TUESDAY 26TH APRIL 2022

Elon Musk Reaches Agreement to Acquire Twitter for $44bn Over 40 million Nigerians on microblogging platform World's richest man, billionaire Elon Musk has reached an agreement to acquire Twitter for approximately $44 billion, the company said.

According to the Associated Press (AP), Musk, the outspoken Tesla

CEO, the world’s wealthiest person, had said he wants to buy Twitter because he thinks it’s not living up to its potential as a platform for “free speech.”

He said it needs to be trans-

formed as a private company in order to build trust with users and do better at serving what he calls the “societal imperative” of free speech.

Twitter said it would become a

privately held company after the sale is closed.

“Twitter has a purpose and relevance that impacts the entire world,” its CEO Parag Agrawal said in a tweet. “Deeply proud

of our teams and inspired by the work that has never been more important.”

Musk describes himself as a “free-speech absolutist,” although he hasn’t been exactly clear what

he means by that. In a recent TED interview, the billionaire said he’d like to see Twitter err on the side of allowing speech instead of Continued on page 10

Osinbajo, Amaechi in Ondo to Solicit Delegates’ Votes… Page 8 Tuesday 26 April, 2022 Vol 27. No 9877. Price: N250

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OPEC Mourns over 100 Persons Killed in Imo Explosion... Page 6

WHO: Malaria Killed over 602,000 People in Nigeria, Others in 2021 US spends $768m to fight malaria in country ExxonMobil spent over $37.4m on anti-malaria programmes in nation in 20 years Obaseki canvasses innovative financing in the disease fight Michael Olugbode in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

As the world yesterday marked the World Malaria Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has

disclosed that no fewer than 602,000 people died of malaria in Nigeria and other African countries in 2021.

WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, stated this yesterday, in her message to

commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day titled: “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria

disease burden and save lives.”

Continued on page 10

It’s Igbo’s Turn to Produce President in 2023, Afenifere, MBF, PANDEF Insist Declare Yoruba's presidential bid inelegant

Say unfortunate Jonathan allowed himself to be disgraced

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja As the political parties ready for their primaries ahead of the 2023 general election, the general sentiment in the country seems to increasingly favour the emergence of a president of Igbo extraction. This is mounting intense pressure on the political class to concede power to the Igbo.

Prominent socio-political groups from different parts of the country, including Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), PanNiger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and Middle Belt Forum (MBF), yesterday, insisted the Igbo should produce the president of Nigeria in 2023 for equity, justice and fairness. The groups maintained that if the political class and the retired military generals could concede the Continued on page 10

KOREANS VISIT THISDAY/ARISE MEDIA GROUP...

L-R: Secretary -Political, Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Eunkyung Son; Consul General, Mr. Kang Haenggu; Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, THISDAY and ARISE News Channel, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; wife of the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Hyunju, the Ambassador, Kim Young-Chae; Economic Counselor, Mr Choi Jungwon and Commercial Attache of the Embassy, Mr. Lee Seungwoo, during their visit to Obaigbena in Lagos ...yesterday Photo: Kunle Ogunfuyi

Presidential Ticket: Let All Go to National Convention, Say PDP Northern Leaders... Page 8

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

SIGNING CEREMONY ON ISSUANCE OF N127,000,000,000 SERIES 1...

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Funso Akere; Chief Financial Officer, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Modupe Kadri; Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Karl Olutokun Toriola, and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Demola Sogunle, at the Signing Ceremony of MTN Nigeria N127 billion Series 1 & 2 Commercial Paper Issuance...yesterday

MTN Nigeria Issues Historic N127bn Commercial Paper Kayode Tokede MTN Nigeria Communications Plc yesterday issued a historic N127 billion Series 1 & 2 Commercial Paper (CP) under its registered N150 billion programme.

The issuance consisted of two tenors – a 184-day series issuance priced at a 7.50% yield and a 254day Series 2 issuance priced at an 8.50% yield.

According to the telecommunication giant, the issuance was in line with its strategy to diversify financing options, with the proceeds being deployed towards working capital and general corporate purposes.

Speaking at signing ceremony

in Lagos yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria Communication, Mr Karl Toriola explained that the N127 billion CP issuance would go into the record books as the largest CP issuance in Nigeria.

According to him, “The success of our CP issuance is a clear demonstration of the strength and acceptance of the MTN brand, and the trust placed by the investor community in MTN Nigeria’s our company’s leadership, strong financial performance and corporate strategy.

“Having recently emerged as one of two winners for the 5G spectrum recently auctioned by the Nigerian Communications

Commission and also having recently just been granted final approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Momo Payment Service Bank Limited to commence operations license, this landmark issuance represents yet another step towards our cementing MTN Nigeria’s leadership in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector."

He added that, “We thank first and foremost our customers and the investor community for their continued support and confidence in the MTN brand and all it stands for.”

Responding to questions from journalists, he noted that the MTN Nigeria with the completion of the N127 billion CP aimed at improving

customer’s services and high quality of bouquet services that included 5G spectrum that awaits regulatory approval.

He expressed that MTN Nigeria with the CP issuance was poised to maximising return to shareholders through dividend pay-out and capital appreciation. Of its stock on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

“This CP allows us funding at an efficient rate to continue our products deployment and distribution network. It is expected to translate into shareholders return,” he said.

He commended efforts of professional parties involved in the CP transaction, and the board and

2023 Presidency: Peter Obi's Six Million Supporters Pledge to Raise N6bn Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Peter Obi Support Network yesterday announced that its six million members would raise N6 billion in favour of the former Anambra State Governor.

Obi had already declared interest to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Any aspirant who wish to contest the PDP presidential primary, is expected to pay N40 million in order to buy the nomination and expression of interest form, apart from other expenses.

The Chairman of the group, PSON, Sheikh Rufai Al-Siddiq, told a stakeholders' forum in Abuja, yesterday, that members were expected to donate at least, N1, 000 each.

Al-Siddiq said: "The Peter Obi Support Network is over six million and each are expected to donate N1, 000.

"Many people may donate more than that. If our six million members donate faithfully, we would raise the N6 billion from our group alone."

According to Al-Siddiq, the donation by all members showed the acceptance of Obi by the Muslims in Nigeria.

"Chance should be given to the candidate from the South-east.

It will build good relationship

throughout the country and bring unity. Peter Obi is the best person to be president in 2023," Al-Siddiq said.

He said as Atiku's running mate, Obi was the one that made the PDP to get such a massive votes, especially from the South, adding that every part of the country should be allowed to govern the country.

Al-Siddiq, who hails from Kogi State, insisted that 2023 should be the time for the south-east to produce the president, insisting that they have a competent person who governed Anambra State

with good results to show.

The Director of Strategy of the Peter Obi support network, Marcel Ngogbehei, who spoke virtually, said Obi would bring in digital governance if elected president.

He said, "We have four main objectives which is to encourage national unity and national cohesion. We want Nigerians from every part of the country to know that they are one.

"We also said that whoever that wants to be the president in 2023, he must be a man who has proven prudence in governance.

Nigeria keep borrowing which is bad. We want a president that will cut spending.

"We want a responsible leadership with short and long term plans, focusing on citizens and not personal benefits. We have judge the contestants concerning their antecedents and Peter Obi has proved himself.

"When he was governor of Anambra State, he governed well.

So, the Peter Obi support network is beyond him," Ngogbehei said.

He added that a new Nigeria was possible with Obi as President.

Buhari Felicitates Emmanuel Macron on His Reelection as French President Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with French President, Emmanuel Macron, 44, for winning his second term in office, and making history as the only sitting leader of the country to return in two decades.

Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, affirmed that the iconic leadership style of the French President, who spent six months in Nigeria working as an intern at the

French Embassy in 2002, continues to inspire a new generation of leaders and interest in politics and governance, starting from his country and beyond.

He noted the warmth and friendliness that has redefined Nigeria/France relations since Macron assumed office in 2017, paying an official visit to Nigeria in 2018, and consistently creating lines for improved ties in economy, culture and security, which has culminated in France-Nigeria Business Council, African Cultures

Season in 2020, and the FranceAfrica Summit.

Buhari congratulated the French President, his wife, Brigitte Macron, friends and political associates on the historic feat, assuring President Macron of Nigeria’s support as he continues with his advocacy of humanising policies, promoting peace and stability, and encouraging development through innovation.

The president wished Macron God’s guidance and wisdom for a second term in office.

management of FMDQ Securities Exchange for providing an efficient platform for raising short term funding via the issuance of CPs. The Managing Director, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mr. Funso Akere said the operators and MTN management worked four-week to work out the CP issuance, describing it as a landmark achievement in the debt capital market issuance

programme.

Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited acted as Lead Arranger and Dealer, while Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited, Coronation Merchant Bank Limited, FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited, FSDH Capital Limited, Standard Chartered Capital & Advisory Nigeria Limited and UCML Capital Limited acted as joint dealers.

2023: APC Begins Sale of Nomination Forms Today To replace directors sent on compulsory leave Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Barring any last minute changes, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will today commence the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for various elective positions.

The sale of forms that was supposed to commence last Saturday was postponed till today due to the inability of the contractor to deliver the forms to time.

Against this background, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, has directed organising secretaries from the 36 states to collect forms for aspirants jostling for the states’Houses of Assemblies.

The NWC further directed that nomination forms for the state legislature should be sold at the state headquarters.

While the sale of forms for the aspirants jostling for National Assembly, governorship and presidential tickets would be sold at the National Secretariat at three designated places.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Felix Morka, told journalists at the party secretariat that, the exercise would commence today.

His words: "We are set to commence sale tomorrow (Tuesday).

The guideline for the exercise will soon be released on our platform.

While the forms for the State House of Assembly will be sold at the state level nationwide, others will be sold here at the national secretariat " Meanwhile, indications emerged yesterday that the NWC, has put machinery in motion to replace some of the directors directed

to proceed on compulsory and immediate leave.

National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, had set up a committee after he assumed the leadership of the party to know the state of finances of the party and to study the handover note of the defunct Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and other sundry matters affecting the national secretariat of the party.

"We want to know where the party is exactly so that we don’t get taken by the exuberance of winning an election and just plunge into the pond pool or not know how deep or the temperature of the water. As for you, the director of admin, you have no hiding place.

We will count on your loyalty to the party," Adamu had hinted.

The six directorates were Administration, Finance, Research and Statistics, Organisation, Publicity, Welfare and Head of Legal Services.

A party source, who pleaded anonymity, told THISDAY that the NWC would soon invite applications from qualified persons from within and outside the party to replace the directors.

He said: "The party is to place an external and internal advertisement to call for application from suitable and qualified persons to fill the directorate positions in the party.

"The NWC has resolved to replace those indicated by the report of the Transition Committee. To this end, the committee resolved to throw the position open to members of the public as well as encourage qualified officers within the party to also apply. That is why they are placing an internal and external advertisement."

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IN SEARCH OF DELEGATES...

Presidential Aspirant, Rotimi Amaechi, (right) with the Olubadan of Ibadan, Olalekan Balogun, during a consultative visit to the Paramount ruler in Ibadan, Oyo State...Monday.

EFCC Moves against Money Laundering in Real Estate Sector Alex Enumah and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, yesterday said the Commission was determined to combat money laundering and terrorism financing in the real estate sector of the economy.

He spoke in Abuja, at a workshop organised by the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).

He said the Nigeria Evaluation Report showed that the real estate sector was the second most vulnerable sector to money laundering practices in Nigeria.

The EFCC boss listed Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Lagos as some of the major cities where properties were regularly purchased mostly in cash and often in foreign currencies with no questions asked by

anybody about the legality of such transactions.

Bawa, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Hadiza Gamawa Zubairu, stated that based on the existing realities of the real estate sector, the EFCC, "would leave no stone unturned in combating money laundering practices in the sector".

"Just last year in July, the EFCC launched an App called ‘The Eagle Eye’ which has eased the processes of reporting economic and financial crimes and also exposed the flow of illicit funds in the real estate sector.

"This indeed has provided useful intelligence and goes to show the level of commitment that EFCC has in the real estate sector,” he said.

He restated the readiness of the EFCC to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in its efforts towards combating the menace while also strengthening the capacity of the Special Control

Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) to effectively discharge its responsibilities in enforcing compliance in the real estate sector.

The EFCC boss added that loopholes being exploited to launder funds in the real sector were weak regulations, lack of strict parameters for business practices by the regulatory bodies, poor compliance to laws, among others.

Also, the Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Mr. Modibbo Tukur,

called for collaboration and coordination among agencies, locally and regionally, in combating money laundering and illicit financial flows. He proposed stronger legislative regulations including the need for every citizen in GIABA member states to be linked to a unified identification number in order to make it easier to track culprits.

In his own submissions, Secretary, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, REDAN, Mr. Yunusa Shuaibu, called for

The European Union and the British Council have organised a workshop to build compliance of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country on regulatory frameworks.

Speaking at the workshop organised in Abuja, the Component 2 Manager of the European Union Agent for Citizen-driven Transformation (EU-ACT), Idem Udoekong, said the training which commenced with CSOs/Networks/ CBOs in the FCT (Abuja), would be extended to Lagos, Sokoto, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Adamawa, Enugu, Plateau and Borno States.

He noted that it would be extended to all states in the country through partners and higher institutions.

Udoekong while revealing that the training was sponsored by the European Union and British Council, noted that the issue of poor compliance of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on regulatory framework was attributable to lack of the requisite knowledge and information on regulations.

He noted that: “The issue of poor compliance of CSOs to existing civil society regulations can be attributed to so many factors including CSOs lack of the requisite

knowledge and information about these regulations and how to go about such compliance.

“This assertion was reinforced by the outcome of the survey conducted by EU-ACT programme in March 2021 to establish the current levels of compliance with legal frameworks amongst its supported CSOs/Networks/CBOs in the FCT (Abuja), Lagos, Sokoto, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Adamawa, Enugu, Plateau and Borno States.

“The survey findings, for instance, indicated that out of the 119 CSOs’ responses that were processed, less than a third of the CSOs were compliant with the CAMA law, less than 10 per cent of the CSOs were fully tax compliant and only 14 per cent of the CSOs were SCUML compliant.

“And yet, compliance to regulatory frameworks is paramount to sustaining and strengthening civil society organisations.”

He added: “It was on this note that the programme is organising trainings for its partner CSOs/ Networks/CBOs across the aforementioned 10 focal states to improve CSOs’ awareness of the important regulations (CAMA, Taxation, Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering, and Pension) and how they affect their operation; capacitate them on how to become effective in

A statement by the commission said the GIABA official maintained that the real estate sector remained one of the main drivers of economic growth and engine of social development across GIABA member states.

The federal government has called on all West African countries to put in place a register of beneficial owners of Real Estate properties in their respective countries so as to prevent the use of the sector as conduit for money laundering and terrorism financing.

OPEC Mourns over 100 Persons Killed in Imo Explosion Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) yesterday commiserated with the people and government of Imo State, over last weekend’s

fire which was reported to have consumed over 100 persons.

Key government agencies operating in the sector are yet to make statement on the incident.

These include the Nigerian

EU, British Council Train CSOs on Compliance to Regulatory Frameworks Michael Olugbode in Abuja

stricter regulation and coordination in the real sector, stressing that “the sector is currently free for all.

We are ready to cooperate at all times to achieve this feat and this is why we decided to sponsor a bill at the National Assembly”, he said.

Director of Evaluation and Compliance, GIABA, Dr. Bruno Nduka, thanked the EFCC chairman for taking keen interest in the activities of GIABA and providing tremendous support to the association.

their compliance obligation to these regulations; as well as improve their compliance to them.”

He said working in partnership with relevant regulatory agencies, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenues Service (FIRS), Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) and Pension Commission (PenCom), the training would enable EU-ACT CSO partners to gain in depth knowledge of the requirement of the laws/regulations as well as receive continuous guidance on how to effectively and efficiently meet these requirements, noting that: “Representatives of these regulatory agencies would participate (in-person) in the trainings to provide technical inputs as well as address any compliance issues participant organisations might have.”

Udoekong, while noting that compliant to regulatory framework was paramount to sustaining and strengthening CSOs and keep them out of trouble, said: "This help to sustain the organisation as if you do not comply with the law, it may create room for abuse of the system, so regulations helps credibility in organisation as they always advocate for change and reform.

“They also need to be credible

enough to fight the cause as research shows low compliance of CSOs to regulations.”

The lead resource person at the training, Prof. Adedeji Adekunle, in his address reiterated that compliance to regulation was knowledge-driven, noting that sometimes organisations do not know what to do at times and people are scared of meeting regulations which sometimes indicate they have something to hide.

He said: "These regulations if not adhered to have penalties.”

On his part, the Special Assistant to the Registrar General/CEO, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Terver Ayua-Jor stressed the need to deepen the knowledge on compliance and how it would benefit the regulator and those who are regulated.

Ayuba-Tor while noting that though so far the compliance level was encouraging, admitted that more education needed to be done.

One of the participants, James Ugochukwu of African Centre for Entrepreneurship Information and Development, said CSOs complement activities of the government, but lamented that over-regulation of the space would be shutting the door to more person engaging in civil activities.

National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Many victims were burnt beyond recognition during the incident which occurred after an illegal refinery exploded at Abaezi forest in the OhajiEgbema Local Government Area of the state.

The damage to fishing and farming caused by the oil industry over the decades and the failure to share its wealth has led some to find other ways to make money.

Illegal refining is attractive as in parts of the oil-rich Niger Delta as it is seen as being relatively easy to pull off, despite efforts to halt the practice. Dozens of people were thought to have been working at the illegal refining plants when they were caught in the huge fire.

While offering his condolences to the families of the victims on Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari had demanded that those responsible for the explosions must be caught and brought to justice.

The authorities have been struggling to curb the proliferation of illegal plants where stolen crude oil is refined. The president ordered security forces to intensify efforts to shut the illegal refineries.

But in a letter to the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, OPEC’s Secretary General, Dr Sanusi Barkindo

decried the scale of destruction caused by the incident, saying that the oil producers' organisation, received the sad news with deep shock.

Stressing that the loss of lives at the site was difficult to accept, Barkindo, on behalf of OPEC commiserated with the “heroic” people of Imo state over the deaths and injuries suffered by those impacted by the blast.

“It was with deep shock and sadness that I learned about the tragic loss of lives following a fire at an illegal oil refining depot in the Abaezi forest in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area in Imo State, close to the border with Rivers State.

“On behalf of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to you and the people of the heroic people of the Imo State at this difficult time.

“Loss of life on this scale is very difficult to comprehend and our thoughts and prayers go to the families and friends of those afflicted by this tragedy, as well as those recovering from their injuries.

“We stand shoulder-toshoulder with all who grieve at this difficult time. We will also pray for the safety of the emergency response teams.

May the Almighty give the bereaved the fortitude to bear this unbearable loss.

"Please accept, Your Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration and esteem,” the Nigerian-born OPEC chief noted.

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A BANQUET FOR GOLFERS...

L-R: Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma; his wife, Chioma Uzodimma, exchanging pleasantries with Chairman, Board of Trustees, Arsenal Golf Club Obinze, Owerri, HRH, Eze Ugo Ralph Ekezie, when the Governor hosted the Golfers to a banquet in Government House, Owerri...recently

Presidential Ticket: Let All Go to National Convention, Say PDP Northern Leaders Declare opposition party neither North nor South, but Nigeria Tambuwal is a bad loser, Obisesan posits Chuks Okocha in Abuja Leaders of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the 19 northern statesmet in Abuja yesterday and resolved that the presidential candidate of the party for the 2023 general election would be determined by the May 29 PDP national convention. The northern PDP leaders, who declared that the opposi-tion party was neither north nor south, but a political group for all Nigerians, called on the citizens to stop overheating the polity with divisive arguments.

They were reacting to a recent statement by Professor Ango Abdullahi, also a political elder from the north, that the region had picked former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and Bauchi State Governor

Bala Mohammed as the north’s consensus nominees for PDP ahead of the 2023 poll.

But Co-convener of The Nigerian Group, Alexander Obisesan, alleged in a statement yesterday that having pledged his commitment to the consensus initiative, Sokoto State Governor and presidential hopeful, Aminu Tambuwal, was duty-bound to respect the outcome of the Abdullahi committee on the issue of consensus candidacy. Obisesan said doing otherwise would portray Tambuwal as a bad loser.

In a communiqué signed by a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and former Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Waziri, the leaders said, "Any member of the party has the inalienable right to contest to any position, including

the presidential election. To this end, only the national convention of the party on May 29 would decide the presidential ticket of the party.

"We would like to state from the onset that there is nothing called the Northern PDP. Our coming together as key stakeholders from the northern states is only for the purpose of debunking any notion or impression, which might have been created by Professor Ango Abdullahi’s media statement about the Northern Elders Forum having shortlisted consensus PDP presidential candidates.

"The Peoples Democratic Party, as conceived by its founding fathers, is and remains the foremost national political platform, wherein the democratic aspirations of its teeming members can be actualised, devoid

Osinbajo, Amaechi in Ondo to Solicit Delegates’ Votes Fidelis David in Akure Two presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, visited Ondo State to solicit for votes from delegates ahead of the party’s primary slated for May 30 and June 1.

The duo, while speaking to delegates, said the country needed president and leader with experience, courage, capacity and economic understanding that would rescue Nigeria from her current challenges.

Osinbajo met with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN); state executives and delegates at the Cocoa conference hall, governor's office, Akure, while Amaechi visited the palace of the Deji of Akure land, residence of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae and the Ondo State APC Secretariat in Akure.

The Vice President said it would be unjust for him to retire from politics to Ikene, his hometown or Lagos State, when he was competent enough to lead the nation.

He noted that his mission was

to inform the people his intention to succeed the incumbent President Buhari having served under him loyally for seven years.

On his part, Amaechi, who declared that he remained the most experienced among the aspirants in the party, stressed that while he was governor of Rivers State, he used his experience to end kidnapping and other security challenges in the state.

He said though other aspirants of the party were competent, having served as Councillor, Speaker of the state House of Assembly for eight years, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Minister of the federal republic, he possessed the qualities to lead Nigeria to overcome security and other challenges.

Reacting to the requests of the state Chairman of APC, Ade Adetimehin and Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, the Deji of Akure, Ameachi gave an assurance that if elected as president, he would ensure Seaport for Ondo state and Railway project through Akure would be actualised.

“Nigeria needs a detribalised, firm and effective leader. In less than one year, I became the governor of Rivers State, militancy stopped

in the state and the reason why it stopped was that every time there was militancy, our revenue from the federal government dropped so we needed to look for money in order to develop the state, to stop the kidnapping and others.

“I have had the experience in finding lasting solution to insecurity in my state, I’m not the person that they will teach, because I have already known. Besides, I’m still going to learn on how we will end insecurity in our dear country.

“I’m going to give all necessary backing to the issue of security in order to secure the nation. I also believe that if we grow the economic and support our security system, we will definitely find a lasting solution to insecurity.

I have participated in moving this country forward and I will continue to do so.

“Your votes matter this time around; we are here in Akure this time around to seek your support, and not for only general election but for us to win the primary election, which will give us the grace to be party candidate and once we are voted for in the general election, the traditional rulers will be given a responsibility to play in the constitution," Amaechi said.

of any sectional consideration.

“Our party is neither northern nor southern, but Nigerian!"

The communiqué further stated that the northern leaders were happy that the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) had through its secretary, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, disassociated itself from Abdullahi’s media statement, saying, "They made it clear that it is Ango's personal opinion."

The PDP elders stated that the aspirants had informed the northern leaders that they were discussing among themselves as well as "consulting other senior citizens in order to create a better understanding and unity among themselves. Their ultimate objective is to build a national consensus that will produce a national candidate for the party. We urge them to keep up with this commendable effort.

"Our meeting today is to reinforce on the press release issued on 23/4/22 by Gov. Sule Lamido. We maintain that all our aspirants are qualified to occupy the Nigerian presidency under the PDP banner

and we shall continue to support, promote and campaign and win the presidency by the candidate produced by our national convention scheduled for May 28th-29th 2022.

"We appeal to all aspirants to be more temperate in their utterances and work to promote harmony and better understanding within the PDP Family. We also want to assure all PDP members and, indeed, all Nigerians that we are aware of your pains, prayers, expectations and HOPE to be RESCUED. Your abiding faith in PDP shall set us free in 2023. By the Almighty's power, we will not fail Nigeria."

Some of the prominent faces at the meeting included Lamido, former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu; former governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna; former governor of Kogi State, Idris Ibrahim; Waziri; former Minister of Works, Senator Sanusi Daggash; Senator Dino Melaye; Senator Solomon Ewuga; and Ambassador Aminu Wale.

Meanwhile, Co-convener of The

Nigerian Group said Tambuwal must abide by the outcome of the consensus committee, having previously committed to the consensus initiative.

Obisesan said, in a statement, "We urge Governor Tambuwal to accept the outcome of the process in the country's collective interest and work for the success of the initiative as a strategic intervention for giving Nigeria a viable alternative.

"The committee adopted a fair template, because the North-west has remained the dominant zone in power-sharing in the region since 1999, and it is only fitting that other zones are allowed to represent the interest of the north.

"It is on record that Vice President Abubakar Atiku was a beneficiary of a similar arrangement in 2010, and other contending parties respected the outcome.

"At 75, we expect the elder statesman to concede to younger elements in the PDP and be a father to all as we seek a better alternative to the failed APC."

WHO Deploys 9 million Doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine in 9 States Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

As part of efforts to arrest cholera outbreak in Nigeria, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it has approved the deployment of approximately nine million doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) to 14 Local Government Areas in nine states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The vaccination campaign was a follow up to an earlier one in which over 1.7 million persons were vaccinated each with two doses of Oral Cholera Vaccination(OCV) across seven LGAs in four states of Bauchi, Jigawa, Yobe and Zamfara.

In a speech delivered at the WHO training on the integration of Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) in emergency and preventative held in Abuja, yesterday, the Africa Regional Director, WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Molumbo said it was expected that the vast experience built in Nigeria over the years in implementing mass vaccination campaigns would be put to use in implementing

the latest vaccination campaign.

"Working in line with the preparedness towards future campaigns, we believe that the recently approved GTFCC application for Nigeria with approximately nine million doses of OCV to implement two campaigns in 14 LGAs in 9 states, including the FCT would significantly mitigate the risk of and upsurge of cholera cases during this raining season.

"However, we wish to further reiterate the need for the early allocation and shipment of these vaccines to ensure these vaccinations and carries out sooner than later," he said.

Molumbo said the challenges identified during 2021 annual GTFCC stakeholder meeting included poor quality reactive and preventative OCV campaign requests; lack of OCV use as an outbreak response in some settings and inadequate monitoring and evaluation of OCV campaigns need to be addressed.

According to him, WHO was cognisant of the need to implement quality campaigns and the

operational challenges in different contexts.

"Nigeria has demonstrated capacity to implement campaigns in difficult settings, including security challenges as experienced in the 2 LGAs in Zamfara as well as addressed and improved Campaign data quality, through the use of real time reporting by vaccination teams using hand mobile phones.

"We believe that the vast experience built in Nigeria over the years in implementing mass vaccination campaigns, will come to bear, as we prepare for these preventive campaigns.

"We are confident that the opportunity of this training for knowledge sharing from the three levels of the organisation and the multiple country participants, will not only help improve on the gaps identified but also ensure that countries are better prepared to request, plan and implement quality campaigns with OCV as part of their national Cholera control plans and further contribute the long-term goal of Ending Cholera by 2030," he said.

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TEN IT’S IGBO’S TURN TO PRODUCE PRESIDENT IN 2023, AFENIFERE, MBF, PANDEF INSIST presidency to the Yoruba in 1999, the same approach could be adopted to micro-zone power to the Igbo.

They described the Yoruba presidential ambition as awkward.

The groups spoke in Abuja at the Greater Nigeria Conference, organised by leaders and friends of the South East Geo-political zone, with the theme, "Together We Can." Leaders of the different groups condemned what they called a doomed 2023 presidential desire by former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying he would merely be presenting himself for shame.

Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, while addressing the conference, said there was need for aspirants from the south, especially, the Igbo, to be united.

Adebanjo said the decisions of presidential aspirants, like Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Ameachi, and the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, both from the South-south, to contest would only give the north undue advantage over the south.

Stating emphatically that the north did not want to leave power in 2023, Adebanjo explained, "I only like to point to the fact that they are just deceiving you. All that you are hearing that they (the north) are supporting the South-west is an element of deceit to deprive you, to be able to rule you. They don't like anybody!

"I told Bola (Tinubu) himself, not in the papers, face-to-face, ‘You believe this man (Buhari) will make you president?’ He said yes. I said, ‘he wanted to make you president, he asked (Yemi) Osinbajo to contest?

He asked (Kayode) Fayemi to contest, he asked Amosun (Ibikunle) to contest? All in the South-west, why? He wanted to divide the Yoruba first.

"The unfortunate thing is that President Goodluck Jonathan allowed himself to be disgraced by mentioning the fact that he was considering whether to be president, for what?"

Adebanjo wondered why political leaders from the north were now propounding a lot of theories, when they realised it was the turn of the Igbo to produce the president.

According to him, "Now that it is the turn of the Igbo, they are propounding a new theory: it must be based on merit and all that. If it is the question of merit, if it has been based on merit till today, till Kingdom comes, the Igbo alone will produce the president."

The Afenifere leader noted that all the talk about aspirants from the south going to lobby, campaign, and sell themselves was all rigmarole, stressing that the north knows the truth.

Adebanjo advised, "Although, I don't like all the people that came out from the east. But for the fact that they are saying you have no people, I'm happy you demonstrated that. But go and unite. A house divided against itself will not stand."

PANDEF leader, Chief Edwin Clark, also appealed for concession of the presidency to the Igbo in 2023. Clark said Nigeria could not be described as a tripod anymore, because of the country’s current “36 legs”. He said if any part of these “36 legs” got broken, the country would not be at ease, stressing that is what the country is experiencing today.

Clark stated, "The young ones who belong to the disadvantaged legs are fighting and people are pretending not to know why.

The other part of this disturbing issue is the question of who has the right over Nigeria? Who is that child, from what part of Nigeria? Who will say no, you cannot destroy our country?

You can no longer relegate us to the background.

"What right does the antagonist have that the protagonist does not have? What right do you have that the man you are accusing of disturbing you does not have? The reality is that the man, who wants to destroy and the one who is preventing the destruction have equal rights.

"Why the Igbo should have the presidency is because the children from that geo-political zone are asking whether their own leg is k-legged, or deformed or broken, thus, resulting in the inability of their zone to present the president?"

The elder statesman noted that if five or more legs out of the 36 legs of the pot were broken, definitely, the pot would be unable to stand. He said during the civil war, one out of the original three legs of the three-legged pot was broken due to the war, and the Igbo, which was the broken leg, had been marginalised in the political equation of Nigeria.

Insisting that the people of the Igbo deserved to have a sense of belonging in Nigeria, Clark stressed, "So, the clamour for a president for the South-east geo-political zone is supported by me. Today, with no other tangible reason for still wanting to hold on to power, some people are talking about merit and competence. To these people, my response is simple: we must all woo and win each other, because every part of this country has a beautiful bride and every part has a handsome groom.

"It will not cost money or anything to make Nigeria better.

All that is required is for us to demonstrate reciprocal respect, love and understanding to one another. Let us do what is right;

let us accommodate one another, and be fair to one another. Let all other Nigerians support a south-eastern candidate for president, come 2023.

“I repeat, very soon, I will be 95 years old. I have spent more than 70 years of this period in Nigerian affairs. I have seen it all. For the peace and sanity of the country, I appeal to all, in the name of the Almighty God, to make this concession to the Igbo, to present a president of Nigeria."

Delivering his keynote address, leader of MBF, Dr. Poju Bitrus, said the north should have a rethink of its 2023 presidential ambition, stressing that Nigerians are not fools.

Bitrus said it was unfortunate there were people who felt without terrorising the country, they could not continue to rule.

Bitrus stated, "If we look at what is happening in this country now, someone could be surprised why the north, after the monumental failures within this period, will even be contemplating to again want to rule after Buhari. But the unfortunate thing is that

payment option on Twitter.

He had said Twitter's current leadership team was incapable of getting the company's stock to his offer price on its own, but stopped short of saying it needs to be replaced.

"The company will neither thrive nor serve this societal imperative in its current form," Musk said in his offer letter last week.

Up to the point Musk disclosed a stake in Twitter in April, the company's shares had fallen about 10 per cent since Parag Agrawal took over as CEO from founder Jack Dorsey in late November.

The deal came just four days after Musk unveiled a financing package to back the acquisition.

This led Twitter's board to take his offer more seriously and many shareholders to ask the company not to let the opportunity for a deal slip away, Reuters reported on Sunday. Before Musk revealed the financing package, Twitter's board was expected to reject the

zoning presidential power to the south-westerner was the most expedient thing to do. At the end of the day, two south-westerners in the persons of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Chief Olu Falae, representing an alliance of All Peoples Party (APP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) emerged.

"The 1999 scenario is something similar to what we are having now. The situation we are in now calls for a similar approach by Nigeria. We have to develop a nation; we cannot continue to afford to remain as so many nations within a state.

To have a nation we can all call our home, we need justice, equity and fairness."

The MBF leader insisted that it would be inelegant for the Yoruba to contest for the position of the president in 2023.

He said, "But we believe that it is clumsy and inelegant for the South-west to seek the presidency at this time. Not after Obasanjo's eight years as president and Osinbajo's eight years as vice president.

"For us, the debate should be a straight one between the South-south and the Southeast. But the South-south has occupied the seat of president for one term and the South-east has never occupied it at all. The north that presently is occupying the number one position in Nigeria and the South-west that has been served should not entertain any thought of throwing their hats in the ring.

"After your own region has been served a consensus to stabilise the Nigerian polity and give its people a sense of belonging, it would amount to taking the food tray away in a banquet hall after dishing enough food to one's plate. Of course, others on the queue will be well within their right to chase and deal with such selfish people.

"Even out there in the north, there is a division. The insurgents, the killing, the abduction for ransom have opened people's eyes to know that all is not well.

It is only proper that we take this thing to the south and it is the turn of the South-east to produce the president."

W H O : M A L A R I A K I L L E D OV E R 6 0 2 , 0 0 0 P E O P L E I N N I G E R I A , OT H E R S I N 2 0 2 1 She noted that, “Malaria remains a significant public health and development challenge. In the last year, about 95 per cent of the estimated 228 million cases occurred in the WHO/AFRO Region, along with 602,020 reported deaths.

“Six of our countries, the worst-impacted by malaria in the region, are reported to have accounted for up to 55 per cent of cases globally, and for 50 per cent of these deaths.”

The commemoration of World Malaria Day is marked annually to focus global attention on the disease and its devastating impact on families, communities, and societal development, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Moeti said the past year saw significant breakthroughs in malaria prevention and control, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Despite some slowing of progress to reduce malaria cases and deaths, and the disruptions to health services caused by COVID-19, we are still much further ahead than we were in 2000. We need to reignite that momentum and build on the recent advances.

“The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of people catching and dying from malaria. This requires a focus on research and on leveraging available evidence to ensure that our targeted interventions are an efficient use of resources, which produce measurable results,” she added.

However, the United States yesterday disclosed that it spent $768 million from 2011 to date to fight the disease in Nigeria.

Precisely, in 2021 alone, the United State revealed that it

ELON MUSK REACHES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE TWITTER FOR $44BN moderating it. He said he’d be “very reluctant” to delete tweets and would generally be cautious about permanent bans. He also acknowledged that Twitter would have to abide by national laws governing speech in markets around the world.

The shares of Twitter, which has over 40 million Nigerians on its platform, were up 4.5 per cent in pre-market trading in New York at $51.15.

Musk, a prolific Twitter user, has said it needs to be taken private to grow and become a genuine platform for free speech.

The 50-year-old entrepreneur, who is also CEO of rocket developer SpaceX, has said he wants to combat trolls on Twitter and proposed changes to the Twitter Blue premium subscription service, including slashing its price and banning advertising.

The billionaire, a vocal advocate of cryptocurrencies, has also suggested adding dogecoin as a

everybody thinks if one of theirs is not there, they will be short-changed. How, is the question?"

He said it would be disingenuous for anyone in 2022 to argue that where the president of Nigeria came from did not matter. If it did not matter, he stated, northern governors and sitting governors would not jeopardise the chances of their own party and give the presidency to the opposition in 2015.

The MBF leader said it was shocking that the same characters that were groaning in 2014 over zoning in PDP were now arguing that the zone that produced the president did not matter.

Bitrus stated that by 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari would have spent eight years as president, adding that it is only fair and equitable that a Nigerian from the southern part of the country occupies the position of president.

According to him, "In the collective wisdom of the departing military and the political class, it was agreed that

bid, sources had said.

The sale represented an admission by Twitter that Agrawal was not making enough traction in making the company more profitable, despite being on track to meet ambitious financial goals the company set for 2023. Twitter's shares were trading higher than Musk's offer price as recently as November.

Musk unveiled his intention to buy Twitter on April 14, and take it private via a financing package comprised of equity and debt.

Wall Street's biggest lenders, except those advising Twitter, have all committed to provide debt financing.

Musk's negotiating tactics making one offer and sticking with it - resembles how another billionaire, Warren Buffett, negotiates acquisitions. Musk did not provide any financing details when he first disclosed his offer for Twitter, making the market skeptical about its prospects.

spent $74 million on malaria scourge despite the outbreak of COVID-19 and new demand on combating the global challenge of the pandemic.

A statement yesterday, by US Embassy in Nigeria, stated that the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) had partnered with Nigeria to fight malaria since 2011, contributing $768 million to date and $74 million in full year 2021.

The PMI’s Annual Report, released yesterday showcased how the strong partnership between the United States and Nigeria enabled robust and effective malaria services to continue in FY 2021, even as COVID-19 caused enormous strain on the health system.

It added that: “Through PMI funding and programmes, 58 million bed nets, 130 million fast acting medicines, and 82 million malaria test kits have been delivered to clinics and communities since 2011.

“In addition, 24 million preventive treatment doses were delivered to pregnant women and 13 million doses to children during the rainy season. In the past year, more than 3,666 health workers received training that amplified their ability to detect and treat malaria, while strengthening the health system overall and providing key skills to fight COVID-19 and future pandemics.”

The statement quoted the USAID Mission Director Anne Patterson to have said: “I think what Nigeria is doing to advance more effective malaria prevention, treatment, and control is so important, especially the introduction of innovative tools to make better use of the data in real-time, and also to enhance quality of care via communitybased health workers.”

Assisted by PMI investments, Nigeria is progressing its fight against malaria using proven and cost-effective methods that save lives and promise a healthier and prosperous future for families and communities, according to the statement.

ExxonMobil Spent over $37.4m on Anti Malaria Programmes in Nigeria in 20 Years

In a related development, American oil and gas giant, ExxonMobil, said it invested more than $37.4 million or over N15 billion in Nigeria-based malaria programmes since 2002 through its humanitarian organ, the ExxonMobil Foundation.

