Egbin was generating 596MW with a shortfall of 264MW, Delta II-IV gas was generating 306.81MW with a shortfall of 128.19MW and Okpai gas plant had an output of 159MW with a shortfall of 291MW.

NO TO DISCRIMINATION...

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Geoffrey Onyeama, during a press conference on alleged maltreatment of Nigerians in Guangzhou, China, in Abuja…weekend

Military Begins Final Offensive against Boko Haram, ISWAP May force Shekau to negotiate amnesty Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Damaturu The military has begun massive deployment of troops and war equipment in the North-east for a final showdown with Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa (ISWAP), THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

THISDAY gathered that the Chief of Defence Staff and head of the military establishment, General Abayomi Olonisakin, has given the final directive to the troops to crush the insurgents in line with an earlier marching order given

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, have since relocated to the North-east to coordinate the military operations in compliance with the directives.

Buratai has vowed to remain in the North-east to coordinate the war until the insurgents are defeated and the head of the terror group, Abubakar Shekau, captured.

THISDAY also gathered from military intelligence sources that the renewed military campaign may force Shekau to surrender and negotiate amnesty for himself and his top commanders.

There were speculations at the weekend that the terror leader had reached out to a Non- Governmental

Organisation (NGO) to facilitate an amnesty agreement with the federal government.

But military sources could not confirm the claims.

THISDAY gathered that the military high command was unsettled by the claim of the Chadian President, Idris Deby, that his country has eliminated 80 per cent of the insurgents and called out Nigeria and Niger via an April 22 deadline to occupy territories in the two countries Chadian troops seized from the insurgents.

Deby's position was said to have created the impression of an alliance between the Nigerian forces and the terrorists, an allegation the Nigerian military has debunked.

Investigation showed that since the Boko Haram’s encounter with the Chadian forces, the terrorist group has not launched any major attack against the Nigerian troops, thus validating the claims by Deby that his forces had disorganised the group.

Before the Chadian forces dislodged the group from their locations, the terrorists’ attacks on the locations of the Nigerian troops were so frequent that the military had to redeploy top commanders involved in the terror war shortly before the Chadian army had a fierce encounter with the group.

The impression of many people in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and birthplace of Boko Haram, is that the Chadian forces had thoroughly weakened the terrorist group

and that the Nigerian military should follow up to defeat them.

However, determined to end the war, THISDAY learnt that the Defence Headquarters had ordered a massive deployment of troops and equipment in the North-east.

Multiple military sources confirmed to THISDAY that over 100 battle tanks with an 18-kilometre firing range were deployed in the past two weeks.

The war equipment, it was learnt, were part of the military hardware procured from Chinese arms manufacturing firm, Norinco.

They include 35 main battle tanks, 25 Typhoon MRAPs (mine-resistant, ambushprotected vehicles), 10 Spartan armoured personnel carriers, 20 Armoured Guard Booths, five armoured mine-clearing vehicles, 50 troop-carrying vehicles and 40 Buffalo vehicles, among others.

Others include VT-4 main battle tanks, SH5 105 mm self-propelled artillery among others.

Apart from the efforts of the land forces, the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole has also ramped up attacks on insurgents' locations as part of ongoing operations to destroy the terrorists’ capabilities before the insurgents could deploy them against the land forces and other targets.

THISDAY gathered that the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has also encircled major likely escape routes of Boko Haram commanders into

Kills 105 Boko Haram fighters in Yobe Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

Other channels through which they move arms have also been occupied by MNJTF troops.

There were speculations at the weekend that the dragnet spurn around the terrorists, in addition to the Chadian expedition that decimated hundreds of insurgents, have now put pressure on Shekau to allegedly seek amnesty.

Shekau, in a video released last week, had admitted that he lost many fighters during the invasion of his enclave by the Chadian troops but called on his fighters not to be discouraged by the losses.

But unconfirmed report said he had reached out to an unnamed NGO that provides humanitarian services in the North-east to explore a surrender option in return for amnesty.

Responding to a question at a briefing at the weekend on the arrest and trial of 58 terrorists by Chad in contradistinction with Nigeria's policy of amnesty for repentant terrorists, Coordinator, Directorate of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said it was dependent on the policies of each country.

"If they (Chad) don't know how to go about amnesty, they should ask. There's a convention that if your enemy surrenders, you take him as prisoner of war.

It's an international convention", he said.

Addressing troops in Borno

ahead of the final onslaught against the insurgents, Buratai urged them to show commitment in order to end the war.

"We must be committed and fastidious. We must consider and work out the minutest details, factors and all possible outcomes in all our operations,” he stated.

He urged the commanders to focus on the image and integrity of the Nigerian Army.

“We must think out of the box and beyond the box. I charge you all to move out and bring this war to a positive end!

Victory is from God alone," he had said.

Army kills 105 Boko Haram fighters in Yobe Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has said that it killed 105 insurgents in Saturday’s confrontation at Buni Gari village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Enenche had earlier in a statement issued yesterday said 10 insurgents were killed by the military in the encounter.

But a separate statement issued later by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, said a total of 105 Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists were killed.

Musa said the Commander Sector 2 OPLD (Operation Lafiya Dole), Brig. Gen. Lawrence Araba, briefed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, yesterday on the incident.

According to him, Buratai applauded the troops for their gallantry and resilience when he visited the injured troops at the Field Ambulance Logistics Base 3 Damaturu and Special Forces' School in Buni Yadi.

He stated that the COAS visited two officers that were wounded in action during the Buni Gari encounter and other soldiers already on admission at the medical facility.

He added that Araba told Tukur that the recent success was as a result of an intelligence report which revealed a plan by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists to attack the village.

"Based on intelligence received about the plan by the terrorists to attack Buni Gari, our troops swiftly intercepted and engaged the criminals in fierce battle that led to the killing of 105 Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists as well as the capture of several arms and ammunition from the criminals.

"Initial situation report reported that 10 terrorists were neutralised. However, following exploitation by our troops, a total of 105 Boko Haram/ ISWAP criminals are confirmed to have met their waterloo as a result of the encounter," the statement quoted Araba as telling Buratai.

Items captured from the terrorists included five AK-47 Rifles, three GPMG, one Duska Anti- Aircraft Gun, one PKT Gun, two hand-held radio, while one terrorists' gun truck was destroyed.

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African Diplomats Threaten to Shut down Consulates in China over Racism

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

African diplomats have threatened to shut down their consulates in China to protest the increasing racist attacks and maltreatment of Nigerians and other Africans by Chinese officials in Guangzhou.

A viral video had shown some Nigerians in Guangzhou being evicted from their homes and hotels and chased down the streets by Chinese policemen.

Nigerians in Guangzhou had complained that they were placed under compulsory 14-day quarantine, adding that despite testing negative for COVID-19,

the authorities insisted that the quarantine period would be extended by another two weeks, a directive they resisted.

The incident prompted the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, to summon the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Pingjian, twice in a week to express the displeasure of the Nigerian government on the development.

However, the diplomats in a protest letter to the Chinese government warned Beijing that their home countries might retaliate against Chinese nationals if the stigmatisation

of Nigerians and other Africans was not speedily resolved.

They also said Africans were being denied hotel accommodation upon arrival in Guangzhou, and were also subjected to an additional 14-day quarantine at various isolation centres after being cleared and issued an appropriate certificate of release by the Centralised Quarantine and Medical Observation.

The consuls therefore demanded a prompt reversal

of Guangdong’s policy on “the selective attack on Africans as well as unannounced visits to homes after the working hours.”

The diplomats stated: “In the consequence that the issues are not properly resolved promptly, the African consulates-general will be left with no option but to communicate to our home country the racial bias and discrimination against Africans in China.

“We would also bring the same to the attention of the

international community United Nations, International Criminal Court, International Court of Arbitration, World Health Organisation, Amnesty International, African Union, among others.

“We would have no option but to retaliate the same ill-treatment meted out on our nationals to the Chinese nationals in our various countries; close all the African consulates in Guangzhou until further notice and engage in general street protest by the

African consulates-general and nationals."

The African diplomats also accused China of discriminating against their nationals, warning that the situation could degenerate if not properly handled.

Against this background, they said in line with Article 5 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963, the Chinese Foreign Affairs Office should intervene and address the complaints.

Buhari Condemns Killing of 47 Persons in Katsina Villages Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Francis Sardauna in Katsina President Muhammadu Buhari last night condemned the latest attacks by bandits which claimed 47 lives in three local government areas of Katsina State.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, stated in a statement that the president said he was deeply saddened by the unfortunate development.

According to the statement, the president urged Nigerians not to despair, saying his administration was ever determined to defeat and crush criminals who take advantage of the lockdown to attack their victims.

It also said Buhari threatened that he would not tolerate this large scale killing of innocent people by the bandits, adding that "in line with my commitment to the security of the people, these attacks will be met with decisive force."

It added that the president directed the security agencies not to rest on their oars or lower their guards in a way that will create a vacuum for the bandits to strike.

"While extending his sympathies to the families of the victims, he called on the people to show more vigilance by reporting the activities of criminal elements in their midst," Shehu added.

Bandits had at the weekend killed 47 people in an attack on some villages in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

A statement by the state police command said the people were killed during multiple onslaughts on some villages in the state at the weekend.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Gambo Isah, a Superintendent of Police, in the statement, said: "On 18/04/2020 at about 00:30hours, bandits in their numbers, armed with AK 47 rifles attacked Kurechi village of Danmusa LGA of Katsina State. The villagers summoned courage and chased away the hoodlums.

"Later the villagers started burning down empty corn stalk to keep their animals safe and to keep the hoodlums at Bay. Subsequently, the situation changed when some Yansakai group started setting ablaze some Fulani settlements at Aibon Mangwaro village of Danmusa LGA of Katsina State.

"Consequently, on the same date at about 03:00hrs, there were reports of organised and simultaneous attacks on villages in Danmusa, Dutsenma and

Safana by groups of armed bandits.

At Kurechin Atai village of Danmusa 14 persons were killed.

At Kurechin Giye and Kurechin Dutse villages of Dutsinma LGA of Katsina state bandits killed four and six persons respectively.

"And at Makauwachi and Daule villages the hoodlums killed 19 and four persons respectively. "Detachments of police, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Air Force, civil defence and DSS have been drafted to the area currently, an operation is still ongoing by the combine joint forces."

Armed gangs had in February killed over 55 people in separate raids on some villages in the state, the police had also confirmed.

In one of the attacks, dozens of gunmen on motorcycles had attacked the villages of Tsauwa and Dankar, shooting residents and burning homes.

“The bandits killed 21 people in Tsauwa and another nine in nearby Dankar.

“Most of those killed were old people and children who couldn’t escape,” the police had stated.

Police and soldiers were deployed in the area after the attack and arrested one suspect.

The attackers burnt homes, livestock and food supplies before fleeing, said Tukur Mu’azu, traditional chief of Batsari, a district that straddles the two attacked villages.

In another attack, more than 20 persons were feared killed and scores of others wounded as bandits attacked four communities in the state.

The affected communities are Tsabuwa in Batsari Local Government Area and Gurbi and two others in Kankara Local Government Area In Gurbi for instance, 17 bandits were killed by security agents and many others injured.

Four residents of the community were, however, killed by the marauding group. The bodies of five of those killed were ferried from Gurbi to the Kankara Police Station.

In Tsabuwa, some people were also reportedly killed and others injured during the attacks The spate of attacks by the bandits had forced the state to grant amnesty to bandits and cattle rustlers late last year.

The state Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, in a communiqué issued after a security and reconciliation meeting with security agents, vigilante, volunteer groups, herdsmen and farmers in the state had said the amnesty was to encourage the bandits to embrace peace.

NEW COVID-19 CASE...

L-R: Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi; Governor Kayode Fayemi; and Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Moji Yaya-Kolade, during the governor’s briefing on the new COVID-19 case in Ado-Ekiti…weekend

To Avert Nationwide Strike, Rivers Releases 22 Detained Oil Workers

Ejiofor Alike, Peter Uzoho and Ugo Aliogo

Following the resolution by senior oil workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to shut down Nigeria's oil exports by midnight of yesterday, due to the alleged refusal of the Rivers State Government to release detained 22 offshore ExxonMobil workers, the state government has freed the oil workers.

The state government had on Thursday arrested 22 staff of ExxonMobil for alleged illegal entry into the state in violation of the Executive Order to curtail the spread of the COVID-19.

Twenty one of the arrested workers, who were quarantined by the state government, were members of PENGASSAN. The state Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, had stated that the workers were arrested while entering the state from Eket, Akwa Ibom State, through the East-West Road.

The governor said: “Yesterday, it was ExxonMobil that brought 22 people into Rivers State.

Although, service commanders, including the Commissioner of Police, are pleading that we should allow them to return to Uyo. I know their predicament because they take orders from Abuja.

“But, this one, I will fight this one. I have told the

Attorney-General to prepare; we are going to court against them. We will fight this fight legally. ExxonMobil cannot bring in 22 people illegally into Rivers State.

“We cannot leave corporate bodies who are not obeying the laws while akara and groundnut sellers are being charged to court in Lagos.

This ExxonMobil matter will expose those in Abuja. I am ready for them. Rivers State is not a pariah state and we will not be.”

But in a swift reaction, the PENGASSAN had expressed displeasure with Wike’s action, describing it as part of the continuous harassment of its members on essential duty by security operatives.

Apparently dissatisfied with the role played by the Rives State Police Command in the arrest of the workers, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, on Friday removed Rivers Commissioner of Police, Dandaura Mustapha, and replaced him with Mr. Gobum Mukan, who was asked to resume immediately in Port Harcourt.

A statement jointly signed by the President, PENGASSAN, Mr. Nduka Ohaeri and General Secretary, Mr. Lumumba Okungbawa, said the arrested 22 ExxonMobil officials on essential duty, were going for ‘quarantine’ before going offshore.

Following the refusal of the Rivers State Government to release the workers, PENGASSAN in a another statement issued yesterday, ordered its members to withdraw all services relating to crude oil production, refining, distribution and supplies.

The union accused the federal government and others of failing to effect the release of their members who, it said were on legitimate national assignment.

According to PENGASSAN, “the federal government and relevant authorities have failed to secure the release of these 21 comrades on legitimate national assignment. The leadership of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has no other option regrettably than to direct all our members to commence the withdrawal of services as follows: “By midnight Sunday, April 19, 2020, all export facilities will stop operation as well as suspension of Production and Maintenance Services Reports.

“That by 12 noon on Monday, April 20, all our members will withdraw all forms of services relating to crude oil production, refining, distribution and supplies.”

Following this threat, the state government yesterday released the 22 workers without charges.

PENGASSAN confirmed in another statement yesterday

that with the intervention of authorities, an unconditional release was secured for all union members.

“Having achieved the primary demand in our ultimatum, we hereby suspend the planned industrial action. We call of the federal government of Nigeria, agencies and all oil and gas industry stakeholders to guarantee unfettered movement of oil and gas workers on essential services in all territories of the federation if we are to continue to provide these services.

“We also call on the federal Ministry of Health and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to immediately adjust its COVID-19 testing protocol to include all offshore-going workers. This will prevent possible incidence of COVD-19 on oil installations with its grave consequences and eliminate need for 14-day self-isolation before travelling offshore with its attendant huge cost implications on organizations and psychological effect on workers.

“We appreciate the federal government and other relevant authorities for their intervention and thank all patriotic Nigerians who supported our cause. We salute our members for their show of maturity in the face of obvious and unwarranted provocation, especially the MOBIL 21,” it added.

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PAGE NINE DARK HORSES SET TO UPSET RACE FOR ABBA KYARI’S JOB held sway at the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), where the minister was said to have performed creditably well like the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who also worked for him at the

PTF. Pantami is said to be Buhari’s adopted son that had been with him in all his struggles to the top.

Heavyweights that had been variously mentioned

include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; the incumbent, Mr. Boss Mustapha; Minister of Education, Adamu; former governor of Lagos State,

Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa; former Kaduna State administrator, BrigGen. Jafaru Isah; and immediate past State House Permanent Secretary, Mr. Jalal Arabi.

In the meantime, tributes continued to pour in for Kyari

yesterday with President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; governors; National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, and other dignitaries paying homage to the deceased.

Among the governors who mourned Kyari were Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

death with the passage of an 83-year-old woman who died from complications arising from COVID-19.

This brings the total number of deaths from COVID-19 in the state to 14.

The commissioner, in a tweet yesterday, said: “23 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Lagos. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Lagos is now 309.

“Four COVID-19 patients were discharged as on the 18th of April bringing the total discharged cases to 94.

“Lagos recorded one death, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Lagos to 14. The deceased is a female, aged 83 with underlying health issues.

state law on congregations and that no more than 25 people in total, including the religious members of the ceremony and the gravediggers, [attend the burial]," he added.

Continued on page 30

CONCERNS MOUNT AS COVID-19 CASES RISE SHARPLY BY 86 TO 627 restrictions imposed on many parts of the country by the federal and state governments to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coalition will also today unveil strategies to help free Nigeria from the pandemic just as the Lagos State Government has set up sampling stations in 20 local government areas of the state to facilitate community testing.

However, amid speculation that the virus might have spread to Borno State, the state government yesterday said it was still waiting for the result of the first suspected case in the state, who happened to be a dead nurse.

Lagos State also recorded another death with the demise of an 83-year-old woman, just as it has clarified that it has no policy against the release of corpses of persons who tested positive for COVID-19 for burial.

Announcing the planned distribution of the N23 billion food items during the coalition’s inspection of its yet-to-becompleted 200-bed space isolation facility yesterday at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba, the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said the palliative would be shared in all the 774 local government areas in the country.

He said: “This coalition is not only involved in medical intervention, we are involved in food distributions to Nigerians.

We are buying N23 billion worth of food items to be distributed during this lockdown, as food is very important in sustaining the stay-at-home order.

“Nigeria has about 200 million people. So we will be distributing the food items to five per cent of the country’s population, and that amounts to 10 million Nigerians. You know on the average, each household has six persons, which means we will be reaching 1.6 million households in the country will food items. We hope to roll this out within the next 10 days.”

He listed the food items to be distributed to each of the 1.6 million households to include 10kg of rice, two cartons of noodles, one carton of spaghetti, five kg of sugar and one kg of salt.

“This will be in phases, but this is the first we will do as part of palliatives to Nigerians,” he stated.

He added that so far, the coalition has raised N25 billion, noting that efforts are still being put in place to get more funds.

The Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said the coalition, comprising about 50 organisations would be

represented in all states of the federation to provide support to the government in the fight against COVID-19.

He said the yet-to-becompleted 200-bed space isolation centre in IDH, Yaba was being replicated in some other states, adding that the idea is to ensure Nigerians who tested positive for COVID-19 adequately get the needed care.

He said: “When we are done with the isolation centres, we will hand them over to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, which will, in turn, hand them over to the various state governments where they are being built.

“On the palliatives, you can see many Nigerians are already restive because of a lack of food. So, our plan is to take the items to each state, then to all local governments and most importantly, all wards in Nigeria. We will take it to the bottom of the pyramid so that poor Nigerians will not miss out on the palliatives.”

On how these food items will be distributed to the grassroots in the country, he said the Dangote Group had been involved in the distribution chain for a long time, adding that its structure would be used in achieving the goal.

Coalition to Unveil Strategies to Defeat Pandemic The coalition will today unveil plans to help free the country from the pandemic.