It explained that the fund was spent in cash grants to partners working to develop community-based solutions in Nigeria since 2002.

The international oil company

(IOC) said in the last 20 years, the foundation had embarked on funding community education, providing tools for prevention and treatment of the disease and training of health workers, adding that its 2022 grant recipients focused on leveraging the power of sports to engage Nigerian youth.

The foundation in collaboration with ExxonMobil affiliate companies in Nigeria, also announced renewed support for partner organisations committed to ending malaria in Nigeria.

In a statement issued yesterday, it explained that these grants, among other scheduled activities for World Malaria Day, marked the 20th anniversary of ExxonMobil’s support for programmes to reduce the burden of malaria in Nigeria.

Marking its 20th year of malaria fight in Nigeria and in continuation of this legacy, the oil major has, however, announced its 2022 grant recipients.

They included PanAfricare, in conjunction with NBA Power Forward, to foster the development of youth in Nigeria through sports, life skills and malaria education; and Grassroot Soccer, to use the convening power of soccer to increase awareness of malaria and HIV/AIDS among young people across Nigeria through sports curriculum.

Another recipient is Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, aimed to advance scientific knowledge and understanding to advance progress toward the eradication of malaria.

“This World Malaria Day, we mark ExxonMobil’s contributions over the past two decades that have helped equip and strengthen resilience within our communities to fight against malaria.

“Thanks to these efforts, Nigeria is better prepared to continue the progress we have made and work toward a malaria-free future," Chairman and Managing Director, ExxonMobil affiliate Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Richard Laing, said.

ExxonMobil’s Malaria Initiative works with nonprofit partners and leading global health organizations to advance progress against the disease in malaria-endemic countries by supporting malaria education and awareness, improving access to tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment, strengthening health infrastructure and advancing research and innovation.

The initiative continues to support malaria prevention and control programs in Nigeria, a country which currently accounts for more than one quarter of the global burden of the disease.

In honor of World Malaria Day, the company said these partners were focused on leveraging the

power of sports and media to reach Nigerian youth, through malaria-themed tournaments and creative radio, television and school-based malaria campaigns, among other activities.

Obaseki Canvasses Innovative Financing in Anti-malaria Fight Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged stakeholders to explore innovative approaches to financing efforts and technologies for the prevention and control of malaria disease so as to realise the global zero malaria target.

The governor made the call in commemoration of World Malaria Day, yesterday, to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment to malaria prevention and control.

Obaseki urged youths to support the global effort to eliminate malaria by developing innovations and technologies for the prevention and treatment of the disease.

Obaseki noted, “As we commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day, we must reinforce efforts and strengthen alliances to reduce the burden of the malaria disease, one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases estimated to have claimed over 627, 000 lives in about 85 countries in one year.

“While governments across all levels intensify efforts at improving community-focused malaria interventions, especially in hard-to-reach communities, global stakeholders must strive to bridge the funding gap in achieving a future free of malaria by exploring innovative approaches to stimulate investments in the prevention and control of the disease.

“If the 2030 zero-malaria target must be achieved, we must embrace multi-sectoral collaborations, public-private partnerships and technologyled solutions, leveraging on the innate potential of the youths, to establish a robust malaria control programme, ensuring the prevention, detection and cure of the disease.”

The governor, who noted that his government had embarked on interventions, including the distribution of treated mosquito nets, advocacy and others to ensure that the people are properly equipped to fight malaria, said the state is revamping its health system to bring quality primary healthcare closer to citizens.

He noted that his administration had also ramped up the construction of primary healthcare centres at the ward level across the state, ensuring that each centre is equipped with the right manpower and equipment to sustain the campaign against malaria and other infectious diseases.

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A FIVE-DAY FREE MEDICAL OUTREACH...

L-R: Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University, Ajovi Scott-Emuakpor; Professor of Dentistry and President, Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), Christopher Okunseri; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his wife, Betsy, during the opening of a five-day free medical outreach in collaboration with ANPA, at the Ugbor Primary Healthcare Centre in Benin City ... yesterday

FG: It’s Not Customers' Responsibility to Replace Faulty Electricity Transformers, Others Insists on refund of monies paid upfront for meters Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has said that it is the duty of the power Distribution Companies (Discos) to replace faulty transformers, poles and other electricity equipment used by their customers.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), a government agency which monitors and modifies behaviour of service providers and manufacturers in Nigeria, reiterated that consumers should not buy or replace such facilities.

However, in a note to members of the public, the organisation pointed out that in cases where the consumers decide to fund such ventures, the equipment remained the property of the Discos and therefore cannot be claimed by the customers.

Although this had been stated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over the years, it is usually observed in the breach as the distribution companies seldom take up the responsibility or intentionally delay replacing bad equipment.

“It is not the responsibility of the customer or the community to purchase, replace or repair transformers, poles or other associated equipment used in the distribution of electricity,” the federal competition body stressed.

However, the commission suggested that consumers and Discos could enter into an agreement,

which would temporarily pass the responsibility of providing transformer and other electricity equipment to the users.

“Faulty transformers are supposed to be replaced by the Discos within 48 hours of the official complaint being made.

The Disco is responsible for such replacements or repairs.

“However, if the Disco is unable to speedily replace the faulty transformer, residents may go into discussions with the company and agree on the terms of the replacement of the affected transformer if they so wish to assume the responsibility of the company,” the FCCPC added.

The FCCPC’s also aligned with a statement issued by the Discos in February, to the effect that in case the power distributors are unable to speedily replace the faulty transformer, residents may go into discussions with the company and agree on the terms of the replacement of the affected transformer if they so wish to assume the responsibility of the company.

However, it reminded customers that this is bearing in mind that any equipment purchased and integrated into the electricity system or grid automatically becomes the property of the Discos.

The FCCPC further reminded the Discos of the need to make refunds to electricity consumers who purchased meters upfront under the Meter Asset Providers

(MAP) framework.

As of September 2021, there were over 8.01 million unmetered customers out of the 12.78 million registered energy customer population, according to NERC, which means only 37.3 per cent of the population is metered.

“Customers can purchase

meters using the MAP Framework.

However, Discos are responsible for refunding or compensating customers who paid in advance for the meters. The cost of the meter is to be reimbursed in 36 equal monthly payments using consumer-purchased energy credits.” it wrote.

The Environmental Rights Action (ERA)/Friends of the Earth Nigeria and other civil society organisations have disagreed with the ongoing divestment of the international oil companies (IOCs) in the Niger Delta.

The group lamented the health effects the activities of the IOCs had caused the people of Niger Delta and their environment.

They expressed worries that about 70 years after oil extraction in the region and its adverse effect on the area, there was emerging indication of more problems in Niger Delta.

The group stated these yesterday, at an event with the media on the ‘Motives Behind IOCs Divestments’ in the Niger Delta, organised by ERA in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In his address, Executive Director, ERA, Chima Williams, said the level

of environmental pollution which Niger Delta region had suffered in the hands of multinational oil companies was incomparable globally.

He stated that the activities of IOCs had destroyed the aquatic life in the Niger Delta and shortened life span of the people.

Williams added that the IOCs' claims that militant activities had adverse consequences on their operations was a mere smokescreen.

Speaking also, the Executive Director, We the People, Ken Henshaw, in his presentation, said oil companies were scrambling to divest because it provides them an opportunity to abdicate their years of responsibility for the ecological damage in the region.

He said: "After over 70 years of oil extraction and the devastating impacts it has had on oil producing communities, there are emerging

will be amortised and refunded over a 36-month period via energy credits,” Spokesman for the Discos, Sunday Oduntan, recently said.

He added that the MAP channel offers instant installation of meters and so customers are opting for that but that they will get refunds.

FG Concludes Evaluation of First Phase of Road Concession Under HDMI Scheme Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The federal government has concluded the evaluation of proposals submitted for phase one of the Value-Added Concession (VAC) under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

The initiative, a public-private initiative of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing seeks to attract investment and funding in the development of road infrastructure and maximise the use of assets along the Right of Way (ROW) of federal highways.

A statement by the Special Adviser, Communications to the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Hakeem Bello, noted that the first phase of the initiative seeks to concession 12 economically viable road corridors to technically and financially capable private sector

firms.

The 12 highways, he said represent 1,963 kilometres or 5.6 per cent of Nigeria’s 35,000 kilometres federal highways.

They include: Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, Kano-Katsina, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, SagamuBenin and Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga Highways.

Others are: Kano-Maiduguri (Kano-Shuarin), Kano-Maiduguri (Potiskum-Damaturu), LokojaBenin, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba, Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta and Lagos-Badagry-Seme Border roads.

The evaluation report was presented and approved in 2021, at the Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting chaired by the Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

Members of the PSC are from the Ministries of Works & Housing,

ERA, Others Condemn IOCs' Divestments in Niger Delta

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The MAP was approved by NERC in 2018 for customers who are unwilling to wait for the availability of meters under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

"Such customers can pay for a meter under the scheme. The amount paid by the customer

indications that the people’s quest for ecological and resource justice may never be achieved.

"While frontline communities and civil society organisations have made significant effort in highlighting the ecological, social and economic conditions in the region, new pressures are now emerging from the divestment moves by multinational oil companies that portend further calamities for oil producing communities."

Henshaw further noted: "Oil companies are divesting from onshore oil fields and moving further offshore and away from communities, while national companies are buying off the oilfields left by the oil majors without clear provisions about who is liable for historical contaminations and related socio-ecological issues.

"The over 30 million people who live in the oil and gas producing

Niger Delta have not benefitted from the huge amounts of resources pumped from beneath their lands, rivers and creeks.

“Rather than engender better welfare, infrastructure, healthcare, education and security, revenues from oil and gas have instead driven an unusual paradigm of poverty, conflict, repression and underdevelopment.

"The Nigerian government and its subnational affiliates have mostly failed to lift the people out of poverty and underdevelopment.

A long history of mismanagement, corruption, elite capture and oil company complicity has made communities in the region among the least developed in the country.

"Despite their appreciably higher revenue accruals, states of the Niger Delta do not fare relatively better in terms of infrastructure and other development indicators."

Environment, Finance, Budget & National Planning and Justice, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, and Bureau of Public Enterprises attended the meeting.

Speaking on the matter, the Head, PPP Unit in the ministry, Abimbola Asein, disclosed that the Project Delivery Team (PDT) had concluded the evaluation of the bidders' technical and financial proposals and proposed preferred/reserved bidders had been identified.

She, however, explained that the HDMI committee reserves the right to disqualify any preferred bidder found to have supplied inaccurate or misleading information, following due diligence or is unable to reach a mutual agreement on the project’s technical and financial parameters.

The statement added that the committee reiterated the importance of due diligence on the preferred bidders and recommended the constitution of a team made up of high-ranking officials from the relevant ministries, noting that this would help achieve value for money for Nigeria during negotiations.

“The rationale behind the HDMI, a private sector engagement, is to provide alternative sources of financing for road development and management in the country.

“It is consistent with the provisions of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Establishment Act 2005; National Policy on Public-Private Partnership ("N4P"); Federal Highways Act CAP. 135, 1971; and Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy.

“The scope of the VAC under the HDMI includes the expansion, re-alignment, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the existing road pavements and bridges; construction of interchanges and pedestrian

crossings and construction and operations of tolling facilities.

“There is also the installation and operations of weighbridges; installation and operation of intelligent traffic systems for remote highway monitoring; physical patrol of the highway; provision of towing services, ambulance service, and refuse management. Others include the provision of directional signage, rest areas, and highway illumination, amongst others,” the ministry noted.

After the Request for Qualification (RFQ) notice was published on March 29, 2021, through the HDMI portal, at the close of the portal on May 31 2021, 75 firms/ consortia successfully submitted valid applications.

An inter-ministerial evaluation committee evaluated the 75 submitted bids, wherein 18 firms / consortia were prequalified, having met all the criteria outlined in the RFQ notice.

“The RFP documents were then issued out to the 18 prequalified bidders on October 29, 2021, through the HDMI portal.

“The deadline was February 22, 2022, while documents from the 18 bidders were officially opened during the RFP Bid opening ceremony held on February 23, 2022.

“The project is now at the due diligence stage and will be followed by negotiation of technical and financial parameters. The negotiated parameters will be populated in the Full Business Case (FBC) to be forwarded to ICRC for compliance certificate.

“The compliance certificate will be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and approval. If approved, the concession agreement will be vetted by the federal ministry of justice within a stipulated time frame to enable commercial close,” the statement noted.

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THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

My Ideal Ticket For 2023 M

any people have asked me if former President Jonathan is going to contest the 2023 Presidential election and I have refused to comment publicly until now.

The most honourable man in Nigeria today, bar none, is former President Jonathan. If he were going to run, would I even be associating with another candidate? Relax people. The day former President Jonathan declares is the day I will temporarily retire from active politics until after the 2023 Presidential elections because I cannot do or say anything against Dr. Jonathan.

And please disregard the news credited to my very close associate, Reuben Abati, that former President Jonathan will soon declare. He never made any statement like that. At best, it is a figment of the imagination of that journalist.

The reason I have refused to speak publicly about this until now is because I am enjoying all the attention that former President Jonathan is getting and I want him to keep getting it. And I know that when and if I debunk these speculations, it will affect the attention he is receiving.

The truth is that that story is just a mere distraction, which would be obvious to people if they would calmly give it some thought without being carried away by the headlines.

Which brings me to the other question that I keep getting asked. I was asked this question on air by the AriseTV crew during The Morning Show of Wednesday April 13, 2022.

Who is my ideal candidate for 2023, amongst those that have so far declared their intention to run.

Of all the aspirants so far, Atiku Abubakar is the best in my opinion. Not the best Northern candidate.

The best. Period! He has prepared since 1993. He has a plan for creating jobs and ending insecurity, which makes sense. As VP, He successfully led the Economic Management Team and drove the deregulation of the telecom sector and by that action, created millions of jobs for Nigerians and exploded our GDP. He helped calm this nation during the Sharia crisis of 2000.

Fourteen years after leaving office, he employs more people than many state governments. He is detribalised. He has already demonstrated that he can get at least 11 million votes. Why bring someone else to come and start from square one?

Peter Obi is an excellent candidate. Of all the Southern candidates, none is close to him in terms of record of past performance. He became a Governor without a godfather. He fought powers to retain his mandate. And when he got it, he performed.

He over performed! He took an educationally backward state and made it the number one in terms of WAEC and NECO results. His businesses are thriving and obvious to all.

Now, don’t get emotional and insult me. If you think I am wrong, then convince me. Come up with facts, as I have done. Divorce yourself from your ethnic and religious sentiments as I have done.

Persuade me without appealing to ethno-religious

Jonathan sentiments. Give me cold hard facts. Do not whine to me about turn. None of those I support are ethically or consanguineously linked to me. As the Lord sees my heart, I am not on salary from them. I have spoken my conscience to a nation that is in dire need of leadership!

The easiest way to lose the 2023 election is to allow sentiments cloud your judgment. Politics tends to be a zero-sum game. And while you can campaign on sentiments, you must strategise based on reality. The simple reason for this is that you have political opposition. And they are not going to allow sentiments blind them, even if you let them blind you.

Now, what are the realities? Whether we like it or not, the Northwest had the highest voter turnout in the 2019 Nigerian Presidential election, while the Southeast had the lowest. I am not just talking about voter registration numbers here. I am referring to the percentage of eligible voters who actually turned up to vote on Election Day. Instead of getting angry about this and looking for who to insult or blame, learn to accept facts.

That is the first step in improving them in the future.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) looks likely to hand its ticket to a person of Southwestern origin. This is almost 75% certain. Any person of Southeast origin who actually coughs up N100 million for the APC’s Presidential nomination form is actually delusional.

If you believe that a party jointly controlled by a man who insulted the Igbo as “a dot in a circle”, and another man whose wife publicly said “Igbo we no dey trust una” will allow you

get their presidential ticket, you are a big F**L, who deserves to lose his money!

The man in Aso Rock already told you his mind on July 25, 2015, when he said those who gave him ‘5% of their votes can’t be treated the same as those who gave him 97%’. You are a five percenter, and you want to pay N100 million for APC’s presidential nomination form. No be juju be that?

Now, bear in mind that in 2019, the Southwest delivered almost 4 million votes, while the Southeast delivered 2 million votes.

So, as a mathematician, if the All Progressive Congress picks someone from the Southwest as their Presidential candidate, and that person picks his or her running mate from either the NW (8.2 million votes in 2019), or the NC (4.5 million votes in 2019), how does the Peoples Democratic Party intend to win by picking its Presidential candidate from any zone with a weaker voting strength than the Southwest, Northwest, Northeast (4.3 million votes in 2019) and North-central?

As I have previously said, elections are won by votes, not by sentiments. Sadly, Nigeria’s politics has not evolved to the point where a political party can win an election based solely on what a candidate brings to the table intrinsically. I would like for Nigeria to be like that, but we are not there yet.

Even Christ said: “Suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?”-Luke 14:31.

The reality is that you can actually predict the outcome of an election based on where the candidates come from.

So while I empathise with those who believe that a particular candidate, who happens to be my friend, and who is in his 60s, should be given the PDP ticket on a platter of gold, because he is the best candidate in their opinion, I know for a fact that the PDP will LOSE if it is foolish enough to try that.

I come from a microscopic ethnic minority. My ethnic nationality may very well be one of the smallest in Nigeria. We have compensated for our small numbers by knowing how to think and act devoid of sentiments, and with political precision.

In 1999, the Southwest got the Presidency on a platter of gold because, to correct the historical wrong of June 12, 1993, both major political parties conceded their Presidential tickets to the Southwest.

Barring a repeat of that, any region that wants to produce the President of Nigeria has to achieve that by making ruthlessly precise political moves.

Merely stating ‘it is our turn’ and insulting the life out of people who do not agree with you (instead of attempting to persuade them, which people of this mindset are not even making the slightest attempt to do) will just lead to four more years in the political wilderness.

Consider also that a particular group and a particular man have made a particular geopolitical

zone very unpopular in the North, especially in the last four years. This is the bitter truth. And if you want to be told sweet nothings, then please just wait to be disillusioned on Election Day. But I am not prepared to join you in your disillusionment.

Let me use the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, as an example to some regions. This man is from the Northwest. His zone delivered 8.2 million votes during the 2019 Presidential election. Yet, he is gentlemanly going round Nigeria consulting, appealing, persuading, kneeling, stooping, and genuflecting.

Now, how do you expect to defeat someone like him, or others from the NE and NC, when instead of persuading, you are so antagonistic to anybody who cannot see 2023 exactly as you see it?

You cannot be advised, or counselled. The minute anyone tries to give you insight, you either lecture them, or you heap opprobrium on them. Ore wa, the problem with you is you.

Many people think the Southeast has the lowest voter numbers because of low population. False.

I study politics like a science. The reason behind their low numbers is because South-easterners don’t turn up during voter registration in the quantum that other regions do!

Too often, they drive down their numbers by moving to other geopolitical zones for commerce and the result is that their numbers are not concentrated.

Igbo go home for Christmas. Northerners go home for voter registration and elections!

Having said that, let me also say that it is so sad that Ngige is now publicly attacking Peter Obi and de-marketing him. How many of the Southwest Presidential aspirants are publicly selling/ marketing each other? Peter Obi is probably the best Governor Nigeria ever produced. As a fellow Igbo, Ngige should not de-market Obi because of APC ticket you will NEVER get.

Google it. I am not Igbo. I am not from Anambra.

Yet, when the Onitsha market fire occurred, I donated money to the victims. Ngige is from Anambra.

How much did he donate? Chicken change. Yet he has N100 million for APC nomination form.

People like Ngige love power more than they love their people!

Reno’s Nuggets When a false accusation has been made about you and you have documentary evidence to clear your name, don’t be in a hurry to clear your name. First come online to see what your ‘friends’ are saying about you. Never waste such rare opportunities to identify frenemies! It may be a once in lifetime chance to know how many dead plants you have been watering. Be aware that it is good for people to be disappointed in you. It is good for people to not expect that from you.

It is good for people to feel let down by you. Because God did not put you on Earth to appoint people, or live up to their expectations, or to always lift them up! #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

It's Search for President, Not Comedy Talent Hunt Crusoe Osagie

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igeria and Nigerians have a certain comic attribute which many times is an asset and other times, an incredible liability.

A peep into the creative industry gives insight into how well Nigerians can transform situations that annihilate other nations not just into jest and entertainment but actually earn a living doing so.

This capacity for comic relief and genius for intelligently making light of terrible situations has created a livelihood for the teeming Nigerian youth betrayed by a nation whose leadership has failed to transform its material endowments into a massive engine that creates wealth and opportunities for its people.

We have numerous young musical artists who whimsically shut down the O2 arena in London and such like venues with their world class act. Then, there are comedians who can literally hijack your attention for hours once you stumble on their skits on social media.

I could go on and say more about how the Nigerian youth has used the lemon they have

been dealt by the nation’s rudderless political leadership to make delicious lemonade but that is not exactly the objective of this piece.

Assuming that at least one of the many Nigerian political jesters junketing the length and breadth of Nigeria's extensive ethnogeographical space, seeking to be candidates of their political parties, enroute to the Aso Rock Villa, would read this piece, they need to realise that selecting a president for a country as distressed as Nigeria currently is should not be reduced to a comedy talent hunt.

We have a crisis in our hands. We are at war with unrelenting insurgents in the North and across all of Nigeria’s forest belt.

The economy is in shambles. The Central Bank has artificially held the slide of the nation's legal tender at around N600 (six hundred naira) to a Dollar. Anyone with fundamental training in economics knows that if the Naira is allowed to trade freely, it will be no less than about N1000 to a dollar.

The healthcare industry where Nigeria had a bank of extremely intelligent professionals trained with the nation’s hard-earned resources is being violently raped daily with doctors, nurses, dentists, optometrists, healthcare technicians etc moving out of

the country in droves in search of better practice and greener pastures.

To put this in proper perspective, I will use the situation in the local church where I fellowship: in the last 12 months or so, we have sent off not less than 50 families, many of whom have sold up all they had to their names and moved abroad. 80 percent of this number are families with healthcare professionals.

Nigeria is at crossroads. This is not like anything we have ever faced in all our years of existence. Unfortunately, the nature of individuals who have tossed their hats into the ring, seeking to lead Nigeria leave a lot to be desired and this shows clearly that the political class is either completely oblivious of the present Nigerian conundrum or like the Americans will say, 'they don't give a damn'.

The president Nigeria needs now is an astute leader, clearly above boards. This is because apart from dealing with the tangible problems of insecurity, economic meltdown, unemployment, failed educational and healthcare systems among others, there is also the perception problem which is more subtle.

We need the world to take us seriously

and that depends largely on the pedigree and outlook of the president we eventually choose.

We can't afford candidates whose only claim to power is their loquaciousness.

We can't afford a president who will need numerous economic advisers just because they lack rudimentary knowledge of how national and global economies work.

We need a president who will be polite, diplomatic and humane but yet with a lot of guts to go against the establishment.

We need a president with nothing to lose who is ready to die for Nigeria and Nigerians.

Federal character is important, but not at such a time as this when doom is certain and imminent.

They say a people get the leaders they deserve. Right from the primaries in the various political parties and the final elections, Nigerians, just like we showed our leaders through the #ENDSARS protest who the actual holders of power are, let us put them in a chokehold till they give us the president who can and will halt this dangerous drift.

•Osagie is a concerned Nigerian citizen and Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on media projects

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022

18

POLITICS

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

Owerri Senatorial Seat: Between Chukwueke and Maduka

The ticket for the Owerri zone senatorial candidacy for the 2023 elections has been zeroed to two major aspirants based on their rich profile, particularly the promise to provide employment to youths and reduce insecurity, writes Amby Uneze.

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s the primaries of the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) draw closer; their aspirants are also being screened by delegates to reduce their number based on their ability to provide the much needed effective representation by leveraging their antecedents to provide employment to the teeming youths, thereby reducing insecurity.

Having taken a critical look at the credential and past records of aspirants joggling for space to represent the zone in the senate in the 2023 election, more people are looking in the direction of Chief Jerry Chukwueke of the APC and Mr. Basil Maduka of the PDP. These two gentlemen can be trustee to use their contacts and connection in the service of the people.

For Chukwueke, who is a household name in Imo State based on his track record on mobilization and creation of employment for the people, he is good to go. According to him, “Since 1995 Germaine group, a logistic company of which I am the Chairman, has been hiring thousands of Nigerians, many of them from Imo State and Owerri zone. I am also the founding director of Foods Concepts, owners of Chicken Republic. There are four Chicken Republics now in Owerri, two more are coming before the end of this year. Very soon we are setting up the out-growers scheme to empower small and medium size poultry farmers and provide them with feeds and materials and their chicken on maturity we would buy back to feed the Chicken Republic.

So I have been creating jobs for our people since 1995.

“Now, I am a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide and a committee member of its Youths and Igbo empowerment chaired by Dr. Chris Ngige with Osita Chidoka and Kenneth Okonkwo, lawyer and actor and two others as members. I am the chairman of youths and women empowerment of the Imo State Economic Initiatives (ISEI). We have been engaging previous governments on how to

Chukwueke

Maduka

develop and industrialize Imo State. As we speak 50 young men and women who reside in and around the Owerri area are on a pilot programme on job placement and internship.

“The senatorial platform which I am offering myself is to attract opportunities for Imo people to create a vibrant senatorial district office with an ICT centre to train our young people in the use and compliance of computer levels, particularly Microsoft certification to the global workforce. We are looking at using that platform to attract certifications for three more Nursing schools in the Owerri zone to produce more nurses for Europe. We are talking about a health clinic that would have a mobile clinic that would move around the local governments. If you come to the senatorial district office, you can have basic health guidance, an information desk that would help the people of Owerri zone and Imo people. It would expose and create opportunities of what the federal government has for the people; such as the CBN loan, agriculture, and intervention fund, small and medium

size businesses. Our people have missed those grants because they didn’t know about them and how to go about them,” he said.

Taking his consultations across the zone under the auspices of “Okwu Owerri,” Chukwueke maintains that the office of a senator requires that sort of maturity and one who has the global network like himself to drive them. “For empowerment, I have been doing empowerment since 2006, from school fees to building roads to churches, hospital bills, name them. Among the aspirants in the APC, the only person PDP is afraid of is me. I am a grassroots mobilizer; go and check what we have done everywhere as a grassroots’ man.

The zone needs someone who can run the argument, the debate, the intellectual prowess, the communication skills, the sales and marketing skills, the mobilization skills. That’s how you bring people to your side. It is the power of conviction that is what is needed to be in the senate.

“Funny enough, having perused my main opponent’s profile which he has

just released as a public document, he is completely silent on his educational background. He is also silent on his relationship with former governor Rochas Okorocha, as a former Chairman of Imo State University Governing Council and in that period Imo State University virtually lost all of its accreditation. For one to be appointed a chairman of a governing council of a tertiary institution there are minimum qualifications, instead he referenced an award given to him as prochancellor of Imo State University. The reason for avoiding the mention and period of being a chairman/pro-chancellor of the institution is because under his watch, Imo State University lost virtually all its accreditations. As a director of Waltersmith Petroleum Refinery in Obigwe, Ohaji/Egbema, he should have included it in his profile, an appointment he got under Okorocha,” he stated.

Chukwueke concluded by laying the qualities of an effective senator such as having political experience, political contact, and experience in election management, as well as being at par with other contenders and having relationship with the religious bodies and media in the state.

Mr. Basil Maduka is a robust and soft spoken technocrat who is leveraging his 32 years experience working with multinationals.

The PDP has placed it’s hope to grab Owerri Senatorial Seat on him. He has stirred the consciousness of Igbos with a fundamental question; looking at the Nigerian segment today; the North has taken a home in FCT as its capital and their second home is Kaduna, the West has Lagos as their own, then where can the Igbos in the South-east say exactly is our home? Assuming there is a disaster and everyone should go to his home, where do we, as Igbos say, is our home? Originally, we were thinking it is Owerri which is a central place, now out of ignorance; Imo State which is supposed to house the entire Igboland is virtually embedded in insecurity.

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

Why North East Consolidated Group Supports Saraki Ahmad Abubakar explains the interest of a political group domiciled in the North-east in the emergence of Dr. Bukola Saraki as President of Nigeria

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he North East Consolidated Group (NECG) gladly supports the endorsement of the two young presidential aspirants from the North-east and North-central regions.

The pioneer Chairman of the group Mr. Ahmad Yobe appreciates the bold step taken by the Northern Elders Forum under the leadership of Prof. Ango Abdullahi and the Northern PDP caucus ahead of PDP Presidential primaries. Mr. Ahmad thanks the Northern Elders for respecting every regional sense of belonging where no region would have to complain of being marginalized.

Mr. Abubakar Yobe highlighted that, the rationale for bringing forth the young contenders from North-east and Northcentral under PDP will go a long way in uniting the the 19 Northern states, reflecting back to the history that the two regions have not been chanced to produce presidents in a democratic dispensation. The North-west had effortlessly produced three democratic presidents right from the First Republic till date, with the support of the North-east and North-central. The group hopes that the North-west will continue to support the North-east and the North-central as the table turns in 2023.

The group had commended the massive transformation Bauchi State is going through in the hands of Senator Bala

Saraki

Mohammed. And also wishes that the Governor would not risk handing over unfinished

transformation projects he has embarked upon to a newbie. We hope the governor stays back, in order to focus on the

state transformation to completion. The North-eastern Region still needs Senator Bala. The governor ’s efforts is boosting the economic, social and political capital of the entire North-east. There is a need to continue with Senator Bala for another four years as a Governor from 2023 to 2027 for a better and effective development. By 2027, NECG believes that Nigeria would surely yearn for his kind of leadership to replicate in other states the giant transformation that Bauchi State and the North-east is enjoying from Governor Bala Mohammed today and hopefully tomorrow.

However, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki being a well groomed personality, young and perfectly fit for the task of rescuing Nigeria from the glaring danger Nigeria is facing today. Therefore, NECG stresses the need for not just the North but Nigeria as a whole to work together to rescue the country.

Former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki as a Medical Doctor, financial expert from the banking industry, astute politician with the vivid understanding of governance, two-term state Governor, one term successful Senate President with the technical experience of national, international economy and governance; should be seen as the best option and the opportunity Nigeria needs to heal and make rewarding progress.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022

POLITICS

Olawepo-Hashim Rallies Allies for Biggest Political Move

Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim is currently on a tour of the country to awaken the consciousness of his supporters, preparatory to a formal declaration of intent to contest the presidential ticket of the party, writes Nseobong Okon-Ekong

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ne week after he hosted chairmen of political parties from the states in North-central geo-political zone in Abuja on his 2023 ambition, frontline presidential aspirant in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim moved to Ilorin, Kwara State over the weekend to consult with chairmen of the party across the 16 Local Government Areas.

Olawepo-Hashim is no stranger to Kwara politics, having tested his popularity in many election seasons and even contested the governorship position in the state. Many of his allies including Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq are in various positions of responsibility in the current administration in the state. His recent engagement with the political class in Kwara continues the conversation which he started and intends to drive around different geo-political zones and professional groups in the country.

Olawepo-Hashim who is set to make his official declaration for the Presidential contest before the end of this month, promised to release to Nigerians his perspectives on important matters they want answers to: security, jobs, availability and affordability of petroleum products, stable electricity supply, how to tackle corruption, health, education and infrastructure.”

The APC cautioned cautioned that Nigerians cannot afford to choose the next President from amongst those who have made a career of living on government since 1999, and expect positive changes in their lives and in the country.

The former Presidential candidate argued that “The truth is that some of those who have stayed too long in the status quo have become part of the corrupt system, and it is an illusion to expect Corruption to fight Corruption” He explained that a corrupt individual/system cannot fight corruption, and so the nation needs a clean break from its ugly past to break the heavy rod of rot off its back in order to move forward.

In his words: “either in the APC or PDP or

Buhari

Olawepo-Hashim

any other party, those whose only job has been to change from one government office to another and have never done any other productive thing apart from squandering government money, driving convoys of cars around that they do not fuel themselves, escorted by security paid for by government, are far removed from the true realities of Nigeria, and are therefore incapable of comprehending the urgency and depth of transformation Nigeria needs.

“I laugh when I read about someone who has never set up even a barber shop in his or her life promising young people employment. These are people who do not even understand how businesses run” he said.

He noted that the “Solution to national security challenges, the unemployment problem, high cost of petroleum products and basic items requires new approach to handle that those who have never paid for anything they consume in the past 23 years cannot understand.”

Olawepo-Hashim disclosed that one of

the things that attracted him to the APC is the President Muhammadu Buhari’s belief that corruption must be crushed in Nigeria, but added that sadly, corruption has become one of the major reason for the slow progress, and the underbelly of some of the nation’s security problems such as banditry and kidnappings.

According to him, “Nigeria loses a lot to corruption. According to Price Water Cooper (PWC), a global Consulting outfit, if not arrested by 2030, corruption will be costing Nigeria 37% of her GDP; i.e.

200 billion USD, a whooping N100 trillion (Naira), about 15 times our national budget.”

“This will translate to 1,000 USD per capital; five hundred thousand by each Nigerian. The significance of this on our lives, in terms of avoidable death is staggering.”

At the Kwara parley, Olawepo-Hashim restated his desire to seek the ticket of his party, and subsequently lead the country back to the path of growth and develop-

ment in 2023. While informing the gathering of his intention to formally declare for the race on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022, he expressed his commitment to unite the country which he said is “presently badly divided along ethnic and religious lines.”

He assured the crowd of keeping his promise of running an inclusive government to accommodate various tendencies in order to heal and assuage the pains arising from the various divisions and controversies across the nation.

He maintained that the “solution to National Security, the Unemployment problem, High cost of Petroleum products and basic items requires new and fresh approach to handle, that those who have never paid for anything they consume in the past 23 years cannot understand.

He also used the occasion to applaud the performance of the state governor in the last three years and subsequently endorsed his second term bid to govern the state in 2023.

According to him, worthy of commendation is the governor’s policy of giving political space to youths and women, while also commending his efforts to restore the dignity of the state in the areas of education, infrastructures and human capital development.

During his earlier visit to the state late last year, Olawepo-Hashim had maintained that the liberation of Kwara took several decades and inflicted several battle scars on the participants, adding that the state must not be allowed to go back to slavery and socio-political emasculation that had arrested the progress of the state for many years.

The chairmen, many of whom are traditional political associates of the aspirant pledged their loyalty and support to who they say “he is our own and ally of our Governor”.

According to Segun Awogbade, Chairman, Isin Council, “Mr Olawepo-Hashim is a very kind man, I have been his supporter for 25 years,” while Alhaji Shehu Yahaya, Chairman, Asa added that “we fought for the freedom of Kwara together as our leader.”

CRS PDP: Is zoning Sandy Onor’s Problem?

Effiong Awatt, a Lagos-based public commentator dissects the issues before governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State

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nybody who is still talking about zoning at this time in Cross River State, nay Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) politics, has been left stranded at the train station for the train has long taken off. The zoning argument has become trite subject and no longer even needs to be considered. It is now a question of who can deliver and what the person is delivering. But the subject is being brought up here because one of the PDP stalwarts and gubernatorial aspirant recently went on a rant regarding the subject. He ended up pouring vituperation on all zoning proponents because they dared to mention it in the first place.

The person in question is Senator Sandy Onor who is a PDP stalwart and a contender for the Cross River State gubernatorial position. He calls himself, the ‘Original Caterpillar.’ At one of his whistle stops, he chose to rant about zoning. He said: “Where is the zoning? In 2007, Liyel Imoke came and jumped into it. He ran against Walter Eneji and Julius Okputu. He is from the Central, they are from the North. Where is the zoning?

All through this period, people from the South also ran. The only election year that people from the South did not run was 2015. Even in 2019, Eyo Ekpo ran against Ayade so did John Eno ran. Where is the zoning? If you want to aspire to be governor, say so. Don’t lie to the people.

We are all going to school. Leaders like to lie for their own selfish interests. They have carried that zoning thing everywhere. Everywhere they go we defeat them. They say the PDP constitution talks of zoning. The constitution also talks of rotation. The PDP constitution talks of zoning and rotation of offices. And in Cross River, we have been practicing rotation by elimination. People compete: whoever emerges, that allows the other one. They compete again. Whoever emerges, the person go leave am, give the other one.”

It is not clear who Onor was ranting against as

Onor most of his opponents in PDP have formally declared their intention to run for the seat. But it can be said, after the initial brouhaha, that zoning is no longer the preoccupation of Onor’s opponents. Of course, there have been definitive statements by many party stalwarts, especially by Onor’s fellow Central Senatorial Zone party travelers that they were supporting the South. So, it is an internal party arrangement. But it has nothing to do with the arrangement by other parties as Onor had alluded to in his

rant. Both Eyo Ekpo and John Eno were running on the platform of other parties when they vied in 2019. The PDP zoning or rotation arrangement has always been in place. To deny it is to go against the very grain of the party’s essence – justice, fair play and equal opportunity. But since we are all, especially Onor, not privy, to all that was discussed in 2015, we cannot categorically say what is true or not.

But the question is not about zoning. It is about what is being brought to the table and who can deliver. Can Onor in good conscience say that he can deliver? If he were not depending on the funds of his friend, the Rivers State Governor,

Nyesom Wike, could he confidently say he had the pedigree to win the people’s votes? He has openly boasted about this relationship. At a press conference in Calabar, earlier in the year, he admitted: “I cannot run away from such a question. I know that it was coming. It is true that I have closer political friendship with Gov Wike. There’s no politician who has serious ambition at any time that would not have key persons to give him political support, and sometimes finance.”

Cross River State needs redemption. Chief among its issues are cross-border and intercommunal land conflicts, criminality, cult clashes, militancy, piracy, and kidnapping. But, most of all, it needs visionary leadership. Businesses are shutting down and, hitherto, well-heeled enterprises have trooped out of the state, leaving the state in an even worse-off situation than it ever was. The onset of the socio-economic decline that has attended the state, especially in the past seven years, has the state begging for real leadership; such leadership that can deal with all its attendant issues and overhaul the state’s economy so that security can be restored, and jobs can return and stay.

Zoning is not the state’s main issue. The main issue is who can deliver leadership. Can Sandy Onor deliver this kind of leadership? No doubt, he is a zealous and passionate man, who is bent on conquest. But he will have to navigate the labyrinth of hurdles he would need to cross to get the PDP gubernatorial ticket. He needs to garner the much needed delegates from the different wards in North, Central, and South. Among his major hurdles are the likes of Hon. Dan Asuquo and Senator Gershom Bassey. As it stands, in a two-way race between him and Gershom Bassey, Bassey is looking rosy. Zoning should not be Onor’s main worry, his main issue is Senator Gershom Bassey, who is the man to beat.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 22Apr-2022, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 183.61 184.76 10.01% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 5.60% Nigeria International Debt Fund 319.63 319.63 4.28% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 105.06 106.21 6.50% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.61% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.62 3.68 2.27% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 6.68% Anchoria Equity Fund 148.47 150.18 6.62% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.20 1.20 4.49% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 104.83 104.83 7.71% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,097.07 1,097.07 9.71% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 2.65% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.92% Paramount Equity Fund 19.53 19.9 12.02% Women's Investment Fund 150.85 152.63 6.20% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.05% Cordros Milestone Fund 143.17 144.12 8.31% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.92 108.92 4.79% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.67% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.18 1.19 7.89% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.48 1.48 4.93% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.38% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 6.94% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.05 1.05 14.79% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 102.04 102.04 3.98% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1441.85 1441.85 9.99% FBN Balanced Fund 190.14 191.58 8.49% FBN Halal Fund 118.94 118.94 9.19% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.35% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 123.46 123.46 4.30% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 162.33 164.53 7.12% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.00% Legacy Debt Fund 3.98 3.98 -0.69% Legacy Equity Fund 1.82 1.86 4.81% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.22 1.22 1.14% 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 Balanced Fund 4,088.39 4,153.19 5.07% Coral Income Fund 3,533.64 3,533.64 1.88%

Coral Money Market Fund

100.00

100.00

6.06%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.10 1.10 1.08% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.52 1.55 5.78% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,146.33 1,146.33 3.00% 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 13.03 13.10 10.46% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.42% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.28 101.28 9.35% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.36% 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 1.66 1.69 3.43% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.60 11.49 3.17% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.66% PACAM Equity Fund 1.52 1.53 7.40% PACAM EuroBond Fund 116.33 119.05 1.06% 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 133.72 136.55 6.38% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.02 9.25% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,623.70 3,664.58 5.26% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 238.16 238.16 1.03% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.41 1.43 9.23% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 318.66 318.66 1.70% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 254.24 260.16 5.45% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.75% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,888.29 12,056.64 7.02% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.31 1.31 1.46% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.14 118.14 1.00% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 108.82 108.82 2.20% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.97 1.00 4.85% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.43 1.45 4.88% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.16 1.17 6.66% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.10 1.10 2.32% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 2.00 2.00 2.11% United Capital Eurobond Fund 124.35 124.35 1.64% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.64% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.73 13.86 4.09% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.83 16.01 8.38% Zenith Income Fund 22.48 22.48 2.11% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.62%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

122.16 53.16

1.62% 0.82%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.47 140.19 110.97 21.46 22.28

14.57 143.63 113.38 21.56 22.38

3.56% 6.49% 7.08% 0.00% 0.00%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.36 5.76 18.71 1.00 21.64 166.67

4.46 5.86 18.91 1.00 21.84 168.67

8.71% -1.37% 5.79% 5.27% 8.26% 5.61%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

Fund Name NAV Per Share Yield / T-Rtn Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund 107.55 10.80% The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY TUESDAY APRILApril 26, 2022 Tuesday 26, 2022 Vol 27. No 9878 TR

See page 24 NIGERIA AND FOOD SECURITY The economy could be savaged through the deployment of geospatial technology in the agriculture sector, argues VICTORIA MORENIKE FAJOYE See page 24

FAREWELL, MWAI KIBAKI OKELLO OCULI pays tribute to Kibaki, former Kenyan President See page 25 LESSONS FROM THE FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION The election holds lessons for Nigeria, writes MOSHOOD OLAJIDE See page 25 EDITORIAL

PROLIFERATION OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

See page 26

& RE A S O

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

ABAEZI AND THE ALBATROSS OF OIL THEFT The explosion that consumed dozens of lives in the forest of Imo State is unfortunate, writes KENE OBIEZU

UT H

OGECHI OBIALO-ISUMA writes that gender mainstreaming is for the benefit of the entire society

MAINSTREAMING GENDER MATTERS The word “gender” is one big word that is often misinterpreted to be synonymous with women. A mention of gender equality, gender equity and gender mainstreaming are often SUHVHQWHG DV D ÀJKW DJDLQVW PHQ E\ ZRPHQ or for women. This should not be so. Gender related issues can be for or against female and PDOH LQ GLͿHUHQW VFHQDULRV *HQGHU LV WKH VRFLDO DQG FXOWXUDO GHÀQLWLRQ RI EHLQJ PDOH RU IHPDOH ZKLFK GHÀQHV WKH UHODWLRQVKLS EHWZHHQ WKH VH[HV (man/woman). In summary, UN[i] puts gender to refer to “the social attributes and opportunities associated with being male and female and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys….” That being said, it is obvious that women are mostly and always at a disadvantaged position. For instance, women are behind men in leadership positions, political participation, being in position of decision making, as well as educational attainment and access to economic opportunities. This should not and cannot continue in a society that prescribes equal fundamental human rights for both genders. Also worthy of note is that women make up more than 50% of the world population.

Gender mainstreaming is that deliberate HͿRUWV DW DFKLHYLQJ EDODQFH EHWZHHQ WKH WZR genders. According to Council of Europe[ii], gender mainstreaming is about “integrating a gender equality perspective at all stages and levels of policies, programmes and projects”.

Furthermore, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) puts it that …

“Mainstreaming a gender perspective is the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in any area and at all levels. It is a strategy for making WKH FRQFHUQV DQG H[SHULHQFHV RI ZRPHQ DV well as of men an integral part of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres, so that women DQG PHQ EHQHÀW HTXDOO\ DQG LQHTXDOLW\ LV QRW perpetuated. The ultimate goal of mainstreaming is to achieve gender equality.”[iii] A gender mainstreaming approach does not favour women alone but generally considers both men and women who are on one hand equal actors and on the other hand receivers in the development process of society. This is important to safeguard an equitable and sustainable human development. Gender mainstreaming is a situation when ideas, attitudes or activities routinely incorporate a gender perspective and becomes a normal feature of mainstream WKLQNLQJ ,Q PDLQVWUHDPLQJ JHQGHU GLͿHUHQW approaches should be considered, including in ideas, attitude and improved activities from family level to the society at large.

A deliberate gender mainstreaming strategy entitles the infusion of gender perspective into D JLYHQ SROLF\ ÀHOG HYHQ ZKHQ WKHUH PD\ QRW be an obvious inequality. It helps policy makers H[SORUH KRZ SROLF\ REMHFWLYHV DͿHFW GLͿHUHQW sections of the community, how policies are accessed and by who, and whether policies

are delivering results for the intended target.

This should transcend into a situation where policy makers mainstream gender into policies.

It will imply that policy makers should take WKHLU WLPH WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH JDS WKDW H[LVW DQG then systematically and intentionally identify the consequences of such proposed policy on women and on men, in other to ensure that HͿRUWV WR DGGUHVV DQ\ GDPDJLQJ LPSOLFDWLRQ WKDW might arise from it in the future, ensuring that it is tackled from the policy development stage.

It is wrong to use ‘gender’ interchangeably ZLWK VH[HV 6H[ LV DERXW ELRORJLFDO PDNH XS RI man and woman as against gender role of being female and male. Gender roles are behavior learned or ascribed by the society. There is perception that women are naturally good at kitchen duties and caregiving, just because they give birth to children and care for the family; ZKHUHDV PDOHV WRR FDQ FRRN DQG EDE\VLW 6H[ is based on biological attributes of being man or woman. For instance, being pregnant and EUHDVWIHHGLQJ LV VH[ UROH RI ZRPHQ ZKLOH VSHUP SURGXFWLRQ LV VH[ UROH RI WKH PHQ “Gender equality implies that the interests, needs and priorities of both women and men are taken into consideration, thereby recognising WKH GLYHUVLW\ RI GLͿHUHQW JURXSV RI ZRPHQ DQG PHQ µ>LY@ *HQGHU HTXDOLW\ 6'* JRDO LV D goal that has been accepted by governments and international organizations towards 2030.

It is enshrined in international agreements and commitments. Gender equity through gender mainstreaming is the best strategy towards achieving gender balance and equality. It is fundamental to have it in mind that gender mainstreaming will complement gender equality policies to form a matching trajectory strategy.

To achieve gender mainstreaming in an organization, there should be internal and H[WHUQDO FRPPLWPHQW IURP WKH PDQDJHPHQW DQG VWDͿ DV ZHOO DV IURP LWV SDUWQHUV DQG VWDNHKROGHUV· relationship. Hence the need to make everyone have clear understanding of the gender concepts and the implications on the organization and

society.[v] Gender should be mainstreamed both in speaking and writing. Organization should be intentional in the use of “he or she” and not being generic by only using “he”.

Organizations’ documents, strategic documents, SURFHGXUHV DQG SROLFLHV VKRXOG HTXDOO\ UHÁHFW WKDW LW LV JHQGHU VHQVLWLYH 2΀FLDO UHSRUWV publications, use of pictures should depict JHQGHU FRQVLGHUDWLRQV 6LPSO\ SXW ,QVWLWXWLRQV and organizations should be able to review their documentations, policies and strategic plan that had considered only “He” to read “He/ 6KH +LP +HU $OVR LQ GHYHORSLQJ FRQWHQWV concept notes and proposals, institutions should remember to specify the gender perspectives, KRZ WKH RXWFRPH ZLOO EHQHÀW PDOHV DQG IHPDOHV equitably and how it will impact the females and PDOHV GLͿHUHQWO\ \HW XSKROGLQJ HTXLW\ At every stage of engagement, organizations should have it in mind not to promote one JHQGHU DW WKH GHWULPHQW RI WKH RWKHU 'XULQJ program planning, males and females should be carried along and involved by ensuring that their interests, needs, concerns and opinions are clearly captured. This should be replicated during recruitment or internal review processes RI VWDͿ %H GHOLEHUDWH WR VRXUFH DQG EDODQFH WKH gender that is less dominant. When developing criteria for selection of participants for events like workshop, training, competition, etc., it will be SOHDVDQW WR HQVXUH WKDW LQYLWDWLRQV DUH H[WHQGHG to female and male participants. Where possible draw up the list by some percentages. Women should not only be considered in terms of making up numbers of participants but on the other hands, organizations should ensure that gender is also considered when choosing facilitators, and team leads.

This is a good measure of impact as it brings female presence and the perspectives of a EDODQFH DWPRVSKHUH 'R QRW IRUJHW WR DOVR EDODQFH gender during group work/presentations.

Not forgetting to encourage that both genders contribute during discussions. Media and communication of every organization should make use of both male and female voices/ pictorial for illustrations and voice over.

Male and females, men and women are equal partners in the development process from the family to society levels, hence should have equal access and opportunity to function optimally. Women who make up at least 50% of world population should not be relegated to the background. Their issues should not be given a second thought during planning of developmental issues and policy making.

Mainstreaming gender is not a favour to women DORQH EXW LW LV IRU WKH EHWWHU EHQHÀW RI WKH HQWLUH VRFLHW\ ,W LV XQGHUVWRRG WKDW GLͿHUHQW ELRORJLFDO UROHV H[LVW IRU ZRPHQ DQG PHQ EXW ZRPHQ should not accept the back seat even if it is implied but they should make their impacts felt DW KRPH R΀FH DQG VRFLHW\

Obialo-Isuma LV *HQGHU DQG ,QFOXVLRQ 2΀FHU DW +LSFLW\ ,QQRYDWLRQ &HQWUH $EXMD

2 24

T H I S D AY

The economy could be savaged through the deployment of geospatial technology in the agriculture sector, argues VICTORIA MORENIKE FAJOYE

The explosion that consumed dozens of lives in the forest of Imo State is unfortunate, writes KENE OBIEZU

NIGERIA AND FOOD SECURITY

ABAEZI AND THE ALBATROSS OF OIL THEFT ,Q IRXU \HDUV WR WKH FRXQWU\CV LQGHSHQGHQFH LQ WKH ÀHOGV RI 2ORLELUL %D\HOVD 6WDWH 1LJHULD VWXPEOHG XSRQ D QDWLRQ FKDQJLQJ GLVFRYHU\ RI WLPHOHVV SURSRUWLRQV :KHQ WKH ÀUVW VKRZHUV RI WKH ¶EODFN JROG· glistened upon a country about to be cut free of its shackles, little did it know that its life was DERXW WR FKDQJH IRUHYHU 0RUH WKDQ \HDUV ODWHU WKLQJV KDYH changed beyond description for the Giant of Africa with the enviable position of placing in WKH WRS RI WKH ZRUOGCV ODUJHVW RLO SURGXFHUV ,Q \HDUV RI VZLPPLQJ LQ FUXGH RLO Nigeria has been able to successfully weave a delicate tapestry of paradox, petrodollars DQG SULYDWLRQ 7KH SXOVH RI WKH SDUDGR[ LV WKDW while the pipe of petrodollars into the country as a result of oil largely remains unclogged, privation has remained the portion of many 1LJHULDQV ,Q RQH RI IDWHCV PRVW VDYDJH VDOYRV it is even the case that in Nigeria, it is the Niger Delta – the golden goose that lays the golden HJJV ² WKDW KDV NQRZQ WKH JUDYHVW SULYDWLRQV 7KLV LV LQ VSLWH RI WKH GHSUHGDWLRQV YLVLWHG RQ its immediate environment in the quest to IHWFK WKH CEODFN JROG·

Those who do these things cite Nigeria`s crises of accountability as one of the chief reasons they steal oil. The government which does not care about them is made up of those who steal from the country`s oil resources but under far more convenient conditions As soon as oil was discovered in Nigeria, and even before oil money started streaming LQ 1LJHULDCV DJULFXOWXUDO DQG HQWUHSUHQHXUVKLS spirits sagged and have since been replaced by indolence and complacency of epic SURSRUWLRQV 7KH FRQVHTXHQFHV KDYH EHHQ DV WUDJLF DV WKH\ KDYH EHHQ WHUULI\LQJ /LNH D PDQ with only one wife whose mood swings like a SHQGXOXP 1LJHULD VXͿHUV HDFK WLPH WKH SULFH RI RLO WDNHV D KLW LQ WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO PDUNHWV But a country that depends on oil for everything ironically does not have a well lubricated state machine that churns out good YDOXH IRU LWV FLWL]HQV ,Q IDFW WKH PDFKLQHU\ RI the Nigerian state has all but broken down, replaced in many places by the machinations of those who by their monstrous misdeeds VHHN WR RYHUUXQ DQ DLOLQJ FRXQWU\ 7KH\ DUH HYHU\ZKHUH WKHVH GD\V 2Q WKH QLJKW RI )ULGD\ $SULO DW $EDH]L LQ 2KDML (JEHPD /RFDO *RYHUQPHQW $UHD RI ,PR 6WDWH PRUH WKDQ D KXQGUHG people were killed when explosions rocked DQ LOOHJDO RLO UHÀQHU\ GHHS LQ WKH KHDUW RI WKH IRUHVW 2YHU D KXQGUHG SHUVRQV DOVR VXVWDLQHG EXUQV RI YDU\LQJ GHJUHHV 7KRVH ZKR SHULVKHG WUDJLFDOO\ LQFOXGHG ZRPHQ DQG FKLOGUHQ 6RPH RI WKH YLFWLPV ZHUH EXUQW EH\RQG UHFRJQLWLRQ :KLOH 0U +RSH 8]RGLQPD WKH ,PR 6WDWH Governor has described the tragedy as an

TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022

DFW RI HFRQRPLF VDERWDJH 0U 0XKDPPDGX %XKDUL 1LJHULDCV 3UHVLGHQW KDV FDOOHG LW D QDWLRQDO GLVDVWHU Of course, it is and remains a national GLVDVWHU WKDW HYHU\ GD\ 1LJHULD $IULFDCV largest crude producer loses as many as EDUUHOV RI RLO RU DERXW RI LWV FXUUHQW output to criminals that tap the pipelines crisscrossing the Niger Delta region, according WR JRYHUQPHQW HVWLPDWHV $W FXUUHQW SULFHV WKH PLVVLQJ EDUUHOV DUH ZRUWK DOPRVW ELOOLRQ D \HDU 6RPH LQGXVWU\ ÀJXUHV EHOLHYH WKH WUXH scale of theft is even higher, reaching up to EDUUHOV RI FUXGH RLO HYHU\ GD\ ,Q WKH IDFH RI VXFK FDWDVWURSKLF ORVVHV ZKLFK GHQ\ $IULFDCV ODUJHVW FUXGH SURGXFHU ELOOLRQV of dollars in oil revenue as well as serious damage to the environment, the Giant of Africa LV DW D ORVV 7KDW ORVV LOOXPLQDWHV DQG ODPLQDWHV the question: who are those who do these things? Who are those desperately determined WR FDWFK $IULFDCV ODUJHVW RLO SURGXFHU LQ VR ZLGH a net of economic sabotage?

As corruption has raged unchecked in 1LJHULDCV KLJKHVW SODFHV WKRVH FDVW DGULIW and forced to eat from hand to mouth while competing with the congregation of crocodiles reared from the corridors of power carry a singular pertinent question on their lips – where is our own chunk of the national cake, they ask? – and with it, like a cudgel, they SDUU\ DOO SOHDV WR EH SDWULRWLF 7KXV ZKHUHYHU WKH\ VPHOO EORRG LQ WKH body of the Giant of Africa, they draw near, OLNH VKDUNV UHDG\ WR ULS DSDUW 7KH\ DUH those who engage in illegal oil bunkering in the country and among their ranks are JRYHUQPHQW R΀FLDOV VHFXULW\ SHUVRQQHO IRUHLJQ PHUFHQDULHV DQG HYHU\GD\ 1LJHULDQV 7KH\ DUH WKRVH ZKR ZRXOG FRYHU 1LJHULD LQ D FORXG RI VPRNH ,Q 2FWREHU ZKLOH LOOHJDO UHÀQLQJ ZDV UXQQLQJ DW D UHÀQHU\ LQ 5XPXHNSH (PRKD /RFDO *RYHUQPHQW $UHD RI 5LYHUV 6WDWH UXLQRXV ÁDPHV FDPH DQG URDVWHG RYHU SHUVRQV LQFOXGLQJ ZRPHQ DQG FKLOGUHQ OHDYLQJ PDQ\ PRUH LQMXUHG For those who vandalize pipelines and those who steal oil, their heinous crimes against Nigeria and Nigerians come from a SODFH RI MXVWLÀFDWLRQ PROGHG E\ D PHQWDOLW\ that tells them they are being cheated out of their own share and should do whatever it WDNHV WR SDUWDNH 7KRVH ZKR GR WKHVH WKLQJV FLWH 1LJHULDCV crises of accountability as one of the chief UHDVRQV WKH\ VWHDO RLO 7KH JRYHUQPHQW ZKLFK does not care about them is made up of those ZKR VWHDO IURP WKH FRXQWU\CV RLO UHVRXUFHV EXW XQGHU IDU PRUH FRQYHQLHQW FRQGLWLRQV <HW they forget that they all form part of the cartel ULSSLQJ WKH FRXQWU\ RI LWV ÀQHVW JLIW HYHQ LI WKH\ GR QRW DOO URZ LQ WKH VDPH GLUHFWLRQ 7KRVH ZKR GR WKHVH WKLQJV SRVH DQ H[LVWHQWLDO WKUHDW WR WKH 1LJHULDQ VWDWH 7KH\ GR QRW MXVW VDERWDJH WKH HFRQRPLF UHVRXUFHV RI WKH FRXQWU\ WKH\ VXEMHFW IUDJLOH HQYLURQPHQWV to unspeakable strain, tipping fragile HFRV\VWHPV RYHU WKH HGJH LQ PDQ\ LQVWDQFHV 7KRVH ZKR GR WKHVH WKLQJV DUH WKLHYHV DQG EULJDQGV 7KH\ DUH HQHPLHV RI WKH FRXQWU\ 7RJHWKHU ZLWK WKRVH ZKR HQFRXUDJH DQG HQDEOH WKHLU ÀHU\ IROOLHV IURP WKH IDUWKHVW SODFHV WKH\ GHVHUYH QR VHDW DW 1LJHULDCV WDEOH

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7KH RLO ERRP RI WKH V VSHOW GRRP for the Nigerian economy especially the agricultural sector, which is the substructure RI WKH FRXQWU\·V HFRQRP\ :LWK WKH GLVFRYHU\ RI RLO HͿRUWV ZHUH GLYHUWHG IURP KDUQHVVLQJ the potentialities of other sectors; the situation unfortunately turned the country to monoeconomy in spite of her vast agricultural and QDWXUDO UHVRXUFHV ,W ZRXOG EH UHFDOOHG WKDW SULRU WR WKH GLVFRYHU\ RI RLO DW 2ORLELUL LQ agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, even at that there were mineral resources in large deposit across the country XQWDSSHG 6XFFHVVLYH DGPLQLVWUDWLRQV VSHQW HͿRUWV RQ WKH GRZQVWUHDP VHFWRU WR WKH GHWULPHQW RI RWKHU YLDEOH VHFWRUV 7KH HFRQRPLF GLYHUVLÀFDWLRQ DJHQGD RI WKH incumbent administration of Muhammadu Buhari is seriously challenged by insecurity occasioned by activities of insurgents, armed bandits and other criminal elements, whose heinous acts have caused people tales of ZRHV ,Q DJULFXOWXUH IRU LQVWDQFH PDQ\ IDUPHUV ÁHG YDVW DUDEOH IDUPODQGV GXH

To tackle the problem of food security headlong and to enhance food production it is important for farmers to know the type of soil and the terrain of the land they are proposing or plan to cultivate to ascertain its composition in term of nutrient contents WR LQVXUJHQF\ DQG RWKHU DFWV RI WHUURULVP Regrettably, the activities of these criminals have further plunged the agricultural sector LQWR D GLVKHDUWHQLQJ VWDWH &RQVHTXHQWO\ WKH DGYHUVH HͿHFW RI WKH IRUHJRLQJ RQ WKH WHHPLQJ populace is scarcity of food and hike in prices RI IRRG VWXͿ LQ WKH PDUNHW WKHUHE\ PDNLQJ LW GL΀FXOW IRU DQ DYHUDJH 1LJHULDQ WR DͿRUG RQH VTXDUH PHDO D GD\ 7KLV LV QRW LQ DQ\ ZD\ LVRODWHG IURP WKH QXPHURXV DGYHUVH HͿHFW RI WKH &RYLG pandemic that broke out in the wake of WKH \HDU ZKLFK JURXQGHG WKH ZRUOG HFRQRP\ 7KLV FRPSRXQGHG WKH FKDOOHQJHV RI WKH DJULFXOWXUDO VHFWRU DPRQJVW RWKHUV A United Kingdom based think-tank, the ,QVWLWXWH RI 'HYHORSPHQW 6WXGLHV ,'6 LQ LWV report placed Nigeria as the second poorest FRXQWU\ LQ IRRG DͿRUGDELOLW\ LQ WKH ZRUOG ,Q WKH VDPH YHLQ WKH *OREDO +XQJHU ,QGH[ OLVWHG 1LJHULD DPRQJ WKH WRS FRXQWULHV WKDW LV UDYDJHG E\ KXQJHU LQ WKH ZRUOG +RZHYHU WKH FXUUHQW VWDWH RI WKH HFRQRP\ could be savaged through the deployment of the instrumentality of geospatial technology LQ WKH DJULFXOWXUH VHFWRU 7KLV ZRXOG QRW RQO\ boost food productivity but will also create employment thereby raising the standard of living and largely contributing to the VRFLRHFRQRPLF JURZWK RI WKH FRXQWU\ 7KH DSSOLFDWLRQ RI JHRVSDWLDO GDWD LQ farming provides farmers with evidencebased data needed for making land use GHFLVLRQV WKLV LV NQRZQ DV SUHFLVLRQ IDUPLQJ ,W LQYROYHV PDSSLQJ RI D SURSRVHG IDUPODQG to determine its composition, textures, IHDWXUHV DQG YLDELOLWLHV 7KLV ZD\ IDUPHUV ZRXOG QRW EH HQJDJHG LQ ZKDW , ZRXOG FDOO

blind farming which could be tantamount to gambling but would work with data WKDW ZLOO JLYH WKHP GHÀQLWH GLUHFWLRQ Agricultural mapping is done using the satellite and other equipment such as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) such as the drone to capture multispectral imagery as it analyses and visualizes WKH DJULFXOWXUDO HQYLURQPHQW 7KLV LV converted to data which help farmers to conduct crop forecasting and manage WKHLU DJULFXOWXUH SURGXFWLRQ 7KH UHVXOW of this is increase in production and reduction in costs as the acquired data enable better management of land resources through accurate mapping of geographic and geologic features of IDUPODQGV ,W KHOSV IDUPHUV WR SURMHFW current and future uncertainties in precipitation, temperature, crop output DQG VR RQ 7R WDFNOH WKH SUREOHP RI IRRG VHFXULW\ headlong and to enhance food production it is important for farmers to know the type of soil and the terrain of the land they are proposing or plan to cultivate to ascertain its composition in term RI QXWULHQW FRQWHQWV ,W LV HVVHQWLDO IRU farmers to know which crops should be planted where and how to maintain soil QXWULWLRQ VR WKDW SODQWV DUH EHVW EHQHÀWWHG ,W LV REYLRXV WKDW WKH DSSOLFDWLRQ RI geospatial data in farming will not only help farmers in making informed decision which could in turn lead to greater agriculture output but also in curtailing wastage of capital and other resources FDXVHG E\ ÁRRG LI IDUPHUV IDUP RQ ÁRRG prone areas, but with geospatial data such problem could have been detected and DYRLGHG With the use of geospatial data, farmers can also make use of appropriate fertilizer, treatment of pest and curb invasion RI ZHHGV IRU VXVWDLQDEOH SODQQLQJ Geospatial data no doubt has the capacity of boosting the agricultural sector towards improving the standard of living of Nigerians, alleviate poverty, ensure food security, create buoyant markets for expansion of industries and social VHUYLFHV DQG HYHQWXDOO\ PDNH VLJQLÀFDQW contributions to national growth, and VXVWDLQDEOH VRFLRHFRQRPLF GHYHORSPHQW 7R DFKLHYH WKH IRUHJRLQJ WKHUH LV D need for a strong synergy between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and the 2΀FH RI WKH 6XUYH\RU *HQHUDO RI WKH )HGHUDWLRQ 26*R) ZKLFK LV WKH DSH[ mapping agency of the country, saddled with the statutory and constitutional responsibility of providing the requisite geospatial information needed by YDULRXV VHFWRUV LQ WKH FRXQWU\ 7KHVH WZR reputable establishments have the skills DQG H[SHUWLVH UHTXLUHG WR WDNH 1LJHULD RͿ the list of hunger ravaged countries and make her occupies a place of pride in the FRPPLWWHH RI QDWLRQV 7KLV LV WKH XWPRVW desire of the present administration in OLQH ZLWK WKH GHPDQGV RI WKH 6XVWDLQDEOH 'HYHORSPHQW *RDOV 6'*V 7KH VHFRQG is to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote VXVWDLQDEOH DJULFXOWXUH

Fajoye is with the Press and Public Relations Unit of OSGoF, Abuja

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T H I S D AY TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022

OKELLO OCULI pays tribute to Kibaki, former Kenyan President

The French Presidential election holds lessons for Nigeria, writes MOSHOOD OLAJIDE

FAREWELL, MWAI KIBAKI

LESSONS FROM THE FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Kenya’s third president, Mwai Kibaki, died on 22 April, 2022. He served under both Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi, doing so continuously from 1963 to a two-term presidency.

His home in Nyeri District held soils rich from centuries of volcanic eruptions which built Mount Kenya and associated highlands.

It was highly prized by invading European immigrants.

Out of Nyeri was also born Dedan Kimathi who from within a Nairobi slum recruited ÀJKWHUV IRU D JXHUULOOD ZDU WR ZLQ EDFN WKHLU lands. The success of guerrilla war in China under the leadership of Mao Tse Tung (now =HGXQJ ZDV UHÁHFWHG LQ WKH QDPH ´0$8 MAU’’ which he gave his struggle. One of his lieutenants was called ‘’General China”.

On being elected President Kibaki named a street Kimathi in the centre of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi; and also embraced China in Kenya’s economic diplomacy. Kibaki was a secondary school boy when the Mau Mau war ravaged Nyeri District.

Dedan Kimathi and the youth who withdraw support from newly returned Jomo Kenyatta and told the Gikuyu that he would use tea-sessions with the Colonial Governor to persuade him to hand over power to him.

-RKQ 1RWWLQJKDP D IRUPHU FRORQLDO 2΀FHU in charge of Nyeri District, told me in his 1DLUREL R΀FH WKDW WKH ORVV RI KHUR ZRUVKLS E\ the militant youth drove Kenyatta into heavy drinking of Whisky upon which the Colonial *RYHUQRU HQFRXUDJHG KLV R΀FLDOV WR VXSSRUW this appetite in the hope that liver disease would become a welcome political ally.

Kenyatta never led the MAU MAU war. The

While at Finance, Kibaki hired a brilliant economist from Harvard University whose son would, decades later, become the first African-American President of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama. In her book, Obama’s sister asserts that the brilliant economist was murdered through an officially executed motor accident British detained him as investment for future cooperation over terms on which UHURU would be granted to him after the guerrilla warriors were weakened. Kenyatta paid EDFN ZLWK WKH SROLF\ RI ¶·6XͿHULQJ :LWKRXW Bitterness’’. A loan from Britain was used to buy back land from British immigrant farmers.

He allocated the land to top politicians from Kenyatta’s KIAMBU home area; top civil servants and members of parliament.

In anticipation of bitterness by ex-Mau 0DX ÀJKWHUV .HQ\DWWD FR RSWHG 0ZDL .LEDNL with his record of rare academic brilliance.

However a visit to Nyeri in1971 showed that their hero was Dedan Kimathi. Unlike other towns whose main streets were named after Kenyatta, Nyeri preferred their son.

Kenyatta appointed Kibaki a junior minister to Tom Mboya in charge of Economic Planning. Kibaki later hit back when Kenyatta died in 1978 by backing the constitutional stipulation that Vice President Daniel Arap Moi should takeover. Dr Njoroge Mungai, a

nephew of Kenyatta, swallowed that bitter pill.

Moi rewarded Kibaki with portfolios ranging from Vice President to Minister of Finance.

While at Finance, Kibaki hired a brilliant economist from Harvard University whose son ZRXOG GHFDGHV ODWHU EHFRPH WKH ÀUVW $IULFDQ

American President of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama. In her book, Obama’s sister asserts that the brilliant HFRQRPLVW ZDV PXUGHUHG WKURXJK DQ R΀FLDOO\ executed motor accident. That murder style would become known as ‘’ACCIDENTING’’ political opponents.

Obama’s crime was to oppose Kenya borrowing of an IMF/WORLD BANK loan.

Moi’s inner circle saw this as blocking money WKH\ ORQJHG WR ´HDW·· Several minor incidents gave hints of WKH GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ 0RL·V UXOH DQG WKDW RI .LEDNL 6HYHUDO *LNX\X IHPDOH VWDͿ DW D German NGO in Nairobi complained about Kibaki’s aloofness. They missed Moi telling them how to do their hair and length of their skirts. A guide grabbed my mobile phone on a Nairobi street saying that Moi’s Secret Police would have hauled me into their vehicle and GULYHQ RͿ 7KH *HQHUDO 0DQDJHU RI .HQ\D Literature Bureau claimed to have buried copies of my novel ‘’KOOKOLEM’’ in villages to avoid punishment by Moi’s police; while a young man claimed that he had left teaching in a secondary after he was detained and tortured for six months for teaching my novel ´35267,787(· While university academics welcomed a new freedom of speech and writing under .LEDNL KLV ZLIH GLG EUHDN LQWR WKH R΀FHV RI DAILY NATION newspaper and served free slaps to journalists; and several Ukraineans were alleged to have been hired to assassinate opposition politicians.

While Kibaki was accused of being slow in arresting kingpins of corruption, he avoided assassination of critics. His main gift to Kenyans must be his supporting the 2010 Constitution which broke up the concentration of key money-guzzling ministries and agencies located in the Presidency.

2΀FLDOV IURP DPRQJ WKH *LNX\X (PEX DQG Meru ethnic groups were accused of using this structural grip to build Kenyatta’s ‘’aristocracy’’.

In 1968 Jomo Kenyatta told a British journalist that he desired to create an aristocracy in Kenya because those socio-economic parasites had ensured stability and peace in Britain.

The post-election violence of 2007/2008 VSDUHG WKDW ´DULVWRFUDF\µ WKH IDWH RI WKHLU models in France, Russia, Cuba and China.

Kibaki allied with his radical critics to invent an open Kenyan political economy.

Prof Oculi writes from Abuja

7KH )UHQFK 3UHVLGHQWLDO UXQ RͿ election between the incumbent President of the En Marche movement, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen of the far-right was concluded on Sunday with the incumbent winning

by 58.8 per cent. His opponent of the Nationalist Rally polled 41.2 percent.

Marine Le Pen who is contesting the French Presidency for the third time

citizenship through birth in France and the banning of headscarves for Muslim females.

The Foreign Policy campaign blueprint of the candidates is however the decider of the election. Emmanuel

Macron wants improved relations with Western countries like Germany, United Kingdom and the United States to be strengthened, including the French position in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty While Nigeria’s Presidential Organization (NATO). Marine Le 3HQ RQ WKH RWKHU KDQG GLͿHUHG stating that if elected, she intends election holds next year, to pull France out of the military the principle of meritocracy alliance of NATO, maintain close relations with Russia and also slash of prospective candidates France contribution to the European Union. and battle of ideas are not Immediately the polling result was out, Le Pen conceded, but saw victory the subject of discussion in her defeat, declaring that her party remained the one to beat in the June yet but primordial ethnic parliamentary elections. Macron on sentiments and geo the other hand was magnanimous in victory and promised to look into the political configuration of grievances why abstention voting is and why some of his supporters where the Presidency should high voted for his opponent.

The French Presidential Election be zoned to RQFH DJDLQ UHÁHFWV KRZ HOHFWLRQV should be won and lost including bettered her 2017 result statistically by how democracy should work which 7.3 percent as her acceptance voting is not apparent in many developing ratio jumped from 33.90 in 2017 to 41.2 countries in Africa yet.

While Nigeria’s Presidential in 2022. The incumbent president’s triumphant entry result in 2017 dipped election holds next year, the principle by 7.3 percent as his acceptance ratio of meritocracy of prospective dropped from 66.10 in 2017 to 58.8 in candidates and battle of ideas are not the subject of discussion yet but 2022.

Absolutely, both candidates from primordial ethnic sentiments and geo the winning and the losing side are SROLWLFDO FRQÀJXUDWLRQ RI ZKHUH WKH rewarded by the electorate in line with Presidency should be zoned to.

It is imperative for Nigerians their blueprints presented during the electioneering period. The En Marche to understand that if the values movement of Macron focused their displayed in the French Presidential campaigns on maintaining the unity of election are to obtain here, it is for the the French people, on environmental people to decide themselves of what issues and on consolidating economic they want by setting the standards, UHIRUPV WR EHQHÀW WKH SHRSOH ZKLOH and not falling for the tricks of the far-right campaign’s fulcrum is politicians. centered on critically addressing the ULVLQJ FRVW RI OLYLQJ )UHQFK ÀUVW Olajide, policies which discard the right to a Policy Analyst, writes from Osun - State

4 26

T H I S D AY

TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

PROLIFERATION OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES The authorities must not sacrifice quality for numbers

W

ith the approval of 12 more private universities, Nigeria now has 205 universities made up of 49 federal, 57 state universities and 99 private ones. The major argument for this recent decision by the federal executive council is the comparison of our population to the number of existing universities.

The advent of private universities in Nigeria was considered a welcome development for the simple reason that the public universities had become anything but centres for excellence. Aside the endless strikes by lecturers and QRQ DFDGHPLF VWDͿ WKH neglect of the education sector by successive governments has also resulted in a situation in which students attending these public universities were never certain when they would graduate.

Unfortunately, the emergence of private universities does not seem to be raising academic standards and that explains why we have been calling for a total overhaul of the sector. There are several crying questions but the main worry stems from the sheer incompetence in tackling the problems in the existing public universities and the reckless recourse to all manner of low-standard private universities. Lecturers who can’t hold their own in public universities are being hired as professors and even vice chancellors LQ VRPH RI WKHVH SULYDWH XQLYHUVLWLHV ZKHUH ÀUVW FODVV degrees are churned out in hundreds annually. The same lack of standards that practically crippled the banking sector before the 2004 consolidation exercise is now happening with the universities.

While the federal government can continue to license DQ\ TXDOLÀHG SHUVRQ RU JURXS WR UXQ D XQLYHUVLW\ LW is more important to pay attention to the worrying state of these institutions. Some of the pertinent questions being raised by critical stakeholders about the proliferation of private universities include: What are the standards required to establish one? Who

is accrediting the courses? What are the minimum infrastructure requirements? Are there adequate and quality lecturers? Is the environment of these universities conducive for learning?

Ordinarily, the increase in the numbers of universities need not be a matter for alarm if several other questions are posed and answered satisfactorily. Universities in advanced countries and elsewhere are platforms for problem-solving because they ensure high quality teaching and learning within their precincts. This is why we must do away with the notion that anybody with a little money can own universities. That is not the way to develop any society. Besides, there is an urgent need to revamp our educational institutions to satisfy the demands of today. And the solution lies in establishing more technical colleges.

Even in many developed countries, university education is not meant for all. Nigeria’s situation UHÁHFWV D FRPSOHWH IDLOXUH E\ WKH UHOHYDQW PLQLVWU\ in long term strategic planning for the education VHFWRU 7KH FOHDU HͿHFW LV WKDW WKH RQO\ YLVLEOH SDWK for every young Nigerian after secondary school is the university. Government would need to revisit and resuscitate massive investment in provision of technical and vocational education. Technical education is necessary to provide a pool of skilled and self-reliant craftsmen, technicians, and technologists LQ WHFKQLFDO DQG YRFDWLRQDO ÀHOGV DQG VHUYH DV HQJLQH of growth in the industries. The dearth of this category of human resource training no doubt also accounts for the mad rush for university education.

Meanwhile, there is no doubt that a few of the private universities meets international standard and have raised the bar in terms of quality. But several RI WKHP DUH DW EHVW ¶JORULÀHG VHFRQGDU\ VFKRROV· The National Universities Commission (NUC) through its accreditation mechanism must be alive to its responsibilities to ensure that standards are maintained.

Lecturers who can’t hold their own in public universities are being hired as professors and even vice chancellors in some of these private universities where first-class degrees are churned out in hundreds annually T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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

LETTERS WHY PETER OBI MUST LEARN TO SPEAK IN NIGERIA’S ‘POLITICALESE’ Peter Obi is no doubt the choice of those who want Nigeria to work. But the more Obi campaigns for support across the nation, the more he demarkets himself. How could a Nigerian politician be campaigning to lead his country using the hard truth? After watching him address Nigerian senators a few weeks back, I shook my head in great pity for him. “There is nothing more to share...” he had innocently told them.