The Chief Executive Officer of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), Mrs. Zouera Youssoufou, said yesterday in Lagos that the coalition decided to involve more corporate bodies and individuals who are willing to ensure the pandemic is stamped out.

Youssoufou said the coalition, in the past weeks, had been working on strategies to support the government’s efforts in many areas, adding that it has been working with the NCDC on building isolation centres and testing activities.

She added that CACOVID-19 has equally been working with the presidential task force to ensure an optimum result.

According to her, various committees have been set up for better synergy and operations in order to ensure that better results are achieved. Youssoufou said PWC had offered the coalition project management expertise while KPMG would assist with audit services to ensure transparent execution of the project and judicious use of funds.

She said apart from helping to build isolation centres across the country, the coalition would assist in the training of medical

personnel for speedy responses in the area of testing and other actions.

No Country Can Fight COVID-19 Alone, Says NCDC The NCDC has said that no country or state can fight the virus alone, adding that its unique nature requires all stakeholders to work in unity.

NCDC’s Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, at a meeting with the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, yesterday in Port Harcourt, stated that information sharing on new developments about the disease was key to surviving the pandemic.

“The unique nature of this virus is that it is a global pandemic. None of us can do this on our own. No country can do this on its own.

“We share information across the states to make sure that everyone is informed as they can possibly be. We share information on new developments, strategies, what works and what doesn’t work.

“Whether it is in detection, prevention, and treatment, our role as NCDC is to make sure that our technical colleagues are able to respond at all levels and are supported in any way with the expertise they need,” he added.

He lauded Wike for being firm and committed to checking the spread of the virus in the state, describing Rivers as one of the most important gateways into Nigeria and one of the most vital economies in the country.

Borno Awaits Test Result of Dead Nurse The Chairman of Borno Taskforce on COVID-19, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, has said the state government is waiting for the result of the first suspected COVID-19 case in the state.

Kadafur, who is also the state’s deputy governor, told journalists yesterday in Maiduguri that speculation over the death of a nurse working with MSF in Pulka, Gwoza Local remained a mere speculation pending the outcome of the test.

“His sample has been taken, and we are waiting for the result from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

“People, particularly the media, should be patient and stop preempting the result.

“We have a patient who has passed away, there is a need to be patient as we await the result,” Kadafur said.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Salihu Kwaya-Bura, said

the task force had put in place surveillance teams in all the 21 LGAs, monitoring communities for persons with possible symptoms; to take samples for investigation.

Lagos Sets up Sampling Stations in 20 LGs, Records another Death As part of efforts to increase COVID-19 testing capacity in Lagos, the state government has set up sampling stations in the 20 local government areas where citizens that fit the case definition of COVID-19 can visit to drop samples for testing.

The Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, told reporters yesterday that the strategy was geared towards bringing COVID-19 testing opportunity closer to the people.

He said: "The idea is also aimed at taking work strain off health workers that visit several local governments for case search and sample collection.

"The new arrangement would provide an opportunity for people at the local government with symptoms of COVID-19 to present early for testing.

"We have decentralised the locations where you can have yourself submitted for sampling.

So, what we've done is to move sampling stations to the local government. And if you feel that you have any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, you can present yourself to these decentralised sampling stations."

While stressing that the facilities were not testing stations, but sample collecting stations, he said those who meet the criteria would have their samples taken.

"We are not just testing anybody, there is a criteria for testing; you either must have COVID-19 symptoms to meet the case definition or be in close contact with somebody that has been confirmed with COVID-19.

Your samples would be taken and it would then be sent to one of our accredited testing facilities and those facilities will then perform the tests," the commissioner explained.

While answering a question on the use of face masks for COVID-19 prevention, Abayomi stated that wearing of face masks did not protect against Infection but rather protect people around an infected person.

According to him, the Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu, has given instruction that tailors and seamstresses should be commissioned to commence mass production of locally made face masks from a standard design that has been given to them.

Abayomi also said the state had recorded another

No Policy against Release of Victims’ Corpses for Burial Abayomi has also clarified that the state has no policy against the release of corpses of persons who tested positive for COVID-19 for burial.

He said this at a press briefing organised in Lagos yesterday, according to The Cable.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had stated that the corpses of victims of CCOVID-19 could not be claimed for burial.

But in a response to a question on why the body of the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari, was moved from Lagos to Abuja for burial, Abayomi said there was no policy against the action.

Kyari died of COVID-19 complications at First Cardiology Consultants Hospital in Lagos on Friday and was buried at Gudu Cemetery in Abuja on Saturday.

Speaking on the development, the commissioner said there was no policy against releasing such corpses for burial, save for a protocol, which has to be followed before the corpse is released to the family.

“There is no policy against the release of the deceased with COVID-19 in terms of release for burial. If you demise from any condition, there’s a protocol to manage every scenario.

“The protocol for managing death from COVID-19 is that the body is decontaminated. The body is then placed in a special body bag; we put them in two body bags and then place them within a coffin and the coffin is sealed.

“The family is then given the opportunity to come and collect the body and take for burial. The only restriction around burial is that you follow the current

REPORT: INVESTMENT-LED STRATEGY CRITICAL FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY Product (GDP) and Eurobond pricing is not friendly as the rating downgrades hurt costs,” he added.

He projected that some projects in this year’s budget would either be delayed, shelved or cancelled as the country continues to push for debt relief and restructuring terms aggressively.

“Monetary policy will be determined by dynamic equilibrium objectives. There will be an attainment of fiscal neutrality and balance. The current rate of N390 could adjust to reflect market reality.

“The economy is already on the way to a recession as economic activities contract in response to COVID-19 remedial measures.

“Underemployment is expected to spike due to a near collapse of informal sector (trading),” he explained.

He predicted that the country would record a negative GDP growth of -2.10 per cent in the first quarter of 2020 and -2.95 per cent in the second quarter of 2020. Fiscal deficit will also spike to N4.3 trillion.

Rewane said Nigeria was faced with a tough choice of life, death and the economy.

According to him, industries to be hit severely by the pandemic include travel, hospitality, tourism, retail and luxury goods.

He also listed industries to benefit from the disruption caused by the pandemic to include health care,

pharmaceutical, e-Commerce, media and telecoms.

“Brent crude average is now projected to be $40 per barrel in 2020; production quota enforcement and discipline will force Nigeria to 1.4 million barrels per day.

“Economic recovery will be ‘U-curve’ rather than ‘V-curve’.

Structural reforms with transformational impact and long term benefits are needed and sector-based targets are also essential," he added.

Rewane, while speaking recently on Arise Television, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, had said the challenge the country was faced with would provide an opportunity to reset the economy

so as to unlock its potential GDP, which he put at $1.5 trillion.

He added that the impact of the economic contraction would be severe in Nigeria because of lack of buffers.

He explained that the slump in crude oil prices presently hurting Nigeria was not necessarily because of the country’s dependency on oil revenue, but because it lacks buffers and that it policy makers did not anticipate the impact of exogenous shocks on the country.

“It serves no purpose for us to start saying the government should have done this or that, but our focus should be on how to deal with the current crisis.

“The reality is that Nigeria is a natural wealth economy and

not a produced world economy.

"Now, this is an opportunity, and I think the federal government is fully aware of this, and nobody is deceiving themselves about that, that this is the time to press the reset button.

“What do I mean by that?

I mean it is time to alter the levers of control of this economy to ensure that we use this opportunity to deal with the rent-seeking, crony capitalism structure that exists and allow for an economy that would respond to market forces and therefore unlock the investment potential and entrepreneur instinct in Nigeria, so as to unleash rapid growth and bring this economy to its full potential which is over $1.5 trillion,” he stated.

Bauchi, Oyo Discharge Three More Patients Bauchi and Oyo States have discharged three more COVID-19 patients.

One out the remaining two patients in Bauchi Isolation Centre was discharged yesterday after testing negative for the virus.

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, in a tweet, thanked health workers and the state task force on COVID-19 for their unrelenting efforts in tackling the spread of the infection.

Oyo State Governor and Chairman of the State’s COVID-19 Task Force, Mr. Seyi Makinde, also announced the discharge of another two confirmed patients.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that the development has brought the number of active cases in the state to six and discharged cases to nine.

NMA Mobilises 42 Doctors as Volunteers Meanwhile, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has said that 42 doctors with specialisation in infectious disease management had enlisted as volunteers to help in fighting the pandemic.

It also cautioned that any hospital involved in unauthorised treatment of COVID-19 patients may face sanctions from hospital registration board which might include having its facilities shut down for decontamination.

President of the NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile, in a telephone interview at the weekend, told THISDAY that the association had responded to the appeal by the federal government to mobilise doctors and other medical professionals to serve as volunteers in view of the escalation of the COVID-19 infection.

Faduyile said: "We have sent a list of 42 volunteer doctors to the minister of health and we are also working on getting the anesthesia to join them.

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COMMENT

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

ABBA KYARI: A BRIDGE-BUILDER IN GOVERNMENT Ahmad Lawan pays tribute to Abba Kyari, former Chief of Staff to the President

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allam Abba Kyari died on Friday 17th of April, 2020 at the age of 67 years. The patriot died the way he would have preferred, at the very front line of service, sadly seized by a plague against which he was defending his beloved fatherland, Nigeria.

Much has been written and much more will appear about a man who was blessed with so much talent, and used it to distinguish himself in his many service stations in the public and private sectors and at different levels of government. This tribute is largely about his role in fostering mutual respect and understanding between the Legislature and the President he served with uncommon loyalty and dedication as a trusted principal aide and Chief of Staff.

Mallam Kyari leveraged his office and good standing with his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, to engender a cordial working relationship between the two elected Arms. This he did with constructive passion, based on his great administrative skills, consummate understanding of governance and power relations, and eyes firmly fixed on the larger picture of the policy objectives and development agenda of his friend and principal.

He did this until his last minute in service, until his death.

A cardinal objective of the ninth National Assembly, which we declared from the outset, is to build a mutual understanding of roles, cooperation, partnership, with the other arms of government to enhance performance by government and general public service delivery. How far we have come in this direction with respect to the Executive Arm has much to do with Mallam Kyari availing his office and person as a communication bridge, out of his own convictions too that effective communication makes issues clearer from all sides of view. This should cause no surprise, as he was a lawyer, a journalist and an administrator par excellence. He quickly saw the point of the federal lawmakers’ objective, and typically deployed his energy and influence to achieving it.

Mallam Kyari appreciated the desire of the ninth National

MALLAM KYARI’S DOOR WAS ALWAYS OPEN AND PROVIDED AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION PLATFORM FOR THE TWO ARMS OF GOVERNMENT

Assembly to work with the Executive in an atmosphere devoid of unhelpful suspicions and bickering, and which does not compromise the integrity and independence of either arm or denude their roles. He deployed his administrative skills and natural patience to ensure that the two arms work in tandem and in partnership for the overall benefit of Nigerians.

I can recall many instances of Mallam Kyari visiting my office at the National Assembly to personally deliver communications from the Executive, just to underscore the high pedestal on which he placed the institution. For the topmost presidential aide to personally deliver such message, no doubt, demonstrated the desire of his principal for the two political arms of government to be on the same page, and understand each other’s perspectives on issues of national interest. On all such occasions, he was always patient and respectful, never even remotely resembling the caricature coldly portrayed in sections of the media of a vicious power monger. Never.

Mallam Kyari’s door was always open and provided an effective communication platform for the two arms of government.

He appreciated that it is unavoidable to sometimes disagree on issues, after all, disagreement is part of human relations. But he believed that there should always be a point of convergence of views for progress to be made and for the sake of the people we both represent.

I believe that the good understanding between the two arms in the current dispensation has a lot to do with the kind of advice Mallam Kyari, a pillar in the government, and likeminded officials are giving the President with respect to our legislative business.

A great tribute to his memories will be to sustain this understanding and make it reflect in quality performance of government and service delivery to Nigerians.

Adieu Mallam Abba Kyari. May Almighty Allah grant his soul Aljannah Firdaus. Amin.

Dr. Lawan,, CON, is President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly

ASUU, GOVERNMENT AND OUR FUTURE ASUU is on strike for the good of the country, argues Adediran Ademiju-Bepo

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s a child growing up, I learned from our elders and leaders that ‘the youth are the leaders of tomorrow’. I understood then, in my young mind, that tomorrow stood for the future.

Then, one day in secondary school, my English textbook taught me that tomorrow never comes. As an innocuous mind, this comprehension passage got attached to me like a leech. And up till this moment that I was writing this, I have come to accept that none of the governments we have had in this country has done anything to arrest the unravelling of our future by the country’s different leaderships. My generation could be said to have enjoyed only the dregs of the quality education that the policies could afford to give us through the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions that we attended. From the early 70s through the early 90s, we were fed and weaned on the diet of ‘bottom pot’ of education. The generation before ours was once upon a time described, lamentably as a ‘failed generation’ by an eminent member of the generation.

That generation enjoyed lavishly, the best of the times. Talk of half chicken as part of lunch package at the cafeterias, free laundry services, and so on. By the time some of us were gaining admission into the university, this policy had suffered a setback. But it is that same generation that enjoyed the best of the nation that is making life unbearable and unleashing untold problems on the so -called future leaders.

Nobody told them that that future was going to be shaped by incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) - the umbrella body of teachers in the Ivory Tower. Why? The proponents of good governance as alternative to strikes have come to grip the nation like Corona Virus, since 1978.

It is bemusing to note that today, every agitation of ASUU legitimately placed on the front burner and pursued as demands in order to arrest the unravelling of our future have come to the fore, shamefully in these times.

Just a little over two weeks ago, Nigerians woke up to the shocking news of the resumption of the Union’s suspended action of November 2018 through February 2019, which produced NOTHING but a timeline of payment of arrears of the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) since 2009. Government had made our leaders agree to a Memorandum of Action (MoA), that February, to resolve and tackle ALL outstanding issues that have been on the table

since 2013, when we embarked on the last significant and fruitful strike, from my personal assessment and that of majority of our colleagues.

Gripped by instant amnesia, the government will have a field day, forgetting what they appended their signatures to and start peddling new lies and promises. The media will find new narratives, between hope and experience, the past and the future, change and continuity. Between the dreams of a future, labour insurgency and the impulses of a failed agreement dynasty that has characterized negotiations with ASUU over the years, more than most people care to admit.

Government is defined as the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community, etc.; political administration.

Government is necessary to the existence of civilized society. That is one definition. Broken down, it means that the existence of civilized society is concomitant to good governance which is expected of any government, especially, one elected by the people, or purportedly elected, going by the level of corruption and inadequacy in our electoral process. Successive administrations in Nigeria appeared to have been sworn to the unravelling of the future, as none has shown more than a passing interest in the education of the citizens over whom they exercise political control and direction. They continue to pauperize the electorate to such dismal level that whatever actions government takes against any labour union and its members are seen to be right. A case in point is the on-going strike by academics.

Few members of the public will talk about how the government lied to ASUU, how the media built up a narrative against the Union, creating a ligature that cannot stand the test of reason. A friend of mine recently on social media ignorantly alleged that ‘we would sooner suspend our strike action once the government effects increased emoluments for us’. When I asked him to tell me the last time we got increased emoluments, he became belligerent.

I calmly informed and educated him on how our Union had wrestled the surreptitious introduction of mind-boggling tuition and Education Bank in the universities which led to the late 2018 strike that was suspended in February 2019, after ASUU, in the spirit of collective bargaining and compassion for the future of the youth in the universities agreed

to a Memorandum of Action (MoA). It was as if government was tired of the MoUs! Pronto, my friend was excited to tell the world that his graduate sons did not attend ASUU universities. As if ASUU owned any! The Nigerian government has never been sincere to its agreements, MoUs or MoA entered into with the Union. This is a recurring decimal, year in, year out, since 2009. The magic chants invoked by government over the years have only succeeded in confusing the hearts of the public.

The story is rooted in the entrenched and unrequited pathology of indifference to the future of Nigeria.

The impoverished unsuspecting populace is the worst for it, because many of those in government send their children to universities abroad. Out of blindness or indifference to securing the future when in reality everything around them is structured and mediated by the imperatives of rights to good education and learning, socioeconomic and cultural interests of the nation.

It is today an understatement to say that government is insensitive to the plight of members of ASUU. The intimate intersections of duty and wages cannot be over-emphasised. But government believes that stopping or withholding salaries of teachers can be used to trump them into submission.

When indeed the teachers can opt to also withdraw their services in the atmosphere of coercion on the part of government. This did not come as a surprise to the Union as members were well-mobilized over a period of 18 months, if not more. Several correspondences were dispatched to the government through its accredited representatives, ministries and agencies. This was in spite of the vast resources and the burden of promise or promises broken wantonly by government. Disrespect and disregard for the principle of collective bargaining and mutual trust have become the order of the day.

The resort to propaganda by government was not new to ASUU. That has always been its forte because it knows this battle can never be won by it. Recently, the media was awash with a report credited to the Vanguard’s earlier exclusive story that the government accused the union of being pushed by the vice-chancellors to oppose the IPPIS scheme in universities. In his reaction, the ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi said: “It is just unimaginable that anyone in his or her right senses would accuse ASUU of being the stooge of some avaricious vice-chancellors!” The union leader

revealed that “Surreptitious moves had previously been made by malignant government officials to smear the union with fetid cover-up allegations on account of alleged monumental corruption in the universities and teaching hospitals.” Government cannot deny the fact that for more than three years, the union has been calling for visitation panels to the federal universities as it was the practice that every five years, the Visitor, who is the President, should visit these institutions in order to check how the governance has been. After all, that is part of government. But no. The persistent calls have fallen on the plugged ears of the administration. Yet, the Union at the branch levels has never kept mute in the face of financial misdemeanor on the part of corrupt University administrators across several campuses. But government finds it convenient to level allegation of collusion with Vice Chancellors.

This is quite laughable!

There is no gainsaying the fact that the Union is the last union standing in the struggle to protect the future of Nigerian youth through access to quality education. The future which political shenanigans have been unravelling since independence, almost 60 years ago, by their insidious acts and infractions.

The more reason why government has rolled out its propaganda machinery to malign ASUU. We are unmoved and unshakeable in our resolve and struggle for a better university education for our children and grandchildren. The market woman, the poor father in the village whose only hope is tied to the successful graduation of a child, and the helpless and hapless indigent student - are all our community.

They are supposed to be catered for by government but are being denied. ASUU is on strike because of them and many more. As a union of intellectuals, ASUU will continue to protect the future of the country’s younger generations and save them from inclement policies and actions of government. ASUU will resist every gimmick and ploy to drag its name and reputation built over four decades of consistent and focused struggles in the murky waters of dirty politics. The union will employ every legitimate means and avenue to make government see reason why the future must be made more secure for these true and bonafide leaders of the nation.

Ademiju-Bepo, author, and Associate Professor of Theatre, Film and Communication for Development, University of Jos, was also acting chairman of ASUU (UNIJOS Chapter)

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EDITORIAL THE MENACE OF LASSA FEVER Lassa fever is still a major public health problem in Nigeria

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assa fever has perhaps been brushed off as a major public health problem in the country as Covid-19 is getting all the attention - as elsewhere in the world. But the viral disease also deserves some attention. A report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has shown that no fewer than 188 Nigerians have died in the current outbreak of Lassa fever. The outbreak cuts across the country but it is prevalent in Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Sokoto.