Can you imagine that? Telling sharemaniacs (to their faces) that there was nothing more to share? Isn’t that a clear threat to the senators who have shared public funds all their political lives? Does he imagine this set of cankerworms want to quit their parasitic ways of survival?

Worse still are his senator brothers from the Southeast. In their minds, those ones must have told him “Bia chinaa,” a sarcastic way of saying in Igbo “not in our lives would you lead Nigeria.” I don’t want to talk about the governors from that region, because I don’t want to shed more tears.

Even those who should have commended Obi for his frugal lifestyle joined in condemning him for not making his

daughter’s traditional marriage a political jamboree as a typical Nigerian politician is wont to do. +H DOVR UHFHLYHG ÁDNV IRU QRW KDYLQJ D SHUVRQDO DVVLVWDQW on phone calls, one of the vain hallmarks of a Nigerian big man, when he lost his phone at a public event recently. You can’t help but ask what exactly Nigerians want.

Now the rambunctious Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has PRFNHG 2EL·V WUDGHPDUN XVH RI VWDWLVWLFDO ÀJXUHV LQ KLV DQDOyses of Nigeria’s dire economic situation. Wetin man no go see?

My heart even sank further when highly revered Anambra politician Chief Dan Ulasi openly denied Obi his support, dismissing him as an unserious politician whose only interest was the vice presidency.

His reason? Obi attended Atiku Abubakar’s presidenWLDO FDPSDLJQ GHFODUDWLRQ DQG GHVFULEHG $WLNX DV D XQLÀHU shortly before going to Awka to declare his own presidential ambition. Ulasi thought that was political daftness on the part of Obi. While some Nigerian political strategists may agree with

Ulasi, others from climes may commend Obi’s transparency and honesty. Whatever happened to politics without bitterness? I don’t think any other Nigerian politician has duly earned that attribute since the late Waziri Ibrahim. Obi may just be on the cards.

Obi must learn to speak in Nigeria’s politicalese. If he cannot be a little dishonest, he must learn to avoid using sentences that may appear threatening to Nigeria’s politicians, especially when he is canvassing for their votes and support.

0RUH LPSRUWDQWO\ KH VKRXOG ZDVK RͿ WKH VWLQJLQHVV WDJ RͿ KLV UHSXWDWLRQ E\ OHDUQLQJ WR RSHQ KLV KDQGV IRU WKH PRPHQW DW OHDVW +H VKRXOG PDNH PRXWK ZDWHULQJ RͿHUV WR WKH gluttonous political class and promise them heaven just to JDLQ WKHLU VXSSRUW ,W ZRQ·W PDWWHU LI KH IDLOHG WR IXOÀO WKHP when he wins. I’m sure the wolves would understand when the chips get down. Haven’t they been giving us the same treat all these years, after all?

Vincent Ihesinulo, Lagos

LAWYER TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

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WEEKLY PULLOUT

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OSINACHI NWACHUKWU AND HUSBAND

Domestic Violence: Nigerian Women at Risk

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TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

IN THIS EDITION

Court of Appeal’s Power to Exercise Original Jurisdiction in a Claim Page IV

NBA President Set to Marry Page V

QUOTABLES ‘….Those who are benefiting from it, are not ready to amend or allow a new Constitution.

That is the reason why I said before you go, set up an interim government since you are not ready to do it…I’m happy that the House of Reps….said they have failed Nigerians…..If a person admits his failure, then you look at the solution to it.’ - Chief Afe Babalola CON, SAN

Another Nigerian Makes QC in UK Page V

The Kaduna train incident was like the last straw that broke the camel’s back. The President is using it as a reference point, to let the security agencies know that they have an obligation to get every innocent soul in captivity out.’ - Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), National Security Adviser, Federal Republic of Nigeria

LAWYER

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

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

2023 and Interim Government Bogey Introduction think it is apposite for me to comment on the recent suggestions of one of our ‘Fathers in the Law’, Chief Afe Babalola, CON, SAN (Chief), on the way forward for Nigeria. I decided to look into Chief’s position, as he was denounced by some for proposing inter alia that, at its expiration, this Government should be replaced by a six-month interim government which would craft a brand new Constitution that will restructure and serve Nigerians better, before going into the next general elections; a new and improved constitutional background, which he concludes will save Nigeria from financial ruin, and in his words, “drowning completely”.

Permit me to be extremely blunt. Chief’s view, may be because, like I stated last week, he also sees nothing but gloom and doom and ‘business as usual’ come May 29, 2023 if we continue with our flawed Constitution, system of governance and institutions - all we will achieve is a change of baton, with little or no hope of any meaningful positive change in our circumstances. Additionally, Chief’s opinion is also borne out of the frustrating and disheartening realisation and conclusion that, it is quite obvious that those who have been in power since 1999 through today, are not prepared to make these positive changes, constitutional or otherwise, that are required to improve Nigeria.

From Chief’s submissions, it is clear that - ‘who then will do it, how and when were pertinent questions that agitated his mind, as it has done the minds of many right thinking Nigerians, considering the multiple challenges the country is presently facing.

Certainly, as some are quick to point out, we know that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution) does not provide for an interim government, and this is why Chief’s suggestion was quickly dismissed by antagonists as unrealistic. I find it quite hypocritical though, when people dismiss the things they do not want to hear as unconstitutional, but allow the ones which suit their purposes that are unconstitutional, to ride. Take for example the Sharia Courts exercising criminal jurisdiction - it is unconstitutional. Nowhere in the Constitution are Customary and Sharia Courts endowed with criminal jurisdiction, but as a matter of course the Sharia Courts exercise criminal jurisdiction, so much so that, quite regularly, the Sharia Court in Kano is sentencing people to death for blasphemy (a punishment that the Holy Quran doesn’t prescribe for blasphemy), and I don’t hear any loud objections of unconstitutionality in that regard!

Why would a legal luminary propose extraconstitutional means (outside the purview of the Constitution) to fix Nigeria’s problems? Because desperate situations require desperate measures?

Because he has searched the Constitution high and low, and doesn’t see any way out of this conundrum, except for maybe Section 9 which provides for constitutional amendment, but which Legislators have refused to put to any meaningful use? Of course, the NASS/Houses of Assembly that over the years have refused to do the needful, would never amend the Constitution to allow for others to do it, whether by means of an interim government or otherwise. But, when I asked a few Lawyers who didn’t agree with Chief’s interim government suggestion to proffer their own alternative practical solutions, they didn’t have any. Instead, they said we should pray for divine intervention! One did suggest that since the Youths are in the majority, they need to organise themselves better to get their peers to run for office, get their PVCs and vote useless politicians out. That won’t happen before the next elections.

I

LKY People love to quote as an example that Nigeria should follow, Lee Kuan Yew (LKY), Lawyer, graduate of Cambridge University, Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 until 1990, who was able to transform his country from a third to first-world country; but, have they really studied his model and philosophy?

For one, while LKY selected some elements of democracy, he didn’t believe that the whole concept of democracy had been successful in developing countries, especially countries that have large populations (like ours) - too many different and competing interests, which do not necessarily align. We saw this play out recently in NASS, in the matter of Petroleum Industry Act. What the representatives from the real oil producing areas wanted, was quite different from what the representatives from non-oil producing areas wanted.

Even though Singapore had a parliamentary system, LKY was firmly in charge. He was brilliant and focused.

Racism, tribalism and gender discrimination were not permitted or tolerated, and he encouraged foreign direct investment by creating the right atmosphere for it. Religion played no part. He placed a very high value on education and meritocracy, making quality education available no matter your income status (unlike the quota system we have practised for decades in Nigeria, which encourages and entrenches failure), giving generous scholarships for those who earned it.

Above all, LKY concentrated on eradicating corruption, and demanded that leaders displayed superior moral leadership, so that the people would follow their example. Can you imagine LKY granting pardon on any grounds to ex-Governors Nyame & Dariye? Or can you imagine LKY’s Party asking for

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

The

Advocate “I think we can safely conclude that, anybody who is expecting the reforms which Nigeria is in dire need of, to be effected by our crop of Fourth Republic politicians (majority of them anyway), is clearly delusional. It won’t happen. Chief Babalola and many of us see that. What then is the way forward?”

N100 million and other exorbitant amounts, as the purchase price for application forms to run for elective positions? No, I can’t imagine such happening with LKY. Chief Babalola seems to believe that, obviously, in our present circumstances, ‘too many cooks have spoilt the broth and will continue to spoil it’. That now that urgent reform is required, to take decisive decisions to chart a better course for Nigeria, only a few patriotic, intelligent, objective, progressive people are required to create the right constitutional blue print, before opening the door to democracy; because over the years, those who have had the opportunity to do so, have failed to seize it. After all, it was the military, a small group, that prepared the flawed Constitution that we have been using for the last 23 years.

Section 305: State of Emergency Could the invocation of Section 305(1) of the Constitution which empowers the President to declare a state of emergency in the Federation or any part thereof, been a constitutional alternative to Chief Babalola’s suggestion? Yes, but such declaration also requires the buy-in of the same National Assembly (NASS) which has failed to do anything particularly constructive over the years, as far as constitutional reform is concerned, and such declaration must be approved by a resolution of both Houses of NASS (see Section 305(2) & (6)(b) of the Constitution). Such approval seems rather unlikely, especially because when a state of emergency is in place, parts of the Constitution or the whole of it, if required, including our constitutional rights, may be suspended for the period of the state of emergency which can last up to six months, and subsequently, can be extended by NASS for another six months ad infinitum (Section 305(6)(c) of the Constitution).

Undoubtedly, some of the conditions to declare a state of emergency actually exist in Nigeria today or at least, in several parts of the country - particularly the breakdown of public order and public safety in the Federation which require extraordinary measures to restore peace

and security (Section 305 (3)(c) of the Constitution). The idea of a state of emergency would be that it would not only be used to restore peace and security, it could also be an opportunity for other worthwhile activities like redrafting a new Constitution to replace the old one, done by others since NASS would be suspended.

Alas, whether in the interest of Nigeria or not, it is clear that NASS would never subscribe to having the powers donated to them by Section 4 of the Constitution suspended, for others to create a new Constitution, let alone one that would be inimical to their interests generally.

Unfortunately, the Legislators are the main actors in this constitutional reform matter.

Some Examples of Constitutional Amendments that Clash with Politicians’ Interests We must however, not allow Chief Babalola’s submission on an interim government distract us from the main reasons for his submission - that presently, Nigeria is not in a good place; that the 1999 Constitution is extremely faulty; that we are in dire need of constitutional reform and restructuring; that those who have the power to bring about the necessary reforms have shown that they lack the capacity and will to do so.

That even though these reforms will be beneficial to Nigeria as a whole, making them may be akin to politicians shooting themselves in the foot! As Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN aptly put it, no chicken would ever vote for Christmas!

Apart from those who are not in favour of restructuring, whether geographical or otherwise, devolution of powers, resource control etc - those who prefer to continue this unitary system of government and maintain the status quo because of the benefits they derive from it, there are uncountable other issues that various groups are not in favour of correcting. Here are a few examples:1) Unicameral Legislature & Reduction of Remuneration Chief suggested a part-time unicameral Legislature,

whose members are only paid sitting allowances. A unicameral Legislature would mean a lesser number of members. Already, the scramble for the 469 seats of the two Chambers of NASS is like a do or die affair, and we really expect that NASS would be the ones to vote to then reduce the number of seats available for them to occupy? Not likely. With the exorbitant salaries, allowances and perquisites of office that Legislators presently enjoy, this suggestion of less seats, less pay, though reasonable, would sound like blasphemy or heresy to them, as we saw from the body language of the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, one time when the idea of a reduction in their salaries and allowances was mooted.

But, truth be told, the present system that we run, is not only inequitable, it is senseless. And, though it certainly didn’t start with this administration, they had promised Nigerians a change for the better. A society where Judges, Medical Doctors and other professionals who are usually the highest paid in the world, earn a pittance, while some Legislators who may be only Primary School Certificate Holders are paid more than 10 times what these professional earn, is a society that is encouraging illiteracy or a minimum level of education, crime and failure.

And, this is exactly what Nigeria is experiencing.

2) Educational Qualifications We didn’t even hear this particular issue being considered, during NASS’s recent constitutional amendment exercise. I refer to Section 318 of the Constitution, which equates a Primary Six School Leaving Certificate to a Secondary School Certificate and a Grade II Teacher's Training Certificate. While LKY believed that a voter on the street struggling to pass Primary Six exams did not know enough to make informed decisions to vote about state matters, we are busy using such a low benchmark as the qualification for not only Lawmakers, but those holding important positions in Nigeria - in short those driving our policy, and lying in our Constitution that this lowest educational qualification is higher than it is! It’s preposterous.

Even an illiterate knows that the certificate from Primary School is definitely not equal to that of Secondary School, since a pupil has to take the Common Entrance examination, usually on completion of Primary School to gain admission into Secondary School. The student who then attends Secondary School for an additional five or six years post-Primary, has to sit for the WAEC/GCE/NECO examination in order to obtain the Secondary School Leaving Certificate. Teacher Training comes after Secondary School. How then, can they all be equated as being the same level of education/qualification when they are not, just because the Constitution says so?! This is a falsehood, a perjurious hyperbole that cannot be substantiated.

Even pre-1998, before the Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE) was introduced, to enrol for the Grade II Teacher Training programme, a student had to have completed at least four years of secondary school first. Once the NCE was subsequently introduced, to enrol for Teacher’s Training, a student must have at least five credits from WAEC/GCE/NECO. I submit that a Secondary School Leaving Certificate can then be further distinguished from the Teacher’s Training course and certification, because while an aspirant could have all F9s in the Secondary School Leaving Certificate since there is no specification about scores, to enrol in the Teacher Training programme, the individual actually needs five WAEC etc credits, thereby making the qualifications for enrolling for Teacher’s Training higher than the School Leaving Certificate that may contain all F9s.

But, what happens if Primary School Leaving Certificate may be the only educational qualifications that some members of NASS and numerous politicians may have? Or if it becomes mandatory that political office holders must have a minimum of Secondary School Leaving Certificate with five credits, and many members do not have up to five credits? Will these same members who only have the Primary School Certificate or have one or two credits or F9s, be the ones to raise the bar for qualification for elective offices, thereby excluding themselves? I think not.

3) Accountability Politicians are averse to any form of accountability; will they then be the ones to clamour for the deletion of Section 6(6)(c) of the Constitution which ousts the jurisdiction of the court when it comes to some form of accountability of Government to the people, so that they can be made accountable?

Again, I think not.

Chief Afe Babalola CON, SAN

Senate President, Ahmed Lawan

Conclusion I think we can safely conclude that, anybody who is expecting the reforms which Nigeria is in dire need of, to be effected by our crop of Fourth Republic politicians (majority of them anyway), is clearly delusional. It won’t happen. Chief Babalola and many of us see that. What then is the way forward? My dear colleagues, kindly, share your thoughts on how constitutional and other reforms can be brought about, and as quickly as possible too. Thank you.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Court of Appeal’s Power to Exercise Original Jurisdiction in a Claim Fact

T

he Appellant, a development finance institution substantially owned by the Federal Government, engaged the professional services of the Respondent, a legal practitioner. Following some disagreement about payment of his professional fees, the Respondent commenced this suit against the Appellant at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by a Writ of Summons under the Undefended List for balance of his professional fees including pre-judgement and post-judgement interest sum.

In response, the Appellant filed a Memorandum of Conditional Appearance and a Notice of Preliminary Objection, on the grounds that the service of the Writ of Summons issued on the office of the Respondent at Abuja is not valid, the venue not being the registered office of the Appellant and that the trial court had no jurisdiction to entertain the subject-matter of the suit against the Appellant. The trial court upheld the Preliminary Objection and struck out the case.

The Respondent, who was dissatisfied with the decision of the trial court, filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal. The appellate court allowed the appeal and granted the claim of the Respondent except the pre-judgment interest. The Appellant thus, filed an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination The following two issues were considered and determined by the court: 1.“Whether the Court of Appeal was right in setting aside the decision of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja which declined jurisdiction to entertain the suit, on the grounds that the originating court process was served by the Respondent on the Appellant at its branch office in Abuja instead of its headquarters in Lagos, and the fact that the Appellant being an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Federal High Court ought to assume jurisdiction in the circumstances of the case.

2. Whether it was proper for the lower court to exercise original jurisdiction in favour of the Respondent in respect of his claim, which the trial court did not hear on the basis of lack of jurisdiction.

Arguments Submitting on issue one, counsel for the Appellant argued that the proper mode of service on a company must be at the registered office of the company by giving the Writ to any Director, Company Secretary or other principal officer at the registered office of the company, or by leaving the process at its registered office. Counsel argued that the service of the originating process by the Respondent on the Appellant at the branch office in Abuja contravenes the provision of Section 78 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2001 (CAMA), Order 11 Rule 8 of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004, and the judicial authorities on mode of effecting service of originating court processes on a corporate body like the Appellant. Counsel relied on WEST AFRICA LTD v AFLON & ANOR (2014) LPELR- 22975(CA). He posited that the court below was wrong in setting aside the decision of the High Court of the FCT, Abuja which had declined to entertain the suit on the basis that it had no subject-matter jurisdiction, and it was wrong to hold that the claim of the Respondent which is in respect of a simple contract is within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the FCT. Counsel argued that by the provision of Section 251 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 the Respondent ought not to have initiated the suit at the lower court against the Appellant under the undefended list procedure, knowing that the Appellant who will bear the consequence of the action is an institution owned and controlled by the Federal Government of Nigeria and only a Federal High Court can competently assume jurisdiction in matters relating to it in the performance of its statutory functions, Counsel relied on CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA v AUTO IMPORT EXPORT (2013) 2 NWLR (Pt. 1737) 80.

In response, learned counsel for the Respondent submitted that a community reading of Section 78 of CAMA, and Order 11 Rule 8 of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 shows that Section 78 envisages two types of documents, one being a court process and any other type of document. CAMA also provides that where the document to be served is a court process service is governed by the Rules of Court, while any other document may be sent to the head office or registered office. Counsel relied

Honourable Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Tuesday, the 7th day of December, 2021 Before Their Lordships Musa Dattijo Muhammed Chima Centus Nweze Uwani Musa Abba Aji Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Adamu Jauro Justices, Supreme Court SC./CV/669/2020 Between Bank of Industry Limited

Appellant And

Ebenezer Obeya (Practicing under the name & style EBENEZER OBEYA & CO.)

Respondent

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, JSC) on NBC PLC v UBANI (2013) LPELR21902 (SC). He argued that the corporate headquarters of the Appellant by Order 11 Rule 8 is in Abuja, FCT, and as stated in the Exhibits attached to the Respondent’s affidavit in support of the Writ. Counsel submitted further that jurisdiction is fundamental to adjudication, and the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court on simple contracts and land has been settled. He contended that the Writ of Summons and its supporting affidavit indicate a claim for recovery of professional fees which is a cause based on simple contract and in which case the High Court of the FCT can assume jurisdiction, since it is the nature of a claim that determines the court vested with jurisdiction to determine same.

Counsel submitted that Section 251 (1)(a)-(r) does not include issues of simple contract, as a subject over which the Federal High Court can assume jurisdiction.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale In resolving the first issue, the Supreme Court opined that the issue is of twin fold but based on the challenge to the jurisdiction of the trial court and the court below. The first challenge relates to lack of proper service of the originating process on the Appellant, and the second challenge relates to the lack of jurisdiction of the trial court to try the subject-matter of the litigation. It stands to reason that if the trial court lacks jurisdiction, the appellate court also would be tainted with the same virus - ODOM & ORS v

“…. one of the conditions precedent for the court below to exercise its power, is that the trial court must have jurisdiction to adjudicate on same, and the issue raised by the claim at trial must be capable of being distilled from the grounds of appeal”

PDP & ORS (2015) LPELR-24351(SC).

Their Lordships relied on Section 78 of the CAMA to hold that the provision has transferred the question of service of court processes from CAMA to the applicable rules of court, and the applicable rules of court in this case is Order 11 Rule 8 of the High Court of the FCT (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004. What the rule provides for is the “corporate office” and not “registered headquarters” as argued by the Appellant. Since the rules of the court specifically mentions “Corporate Office”, the question is whether the Abuja address of the Appellant is the corporate office of the Appellant. The Appellant’s acknowledgement stamp on the Respondent’s letters exhibited in the record served on the Appellant, holds out the Appellant as having its “corporate headquarters” in Abuja. The Appellant having admitted this fact in writing, is estopped from denying the representation it already made to the Respondent.

Regarding the other issue of jurisdiction of the trial court, the Apex Court’s issue was that the provision of Section 251 of the Constitution which confers exclusive jurisdiction on the Federal High Court in matters affecting the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies, and whether the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction over simple contracts, Their Lordships held that the current conventional wisdom is as stated in OIL & GAS EXPORT FREE ZONE AUTHORITY v DR. T.C. OSANAKPO (2019) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1668).

Therein, it was held that “Section 251(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) does not vest the Federal High Court with jurisdiction over an action based on simple contract or debt recovery, even if the Defendant to the action is an agency of the Federal Government…”. The law is that it is not enough for the Respondent to be a Federal Government department or agency, the subject-matter of the action must fall within the jurisdiction of

the Federal High Court. In this instance, the trial court was wrong to have upheld the Appellant’s Preliminary Objection and declined jurisdiction based on the service of the Writ on the Appellant at the address it held out to be its corporate address, and to have refused the determination of the case which was based on simple contract.

In deciding the second issue, the Supreme Court held that the powers of the Court of Appeal to assume jurisdiction as derived from Section 15 of its Act, is to enable the appellate court make any order or give any directive the trial court ought to have made but failed to do. The purpose of Section 15 thereof, is also to avoid duplicity of legal proceedings and ensure speedy delivery of justice.

In the instant case, the matter was commenced under the Undefended List Procedure. The court referred to Order 21 Rule 4 of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2004 to hold that the Appellant failed to put up any defence before the trial court, but rather filed a Preliminary Objection to the suit neglecting its defence to the claim. This presumes that the Appellant had no defence. Therefore, when a matter is on the undefended list, there is no need to summon witnesses at all. It is basically decided on affidavit evidence - MASSKEN NIG. LTD. & ORS v. AMAKA & ANOR (2017) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1592) 438. The exhibits attached to the affidavit at the trial court were before the court below as proof of the Respondent’s claim, and there is no rebuttal of the proof either by a counter-affidavit or defence by the Appellant.

There is no doubt that one of the conditions precedent for the court below to exercise its power, is that the trial court must have jurisdiction to adjudicate on same, and the issue raised by the claim at trial must be capable of being distilled from the grounds of appeal. The issues raised in ground 3 of the Respondent’s appeal and the issues raised by the Respondent’s claim before the trial court are very clear, and the condition was therefore satisfied. The other condition is the availability of all necessary materials, for the court’s consideration. The claim in this matter is one that was brought under the undefended list, and to be determined on Affidavit evidence alone. There is no empowerment in the Court of Appeal to proceed to determine a matter on its merits in all cases. Where the Court of Appeal sets aside the order of the trial court striking out a suit for want of competence or jurisdiction, the appellate court will not ordinarily proceed to determine a matter on the merit when no witness had given viva voce evidence, been cross-examined and the trial court had given an opinion on the veracity and merit of the case.

The power may be utilised to correct errors of lower courts in re-assessing or re-evaluating of evidence, and in such process, utilising evidence on record that was not utilised by lower court, and rejecting inadmissible evidence utilised by lower court - CAPPA AND D’ALBERTO LTD v DEJI AKINTILO (2003) 4 S.C.N.J 1. In the circumstances of this case, all the materials the trial court would have needed to determine the merits of the claim, were before the court below.

The last condition is that, the court would consider the hardship or injustice that would follow if the case is remitted to the trial court.

There is no doubt that in cases of liquidated money demand, the more the matter drags on, the lower the value of the debt, this is not good for our economy. Issues of liquidated money demand, should be settled expeditiously. The time allowed by the Rules for the Appellant to file a defence had passed, no useful purpose would be served by the Court of Appeal’s remittance of the suit back to the trial court. In OBI v INEC, the Supreme court clearly stated these conditions and after it found that the trial court had jurisdiction and the Court of Appeal Act to determine the main issues before the court, it invoked section 22 of the Supreme Court Act and took full jurisdiction of the whole proceedings as if the proceeding was instituted in the Supreme court as the court of first instance and made necessary orders. Having held that the trial court had jurisdiction and could have tried this suit, the Court of Appeal was right that in view of time lapse and the nature of the suit (undefended list), it would be unfair and a miscarriage of justice to return the file to the trial court, since Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act empowers the Court of Appeal to assume original jurisdiction in the circumstances of this case.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Aliyu Sarki, SAN with Sunday Adeagbo, Afolabi Omotosho, A.M.A Adejumobi, D.Y. Sumail and Abdullahi Halima for the Appellant.

Chucks Udo-Kal with Obuma Obasi Nwakwo for the Respondent.

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

V

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

NEWS

Nneka Akudolu, QC

NBA President, Olumide Akpata and his Fiancée, Osayamon Ogbebor

Former Ogun Deputy Governor Arraigned by Police Steve Aya The Former Deputy of Ogun State under the Ibikunle Amosun administration, Chief Olusegun Adesegun, has been arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate Court in Ogba area of Ikeja by the Nigeria Police.

Chief Adesegun, was arraigned before Magistrate M.O. Tanimola for allegedly being in possession of a Certificate of Occupancy belonging to a retiree. He was charged with four counts of conspiracy, concealing deeds, forcible entry and forcible possession.

The Police Counsel, SP Victor Eruada, told the court that the Defendant committed the offence between 2003 and 2017 at the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Cooperation

office (NDIC), Lagos.

SP Eruada alleged that the Defendant conspired with others at large, to steal the Certificate of Occupancy with N068/68/1994 tittle document and property kept with the NDIC belonging to Mr Babatunde Oderinde, a Retiree. According to him, the Defendant in a manner likely to cause breach of peace, did enter the parcel of land located at No 2, Osilaja Street, Opebi-Oregun Link Road, Lagos belonging to Oderinde. SP Eruada alleged that the Defendant, in a manner likely to cause a reasonable apprehension of the breach of peace, took possession of the parcel of land at the above-mentioned address, against the Complainant who is entitled by law.

NBA President Set to Marry The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olumide Akpata is set for nuptials with his long time friend, Osayamon Ogbebor.

Akpata had in a trending flier sent a ‘save the date’ notice stating that the wedding programme will take place in Benin City. He said that he popped the question “after a bit of dithering” and his partner said “Yes!” While the traditional marriage is scheduled to hold according to Bini Native Law and Custom in the spouse’s compound at Ekenwan Road, Benin, Edo State on May 14,

2022, the Reception will take place at Air Force Military Base, Airport Road, Benin, Edo State.

The couple will be joined in holy matrimony on October 2, 2022 in Mauritius.

Said Akpata: “Our Families, having now been formally introduced and the necessary consultations have taken place, we are pleased to announce the details of our Wedding nuptials”.

He urged friends and well-wishers to “Please keep Osayamon and me in your prayers, even as you make your plans to share in these special moments with us.”

#upjudicialsalaries

The Prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 52, 53, 290 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The former Deputy Governor however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Subsequently, Magistrate M.O. Tanimola admitted

the Defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum who must provide evidence of Tax payment and a verifiable address.

Magistrate Tanimola thereafter, ordered for accelerated hearing, while adjourning the case to May 17, May 20 and May 27 for trial.

Another Nigerian Makes QC in UK A Nigerian-born Lawyer, Nneka Akudolu has been elevated to the very prestigious rank of Queen’s Counsel in the United Kingdom.

Akudolu QC, who left school with no A-levels, got pregnant and became single mother at 21, is one of the newly inductees as a Queen’s Counsel of the UK. The female Jury Advocate, Nneka Akudolu QC, was once reportedly written off as a failure.

An Abuja based Lawyer, Dr Kayode Ajulo said: “Written off as a failure, Nneka Akudolu left school with no A-levels and got pregnant after a holiday romance”.

“At the age of 21 while a single mum, Nneka Akudolu QC, without A levels took the Access to Legal Studies Course, got into Law School and was called to the UK Bar in 2002.

“With 19 years experience in Criminal law, Ms Akudolu is a highly respected Jury Advocate, whose practice encompasses all areas of serious crime. She has particular experience working with vulnerable Defendants and witnesses, and those charged with historic allegations of a sexual nature.

“Today, she is one of the new inductees as a

Queen’s Counsel of the UK. “Her story is a testimony of an audacious dream, and I salute her resilience. Congratulations, Learned Silk.”

The rank of QC is the equivalent of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and it is the tradition of the Nigerian Bar that any Lawyer of Nigerian descent who makes QC, almost automatically gets awarded the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Nneka Akudolu QC is a Grade 4 Prosecutor, and is on the approved list to prosecute rape and serious sexual offences.

Ms Akudolu said that she was absolutely thrilled that her application for QC was successful. According to her, seeing her name on the list will inspire others to believe that, they too can achieve the amazing appointment.

According to Lord Chancellor & Justice Secretary, Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, the award of QC is highly sought after, and the expertise and eminence of this year’s pool is testament to the excellence of our worldleading legal sector.

“Nneka is a personable and approachable advocate, whose ability to understand the

facts of a case quickly and effectively, enables her to grasp the issues with ease. Her practice continues to grow at a pace. In the last year, she has appeared as junior alone for the defence in a case of murder, and has appeared as leading counsel in a case involving multiple counts of rape and serious sexual assaults against multiple Complainants.

“Away from the Crown Court, Nneka has a keen interest in Military Law, and has enjoyed a wealth of experience representing members of the armed forces and their dependents in Court Martial proceedings here and overseas. Her military work covers a wide range of offences, including serious violence and rape.

“Nneka has extensive experience in prosecuting and defending regulatory offences, such as breaches of Health & Safety and Trading Standards Legislation. She also receives instructions to defend Police Officers accused of breaching standards of professional behaviour, and facing misconduct proceedings.”

According to Wikipedia ‘Queen’s Counsel is an office, conferred by the Crown, that is recognised by courts. Members have

the privilege of sitting within the Inner Bar of court. The term is recognised as an honorific.

As members wear silk gowns of a particular design, appointment as Queen’s Counsel is known informally as receiving, obtaining, or taking silk, and QCs are often colloquially called Silks. Appointments are made from within the legal profession on the basis of merit, rather than a particular level of experience. However, successful applicants tend to be Barristers, or (in Scotland) Advocates with 15 years of experience or more.’

‘The award of Queen’s Counsel is for excellence in advocacy in the higher courts. It is made to advocates who have rights of audience in the higher courts of England and Wales, and have demonstrated the competencies in the Competency Framework to a standard of excellence.

‘Queen’s Counsel are appointed from amongst practising advocates, both Barristers and Solicitors. They are appointed because they have demonstrated excellence in advocacy in difficult cases in the higher courts of England and Wales, or in tribunals or arbitrations.’

‘I am aware that between 1999 to date, the Federal Government reviewed the salaries and allowances of public servants, specifically in 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2011. However, the salaries of judicial officers were only reviewed twice during the same period. As a result, judicial officers have been on the same salary structure for more than 10 years. It may now be necessary for the NJC to provide leadership on possible renewed negotiation on this issue, as part of a holistic discussion on judicial autonomy.” - Dr Kayode Fayemi, Governor, Ekiti State; Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum

VI

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

INSIGHT ABUBAKAR D. SANI

XL4sure@yahoo.com

08034533892 080KUBIUDOFIA.

Secrecy of Terrorism Trials in Nigeria Introduction he recently-enacted Practice Directions on Trials of Terrorism cases at the Federal High Court, have brought to the fore the constitutionality of secret trials in Nigeria. Issued by the Chief Judge of the court, they took immediate effect (from the 5th day of April, 2022), and apply to all trials of cases under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011, as amended, (TPA) which are being conducted and will be conducted in the Federal High Court (FHC).

T

Overview Order III of the Directions is of particular importance and it provides, inter alia, as follows: 1. “Proceedings of offences of terrorism, subject to the provisions of Section 232 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and Section 34 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 (as amended), shall be held in camera or as may be ordered by the court” 2. In any proceedings where the court deems it necessary to ensure the safety and/or protect the identity of the victim or a witness, it may take any or all of the following protective measures: e. Direct that all or any part of proceedings of the court shall not be published in any manner; f. Exclude from the proceedings any person other than the parties and their legal representatives”.

Additionally, Order IV of the Directions provides as follows: “1. Coverage of proceedings under these Practice Directions is strictly prohibited, save as may be directed by the court.

“2. A person who contravenes an order or direction made under these Practice Directions shall be deemed to have committed an offence contrary to Section 34(5) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 (as amended”.

Analysis The Directions were issued pursuant to Section 254 of the 1999 Constitution which provides that “Subject to the provisions of any Act of the National Assembly, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court may make rules for regulating the practice and procedure of the Federal High Court”.

Section 44(1) of the Federal High Court Act provides, inter alia, that: “The Chief Judge may, with the approval of the National Council of Ministers, make rules of court for carrying this Act into effect” Did the Directions receive the blessing of the National Council of Ministers (now the Federal Executive Council)? It remains to be seen.

Beyond this however, of even greater importance is the constitutional guarantee of open or public criminal trials conferred by

Terrorists

Section 36(4) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that “Whenever any person is charged with a criminal offence, he shall, unless the charges is withdrawn, be entitled to a fair hearing in public within a reasonable time by a court of tribunal” This provision is admittedly not immutable, as the proviso thereto qualifies it thus: “(a) Provided that a court or such a tribunal may exclude from its proceedings persons other than the parties thereto or their legal practitioners in the interest of defence, public safety, public morality, the welfare of persons who have not attained the age of eighteen years, the protection of the private lives of the parties or to such extent as it may consider necessary by reason of special circumstances in which publicity would be contrary to the interests of peace”. “(b) If in any proceedings before a court or such tribunal, a Minister of the Government of the Federation or a Commissioner of the Government of a State satisfies the court or tribunal that it would not be in the public interest for any matter to be publicly disclosed, the court or a tribunal shall make arrangements for evidence relating to that matter to be heard in private and shall take such other action as may be necessary or expedient to prevent the disclosure of the matter.”

I believe the language of Section 36(4)(a)&(b) makes it clear that the power it confers is given to “a court or a tribunal”, and not the Head albeit administrative - of a particular set of courts, which consists of multiple members, all of whom are co-equal in terms of powers and functions under the Constitution. This is the case with the Federal High Court, under Section

“Accordingly, in my view, the power to exclude members of the public from or secrete any matter in any given case, rests in the specific Judge of the Federal High Court who presides over that case not the Chief Judge…..”

249 of the Constitution. To hold otherwise would be to equate the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court with the entire court. He is not.

Accordingly, in my view, the power to exclude members of the public from or secrete any matter in any given case, rests in the specific Judge of the Federal High Court who presides over that case - not the Chief Judge, who, as previously stated, is really only primus inter pares (the first among equals). I believe that this view is consistent with Section 34 of TPA which also refers to “the court”, that is, the Federal High Court, and not its Chief Judge. That provision is virtually identical with those of Order III Rules 2-3 of the Directions. To that extent, I submit that the former have covered the field, and the latter are now otiose and inoperative.

The same applies to both sets of provisions, that is, Section 34 of the TPA and Order III Rules 2-3 of the Directions, vis-à-vis Section 36(4)(a)&(b) of the Constitution: the latter has covered the field and displaced the former: AG of ABIA v AGF (No. 2) (2002) 4 S.C.1 at 369; Hon. Minister of Justice & AGF v AG of Lagos (2013) All FWLR Pt. 704 PG. 1. In Ishola v Ajiboye (1994) 6 NWLR Pt. 352 pg. 506 at 573D, the Apex Court held that “the Constitution is supreme not only when another law is inconsistent with it, but also when another seeks to compete with it in an area already covered by the Constitution”.

Additionally, I believe that, even though Section 36(4)(a)&(b) of the Constitution is silent on the point, it can reasonably be implied that, before an exclusionary order is made in any given case, the court ought to invite addresses from counsel in a terrorism trial on the propriety of making such order. In other words, the provision is permissive and not mandatory. This is because, it is trite law that before any person or institution makes a decision which will affect a person’s civil rights and obligations, it must give such a person an opportunity to be heard.

Obviously, an order to shut out the public from or secrete any matter in a suspect terrorist’s trial will impinge on his or her right to fair trial in public guaranteed by the self-same Section

36(4) of the Constitution. It’s proviso cannot be stronger than the main provision, as the tail cannot wag the dog.

The upshot of the foregoing in my view, is that the relevant provisions of the said Practice Directions are ultra vires the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court (with the greatest respect), null and void. They constitute an overreach, because, under the Constitution, it is the prerogative of an individual Judge of the Federal High Court who is trying terrorism offences, to make such order as the justice of the case may demand – and only after hearing the parties, not suo motu.

Evidence and Related Provisions.

Beyond the invalidity of the secrecy provisions of the Directions, I believe other parts thereof are also problematic.

These include the provisions of Order III Rules 3(b) and (d) which respectively empower the court “to receive evidence by video link, and to receive written depositions of expert witnesses”. I believe that they are inconsistent with the provisions of Items 23 and 68 of the Exclusive Legislative List as well as Paragraph 2(b) of Part III of the 2nd Schedule to the Constitution which confer on the National Assembly the exclusive power to make all rules of evidence - both substantive and adjectival.

Also of doubtful validity, in my view, is Order IV Rule 2 which provides that “a person who contravenes an order or direction made under these Directions shall be deemed to have committed an offence contrary to Section 34(5) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 (as amended)”. As previously submitted, this provision is otiose and inoperative because the National Assembly has already covered the field vide Section 34(5) of the TPA. Finally, the provisions of Order II which apply to the perimeters of the Federal High Court, appear to fall more within the purview of security agencies than the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court - with profound respect. This is because, it is surely a stretch to include a court’s perimeters within any code for regulating practice and procedure during its proceedings. The simple reason is that a court does not extend to it’s perimeters, and the Chief Judge’s powers over practice and procedure are restricted to proceedings within the four walls of the court, not it’s precincts - let alone it’s perimeters.

VII

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

SERIOUS MATTERS OLAWALE FAPOHUNDA, SAN

08033142501 SMS ONLY

Osinachi’s Death: Reflections on Gender-Based Violence Introduction he Attorney-General was not there when I married my wife. I do not know why he is concerned about how I treat her. I am offended that he is comparing the misunderstanding with my wife, with Osinachi’s matter. Is he calling me a murderer? I do not know how a few harmless slaps, could be equated with murder.’

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– Petition from a Wifebeater (name withheld) against the Attorney-General, Ekiti State Aspiring Wifebeaters in the Dock This complaint exemplifies the many pushbacks my office gets on a daily basis, in the course of our interventions on GenderBased Violence (GBV) matters. This is in Ekiti State, where we have by far the most stringent laws and policies against all forms of Gender-Based Violence. Where the fear of appearing in ‘the court’ of wife of the Governor, is the beginning of wisdom for aspiring wifebeaters. This is Ekiti State, where men will prostate and beg their wives not to report their violent behaviour to the office of the wife of the Governor. No wifebeater appears before that court, and comes out the same. Yet, Ekiti State, like other States in the Federation, continue to struggle with horrific cases of GBV. Poverty and GBV A lot has been said, about poverty being a major cause of violence against women in Nigeria. Poverty is multi-layered and complex making it hard to even truly define the term, let alone how it overtly impacts our communities, and gender- based violence. It gets even more complicated, when one takes into consideration the diversity found in a country like Nigeria. I have seen firsthand how poverty greatly impacts the ability of women to leave violent, abusive and unsafe living situations. Many of the women fleeing violent situations and who seek help from my office, face impossible choices. For example, escaping the situation at home might mean choosing homelessness, hunger, and unsafe living conditions for themselves and their children.

GBV or Perversion?

I must add, that I have been shocked at the crudity and ferociousness of some of the cases my office deals with. What has poverty got to do with the Bank Manager who insists that his wife allows anal sex, and breaks all her ribs when she refuses? What about the Lecturer who in the middle of a three-year marriage suddenly realises that he cannot have an erection without help, and decides that the solution to his problem is to bring men into his matrimonial home to rape his wife while he watches, in a bid to get it up. When she objects, he beats her black and blue. How about the Professor, who on every misunderstanding, takes delight in asking his senior civil servant wife to kneel down naked while flogging her with his belt. Oh! how can I forget the matter of the popular man about town who insists that his seven-month pregnant wife performs oral sex on him, and when she refuses, in a moment of rage, turns her stomach into a punching bag.

Women’s Lives Don’t Matter In a previous writeup on this page titled

Late Osinachi Nwachukwu

‘Nigeria is at War with her Women’, I argued that the main reason why we seem to have this mindless violence against women and girls, is simply because of our inability or unwillingness as a country to make their status an important agenda item on our development plan. I referenced the rejection of the several women empowerment bills in the National Assembly, as a case in point. I said that the result of this deprioritisation of women, is an official affirmation of cultural norms that consider it acceptable for men to subject women to acts of violence. In very stark terms, Government and the Governed are united in waving the ‘lives of our women don’t matter’ flag. We need look no further than the aggregate of public opinion, in the aftermath of the death of Osinachi Nwachukwu. Expectedly, there were lots of commentaries. Some enlightening, but, regrettably, most were thoughtless. By far the most thoughtless, were those who placed the cause of death squarely at the doorstep of the victim.

Prevalence of Revictimisation The revictimisation of victims of GBV is, in my considered view, one of the main reasons why we seem to be making slow progress in articulating a coherent response to GBV. We almost always seem to question the victim. In cases of sexual violence/assault, we want to know what the victim was wearing, why was she at the place where the violence occurred?

Some even go to the absurd length of questioning whether the victim was a virgin, at the time she was raped. These queries fall flat when put side by side with the rape of three month old babies, or 80 year old grandparents. Curiously when we can’t find any rational argument, we rush back to primordial times and blame ritualists.

In matters of domestic violence, women are still being considered guilty of attract-

“This is in Ekiti State, where we have by far the most stringent laws and policies against all forms of Gender-BasedViolence.

Where the fear of appearing in ‘the court’ of wife of the Governor, is the beginning of wisdom for aspiring wifebeaters”

ing violence against themselves through their behaviour. It has to be the woman.

Why did she not pack her bags and run?

What did she say to the man, that evoked such madness? It is important to stress, and one must not get tired of saying it, that the main cause of any form of GBV is the perpetrator, his or herself. It is very important to keep in mind that a person who is a victim of GBV, is never responsible for the perpetrator’s actions.

How did we get here?

One question that has repeatedly dominated many discussions groups since the Osinachi story broke is, how did we get here? I do not believe that we just got here. In my view, we have always been here. What has changed and continues to evolve is the multiple publicity platforms that now exist, which makes it possible to share information on a national scale. To be sure, there is no single factor that can explain GBV in our communities.

Sitting in my office in Ado Ekiti, I can see a myriad of contributory factors.

Indeed, the interplay of these factors lies at the root of the problem. In addition to poverty in its various ramifications, there are other factors. Yes, our cultural practices. Across all our communities, patriarchal and sexist views legitimise violence against women. None of our communities are immune from this.

North, West, East and South and in between, we are all the same. United by our strong belief in gender stereotypes and prejudice. Our religions have also provided support in the affirmation of male authority, in both public and private spheres. Our religions preach entitlement and ownership of women. This, in turn, affirms a culture of general acceptance of violence.

Fear of Police Aside from retrogressive cultural norms, another factor is our weak criminal justice system. From the commission of the offence to its movement through the criminal justice system, the burden of proof is unfairly placed on the victim.

In Ekiti State, we have reversed this, first by publishing a service charter for victims of crime. This sets out in detail, how victims of crime should be treated, and what advice, support

and practical information they can receive.

We have subsequently enacted the Victims of Crime Law, which enumerates legal rights afforded victims of crime. These include the right to restitution, the right not to be excluded from the criminal justice proceedings and the right to be heard. It must be appreciated that there are now progressive anti-GBV laws in most States of Nigeria. Even those States that are seen to be conservative appear to have in recent times, woken up to the urgency of the need to protect women, even if all they have done is to review their laws which previously left women particularly vulnerable to domestic violence. While most forms of gender-based violence are criminalised in many of our States, the practices of law enforcement, to a large extent, favour the perpetrators. Many women have a rational fear of engaging with the Police, due to a history of failing to protect women who report abuse and violations. This partly accounts for enduring low levels of reporting and investigation. Invariably, most of these crimes go unreported.

Women in Politics The under-representation of women in power and politics means that they have fewer opportunities to shape the discussion and to affect changes in policy, or to adopt measures to combat gender-based violence and support equality. If there were sufficient number of women in the National Assembly when those gender bills were debated, It is almost certain that the bills will not have been given second class consideration. Even in many State Houses of Assembly, the topic of gender-based violence has often times been deemed not to be important.

Looking Ahead The response of the Federal Government to the alleged murder of Osinachi, is noteworthy.

The visit of the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs to the Inspector General of Police, at the very least, means that something is being done. However, for most victims whose plight will never be the subject of national discussion, there is a need to do more. It has been more than a year, since the Nigerian Governors’ Forum declared a state of emergency on all forms of GBV. It is time to evaluate progress.

The Honourable Minister for Women Affairs, is suitably positioned to lead a nation wide evaluation on the effectiveness of the various State Government interventions. We need to know whether we are making progress, as the basis for further action on this matter.

VIII

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

COVER

Osinachi Nwachukwu and husband

Domestic Violence: Nigerian Women at Risk The recent death of one of Nigeria’s leading gospel music artistes, Osinachi Nwachukwu, who was allegedly battered to death by her husband, has elicited nationwide outcry.

Christian leaders have since risen in outright condemnation of the dastardly act, with many calling for her husband to face the hangman. Her death however, revealed the scary statistics of women who are subjected to inhumane and violent treatment in the hands of their spouses. Gender Rights Activists, Osai Ojigho, Amanda Demechi-Asagba and Uju Peace Okeke discuss Gender-Based and Domestic Violence, suggest ways in which escalating spousal abuse can be reduced, and how victims can find respite One Death Too Many: The High Cost of Domestic Violence Osai Ojigho

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ender-based violence (GBV) which is violence targeted at a person because of their danger, and often perpetrated against women and girls, is pervasive in Nigeria. Generally, most people are familiar with the alarming statistics of the World Health Organisation (WHO) which estimates that 1 in 3 women would be subjected to either physical or sexual intimate partner violence, or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2018 NDHS) further showed that, 30% of females between 15 and 49 years had experienced sexual violence.

During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, cases of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) soared.

Therefore, VAWG is not only a shocking reality for many women and girls, it is also a health emergency requiring more attention than it is currently getting.

Article 1 of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) and Section 46 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) Act of 2015 provide that, violence includes those acts which cause or could cause physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm, including the threat to take such acts and applies, whether in private or public or in peace time or times of conflict. The definitions are therefore very encompassing, and form the basis of addressing GBV as a human rights issue that has implications for the enjoyment of rights of every person.

Late Osinachi Nwachukwu: Domestic Violence Nigerian gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu died on April 8, 2022, allegedly due to abuse and beatings from her husband. When the story about the circumstances around her death broke out, the public were not only shocked, they queried how such a gifted singer suffered domestic violence for such a long time without respite. Sadly, Osinachi joins several cases of women across Nigeria, whose untimely death and injuries were because of domestic violence often by a spouse or intimate partner. For example, the case of 21-year old Airwoman Solape Oladipupo (Shomzy) killed by her boyfriend, Airman Kalu Bernard in March 2017; the case of Titilayo

Omozoje killed by her husband Akolade Arowolo in June 2011; and of Seun Mojiyagbe who was stabbed with a pair of scissors by her husband in November 2021.

However, the real number of women who have died arising from domestic violence remains largely unknown. There are also other cases of men who have lost their lives after domestic squabbles with their spouses, like Biliyaminu Bello who was stabbed to death by his wife, Mariam Sanda. Evidence abounds that predominantly, women are largely impacted by domestic violence.

In the VAPP Act domestic violence is defined as “any act perpetrated on any person in a domestic relationship where such act causes harm or may cause imminent harm to the safety, health or well-being of any person.” The VAPP further provides in Section 46 that a person is in a domestic relationship where: “(a) they are or were married to each other including marriages according to any law, customary religion; (b) they live or have lived together in a relationship in the nature of marriage, although they are not or were not married to each other; (c) they are the parents of a child or children or are the persons who have or had a parental responsibility for that child or children; (d) they are family members related by consanguinity, affinity or adoption; (e) they are or were in an engagement, dating or customary relationship including actual or perceived romantic, intimate or sexual relationship of any duration; (f) they share or recently shared the same residence.” Therefore, the definition is quite extensive covering spousal, intimate partner, parental, sibling relationships, and extended family members living together, and domestic workers.

Prior to the enactment of the VAPP, Ebonyi, Cross River and Lagos State had laws prohibiting domestic violence. Section 18(1)(g)(i)-(xiv), Protection Against Domestic Violence Law 2007 of Lagos State provides that domestic violence includes: physical abuse; sexual abuse exploitation including but not limited to rape, incest and sexual assault; starvation; emotional, verbal and psychological abuse; economic abuse and exploitation; denial of basic education; intimidation; harassment; stalking; hazardous attack including acid bath with offensive or poisonous substance; damage to property; entry into the complainant’s residence without consent where the parties do not share

the same residence; or any other controlling or abusive behaviour towards a complainant, where such conduct harms or may cause imminent harm to the safety, health or wellbeing of the complainant; deprivation.

In Osinachi’s case as gleaned from the Hon. Minister for Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen observations after visiting the late gospel singer’s family, we understand that money from her singing career were paid to the husband’s account, making her dependent on him. She also lived in fear while in the house, and was beaten a lot. It appears that Osinachi suffered several breaches of the VAPP Act such as forced financial dependence or economic abuse (Sections 12 & 46); placed in a fear of physical injury (Section 4); Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse (Section 14); and spousal battery, which is the “intentional and unlawful use of force or violence upon a person, including the unlawful touching, beating or striking of another person against his or her will with the intention of causing bodily harm to that person” (Section 19). And with her death, the spouse could be facing murder charges under the criminal laws.

The VAPP Act provides for an opportunity to apply for protection orders from the High Court by complainants, but by others, including the Police, a protection officer, accredited service provider, counsellor health service provider, social worker or teacher “who has interest in the well-being of the complainant” on behalf of the complainant. The has to be done with the consent of the complainant, except they are not in a position to give consent as described under the Act (Section 28(4) VAPP Act). This means that anyone who knew of the abuse could have applied for an order of the court with Osinachi’s consent, to stop the abuse and

warn the perpetrator of consequences of breaching the protection order. This is one area that, as a society, we need to explore more, considering that after Osinachi’s death, many people came out to say that they knew about the abuse and wanted it to stop but felt helpless to help. If a protection order was applied for and granted, this could have ordered the perpetrator to stop committing further acts of domestic violence, and even taking steps prevent the perpetrator from access to their home so that the victim/survivor could be safe at home or work (see Section 31 VAPP Act). A protection order can offer victims of GBV, especially domestic violence victims/survivors some respite, as the law prosecutes offenders pending the final determination of the suit.

The Presidential Commission on Reform of the Administration of Justice in Nigeria, 2006 noted that, a deficient criminal justice system which is not sensitive to women worsens the chances of women survivors of violence seeking justice. Amnesty International Nigeria in a research, ‘Harrowing Journey: Access to Justice for Women and Girl Survivors of Rape’, published in November 2021, noted that many survivors are discouraged from pursuing their cases, due to revictimisation by the Police and insensitive questioning practices. The Police may be influenced by cultural beliefs about protecting family units, and evidence shows that there is a tendency to treat cases of domestic violence as private matters, declining to prosecute or even act as mediators for reconciliation between parties and families.

The state of emergency for GBV declared in 2020 by the Nigerian authorities, should translate words to resources for providing support for survivors of GBV and their families, as well as facilities to prevent, prosecute and punish perpetrators of violence. More States have domesticated the VAPP Act, with Yobe State being the most recent after the Governor assented to the law in a statement shared on April 16, 2022.

“Nigerian gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu died on April 8, 2022, allegedly due to abuse and beatings from her husband...Biliyaminu Bello…was stabbed to death by his wife, Mariam Sanda”

IX COVER

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

Domestic Violence: Nigerian Women at Risk It is one thing to pass the law, its another for it to be implemented holistically and all the services available to victims and survivors provided at little or no cost.

The Nigerian Governors Forum and the Nigerian Governors Wives Against Gender-Based Violence (NGWA-GBV) are initiatives that need to do more, in terms of ensuring the political will for implementing the VAPP in States that have domesticated, and adoption in States yet to have appropriate laws to deal with GBV, including domestic violence.

The VAPP Act implementing agency is the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) (Section 44 VAPP Act). NAPTIP has set up a Nigeria Sexual Offender and Service Provider Database (NSOD), which holds a list of State and not-for-profit GBV responders and service providers.

It launched the first VAPP annual implementation report 2020 during 16 days on activism in 2021, and now has in place the Domestic Violence Reporting Coordinator (Section 42 VAPP Act). NAPTIP, in carrying out its task, should not only coordinate all the relevant agencies in the multi-agency HIMAT platform comprising of relevant Federal agencies including the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, security agencies and National Human Rights Commission; but provide regular monitoring mechanism reporting and follow-up with cases that can be readily accessed by survivors and the general public beyond the annual reporting mechanism. Putting information on its website on successful cases and tips for combating GBV, can be helpful. The awareness and education component can be enhanced through concerted collaboration with the National Orientation Agency, civil society and community group.

The FCT has the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Team (FCT SGBVRT), and several States have similar bodies meant to be a first stop service provision centre for survivors.

While there are now 32 State established sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) in 18 States out of 36 States in Nigeria, there is a huge demand for more SARCs to cater for millions of people in the country. Private shelters run by mostly NGOs, are overstretched with not enough space to respond to the cases of GBV they receive daily. It continues to be an onerous burden to deal with the alarming cases of GBV, and even more alarming deaths resulting from GBV especially domestic violence. Some have argued for a moral and religious response to tackling this, but the danger is that rather than aiding the situation, such practices can limit progressive laws from dealing with the situation with the seriousness it deserves. I have argued elsewhere, about how the cultural and religious settings in Nigeria make it difficult for women to speak out about violence. Cultural norms reinforce patriarchy by enforcing the notion that the male is superior to the female, and in this sense, women must serve the interests of men (Prohibiting Domestic Violence through Legislation in Nigeria, in Agenda (2009)).

Therefore, a human rights perspective should be applied, if women are to be treated equally and with dignity as required under international law and the Nigerian Constitution.

According to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s General recommendation No. 35 on gender-based violence against women, paragraph 15: “Women’s right to a life free from gender-based violence is indivisible from, interdependent with other human rights, including the right to life, health, liberty and security of the person, the right to equality and equal protection within the family, freedom from torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment, freedom of expression, movement, participation, assembly and association”.

Women and girls should have access to a remedy, when their human rights are violated. It is too late to bring to life Osinachi and other women who have lost their lives as a result of domestic violence, but the State can help those still in a cycle of violence to get support to report their abuses and seek redress.

Survivors of domestic violence need compassion and support, not abuse or condemnation for not leaving their abusive partners. We need to recognise that it is a process. It is the reason why legal intervention is definitive, as it has the force of the law.

Osai Ojigho, Lawyer; Human Rights Expert; Gender Equality Advocate; Civil Society Leader; Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria since April 2017

Call for Government Action Against Gender Based Violence Amanda Demechi-Asagba

President, African Women Lawyers Association, Mandy Asagba Definitions of Domestic Violence Section 18(g) of Lagos State Domestic Violence Law defines Domestic Violence.

The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women defines violence against women as ‘any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

The Council of Europe’s Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), Article 3 states: ‘Gender-based violence against women shall mean violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman, or that affects women disproportionately’.

The United Nations defines domestic violence as a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner which could be physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person.

Types of GBV Sexual, physical, verbal, psychological (emotional), or socio-economic and it can take many forms, from verbal violence and hate speech on the internet, to rape, defilement, murder, trafficking, Sexual exploitation etc.

It can be perpetrated by anyone: a current or former spouse/partner, a family member, a colleague from work, schoolmates, friends, an unknown person, or people who act on behalf of cultural, religious, State, or intra-State institutions.

Violence against Women, as with any type of violence, is an issue involving relations of power. It is based on a feeling of superiority and/or inferiority, and an intention to assert that superiority and or cover up for the inferiority complex in the family, at school, at work, in the community or in society.

The difference between GBV and Domestic Violence is that GBV can be perpetrated by anyone anywhere in private or public, while Domestic Violence is perpetrated by someone in a relationship, husband or brother, uncle or in-law, any family member or close family friend or domestic staff of a family, lesson teacher and or Pastor in the home and anywhere or neighbour etc.

In Nigeria women and girls are subjected to multiple forms of violence in the home ranging from deprivation, starvation hitting, suffocating, burning, acid baths, poisoning, neglect, lack of care, verbal insults, degrading comments, torture and intimidation, female genital mutilation, child marriage, child abuse, denial, neglect, deprivation and abandonment.

Over the years, there has been a surge in the number of domestic violence incidents and reports, consequent to increased efforts to enhance the protection and promotion of women’s rights through the enactment of laws and policies

“UNODC reports that 47,000 women and girls worldwide, were killed by their intimate partners or other family members in 2020”

Osai Ojigho

internationally, regionally and nationally. Such efforts have resulted in standard setting documents like the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, (CEDAW) the Beijing Platform for Action etc at the international level, African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights at the regional level and at the National level - National Constitutions - The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) 2015, Protection Against Domestic Violence Laws, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team Agency Law 2021.

Victims Unfortunately, despite the legal framework, the rate of GBV/DV is increasing astronomically.

Yesterday it was Arowolo, the Defendant that was tried, convicted and sentenced to death.

What is the fate of the child of that marriage?

For Joy Ndubwueze who narrowly escaped death as she was allegedly shot by her fiancé, a Police Officer, Eze Aiwansoba in 2021 at Opebi Lagos causing her serious bodily injury that requires multiple surgeries - still on trial. Who is responsible for the cost of multiple surgeries she requires? What is the State doing to ameliorate her suffering?

And today, Osinachi Nwachukwu who died allegedly as a result of injuries sustained from physical assault on her by her husband.

These deaths caused by intimate partners is referred to as Femicide and/or Gendercide.

Gendercide is defined as the systematic killing of members of a specific gender. The term is related to the general concepts of assault and murder against victims due to their gender.

Many have gone unreported to protect the family name, and some settled amicably and or forcefully by threat to life.The question is, who is next? Can we save this avoidable irreplaceable and irreparable losses?

Alarming and Scary Statistics and Facts 1. 137 women are killed by a member of their family every day.

2. UNODC reports that 47,000 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members in 2020.

3. It was estimated that of the 87,000 women who were intentionally killed in 2017 globally, more than half (50,000) were killed by intimate partners/husbands or family members.

4. More than 640 million women aged 15 and older have been subjected to intimate partner violence.

5. Fewer than 40% of the women who experience violence seek help of any sort.

In the majority of countries with available data on this issue, among women who do seek help, most look to family and friends, and very few look to formal institutions, such as Police and health services. Fewer than 10% of those seeking help appealed to the formal institutions.

6. AWLA Secretariat receives no less than 30 domestic violence cases a month.

7. Data from AWLA show 80% report on domestic violence while other reports come within 20%.

8. Data from AWLA show for sexual assault 80% report of child defilement and 20% report on rape.

9. AWLA report revealed a significant increase in domestic violence since Covid-19.

10. Globally, it is estimated that 736 million women - almost 1 in 3 - have been subjected to intimate partner violence, non-

partner sexual violence, or both.

11. 7 in 10 women in the world report have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime.

12. Over 130 countries have laws that penalise domestic violence, for over 603 million women, domestic violence is still not a crime in their countries and or States.

13. Women and girls together account for 72%, with girls representing more than 3 out of every 4 child trafficking victims. *Women and girls are trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

14. 15 million adolescent girls worldwide, aged 15-19 years, have experienced forced sex.

15. In the vast majority of countries, adolescent girls are most at risk of forced sex (forced sexual intercourse or other sexual acts) by a current or former partner, or boyfriend. Based on data from 30 countries, only 1% have ever sought professional help.

16. Globally, 1 in 3 students, aged 11-15, have been bullied by their peers at school.

17. Nigeria is one of the top 10 countries with the highest homicide rate: (34.52 per 100,000 people) Light at the End of the Tunnel: Legal Framework Nigeria has domesticated the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Some of the domestic laws the Government has entrenched to protect women and the girl child from all forms of violence and abuse includes the following: 1. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

2. African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Ratification and Enforcement Act: Articles 3 and 19 of the Act provides that everyone is equal before the law (both men and women). Article 28 further provides that every individual has duty to respect his fellow human beings without discrimination and reinforces mutual respect and tolerance.

3. Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 and Laws of States: This Act filled a lacuna that was hitherto existing in our criminal law, with regard to violence against women. In particular, before the enactment of the Act, some peculiar forms of sexual abuse against women which was not catered for under the Criminal Code Act, has been entrenched in the Act. Also, the Act provides for compensation for victims of sexual abuse and rape. Most laudable is the fact that the Act expressly prohibits female circumcision otherwise known as female genital mutilation, an act that has been denounced by several human rights activists. VAPP criminalises the act and other harmful traditional practices, and subjects offenders found guilty of the act to imprisonment and or fine.

VAPP also prohibits forceful ejection of one’s spouse from the house, and damage to property with intent to cause distress. The Act also expressly prohibits physical, economic, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse and domestic violence (spousal battery), forceful separation from family and friends, as well as abandonment of spouses and children.

These offences have been shown to affect a large number of women and girls in comparison to men and boys.

4. Criminal Code Act: The Act criminalises different form of sexual abuse, which women or females suffer. The Act prohibits defilement of girls, and indecent treatment of girls. The CCA also prohibits Cont'd on page X

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Domestic Violence: Nigerian Women at Risk Cont'd from page IX

procuring or encouraging girls for prostitution.

5. National Centre for Women Development Act. 6. National Commission for Women Act. 7. National Gender Policy 2006.

8.Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015: Statistics has shown that for every one man trafficked, three women are being trafficked. Therefore, the provisions of the Act would apply mostly to women than men.

9. Child Rights Act 2003.

10. The Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009: By extending the locus standi for people who bring actions with respect to the violation of their rights to include third parties, the new regime has enabled NGOs and human/ women’s rights advocates to institute actions on behalf of women who have suffered violence in one form or the other.

11. Malpractices against Widows and Widowers (Prohibition) Law 2015 in Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra.

12. Law to Prohibit Domestic Violence Against Women and Maltreatment Law No. 10 of 2004 Cross River.

13. InhumanTreatment of Widows (Prohibition) Law 2004 Edo State.

International Conventions, Treaties and Protocols Nigeria is a signatory to several international and regional instruments that specifically deal with the attempts to stop violence against women. These include: I. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948); II. The African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (1981); III. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (1981); IV. Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) (2005); V. Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies (1985); VI. Vienna Declaration (1993); VII. Beijing Platform for Action (1995).

Recommendations 1. Enforcement of laws: It has been established that Nigeria is not short of good laws; the major problem is in the enforcement of the laws. It is therefore important that law enforcement authorities are properly educated, so as to help safeguard the rights of women as provided under the law. It is essential that the Police Force are adequately equipped and trained, in order for them to be efficient and gender sensitive in the prevention and control of violence.

This is because they are central in helping victims get access to justice. However, due to their ignorance which stems from the largely patriarchal society we live in, most times, they dismiss matters on violence against women (especially domestic violence) as a domestic affair that should be settled within the family.

Or they go off to victim-blaming.

2. Sensitisation: Violence against women is a major public health problem, and there is a dire need to reach out to marginalised, rural and urban girls to enlighten them on the various forms of violence.

There is a need for sensitisation programmes about the various forms of exploitation, enlighten them, and build their confidence to speak against these acts or report when they are victims. The general public should be educated on the occurrences, and dangers of violence against women. The sensitisation programmes should also focus on creating awareness, on the institutions that are particularly focused on the protection of women’s rights. This will prove to be a useful tool to combat the menace and reduce the rate of victimisation in the country.

The Government in conjunction with custodians of culture; traditional heads, faith-based organisations and NGOs can carry out these awareness programmes.

Social media would prove to be useful in creating awareness against gender-based violence and to spread news, information, and adverts to sensitise the people.

3. Establishment of support centres for women: It is imperative that a safe space and environment is created for women, to be able to air their sufferings to others. It is important that there should be active listening to persons, who have been victims of one form of violence or abuse. An adequate response to the needs of these people, is likewise, important.

4. There is also the need to provide funds to support women, to empower them. Adequate funding of the Judiciary and the Legal Aid Council is also very important, so that they can adequately cater for women’s rights.

5. Education: It is vital that we place so much

Uju Peace Okeke emphasis on encouraging girl-child education, and creating structures that will make them stay in school. Education is a tool that will enhance women’s ability to exercise self-determination in the control over their own bodies, and secure them with economic power. In the long run, it will translate to more women involved in policy making.

Legal Proposals to Stop Violence Against Women and Girls The legal framework in Nigeria is robust, with laws that protect women and girls. Thus, to completely eradicate violence against women and girls, there is the need for implementation agencies and the establishment of centres that cater for victims of violence. These centres should be fully equipped with facilities, to protect women and girls who have been victims of violence. The Government can go further to provide at least one well equipped shelter in every State, to protect persons who have been victims of violence from further violence, and provide qualified personnel to cater for the needs of these victims. We at AWLA, propose a one stop centre to deal with victims of violence from rescue to rehab and reintegration.

Additionally, there is the need to strengthen law enforcement agencies for the arrest, prosecution and reporting of the cases of violence and trial in court.

This would serve as a deterrent to the general public, from repeating the offences. There is also the need to strengthen community reporting of cases of violence against women and girls, and provide security and welfare for victims and their immediate family.

This is essential in order to eradicate the culture of silence, shame and compromise that shrouds the incidence of violence against women and girls.

Need for accelerated hearing in domestic violence cases, as the delay in getting justice is actually discouraging many from reporting, as well as encouraging compromise. Imagine defilement cases taking as long as six years and still counting…

Institutions such as the Nigeria Police Force, Legal Aid Council, National Agency for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Federal Ministry of Youth and Social Development, The Law Reform Commission, National Human Rights Commission, African Women Lawyers Association( AWLA), FIDA, DSVRT - the Judiciary both State and Federal, can all work together to complement efforts to provide justice and protect the human rights of women all over Nigeria and in the world.

We also call on the private sector to go the extra mile, to assist in the prevention of these crimes against women and girls, by creating an enabling environment for women at the workplace and implementing the 35% affirmative action in their employment and appointment policies, as well as in their corporate social responsibilities towards empowerment of women and girls.

Amanda Demechi-Asagba, President of African Women Lawyers Association Domestic Violence: Who Will Save the

It is very important that Government steps up awareness creation programmes, and equipping the Police with adequate resources to carry on its responsibilities, because VAPPA/VAPPL though a huge step, is not a magic wand that will eradicate violence. In the absence of its implementation, it will remain book protection”

Nigerian Woman?

Uju Peace Okeke Human beings are relational in nature, and sometimes in these relationships, violence occurs. Violence is any act which causes a person physical, psychological, sexual, verbal, emotional, economic harm in private or public life, in peace or conflict situation. Much as everyone could suffer violence to a certain degree, girls, women, and elderly are more susceptible. Therefore, violence against women and girls (VAWG) is that violence directed at them simply because they are females. It is achieved through the use of force, direct pressure, orientation, ritual, tradition, law, language, customs, usages, education and the division of labour. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that 3800 people die from violence every day. This translates to 1.4 million needless deaths, yearly. To make matters worse, for every death from violence, many more suffer a range of injuries and other problems.

The Law & Penalties In Nigeria, we are daily inundated with news of different forms of violence - if it is not the husband killing the wife, it will be the couple using nails on a house help, or a near relative raping the children. To curb this menace, the National Assembly enacted the Violence against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPPA) in 2015, which due to our Federal system of government, applies only to Abuja. This Act holistically protects all persons from different aspects of violence, in private or public life.

Many States have localised the Act in form of Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law (VAPPL) and Domestic Violence Law (DVL).

The laws penalise six different forms of violence which are:i) Physical violence - an act of physical aggression towards another person, whether extreme or insignificant. ii) Sexual violence - an act that violates sexual integrity of another, that is, obtaining sexual act by force or coercion. iii) Psychological/Emotional/Verbal violence - a pattern of degrading or humiliating conduct towards a person. iv) Economic Violence - denial of financial and other economic resources that one is entitled to. v) Harmful traditional practices - these embrace all traditional behaviours and cultural practices affecting fundamental rights of any person. vi) Domestic Violence - an act perpetrated on any person in a domestic relationship causing harm to the safety, health, or well-being. The law sees domestic relationship as one, between a person and a perpetrator of violence where they are or were married to each other, live or lived together in a marriage-like relationship, are the parents of a child, are family members, are or were engaged, in actual or perceived intimate relationship and or share or recently shared same residence.

Domestic violence seems to attract more attention, because all forms of violence do take place within a domestic environment. For instance, in our work at Centre for Mmadu on Human Rights (C4M), victims have reported issues of spousal battery (physical violence); rape and defilement (sexual violence); insults, ridicule, repeated exhibition of obsessive possessiveness, invading liberty and forced isolation (emotional violence); denial of inheritance, starvation, denial

of basic education and abandonment of dependents without sustenance and household necessities (economic violence); child marriage and widowhood malpractices (harmful traditional practices).

Myths about Domestic Violence Again, violence here is so insidious, and could go unnoticed for as long as possible. One of the reasons for this is that, over time, people came up with myths used in explaining away violence. For instance, they say it is cultural, but the Constitution which is our grundnorm provides in Section 21 that the State shall protect, preserve and promote the Nigerian cultures which enhance human dignity.

Others attribute it to poverty or lack of education, but, in reality, it is common at all levels of society amongst rich or poor/educated or uneducated.

Some even opine that it is masculine to be violent to women. but this questions whether men who do not abuse women are lesser men. Some say that men cannot control their anger and frustration, but research shows that it is intentional conduct, and batterers are not out of control, but carefully targets certain people at certain times and places.

Especially as they generally do not attack their bosses or people on the streets, no matter how angry or frustrated they become. Some suggests that women who are assaulted often like it, but in reality, women are not masochists and do not find pleasure in abuse. They are disgusted by it, but could remain in abusive relationships for many reasons, including social stigma of divorce and fear of having their children wrestled away. Ridiculously, some say it is a sign of love, but men beat their wives to show control, disrespect and degradation.

Internalising these myths, women are made to endure violence as a mark of submission, and because many people consider it a family affair, women suffer in silence, believing that exposure will ridicule the family. The nation witnessed a 60% increase in domestic violence during the Covid-19 lockdown. Unfortunately, it is yet to abate as evidenced by recent happenings. As a result of the culture of silence, only a few people report, and many times, even reported cases do not see the light of the day.

Consequences of Domestic Violence Violence causes victims untold hardship in the form of: low self-esteem, depression, suicidal bouts, poor health results, death, loss of job/productivity and violation of human rights. The worst part is that children witnessing it, is itself violence. The society suffers through reduced taxes due to lost wages and demands on courts, health facilities and Police.

Further, increase in broken homes due to violence distorts the fabric of the society, as family is the foundation of every society. Again, it constitutes obstacle to achieving equality, development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Many Non-Governmental Organisations have taken up the duty of educating victims as well as the Police, that these are offences penalised by the law because the law intends their punishment.

It is very important that Government steps up awareness creation programmes, and equipping the Police with adequate resources to carry on its responsibilities, because VAPPA/VAPPL though a huge step, is not a magic wand that will eradicate violence. In the absence of its implementation, it will remain book protection.

Seeing that accumulation of small cruelties leads to societal decay that will affect all, it is imperative that everyone who witnesses any form of violence speaks out, if we must experience violence free society.

Uju Peace Okeke, Executive Director, Centre for Mmadu on Human Rights (C4M)

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022

FEATURES

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

Ejiro Umukoro: Championing Women's Right in Media, Politics Lady Ejiro Umukoro, a policy advocate, author and a member of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Team in this interview with Chiemelie Ezeobi said the interest and empowerment of women in Nigeria would play a key role in the 2023 electoral campaign, as women are more assertive of their rights and demands

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cess, and a voice at the table where important decisions that affects lives are made.

With the recent judgment at the Federal High Court Abuja, Justice Donatus Okorowo has shown that judicial activism for the immediate implementation of the 35 per cent affirmative action is a win for women.

If women want greater ownership of the political and electoral process then they should be supporting a candidate that has shown commitment and leadership in passing laws that empower women.

Who has also demonstrated a record of promoting women in politics; and has been a true ally and an advocate of women's interests.

There will be so many more opportunities for women to engage in the political process. And this, in turn, will create more opportunities for strong female role models in politics - inspiring the next generation of young women and girls. But to achieve this, we need women to advocate for a candidate with track records of promoting women’s rights and values.

ou have been a champion of women’s rights in the media, do you think there is fair representation and treatment for women in Nigerian media now?

When we talk of representation it means having a voice that is heard, a voice that is part of the policy and decision-making, it means having gender parity and equal powers at the seat of the table driving the direction for desired impact.

So in recent years, we have seen a progressive increase of women in leadership positions in the media. We have seen women who are editors both in the print and the broadcast media and they have proven themselves to be very capable leaders, in all cases outshining their male colleagues and bringing innovations that have proven to be invaluable to the media and democratic practice in Nigeria. THISDAY is leading in this regard.

And that goes to show you that gender parity is not about doing a favors to the female gender but harnessing all the values they can bring to make progress.

Women make up approximately 49 per cent of Nigeria’s population but since 1999, the elective positions that have gone to women is less than six per cent, why is this and how can this statistic change?

Only seven per cent of the country's senators are female, and politicians have repeatedly blocked legislation to promote gender equality.

Women in Nigeria are treated as second-class citizens when they are not. A married woman is told she is not from the state of her husband, only to be railroaded with a reminder by her state that she is no longer from her state! In Nigeria, the law makes a married woman stateless.

There are other significant issues like cultural, financial, and legal issues that constrain women inclusion. In a highly monetised politics as we have in Nigeria, women are excluded financially and most cannot afford to participate financially.

The major political parties have announced cost for their party’s nomination forms and I ask how many Nigerian women can afford to pay N100 million for a nomination form.

There are also laws that deliberately exclude women. For instance, a woman cannot confer citizenship on a foreign husband but a man can do that. A woman cannot take her child for a trip without a letter of approval from her husband but a man can. These are all issues backed by law and will have to be dismantled by law.

What do you think has been the main problem mitigating against women in politics in Nigeria and how can we break out of it?

The culture in many parts of Nigeria creates a situation where women are forced in the name of religion and culture to be dependent on men for existence and sustenance. Women are deliberately politically ostracised and treated as second-class citizens not because they put themselves there but because over the years they have been denied access to self-agency, education, access to choice, access to jobs, access to justice, access to finances.

No wonder they don’t have the financial war chest like their male counterparts do, they are seen even by government as mere tools to serve only in the kitchen when God has blessed them with so much experience, knowledge, intellect, capacity, competence, and character needed to manage the affairs of the home front, politics, businesses, mobilisation, and much more.

Just as it is a form of discrimination by law to deny people living with disabilities their right to career and advancement on the job, so it is also pure discrimination to

Lady Umokoro use a woman’s pregnancy against her at work or in politics. That is something men can never do, and it requires the kind of strength, perseverance and inner fortitude - qualities you need to drive political agenda and advancement.

Change has been promised before, but now we need to do things differently.

But there are politicians who have set the example in the past. Dr Bukola Saraki's record on advancing the interests of women speaks for itself. As Governor of Kwara State, he reduced maternal and new-born mortality rates. In passing the Safe Motherhood Bill in 2010, he regulated hospital practices for child-bearing women and protected them against harmful traditional practices.

Even before the ‘Sex for Grades’ scandal of 2017 and 2018, he was taking action to prevent sexual exploitation of young women in university. In 2016, Dr Saraki led the senate’s passage of the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions Prohibition Bill.

And we have seen his impact fighting for higher female representation to make women’s voices heard at the decision making level. While Governor of Kwara State, Dr Saraki ensured that at least all the Vice Chairmen of all the Local Government Areas in the state were women. As President of the Senate, Dr Saraki led efforts to pass the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill three times, to ensure that women had increase participation in governance and access to more economic opportunities.

This is what we need from our politicians

to deliver real solutions to the big issues facing Nigerian women right now. Whether the insecurity and violence that darkens our streets, threatening our children and our neighbours; or the lack of opportunities for women and young people to get jobs or training.

That's what Nigeria needs right now.

Someone with a record of finding the modern solutions that Nigerian women need.

When we talk of empowering women, should we be looking beyond buying them grinding machine?

It is tokenism to buy women grinding machines and the usual political insults thrown at women in the form of Greek gifts. The goal as you can see is not to empower the women but to keep them poor, live in poverty, and ensure they do not aspire beyond their God given capacities as value adders.

Power generation is what women want to thrive in every aspects of their lives. Industrialised businesses are what women are looking for where they can be at the helms of affairs providing for their families, communities and driving the business value chain and ecosystem alongside their male counterparts. Women don't want to be men. What women want is equity not equality because biologically and physiologically we will never be the same.