Anybody who has been following the weekly updates on the viral disease cannot but be worried by the inability to effectively tackle what has become an annual menace. Against the background of repeated commitments by various stakeholders to prevent a recurrence of the disease, what the current outbreak has shown clearly is that if indeed there have been any preventive strategies, they were not implemented.

We believe that the authorities need to do more if we are ever to rid the nation of the disease.

According to the THE REAL CHALLENGE IS NCDC Director TO WORK TOWARDS ITS General, Dr. Chikwe ERADICATION FROM OUR Ihekweazu, recent COUNTRY. THAT IS AN epidemiological data reveals that the trend URGENT TASK FOR THE usually occurs during HEALTH AUTHORITIES the dry season, AT ALL LEVELS OF between January GOVERNMENT and April. But not much has been done towards strengthening infection prevention and control practices. Lassa fever has been a serious challenge for Nigeria’s health authorities since it was first diagnosed in Lassa (the village for which it was named) in Borno State in 1969. Despite all the efforts in the past to contain the scourge, it is sad that we are still witnessing frequent outbreaks in recent years. We, therefore, hope that the authorities will take both preventive and long-term measures this

time around so that we do not continue to witness the death of our health professionals and caregivers.

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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

assa fever is an acute febrile illness which is caused by a virus with an incubation period of between six to 21 days. The onset of the disease is usually gradual, starting with fever, general weakness, followed by headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, cough, and bleeding from mouth, nose, etc. But there are recommended preventive measures such as avoiding contact with rats (dead or alive), keeping the house and surrounding clean, clearing the bushes around the house to avoid breeding sites for rats as well as putting refuse into covered dustbins and disposing appropriately.

However, because the symptoms of Lassa fever are so varied and non-specific, clinical diagnosis is often difficult, especially early in the course of the disease.

For that reason, steps should be taken by the federal government to direct all health facilities in the country to emphasise routine infection prevention and control measures. Healthcare workers should also be advised to always be careful to avoid contact with blood and bodily fluids in the process of caring for sick persons.

Experts have advised that people should ensure their food (cooked or uncooked) is properly covered while regular hand washing should be adhered to always, as with coronavirus. The general public should also be adequately enlightened on the dangers posed by rats in their homes. The federal ministry of environment and that of information should deploy the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for more public awareness campaigns on the issue.

While we believe that with effective coordination, the disease can be contained quickly before it becomes another national epidemic with dire implications for the lives of our people, the real challenge is to work towards its eradication from our country. That is an urgent task for the health authorities at all levels of government.

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MY ENCOUNTERS WITH ABBA KYARI

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read a wonderful memorial tribute to Malam Abba Kyari by our friend, Waziri Adio. This has inspired me to say something about Abba, as well.

I really cannot claim to know the late Abba in any measure. I met him briefly only three times in my life. The first was at the Wedding Fatiha of Sabi’u in Kaduna. He was with two other people I know very well: Mallam Mammam Daura and Mallam Isma’ila Isa Funtua. The second time was more memorable. For me, it defined the essential Abba Kyari.

I am the chairman of a group we named, “Friends of Democracy.” Our major concern is the North; how it fares in the Nigerian scene; and the security issues of our country as a whole. We also do write suggestions to the federal government on vital national issues and we never get tired whether they are appreciated and used, or not. We just do that as a duty, as good citizens.

We discuss much on security and other matters. During one of our extensive meetings on a Thursday, I asked if one of us who knew Abba could make an appointment for us any time the following day, a Friday.

One of us called him at about 8 pm and said to him, ‘our Chairman asked if you could give us an appointment to see you tomorrow to discuss some vital national issues with you’. When Abba

enquired who the Chairman was, and was told that it was Alhaji Bashir Tofa, he paused and then said Friday was too tight, but he would be willing to come to where I wanted at 10pm that day. And, at exactly 10pm, Abba was there. By the time we had our meeting and he answered all of our questions, his entire image was reconstructed in my mind. There was a true gentleman, willing to answer any question we posed. He accepted some failings and told us why, and even took notes. My respect and admiration for him was multiplied many folds that night.

The third time was when he led the Presidential delegation to condole us on the death of Ambassador Ado Sanusi.

Now, Mallam Abba Kyari has returned to Allah as was ordained. He died a martyr according to Islamic interpretation of martyrdom, being a victim of a plague. And he died on a Friday. All these were good signs regarding his final abode which,

by Allah’s grace, will be Jannatul Firdaus.

Here, in this world, it is only after he departed that we are learning how good and wonderful a person he was.

May our prayers for him be accepted by the Almighty, The Controller of all things, The Master of The Day of Judgement.

Aamiin.

Bashir Othman Tofa, Kano

CORONAVIRUS AND TB JOSHUA’S PROPHECY

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just watched a video on YouTube of Chinese residents speaking about the much-publicised (and maligned) prophecy from Prophet TB Joshua about the end of coronavirus by 27th March 2020. My first question is – did Pastor Enoch Adeboye also watch it? I pose this audacious query because the Redeemed Church of God has publicly made jest of Joshua in the past weeks over his prophecy of rain falling to wipe away the dreaded disease and the specificity of March 27th. It’s evident that many people – and indeed myriads of ‘social media warriors’ – merely jumped onto the bandwagon without actually listening to the complete prophetic message from TB Joshua and its context.

As an Emmanuel TV viewer, I was surprised to see the amount of negativity spewed and shared by individuals who seemed to ‘rejoice’ that 27th March passed and coronavirus continued its giddy spread worldwide – just because it allegedly ‘disproved’ Joshua’s proclamation.

However, the soundbite that went viral only highlighted a small section of Joshua’s words and was subsequently misconstrued by naïve

onlookers to mean a global disappearance.

On 1st March 2020, the cleric spoke in his customary parabolic fashion, declaring that rain would fall to “wipe away all fears of the unknown”, specifying 27th March as a date of significance. The following day on 2nd March 2020, he made it clear that he was referring to showers of rain in Wuhan, China – the original epicentre of the outbreak.

In the video I referenced earlier, smiling Chinese citizens affirmed that they returned to work on March 27th 2020 and heavy rain fell throughout the week of that date, coinciding with China’s declaration that no new domestic cases were found in Wuhan.

Within that same period, the lockdown in the region of Hubei was lifted – a distant dream at the time in which Joshua gave his prophecy – and life has returned to relative normalcy across the nation.

It is surprising and saddening therefore that anyone would cast snide comments towards TB Joshua based on incorrect or incomplete information. When did the pulpit turn to a place of insinuations towards fellow workers in the vineyard?

Tawia Acheampong, Accra, Ghana

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MONDAY APRIL 20, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Lagos CP, Others Embark on Confidence-building Patrol Sunday Ehigiator

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, and heads of other security agencies in the state, including the army, air force, navy, and the Department of State Services (DSS), yesterday embarked on confidence-building patrol across the state.

A large convoy of the security chiefs yesterday visited Ikeja, Mangoro, Iyana Ipaja, Agege, Dopemu, Ojodu, Berger, Ogba, Abattoir, Oshodi, Mushin, Lawanson, Surulere and Orile.

Others included Bode Thomas, Sabo, Ejigbo, Aguda, Ijesha, Ago Okota, Festac, Ejigbo, Ikotun, Idimu, Agege, Igando,

Mushin, Kofo Abayomi, Ajah, Ilaje, Langbasa, Adeniji Adele, Ebute Ero, Apapa, Ajengule, Tolu, Amukoko, Ijora Badia and Layeni.

During their visits, the security heads took turns to address the residents of the various communities in English, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa languages, assuring them of their safety.

Odumosu reassured them of the unwavering commitment of the law enforcement agencies to protect their lives and assets.

He urged them to shun rumour-mongering and spreading fake news and described the rumour making the rounds on social media that a gang of criminals

known as ‘one million boys’ are planning to attack some communities in Lagos State, as “baseless.”

Spokesman of the Lagos Police Command, Mr. Bala Elkana, said in a statement yesterday that the command

under the watch of Odumosu had in the last four months incapacitated the gang and other criminals “with the arrest of over 800 suspects and recovery of over 40 various categories of firearms.”

“On assumption of duty

as Commissioner of Police Lagos State, he launched a special operation known as Special Strike Force on Social Miscreants with a mandate to identify the various cult and gangs in the state, isolate them and bring them to justice.

“The operations, which are intelligence-driven, took the battle to their doorsteps, targeted their top hierarchy and dealt decisively with them.

The war against cultism and gangsters requires a collective approach,” he added.

N’ Delta Leaders Warn against Plot to Blackmail NSA, Amnesty Committee Leaders and stakeholders in the Niger Delta region have warned against an alleged plot to blackmail and discredit the National Security Adviser (NSA), General Babagana Monguno (rtd), as various interest groups jostle for the position of coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

These leaders gave the warning under the auspices of Forum of Progressive Niger Delta Leaders (FPNDL) amid an emerging trend of unsubstantiated reports on social media alleging corruption against Monguno and the caretaker committee constituted by the federal government to manage the Amnesty programme, following the suspension of its coordinator, Prof. Charles Dokubo.

In a statement at the weekend signed by President and Secretary of the group, Chief Akpakpakiri Amakamu and Chief Kpokoye Morris respectively, the FPNDL said recent negative reports targeted at the NSA and the Amnesty Programme caretaker committee

has become worrisome.

Part of the statement read: “We are specifically dismayed at a recent report published on an apparently cloned news website, TheNationsonline.com, in which it was alleged that while in office, Dokubo awarded and paid unexecuted contracts worth N1.8billion to cronies of the NSA. This was followed barely a week later with another post on twitter by the publisher of PointBlankNews, Mr. Jackson Ude, that one Hassan purported to be the private secretary to Dokubo collected over N1.8billion contract on behalf of the NSA which was not executed but paid for.

“While we are not spokespersons to the NSA or the Amnesty Programme caretaker committee, we however deem it expedient for us as stakeholders and community leaders to rise up against activities that are detrimental to the development and peace in the Niger Delta.

Allegations such as these are indeed grave, necessitating our resolve to conduct checks.

NBET Appeals against Industrial Court Judgement Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and its Managing Director, Dr. Marilyn Amobi, have filled an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja against the judgement by Justice O.O Oyewumi of the National Industrial Court in favour of one Sambo Abdullahi.

In a complaint and ‘’statement of facts’’ dated March 11, 2020 suit No.: NICN/ABJ/349/2018 filed on December 7, 2018, the claimant (Abdullhi) among other reliefs, sought a declaration that the suspension of his salary and emoluments, denial/embargo on access to National Health Insurance Scheme benefits, denial of 2017 and 2018 annual leave till the time of filing the suit by the defendants, were unlawful, illegal, null and void.

He also averred that the defendant lacked the vires to unilaterally suspend punish and/ or withhold his salary, emoluments and all other benefits accruable to him without approval by the Board.

He therefore sought an order of the court directing the immediate payment of his accumulated salary and emoluments and all other

benefits accruable to him – as staff of NBET from December 22, 2017 till date.

In his recent judgement, Justices Oyewumi declared and ordered that the suspension of claimant’s salary and emolument was wrongful; that the refusal of his annual leave for 2017 and 2018 was wrongful, an unfair labour practice and against international best practice, and that the defendants lack the vires to unilaterally suspend punish and/or withhold the salary, emoluments and all other benefits accruable to the claimant, and that the claimant is entitled to all his salaries and emoluments and all other benefits accruable to him as staff of NBET from December 22, 20 1 7 till March 11, 2020.

However, dissatisfied with the judgement of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, the appellants (NBET and Dr. Amobi) have filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal In their grounds of appeal, the appellants argued that the trial court erred in law and breached the appellants’ right to fair hearing when it failed to consider the appellants’ preliminary objection filed on March 4, 2019.

COLLABORATING FOR MARITIME SAFETY...

L-R: Navy Hydrographer, Rear Admiral Chukwuemeka Okafor; Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh; and Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Bamidele Daji, during working visit by the Western Naval Command to NIMASA, in Lagos ....weekend

I’m Not Interested in Any Political Office, Says Air Peace Boss Chinedu Eze The Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, has declared that he is not interested in politics.

Onyema insisted that he is a businessman and does not have any political ambition, as he denounced any report that indicated otherwise.

He reiterated that his humanitarian gestures stemmed from his desire to give back to the

society as his own contribution to humanity, noting that such acts of kindness should not be misinterpreted as preparing himself for any political office.

Onyema made this known yesterday while reacting to an online post by a group known as United People of Nigeria Initiative (UPNI) endorsing him for Nigeria’s presidency in 2023.

The Air Peace chairman, who said the call was made in bad taste, rejected the endorsement

and those behind it, and urged them to deist from such campaign in the future.

In a statement signed by him, Onyema said: “My attention has been drawn to an online post by a group that goes by the name United People of Nigeria Initiative (UPNI) endorsing me for Nigeria’s presidency in 2023.

One Sir Wealthson Chukwudi was exposed in the post as the president of the group.

“I wish to state clearly that this

man, UPNI and its promoters are not known to me directly or remotely, and whatever they are saying has not come from me and will never come from me. I am a businessman not a politician.

“My purpose is to impact humanity, and I do not have to be president first before I doing what has become part of my essence. This is my nature. My motivations are different.

68-year-old Woman Delivers Twins at LUTH A 68-year-old woman has been successfully delivered of a set of twins — a boy and a girl — at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba.

The Cable reported that the Chairman of the Medical

Advisory Council (CMAC), Mr. Wasiu Adeyemo broke the news yesterday in a statement shared via LUTH’s Twitter page.

Adeyemo said the woman, who got pregnant for the first time with the aid of In Vitro Fertilization

(IVF), was delivered of the babies on April 14, through an elective caesarean section.

“LUTH has successfully delivered a sixty-eight (68) year old primigravida (pregnant for the first time) with twin (a

male and a female) gestation (pregnancy) following an IVF conception. She was delivered through an elective caesarean section at 37 weeks gestation on Tuesday April 14, 2020,” the statement read.

Condemnation as Security Agents Kill Five in Abia Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia A cloud of anger and trepidation has enveloped Abia State following the continuous killing of citizens by security agents enforcing the lockdown order by state government to checkmate the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Although the state is yet to record any case of COVID-19 infection, security agents have so far killed

five persons since the lockdown, which is now in its third week.

The latest extra-judicial killing, which sparked riots and burning of public properties, including police stations and high court, occurred at Ebem Ohafia at the weekend when a young man identified as Ifeanyi Arunsi was shot dead by the police.

Reacting to the incident, a chieftain of the All Progressives

Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Alex Otti, vehemently condemned the extrajudicial killings in the state by security agents, warning that it is “an avoidable invitation to anarchy.”

Otti expressed his “utmost sadness and disappointment” over the incessant killings in a statement signed by his media assistant, Ferdinand Ekeoma, noting that the lockdown ordered by the government to save citizens from

the COVID-19 pandemic has been abused.

Describing the latest killing and others before it as “vicious, humiliating, senseless and highly provocative,” the 2019 APGA governorship candidate said: “It’s disgraceful and a clear manifestation of incompetence and unprofessionalism for security agents to have wasted five innocent lives of promising youths in different

Police Inspector Accused of Extorting N120,000 from Delta Woman Sunday Ehigiator A police officer attached to the Quick Response Unit of the Delta State Police Command Asaba has been accused of orcefully collecting N120,000 from a woman suspected to have violated the COVID-19 lockdown order in the state.

THISDAY gathered that the

officer allegedly extorted N120,000 from one Mrs. Nwabuabo Obiajulu on Friday, April 17 at about 12noon at Asagba Police Station near Ogwashi-Uku. Narrating her ordeal to an online media platform, Obiajulu said she had sent her son, Utulu Chukwuweiki, with her ash colour Lexus EX300 with registration

number ABJ306JY to buy petrol from a filling station to power their generating set.

Chukwuweiki was on his way to deliver the errand when a police patrol team, led by the Inspector in a blue Toyota Hilux and a Range Rover blocked him at NEPA junction.

Unsure of the identity of his

assailants, whom she said were not on uniform, the young man manoeuvred his way out of the junction while the occupants of the Hilux and the Range Rover gave him a hot chase.

Mrs Obiajulu further narrated that while being pursued, her son speedily drove into safety at Ogwa Spot at Ikeleke Quarters

MONDAY APRIL 20, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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CONDOLENCE MESSAGES...

CONDOLENCE MESSAGES...

Top UN Official, Gov, Others Condole with Buhari over Abba Kyari’s Death Our Correspondents Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, United Nations System in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, at the weekend, condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari on the demise of his Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement, said Kallon, in a condolence letter to the president, said: ‘’Malam Abba Kyari’s dedication, patriotism, and service to your presidency and to Nigeria stood him out as a trustworthy aide and confidant.

“These qualities he exhibited to his last days, and I join you in taking solace in the fact that he passed away in the full service to this great nation.’’

In the same vein, the statement said Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State described the late chief of staff as ‘’a man of very solid character, extra-ordinary administrator cum corporate executive, a politician par excellence, who stood firmly for what he believed in.’’

According to the statement, the governor said Kyari’s death had once again brought to the fore, the severity of the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed many lives globally and in Nigeria.

It also said the Lead Administrator of Buharists HangOut (BHO), Dr Uche Diala, described Kyari’s death as a painful reminder of the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic and a clarion call for every Nigerian to cooperate with the authorities and observe all precautionary and preventive measures against the virus.

It quoted Diala as saying, “May the soul of Mallam Abba Kyari and the souls of all Nigerians including health workers who have died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic rest in peace.”

Adesina said the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof Tunde Adediran, also paid tribute to Kyari, in a condolence message to Buhari. ‘’The death of Malam Abba Kyari on active national service is a devastating blow to our dear country and undeniably a huge personal loss to you (Buhari). ‘’It is indeed a national loss as it is a further depletion of our nation’s human resource assets, particularly at this critical time that we are confronted with a major crisis in our national life when his valuable services are most needed by the presidency,” Adeniran said.

He said the Nigerian Stock Exchange through its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Oscar Onyema, also commiserated with the president, saying “we join the good citizens of this country to offer our condolences to Your Excellency, as you mourn a patriot and close friend.’’

Onyema added: “Mallam Kyari before his demise was very supportive of the business of The Exchange. He was committed to The Nigeria Project and contributed his quota in private and public sector service over the years, culminating in his role as your trusted Chief of Staff since August 2015. ‘’It was in the course of his dedicated service to our country, that he contracted the Corona virus (COVID-19), which led to his untimely death.”

Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, former Minister of Budget and National Planning, also condoled with the president on the demise of his chief of staff The National Assembly Legislators Forum (NALF) has comm

Kyari of change agenda of the government. He lamented that Abba Kyari’s death will no doubt create a very big vacuum in the polity and in the politics of the present dispensation.

Kyari will Be Greatly Missed, Says Adegboruwa Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), has described the late Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba as a man that would be greatly missed.

Adegboruwa his condolence message said he read with great shock the demise of Kyari.

The lawyer extended his heartfelt condolences President Muhammadu Buhari, on the loss of his committed, loyal and dutiful official.

He prayed that God would grant all Nigerians the fortitude to bear the loss.

“I hereby extend my heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially the president, on the loss of a committed, loyal and dutiful technocrat.