Women want what men want: equal pay for the same job, equal opportunities, education, advancement, promotions, suc-

"This is what we need from our politicians to deliver real solutions to the big issues facing Nigerian women right now. Whether the insecurity and violence that darkens our streets, threatening our children and our neighbours; or the lack of opportunities for women and young people to get jobs or training"

You are on the team of the presidential campaign of Bukola Saraki, how did this come about and what has been your experience so far?

I have always been a pioneer in the Policy Implementation, Civic Intelligence Spaces in Nigeria and a frontline policy and gender advocate who amplifies these issues across the media ecosystem.

It was some of these works that inspired writing my book titled Distortion, that delves into mental health crime in its many manifestation in the lives of many Nigerians and how the politics, judicial system, and the type of legislation we see play in Nigeria affects the everyday woman, man and child.

Based on my work, I was recommended to join the campaign organisation. I have always been passionate for fresh leadership that proffers real solutions and I know that being part of the right team ready to do the work can bring about this change in direction we so badly need for this country.

My experience so far has been more than I bargained for in terms of how driven, focused, and committed the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Campaign Organisation is. The vibrancy of being surrounded by so many young persons, women and men alike bringing in their expertise, knowledge, experience and inspiring spirit to bear in doing the job required to bring in the kind of fresh leadership many Nigerians experienced during the 8th Senate led by Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki is very infectious.

Here is a man who speaks truth to power, who has shown political will both in and out of office to promote reconciliation, bridge political and religious bridges, support women’s participation, passed over 331 reforms with the members of the 8th Senate that would drive our economy, address insecurity, create jobs, bring down the cost of living and so much more to fix Nigeria.

A visionary approach that excites me now is what The National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee (NRSC), which Dr. Saraki chaired has recommended to the PDP that one third of the positions of the working committee at the Wards, Local Government, State and National levels of the party structure be reserved for women.

It also recommends that the party maintains its policy of wavering the requirements of fees for nomination forms for all female party members who wish to contest on the platform of the party or for the offices in the administration of the party.

Most importantly, the committee recommended the drafting of a National Women’s Policy for the party that identifies the yearnings and aspirations of female members of the party and women in general.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022

PERSPECTIVE

The Disruptive Role of Executive Assistants in Work Organisations Precious Emechebe

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n appointment with the Chief Experience Officer (CXO) of any organization would most likely have you engaging with one person who is instrumental in ensuring a successful meeting - the Executive Assistant (EA). An EA is a professional who offers executive support to CXOs of organizations or other highlevel professionals with the sole objective of ensuring their success on the job Although EAs work with CXOs and other high-level professionals, their roles are sometimes misconstrued by outsiders to be one of ‘gatekeepers’ – keeping intruders off the office and life of CXOs, and ‘organizers’ – organizing the calendars, meetings and conferences of Executives. With the myriad of organizational tools available today following the tech revolution, gatekeeping and organizing has never been easier. Yet, EAs are more valuable today than they were before the revolution. This is because the EA role has morphed from being just administrative to being strategic. In the words of The Assist, “The EA function has transformed from a supporting role to more of a strategic one. Today’s executives lean on their assistants not just for admin help but also for strategic counsel, technical expertise and critical analysis. EAs are expected to dabble in things as wide and varied as project management, event planning, and internal communications.”

In today’s world, EAs are 1) Strategic partners: They have a deep understanding of the industry they work in as well as the regulatory framework and policies that affect their industry.

As a result, they make valid contributions that progress conversations and decisions of their Executives.

2) Professional problem solvers: Impossible is a word that actually does not exist in the dictionary of an EA. They are super connectors and connect within and beyond their network, keeping a record of vital attributes of people they meet because they understand that relationships are more valuable than money. They are quick to provide help and consequently,

Emechebe are never stranded when they need help which earns them the lifetime access to the dictionary of only possibilities and solutions.

3) Trusted Confidants: A professional EA understands that one of the biggest responsibilities of the role is trust. This responsibility stems from working closely with those in whose corridors crucial information and decisions are made regularly. Therefore, trust is an attribute that they earn and do not trade for anything.

A professional EA is discreet, unassuming and cautious of the words they speak because they hold the gravity of their responsibility in high esteem, understanding the consequences of loose lips.

Professional EAs see their role from the perspective of it

being a profession and not just a job. They stay committed to the path of personal and professional development and join empowering associations and bodies to grow their network, influence and expand their horizon. Though it seems that the wrong perception of the limiting role of the EA is prevalent, a crop of professional EAs are rising to change that perception and shape the narrative to the truth that professional EAs are assets to their CXOs. These said, two main factors determine how much of an asset EAs are to their CXOs: 1) The CXO’s willingness to delegate pieces of his or her workload to the Executive Assistant. The whole essence of Chiefs having EAs is to have more time to focus on optimizing strategic thinking and execution. Melba Duncan, CEO of Duncan group in her 2011 Harvard Business Review article titled The Case for Executive Assistants stated, “… an EA must make the executive 8% more productive than he or she would be working solo—for instance, the assistant needs to save the executive roughly five hours in a 60-hour workweek.” The reality is that good EAs save their bosses much more than that. Progressive minded CXOs think deeply about the aspect of work that they can delegate to earn them more time to do strategic work and are very happy to hand them over to their EAs. As Robert Pozen, Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management puts it, “A top-notch assistant is crucial to being productive.”

The empowered EA is able to listen in on phone conversations in order to organize and follow up on action items, manage information flow, attend to financial matters, attend important meetings in their stead and handle more planning and organizing.

This delegation has to be backed by some level of authority. CXOs empower their EAs by making it clear that they trust their ability to represent and make decisions for them in their stead. This empowerment of course is founded on trust in both the competence and professionalism that the EA has displayed over time.

2) The assistant’s willingness to stretch beyond his or her comfort zone to assume new responsibilities: Successful

EAs are those who are big on personal development. They do not stick to the rudimentary requirements of their jobs, no.

Rather, they take on stretch assignments, learn new languages and technologies to function in global markets, are travel consultants, diplomats, troubleshooters, human databases and give their CXOs a human face. These types of EAs are invaluable assets to their bosses because they are versed in their primary roles and have grown capacity and competence by voluntarily taking on new responsibilities that make them more valuable and dependable. Such EAs usually score high on emotional intelligence, are able to read their bosses shift in behavior and temperament and respond correctly as well as accommodate their personal style to help them win. Because finding great EAs who have a good understanding of the job, the boss and is big on growth is tough, most bosses prefer to, as much as possible, grow with their EAs either within the organization or beyond.

Executive–assistant relationships are business partnerships: Strong ones are win-wins About the Columnist 0Precious Emechebe is the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria. She shares from her wealth of knowledge and experience gained in her over 12 years of working as an EA in different multinationals and fields of business including Law and Human Rights, Customer Strategy, Sales Development and Business Operations and Projects among others. She is passionate about mentoring EAs and does this actively through Executive Support Professionals also known as ESPro, which she founded to fill the gap in capacity development and training for professionals in the executive support space. You can connect with her on the following platforms: LinkedIn: Executive Support Professionals Instagram: executivesupportprofessionalESPro Facebook: Executive Support Professionals - ESPro

Supporting Graduate Transition into the Project Economy Job Market George Asamani

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f you have witnessed a football game before, you will notice that the coach plays his / her 11 players in different positions on the field - goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward. Each player in their respective positions has a specific role to play during the game, their collective responsibility however remains the same, score more goals than concede. They are spread on the field as per the coach’s tactics based on the desired outcome.

Like football, project management needs teams that can think on their feet and play their part in the formations.

The world today is more dynamic than we have ever known. The constant change, propelled by global megatrends has redefined jobs, bending roles and accommodating new ones. Inevitably, the culture in businesses today is tilting towards not defining work by its regular features, but in terms of what needs to get done and finding the best ways to do it.

Picture a scenario – a striker being marked by three or more opposition players to deny him/her the opportunity to convert any goal scoring opportunity.

Still, a good striker is always able to find a pair of steady legs in a midfielder to pass the ball to and create more opportunities.

In project management, managers also deal with ‘markers’ like lack of communication, budgeting issues, inadequate skills, scope creep etc and like a striker, must constantly read the field and keep moving the ball to

ensure the success of the project.

Writing in the Harvard Business Review, PMI’s former chairman Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, a leading expert in project management and strategy implementation, says operations created tremendous value in the 20th century and they did so through advances in efficiency and productivity. But for most of the current century, productivity growth in Western economies has been almost flat, despite the explosion of the internet, shorter product life cycles as well as exponential advances in AI and robotics.

He also observed that projects are increasingly driving both short-term performance and long-term value creation through more frequent organisational transformations, faster development of new products, quicker adoption of new technologies, amongst others. This is a global phenomenon. In Germany, projects have been rising steadily as a percentage of GDP and in 2019 accounted for almost 41%. The percentages are probably higher in leading Asian economies, where project-based work has long been an important source of growth.

As the world of work changes to a more project-based business model, businesses will need to invest in talent who can identify, plan and deliver projects successfully. The Project Economy is one in which

people have the right skills and mindset to turn ideas into reality. It is where organisations deliver value through successful completion of projects, delivery of products, and alignment to value streams-both financial and societal value.

According to PMI’s Talent Gap Report, project management-oriented employment (PMOE) is predicted to rise by 40% during this decade in Sub-Saharan Africa. The report is indicative of the importance of projects to industry and economic progress.

It also predicts that the overall GDP of projectised industries with a large need for project management skills will rise from $24.7 trillion in 2019 to $34.5 trillion in 2030.

With this huge market demand in view, Nigerian universities will serve the national economy well and enable The Project Economy by producing job-ready youths who can benefit from the global demand for 25 million new project professionals by 2030. This translates to 2.3 million project managers will need to fill project management-oriented roles every year.

To successfully transition youth into The Project Economy job market, Nigeria must consider investing in building a local skills pool. This can be achieved by businesses by giving opportunities to young project professionals to expand their skills, knowledge and network, as well

as mentoring and training on the use of project management tools and techniques.

Like in football, bench strength is of strategic value in project management.

The easiest way to build this is through partnerships with universities to formalise project management education.

Certified Professional in Project Management (CAPM) that is offered in many institutes on the continent like Mount Kenya University, University of Pretoria in South Africa is a gateway certification into the world of project management. The Citizen Developer, which PMI offers free to universities in partnership with Microsoft and Agile certifications form the triumvirate of job ready skills, bridging the chasm between education and employability.

Acquiring job ready skills is just a warm up, to use football parlance. PMI’s unique structure which serves its advocacy efforts well in the regions is chapters. The PMI Nigeria Chapter, one of its biggest on the continent, is actively involved in coaching and mentoring of young graduates entering project management field, key to accelerating the rate of learning.

To take advantage of the new Project Economy, in part fuelled by global commitments to “build back better” and in-country efforts to spur economic growth, companies need a new approach to project management and Nigeria - a fast recipe for skills development. Or risk scoring an own goal.

-Asamani is Business Development Lead, Africa, Project Management Institute.

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Climate Resilience, Just Energy Transition Focus of AfDB 2022 Meetings Bennett Oghifo

T

he African Development Bank Group’s Annual Meetings in May will focus on the impact of climate change on Africa and the need for a just energy transition on the continent, the Bank Group’s Secretary General has said.

According to a post on the website of AfDB, Professor Vincent Nmehielle spoke during a virtual press conference convened recently to brief journalists about the agenda of the fiveday meetings, to be held from 23 to 27 May in Accra, Ghana.

For the first time since 2019, many delegates at this year’s meetings: the 57th Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank and the 48th Annual Meeting of the African Development Fund, will meet in person.

Nmehielle said the theme, Achieving Climate Resilience, and a Just Energy Transition for Africa, was chosen to provide a framework for the

governors of the Banks to share their experiences and engage in addressing climate change and energy transition challenges, as well as their policies and measures to deal with them.

“Governments will be able to show what their countries have done in this regard,” the Secretary General said. A key highlight during the Bank Group’s Annual Meetings will be a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional lending arm.

The Annual Meetings will also serve as a precursor to the UN Climate Change Conference, or COP 27, which is being called the “African COP”, to be held in November in Egypt. Governments will once again lobby for the continent’s positions on climate change.

The Secretary General was joined by African Development Bank Acting Chief Economist and Vice President Professor Kevin Urama; VicePresident for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Dr Kevin Kariuki; and the Director of the

Agriculture and Agro-Industry department Dr Martin Fregene, who represented the Vice President of the complex. They answered questions from the over 80 journalists who attended the event.

Professor Urama emphasised the Bank’s role as a thought leader in Africa, saying the meetings would include three main knowledge events that would touch on topics such as building a digital economy, green jobs for youth and a special session on climate change that would include the launch of the African Development Bank’s African Economic Outlook for 2022 report.

The Bank officials fielded questions on a range of topics, including the Bank’s role in infrastructure development, Africa’s energy transition, and a $1.5 billion plan to avert a food crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine.

Urama said resilience was all encompassing. “The Bank will be focusing a lot more on infrastructure investments to build the resilience of countries, social resilience, economic resilience and also environmental resilience in general,

including climate resilience.”

Kariuki noted that the African Development Bank was no longer investing in new coal projects. “However, when it comes to gas, we do understand that Africa needs to address its energy poverty and in order to look at energy poverty, we need to look at all non-coal sources of energy…Therefore, from where we stand, as long as a gas project has been included in a country as part of Nationally Determined Contributions…then the bank will invest in those gas power plants.”

Fregene said the $1.5 billion food plan would address immediate needs triggered by the ongoing conflict in Europe. The plan will support farmers with seeds and fertilizers in the next wet season which starts around October in the southern hemisphere. The Bank also has a medium- to longer-term plan to help countries build resilience, known as Mission 1 for 200, which will help farmers boost production to 100 million tonnes of food to reach 200 million people.

Afriland Properties Plans to Roll-out Signature Projects Bennett Oghifo A Real Estate Company, Afriland Properties Plc, has unveiled its plan to raise the bar for the real estate sector with a bevy of signature projects guaranteed to delight stakeholders and investors in the sector.

Speaking at an interactive session with a cross-section of real estate stakeholders who paid a courtesy visit to the company’s head office in Lagos, MD/CEO Afriland Properties Plc, Uzo Oshogwe, stated, “As a purpose-driven organization with values

anchored around excellence, execution, and enterprise, we are very intentional about our real estate offerings. Covid-19 has greatly affected the way we live, work and play; consequently, the consumer pattern has greatly changed to reflect present-day demands.

Our ongoing projects will offer value to emerging markets.”

Worthy of note is that these assets are designed as premium quality, low maintenance buildings with a great focus on sustainability. Users are in for an exciting experience as these assets are versatile and encourage flexibility of

expression for consumers.

Director Facilities and Property Management of Afriland Properties, Tokunbo Lawal, added that these assets would heighten user satisfaction and set a new standard for the real estate industry in the country.

She said, “We are rolling out five real estate assets built with novel technology and expert craftsmanship that will offer high yield on investment and value to subscribers.”

The Emporium, TransAmadi is a multipurpose facility set in the heart of the Garden City, Port-Harcourt.

Upon completion, it will

provide a 917sqm space fitted with first-class amenities for retail or office purposes.

The Rouge by Afriland is a luxurious multistorey residential project built to satisfy the taste for the finer things of life. Nestled in the heart of Old Ikoyi, The Rouge is a collection of 13 luxury apartments comprising 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, and 4-bedroom penthouses with a spectacular view.

Middle-income earners are not left out. Iris Courts, set in the heart of Lagos State capital, Ikeja, is a residential facility intentionally designed for the

modern-day professional who wants to get the most value for money. It comprises aesthetically appealing and functional apartment units that are highly sustainable and high-yielding investments.

Afriland Estate, Abuja, is Afriland’s first estate development. The fully residential neighborhood is located within the fast-developing district in Karmo and will offer a one-stop smart community with all the modern amenities guaranteed to ensure comfort, class, and self-sustenance.

The suburbs are not left out with the development of

Afrishops Phase 2 in Abule Egba, Lagos. This multipurpose complex will upon completion boast of 21 shop units and 6 office units. Each office space has inbuilt restrooms and boasts high-quality finishing.

As a firm dedicated to minimizing investor risk and anticipating their needs based on modern trends, Afriland has designed each of the facilities to provide maximum comfort, flexibility, and returns on investment using the latest technology that will reduce carbon emissions and environmental pollution.

Elan Orris Puts Comfort Château in Lagos’ Real Estate Market Fadekemi Ajakaiye Elan Orris Real Estate, a very young and award-winning innovative company in Lagos, also a member of Castle Price Holdings, announces the commencement of construction at its Lekki project, The Comfort

Château (Terraces), off SPG Road, Lekki.

According to the Marketing Manager, Ogheneriode Oghe, “The Comfort Château is a world-class, smart idea of the company to offer it’s stakeholders the opportunity to live, work & play in a well-designed,

well-defined and well-deserved estate in Lekki-Lagos”. He added that the intention of the company to develop distinct communities that have defined number of residents in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun and Oyo State is drive easy-interaction with other families, easy-networking

Waste Managers, LAWMA Call for Strict Enforcement of Environmental Laws Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Lagos State Government has been urged to enforce the state’s environmental laws for there to be an effective waste management system.

This call was made at a stakeholders’ engagement on the 2015 Public Health Law and the 2017 Environment Protection Law, organised by the Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), in collaboration with the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, (AWAMN).

The AWAMN President, Mr David Oluwasegun Oriyomi, said enforcement of environmental laws was very important in ensuring compliance from the general public.

According to Oriyomi, “We are here to discuss visions on enhancing the adjustment of the environmental laws of Lagos State. It is clear that there cannot be an effective waste management system without adequate enforcement of our environmental laws.

“There must be an effective enforcement system in place that will ensure prompt payment. If not, the entire system will eventually collapse as the waste operators will not have the necessary cash to carry out their operations,

and the environment will be worse for it.”

The Chairman, House Committee on Environment at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olusola Desmond Elliot, lauded the initiative behind the gathering, noting that the state parliament would continue to enact laws to ensure the protection of the environment of Lagos State.

“One of the factors affecting the effective implementation and enforcement of environmental law is the executive, the reason being that at the Lagos State House of Assembly, we have done all we can to collapse all the diverse laws that exist today into one law.

“That’s why we have the environmental law.

So you find out that all the different parastatals and agencies have all been collapsed into one law. It has been passed and signed.

“So, it is not the law that is the problem, but the implementation of the law, which is the reason why a gathering like this has become very imperative. Are we here to listen to know if there’s going to be an amendment to the law to make effective enforcement of these laws concerning the environment of Lagos State? I will be here to listen. Hopefully, we will also get a memorandum, so we see how, as a state assembly, we can make the law even better.”

with other business owners and easy-planning amongst the residents of the estates, promoting beautiful lifestyles that bring happiness”.

While speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of the project, Olasunkanmi Adeyemi, company Projects Manager, in conjunction with Martins Awe, MD/CEO of Eagleline Engineering, a member of The Eagleline Group and construction partners of ElanOrris Real Estate, gave insights into the construction framework, timeline and processes. Martins Awe exclusively mentioned that the project showcases unique architectural designs

with optimum utilisation of internal and external spaces to deliver on the promise of daily comfort to its residents. With a 12m deep piling foundation that is currently ongoing at the site, the terraces are built with top quality materials and premium finishing.

The Comfort Château, Lekki hosts eight units of 4-Bedroom Terrace-duplexes with adequate driveway, private car park, private green area, children playground, gym, uninterrupted power supply, estate lights, CCTV and effective security. The design of the terraces is smart and contemporary with energyefficient, all-year long services.

Emmanuel Ononye, Sales Manager, said “commencement of construction is on the first scheme of the product, smart investors should grab the opportunity of a pre-launch price offer on the Scheme 2 of The Comfort Château (Terraces)”. He said that the distinctive design and choice location of the product make it sell itself. Emmanuel also added that “the intention of the Comfort Château Schemes, is to define luxury, quality, elegance, class and comfort”.

Starting from N75.9m, you can own a terrace-duplex in The Comfort Château Scheme 2 with 20% initial deposit for a payment structure.

L-R: Marketing Manager, Elan Orris Real Estate, Ogheneriode Oghe; Investment Advisor, Elan Orris Real Estate, Joy Aleyi; Project Manager, Eagleline Engineering, Babashola Santos; and Sales Manager, Elan Orris Real Estate, Emmanuel Ononye, Lagos.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

27

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

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

08056356325

A P R I L

S & P INDEX

2 2 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

6.50%

CALL

10.75%

INDEX LEVEL

610.44%

1/4 TO DATE

– 1.31%

N416.75/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

7.17%

1-MONTH

9.66%

1-DAY

0.03%

YEAR TO DATE

7.13%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

1028%

MONTH-TO-DATE

– 1.31%

No Respite as Nigeria Expends Over N758bn on Petrol Subsidy in Three Months

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja By the time the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) makes it projected N328 billion petrol subsidy deduction from the Federation Account for March this week, Nigeria will have spent N758.1 billion in the first three months of 2022.

Described as unsustainable

by many economic experts, the country’s subsidy regime burden borne by the three tiers of government, the federal, state and local governments, has posed a huge leak on the country’s revenues.

In January the NNPC withheld N210.382 billion while in February it deducted N219.783 billion and is expected to again remove N328.004 billion, to hit over N758 billion in

the first quarter of 2022.

Nigeria’s largely opaque longrunning petrol subsidy, will see the country spend close to a quarter, that is N4 trillion, of its entire budget of roughly N17 trillion this year on the major subsidy cost centre.

A THISDAY analysis of the latest Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) shows that

the NNPC has been unable to contribute a Kobo into the joint account operated by the tiers of government in the whole of this year.

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed in an announcement which came as a shock to many economists last month, said the federal government will draw $2.2 billion from the Eurobond

it issued last September, and add to the proceeds of fresh domestic borrowing this year to fund fuel subsidy.

In January, the government reneged on a previous decision to halt the subsidy regime, opting to prolong it by 18 months in what was seen as a move to forestall a potential civil resistance in the prelude to the 2023 presidential

election.

For the umpteenth time last week, the World Bank Group urged Nigeria to rethink its fuel subsidy regime, with its boss, David Malpass, saying that resources being expended on the subsidy could be channelled to other sectors of the economy to accelerate growth.

Continued on page 28

SixYears After Signing 1125mw Power Purchase Deals, 14 Firms Fail to Get Funding Peter Uzoho Six years after the signing of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with the federal government for the development of solar power projects that will add 1,125 megawatts (mw) to Nigeria’s power grid, none of the 14 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) has been able to reach financial closure, THISDAY has learnt.

The solar IPPs, whose projects are to be delivered in the northern part of the country due largely to the high sunlight present in the region, are still hovering around in search of investors that will fund the projects since 2016.

However, reliable sources said the companies lacked the required competent and financial muscle to deliver the projects, adding that they were just briefcase mini-grid

firms, which were given the licences on the basis of political considerations and compensation of cronies.

THISDAY understands that in 2016, Nigeria through the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc, signed PPAs worth $2.5 billion with the 14 IPPs to build a total 1,125 megawatts of installed solar capacity for the national grid.

This was expected to enhance

FOOD

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N23,000–N25,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N23,500-N25,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

50KG

RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

50KG 50KG

N23,000–N26,500

SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 EDO

N17,000–N20,000

the contribution of solar to Nigeria’s power grid that presently consists mainly of 85 per cent from gas-fired power, 15 per cent hydropower and about one per cent solar.

The 14 companies and their respective capacity and designated states include Afrinergia Power Limited, 50mw -Nasarawa; CT Cosmos Limited, 70mw -Plateau; Pan Africa Solar, 75mw -Katsina;

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

Nigeria Solar Capital Partners, 100mw -Bauchi; and Motir Desable Limited, 100mw -Nasarawa.

Others are Nova Scotia Power Dev Ltd, 80mw -Jigawa; Anjeed Innova Group, 100mw -Kaduna; Nova Solar 5 Farm Limited, 100mw -Katsina; KvK Power Limited, 100mw-Sokoto; and Middle Band Solar One Limited, 100mw -Kogi.

Also on the list are LR Aaron Power Limited, 100mw-Abuja; En

Africa 50mw-Kaduna; Quaint Abiba Power Limited, 50mw-Kaduna; and Oriental Renewable Solutions, 50mw -Jigawa.

A top official at NBET told THISDAY in a phone interview that none of the companies has been able to achieve financial closure that would lead to the commencement of the development Continued on page 28

T O D AY

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

N9,000

C O C OA

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON

ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

1 TON

OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

100KG

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

1 TON

CROSS RIVER

N700,000 – N720,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

28

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

PH

NAME OF COMMODITY

TOMATOES

N21,000 – 24,000

COMMODITIES SIZE

STATE

40KG BENUE

PRICE

N15,000

40KG

KADUNA

N5,000

40KG

ABIA

N18,000

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

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

25CL ABUJA

N19500- N25000

25KG LAGOS

N9,500

40KG DELTA

N17000

PRICE

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

ABIA

NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG ABIA

N14000

50KG LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

Experts Urge Stakeholders to Explore CBN’s N250bn LPG Intervention Fund Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Energy experts have urged players in the gas subsector in Nigeria to take advantage of the recent N250 billion intervention fund by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to halt the importation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) into the country.

Despite having over 206 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas, Nigeria imports more than half of its total consumption, a development that has now been more challenged by the war between Ukraine and Russia.

This has resulted in soaring prices and disruption to gas market globally with its attendant negative impact on the country.

In his intervention, PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Associate Director, Energy, Utilities, and

Resources, Habeeb Jaiyeola, advised the government to stop the importation of LPG, stressing that the CBN’s N250 billion intervention remained a critical elixir towards the plan.

According to him, if complemented with existing gas infrastructure investment like the AKK pipeline, the provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and other initiatives, the country stands at an advantage in meeting local demand.

Jaiyeola urged industry players to take advantage of the CBN facility to address the bottlenecks in the domestic gas market, while urging sustainable finance into the gas sector.

“The move by the CBN is laudable and the intent of the fund is also quite comprehensive and seeks to ease funding challenges for all players within the LPG value chain,” Jaiyeola said.

The CBN loan was meant to leapfrog the federal government’s domestic gas expansion programme, which is aimed at encouraging use of gas in place of firewood and charcoal in the country.

The bank had said that that the facility was for the national gas expansion programme aimed at making Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) the fuel of choice for transportation and LPG for domestic cooking as well as make gas available for captive power and small industrial complexes.

It stated that the objectives of the facility being implemented in collaboration with the ministry of petroleum resources were to improve access to finance for private sector investments in the domestic gas value chain as well as stimulate investments in the development of

infrastructure to optimise the domestic gas resources for economic development.

The term loan for manufacturers, processors, wholesale distributors, the apex bank had noted will be determined based on activity and will not exceed N10 billion per obligor while working capital is set at a maximum of N500 million per obligor.

Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Retail Distributors term loans would be determined based on the activity and will not exceed N50 million per obligor with working capital pegged at a maximum of N5 million per obligor.

Also speaking on the efforts to ramp up production, the president, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry said while the N250

billion funding made available

by CBN was a good move, there was need for more investment in the sector.

He posited that a huge gap exists in gas infrastructure in the country, explaining that there was need for the CBN to work with associations in the sector to drive the agenda of domestic gas utilisation. He stressed that the country has everything it takes to stop importation of LPG. “Nigeria has huge gas resources and should not be importing gas. I think the intervention by the CBN is commendable but more is needed. The infrastructure needed to unlock gas is huge,” Gillis-Harry said.

Also, the African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA) and other experts in the LPG space had earlier warned of imminent danger

if Africa fails to quickly adopt modern clean energy as over 850 million Africans still depend on solid fuels (biomass) for cooking.

Without strategic efforts towards energy transition, especially for cooking, the experts had said solid fuels might continue to kill over 600,000 Africans yearly due to household air pollution.

Programme Manager, National LPG Expansion Implementation Plan, Dayo Adeshina said the intervention was critical for the sector, noting that there was need to tweak the plan to ensure that players in the sector seamlessly access the loan.

He noted that the objectives of the intervention would be achieved if commercial banks stop treating the loan as commercial loans.

Q1 Corporate Earnings: Investors Bargain Hunting Lifts Stock Market by N486bn Kayode Tokede Following the release of some corporate earnings for first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2022, investors bargain hunting in some fundamental stocks lifted the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) northward with its week-on-week (WoW) growth in market capitalisation reaching N486billion.

So far, BUA Cement Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, among others have released Q1 2022 unaudited results that showed impressive growth in profit as investors taking position was the overarching theme during

trading activities last week ahead of more Q1 2022 corporate earnings releases.

Notably, investors’ buying interest in Guinness Nigeria Plc that rose by 17.5 per cent, Lafarge Africa Plc 10.6 per cent, Airtel Africa, 4.7 per cent and Seplat Petroleum, 4.6 per cent supported the stock market N486 billion growth last week.

The market capitalisation closed trading last week at N26.125 trillion after trading for four-day from N25.639 trillion it opened for trading, while the NGX All-Share Index appreciated by two per cent or 949.27 basis

points to close at 48,459.65 from 47,510.38 basis points it opened for trading.

Consequently, the stock market in its Month-till-Date (MtD) and Year-till-Date (YtD) return increased to 3.2 per cent and 13.4 per cent, respectively.

Across NGX indices, the Oil and Gas added 6.4 per cent, Consumer Goods gained 3.3 per cent, as the Industrial Goods increased by 1.7 per cent, and Banking index gained 0.6 per cent, while the Insurance dropped by 0.1 per cent, the sole loser.

According to the NGX weekly report, a total turnover of 1.302

billion shares worth N17.813 billion in 20,212 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 1.247 billion shares valued at N22.372 billion that exchanged hands in 23,406 deals prior week’s trading activities.

The report added that, “The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 836.781 million shares valued at N6.007 billion traded in 9,527 deals; thus contributing 64.28per cent and 33.72% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

“The Oil and Gas Industry followed with 86.909 million shares worth N1.243 billion in 1,770 deals. The third place was The Consumer Goods Industry, with a turnover of 86.286 million shares worth N2.225 billion in 3,056 deals.

“Trading in the top three equities namely Fidelity Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Universal Insurance Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 279.507 million shares worth N2.627 billion in 2,504 deals, contributing 21.47per cent and 14.75per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.”

According to analysts at Cordros securities, “In the week ahead, we expect the NGX’s floor to be flooded with results as the Q1 2022 earnings season commences in full swing.

“Thus, the local bourse is likely to close positive next week as we expect decent earnings releases across the board to temper selling activities by investors reluctant to leave gains in the market.

Notwithstanding, we reiterate the need for positioning in only fundamentally sound stocks as the weak macro environment remains a significant headwind for corporate earnings.”

NO RESPITE AS NIGERIA EXPENDS OVER N758BN ON PETROL SUBSIDY IN THREE MONTHS

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Deputy Business Editor Chinedu Eze Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

“One is that they (subsidies) are expensive because they go to everyone and they are often used by people with upper incomes than by people with lower incomes so they are not targeted.

“So, we encourage that when there is need for subsidy, either food or for fuel, that it should be carefully targeted at those most in need of it. And so, we have encouraged Nigeria to rethink its subsidy effort,” he said.

Although the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, recently described the

controversial subsidy regime as “a criminal enterprise,” Nigeria has continued to service it even as it doesn’t know the actual volume of petrol the country consumes.

Defending the position of the World Bank in a panel organised

by Arise, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, Lead Economist for the bank in Nigeria, Mr Marco Hernadez, called for the reallocation of the country’s resources, echoing its long-held position that the situation cannot be sustained in the long term.

“The removal or non-removal

of fuel subsidy is Nigeria’s decision to make, but all we do is lay the facts and lead the debate and ensure that political consensus is built that will ultimately be communicated to the Nigerian public. The opportunity cost of fuel subsidy is too high,” he opined.

In her comments, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), Audrey Ezigbo , insisted that subsidy should be removed as over N10 trillion had been spend between 2006 to 2021.

According to her, that’s more than

what the 36 states generated last year.

Also an Energy Expert, Ronke Onadeko, described it as a scam, saying that Nigeria cannot even generate enough funds to cover the subsidy it pays. She submitted that subsidy should only be retained for the 3 per cent of Nigerians which data show actually need the subsidy.

But another oil and gas analyst, Zaka Bala, argued that subsidy is necessary to relieve the huge burden the current economic crisis places on Nigerians , saying that

Nigeria would be making its biggest mistake by removing subsidy.

He noted that the subsidy on diesel, kerosene, jet fuel and gas which have all been removed have not helped the country in any way, adding that it is almost crashing the economy as banks now close before time due to high diesel prices.

In 2021, the country spent N1.43 trillion on what it terms underrecovery, which has almost tripled with the N4 trillion approved for the purpose in 2022 by the National Assembly recently.

SIX YEARS AFTER SIGNING 1125MW POWER PURCHASE DEALS, 14 FIRMS FAIL TO GET FUNDING of the project.

The NBET source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, however, that the companies were still looking for investors that would fund the projects.

“Well, the companies have not yet reached financial closure. You know, the PPA is just one of the series of documents that the power plants would have to get before they reach financial closure after

investing.

“Once that PPA has been signed, the investors will need to take those PPAs to go and look for financial partners and then commence their development. But right now, they are yet to reach financial closure,” the official said.

Another source, who is a renewable energy expert and member of the Sustainable Energy Practitioners Association of Nigeria

(SEPAN), alleged that the licences issued to the solar IPPs were politically-determined.

He said the companies could not reach financial closures six years after because they were mere briefcase minigrid companies that lacked the required competence and financial capacity to progress with the projects.

“The government in 2016, signed Power Purchase Agreements with

14 solar firms to enable them harness 1,125mw of solar power.

But unfortunately, that licence was politically-determined.

“As I speak to you, not up to two of such companies have done financial closures. They are still briefcase companies going about looking for investments”, he said, pleading to remain anonymous.

THISDAY further gathered that the hitch was caused by disagree-

ments between the government and the IPPs on the PPA tariff structure.

An industry report showed that while IPPs wanted to sell power at the initially agreed $0.115 per kWh, the government was insisting on a tariff of $0.075 per kWh, citing declining solar costs and comparable projects in countries such as Senegal ($0.05/kWh) and Zambia ($0.06/kWh.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD

AGRICULTURE

Of Hunger and FG’s Failed Agricultural Policies The World Bank has projected that the number of poor people in Nigeria would reach 95 million this year.

Gilbert Ekugbe writes on the urgent need for economic managers to reverse this trend to the barest minimum.

O

these policies are being formulated, stating that agricultural policies should be specific and spelt out for the masses.

ver the years, successive administrations in Nigeria have rolled out brilliant agricultural blueprints on how the nation would achieve food security.

However, these blueprints only ended up on the shelves and lacked effective implementation that would bring them to fruition.

The corollary of this trend is that Nigeria is ranked 103 out of 116 countries in 2021. According to the Global Hunger Index (GHI) said that with a score of 28.3, Nigeria’s hunger crisis has reached a worrisome point, and like a ticking time bomb could explode at any moment.

Ordinarily, Nigeria has the capacity to be among the food basket of Africa and even the world at large with its vast arable lands of 34 million hectares: 6.5 million hectares for permanent crops and 28.6 million hectares on meadows and pastures. Moreover, agriculture accounts for about 24 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These facts made it clear that the prevailing hunger situation in Nigeria could be perceived as a self-inflicted wound.

RISING FOOD PRICES

Food prices continue to skyrocket owing to COVID-19, climate change and insecurity in the northern region. With the ongoing RussianUkraine crisis, global wheat price has increased astronomically as the price of bread and other confectioneries are expected to go even higher in the midst of the harsh operating environment for businesses in the country.

The price of rice, flour, beans and other staple crops are on the increase as more Nigerians continue to lavish in hunger. Many households across the country cannot keep up with the pace of skyrocketing prices making many Nigerians unable to afford three square meals on a daily basis.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in its October 2021 food security and nutrition analysis - known as the Cadre Harmonise conducted in 20 states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), revealed that approximately12.1 million people are expected to be in food insecurity crisis or worse through December 2021. The analysis involved 154 008 198 people, out of whom 12 135 318 in the participating 20 states plus the FCT are currently experiencing crisis and emergency phases of food insecurity.

The report’s provisional results were released in Abuja on November 5 and revealed that the number of people in critical or worse phases of food insecurity may increase to about 16.9 million unless efforts are made to scale up and sustain humanitarian support and other government interventions for livelihood recovery and resilience.

FAILED AGRO POLICIES

Between the periods of 1972 and 1985, the federal government made five agricultural policies. These included National Accelerated Food Production Programme (NAFPP) 1972-1973; Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) 1976-1980; Green Revolution Programme (GRP) 1981-1983; Go Back to Land Programme 1983-1985 and the restoration of the elements of NAFPP after the military coup in 1985.

The aim of NAFPP was to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food production, but sadly, the country is still largely dependent on food importation to meet its food needs. According to reports, over $5.4 billion was spent in 2021 to import food into the country. Clearly, this policy has failed to see the light of day as many Nigerians have been pushed into the hunger net with the prices of food surging each passing day amid the low purchasing power of consumers.

Also in 2008, the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) was created as parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) with the mandate to drive the national food security programme in the country upon the recommendation of Commercial Agricultural Development Project-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (CADP_NEPAD).

The vision of NFRA was to ensure sustainable access, availability and affordability of quality food to all Nigerians and for Nigeria to become a significant net provider of food to the global community. In the short term, the mission of NFRA was to significantly improve Nigeria’s agricultural productivity, while in the long term the NFRA aims to achieve national food sufficiency and drive over 50 per cent of the nation’s foreign exchange through agricultural exports.

Meanwhile, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) had called for the resuscitation of NFRA, which it described as the elixir for Nigeria’s food system. According to AFAN, resuscitating the NFRA would surely reinvigorate the food system and accelerate the attainment of food security in Nigeria. It added that the obvious deliverables in the resuscitation of NFRA will

STAKEHOLDERS’ RECOMMENDATION

also revive the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), which would enhance agribusiness especially against the backdrop of AfCFTA. According to agricultural stakeholders, these policies had the nation’s interest but were poorly implemented by past and present administrations.

REASON FOR FAILURE

These policies most of the time lacked the input of agricultural stakeholders.

Agro policies without stakeholders input are dead on arrival. But these stakeholders are often neglected when agro policies are being formulated.

In a chat with THISDAY, the National President of AFAN, Mr. Kabir Ibrahim,

attributed the failed agro policies to poor implementation and lack of transparency on the part of those charged with their implementation.

He said that corruption is also a serious cankerworm that Nigeria must tackle headlong to achieve any form of agricultural sector development.

An Agripreneur, who was also part of the Total Top 15 finalists of the just concluded TotalEnergies Startupper challenge, Mr. Ibm Bangis, said the policies did not see the light of day because it did not carry farmers at the grass root along.