‘Kyari’s Friends Failed Him’ The Executive Vice-Chairman Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution and President-General, Abriba Town Union, Dr. Eke Agbai, has called on leaders to learn to surround themselves with bold, honest and dedicated aides and friends who will be prepared to speak well for and about them when they die.

Ake said the tribute by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama on the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari, was an anecdote that gave a better picture of how good, honest and detribalised he was.

He noted that from what many Nigerians knew about Kyari, it was obvious that his friends and handlers failed him.

He wondered why they would wait till his death to tell Nigerians the good and humane qualities in Kyari.

“I am shocked and touched that a Muslim like him will agree to be a best man to a Christian wedding. That spoke volumes. His intellect and background were not known. His loyalty to Buhari was well known and documented but it was told with a bad spin by detractors,” he said.

N’Assembly Forum, Others Condole Be Ruthless With COVID-19, Ekiti Ayogu Eze: Abba Kyari was an Unsung Buhari over Kyari’s Death Monarchs, Senator Tell Buhari Hero The National Assembly Legislators Forum (NALF) has commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari who died last Friday from complications from COVID-19.

In a condolence letter to the President by the Coordinator of NALF, Dr. Jerry Ugokwe, the federal lawmakers expressed their shock over the death of Abba Kyari, stating it is with deep sense of sorrow that the National Assembly Legislators Forum received the news of the passing of your Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari According to the letter, “the death of Abba Kyari is certainly a painful loss to all Nigerians and a particularly challenging one for you, Mr. President, and his family and friends, given the memories and long years you have all shared together.

“We encourage you to take solace in the fact that he lived a life of selfless service to humanity and has bequeathed credible legacies as well as prominent and worthy children,” the forum said.

They expressed their condolences to the president and his entire family, and pray the Almighty God to grant late Kyari and the family he left behind the fortitude to bear this great and irreplaceable loss.

Emeka Ngige Mourns Kyari The Chairman of Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), has condoled the presidency on the death of former Chief Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.

In his condolence letter to the president, Ngige described the late Chief of Staff as a passionate patriot, a quintessential technocrat and a consummate bridge builder who in his own little way contributed to the socio-economic and political development of the country. Ngige further described Kyari as a brilliant journalist, an astute banker and a fine scholar who helped in no small way in stabilising the polity when the present government came into office in 2015. Ngige further stated that the late chief of staff also helped in guiding the administration in the implementation

The Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has commiserated with the President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire people of Nigeria on the demise of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.

Kyari died of COVID-19 in Lagos where he was being treated on Friday and was buried in Abuja the subsequent day.

In a statement by the Chairman of the Council, the Alawe of Ilawe - Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, yesterday, the council described Kyari as a quintessential and seasoned administrator, who impacted so much on Nigeria and that his memory will linger for a very long time.

The monarchs said the death should further reawaken the nation on the need to brace up and confront the menace of COVID-19 headlong and with every resource at its disposal.

“The entire traditional rulers in Ekiti State believe that though late Abba Kyari is dead, his good legacies which have been attested to by many people including Mr President remain immeasurable” , the statement added.

The monarchs commiserated with members of the immediate family of the late Chief of Staff and prayed to God to grant them the fortitude to bear this great loss.

Also, the former Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Gbenga Aluko, has described the late Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari as a foremost patriot and Nigerian with impressive records that would be difficult to match and forget.

Aluko said Kyari’s abrupt death was shocking, sad and devastating, taking cognisance of his immense contributions to the implementation of President Buhari’s development agenda.

In his condolence message to President Buhari, on Saturday, on the death of the presidential aide, Aluko said the noble roles and the modest lifestyle lived by Kyari would remain evergreen in the hearts of Nigerians and particularly to his myriad of admirers, who relished his conduct and way of life.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general election in Enugu State, Senator Ayogu Eze, has console President Muhammadu Buhari on the death of his Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari.

Eze described Kyari as a patriot, whose commitment to the Nigerian project was clear for all to see, including risking his life on the mission to make Nigeria great by improving power supply in the country, an undertaking that regrettably led to his death.

Lamenting the impact the vacuum his departure would have on the governance of the country, Eze prayed God to imbue the president with the presence of mind to endure the loss of his friend and staff, and the sagacity to appoint a forward-looking, God-fearing and clear-headed Nigerian to take over from where the late chief of staff left off..”

Praising his humility and stoicism even with so much power at his disposal, Eze urged “other public servants to embrace the philosophy of servant leadership, since what matters most in life is how one is perceived when the chips are down and one is no longer around to influence either the course of events or how one is perceived.”

Condoling the governor, the government and people of Borno State and the immediate family of the late chief of staff, the former senator asked God to give them the strength to cope with this great national tragedy, and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.

I Have Lost a Friend of 40 Years, Says Fani-Kayode A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said the late Abba Kyari was his friend for 40 years.

“We were at Cambridge together. We worked in my father’s law firm together. We remained close right up till the end even though we disagreed politically. Abba was a good man; a man of honour and loyal friend,” the former minister said in his tribute.

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY APRIL 20, 2020

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

Departing in a Blaze of Intense Public Argument Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that the passing of Mallam Abba Kyari, the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari has ignited a powerful free-for-all discussion

Buhari

Osinbajo

Late Kyari

Ganduje

A

pparently, one of the biggest current topics of national discourse is the life and times of the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari. Since his demise was announced last weekend, an immediate public disagreement ensued between two sides openly debating his character. An otherwise innocuous THISDAY headline on Kyari generated an interesting round of deliberation.

It seems the opposing sides are not willing to let anything about the man go without making capital of it.

In the last five years of his life, when he served Nigeria as the President’s top aide, Kyari had become elevated in the estimation of many to a demi-god with the powers to make or mar. He was adjudged as Nigeria’s defacto president, often relegating the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to a nominal staff in the Presidency.

And when Buhari at the inauguration of his second-term cabinet directed members of the Federal Executive Council desired an audience with him to go through Kyari, it was the most potent evidence proponents of the Chief of Staff’s overriding influence needed.

From the beginning of his administration in 2015, the President did not hide it that Kyari was the trusted ally in him whom he was well pleased. No one, not even his wife, Aisha was allowed to come between them. In truth, Nigeria has never had such a Presidential Chief of Staff with the ability to impact on and shape events, occurrences and policies as Kyari. While the presidential system of governance is not new to a shadow or kitchen cabinet of persons considerable influence around the chief executive, this time around, every known or suspected player in that circle of influence pandered to a

key figure in the person of Kyari.

In the end, Kyari ensured that there was an unbroken mystique about him all the way to the grave. By keeping a stoic silence in the face of the most damaging provocation and accusation, his accusers had the latitude to blow all the hot air they could, while members of Team Kyari held their peace because they couldn’t figure out if their principal was manipulative or gentle.

What many could discern was that Kyari only wanted to satisfy Buhari by working with him to fulfil his agenda for a better Nigeria.

Made Arrangements for His Treatment Judging from the tone of his last letter, it would seem like Kyari was prepared for any eventuality. Perhaps, he was sensitive to the tyranny of critics of the Buhari administration

and how they would judge him in ill-health (and in death). So, communicating in his last message to the world, he exposed a caring heart.

He warned everyone to stay safe.

“I am writing to let you know that on medical advice, I will transfer to Lagos later today for additional tests and observation. This is a precautionary measure: I feel well, but last week, I tested positive for coronavirus, the pandemic that is sweeping the world. I have followed all the protocols government has announced to self-isolate and quarantine.

I have made my own care arrangements to avoid further burdening the public health system, which faces so many pressures. Like many others that will test also positive, I have not experienced high fever or other symptoms associated with this new virus and have been

Being the first high profile Nigerian who died of COVID-19, more than passing interest was focused on every step of his burial. Again, there have been fierce argument over the protective gear worn by officials who conducted Kyari’s burial. To address these concerns, Mohammed Kawu, the acting secretary of Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCT Administration has explained that those who attended to the body of the late Chief of Staff to President Buhari will go on self-isolation for 14 days

working from home. I hope to be back at my desk very soon. I have a team of young, professional, knowledgeable and patriotic colleagues, whose dedication has been beyond the call of duty, who continue to work seven days a week, with no time of the day spared. We will continue to serve the President and people of Nigeria, as we have for the past five years.

I want to thank all our fantastic, talented and brave healthcare professionals, working across the country in such a difficult time; all the good Samaritans looking out for the most vulnerable in our communities; the key workers that will keep our country going through this; friends and family and often strangers, who have sent me such warm wishes and displayed such a generosity of spirit.

We should be calm, measured and diligent – be meticulous in your hygiene, especially with cleaning hands, if possible stay at home or keep your distance. Listen to good advice from the proper authorities: pay no heed to quack cures or fake news from social media. President Buhari will do whatever it takes to protect the health and safety of our people and get the country back on its feet as soon as possible.

Like the whole world, we are dealing with a new disease. Our experts are learning more all the time about coronavirus, what it does and how we can combat it. What we do know is that while some may become very sick, many others who contract the virus will not, and may have no symptoms at all. This is a disease that recognises no difference between north and south, men or women, rich or poor. We are all in this together.”

From a Grateful Friend One of the controversies that arose after his

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY APRIL 20, 2020

MONDAY DISCOURSE

Asiha

Shehu

Magaji

Mohammed

demise was his age. However, President Buhari is one person who knows everything about Mallam Abba Kyari. The President ended the argument about the departed’s age by clearly stating that he died on 17th April, 2020, at the age of 67 from complications caused by the Coronavirus.

Expectedly, Buhari paid his departed friend a glowing tribute. “He was a true Nigerian patriot.

My loyal friend and compatriot for the last 42 years - and latterly my Chief-of-Staff - he never wavered in his commitment to the betterment of every one of us.

He was only in his twenties when we first met.

A diligent student, soon after he was blessed with the opportunity to study abroad - first at Warwick and then law at the University of Cambridge. But there was never any question Abba would bring his first-rate skills and newly acquired world-class knowledge back to Nigeria - which he did - immediately upon graduation.

Whilst possessing the sharpest legal and organisational mind, Abba’s true focus was always the development of infrastructure and the assurance of security for the people of this nation he served so faithfully. For he knew that without both in tandem there can never be the development of the respectful society and vibrant economy that all Nigerian citizens deserve.

In political life, Abba never sought elective office for himself. Rather, he set himself against the view and conduct of two generations of Nigeria’s political establishment - who saw corruption as an entitlement and its practice a byproduct of possessing political office. Becoming my Chief of Staff in 2015, he strove quietly and without any interest in publicity or personal gain to implement my agenda.

There are those who said of him that he must be secretive - because he did not have a high public profile. But Abba was the opposite: he simply had no need, nor did he seek, the cheap gratification of the crowd; for him, there was nothing to be found in popular adulation. He secured instead satisfaction and his reward solely and only from the improvement of the governance of this great country.

Working, without fail, seven days each and every week, he acted forcefully as a crucial gatekeeper to the presidency, ensuring no one - whether minister or governor had access beyond another - and that all those representing and serving our country were treated equally.

He made clear in his person and his practice, always, that every Nigerian - regardless of faith,

family, fortune or frailty - was heard and treated respectfully and the same.

Mallam Abba Kyari was the very best of us.

He was made of the stuff that makes Nigeria great. Rest in Peace, my dearest friend. “ Kano Fires Official Who Mocked Kyari In Kano State, the Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Engr Mu’azu Magaji, who dared to mock the passage of Kyari was relieved of his appointment with immediate effect by Governor Umar Ganduje for his unguarded utterances against the person of late Abba Kyari.

The sacked commissioner had taken to his Facebook Page to sympathise with the Federal Government and the family of the deceased over the death of Abba Kyari, He did not end there. He stated that, “It’s very important we put things in perspective so that we can save our system from punitive unconstitutional usurpers in the future. Democracy and democratic equity does not by itself strive…It must be guarded and protected… One person, just one person can set a dangerous precedence!

“When you are all done with the pretence and crocodile tears, we will do a review in overriding interest of the nation and its people!

“I am perfectly aware of the storm I am in…

The fact, however, is I know what comes from the heart or that what is purchased! You all will come around.”

A statement by the commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, said as a

public servant, the commissioner ought to have respected his office by refraining from any act capable of rendering the office to disrepute. According to him, “The action of a public servant, personal or otherwise reflects back on the government and therefore, the Ganduje administration would not tolerate people in official capacities engaging in a personal vendetta or otherwise.”

Wrongly Kitted Persons at Kyari’s Burial Being the first high profile Nigerian who died of COVID-19, more than passing interest was focused on every step of his burial. Again, there have been fierce argument over the protective gear worn by officials who conducted Kyari’s burial. To address these concerns, Mohammed Kawu, the acting secretary of Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCT Administration has explained that those who attended to the body of the late Chief of Staff to President Buhari will go on self-isolation for 14 days.

“All the individuals that participated in the burial and were not properly kitted have been identified and are being isolated,” Kawu said.

“Everyone who participated in the burial ceremony of the deceased Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari; will undergo isolation for 14 days. In addition, the concerned individuals will undergo tests for COVID-19 to determine their level of exposure and ensure that they do not infect other people.”

The FCT administration has explained that that future burials of victims of COVID 19 are

Kyari ensured that there was an unbroken mystique about him all the way to the grave.

By keeping a stoic silence in the face of the most damaging provocation and accusation, his accusers had the latitude to blow all the hot air they could, while members of Team Kyari held their peace because they couldn’t figure out if their principal was manipulative or gentle. What many could discern was that Kyari only wanted to satisfy Buhari by working with him to fulfil his agenda for a better Nigeria

conducted in line with protocols established by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Kyari died of coronavirus on Friday at the First Cardiology Consultants in Lagos. His corpse was flown to Abuja where he was interred at Gudu Military Cemetary. The number of people at the burial has caused another public outrage as the government has been accused of disobeying its own order on social distancing and the number of persons allowed in a gathering.

The FCTA was forced to react to a trending video; showing a man pulling off his Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) unprofessionally; after participating in the burial of the late Chief of Staff to Buhari, Abba Kyari.

Presidency Staff Shut Out Kyari’s demise would later lead another rumpus in The Presidency as staff in the Presidential Villa who attended the burial were denied access into the Villa. Throwing more light on the decision, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu explained that it was regular administrative procedure that shoud not have generated any furor. He said, “standard protocol was behind the decision by security officials stopping attendees of the burial ceremony of the late Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, from entering the State House.

He tweeted: “There is nothing extraordinary about those of us who attend Abba Kyari’s funeral being advised to distance ourselves from the Villa.

“This is in line with the standard rules put in place by the National Center for Disease Control, @NCDCgov and the Federal Ministry of Health. You do these things to stop the spread of #Coronavirus.

“For the most part, the Villa has operated digitally in the last few weeks so there is really nothing new to this. “It is true. It’s nothing that anyone should be angry about. They were just obeying rules. We have all attended the burial of a close friend in this season, anyone will know that after such occasion, you are meant to proceed on self-isolation. So what happened was standard protocol.

“If you observed, we have mostly been working digitally, most of our works have been done digitally, in observance of the social distance advice,” the presidential aide said.

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

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T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

FEATURES

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

Harvest of Weapons in Rivers Though it could just be a fraction of what they have, nevertheless the people of Rivers State were shocked to see the magnitude of the arms and ammunition recovered from kidnappers last week by security agencies, Davidson Iriekpen writes

Governor Wike with some security oďŹƒcials inspecting the arms and ammunition recovered from kidnappers at the Government House...recently

T

he last time the people of Rivers State witnessed a resemblance of what happened last Monday in Port Harcourt was in November 2016 when the seven-member amnesty committee set up by Governor Nyesom Wike to restore peace in the state displayed some arms and ammunition surrendered by criminals.

But what was witnessed in Port Harcourt last week was more confounding. Even though many indigenes knew that there were still arms and ammunition in circulation, they did not expect the magnitude they saw. They were therefore shocked and terrified to see the cache of arms and ammunition recovered from kidnappers by the crack team of security agencies.

For too long, able-bodied men had held the state hostage with their criminal activities, frequently harassing, killing, robbing, kidnapping and engaging in cult-related activities. Their firepower and voodoo style had made them untouchable.

While some parts of Port Harcourt were relatively safe due to the constant presence of a large number of security personnel, other parts of the city, suburbs and local communities where they operated from were troubled with all forms of criminal activities as people lived in fear.

As part of efforts to restore peace in these areas and the state in general, Governor Wike set up Operation Sting aimed at fishing and smoking out criminals from their hideouts. At the inauguration of the operation late last year, he had promised that any cultist, armed robber or kidnapper who would not give up his or her nefarious activity would have a rough time with security agencies.

Even though many still believe that the arms and ammunition surrendered could just be a fraction from what they have, those who have refused to give up their nefarious activities would face the consequences decisively.

The arms and ammunition, 3,249 in all, included General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), G-3 rifles, SMG rifle, one rocket launcher (RPG), Pump Action guns, 933 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, 1,111 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, among others.

Speaking while inspecting the arms and ammunition, Wike expressed shock, wondering what the criminals were doing with sub machine guns and rocket grenade launchers. He said his administration would continue to work towards keeping the state safe in line with his constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and

property.

The governor commended security agencies in the state for working with the state government to check the activities of criminals. He said that as the government continued to fight to protect the people from coronavirus, it would not relent in ensuring the security of lives and property.

Wike urged the media to also focus on the successes of the State Security Council in the area of securing lives in the state adding that bursting the kidnap syndicate was a major achievement by Operation Sting. He said Operation Sting was on the heels of a notorious Isiokpo kidnapper, who would soon be apprehended and prosecuted.

The governor said: “I have made a vow that Rivers State must be safe. It is a duty that we are committed to carry out. We have no excuses to give. COVID-19 is a serious war. Then add this to the fight against insecurity and you understand that it is not easy for us. But we shall continue to work for the security and safety of our people. “We don’t want anyone to politicise the issue of security. We also don’t want anyone to politicise the fight against coronavirus.

We give God the glory for keeping us

safe in Rivers State even as we battle this pandemic. Rivers State Government is working to keep our people safe, yet some criminals want to make the state insecure,� he said.

Earlier, the erstwhile state Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura, who displayed the weapons for all to see, commended Wike for his logistical support that had energised the security outfit to achieve notable success. He said Operation Sting initiated by Wike sanitised the hitherto troublesome East-west Road, the Elele-Owerri Road and the Ogoni axis of the East-west Road, making the state safer for residents and visitors.

Dandaura, who was redeployed at the weekend, assured the people of the state that the security agencies would continue to work hard to protect lives and property in the state. He said the state police command recovered the arms from Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, following credible intelligence, adding that the kidnap syndicate hid the arms underground in the forest.

The people of the state are hoping that security agencies would not rest on their oars but put in more efforts in order to make more recoveries so that they can sleep with their two eyes closed.

MONDAY APRIL 20, 2020 • T H I S D AY

17

18

MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Unilever Nigeria Posts N13.3bn Revenue, N1.1bn Profit in Three Months Goddy Egene Unilever Nigeria Plc has reported a revenue of N13.329 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2020, showing a decline of 31 per cent from

N19.236 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2019.

However, profit after tax (PAT) witnessed a lower decline of 27 per cent due to a tax credit and reduction in financing cost.

A breakdown of the

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

performance showed that Unilever recorded a cost of sale of N9.902 billion, down from N15.367 billion, making gross profit to print at N3.427 billion in 2020 as against N3.869 billion in 2019. Selling and distribution

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 16Apr-2020, unless otherwise stated.

expenses reduced from N859 million to 618 million. However, marketing and administrative expenses jumped 53 per cent to N2.328 billion from N1.518 billion in 2019.

Profit before tax stood at N948

million, down from N2.027 billion. The company ended the quarter with tax credit of N165 million compared with a tax liability of N507 million in 2019. Consequently, profit after tax stood at N1.114 billion as

against N1.520 billion in first quarter of 2019.

The 2020 Q1 performance has raised the hope of the company’s shareholders for a recovery at the end of the year, considering the loss posted last year.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 109.27 112.92 -25.37% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.11% Nigeria International Debt Fund 306.81 306.81 -1.87% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.90 0.91 -0.36% ACAP Income Funds 0.79 0.79 10.44% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.07% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.52 2.58 2.56% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 13.26 13.66 -13.43% ARM Discovery Fund 318.03 327.61 -7.93% ARM Ethical Fund 26.97 27.78 -7.27% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.86% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 89.02 89.65 -7.35% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.81% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 0.07 0.05 6.92% Paramount Equity Fund 10.21 10.40 -18.41% Women's Investment Fund 104.78 105.48 -5.20% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.33% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 95.65 96.08 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 103.41 103.94 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.54% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.86 0.86 -7.68% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.36 1.36 2.65% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,330.78 1,333.49 3.08% FBN Balanced Fund 136.36 137.31 -7.12% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.26% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 109.15 109.99 -8.46% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 109.71 110.55 -8.45% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 107.73 109.01 -17.21% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,892.43 2,921.96 -3.06% Coral Income Fund 3,148.06 3,148.06 14.84% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 6.03% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.86% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 116.87 117.25 9.24%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.02% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.13 2.17 -2.69% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 11.26% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 141.08 141.60 -1.64% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.16 1.18 -0.57% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,113.73 1,113.73 3.36% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.30 1.32 6.74% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.49 11.53 2.27% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.00% PACAM Equity Fund 1.00 1.01 PACAM EuroBond Fund 87.04 89.10 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 111.19 113.00 -9.85% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 3.11% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 -3.13% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 2.10% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -10.67% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 2.35% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -8.99% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.83% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -10.27% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 1.68% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 9.61 9.72 -6.51% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.24 11.35 -3.22% Zenith Income Fund 23.32 23.32 4.90% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.61%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.10 113.96 52.75

-67.85% 1.81% 1.34%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

7.52 78.40 60.08

7.62 80.05 61.18

-13.56% -15.23% -18.52%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.69

17.60%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

19

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

A S

REPO 2.25 2

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

A T

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

A P R I L

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

1.75 5.50 5.63

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

487.69% 0.26% 4.73%

1 7 ,

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

2 0 2 0

4.73% 1.36%

EXCHANGE RATE N361/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes Polaris Bank Commends Medical Workers

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

L - R: Minister of Industry , Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning , Zainab Ahmed, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during a meeting of the Economic Sustainability Committee at the Presidential Villa in Abuja..recently

Firm Foresees Aggressive Mergers, Acquisitions Post COVID-19 Dike Onwuamaeze A British International Law Firm, the HoganLovells (HL), which offers advisory on private equity transactions with specialty for African investors, has predicted that the third and fourth quarters of 2020 would be marked by aggressive mergers and acquisitions of distressed entities and businesses whose profitability and share values have declined due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 on the stock markets around the globe.

The push for merger and acquisition, according to HL, might not spare the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) where stock prices of many businesses have depressed.

The firm also stated that the depreciation in the value of the naira would expose the Nigerian equity market to easy targets for foreign investors.

Furthermore, HL also predicted that Chinese buyers would shift their attention to infrastructure assets in Eastern Europe and other emerging markets in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa because of the strict

ECONOMY regulation that made entrance into the United States of America and Western Europe very difficult.

The HL, in a statement prepared by its New York and London Partners, Mr. Christopher R. Donoho III and David A. Gibbons, respectively, stated the spread of COVID-19 has jolted financial markets, pushed valuations lower and was creating more opportunities for strategic investors and financial buyers on the hint for distressed assets and those willing to stomach some uncertainty.

Donoho and Gibbons added in the statement: “Private equity firms are sitting on about $1.45 trillion in dry powder or uncommitted investor capital waiting to be deployed. “Some large hedge funds, having learned the lessons of the financial crisis and moved away from the quarterly redemption model, also have money that investors cannot take back on short notice. “With the economy having just come through 10 prosperous

years, which has now seemingly come to an end, there are many entities well-positioned as buyers for whatever comes next.�

The firm also identified hotel and rental car companies, airlines, aviation, manufacturing and restaurants, among others as sectors that would be a fertile ground for mergers and acquisitions.

These are companies, according to the firm, that would have to revisit their strategies and form new plans. “Late last year, market commentators and investment professionals were increasingly talking up the possibility of an economic downturn, but very few believed that one was imminent. “Today, we are looking at a fundamentally different picture. The spread of COVID-19 is unfolding as a global human catastrophe unlike anything seen in our lifetimes, and necessary actions to curb the pandemic are causing a dramatic economic slowdown. “With stocks plunging into a bear market and with governments scrambling to craft appropriate measures to support the economy, comparisons with the last crash a dozen years ago are inevitable.

“This time there is a lot of capital on the sidelines, waiting to jump in. As economic disruption across industries and geographies creates opportunities, the investment landscape is setting up for what could be a significant uptick in merger and acquisition activity in the distressed space,� it added.

Donoho and Gibbons also pointed out that merger and acquisition activity over the remainder of 2020 would be a story of the haves and the have-nots. “In the first category, there are strategic buyers who have accumulated cash through a record economic expansion that saw extraordinarily favorable business conditions for many companies. “In this category is the wellknown technology businesses reported to have ended 2019 with almost a quarter of a trillion dollars in cash on hand. “The have-nots, on the other hand, include companies that work with low margins or have perhaps over extended them-

Polaris Bank has once again commended medical professionals, and all those at the frontlines in the ďŹ ght to atten the COVID-19 curve, even as the nation continues to battle the spread of the pandemic.

In a statement issued in the wake of the federal government’s extension ofthelockdowninAbuja,LagosandOgunstates,thebank’sHead,Strategic Brand Management and Communication, Nduneche Ezurike hailed the role of medical personnel in the ďŹ ght against the virus that is currently ravaging the entire world.

The bank also praised the media for keeping Nigerians up to date with timely and accurate information; a situation which has made it easier for citizens to be regularly informed on emerging trends as well as COVID -19 updates thereby enabling them to cope with the challenges of the times.

The lender said it has mobilised its sta to continue to deliver ďŹ nancial services to lessen the pain of the lock-down on its customers within the limits of the operating guidelines during the period. “Polaris Bank has continued to render skeletal services in designated branchesacrossthecountry,whilstobservingallsafetyprotocolsincluding social distancing. “The bank has also granted three months forbearance to customers servicing loans with eect from March 1, 2020, by waiving the penalty payable on interest charged on loan default. “Throughitsvariouscommunicationchannels,thebankhascontinuedto assureitscustomersandthegeneralpublicofitsunwaveringcommitment to uninterrupted quality service during this next phase of the lockdown.

Our alternative channels are available for customers’ use 24/7.

Reacting to the federal government’s decision to extend the lockdown, the bank also noted that, “while the current situation brings with it a lot of challenges to many Nigerians, we implore everyone to support the eorts of the government and all designated agencies.â€?

CAFFAN Seeks Movement Permit

The CatďŹ sh and Allied Fish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFFAN) has urged the federal government to grant farmers special permit for movement of catďŹ sh and its products from regions of production to areas of need within Nigeria.

This, is coming as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the African Union (AU) has adopted food and agriculture system as an essential service that must continue to operate during periodsoflockdown,emergency,curfewandothercontainmentmeasures.

The CAFFAN National President, Mr. Rotimi Oloye, made the appeal in an interview with journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Accordingtohim,thiswouldhelpcurblossesandgetfoodstutowhere they are needed for consumption.

He noted that its members were facing a lot of challenges in accessing their farms due to restriction of movements to curtail the spread of Coronavirus. Oloye, said security operatives were not allowing farmers to move, pointing out that the farmers mostly aected were those close to border towns.

AfDB Denies Funding Pipeline Project

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has described as inaccurate newsarticlestatingitplanstoprovideďŹ nancialsupporttotheEastAfrican Crude Oil Pipeline Project.

The Bank refuted the claims in the report which referenced a letter by a group of civil society organisations and climate change advocates asking the institution to withdraw from the project due to its potential social and environmental damage. “The NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF) has not provided ďŹ nancing to any Private Sector Company for upstream oil or gas pipeline projects in East Africa. “No commitment was therefore made to any party to fund the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project.The project is not included in the Bank’s Continued on page 24 lending program. “The Bank is strongly committed to renewable energies. It is important to point out that the African Development Bank Group has for more than a decadeplayedaleadingroleincraftingpoliciesanddeliveringinvestments thatpromotesustainabledevelopmentpracticesonthecontinent,including climate adaptation and resilience,â€? a statement explained.

IMF Urges African Countries to Remain Committed to AfCFTA The Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva has advised Africa not to deviate from its plans to enforce the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

She described the initiative as a catalyst for enhanced growth.

Georgieva said this recently at the just concluded Virtual Spring Meetings of the IMF/ World Bank in Washington.

Responding to a question on how badly the pandemic

ECONOMY has affected African economies, she said: “Sub-Saharan African had a lot of countries stepping up over the last years and it is so tragic to see that momentum being stopped and then a number of countries that have even before the coronavirus had been experiencing very dramatic difficulties, conflicts and natural disasters. “Sub Saharan Africa ought to

be the center of our attention and it is. We now have more than 30 countries applying for emergency financing. We are prioritising and rapidly responding to this request recognising how critical this lifeline is for them.�

She further added: “We need to think beyond that and we need to think about recovery. We need to make sure that the African continental free trade agreement doesn’t get derailed because of the coronavirus and that means engaging with the leadership in

Africa and making sure of that we are putting not only financial resources, but also opening up trade channels and making sure that we support the industries in Africa that depend on trade and the revival of trade.� “We are going to have an extraordinary session with President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of the African Union would lead us together with David Malpass and

“We do not know what the world will look like after this pandemic.

Countries may continue to look inwards, and globalisation�

CBN Governor

Continued on page 24

Godwin EmeďŹ ele

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BUSINESSWORLD FIRM FORESEES AGGRESSIVE MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS POST COVID-19 selves, and these companies are very dependent on their ability to borrow. “There are startups in this group and companies that are still in their first years as public companies,� they argued.

They noted that the small and medium scale enterprises are concerned about low commodity prices, which would make it hard to service their debt.

However, the anticipated merger and acquisitions might not happen right away due to considerations that may slow deal making in the short-term, which include how long it would take to completely contain the pandemic. “Everything is highly uncertain as long as the spread of the COVID-19 persists and confirmed cases continue to rise. Any sign that the outbreak is beginning to wane will be encouraging, but investors will need to be certain that the pandemic is being brought under control. “Only then will it become possible to begin to assess the true depth of the global economic impact and the outlook for individual companies and sectors,� Donoho and Gibbons said.

IMF URGES AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO AFCFTA

the Secretary General as well as leaders and friends on the continent on mobilisation with Africa and I am sure we would come out of it with concrete commitment to support sub Saharan Africa and the African continent. “This is a crisis like no other, in scope, we are now in a worst recession since the great depression. 170 countries will experience a GDP per capita falling versus what we expected three months ago for 160 countries for them to go up. “It is also unusual for a combination of a health crisis and an economic crisis that is simultaneously a supply and demand shock. Epidemiologists are telling us that it may get even worse if the virus continues its rounds for longer or if vaccines and treatments are slow to come around.�

NEWS

Economic Commission for Africa Anticipates Severe Effects of Pandemic in Urban Areas Peter Uzoho

in Africa are expected to be hit hard by COVID-19 related effects, leading to substantial losses in productive jobs. In particular, the approximately 250 million Africans in informal urban employment (excluding North Africa) will be at risk. “Firms and businesses in African cities are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 related effects, especially SMEs which account for 80 per cent of employment in Africa. These risks are compounded by a likely hike in the cost of living is expected

as shown for example by some initial reports of up to 100 per cent increase in the price of some food items in some African cities,� it stated.

Additionally, the report noted that urban consumption and expenditure (of food, manufactured goods, utilities, transport, energy and services) was likely to experience a sharp fall in light of COVID-related lockdowns and reduced restrictions “Africa’s cities drive consumption with their growing middle class with per capita consumption

spending in large cities being on average 80 per cent higher at the city level than at the national level. COVID-19 related decline in urban consumption will thus impact domestic value chains, including rural areas,� Ruzvidzo noted.

Further, she pointed out that with per capita expenditure of African local authorities being the lowest in the world at $26, many local authorities are poorly resourced and less able to contend with the onslaught of COVID-19. “Alarming also the likely fall in

revenue streams for local authorities due to COVID-19 curtailing their already limited ability to respond to this crisis. Intergovernmental/national transfers which account for 70 to 80 per cent of local authorities’ finance are likely to be reduced due to immediate national response and recovery requirements.

Own source revenues which are already low at only 10 per cent of local authorities’ finances with city level lockdowns and restrictions leading to reduced economic activity,� she added.

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has predicted that the COVID-19 employment effects will likely be severe in urban areas in the continent.

Therefore, the Commission is calling for adequate consideration of the vulnerability of city economies as African governments consolidate efforts and define stimulus measures to mitigate national and regional economic impacts. “As engines and drivers of economic growth, cities face considerable risks in light of COVID-19 with implications for the continent’s resilience to the pandemic,� the Director of the Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division of the ECA, Thokozile Ruzvidzo said in a statement.

Africa’s cities are home to 600 million people and account for more than 50 per cent of the region’s Gross Domestic Product.

This is even higher at more than 70 per cent for countries such as Botswana, Uganda, Tunisia and Kenya.

In the region, a third of national GDP (31%) comes on average from the largest city in African countries. As such, the economic contribution of cities in the region is far higher than their share of population. “COVID-19 employment effects in are likely to be severe in urban areas. With urban-based sectors of the economy (manufacturing and services) which currently L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Air Peace, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide; Chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema, and Chief of Finance and Administration, Ejiroghene account for 64 per cent of GDP Eghagha, during the airline’s distribution of food items at Yaba and Ajegunle areas of Lagos...recently

CSR IN ACTION

Kwara 2020 Budget Review Underway, Says Abdulrasaq Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Kwara State government at the weekend disclosed that it will soon constitute a committee to review its 2020 budget in view of the current economic realities occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, dropped the hint in Ilorin, during a virtual state executive council meeting to drive home its call for social distancing at a time of global COVID-19 pandemic.

The tele-conference was attended by all members of the cabinet from their various locations in the state with governor

coordinated the meeting.

The teleconference also came ahead of the official launch of a new website which has been designed to be interactive, bring government closer to the people, and strengthen Kwara’s ranking in the national ease of doing business chat.

According to him, “We need to keep our eyes on the ball and not be distracted because very shortly, we are having a committee to review the 2020 budget in the face of our current economic realities�.

He added: “We have to cut down on recurrent expenditure.

Whatever happens, projects that directly impact on the lives of our people will be prioritised.�

Apparently referencing the steep drop in the price of crude oil, the governor said that, “the national economic outlook is bleak and has necessitated urgent budget reviews to align available resources with priority projects to serve the public.�

The governor, however, said at least 20 of the 26 ongoing urban renewal road projects and 70 percent of the schools being rehabilitated would be ready by May 29. He also stated that, “the administration’s various water and energy projects have made tremendous impacts on the people across the state. “We will have a lot to deliver to our people (on our first an-

niversary). But this is the time to keep our eyes on the ball and not be distracted by some noise on the social media. We know where such noise is coming from. We have been elected to serve the people. It is not time for politics�.

He added, “We will have a lot to deliver to our people (on our first anniversary). But this is the time to keep our eyes on the ball and not be distracted by some noise on the social media. We know where such noise is coming from. We have been elected to serve the people. It is not time for politics,� the Governor added. “Despite the mischief from some quarters, the people of Kwara State appreciate the fact

that we truly care for them. This is the spirit we must keep in our continuous engagement with the people. Let us also support our people at our own individual level.�

Speaking on the Covid-19 activities in the state, Alhaji Abdulrasaq said soft loans would soon be extended to transport workers like motorcycle, tricycle and cab drivers who have been seriously affected by the shutdown to flatten the curve of transmission of COVID-19. He said such loans, to be repaid in trickles after the COVID crisis is over, would come under the state’s social investment programme to help the drivers cope with the shutdowns.

FCCPC Gives Reasons for Sealing Lagos Aesthetic Surgical Firm Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

Raheem Akingbolu The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has explained that Med Contour, a Body Contour Specialist, based on Ladi Alakija Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, was sealed-off in the interest of Nigerians. A team from the federal government agency, led by its Director General, Babatunde Irukera, recently carried out the exercise pending the completion of investigation into the operations of the organisation.

While briefing journalists on the development, Irukera said the decision became necessary following series of complaints received

by FCCPC from clients that Med Contour engages in conduct that is considered otherwise unprofessional, misleading and potentially injurious, including resulting in possible fatalities.

Last week, the commission had said in a statement issued in Abuja, that it was inundated with complaints and dissatisfaction with respect to certain elective/cosmetic surgical procedures carried out by the firm, adding that it was set to carry out an investigation into the failed services conducted by the firm. To this end, the commission requested from clients and other members of the public, with previous experiences with Med Contour whether or not their

experiences were satisfactory to assist the investigation.

The statement further stated that all indications from the commission’s initial reviews indicate that there is a sufficient probable cause to inquire into the services of Med Contour and its operatives.

However, there was a milddrama during the seal-off exercise at the premises of the company, as the management, who might have acted on a tip-off, put the place under lock and key. It was after several knocks on the gate, which lasted about 10 minutes, that a young man, who simply introduced himself as Issac came out from the premises to lead the

team in. The young man, who admitted that he occupied the official quarter within, initially denied having keys to the main building but later surrendered and opened the surgical room and ward, following a phone conversation with someone perceived to be the owner of the company.

Before then, FCCPC’s officers from surveillance and enforcement department had put ‘sealed-off’ inscription on the entrance of the premises as well as pasting the commission’s notice of investigation and summons, dated April 14, on the walls. The notice of investigation indicated that the commission would investigate into possible or potential viola-

tion of consumer/ patient rights under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and Sundry Enactment/ Guidelines By the notice, Irukera said the commission has thus informed Med Contour and Doctor Anu Fella (A.K.A Dr. Anu) that it had immediately commenced an investigation pursuant to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).

On the legality of the action, the Director General, was quick in referring to Section 18(4), 32, and 33, which make provisions with respect to the powers and processes of the FCCPC in conducting investigations.

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NSE’s Capitalisation Gains N801bn as Market Recovers Further Goddy Egene The stock market recovered further last week as more investors took advantage of the low prices to increase their portfolios.

Having gained N150 billion the previous week, the market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) soared by N801.3 billion to close at N11.946 trillion.

Similarly, the NSE All-Share Index (ASI) jumped by 7.19 per cent to close at 22,921.59.

Some operators said the gained recorded by the market last week was unexpected considering the risks in the market presently.