Bangis pointed out that these farmers play vital roles in the nation’s agricultural value chain, but are often not prioritised when

Lending his voice on how to reverse the hunger threat, the AFAN boss said Nigeria is not immune to global food insecurity. He stressed that Nigeria needed a real appraisal of the food system to ensure optimal productivity by using the Brazilian $1.1 billion loan in kind to deploy tractors and other farm implements to boost farmers’ productivity.

He pointed out the need to ensure improved security to enable the farmers access their farms more readily and the institutionalization of the CBN Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP) so that it would be more sustainable as well as reach the real farmers, create the right kind of synergy among all stakeholders in the agriculture space, improve access to credit generally and shore up the purchasing power of the Naira.

In addition, there is need to improve power supply and the overall energy sector by making all fuels readily available and more affordable, ensure more transparency and sustainability in policy implementation. He suggested addressing food security from the perspective of improving the optimum production and processing of the various staples in the different regions of the country and make the food reserve agency robust while also making the National Food Reserve Agency functional.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

WELCOME TO NPA…

L-R: Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Onari Brown; AIG Maritime Police Command, Force HQ, Annex, Lagos, Ibrahim kaoje; Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko; AIG Nigerian Police Zone 2 Command (comprising Lagos & Ogun command), Bode Adeyinka Adeleke and SSA to the Governor of Lagos on Central Business District, Sola Giwa during a working visit to the Management of NPA in Lagos… recently

NPA Partners Police, LASG to Curb Extortion Along Port Corridor Pursuant to the implementation of action points in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Lagos State Government (LASG) on truck traffic control and enforcement in Apapa and environs signed on 8th March, 2022, the management of NPA has enlisted the support of the police high command in curbing the activities of extortionists and

other forms of illegalities along the roads leading to Apapa and TinCan Island Port Complex.

The Managing Director NPA Mohammed Bello Koko while receiving the AIG Zone 2 Command Bode Adeyinka Adeleke and his counterpart in the Maritime Police Command Ibrahim Kaoje on Thursday 21st April 2022 at the NPA headquarters had lamented the proliferation of illegal

checkpoints along the ports corridor and got the consent of the two AIGs to join the NPA management on a spot check of the port access road to ascertain the reality on the ground.

The spot check which was conducted on Sunday 24th April 2022 and had in attendance the NPA management and the two AIGs, Lagos State Commissioner of Police and representative of the Lagos State Government

indeed confirmed the reality of several illegal checkpoints which the AIGs promptly issued directive to be dismantled with a marching order to the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPO) to ensure sustainability of orderliness as they will be held accountable for breaches going forward.

Further to this, a special mobile court has been assigned by the Lagos State Government

to assure speedy dispensation of justice and fast track the prosecution of persons arrested perpetrating acts of extortion, unauthorized collections, illegal checkpoints or any other unwholesome practice inhibiting the ease of doing business around the ports.

It will be recalled that previous efforts at curbing the acts of extortion being aided and abetted by uniformed men and

other officials of government had been hampered by issues of jurisdictional overlaps between the Ports Authority Police Command (PAPC) and the Lagos State Police Command.

With this partnership between the NPA and the two Police Commands whose jurisdiction covers the Lagos maritime logistics ring, it is expected that those conducting business in the ports will heave a sigh of relief.

IEA Lowers Q2 Oil Demand Forecast, Morgan Stanley Raises Projects 1.5m bpd Russia Supply Loss Oil Forecast by $10, Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The International Energy Agency (IEA) has revised down the global demand for crude oil for the second quarter of this year amid severe Covid-19 lockdowns in China, a major consumer of the commodity.

Stressing this in its Oil Market Report (OMR) for April 2022, the organisation further noted that on the back of the consequences of its war with Ukraine, Russia’s supply to the market will reduce by 1.5 million bpd at the end of the month.

“Severe new lockdown measures amid surging Covid-19 cases in China have led to a downward revision in our expectations for global oil demand in 2Q22 and for the year as a whole.

“As a result, our estimate for global oil demand has

been lowered by 260 kb/d for the year versus last month’s report, and demand is now expected to average 99.4 mb/d in 2022, up by 1.9 mb/d from 2021,” the report said.

Global oil supply rose in March by 450 kb/d to 99.1 mb/d, led by non-members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries known as (OPEC+), the IEA report added.

“Russian oil supply is expected to fall by 1.5 mb/d in April, with shutins projected to accelerate to around 3 mb/d from May. “Despite the disruption to Russian oil supplies, lower demand expectations, steady output increases from OPEC+ members along with the US and other non OPEC+ countries, and massive stock releases from IEA

member countries should prevent a sharp deficit from developing,” it advised.

The document added that global oil inventories have decreased for 14 consecutive months, with February stocks 714 mb below the end-2020 level and rich countries accounting for 70 per cent of the decline.

The report stated that although benchmark crude prices are now back to near pre-invasion levels, but they remain troublingly high and are a serious threat for the global economic outlook.

It pointed out that oil markets struggling to navigate supply losses and dislocations stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine received much needed support from US and IEA coordinated stock releases.

IEA member countries had

agreed on 1 April to tap their emergency reserves for the second time in the space of a month, this time to the tune of 120 mb.

The record volumes, it noted, will provide welcome relief to an already tight oil market that’s facing heightened uncertainty amid the multitude of repercussions stemming from sanctions and embargoes targeted at Russia by the international community and consumer boycotts.

Insisting that no supply shortage exists, OPEC+ countries agreed on 31 March to stick with a modest monthly output increment for May. In March, output from the alliance’s 19 members with quotas was up by a mere 40 kb/d, far below the planned 400 kb/d increase, and 1.5 mb/d below their target.

Shell to Supply Gas to Upcoming 255MW Power Plant in South-west Peter Uzoho Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, a subsidiary of Shell Plc, has indicated its readiness to supply gas to an upcoming 225 megawatts independent power plant to be sited in an undisclosed Nigeria’s Southwestern state.

Managing Director of SNG, Mr. Ed Ubong, said the company has the capacity to supply all the gas needed for the project being promoted

by Coodsynergyn Oil West Africa Limited (CS OWA).

“We have signed the heads of terms agreement with CS OWA as a prelude to a potential Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement,” Ubong said.

He added that the new partnership “will deepen domestic gas utilisation, enhance further industrialisation, and enable local industries to have access to reliable and affordable

energy to thrive and create employment opportunities for Nigerians.”

According to the heads of terms agreement, SNG will build the required infrastructure to connect the power plant to the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System for easy access to gas.

General Manager, Shell Energy business line in Nigeria, Markus Hector, said the natural gas-fired power project would bring

tremendous benefits to the Nigerian economy by bridging the country’s energy gap as part of the Decade of Gas initiative of the federal government.

Also, Managing Director of CS OWA, Dr Olugbenga Odusanya, said he was excited about the prospect of the new power plant with potential to unlock the domestic gas market and contribute to industrialisation in Nigeria.

Cites Market Deficit Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Morgan Stanley has increased its third- and fourth-quarter price forecasts for global benchmark Brent crude by $10 a barrel due to a greater-than-expected supply deficit driven by Russia and Iran.

The bank raised its third quarter estimate to $130 a barrel and predicted a supply deficit of about 1 million barrels a day persisting throughout the year, according to a note seen by Bloomberg.

While oil markets have short-term demand headwinds, they are outweighed by supply issues, it added.

Morgan Stanley increased its forecast for daily Russian crude and condensate production losses to 2 million barrels, up from 1 million barrels, because of a widespread boycott of its products following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The war is nearing its third month despite diplomatic efforts for a cease-fire.

Russian production has

already fallen by about 900,000 barrels a day in the first half of April, earlier than expected, with the bank adding that there’s a “high risk” the European Union will enact an import embargo on Russian crude.

The bank scaled back its assumption for returning Iranian supply, citing the lengthy negotiations without a nuclear deal being agreed. The bank had expected flows to climb by about 1 million barrels a day between mid- and end-2022, but has lowered that forecast to 500,000 barrels a day.

The likelihood of an agreement is now 50/50, the bank said.

It also cut its oil demand growth forecast to 2.7 million barrels a day this year from 3.4 million barrels a day.

In the short term, the market is contending with negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) revisions, the effects of China’s Covid Zero policy and a large release from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Military Launches ‘Octopus Grip’to Reverse Growing OilTheft Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja To curb the growing oil theft, illegal refining and vandalism in the country, the Nigerian military has launched an operation codenamed ‘’Octopus Grip’’ in the Niger Delta.

At the kick-off of the operation, expected to last 90

days, in Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government, Bayelsa State, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor warned oil thieves, vandals and other criminals to stay away from government assets.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj. Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, he

stated that in line with its constitutional mandate, the military would continue to identify security threats across the various geopolitical zones in the country with a view to neutralising them.

Irabor stressed that to make the operation more effective, troops of Operation Delta Safe (OpDS) had

Experts Harp on Professional Use of Email as Antidote to CyberCrime Emma Okonji Technology experts who attended the 2022 Public Lecture organised by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Lagos State University (LASU DICT) in Lagos recently, have stressed on the need to improve email usage pattern as a measure to protect organisations’ network and also to improve Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

At the public lecture, which is in its 8th edition, participants raised the alarm that 95 per cent of generated data on the web, has not been fully analysed, thus reducing the chances of Internal Revenue Generation (IGR) and

exposing the use of emails to cyber risks in the cyberspace.

The lead speaker, who is the Acting Director of Directorate of LASU DICT, Dr. Toyin Enikuomehin, emphasised the need for organisations to begin to see email services as a way of branding, trust building, and for better service delivery.

The General Manager, Ogun State Property Investment Corporation (OPIC), Temitope Ifedayo, who also delivered a paper on cyber security, cautioned all users of emails to always ensure that their emails are protected when browsing online.

He insisted that email users must always be vigilant

as spoofing is a common occurrence that still exists in the cyberspace and may not leave us so soon.

One of the speakers from the United Kingdom, who is the CEO of AlphaBeta Coop, London, Mr. Adeleye Lawal, leveraged on earlier contributions to analyse email management of service subscriptions. He further explained that more that 95 per cent of the data generated on the webspace were not analsysed, adding that the situation has exposed the under-utilisation of the several opportunities that are associated with data generation that were not yet explored.

been given new rules of engagement to deal with the menace.

Speaking earlier, Commander, OpDS, Rear Adm. Aminu Hassan, said the operation was aimed at reinforcing and sustaining the successes recorded in “Operations Accord” 1&2 which took place from December 2017 to April

2022 resulting in the arrests of 206 suspects. During the programme, he noted that the destruction of 682 illegal oil refining camps, and 10 militants’ and pirates’ camps in the joint operation areas were carried out.

Hassan explained that at the end of the new operation, it is expected that activities of oil thieves in the area would

have reduced drastically and the integrity of oil and gas installations and facilities would be relatively assured.

The Nembe Creek Trunkline (NCTL) has come under massive attacks in recent months, hobbling Nigeria’s attempts at meeting the quota set by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Accugas Ramps Up Gas Supply to 391mw FIPL Power Plants Peter Uzoho Accugas Limited, Nigerian affiliate of British energy firm, Savannah Energy Plc, has signed an addendum to its existing Interruptible Gas Sales Agreement (IGSA) with First Independent Power Limited (FIPL), a subsidiary of Sahara Power Group.

The deal will see the firm increase gas supply to FIPL to 65 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/pd).

The initial sales agreement, which Savannah said was 35mmscf, was originally signed on January 28, 2020 and was being supplied to FIPL’s Afam Power plant in Rivers State.

Savannah said in a statement that under the terms of the addendum, FIPL will be able to increase the quantity of

gas purchased from Accugas to up to 65 mmscfpd so as to also supply the Trans Amadi and Eleme Power plants also in Rivers State, in addition to its Afam Power plant.

FIPL’s power plants have a total generation capacity of 391MW, with the Trans Amadi and Eleme plants having generation capacities of 136MW and 75 MW, respectively.

Commenting on the deal, Chief Executive Officer, Savannah Energy, Andrew Knott, was quoted in the statement to have said that: “Accugas has recorded growth in total revenues from gas sales for each of the last five years, with a realised Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15 per cent.

“New contracts, such as this announcement provide

the basis for us to continue this growth into the future and we look forward to continue working with the Sahara Group on this and potentially other projects in the future.”

Also, Group Managing Director, Sahara Power Group, Mr. Kola Adesina, stated: “At Sahara, we believe that with Savannah we have a partnership that works, and we are delighted to see that our beliefs are becoming a reality.

“Through this Addendum, we aim to secure the reliable supply of gas to FIPL power plants, thereby improving the health of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and as always, bringing energy to life for the everyday person whose interest we serve intentionally.”

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TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

OIL & GAS

The Marginal Fields Conundrum In June 2020, Nigeria started the process of awarding marginal oil fields to indigenous firms in a bid to rake in the much-needed revenue as well as boost oil and gas production. Though slow, progress appears to have been made.

Emmanuel Addeh writes that the programme has been bogged down by seemingly unforeseen circumstances.

T

he enthusiasm that heralded the announcement of the commencement of the marginal oil bid round in 2020 may be fast waning as the process continues to grind slowly and timelines are missed. Precisely on June 1, nearly two years ago, the programme which was kicked off by the then Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) brought so much hope, being the first that was taking place in close to two decades.

It also raised Nigeria’s hope that with the expected increase in oil production, the somewhat precarious economic situation could improve remarkably especially at a time the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic had begun to take a toll. For the exercise, the then regulatory agency, DPR, which has now transformed into the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) announced that a total of 57 fields located on land, swamp and shallow offshore terrains were being put on offer.

A non-refundable application fee of N2 million per field, bid processing fee of N3 million, data prying fee of $15,000, data leasing fee of $25,000, Competent Persons Report (CPR) of $50,000 and $25,000 were thereafter set for interested bidders.

Although the process wasn’t entirely as transparent as Nigerians would have wanted, nevertheless a number of Nigerians applied and it culminated in the then Director/Chief Executive Officer, DPR, Mr Sarki Auwalu, telling the country that by January 2022, Nigeria will have its first oil from the assets.

In the same vein, he announced that the government was expecting to generate at least $500 million in revenue from the marginal fields bid round.

“We expect first oil from most of the marginal fields, for which we just concluded bid round, around January 2022 because all the things that will retard them will go, and we need that money for the country,” Auwalu had stressed.

Earlier, the agency had said that 161 companies had been shortlisted to advance to the final stage of the bid round.

In addition, the objectives of the awards include to increase indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry, increase reserves, rev up technological transfer, attract investment and enhance revenue generation.

SHIFTING TIMELINES

But as Nigeria continues to struggle to increase its daily crude oil production, the industry regulator says it is now targeting June 2022 for marginal field awardees to “move to site.”

Although the target was to start production four months ago, still, moving to site does not mean commencement of drilling since a lot of preliminary work will be carried out.

With the process bogged down by bureaucratic challenges, the actual drilling for oil has yet to effectively take off almost time years after the awardees were officially handed award certificates by the defunct DPR. Speaking on the be date, NUPRC Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, noted that although the commission inherited a difficult situation, it expects that by the end of H1, all the issues will be sorted out.

“It’s critical because one of our cardinal objectives is to ensure that we increase the national oil production

and of course, we realise that the fields will actually help in enhancing that.

“But I want to assure Nigerians and indeed the awardees that we have been able to, as I speak, tried to bring the issue to a manageable state and devise a strategy for bringing the challenge to a close.

FORCED MARRIAGES

In the run-up to the final bid rounds, the DPR as it then was, had imposed a model on the potential winners of the bids which would involve the formation of what it called Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs).

In the main, this somewhat complicated arrangement, would see partnerships between and among interested companies, even though some of them were simply incompatible.

This also meant that indigenous firms competing for the same field were, in some instances, made joint winners, form joint ventures and develop won assets as single entities.

With mounting concerns that some of the disgruntled parties may resort to litigations which would further delay the process and hobble Nigeria’s chances of drilling more oil, that singular decision , which appeared not well thought-out, has remained the Achilles heel of the programme.

In some cases, some of the forced partners had issues with payment of the required funds, thereby delaying the rest which had paid and ready to move to the field for business.

With strange business bedfellows forced together to begin discussions to go through the process as partners on the farm-out agreements, the issue of equity sharing as well as the fate of mergers where some parties had yet to fully pay up largely remained unresolved.

In other cases, entities that were compelled to co-own the assets, complained about the outright non-payment of the bonuses by their partners.

WRONG MODEL

However, the successor NUPRC has admitted that the model adopted by the defunct DPR was wrongheaded, but has also expressed frustration over its inability to review or alter it wholesale in the middle of the process. The thinking of the commission is that the rules cannot be changed when the game is already on.

“In fact, one of the challenges we’ve had is that even in forming the SPVs , they are still having challenges working together because of the nature of the model used.

“But by and large, I want to say that we as a commission, we will learn from this experience, and I want to assure Nigeria that the next marginal field bid will definitely not be bogged down by these kind of challenges we are experiencing in managing the fallout of the 2020 marginal field.

“Before the first half of the year, we want to see a situation where some of the awardees will be proceeding to field development plan.

“At the moment again, we have recorded close to 90 per cent of the co-awardees forming their

SPV and at that stage, it is the very comfortable stage when the commission can go ahead to issue Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs),” Komolafe explained.

The commission appealed to winners of the bids to show understanding and work with the regulator to resolve the contentious issues thrown up by the cumbersome model used in awarding the oil fields.

The NUPRC stressed that though it was an inherited problem, it had been doing everything within its capacity to resolve the matter in the interest of parties involved in the transaction.

It pointed out that the model used in conducting the bid and awarding equities merged strange bedfellows and asked them to work together on same fields, a development it said had become a problem as it was difficult for some of them to agree on certain terms and conditions because of their incompatible and incongruent backgrounds and capacities.

“The development has since slowed down the commencement process and achievement of the goal for which the exercise was meant to achieve,” Komolafe said recently.

The chief executive acknowledged the economic impact the resultant delay is exerting on the awardees, following their inability to take possession of the assets, particularly those who have already paid signature bonuses.

Komolafe pointed out that the situation had also affected the country’s economy which had been denied expected income from increased oil production and taxes that would have accrued from operational activities.

He noted that the model, which was complex and complicated, is the major cause of the inability of awardees to effectively proceed towards the process of production.

According to him, when it became apparent that the fallouts of the cumbersome arrangement were detrimental to the objective of the exercise, the NUPRC moved to resolve the situation by setting up a technical team which has so far held several meetings and workshops with the aggrieved parties.

“After series of meetings and consultations on the issues and having reviewed the circumstances and noted the issues involved, the NUPRC is asking for patience and understanding from the awardees while it moves to address the issues created by a model which they willingly consented to ab initio,” the commission stated.

At another meeting recently, the new CEO told the companies that since he took office, the challenges surrounding the actual take off of the programme had been a key exercise that he had devoted his time to resolving. “ I’ll tell you why. I realise that you as stakeholders, as awardees , we have tied down your capital, and I am very mindful about what we call the cost of capital.

“It’s really very painful that you have tied down your capital for this long time and that you expect the commission to take prompt action

in that respect and I want to tell you that it has really bothered my mind and we have been doing everything possible within the commission that will progress the exercise to conclusion.

“So, it is an issue that has been very germane to the commission, to ensure that we bring the exercise into conclusion. With the funds that you have tied down, the cost of this exercise is very huge capital, that even for the entire banking industry, it is very significant and we cannot continue to delay in the completion of this exercise,” he noted.

He explained that he had received lot of petitions on the issues, but noted that the commission cannot reverse the model that was deployed, “because it’s too late in the day” as it was inherited from the former managers of the programme. “ It’s a contract and they have paid, it means they have accepted the model for the conduct of the exercise. It’s too late in the day to reverse the process. Complaining after the fact will not help anybody,” he pointed out.

INVESTORS GRUMBLE

Although till now, there’s still no comprehensive list of winners of the bid round in the public space, a number of the investors tracked by THISDAY have been grumbling.

The bid winners complained that about N200 billion of their loans were hanging, while they continued to pay interests for close to a year, without the take-off of the process to find oil in the fields.

Their grouse is that the programme, meant to drill more oil and boost the country’s revenue, is yet to effectively take off almost a year after they were officially handed award certificates.

Some of the award winners are decrying the slow turn of events, stressing that they had continued to pay heavy interests on the loans that were borrowed to pay for the transactions, despite the fact that the loans had been unproductive for over a year.

“About N200 billion is currently hanging for over one year that we paid this money. My company invested billions in that transaction. For over a year, we have been paying close to N200 million a month as interest on loans.

“Just calculate that in a year and you will have an idea how much capital is tied down and how much interest is being paid on that whole sum of N200 billion.

“We are now even being told that there is no more farm-out. How will investors see what is happening and still have the courage to come in and invest in our clime?” one of the bid holders who declined to be named, stressed.

Another bid winner who also complained that the process was becoming unnecessarily slow, stated that although some progress had been made, the company was waiting for the take-off of the real work , which is to find “first oil” now that oil prices are high.

He, too complained that paying interest on loans that were not performing will ultimately negatively impact the business entities.

While the delay continues to scare investors away, both foreign and local, stakeholders believe that the NUPRC should quickly move to resolve all the outstanding issues to afford Nigeria and the local investors the full benefits of their business decisions.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 • T H I S D AY

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Thisday Afrinvest Index Up14bps 0.4% Thisday Afrinvest 4040 Index fell by The dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ The Thisday Afrinvest 40 advanced 0.4% to

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

at 1,674.89ŝŶĚĞdž points ƉŽŝŶƚƐ due to sell-pressure on ZENITH (-0.6%), Ϯ͕ϭϴϮ͘ϰϮ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ WAPCO (-1.3%), and UBA (-0.7%). These stocks cumula-

GTCO (+1.7%), ZENITH (+1.0%), and DANGCEM

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

;нϬ͘ϭйͿ͘ ƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ

Current Price

Ticker

15.8% of the index.

ASI up 11bps as DANGCEM Gains 3.3%

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ ,KEz&>KhZ >ŽĐĂů ŽƵƌƐĞ džƚĞŶĚƐ tŝŶŶŝŶŐ ^ƚƌĞĂŬ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ƵƉ 0.2% (+9.8%), E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, (+0.7%) bol-

Share index rose by ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŶŽƚĞ͕ ĞdžƚĞŶĚŝŶŐ ŝƚƐ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƌƵŶ ƚŽ ϭϬ ƚƌĂĚͲ 11bps to 39,550.36 zd ůŽƐƐ ing sessions on thepoints. back ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ of buying interest in ŝŵͲ NB proved to -1.8% while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ

(+9.9%), STANBIC (+6.3%), and WAPCO (+5.3%). േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ E'y-ASI ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘Ϯй to close at ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ value

ϰϴ͕ϱϰϯ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ ƚŚƵƐ ƉƵƐŚŝŶŐ zd traded ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ The most stocks

5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

>/E< ^^hZ

ϭ͘ϰй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ E and D E^ Z (-Ϯ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ ;нϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ d ZE ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ing indices/Ed Z t fell by Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůK E K ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ Insurance and ĂŶŬͲ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K (-0.8%), E/d, (-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͘

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Industrial Goods index shed 1.1% /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƐĞůůŽīƐ ŝŶ h D Ed ;-3.9%) and /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

hd/y ;-Ϯ͘ϭйͿ͘

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ 1.6x ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ stocks

KƵƚůŽŽŬ

advanced while 15 stocks declined. MRS (+9.9%), MAY-

8.1%

8.1%

8.1%

134.7%

14.1%

14.5x

22.4x

6.1%

-3.9%

6.4%

1.4%

1.4%

19.1%

11.2%

32.7x

6.2x

3.8%

3.1%

24.60

1.7%

5.7%

-5.4%

-5.4%

20.7%

3.3%

4.0x

0.8x

12.2%

25.1% 30.5%

25.55

1.0%

5.6%

1.6%

1.6%

20.4%

2.7%

3.3x

0.6x

12.3%

0.1%

4.5%

11.2%

11.2%

39.2%

16.3%

13.5x

5.0x

7.0%

7.4%

1,395.00

0.0%

2.9%

-10.4%

-10.4%

106.8%

15.6%

27.1x

31.8x

3.7%

3.7%

8.4%

0.8%

7.1x

0.6x

3.8%

14.1%

15.5%

11.1%

7.3x

1.1x

7.4%

13.7%

9.90

-1.0%

2.6%

11 United Bank for Africa PLC 12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

8.20

1.2%

2.0%

1.9%

1.9%

15.8%

1.4%

2.4x

0.4x

12.2%

41.3%

35.35

6.3%

1.5%

-1.8%

-1.8%

15.6%

2.1%

7.5x

1.2x

8.6%

13.4%

53.50

9.9%

1.6%

7.0%

7.0%

7.6%

2.7%

23.0x

2.5x

3.0%

4.3%

1,030.00

0.0%

2.3%

58.5%

58.5%

8.7%

4.1%

9.4x

0.8x

3.9%

10.7%

2.6x

0.5x

5.5%

14 SEPLAT Energy PLC 15 Ecobank Transnational Inc

6.5%

12.00

0.8%

1.7%

37.9%

37.9%

18.4%

1.0%

5.60

6.7%

1.2%

13.1%

13.1%

-10.3%

-3.9%

147.00

0.0%

1.0%

3.5%

3.5%

36.5%

23.3%

10.0x

3.3x

5.4%

32.00

0.2%

1.0%

12.9%

12.9%

15.9%

4.5%

4.9x

0.7x

5.2%

20.4%

3.90

5.4%

0.9%

52.9%

52.9%

13.3%

1.3%

3.0x

0.4x

9.0%

33.7%

2.59

2.0%

0.6%

11.6%

11.6%

9.3%

3.0%

8.0x

0.8x

9.8%

12.6%

0.3%

0.4%

-8.0%

-8.0%

17.4%

6.9%

8.8x

1.5x

6.3%

11.3%

3.74

3.9%

0.5%

25.1%

25.1%

10.2%

1.1%

0.3x

5.5%

3.3x

11.4%

-2.2%

0.5%

33.3%

33.3%

0.0%

0.7%

110.9%

110.9%

13.3%

6.0%

17.3x

2.2x

0.6%

5.8%

1.12

9.8%

0.3%

16.7%

16.7%

11.1%

2.3%

5.9x

0.6x

1.8%

16.8%

26 Presco PLC 27 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

130.00

-2.2%

0.4%

48.1%

48.1%

2.8x

0.8%

12.00

0.0%

0.2%

-9.1%

-9.1%

21.3%

6.9%

11.3x

2.3x

3.3%

28 AIICO Insurance PLC 29 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri

0.66

-2.9%

0.2%

-5.7%

-5.7%

14.0%

2.2%

22.4x

0.6x

3.0%

4.5%

234.50

6.4%

0.2%

5.7%

5.7%

48.0%

9.5%

4.8x

1.9x

7.9%

21.0%

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 34 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 35 Oando PLC 36 Wema Bank PLC 37 NEM Insurance PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC 39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

6.60

0.0%

0.2%

-16.5%

-16.5%

19.5%

5.5%

3.9x

0.7x

7.6%

25.8%

0.0%

0.2%

-1.3%

-1.3%

38.7%

16.0%

5.7x

2.0x

6.8%

17.6%

13.40

9.8%

0.1%

-7.6%

-7.6%

11.2%

6.9%

15.7x

1.1x

3.7%

6.3%

28.50

5.2%

0.2%

27.5%

27.5%

18.9%

2.4%

4.3x

0.8x

8.8%

23.2%

6.35

-0.8%

0.1%

7.6%

7.6%

7.1%

0.8%

7.2x

0.7x

3.9%

6.44

9.9%

0.2%

45.7%

45.7%

14.5%

2.6%

2.8x

0.4x

3.34

4.7%

0.0%

363.9%

363.9%

14.1%

0.8%

14.5x

1.9x

7.2%

6.9%

4.00

0.0%

0.1%

-11.1%

-11.1%

21.5%

12.8%

4.6x

0.9x

5.5%

21.9%

2.0x

0.3x

6.6%

1.52

3.4%

0.1%

0.7%

0.7%

9.4%

0.9%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-28.3%

-6.1%

4.95

0.0%

0.0%

-8.0%

-8.0%

2.4x 0.8x

1.5%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

3.85

10.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

35.8

1.0%

IKEJ A H OT EL

1.55

9.9%

OA N D O

30.8

9.9%

ET ER N A

7.31

9.9%

M A N SA R D

23.1

2.0%

OA N D O

6.44

9.9%

T R A N SC OR P

20.7

9.8%

SKYA VN

7.00

9.9%

FB NH

20.1

0.4%

M EYER

2.56

9.9%

WA P C O

17.6

5.3%

NB

53.50

9.9%

GT C O

13.7

1.7%

UN ILEVER

13.40

9.8%

F ID ELIT YB K

10.9

5.4%

T R A N SC OR P

1.12

9.8%

CHA M S

9.6

4.8%

M ULT IVER SE

0.23

9.5%

A B B EYB D S

9.2

0.9%

J A P A ULGOLD UP D C

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

WA P IC B UA C EM EN T

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

-6.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

912.2

1.0%

1.10

-6.0%

P R ESC O

488.5

-2.2%

0.32

-5.9%

WA P C O

471.2

5.3%

-4.5%

GT C O

335.5

1.7%

0.44

-4.3%

FB NH

240.0

0.4%

68.00

-3.9%

OA N D O

198.3

9.9%

GUIN N ESS

159.9

0.0%

0.85

50.4% -13.8%

UP D C R EIT

0.47

14.0% 36.1%

P ric e C hg %

P ric e

8.9%

22.20

P ric e

A C A D EM Y

ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ

10.0%

13.20

UN IT YB N K

gradually winds up. ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ

38.9% -10.2%

82.25

T ic k er

ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ĂƐ session, earnings we season were unchanged.

InƌĞŵĂŝŶ today͛sŵŝdžĞĚ͕ trading

1.1x

16.00

T o p 10 L o s e r s

previously as 43 lostwe while 50 the STOCK (-4.8%) ledstocks losers.gained, Previous16day, expect

7.1%

24 Guinness Nigeria PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

BAKER (+9.8%), and HONYFLOUR (+9.8%) led gainers

ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϱϰdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϯϮdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ while ABCTRANS (-8.3%), LASACO (-6.7%), and LIVE-

6.9%

5.3%

Investor ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

0.0%

68.00

12.3%

T ic k er

ƟŽŶ in E' D (+3.3%).

ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ ĨĂǀŽƵƌĂďůĞ Yϭ͗ϮϬϮϮ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ͘

213.00

T o p 10 G a in e r s

^ Z ;нϮ͘ϬйͿ͕ E/d, ;нϭ͘ϬйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ d/ ;нϬ͘ϴйͿ͘

15.8%

1.4%

5.3%

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƌŝǀͲ er, ďLJ up by price appreciaĞŶ ƉƌŝĐĞ 1.8% ƵƉƟĐŬ driven ŝŶ KZE Z^d ;нϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ D EͲ

5.9%

285.80

30 Custodian and Allied Insurance 31 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 32 Unilever Nigeria PLC

(-6.4%),

0.9x

12.3%

traded rose 4.7% to ʬ4.0bn .

(-3.5%),

5.7x

3.4%

22 FCMB Group Plc 23 United Capital PLC

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ-ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> (-

3.5%

3.3%

20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

& Gas ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐΖ ĐŚĂƌƚ͕ ƵƉ Ϯ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ

15.0%

38.2%

5.3%

E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ ƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĨĞůů ϰ͘Ϭй ƚŽ ϯϮϴ͘ϰŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ

er ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ Consumer 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ Insurance indices, down 4.6% ICT Goods andand Oil

38.2%

Dividend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

0.4%

ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ǁŚŝůĞ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ ƟŽŶ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ʬ45.1bn to ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ʬϮϲ͘ϮƚŶ͘ ǀŽůͲ

ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ bullish as 4 indices gained, 1 lost, while the AFR-

17.7% 118.2% 38.9%

P/E

12.00

18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC

Bullish Across Sector sectors Performance under our coverage, performance was Across our coverage performance was bearish as 4 indices lost, 1 sectors, index gained ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &Z-/ d

0.0%

ROA

26.90

13.6% (previously 13.4%) ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, while market capitalisaby volume were dZ E^ KZW (11.1m

Bearish Sector Performance

0.40%

ROE

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC 10 Access Holdings PLC

16 International Brew eries PLC 17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

hE/> s Z

1,320.00

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ the ďĞŐĂŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ stered ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ local bourse as theŽŶ All-Ă

9.1%),

2182.42

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

Price Previous Price Current Change Price Change Weighting Index to Change YTD Date

M B EN EF IT

0.25

-3.8%

C OUR T VILLE

0.50

-3.8%

NB

118.3

9.9%

99.0

0.0%

86.8

0.1%

A F R IP R UD

5.80

-3.3%

N GXGR OUP

A IIC O

0.66

-2.9%

D A N GC EM

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

34

T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

BoI, UNIDO Partners to Boost Industrial Energy Efficiency Gilbert Ekugbe The Bank of Industry (BOI) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) have partnered to improve the nation’s industrial energy efficiency, a move both organisations described as apt to increase industrial profitability, efficiency while also operating at international best standards.

The Managing Director, BoI, Olukayode Pitan, at the launch of the Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) and Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP) Project Investment Committee, said the hidden costs of fossil fuels are enormous and include environmental hazards, air pollution, water pollution hence, the need to seek alternatives to ensure sustainable environments.

He noted that the benefits of IEE and RECP are many and include reduced cost of production, improved profitability, resourcefulness and competitive edge while others are improved health and stronger economy.

“Therefore, the participation of BoI in this arrangement demonstrates a strong commitment to bank to stability and many of these projects will enable industries align with energy management systems and energy

systems organisation which will lead to reduced environmental pollution, global industrial power generation level, reduced costs of production and increase in company’s general stability,” he said.

In his words: “We believe that sustainable banking is the future and will result in long term resilience for the world as a whole and will contribute to the survival of future generations.”

Also speaking, the Country Representative and Regional Director, UNIDO Regional Office Hub, Mr. Jean Bankole, represented by the Environment Expert, Oluyomi Banjo, said globally, industries account for one-third of total energy consumption and for almost 40 per cent of worldwide CO2 emissions, noting that the International Energy Agency (IEA) has emphasised that industries will need to reduce their current direct emissions globally by about 24 per cent in comparison to 2007 levels.

He added that the need to reduce energy consumption, environmental degradation, and resource depletion by industries in emerging economies is especially evident, since global growth in industrial production since 1990 has been dominated

by emerging economies like India and China, both of which accounted for over 80 per cent of increased industrial production during this period.

He said the inauguration of the Project Investment Commitee was collectively developed and submitted by UNIDO on behalf of Nigeria in 2017 under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6 programming cycle.

According to him, the outcome of the project is targeted at industries to develop an expert base for Nigeria, which could also be exported to other countries in Africa and beyond.

“This project will address to a good extent the questions on how industries can improve their efficiency, increase profitability, operate at international best standards, comply with regulations and maintain improved relationship with policy makers. A pilot financing RECP-IEE scheme will be executed through the Bank of Industry of Nigeria and Issues around ISO 50000 and 14001 will be executed through Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

We hope to support not less than 75 industries across five sectors of food and beverage, wood and furniture, steel and metals, textiles and garment and petrochemicals.

Goldberg Lager Beer Thrills Consumers in Warri Goldberg premium lager beer delivered an undiluted night of enjoyment to residents of Warri at the takeover party that held in Warri, Delta State.

The event which brought together consumers, brand loyalists, fans and music lovers in an atmosphere of fun, saw Karkarkey, the Ayanwale of Goldberg engage the audience with his dexterity on the talking drum alongside the DJ of the night, DJ Dabila.

The DJ battle featured two of Warri’s disc jockeys, DJ Clovis and Cool DJ Nice, going head to head, dishing out a fusion of traditional and modern music

for the listening pleasure of the audience. After a keen contest, Goldberg awarded the two DJs five hundred thousand naira (500,000.00) each in recognition of their talent and hard work in entertaining the audience.

Renowned Warri-born songwriter and rapper, Erriga also took the crowd to a different level of excitement with his energetic performance. The crowd could not help but sing along as he dished out in quick succession some of his songs alongside his music band.

Commenting on the party experience, Brand Manager, Goldberg, Oluyemi Ekundayo,

said, “We are happy to be in Warri, delivering on our promise of pure undiluted enjoyment to our consumers because they deserve it. We know how hardworking the people of Warri are, we recognise and celebrate this and we revel in bringing this platform to reward their loyalty especially for choosing Goldberg.”

With Ibadan and Warri distinguishing themselves with this year’s first and second Goldberg Takeover Parties respectively, keep your ears open and your dancing shoes ready as the enjoyment that Goldberg offers will be in your city soon.

Brand Analysts Laud Effectiveness of HollandiaYoghurt Campaign Some analysts in the nation’s integrated marketing communications and nutrition space have applauded Hollandia Yoghurt’s communication campaign, tagged “Wholesome Nourishment From Your Favourite Brand”, for increasing brand awareness and further endearing the brand to consumers as the favourite drinking yoghurt brand for wholesome nourishment.

A brand executive with Wingplus Communication, Yomi Adesina, stated that Hollandia Yoghurt has become synonymous with wholesome nourishment in the consciousness of consumers by consistently driving that narrative.

“The success of the ‘Whole-

some Nourishment From Your Favourite Brand’ campaign is attributable to how Hollandia Yoghurt showcases the many roles the brand plays in consumers’ nourishment need-spaces in a relatable way,” he said.

A Lagos-based nutritionist, Shirley Nwosu, noted that the campaign has been effective in further creating awareness and endearing the brand to consumers like herself with its wholesome nourishment value.

She noted that some of the vitamins & minerals contained in Hollandia Yoghurt have been shown by research to help with increased energy, prevent reduced levels of alertness and improve overall cognitive performance.

Hollandia Yoghurt provides

the wholesome nourishment for active replenishment and revitalizing energy that keeps you positively recharged to be at your best for the day.

Hollandia Yoghurt can be consumed on-the-go, at work, at school, or at any other time or place and comes in delightful variants, as well as convenient pack sizes. It is loved by consumers who want a healthy and great tasting dairy beverage that provides an exciting way to add the required nutrients to their daily diets. CHI Limited Marketing Director, Mrs. Toyin Nnodi, reiterated the positive consumer feedback the Hollandia Yoghurt “Wholesome Nourishment From Your Favourite Brand” campaign is generating.

L-R: Clinical Director, Smile 360 Dental Specialists, Lagos, Dr Amy Traore-Shumbusho with Managing Director, CarePay Nigeria, at the activation of the CarePay Healthcare Discount Card in Lagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

Lekki Port Appoints Bello-Koko, Zhang Lianjiu as Directors Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (Lekki Port) has announced that the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, will represent NPA on its Board of Directors, with effect from 20th April 2022.