For instance, analysts said: “This week’s performance was surprising, given that risks remain on the horizon following the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria. Nonetheless, we note that the market performance was buoyed by fundamentally justified stocks and therefore advise again, that investors trade cautiously.�

Following the positive performance, the year-to-date (YTD) loss improved to 14.6 per cent.

All the sectors tracked closed in the green territory led by the NSE Consumer Goods Index that gained 15.6 per cent. The NSE Industrial Goods Index went up by 5.2 per cent, while the NSE Banking Index gained 4.7 per cent. The NSE Oil & Gas Index added 1.5 per cent, while the NSE Insurance Index appreciated 0.8 per cent. Just the Nigerian market, Kenya recorded a positive impressive performance last week with the Kenya’s NSE 20 gaining 0.3 per cent.

However, the Mauritius SEMDEX and Morocco’s Casablanca MASI indices fell 3.9 per cent and 2.3 per cent. Similarly, Egypt’s EGX 30 declined by 1.6 per cent, while Ghana’s GSE Composite recorded shed 0.04 per cent.

In the BRICS market, performance was bullish as four of five indices tracked went up.

South Africa’s FTSE/JSE All share index led the gainers, up 2.3 per cent, followed by China’s Shanghai Composite with a gain of 1.5 per cent. In India, the BSE Sens gained 1.4 per cent just as Brazil’s Ibovespa appreciated by 1.1 per cent. On the contrary, Russia’s RTS shed 5.5 per cent.

Performance in Asia and the Middle East was bearish as only two of five markets tracked went up. Thailand’s SET and Turkey’s BIST 100 indices led the pack, with gains of 0.9 per cent and 1.8 per cent in that order. On the negative side, the Oil dependent markets -Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE shed 5.3 per cent, 4.6 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively following failure of oil prices to rebound despite the supply cut decision. “ In the coming week(this week), we expect news around the COVID-19 pandemic and as well as economic recovery plans to shape the direction of global financial markets,� Afrinvest (West Africa) said.

But performance across the developed markets was positive as five of seven indices advanced.

In the United States markets, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ advanced 1.6 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively. Similarly, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Japan’s Nikkei 225 indices gained 0.3 per cent and 2.0 per cent respectively, while the German XETRA DAX index advanced 0.3 per cent.

Conversely, United Kingdom’s FTSE All-Share and France’s CAC

40 indices fell 1.7 per cent and 0.5 per cent in that order.

Market turnover Meanwhile, investors traded

1.495 billion shares worth N12.894 billion in 20,982 deals last week, compared with 2.440 billion shares valued at N19.932 billion that exchanged hands last week in 18,918 deals. The Financial Services industry maintained its lead the activity chart with 1.238 billion shares valued at N8.424 billion traded in 12,835 deals, thus contributing 82.82 per cent and 65.33 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Healthcare industry followed with 72.953 million shares worth N386.138 million in 465 deals. The third place was the Consumer Goods industry, with a turnover of 48.567 million shares worth N1.904 billion in 2,611 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely, Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and Zenith Bank Plc accounted for 755.096 million shares worth N4.584 billion in 5,758 deals.

Top price gainers and losers Meanwhile, 37 stocks appreciated last week higher than 35 equities in the previous week, while 21 equities depreciated also higher than 18 stocks in the preceding week.

Nigerian Breweries Plc led the price gainers with 45.7 per cent, trailed by Conoil Plc with a gain of 32.3 per cent. Champion Breweries Plc chalked up 20 per cent, just as May & Baker Nigeria Plc went up by 18.6 per cent.

Nestle Nigeria Plc garnered 16.4 per cent, while Dangote Cement Plc closed 15.4 per cent higher. Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc and Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc appreciated by 15.4 per cent and 15.3 per cent respectively. Glaxosmithkline Consumer Nigeria Plc and Unity Bank Plc went up by 14.8 per cent and 14.2 per cent in that order.

Conversely, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc led the price losers with 11.2 per cent.

Ardova Plc with 10.2 per cent, trailed by Arbico Plc with 9.8 per cent. John Holt Plc shed 8.9 per cent, just as Cadbury Nigeria Plc shed 8.7 per cent.

Lafarge Nigeria Plc lost 8.3 per cent as investors locked in profit after the stock gained over 41.3 per cent the previous week following investors’ positive reaction to the company’s 2019 results.

Lafarge had posted a profit after tax of N15.5 billion in 2019, up from a loss of N8.1 billion in 2018. The cement manufacturing firm recorded a revenue of N213 billion in 2019, as against N218 billion in 2018.Operating expenses were reduced from N29.89 billion to N23.42 billion. The company ended the year with a profit after tax of N15.5 billion compared with a loss of N8.1 billion in 2018.

Based on the positive performance, the board has recommended a dividend of 100 kobo per share.

The Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Khaled El Dokani, said: “Our turnaround and cost-reduction strategy in 2019 and the divestment of the South African business, have delivered strong results. The decrease in net debt has significantly strengthened our balance sheet and has placed us in a vantage position to face the future.�

FCMB Group Plc was also among the price loser, losing 6.4 per cent. Wema Bank Plc shed 5.0 per cent, just as Cutix Plc and AIICO Insurance Plc went down by 4.7 per cent apiece.

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Adegbiji: COVID-19 Has Increased Visibility of Digital Economy Gbenga Adegbiji was recently appointed Chief Operating Officer, MDXi, a subsidiary of frontline data and connectivity service provider, MainOne. In this interview, he speaks on the role data centers play in the economy while specifically drawing attention to their relevance as the world grapples with COVID-19. Dike Onwuamaeze brings the excerpts:

Y

our Gold partnership with AWS and Microsoft.

ou have just been appointed Chief Operating OfďŹ cer (COO) of MDXi. What does this mean to you and MDXi customers?

It’s been an honour to be entrusted with such a huge responsibility, leading the growth and future success of West Africa’s leading Data Center. The good thing is that we have been on the path of operational excellence since we launched our Lekki Data Centre in January 2015.

Our customers can be assured that, with our focus on strategic investments and partnerships with top global technology players, they can expect improved services tailored to their business requirements, allowing them to focus on their core business for the growth of revenues.

COVID-19 was unexpected and unprecedented, how are you able to adequately support your customers during this lockdown period and how has this affected Data Center (DC) operations generally?

Though nobody envisaged the pandemic, I must say that having Business Continuity plans that could be invoked at any time are standard for our data center. We only needed to adapt those procedures to the peculiarities of COVID-19 in terms of health hazards, access requests, health & sanitation screening amongst others. We deemed it important to quickly align with global best practice in containing the pandemic, while also enabling the safety of our operational staff, our customers and ensuring business continuity irrespective of the lockdown. As you may know, data centers are required to run with the same availability or even higher than before the lockdown and that is what we have done. Our COVID-19 plan has had to restrict access to our facilities to encourage social distancing, excluding emergencies. In such cases, our procedures require the customers to fill out an emergency access form, that highlights critical information about the visitor including recent travel history. Because access to the Data Center is now partly restricted, we have offered the services of our engineers for ‘Remote Hands and Eyes Support’ (RHES) free to our colocation customers. What this means is that, our engineers will carry out physical technical interventions for our customers without their having to dispatch someone to the DC, thus saving them the time and effort. This allows us to keep our embedded operations staff safe and healthy, thus ensuring the Data Center continues to run with effective staffing support on a 24/7 basis.

MDXi has been in service for over ďŹ ve years, providing Colocation and Cloud services across West Africa, how do you see Data Center business post COVID-19?

What is the next big thing for MDXi and where?

We remain focused on sustaining our operational excellence while continuing to expand our footprint across West Africa, starting in Ghana with our new 100-rack, Tier III facility in Appolonia City.

The city is a fast-growing light industrial park, located within the northern suburbs of Greater Accra metropolitan Area and our facility will span two acres of land when fully built. The facility is designed to world-class standards consistent with the MDXi brand, assuring collocated customers of the highest quality of service to meet their business requirements. We are currently at the groundbreaking stage, with the construction of the facility to begin immediately after the COVID lockdown restrictions. We also commissioned our Abidjan Data Center, in Cote d’Ivoire, last year which is collocated with the Cable Landing Station (CLS) of MainOne. Finally, in Nigeria we are expanding the Lekki-Lagos facility where we are fast exhausting our footprint and starting the expansion of our footprint to Sagamu, Ogun State.

Adegbiji COVID-19 has only increased the visibility of our digital economy, and the extent to which our society and businesses are connected. Post COVID-19, we expect collaboration across cities, states, countries and continents to drive productivity and innovation will only continue to grow. It is expected that the demand for Data Center Colocation and Cloud services will continue to grow in that context, as more customers realize the benefits of outsourcing their IT operations. Businesses that survive post COVID-19 will have to leverage technology to provide some level of resilience to address what will become the new normal in enhancing social distancing, enhancing safety and convenience by doing business online.

This future will be hinged on the interconnection of everything, and as businesses increase their reliance on technology, data centers will be at the center of that. Businesses will see the need to leverage shared data center infrastructure to give their businesses the needed edge, in terms of agility, flexibility and overall competitiveness. Our expectations are that, requirements for data center services will continue to go up and MDXi is currently expanding its

BEDC Donates Food Items to Franchise States Peter Uzoho The BEDC Electricity Plc (BEDC) has announced a donation of 6,000 bags of rice and 4,000 cartons of Indomie noodles to the state governments of Delta, Edo, Ekiti and Ondo, for distribution to vulnerable groups and households in these coverage states.

The breakdown was 1,500 bags of rice each per state and 1,000 cartons of Indomie noodles to each of the state, respectively.

The donation according to the company, was a demonstration of its sensitivity to residents of its franchise states with a view to cushioning the effect of lockdown over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Director, Commercial, representing the MD/CEO, Mr. Abu Ejoor, made the announcement at a media briefing held at the BEDC Head Office in Benin on Friday.

He said in addition, BEDC would ensuring that the various

government established COVID-19 centers and related hospitals have good power supply of up to 24hours.

This Ejoor disclosed, has already commenced in Irrua Specialist Hospital in Uromi, Edo state, where, “we also intend to look at other supports we can give in ensuring that some of their vehicle/ ambulances are fully operational. Also for the centers under preparation in Oba Adejuyigbe Specialist Hospital, Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State and Warri in Delta State, BEDC has already commenced working with the government to ensure adequate electricity.�

The Executive Director also added that BEDC would also be donating 50 units of motorized hand washing gears to hospitals, strategic markets and some of communities in its coverage areas.

Mr. Ejoor announced that BEDC had in this trying time,

suspended the rotational load management schedule for electricity distribution in several locations to enable customers enjoy more supply during the lockdown.

On the recent proposal by the House of Representatives to promote free electricity for two months, Ejoor said though BEDC aligns with the proposal, but pointed out that it was not yet signed into law hence electricity supplied to customers presently is not free.

At the presentation of the food items to Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Mr. Osarodion Ogie who received the 1,500 bags of rice and 1,000 cartons of indomie noodles donated to Edo state government thanked BEDC for the gesture. “COVID 19 is the worst challenge we are dealing with at the moment. So many families life style have changed because of the pandemic.

data center footprint across West Africa in order to address such growth.

MDXi recently unveiled its Azure Cloud services at Nerds Unite 2020, in partnership with Microsoft and HPE, how does this partnership affect services for your existing Cloud customers?

As the first Data Center in Nigeria to offer Microsoft Azure Stack Cloud services to customers, we have enabled companies gain access the same world-class Azure technology available internationally on Public Cloud platforms, closer to home. This reduces latency for these locally deployed applications to under 10ms, resulting in a better experience for end users and ensuring that limitations previously experienced on deploying latency sensitive applications in the Cloud are eliminated.

Our Azure platform also allows customers meet local data residency requirements which companies in certain sectors require for compliance reasons, since the hardware is hosted locally at MDXi. Apart from hosting on our Azure Stack platform, we also help our customers implement Multi-Cloud solutions including Public Cloud options, leveraging

With disruptions that can truncate normal business operations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, what message do you have for businesses that are still running on-premise IT operations?

IT managers are often concerned with the availability and security of their computing infrastructure and that is why sometimes they are wary of moving off-premise. With businesses looking for ways to stay ahead of the competition in our challenging environment, outsourced Colocation services are the best option to deliver high availability, manage cost, ensure flexibility, and provide optimal security.

The COVID lockdown has challenged organizations running their critical facilities on-premise; from arranging fuel supply and logistics, managing facility spares, staffing those facilities round the clock and ensuring everything keeps running to support their businesses during the lockdown.

In contrast, our customers do not have to worry because they have outsourced those operations to us, to run their infrastructure adequately and efficiently. Not only do Colocation and Cloud services offer reduced operational intensity for businesses at lower CAPEX and OPEX costs, they also guarantee 24/7 uptime, with easily expandable capacity.

Those businesses that have taken the necessary steps in colocation and Cloud deployment are currently enjoying the benefits in this COVID-19 era, while those yet to do so will have to make the right decisions when the pandemic is over or remain at a disadvantage to the competition.

SON Inspects Face Masks Factory in Cross River Chris Uba In furtherance of efforts at tackling the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has undertaken a quality assurance inspection of Cross River Garment Factory (CRGF) in Calabar, Cross River State.

Located at Atimbo, by Goodluck Jonathan Bypass, Calabar, the factory is into mass production of Ankara barrier masks in furtherance of the “No Masks, No Movement� policy of the state government.

The SON inspection team was led by the state coordinator, Michael Ogbuji, accompanied by Mrs. Bassey Duke and Samson Kolaru. Welcoming the team, Acting Managing Director of CRGF, Edet Joseph described the factory’s product as double layer composite Masks with inner liner and high tensile strength of the head harness

as well as neat sowing finishes.

According to him, the ankara material being used for the barrier masks is 100 per cent cotton and sourced from neighbouring Abia State.

The acting MD stated that all precautionary safety measures were being observed in the mass production of the re-usable masks with capacity for 100,000 units per day. It can be used for a maximum of four weeks, he said.

Edet Joseph stated that the company, which commenced operations in 2018, was producing largely for the Cross River State Ministry of Health, which distributes freely throughout the state.

Responding after the tour of the production facility, Ogbuji on behalf of the SON Director General, Osita Aboloma , commended the company’s management for the initiative in response to the federal

government’s call for sustainable production in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He explained that the inspection was aimed at adding value from the raw materials, processes to the finished products of the barrier masks to ensure that they comply with the requirements of AFNOR SPEC S76001: 2020, one of the Standards provided

by SON to meet Nigeria’s need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SON Coordinator admonished the company’s management to share necessary technical information regarding the production and quality control checks with SON and assured them of absolute confidentiality.

Other issues discussed with the company’s management include the barrier filtration efficiency, breathing resistance, labelling requirements for identification and traceability in the markets amongst others.

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BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

AU, FAO Task African Leaders on Food Security Oluchi Chibuzor The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the African Union (AU) and international partners, have challenged the continent’s leaders on the need to ensure access to food and nutrition for Africa’s most vulnerable. They, however, described food and agriculture system as an essential service that must continue to operate during periods of lockdown, emergency, curfew and other containment measures.

This, is coming as the regional body and UN agency joined forces to minimise lockdown’s impact on continent, saying one in five person goes hungry.

In a joint declaration, they committed to supporting access to food and nutrition for Africa’s most vulnerable; providing Africans with social safety nets;

minimising disruptions to the safe movement and transport of essential people, and to the transport and marketing of goods and services; and keeping borders open on the continent for the food and agriculture trade.

In his opening remarks, during a meeting that was held virtually, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, said quick, strategic action was needed to lessen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security in Africa. According to him, “Border closures restrict trade and limit food availability in many countries, particularly those dependent on food imports.�

On her part, the Chair of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment and Minister for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development of South Africa Angela Thoko Didiza,

cautioned against any moves to weaken inter-regional trade.

The FAO’s Chief Economist, Maximo Torero, pointed out the growing evidence of logistical strains in food markets,-which Qu suggested should be mitigated by “shortening the chain,� producing more, better, and locally if possible.

Meanwhile, the CEO of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Ibrahim Mayaki, has warned of risks to social stability if food and cash were to run low among Africa’s urban residents.

Many government representatives described strenuous efforts to bolster welfare benefits, often at great cost to national budgets.

Also, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, outlined an EU support package for Africa that should eventually exceed $20 billion.

Buhari

MARKET INDICATORS

Protect Your Bank Details, UBAWarns Customers The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has called on its customers to exercise utmost caution in their banking transactions and ensure that they do not fall prey to any nefarious activities during the Coronavirus lock down period.

Specifically, UBA urged its customers not to divulge any sensitive personal information regarding their bank and or card details. UBA’s Executive Director, Retail Banking & Payments, Chukwuma Nweke, said the bank’s attention was drawn to some fraudulent messages making the rounds, where customers have been asked to provide their card details for disbursement of

funds into their accounts. He emphasised that customers should ignore such requests “Some of our customers may have received a call or message asking for their card details and Bank Validation Number (BVN) for disbursement of COVID-19 funds. Others may have also received an email informing them of bonuses of between N30,000 and N70,000 upon validation of their bank details online. “It is important to note that these emails and messages did not originate from UBA, and we would never at any point in time ask for your account details over the telephone of via SMS, emails,

live chat or social media. We advise that you kindly delete these messages and do not entertain calls of this nature.

Please also inform the bank of these incidences immediately they occur,� a statement from the bank quoted him to have said.

Nweke, further stressed that personal banking details including passwords, usernames, card numbers, security numbers at the back of cards, BVN, OTPs, security answers and other sensitive information should not be shared with anyone as UBA would never ask for them online or through phone calls or text messages.

AXA Mansard Launches Telemedicine Services Ebere Nwoji AXA Mansard H ealth Limited, has launched its telemedicine service.

The Chief Executive Officer of AXA Health Management Limited, Mr. Tope Adeniyi, disclosed this during the recent launch of the telemedicine services by the company in Lagos.

Adeniyi, said the firm’s Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), which is an arm of the AXA group HMO was set up to promote members’ wellbeing, saying the company has been positioned to provide optimal and effective health risk management solutions and financial services to both

individuals and corporate bodies.

He said the AXA Mansard telemedicine service allows customers to virtually visit the hospital and see a doctor from the comfort of their homes through their phones, laptops or tablets.

Adeniyi, said the service provides a platform that connects patients with licensed doctors who can consult, diagnose, prescribe medication and make recommendations on medical conditions and treatments. “One of the lessons this pandemic has taught the world is that healthcare will always be topmost priority to every individual, irrespective of the

age, colour or gender. “We must therefore constantly strive to create sustainable and innovative solutions to cater for people’s healthcare needs at every point in time. “Therefore, we launched this service as part of our contribution to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and it is very much in line with our promise to empower people to live better lives, Adeniyi said .

According to him, the service would also help AXA Mansard customers reduce the risk of hospital acquired infections, help them align with social distancing guidelines and eliminate travel time to hospital.

Women in Energy Network Supports Fight against COVID-19 The Women in Energy Network (WIEN), a non-profit organisation, has promised its readiness to donate test kits and lab equipment as well as boost the testing capabilities of government, aimed at combating the Covid-19 pandemic.

The President of the group and Managing Director Zigma Oil and Gas and Women in Energy Network, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue, in a statement, commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the entire oil and gas Industry for throwing their weight behind the federal government to combat the pandemic.

She said the intervention by the sector in addition to regular social investments through various Community Social Responsibility (CSR) projects the NNPC partners, local and international, have continued to implement, were in support of the national effort against the pandemic.

Ogbue said its members through their individual companies are making donations in consignments of medical consumables, logistics facilities as well as providing free food items. She added that Zigma Oil and Gas has been working on supplying medical equipment and

doing advocacy for ‘clean hands’, adding. “In these difficult times, my sincere hope is that our WIEN community and the country at large, is safe and healthy and remains so, as we move through COVID-19, low oil prices, and other present difficulties.�

WIEN and its members, she said, are doing a lot collectively and individually to join hands with NNPC and the Nigerian government to deal with COVID-19 adding that it.is working to adapt to the current environment and to find ways to serve and benefit members now and in the ‘new normal’ as it emerges.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

11,007,422.79

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

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Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ͯͲ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $19.70 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $21.18 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

27

T H I S D AY ˞ ˜ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

MARKET NEWS

Meristem Highlights Investment Opportunities in Capital Market Goddy Egene Meristem Securities, a capital market conglomerate has said strategic opportunities still exist for investors who are looking to invest in the Nigerian capital market despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19.

Some officials of Meristem stated this in line with determination to support investors who are willing to preserve their assets and manage their portfolio exposures as economic shocks

ravage the investment climate.

The International Monetary Fund recently said that the global economy is in a recession which is at least of the magnitude as the 2009 economic crisis, with a predicted recovery in 2021.

Speaking on the Nigerian economic situation and investment opportunities, the Managing director of Meristem Wealth Management, Sulaiman Adedokun said since the official exit of Nigeria from a reces-

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

sion in the second quarter of 2017, Nigerian economy has consistently recorded slow growth (under 3.0 per cent) in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), much below the prerecession levels of 3-5 per cent. “Although non-oil sectors such as telecommunications, agriculture and manufacturing have supported real GDP growth, the oil sector continues to be a key determinant of the overall growth of the economy.

Thus, the crash in oil prices from

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

an average $67.31 per barrel in December 2019 to $32.98 per barrel in March 2020 is expected to have far-reaching consequences for economic growth given the contribution of the oil sector to government revenues and foreign exchange reserves,� he said.

Adedokun said the banking sector is more resilient than previous years, noting that the consumer goods industry is going to be guided by demand for essential items during this

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

time, “The recapitalisation of the insurance industry is expected to continue amid the current crisis and we see growth in the telecommunications sector due to demand for voice and data services as most businesses now work remotely,� he said.

Also speaking, Head, Wealth Management at Meristem, Damilola Hassan, said: “The overall outlook for the financial market though clouded with uncertainties at this moment, we

O F

are of the opinion that fixed income securities will provide safer investment opportunities for investors given the volatility that exists in the equities space and the accompanying risk of capital loss associated with such investments but there are certain equity products that can help to diversify and broaden your portfolio exposure like the recently launched Meristem Value and Growth Exchange Traded Fund.�

1 7 / 0 4 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

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QUANTITY TRADED

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28

MONDAY APRIL 20, 2020 •T H I S D AY

MONDAY APRIL 20, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

29

COVID -19 UPDATE...

COVID -19 UPDATE...

Falana Accuses FG, NCDC of Double Standard, Breach of Treatment Guidelines Calls for investigation into Kyari’s death

Peter Uzoho Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigerian (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has come down hard on the federal government and the Nugeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), accusing them of double standard, inconsistency and lack of coordination in the handling of the COVID-19 treatment and prevention in Nigeria.

Falana cited the case of hospitalisation of the late Chief

of Staff to President, Mr. Abba Kyari, upon testing positive to COVID-19 in an unauthorised Lagos hospital in defiant to the NCDC treatment guidelines.

The rights lawyer in a statement issued yesterday, entitled: “Time to Stop Official Impunity and Hypocrisy in the Fight against COVID-19,” however, called for an immediate investigation into the death of Kyari.

He said upon being embarrassed and trying to save its face, Lagos

State Government claimed last Friday that the hospital treating Kyari was authorised by the state as one of the COVID-19 treatment centres, saying, that contradicted what the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, told Nigerians.

Falana decried the flouting of the COVID-19 treatment guidelines and the social distancing rule by influential people and public officials, adding that even at Kyari’s funeral, the NCDC guideline that mass gathering be

avoided to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 was violated with impunity.

He said: “While the NCDC has directed anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 to report for treatment in

isolation centres for treatment and monitoring, former Chief of Staff to the president, the late Mr. Abba Kyari was allowed to be treated in a cardiological centre, a private hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

Obaseki, Umahi Declare Curfew in Edo, Ebonyi Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and his counterpart in Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi, have declared curfew in their states as part of the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The Ebonyi State governor on Saturday night, imposed a curfew between 7p.m and 7a.m daily in the state.

Umahi, who made the declaration in a broadcast, said the curfew would commence yesterday.

He said, “I hereby direct a total lockdown of the entire state from 7a.m to 7p.m and anybody found outside within this period must be arrested and prosecuted. Only those offering essential services such as security agents, health

workers, media workers, who must have pass, are exempted.

“We have agreed to have seven blockages in each border location.

Each entry point of Ebonyi State will have seven blockages. The first one at the boundary between us and another state will be manned by the army and army alone.”

Obaseki, has also announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew effective from today, April 20, 2020, prohibiting the movement of people throughout the state from 7p.m to 6a.m, as part of measures to halt the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Obaseki, who disclosed this in a broadcast, noted that the order will be reviewed after 10 days, when increased screening and testing of citizens in the state must have been achieved.

ENGAGING THE GRASSROOTS…

L-R: Chairman of Afijio Local Government Area in Oyo State, Mr. Gbenga Okeleye; Caretaker Chairman of ATIBA Local Government Area, Mr. Ibrahim Akinkunmi; Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun; and state Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress, Alhaji Titilola Sodo, during the public enlightenment on COVID-19 organised by Local Government Information Officers in partnership with the state government at Ijawa village, Oyo…weekend

We’ve Started Return Journey to Recovery, Adeboye Predicts

UN Expresses Concern over Exposure of 1.8 IDPs, Others to Pandemic

The General Overseer (GO), Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, yesterday predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic would soon come to an end.

The cleric made the prediction in a Sunday service telecast on Dove Television Station “I believe I have good news for us; I believe that the return journey to normalcy has started.

“I sincerely hope that we will remember to give all glory to God. We thank government; we thank God for efforts so

The United Nations has called for the decongestion of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in the North East to ward of cases of fire incident and outbreak of COVID-19.

The United Nations said: “With the COVID-19 pandemic slowly spreading across the country, I am extremely worried about the 1.8

far made. I believe they have done creditably well; it was a situation they had never seen before. But I would suggest that in the future, they should include in their committees men of God. “I am not talking of small men like myself; I am talking of chief imams and archbishops so that they can help them with the spiritual aspect of this warfare. I sincerely do hope that we would not admit that it is not our wisdom, not our ability, not our planning that had given us whatever victory that we have already got.”

Child Rights Advocate Challenges Nigerian Children on Lockdown Experience Sunday Okobi Child Rights advocate and Little Miss Nigeria International, Queen Toluwanimi Omole, has called on all Nigerian children to share their COVID-19 lockdown experience.

The call was made in a minute video shared on her social mediaInstagram, Facebook and twitter pages.

In the one minute video titled: #SharewithQueenTolu, Toluwanimi challenged social media users to make a short video of their kids, sharing their lockdown experiences; how they are utilising it, and what new knowledge they are acquiring to prepare themselves for the post COVID-19 world.

While sharing the intent of making the challenge, she

said:”The purpose is to ensure that Nigerian children also have adequate knowledge of the novel COVID-19 pandemic.

Because of the challenge, they will be moved to study and make more findings about the disease, which will definitely improve their knowledge base on the virus, as well as help them stay safe, and possibly educate others about it.

“Also, the #ShareWithQueenTolu challenge provides the opportunity for children to share ideas of coping strategies adopted during the lockdown. This may be in form of indoor games, educational programmes, favourite movies, tips on how to keep fit through physical exercises and cooking experience.”

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

million IDPs in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States and the rest of the nearly eight million vulnerable people in these conflict-affected states. Camp decongestion has been a challenge, but it is now a priority. I call on all stakeholders to urgently contribute to efforts being made to decongest camps in respect of people’s rights and dignity.”

A statement by the United

Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), yesterday lamented that about fifteen fire outbreaks have been recorded in the IDP camps since the beginning of the year, which affected more than 15,000 people in Borno State.

The statement said the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr.

Edward Kallon, has expressed deep sorrow over multiple fire outbreaks that devastated the Monguno Water Board camp for the IDPs in northern Borno State, on 14, 15 and 18 April and the International Secondary School camp on 16 April in the town of Gamboru, Ngala Local Government Area, Borno State, near the Nigeria’s with border Cameroon.

Lagos Establishes Sample Collection Centres in 20 LGAs Martins Ifijeh

As part of efforts to increase COVID19 testing capacity in Lagos, the state government has set up sampling stations in the 20 local government areas where citizens that fit the case definition of COVID19 can visit to drop samples for testing.

The Commissioner for Health,

Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi who stated this yesterday at a press briefing to give situation report on COVID19 in Lagos, noted that the strategy was geared towards bringing COVID19 testing opportunity closer to the people.

He said: “The idea is also aimed at taking work strain off health workers that visit several local government areas for case search

and sample collection.

“The new arrangement would provide opportunity for people at the local government with symptoms of COVID19 to present themselves early for testing.

“We have decentralised the locations where you can have yourself submitted for sampling.

So what we’ve done is to move sampling stations to the local

government. And if you feel that you have any of the symptoms associated with COVID19, you can present yourself to this decentralized sampling stations “ While stressing that the facilities were not testing stations, but sample collecting stations, he said those who meet the criteria will have their samples taken.

Osun Govt Condemns Police Assault on Resident Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Osun State Government has condemned two security agents who physically assaulted a female citizen at the Odo Ori Market in Iwo, which was captured in a video that has gone viral.

While condemning the act, the state government unequivocally stated that the two police officers, identified as Inspector Ikuesan Taiwo with AP No: 251724 and PC Abass Ibrahim with Force No: 509634, went

overboard in the discharge of their duties.

Reacting yesterday on the incident, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation Mrs. Funke Egbemode, said: “This is a democracy, and the state of is a decent society where men in or out of uniform should not and cannot whimsically flog women-even men. We note that the police authorities have condemned the unwarranted actions of these men. The state government likewise has

condemned the unacceptable conduct of these policemen.”

However, the state government said the culprits are currently being detained and their orderly room trial has since commenced. The full weight of the law would be deployed to address this illegal, unfortunate behaviour of these law enforcers, the government added The state government “hereby warns all that no one is licenced under the law to harass, assault,

batter or visit violence on any citizen-men and women. It is especially reprehensible when the victim is a helpless lady who is not known to have offended the law in any way.

“Also, the state government also appreciates the Inspector General of Police (IG), M. A. Adamu, and the state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, for the prompt response in redressing the assault as shown in the viral video.

30

MONDAY APRIL 20, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVID -19 UPDATE...

COVID -19 UPDATE...

Presidency: Why Top Officials Were Denied Access to Villa after Kyari’s Burial The presidency yesterday explained that the decision by security officials to bar attendees of the burial ceremony of the late Chief of Staff, MallamAbba Kyari, from entering the State House was standard protocol.

The clarification followed reports that senior State House officials were denied access into the Presidential

Villa, Abuja after attending the burial ceremony, which included prayers on the corpse of Kyari at the Defence Guest House in Maitama and interment at Gudu Cemetery.

Reacting to the report about barring access to top officials at the Villa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba

Shehu, said it was true, but noted that the security operatives were observing standard security protocol.

Shehu stated these on his Tweeter

handle.

“There is nothing extraordinary about those of us who attend Abba Kyari’s funeral being advised to

distance ourselves from the.

“This is in line with the standard rules put in place by the National Center for Disease

Control, @NCDCgov and the Federal Ministry of Health. You do these things to stop the spread of #Coronavirus.

PDP Demands Suspension of ATM, Mobile Transfer, Electricity Charges Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately open an arrangement with commercial banks for the suspension of charges for use of ATM cards and low-amount mobile fund transfers as part of the panacea to ease the burden of poor Nigerians during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The party said that the lockdown has subjected majority of Nigerians to extensive use of ATM and mobile transfers for survival, making the suspension of charges on minimal transactions within this period of restriction highly imperative.

According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party noted that the lifting of the charges within the period of this pandemic will ease the burden on cash withdrawals by Nigerians as well as encourage more Nigerians to support one another at this critical time.

The PDP urged the CBN to immediately liaise with commercial banks and stimulate a special social sustenance

modality to defray the cost of such charges, particularly to cover minimal transactions in favour of vulnerable Nigerians.

In the same vein, PDP urged the federal government to activate similar social sustenance scheme to immediately defray electricity tariff, particularly in areas populated by low income and vulnerable Nigerians across the country within the period of the lockdown.

The PDP called on the federal government to show compassion on suffering Nigerians whose means of subsistence has been crippled by the lockdown, and immediately provide funds to electricity distribution companies to actuate the tariff suspension within this period.

Presidency Asks Journalists at Abba Kyari’s Burial to Self-isolate for 14 Days The Presidency yesterday stepped up the health security protocol for State House Correspondents and staff of the Media Department asking those who attended the burial ceremonies for the late Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, to self-isolate for 14 days.

NGOs Deploy 1,000 Volunteers to Monitor Palliatives Nigeria’s leading civil society groups have deployed 1,000 monitors to evaluate the processes and impact of the various palliatives across the country.

The groups said the deployment was aimed at ensuring transparency in the distribution process and to ensure the measures reach the end users.

Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) in collaboration with the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARD-C) deployed the monitors last weekend across nine focal States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) They were also mandated to monitor and evaluate the COVID-19 palliatives and utilisation of the various intervention funds.

Nigeria had seen a string of intervention funds ranging from private donations to channelled local and international funds estimated to be in billions of naira in cash and other materials, including food and medicare.

The civil right groups said that despite the generous donations and on-going disbursements there has been no transparency framework at the Federal and

State levels on fund utilization fuelling a public mill of rumours.

A joint statement signed in Lagos by HEDA’ s Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju and his WARD-C counterpart, Dr. Abiola Akiode-Afolabi the volunteers will produce a comprehensive report covering strategic areas using jointly developed questionaire tools designed to meet global best practices.

Respondents in the selected states of Ogun, Enugu, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Lagos, Borno, Kano and Kaduna States as well as the FCT, Abuja are critical stakeholders including but not limited to health workers.

The monitors include women, People Living With Diasbilities, (PLWD)and media practitioners.

“The continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria has informed several political, economic, social and corporate actions including the lockdown of some states and changes in Nigeria’s political-economy to reflect new realities. This has been followed by funds being disbursed to meet public needs.

It is important that Nigerians ensure the funds meet the target audience,” the two groups said.

HUMANITARIAN GESTURE…

L-R: Assistant Director, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Chinyere Gift-Okorie; Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Anofiu Elegunshi; Group Executive Director, Business Development and Commercial, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO), Prince Saheed Lasisi; and Project Manager, Lagos state Ministry of Health, Mrs. Yemi Coxton, during the presentation of medical equipment by NAHCO to Lagos State Government in Ikeja…weekend

DARK HORSES SET TO UPSET RACE FOR ABBA KYARI’S JOB Also, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Geoffrey Onyeama; his Federal Capital Territory (FCT) counterpart, Malam Muhammad Bello; Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), International Press Institute (IPI) and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, condoled with Buhari on the passing of his top aide.

Lawan described the late chief of staff as the bridge-builder between the executive and the legislature who used to personally deliver official communications from the president to the National Assembly.

In a special tribute yesterday entitled “Abba Kyari: A bridgebuilder makes his exit,” Lawan recalled several instances in the past when Kyari visited his office to personally deliver communications from the executive which, he said, underscored the high pedestal which Kyari placed the legislature.

He said: “For the topmost presidential aide to personally deliver such message, no doubt, demonstrated the desire of his principal for the two political arms of government to be on the same page, and understand each other’s perspectives on issues of national interest. On all such occasions, he was always patient and respectful, never even remotely resembling the caricature coldly portrayed in sections of the media of a vicious power monger.

“The patriot died the way he would have preferred, at the very front line of service, sadly seized by a plague against which he was defending his beloved fatherland, Nigeria.”

Oshiomhole in a statement yesterday said History would be Kind to Kyari, describing the diseased as a man who sacrificed so much for the common good without seeking personal glory.

In his tribute last night, Oshiomhole said the verdict of history would surely be kinder to Kyari than the one borne out of whatever might be the reading or misunderstanding of his contemporary role in some quarters.

The APC chairman noted that there was no doubt that the president had lost a dependable lieutenant and a close ideological disciple.

While calling for Allah to grant the departed peaceful repose and comfort his family and Mr. President over the great loss, Oshiomhole said as compatriots, “we are comforted that Abba Kyari was a man of stellar character, a workhorse who toiled day and night to advance President Buhari’s vision, a luminous torchbearer for the progressives’ community and a committed advocate of the downtrodden who fought for them quietly without seeking personal glory.”

In his tribute, Obaseki described Kyari’s death as a personal loss, adding that he would be greatly missed.

“Having associated with Abba Kyari for over two decades, I found him to be a complete gentleman, very intellectual and a true Nigerian patriot.

“He was a forthright man, who was resolute in his conviction and loyal to any cause he believed in.

“I admire how he stood with President Muhammadu Buhari through thick and thin. I, therefore, express my personal condolences and that of Edo people to President Buhari, who we know will also miss Abba Kyari greatly.”

The governor also commiserated with the Kyari family, praying that God grants them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Ugwuanyi, in a statement by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, expressed the state’s condolences to Buhari on the death of Kyari.

It described the former chief of staff as “a dedicated and loyal chief of staff, who discharged his duties with great commitment and selflessness.”

The Olu of Warri, while also condoling with Buhari, recalled the times he met the late Kyari while on courtesy visits to the president in Abuja, saying that the deceased came across as a self-effacing and unassuming, yet very strong spirit behind the throne.

He urged the president to take solace in the fact that Kyari lived his life for God and country, shunning undue publicity and focusing more on how to make Nigeria a better place.

On his part, Zulum described Kyari as a humble and disciplined public officer whose dedication to

work was uncommon.

The governor who led a team of top government officials to the residence of the family of the deceased in Maiduguri yesterday, said: “I have had six official appointments with him within the last 10 months and in all the six appointments, he scheduled to see me at 8 a.m. in his office at the Villa and surprisingly, all the times, I was there before the time and there was never a time I met his absence.

“He was always in office ahead of our 8 a.m. appointments. I never had to wait for him. He did not disappoint me for once.”

The FCT minister, in his condolence, described the former presidential aide as a quintessential administrator whose wealth of experience spanning both the public and private sectors was positively brought to bear on the management of the affairs of the country, including the FCT. Bello expressed the condolences of the FCT Administration and its residents to the president and the Kyari family.

Reacting to Kyari’s death, the NSCIAsaid yesterday that it received the news with great shock.

A statement by its SecretaryGeneral, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, described Kyari as an excellent administrator who was committed to the development of Nigeria through dedicated and loyal service not only to Buhari but to the nation.

Oloyede who issued the statement on behalf of the President-General of NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, commiserated with the president and the federal government on the passage of the chief of staff.

The IPI also expressed shock at the passing away of Kyari from complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Nigerian Chapter of IPI, Mr. Kabiru Yusuf, the global body said it mourned the loss of Kyari whom it described as an accomplished journalist, an astute public officer and a decent human being.

“We recall with nostalgia, the immense contribution of the late Kyari to the successful hosting of the 2018 IPI World Congress inAbuja.

We beseech the Almighty Allah to grant the deceased Aljanah Firdaus and to grant President Muhammad Buhari, the Government of Nigeria and the Kyari family, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” the statement said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Onyeama, said Kyari was his best man when he got married several years ago.

Onyeama, in a tribute released yesterday and entitled ‘Tribute to Kyari: The Best Man,’ said he was also the godfather to his first son.

“When I got married in Owo to my wife from Idoani, Ondo State, Abba was my Best-Man. The officiating Vicar was somewhat perplexed because I was a Roman Catholic Igbo, marrying an Anglican Yoruba in an Anglican church with a Muslim Kanuri/Shuwa Arab Best-Man from Borno State!

“The officiating Catholic priest in Geneva, Switzerland, two years later, during the baptism of our first son, was equally perplexed when a Muslim Abba Kyari and a Muslim Muni Attah-Shonibare were the Godfather and Godmother, respectively!”

He said Kyari was a pan-Nigerian, global citizen, who recognised no boundaries between peoples, be they racial, ethnic, religious, class or political, adding that the diseased made friends with everyone.

“He was very intelligent, very well-read and had a wide and varied professional experience. He held strong opinions and did not yield position easily. But once he believed in someone or a cause, he would fight with everything he had,” Onyeama said, adding: Abba believed completely in the Nigerian project and in President Muhammadu Buhari.”

The Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, in his tribute said Kyari would be greatly missed because of his impressive intellect and exceptional personality that impacted his efficient service to Buhari.

“Mallam Abba Kyari ran his race on sterling personal records of integrity, diligence, great standards and utmost professionalism in his brief stints as a lawyer and while in the media as an editor,” he said.

Ëœ ÍşÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

31

MONDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

NFF Mourns Abba Kyari, Says He was Friend of Nigerian Football Femi Solaja More tributes have continued to pour in for late Mallam ABBA Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari who died and was buried on Saturday, April, 2020.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), yesterday expressed shock at the passage of Kyari, describing it as a big loss to the federation and the nation. “Mallam Abba Kyari’s death is a big loss to the NFF, Nigerian Football family and the entire country as a whole,� NFF’s

Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said.

The NFF spokesman stressed that the football industry in the country has lost a friend. “Nigeria’s football industry has lost a friend and a great man who showed tremendous interest in the progress of the country’s game. He was, indeed, a colossus.�

Olajire said the NFF retains abiding fond memories of Mallam Kyari’s love and support for the various National Teams, accentuated by the passion, energy and resolve with which the Cambridge

–educated lawyer and former banking titan attended to, and presented to President Buhari, matters concerning the teams. “The NFF never had reason, even for one day, to doubt Mallam Kyari’s commitment to the development of Nigerian football and the National Teams.

He had keen interest in the teams

and treated matters concerning them and Nigerian football generally with his well-known empathy and utmost sense of duty. “In his interactions with the leadership of NFF and even the teams, Mallam Kyari was an embodiment of simplicity, humanity and integrity. His

personal presence at the airport in Abuja to receive the victorious Super Falcons’ contingent to the Women Africa Cup of Nations competition in Ghana in December 2018 only underscored his passion and keen interest in matters of the National Teams and Nigeria football. “We loved him, but Almighty

God loves him more. We can only pray that God grants his soul eternal rest and also grants his immediate family, President Buhari, top officials of government, his friends and indeed the Nigerian Football family the fortitude to bear the big loss.�

Transfer: Internacional Join Botafago In Race to Sign Mikel

/LOOH SUHVLGHQW FRQÀUPV WZR (3/ WHDPV¡ ELG IRU 2VLPKHQ Brazil’s Internacionalhave joined Botafago in the race to sign former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel.

Mikel has been linked with a move to Botafago in recent weeks but Internacional are now looking to secure his services.

The former Chelsea midfielder has also confirmed talks with Botafago, but hinted he has not make up his mind yet on the move to Brazil.

Mundo Deportivo reported at the weekend that Internacional officials have got in contact with Mikel and are desperate to bring him to Brazil.

Mikel mutually terminated

Mikel... target of two top Brazilian clubs

his contract with Turkish Lig club Trabzonspor based on a row over the Coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, the president of French Ligue 1 club of Victor Osimhen has revealed Lille have received two concrete bids from the Premier League in England and he also expects about four players to move when the transfer window re-opens.

Lille President, Gerald Lopez said: “We have received three firm offers over the past two weeks, including two from England. “I think that a possible drop in prices will not affect us because we have young players with a lot of potential who are in great demand. “There are only three or four players who should leave, not ten, so it won’t affect our transfer window. “LOSC is in a special situation because we played in the Champions League this season, we had a very good last summer transfer window and we had a record year in terms of marketing and ticketing.�

Osimhen is one of the top transfer targets of some of Europe’s top clubs after he scored 18 goals in 38 matches this season.

He is expected to quit Lille for a record fee.

Relegation Bound Teams May Escape if EPL Season Ends Abruptly There is unlikely to be any relegation from the English Premier League if the season ends with no more play possible because of the coronavirus outbreak, Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom has told British media.

Premier League clubs met on Friday to discuss possible models for finishing the season but all options remained hypothetical after the U.K. government extended lockdown restrictions for another three weeks.

Brighton were two points clear of the relegation zone with nine matches remaining

when the league was brought to a halt on 13 March.

If the season ended with no more play possible, Liverpool would claim the title and Norwich City, Aston Villa and Bournemouth would be for the drop.

Relegation means a financial hit somewhere in the region of $100 million and Bloom thought it unlikely that the required 70 percent of clubs would vote to send the three teams down. “It would be very difficult to relegate somebody, particularly from the Premier League, if the season hasn’t played out,�

Bloom said.

Brooklyn Nets Guard, Spencer Dinwiddie, is hoping to play for Nigeria’s senior male team, D’Tigers at the Tokyo Olympic Games

AHEAD 2021/2022 SEASONS

Kida: Our Doors Are Open for All Eligible Basketball Players The Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) has made it clear that the country is determined to cap any eligible player willing to play for Nigeria.

NBBF’s reaction is coming as speculations are making the round that Brooklyn Nets guard, Spencer Dinwiddie, who didn’t make USA team is interested in playing for D’Tigers at next year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

The federation who senior male and female teams are Tokyo bound for the summer Games next year, made it clear that eligible players around the world capable of improving the team will be given a chance.

NBBF’s President, Musa Kida is quite happy with the renewed interest of Nigerian players within the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) players interest in committing their international future to Nigeria. “This is a good time to be alive as a Nigerian basketball fan. The new found fame in the world has started yielding the desired results. Gone were the days when even kids playing at the collegiate system avoided our teams like a plague. “We have lost many good players in the past, but now things are looking up. Top-rated players have started reaching

out to the federation. We will consider each player including the likes of Dinwidde on case by case basis in accordance with FIBA rules as provided for under Chapter 3, article 21(a).

The FIBA rule states that national teams participating in a Competition of FIBA may have only one player on its team who has acquired the legal nationality of that country by naturalisation or by any other means after having reached the age of 16. “New Orleans Pelicans centre, Jahlil Okafor is also reportedly interested in fighting for a shirt.

There are many top players out there who are eligible to play for us while some may also be thinking of naturalization

as allowed by FIBA rules�, Kida continued.

The NBBF President stressed that the technical crew is looking at players who will add something extra to the teams ahead of the Summer Olympics. “While at the World Cup in China, the coaches and many Nigerians noticed that we needed more tested hands to improve the team. We are therefore working closely with the technical crew to identify players capable of bringing something new to the table.�

He concluded that a podium finish at the now postponed Summer Games is not impossible, but to achieve such feat, the best materials must be made use of.

Demise of Weightlifting President is a Big Loss to Nigeria, Says Gumel 6SRUWV 0LQLVWHU &RPPLVHUDWHV ZLWK IDPLO\ RI ODWH 0RKDPPHG

The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel has described the demise of Hon. Yahaya Mohammed, President of the Weightlifting Federation of Nigeria as a monumental loss to the country.

In his condolence message to the family of the late Yakubu, Gumel said: “ it is with great sadness and deep sense of loss that the Nigeria Olympic Committee received the news of the demise of our close associate, colleague and friend, Hon.

Yahaya Mohammed (Bigman).�

The NOC president said Hon. Yahaya Mohammed will be remembered for his passion for the sport of Weightlifting as well as his amiable character that easily endeared him to people. “Not only that, his outstanding feat and achievements at the 2019 12th African Games in Morroco got him the accolade among his admirers as the “Golden President�. “On behalf of the Executive Board and members of the

Nigeria Olympic Committee, we extend our heart-felt condolence to the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, his co-Federation Presidents, the Government and people of Jigawa State and his immediate family on the irreparable loss.

May God grant his soul eternal rest�, Gumel concluded.

Hon Yahaya Mohammed passed away on Saturday after a brief illness and has been buried according to Islamic rites.

In the same vein, the Nigeria Olympic Committee commiserates with Mr. Samuel Ocheho, President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria and members over the death of Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Mohammed, a vibrant board member.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has commiserated with the family of the late President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Mr Yahaya Muhammed.

TR

Monday April 20, 2020

UT H

& RE A SO

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Price: N250

MISSILE

PDP to FG

“Our citizens are passing through very difficult and harrowing experiences and our party is worried that the federal government has so far failed to reach most vulnerable Nigerians, whose survival directly depends on daily income in the markets, shops and streets have been crippled by the COVID-19 lockdown” – PDP urging the CBN to immediately open discussions with commercial banks with a view to suspending charges on the use of ATM cards and low amount mobile fund transfers.

SHAKAMOMODU THIS REPUBLIC

I

shaka.momodu@thisdaylive.com

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Shame of the Nation

am at a loss as to how to begin this article. If I may ask, what can someone reasonably say to me to assuage the humiliation I feel by the bull’s-eye victory the Chadian forces scored against Boko Haram recently and the failure of our military to defeat these terrorists in the last 11 years? How can the military reasonably justify their failure to defend the fatherland?

There is no doubt that Nigeria is fighting a half-hearted war against a barbaric brood of vermin – a very determined enemy whose intransigence has lasted this long because of a combination of perplexing geopolitical/ religious considerations and corruption within the military/political establishment. The war has been hijacked by officials who don’t want it to end. They are milking the situation at the expense of the lives of Nigerians and the territorial integrity of the country. These people are arguably the most unpatriotic people in the universe. While our smaller and poorer neighbours like Chad are taking the fight to the enemy, Nigeria is fiddling and fidgeting as the higher-ups collude with terrorists to undermine our country.

For reasons best known to this government, it is treating the terrorist group and its members with kid gloves, periodically releasing thousands of captured members of the terror sect on the pretext (without providing evidence) that they have been de-radicalised. Some it was alleged were even recruited into the military. An allegation the military has denied. But considering its antecedents, it is difficult not to take such denial with a pinch of salt. Reports have also alleged that some of the guys released by this government were later caught fighting alongside Boko Haram against the Nigerian military in subsequent battles. This is the only country in the world that treats terrorists with reverence and the victims without a care in the world.

Why is our military not fighting Boko Haram - the enemy? Why is it that each time they are advancing and getting close to a major target, orders come from above to stand down an operation? Who usually gives these orders and why? My childhood fascination and reverence for the military, particularly the army, was shattered when images of soldiers escaping from the fight with Boko Haram surfaced on the internet years ago. The shock almost gave me a heart attack.

I could hardly believe what my eyes were seeing. It broke my heart. And I have yet to recover from it. I grew up believing soldiers don’t run from danger, but run towards it.

As I try to understand the gloomy situation, staring blankly at my laptop, at a loss as to how to say what my agonised thoughts were telling me to say, my thoughts drifted momentarily to what could have been for our beloved country if we had purpose-driven leaders. As I ruminated about this, I was transported out of our reality, momentarily liberated from the agony of our tragedy to a paradise yonder. I imagined walking on well-paved streets, having stable power supply in my home, and an economy driven by innovation and discovery. A beautiful landscape of opportunities for all who can dream and work hard to pursue and realise their full potential. Ensnared and immersed in this dream world, I forgot my sorrows about our country and its leaders. Momentarily, I wanted to live for a 1,000 years in this land of my

Defence Minister, Bashir Salihi Magashi fathers. I was in that ecstasy when a shrieking cry rang out in my neighbourhood, jolting me out of the paradise to the hard reality of our daily grind. Soldiers had shot dead a young lad for disobeying the lockdown.

“Oh my God!” I screamed.

Chad’s military success against the terror group is first and foremost a big bloody nose to Nigeria’s military campaign that has lasted over 11 years. To add insult to injury, President Idris Deby of Chad openly questioned Nigeria’s commitment to defeat Boko Haram. It is a devastating shaming of our country to the world and it is threatening to push our military into irrelevance in the West African sub-region. It confirms longheld suspicions that there is more to this Boko Haram fight than meets the eye. Boko Haram is not just the enemy, it has highly placed collaborators within the inner circles of government.

Major Kaduna Nzeogwu stated in his famous coup speech of January 15, 1966, that “our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand 10 percent; those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers or VIPs at least, the tribalists, the nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international circles”.

Unfortunately, no act of humiliation shames our military and their civilian collaborators and supporters into deciding that enough is indeed enough. Nothing to jolt them to their senses to see they have made Nigeria a big-for-nothing country. Major Nzeogwu’s position remains a true depiction 54 years after.

The truth is, there is nothing really suddenly magical about the Chadian military prowess.

Unlike Nigeria whose war against the terrorists is weighed down heavily by political considerations, Chad is unleashing the full potential of its military to fight terrorists within and outside its territory. Chad is succeeding because no top government official, senator, governor, lawmaker, community leader of a particular region is colluding with the terrorists to undermine Chad’s territorial integrity. They are not playing ethno/religious politics with terrorism. They are not sympathetic to the terrorists. They call terrorism its true name

and see it as a danger to the collective national interest of Chad. The president of Chad set the tone and led from the front to flush out the agents of death and destruction.

The recent ambush and killing of 98 of its soldiers by the satanic Boko Haram was definitely the turning point and has brought out its capacity to the fore. President Derby himself led the way to burst the myth that terror cannot be defeated. He not only routed the Boko Haram terror group, Derby sent its ragtag fighters scampering into Nigeria, their safe haven. At the end of that audacious military operation, according to reports, over 1,000 Boko Haram fighters lay dead while their armoury within Nigerian territory was captured by Chadian forces who also freed many innocent captives including Nigerian soldiers held by the terrorists. The Nigerian military was nowhere to be found in all of this, vindicating the Chadian president who stated in 2015 that the Nigerian military was absent in the fight against Boko Haram.

Rather, they were on the streets, harassing and beating civilians as they enforced President Muhammadu Buhari’s sit-at-home orders. Some civilians were reportedly killed by soldiers in a purely civil operation! But the prime objective of the lockdown is to save lives and not to destroy lives. Now, how does one explain that Covid-19 has killed 19 people while security agents have killed 18 in this lockdown period? Why this appetite to kill innocent civilians?

Back to the Boko Haram menace. The terrorists have repeatedly killed hundreds of Nigerian soldiers in several daring attacks on military targets and ambushes without serious repercussions. This did not trigger angst from the high command to launch a determined push to flush out the terrorists like Chad did when 98 of its soldiers were ambushed and killed by Boko Haram. No, nothing of such. Instead they secretly buried the fallen soldiers in mass graves. Some of the remains of the fallen soldiers were even left for days to the elements to decompose before eventually being retrieved. Afterwards the government and the military carried on as if nothing had happened. When they eventually decided to talk about it, they denied and denied and where they owned up at all, they minimised the casualty figures. Really? Is this what Nigeria has become?

What kind of country treats its fallen soldiers that way? What kind of military allows the enemy to constantly seize the battlefield initiative? What kind of army flees from a battle with ragtag terrorists? Who did this to our military? Who did this to Nigeria? What has happened to the $1 billion as well as other budgetary allocations approved for the government to purchase security equipment for the military since 2015?

I am distressed, depressed beyond words, and filled with a deepening sense of melancholy about this country because in all of human history, one can hardly find a people so unimaginably dense and unpatriotic as our leaders. In a viral video, President Déby was seen telling his troops that “this place will be our zone until Nigeria sends its soldiers. Stay with them for about a month. Do not let them free captured weapons or any Boko Haram terrorists, they will return to Chad and this will just hurt us. So let them just understand.

We are not leaving the situation like this…

You guys destroyed at least 90 percent of Boko Haram. That I confirm and can tell the world that 90 percent of Boko Haram is destroyed. The 10 percent that are left are running everywhere. Some have drowned and some ran to Niger, some to Nigeria but they will never come to Chad again. Chad is no place for Boko Haram.”

Derby, apparently frustrated with Nigeria’s handling of Boko Haram’s menace, warned that his troops deployed to fight jihadists in the Lake Chad region and the Sahel will no longer take part in military operations outside its national borders. “Our troops have died for Lake Chad and the Sahel.

From today, no Chadian soldier will take part in a military mission outside Chad,” he told his country’s television network in Arabic. Derby also publicly complained that his poor country was shouldering the burden of the war. Still basking in the victory, he issued Nigeria and Niger an ultimatum to reoccupy the territories and that his forces would move out of the bases seized from the jihadists by April 22, regardless of whether their armed forces moved in or not.

The Derby-led counterattack so badly decimated Boko Haram fighters, prompting the leader of the terror group, Abubakar Shakau, to appeal to his fighters not to be demoralised or be deterred by the onslaught against them by the Chadian troops.

It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that some of the loudest voices denouncing the criticism of our military’s handling of the war in the wake of the Chadian military’s merciless beating of Boko Haram were angry about the exposure of our military’s questionable commitment to ending the war and not the fact that the military’s commitment and actions were indeed questionable. I know that we cannot serve our country well if self-evident facts are negotiable. It is not a sign of patriotism to excuse or obliquely support and cover up the clear failure of our military to defeat Boko Haram despite huge budgetary and extra-budgetary allocations, or help propagate a false narrative to give Nigerians a false sense of security.

You see, Nigeria’s government and the military had repeatedly stated that it had defeated the terrorists and that no part of the country was under Boko Haram control even when the facts on the ground told a different story.

The constant echoing of official talking points to have defeated Boko Haram would have been funny if it weren’t so stupid. Now can the army tell us which territory Chadian forces operating deep inside Nigerian territory seized from Boko Haram? In a most humiliating way, they have been caught with their pants down.

And the world is laughing. Chad’s recent routing of the terrorists has confirmed many shady things about our military’s commitment to the war against Boko Haram; that Boko Haram is not as strong as some have made them look, that these barbaric monsters can be defeated if we are really serious and committed to the cause.

It is interesting that neither our military nor the government has uttered a word about the sect since its thumping beating by Chadian forces, a feat our own military can’t boast of. Maybe, they are still thinking of how to talk their way out of a tight corner. It’s a crying shame.

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