Also, recently, Mr. Zhang Lian-

jiu, Executive General Manager of the investment business unit of China Harbour Engineering Company, was approved to serve as a director of Lekki Port, representing the interests of China Harbour, the majority shareholder of Lekki Port.

NPA holds a 5 per cent equity shareholding in Lekki Port. The other shareholders are China Habour Engineering Company (CHEC) which has the majority share of 52.5 per cent, Lagos State Government with 20%, and Tolaram with 22.5 per cent.

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY APRIL 21

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $107.97 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $110.52 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations (view archives).

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

35

T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

MARKET NEWS

MTN Nigeria Signs Historical N127bn Series 1 & 2 CP Issuance Kayode Tokede MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, yesterday made history with the signing of a whooping N127 billion Series 1 & 2 Commercial Paper (CP) under its registered N150 billion Programme.

The Issuance consisted of two tenors – a 184-day series issuance priced at a 7.50% yield and a 254-day Series 2 issuance

priced at an 8.50% yield.

According to the telecommunication giant, the Issuance is in line with its strategy to diversify financing options, with the proceeds being deployed towards working capital and general corporate purposes.

Speaking at signing ceremony in Lagos yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer, MTN NigeriaCommunication, Mr Karl

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Toriola noted that N127billion CP issuance would go into the record books as the largest CP issuance in Nigeria.

According to him, “The success of our CP Issuance is a clear demonstration of the strength and acceptance of the MTN brand, and the trust placed by the investor community in MTN Nigeria’s our company’s leadership, strong financial per-

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

formance and corporate strategy.

“Having recently emerged as one of two winners for the 5G spectrum recently auctioned by the Nigerian Communications Commission and also having recently just being been granted final approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Momo Payment Service Bank Limited to commence operations license, this landmark issuance

T R A D E D

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MAIN BOARD

A S

represents yet another step towards our cementing MTN Nigeria’s leadership in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

He added that, “We thank first and foremost, we thank our customers and the investor community for their continued support and confidence in the MTN brand and all it stands for.”

Responding to a question by invited journalists, he noted

O F

2 5

that the MTN Nigeria with the completion of the N127billion CP aimed at improving customer’s services and high quality of bouquet services that included 5G spectrum that awaits regulatory approval. He expressed that the MTN Nigeria with the CP issuance is poised at maximising return to shareholders through dividend payout and capital appreciation.

/ 0 4 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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42

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

DULY PROMOTED...

L-R: Corps Marshal, Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi; Assistant Corp Commander (ACC), FRSC, Sunday Ajokotola, and Chief of Staff to President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari during Ajokotola’s decoration with his new rank at the Presidential Villa Abuja... yesterday

Former Aviation Minister, Graham Douglas, Dies at 82 Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt A prominent politician and four times federal Minister in Nigeria, Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas, is dead.

The illustrious son of Kalabari kingdom from Abonnema, AkukuToru Local Government Area in Rivers State, reportedly died early

hours of yesterday in Abuja, a few days to his 83rd birthday.

A native of his community, who confirmed his death to THISDAY, could not disclose the cause of his death, but stated that his demise was a shock to the community.

However, it was gathered that the renowned politician died in a private hospital in Abuja.

Born on May 8, 1939, in

Abonnema, Douglas was brother to Napo Graham-Douglas, who was the first indigenous AttorneyGeneral of Nigeria, He attended secondary schools in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

He studied at Acton Technical School, London (1963 – 1965) and then at the University of Lagos (1965 – 1969). He earned a BSc. in Botany and Zoology.

The four times minister worked with the Nigerian Petroleum Refinery Company, Port Harcourt (1969 – 1977), and became managing director of Togiscani Nigeria, a construction company (1978 – 1985) and later CEO of Road Haulage Company and Magroad Enterprises.

He was also chairman of Binterteco Nigeria, Pabod Finance and

APC Group Raises N50m for Abiodun's Nomination Form The second term ambition of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has gotten a boost as a political group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a N50 million cheque for him, to purchase his nomination and expression of interest forms.

The group, under the aegis of "Dapo Abiodun Mandate" announced the donation of the money at a news conference held in the premises of Abiodun's country home in Iperu, Ikenne Local Government area of the state.

Announcing the donation, the convener of the group, Biyi Adeleye said, the donation was the right thing to do giving the unprecedented achievements of the governor in the last three years.

He noted that, the donation also served as an endorsement of the governor's second term bid in office Adeleye, who is also a Special Adviser to Abiodun on Political Affairs, said the governor must be given all the supports he needs to complete the good works he has started in the state.

He said, the governor had touched every part of the state with development projects and must be encouraged to not only complete the projects, but also do more for the people of the state.

Adeleye said, "We are members of Dapo Abiodun Mandate Group having watched and worked with Governor Dapo Abiodun over last few years, we have realised that his government enjoys total approval from God and good people of Ogun State having demonstrated that his government is a divine and deliberate government to right the wrong of the past administration by not only concentrating all projects and effort in one region or senatorial district, leaving the rest untouched.

"Governor Dapo Abiodun has touched all the Senatorial districts, every local government in Ogun State.

"He also took it upon himself to complete all the abandoned projects of the past government because government is continuous.

"Hence, the Dapo Abiodun Mandate as a group is compelled to purchase the nomination and expression of interest forms for our principal in endorsement of his second term in office, having made us proud as a silent achiever who works his talks by not promising to do everything but doing everything he has promised."

Also speaking, a member of the group, Armstrong 'Tope Akintunde, said the group, has also raised a 20-member delegation, to accompany Abiodun, to the

APC Secretariat, in Abuja, where he will collect the form.

He said, "DA Legacy is what we need in Ogun State for continuation of all-round developmental projects in the state saying "only continuity can deepen our democracy.

"The N50 million donation is like scholarship award to a

brilliant student irrespective of whether that student can afford school fee.

"We have started aggressive mobilisation for the incumbent governor to ensure his success both at the party's primary and during the general election and anybody contesting against him is wasting his or her time."

Investment and Waterglass Boat Yard. In 2000, Graham-Douglas was appointed Provincial Grand Master of the Freemason’s Lodge in Calabar.

In 1986, Graham-Douglas was appointed Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Culture by the Rivers State government.

In this role, he completed the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, founded the Sports Institute of Isaka and initiated construction of the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.

He also gained approval to establish the Rivers State College of Science and Technology. He created, produced and directed the first Rivers Carnival, Carnival ’88, with the theme of Unity in Cultural Diversity.

In 1989, the military government of Ibrahim Babangida appointed him Federal Minister for Social Development, Youths and Sports. During his tenure, the separate Ministry of Women Affairs was established. He was moved to the Ministry of Aviation,

where he oversaw the deregulation of the aviation industry.

He was also a member of the Special Tenders Board, which developed the Abuja FCT. In 1992, Graham-Douglas became chairman of the Southern Minorities Movement, one of the groups that eventually merged into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was a candidate in the PDP primaries for the presidential nomination in 1998, losing to Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was appointed Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity in June 1999 by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In July 2000, Graham-Douglas was re-deployed to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

In November 2000, he headed a delegation that visited China, where he signed the 2000-2002 Executive Plan of Cultural and Educational Exchange between China and Nigeria. In December 2000, he hosted the Africa Travel Association’s Fourth Ecotourism Symposium in Abuja.

Obaseki Pledges Quality Healthcare, as Edo Begins Free Treatment, Surgeries for Heart, Kidney, Others Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki yesterday said his government would sustain efforts at ensuring a resilient and equitable health system to deliver quality health care services to all residents.

A statement quoted Obaseki to have given the assurance while declaring open a five-day free medical outreach for over 4,000 residents, in collaboration with the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA).

The beneficiaries during the five-day medical mission were to receive surgical interventions and treatments for heart, kidney, eye and other ailments.

Obaseki said, “For the thousands of those who are going to

get care from the team, we expect that you should know that this is not a one-off service. When they are gone, we expect that you should continue to come to the centres where you got care to follow up.

"The Nigerian professionals who are working with them are going to continue to be here; come for your follow-ups. The disease that kills people does not start in one day and kill them in one day; it takes time. So, we encourage people to patronise our health care centres.

"We are going to continue to connect with our ANPA members abroad through telemedicine for them to continue to provide care

for us. This mission is aimed at providing top of the range and critical medical services to the ordinary Edo citizens,” he added.

The governor further noted, "Nobody is going to come from anywhere in the world to treat us or give us care. We have to do it ourselves and we're lucky that some of the best people providing care for us around the world are our own children.

“All we can do as a government is to encourage them to come and give back some of the knowledge and care which they are giving to the rest of the world. This mission is part of the agenda to reverse brain drain.”

On her part, the initiator of

the programme and Edo First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki stated, “This free medical outreach would touch thousands of lives; there are people who would have been dead if not for this programme.”

"We have the best physicians and medical experts from around the world right here to provide care for our people. So, let's take advantage of this and make the best of this,” she charged.

In his contribution, the President of ANPA, Dr. Christopher Okunseri described healthcare as a right of citizens, pledging to work with the state government to deliver on its mandate of providing quality healthcare to citizens.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP...

L-R: Chairman, National Governing Council, Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Sen. Abba Ali; Representative of Minister of State Finance, Adeosun David; Chief Executive Officer, (NEPAD/ APRM), Gloria Akobundu, PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN and Representative of APRM- Continental Secretariat, Mr. Jean Adou, at the opening of AUDA-APRM Nigeria Second Review capacity building workshop in Abuja... yesterday

Ayu, Mark Head PDP Presidential Appeal, Screening Committees Exercise starts April 29 Chuks Okocha in Abuja Ahead of the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the opposition party has empaneled a nine-member screening committee headed by a former senate president, Dr. David Mark, while the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, is to head the appeal committee.

The screening of the 17 presidential aspirants of the party is, however, expected to start on April 29.

Presidential aspirants to

be screened are former VicePresident, Atiku Abubakar; twoterms governor of Kwara State and immediate past President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki; former President of the Senate and erstwhile Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed.

Also on the list are the 2019 PDP Vice Presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri

Tambuwal; former Minister of State for Education and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; a United States-based medical doctor, Nwachukwu Anakwenze and media mogul and Ovation Publisher, Dele Momodu.

Others are Investment banker and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; a pharmacist, Sam Ohuabunwa, former speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Cosmos Ndukwe; Charles Ugwu, as well as the

only female aspirant in the race, Tareila Diana.

With this, the party has generated N640 million from the 16 male presidential aspirants and N6 million from the only female presidential aspirant, Oliver Teriala Diana, making the revenue generated at N646 million.

Apart from Mark, others on the screening committee are, Celestine Omehia, Mike Shanna (SAN), former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Edward Ashiekaa, SAN, Mrs. Hilda Makonto, Dr. Akilu Indabawa, Hajia Hassana

Dikko, Dr. Esther Uduehi, who will serve as secretary, while Ms Chinedu Nwchukwu, will serve as administrative secretary of the screening committee.

The appeal committee, headed by Ayu, has the deputy national chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun, as member.

Others on this committee are Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, Jonathan. Hon. Umar Bature. Prof.

Stella Effah Attorney, Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, Jonathan Daniel Woyen, Hon. DANIEL Woygiikuro, Debo Ologunagba,

Kamaledeen Adeyemi Ajinade, Okechukwu Obiechina, Daniel Mohammed, Kadade Sulieman and Theoplhilus Dakas Shan.

There’s also Chief Ali Odefa, Chief Dan Orbih, Emmanuel Bovoa, Hon. Soji Adagunodo, Aminu Abdullahi, Mustapha Yaradua, Hajia Zanab Maina, Chief Fidelis Tapgun, Chief Charles Aderemi Akitoye, Chief Onyema Udochukwu, and Austin Opara.

The national secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, will serve as secretary of the committee.

Panel Issues Arrest Warrant Sylva Commends Dikio for Delivering PAP's Mandate on Police Commissioner Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

An Independent Investigation Panel set up on human rights violations by the defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian Police Force, yesterday, issued a warrant of arrest on the Commissioner of Police in charge of legal services at the Force Headquarters, CP Ogbeh Ochogwu.

The warrant was issued in respect of the alleged enforced disappearance and unlawful arrest and detention of John Emeka Alozie by the Force since 25th of June, 2017.

The CP was on several occasions ordered to appear before the panel with the case file of the victim, Alozie but up till date has not honoured the order of the panel despite adjourning the petitions five times to allow more time for the CP to do the needful.

Apparently angered by the disregard, Chairman of the panel, Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd.),

who issued the arrest warrant on the top police officer, said the attitude of Ochogwu was unbecoming of a lawyer and officer of the Police Force.

According to the eminent jurist, the only option left for the panel was to issue a warrant of arrest on the CP Legal and mandate the National Human Rights Commission to write to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to report Ochogwu's conduct in the matter.

The chairman noted that the CP had flagrantly and repeatedly disobeyed the order of the panel, having refused to turn in the said case file to enable the panel unravel the truth about the whereabouts of Alozie in accordance with the law.

Alozie’s wife had testified that a high court ordered the Police to release the victim and the ordered was never obeyed till date.

The panel adjourned the petition till 27th of April, 2022 for progress report.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has commended the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dikio (retd) for delivering the mandate of the scheme despite his lean resources.

He said Dikio's achievements were a clear demonstration of his zeal to find himself on the right side of history.

The minister frowned at the inability of the various interventionist agencies set up by the federal government to address the concerns of people of the Niger Delta, saying it was time to make them work.

Sylva spoke at the weekend when he received Dikio, at his country home in Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

He said: "We have to as a people stand together. We have had the Presidential Amnesty Programme for a long time but

we have not been fortunate. If you look at what the programme was meant to achieve, we have currently not achieved it.

"This is because for some reasons we have not been very fortunate. We can say that too for the NDDC. If you look at the two organisations, there are some reoccurring decimals.

"The people who started this organisations are similar or same persons. So, why are these organisations not delivering on the benefit that we expect from them? That is a great food for thought.

"Something is wrong. In the design some people deliberately twisted it so that it will suit their own personal angrandisment instead of helping the growth of the Niger Delta.

"But you've come at this juncture of history and we are very proud of you because you're doing very well. We must say that you're even late in the day because today the amnesty programme is not even getting as much as it used to get.

"If at this moment you're doing so much with the little you're getting; we can only imagine what you would have done during the hay days of the amnesty programme when there was a huge cash flow.

"Every time I see the National Security Adviser, I thank him for you and I have always pledged my support that anything required from me concerning the amnesty programme I will willingly do it."

Sylva called on the leaders of the region to close ranks to attract more development and lauded Dikio's Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) scheme, saying it had made the training of ex-agitators more rewarding.

He said: "Educationally we are very disadvantaged so a programme like this should be able to help us reposition our young men for the future and I'm happy you're doing that. I especially like the idea of tying the two ends together, of training and employment.

"Because if you train young men

and you do not have any plans for employment it can become a problem which is what we have seen. Young men are trained with no arrangement for their employment. They come back from their training and they are roaming the streets. They become even more dangerous.

"As a region we are not a very large population and that is why we are called minority. As minority we need to stand together but unfortunately that is one thing we lack. We are always standing against each other, fighting each other. If we can use our good offices to try to engender unity among our people then it will be better for us", he said.

Sylva called for collective efforts to fight against all forms of attack on the Niger Delta, particularly the destruction of the region's environment.

He said the region was at risk of extinction because of the harmful practices of a few misguided elements, who engaged in the mindless attack on oil facilities.

TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

44

NEWS

Osinbajo: It’ll Be Great Injustice If I Don’t Contest Ooni: I ‘ll pray for Osinbajo’s success

Goddy Egene and Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said it would be an injustice if he did not contest the 2023 election. He added that it would be a betrayal of his country for him to retire with all his exposure in government in last seven years.

Osinbajo, who stated these when he visited Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Ondo State in Akure, noted lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s open-mindedness in delegating to him serious tasks that had aided his experience.

According to him, it is God that put people in power, noting that he would not want to retire without using his exposure in government to further better the lot of Nigerians.

The vice president commended Akeredolu for the giant strides of achievements in the state.

“It is such a special privilege to be called to serve, it is a very special privilege to serve either as exco, house of assembly, even as NWC member.

“I am sure that everybody knows that I have formally

declared my intention to run as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I did so on Monday, April 11th, 2022 and I did so because,

first of all, there is nobody that can bear anything God does not decide that he would be, only God can make a person president, vice president, governor, anything

whatsoever.

“So, I believe the hand of God must be on anything we are doing, but I declared my intention based on first, the fact

that I have served, again by the sheer grace of God, I have served for seven years and some months.

“President Muhammadu Buhari, just out of his open-

mindedness and his own generosity ensured that I was given very serious responsibilities as vice president and I also acted as president.

MARKING WORLD MALARIA DAY…

L-R; Nursing Officer, Famacare Centre, Ademoye Adetola; patient, Toyosi Oladokun; Laboratory Scientist, Famacare Centre, Duru Collins, and patient, Makinde Omowunmi, during the malaria free test exercise to mark ‘World Malaria Day and the third anniversary of Famacare’s Centre held in Abule-Egba, Lagos…yesterday SUNDAYADIGUN

EFCC Arrests Syndicate Saraki: My Presidency ’ll Bridge the North and South Member who Duped Links insecurity to lack of accountability Kwara Monarch N33.3m Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Command yesterday said that it has arrested one Mr. Fidelis Poor, a member of a syndicate that allegedly connived to defraud a First Class Traditional Ruler in Kwara State, His Royal Highness Idris Sero Abubakar, to the tune of N33.4 trillion.

Abubakar, who is the Emir of Okuta in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, was a former member of the House of Representatives.

Fidelis David in Akure and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Already, the EFCC has said that the suspect would soon be arraigned in the court.

In a statement issued by the EFCC and signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “Fidelis, 30, who hails from Stwue in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State alongside other suspects (still at large) allegedly conspired to swindle the monarch on the guise that he had a container of goods meant to be used for the development of Okuta community due to be cleared at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.”

Policeman on Illegal Duty Kills Two, Injures Others in Lagos Rebecca Ejifoma Two persons were killed and two others injured on Sunday night after a drunk policeman identified as Ifeanyi on illegal duty made some salute-shots to celebrate a businessman’s birthday at, Gowon Estate in Egbeda area of Lagos State.

The policeman was said to have fled the scene of the incident immediately after the effect while his yet-to-be identified host and celebrant took to his heels.

According to a Twitter user, @themannaman, who shared gory videos of the incident, the

officer wanted to shoot into the air while other guests were spraying money on the celebrant but fired at them instead.

He wrote: “Same policemen called for security are the same people that shot and killed those they were called to protect...

Nigeria which way?

“Birthday celebrant invited the police for security. The said policeman allegedly while drunk wanted to shoot upwards, then accidentally shot at them.”

The State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, is said to have ordered the immediate arrest of the duo for disciplinary action and prosecution.

Kidnapped Herdsmen, Cattles in Anambra Found David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Police in Anambra State has declared that cattle herders who were alleged to have been kidnapped in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State have been found.

The state police command also said that some of the 300 cattle, which were alleged to have been rustled by gunmen, were also found.

There had been news of the kidnap of 10 herders by unidentified gunmen,

who also made away with 300 cattle belonging to the herders, while asking for N10 million and a gun as ransom.

The State Police Command’s Spokesperson, DSP. Toochukwu Ikenga, in an update yesterday said only one herder is still with the kidnappers, and efforts are being made to rescue him.

Ikenga stated this in a press release titled: “Update on the Alleged Gunmen Attack on Herders in Anambra State, Kidnap of 10 and Rustling of 300 Cows.”

Former Senate President and presidential aspirant under the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) , Bukola Saraki, has said his presidency will be a bridge between the Northern and the Southern region of the Nigeria.

Saraki, who stated this on Sunday evening at the party’s state secretariat in Akure the Ondo state capital ahead of its primaries,

said he was the right person to become the next president of Nigeria and called on the PDP to give him the ticket of the party.

The Northern Elders Forum, had led by Prof Ango Abdullahi, selected Dr Bukola Saraki and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed as the northern consensus candidates of PDP for next year’s presidential election, while the National Executive Committee of the PDP reportedly prepares to meet on Wednesday

in Abuja to take a decision on the zoning of the presidency.

Reacting to the selection, Saraki said it was a right move.

He said: “The beauty is that the northern elders have spoken and I think we should go with that face issues that are before us, which is, ensuring that our party win the 2023 general elections and I particularly, to see that I win the party’s primaries and become the flagbearer of the party and lead the country and this is because

I believe that I have a lot to offer and fix up this country”.

The former governor who berated present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari said: “We can only get out of this mess, if we have leadership that is visionary, understands the issue and is courageous.”

Saraki added that not just the aspirants, but all members must ensure that all hands were on deck to guarantee the party’s victory in next year’s elections.

Judiciary Must Be Free from Executive Arbitrariness, Dominance, NBA Insists

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Ado Ekiti Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), has advocated for total independence of Nigeria’s judiciary from executive arm of the government in order to save the country’s democracy.

The NBA posited that it is wrong for executive to be the appointing authority for judges and magistrates, which conferred on it powers to

stifle and control the judiciary with impunity.

The Chairman of NBA, Ado Ekiti Branch, Mr. Adeyemi Adewumi, said this yesterday in Ado Ekiti at the commencement of the Law Week 2022 with the theme: “Judicial Independence, a Recipe for True Democracy in Nigeria.”

Adewumi hinged the fight for judicial independence on the premise that the judiciary should

not be controlled or manipulated by other arms of government in order to avert systemic failure and collapse.

He said: “Judicial independence means that judges and magistrates must be free to exercise their judicial powers without fear, favour and interference from litigants, state, which doubles as its appointing authority, media or other powerful individuals or institutions, including

multinational and high net worth companies.

“For the judiciary to be truly independent, it is considered that judges must be free to discharge their responsibilities not minding whose ox is gored or pandering to the sentimental dictates of their statutory appointers, as judges are appointed by the executive subject to recommendation by National Judicial Council (NJC).

Edo APC House of Assembly Aspirants Protest Decision to Endorse 15 Inaugurated Members Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Edo State House of Assembly yesterday protested the directive of the party leadership that they step down their ambition for automatic tickets for 15 members elected under the party’s platform in 2019 who were not Inaugurated.

Fourteen of the members elect were not inaugurated while the

15th member who inaugurated was, however, frustrated because he refused to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when Godwin Obaseki left the APC with the remaining nine inaugurated members.

The State Chairman of the APC, Col David Imuse (rtd) had, after the meeting of the Executive Committee of the party at the weekend, officially announced that the 15 lawmakers would be

given the right of first refusal.

But some of the aspirants, who wanted to contest were at the premises of the state Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) insisted that the blanket ticket for them was wrong as some of them were already aspiring for other positions like the House of Representatives, while some have got other appointments and others have lost touch with their people.

One of the aggrieved aspirants, Victoria Amu from Owan West constituency said: “We were invited to the APC secretariat where the chairman read out his riot act on all aspirants especially those of us whose 14 members did not go into the house of assembly. They failed to give us the statistics of the 14 that are still contesting instead they hid them under a blanket coverage.

One Killed, Seven Injured as Explosion Rocks Yobe One person has been killed while seven others were injured after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in Yobe state.

The incident happened on Sunday night at a local drinking joint at Abasha ward in Gashua, the headquarters of Bade Local Government Council of the state.

The Chairman of Bade Local Government Area, Sanda Karabade,

confirmed that the three male and four female injured victims are receiving medical attention at Specialist Hospital in Gashua.

Gashua is located 187 kilometers away from Damaturu the state capital and is the hometown of Senate President Ahmed Lawan.

This incident followed a similar one masterminded by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the Geidam

community of the state where nine persons were killed.

The locals said the suspected insurgents came by foot and moved straight to a drinking joint located at Kwari ward, slaughtered nine persons, and injured two others.

They explained the attackers took the residents and the military base at Geidam unaware as there was no gun battle. According to their accounts,

the terrorists silently sneaked into the town, executed their mission, and left.

Geidam which is the hometown of Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and is located 177 kilometers away from Damaturu the state capital, shares a border with the Niger Republic and Damasak, which is believed to be one of the strongholds of the terrorists in Borno state.

TUESDAY APRIL26, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

NDLEA Arrests Drug Baron Behind N3bn Abba Kyari’s Team Tramadol Deal Michael Olugbode inAbuja The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said yesterday that the billionaire drug baron fingered in the N3 billion tramadol deal that involved the embattled suspended leader of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abba Kyari, is now in their net.

A statement by the Spokesman of the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, alleged that a “Billionaire Drug Baron, Mr. Afam Mallinson Emmanuel Ukatu, who is behind the N3 billion tramadol deal involving the embattled suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA.”

He disclosed that the arrest was after months of surveillance and Ukatu’s evasion of arrest, adding that Ukatu who is Chairman of Mallinson Group of Companies was eventually nabbed onboard a flight to Abuja at

the MM2 terminal of the Lagos airport on Wednesday, April 13.

Babafemi alleged that investigations have revealed that Ukatu has been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of

illicit tramadol hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg.

He said Ukatu owned pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which

he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into the country, in addition to operating 103 bank accounts that were alegedly used for money laundering.

He disclosed that Ukatu came under watch last year after five cartons of

tramadol 225mg were seized from his staff on May 4, 2021, when he sent them to sell to undercover police officers (unknown to Ukatu) from the then Kyari-led IRT of the Nigeria Police, Ikeja, Lagos.

SAFE DRIVING CAMPAIGN…

Ukatu

L-R - Representative of Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Mrs. Nnenna Duru; Unit Commander, Apapa Command, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC),Mr. Ayodele Aduloju; Chairman, ECOMOG Park, Mile 2, Mr. Idemudia Imafidon, and Unit Head of Operations, FRSC, Apapa Command, Mr. Adewale Alalade, at the Pernod Ricard Safe Roads Campaign to educate drivers on the dangers of alcohol misuse and safe practices when driving in Lagos…recently ETOP UKUTT

Group Condemns MURIC’s Group Perfects Plans for Jonathan’s Defection to APC Opposition to Sanwo-Olu’s Another says his candidacy is call to service Endorsement Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

An interest group, Advocate for Good Governance, Lagos State Chapter, has cautioned the Muslim Right Concern (MURIC) group over what it described as the attempt of the religious group to destabilise the age long peaceful coexistence in Lagos State.

According to the spokesperson of the group, Biyi Adebiyi, “from time immemorial, Lagos has remained the most cosmopolitan, urbane and ethno-religiously tolerant state in the whole federation.”

“The statement credited to MURIC condemning the

approval of second term for Governor Babajide Sanwoolu, by the leadership of the APC in Lagos, is insensitive, unnecessarily divisive, and completely against the sterling provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended on the issue of 2nd term for elected state governors.”

The group also stated that the assertion by MURIC that the end of governor Sanwo-Olu’s first signals the eight-year tenor of a Christians’ occupancy of the governorship seat in Lagos is mischievous, misleading and legally incorrect.

Supporters of former President Goodluck Johnathan, under the aegis of Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN), yesterday said that arrangements were being perfected for the formal defection of the Bayelsa-born former leader to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Leaders of the CNPDN, stated this while addressing journalists in Abuja.

They assured Nigerians that Jonathan will definitely run for the 2023 general election.

Speaking on their behalf, the

convener, Okeke Raphael, said the APC may not win the 2023 general elections if it refuses to field Jonathan.

Raphael said: “Jonathan is going to contest and win if APC gives its ticket to him. Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari have worked together closely. That’s something good for Nigeria. Jonathan has been the biggest promoter of Buhari’s foreign policy.

“If APC gives its ticket to Jonathan, every Nigerian will vote for him. He’s the only nationalist among all the contestants and that will work well for APC “Going critically through the

list of presidential aspirants from the two major political parties, we are convinced that all other candidates are regional champions.

“However, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan reflects national acceptance that will give impetus to APC’s victory in 2023 elections.

“As vanguards for Nigeria’s development, peace and unity, we want to reiterate that, our beloved country cannot afford to have a regional champion as a flagbearer.”

“We call on the National Working Committee of the APC with a loud voice to ensure that Jonathan is provided with a level playing ground to contest the

2023 general election.

“We want to remind party that, its ultimate responsibility is to ensure that the party fills the best candidate that can win the election.

“The party needs asset rather than a liability. Jonathan’s political credentials will increase the chance of APC winning the presidential elections in 2023.

“He is a man who is not a regional champion. A man who is accepted and loved by an Igbo in Enugu, Yoruba from Ekiti and same way by a Fulani man in Adamawa. A man who needs no introduction. A man who has his foot print across the country.

A presidential hopeful under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hasim has said he would lead the country to the path of growth and development in 2023 if he emerges the president.

The APC chieftain made this disclosure in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, yesterday, when he met with local government chairmen of APC across the 16 local government areas of the state over his presidential aspiration in 2023.

This came barely a week after

states in the North-central geopolitical zone in Abuja.

At the parley, OlawepoHashim restated his desire to seek the ticket of his party and subsequently lead the country back to the path of growth and development in 2023.

While informing the gathering of his intention to formally declare for the race on May 3rd, 2022, he expressed commitment to unite the country, which he said was “presently badly divided along ethnic and religious lines.”

He assured the crowd of keeping his promise of running an inclusive government to

in order to heal and assuage the pains arising from the various divisions and controversies across the nation.

He maintained that the, “solution to national security, the unemployment problem, high cost of petroleum products and basic items requires new and fresh approach to handle, that those who have never paid for anything they consume in the past 23 years cannot understand.”

Olawepo-Hasim used the occasion to urge Kwarans to vote for the APC at all levels, adding that he would ensure the consolidation of the ‘otoge’

“Victory for APC in 2023 in the state will consolidate on “otoge’ revolution. Kwara will never go back to slavery. Anything that is not APC in the state in 2023 is equal going back to slavery,” he said.

He applauded the performance of the state Governor, AbdulRaman Abdulrazaq in the last three years and subsequently endorsed his second term bid to govern the state in 2023.

He said worthy of commendation was the governor’s policy of giving political space to youths and women.

Orient Global Group Founder, 2023: Olawepo-Hasim Pledges to Lead Nigeria to Path of Economic Growth Odili, Joins Ebonyi Guber Race Hammed he hosted party chairmen from accommodate various tendencies revolution of 2019.

Shittu in Ilorin

Hope seems to be in sight for the people of Ebonyi State, as the President/Chairman of Ultimus Holdings and Founder of Orient Global Group, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, officially declared his intention to run for the governorship of the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking at a media conference yesterday on his primary intentions for the state, Odii said: “This declaration is about optimism. It is my answer to the collective desire of our people for authentic leadership to pilot the affairs of our beloved state.

This is a new promise of hope in Ebonyi State. A hope that is born for the benefit of the people yet is guided by the will of God. This is a mission to serve, and I make bold to accept it with all humility.”

Odili further buttressed his competency to run for governor of the state as a result of his rich past experience.

According to him, “In my over 20 years in business, I have built successful companies with an investment portfolio from manufacturing, logistics, retail, construction, real estate, healthcare and agro-allied industries.”

Olamide, PSquare Thrill Fans Ekiti 2022: Political Thuggery Can Fuel Kidnapping, Robbery, Oni Warns at Glo Battle of Year Show Victor OgunjeinAdoEkiti were allegedly brought into the voters and that no amount of being imported into the state to

Entertainment lovers were thrilled to an evening of dance, music and comedy as the sponsor of Nigeria’s biggest dance competition and total telecommunications services provider, Globacom, held the Semi-finals of the much anticipated Glo Battle of the Year Nigeria national finals in Lagos.

The mega live event which held at the Eko Convention Centre, had dance lovers at the venue anticipating an evening of unlimited entertainment hours before the show officially started.

Viewers at home were not left out as they connected live on GloTV - Globacom’s video streaming app.

The pre-live show showcased among many exciting things, the quarterfinal dance battles for the Krumping, Locking, Popping, and Afro Dance categories. The Locking quarterfinals produced extra excitement as two wildcardsC Fly and Benedict, surprisingly made it to the semifinals. Benedict advanced to the final stage but was stopped by the eventual winner, Locking Mike.

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Segun Oni, has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against deploying political thugs to rig the June 18 governorship poll to avoid attracting kidnapping and robbery to the state.

Oni, who is the governorship andidate of the Social Democratic Party, urged the APC to learn from the banditry that had characterised the nation, which was hinged on the event of the 2015 presidential poll, when foreign mercenaries

country by politicians.

He said this yesterday in Ado Ekiti in a statement signed by a group drumming support for his gubernatorial aspiration and acting under the auspices of Ekiti Build Back Better (EBBB).

Oni, in the statement that was signed by the EBBB Publicity Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, warned the ruling party against importing thugs into the state ahead of the June 18 governorship poll.

The EBBB maintained that Oni remained the choice of Ekiti

desperation could change the mood in town.

It said: “The APC should learn lesson from what his party did in 2015 by allegedly importing bandits as voters from neighbouring countries to rig the presidential election, only for the thugs to stay back and became bandits, formed terrorist gangs, kidnapping and killing Nigerians.”

It added that the security agencies in Ekiti should not fold their arms and allow “thugs, cultists, fake soldiers, fake police, fake voters and fake drivers” from

disrupt peaceful conduct of the poll.

“Ekiti should not be made a state where thugs will settle after election and start kidnapping and raping our people. We must be vigilant and play by the rules.

It is for the interest of all of us because kidnappers know no political party,” Adelusi said.

He said that the APC leadership had been boasting that they have the control of the state money to fund campaign organisations set up for their candidate, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji.

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NEWS

EFCC’s Case Against Daniel Lacks Evidence, Says A’Court Declares governor can allocate land to family members Wale Igbintade The Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, has absolved a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, of allegations of fraudulent conversion filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

The appellate court, in its unanimous decision held that the accusation was without evidence to warrant the former governor to enter his defence.

The court noted that evidence of the prosecution witnesses was insufficient and could not establish a prima facie case against the former governor.

The EFCC had brought a 15-count charge against the former governor, called witnesses and tendered documents then closed its case on November 30, 2018.

Thereafter, the Appellant (Gbenga Daniel), through his lawyer, Professor Taiwo Osipitan, SAN made a no-case submission, which was opposed by the prosecution.

But, the trial Court in its ruling dismissed the no case submission in respect of Counts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, 14, 15, 16, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 while the no case submission in respect of Counts 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 were upheld.

Aggrieved with the ruling, the appellant appealed against the ruling.

The appellate court in its lead judgement, delivered by Justice Yargata Byenchit Nimpar, accused the EFCC of fishing for offences, stressing that the former Governor of Ogun State, did nothing in secret without relevant approvals.

On the Appellant's entitlements, the court held that the prosecution did not show that he was

collecting more than he should so as to presume fraud.

“The funds were not in the Appellant's physical or constructive possession and he did not approve all payment, not a single payment was made contrary to law or without approval or not budgeted for. Fraudulent conversion is without evidence to support it, in calling on the Appellant to enter his defence.

“Furthermore, the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the funds was not mentioned by all the witnesses relied upon and unless there is evidence in that regard, the no-case submission should succeed,” the court held.

Justice Nimpar further held that the lower court erred by designating appropriate times asobjection on jurisdiction could be made in a criminal trial, when the apex Court gave an open cheque in making such applications.

She added: “No Court, below the Supreme Court has the vires to limit or state otherwise.

Jurisdiction is too important to be compartmentalised by designating times it can be raised. It is likened to red hot iron ball that the moment you touch it, it must be dropped or else you get your hands burnt.”

On the issue of fraudulent allocation of land, the court held that, “One of the powers of the governor is to allocate land to any person, and there is nothing therein that says he cannot allocate land to family members, and artificial persons (companies or churches), other persons who are citizens of Nigeria, and same applies to his friends and by extension himself.

“The Land Use Act allows the Governor to allocate Land for all purposes, how then can the Respondent define unlawful

purpose? What would be the authority for such distinction when ‘All purposes’ should mean ‘All purposes, going by the literal method of interpretation of statutes.

“It looks like the Respondent is fishing for offences related to land administration in Ogun State Laws. Section 434 of the Criminal code is a general penalty provision, it is incomplete and must be read together with another State

Law or Instrument, which created the offending act but certainly not an Act of the National Assembly.

“The fundamental point made by the Appellant, which the Respondent could not respond to was the question: whether the Respondent could in one count allege an offence from a combination of a State law and a federal legislation? The Land Use Act allegedly breached is a Federal legislation while the

Criminal Code is a State Law. There is a separation of legislative competence between the State and the Federal Government.

“The state legislature law cannot criminalise an act provided for in a Federal Legislation, particularly, where the said federal legislation did not provide or create an offence. Ogun State legislature lacks the vires to do so and therefore when the Criminal Code at Section 434 provided for

a penalty for breach of trust, it must apply only to laws created

by Ogun State and not any act contrary to a Federal Legislation.”

The court, therefore, held that the EFCC failed to proffer any evidence of a fraudulent intention or to satisfy the ingredients it named in its brief and that it failed to present evidence that can prove elements of the offence upon which the Appellant should be called to defend.”

CONTINUING TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR HIS PRESIDENTIAL QUEST...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (left) and Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Olalekan Balogun, during the visit of Vice President, to Olubadan's Palace, Alarere, Ibadan at the weekend.

C H R I S L A N D , PA R E N T I N G A N D O U R N E W S O C I E T Y Akpagher who died in one of the elite secondary schools – Premiere Academy, Lugbe. Before the latest incident in Chrisland, there was also the matter of Dowen College in Lekki, Lagos, in which 12-year old Sylvester Oromoni died. The Dowen College matter, still unresolved, with the family still protesting an attempt to sweep the matter under the carpet, was a big scandal. These are three of the reported cases of similar incidents in schools across Nigeria and in Lagos State. Many more of such incidents would go unreported, given the culture of silence that governs the Nigerian cultural and social space.

Now, after the temporary closure of Chrisland Schools and police investigations, Chrisland has now been reopened by the Lagos authorities. The Police and the Lagos state government probably acted swiftly in order to prevent the ugliness of the Dowen College affair from re-occurring. To start with, I think, a review is necessary. In this country, we forget too soon, too easily. Things happen at such a frenetic pace, that we hardly have the time to reflect on what may have happened, before we move on to the next incident. Our present-mindedness, that is temporocentrism, is the biggest affliction that holds this country down.

I was struck by three major reactions to the pre-teenage sex scandal of the Chrisland students.

Tonto Dikeh, the star actress was the first to raise the alarm, having watched the video she said she did not think this was a case of rape or sexual violence, and that from the way the child was riding the male horse beneath her, it was obvious to her that this was not the child’s first sexual encounter.

She actually calculated the rhythm of the motions, it would seem, and surmised that the girl must have had sex at least five times and that there must be an adult somewhere who exposed her quite early. I am tempted to believe Tonto Dikeh.

She is a mature, experienced, woman of multiple talents. I am therefore not in a position to doubt her ability to read bedroom, erotic movements and put a date and a stamp to same. But her more cogent point is that parents need to pay more attention to their children. The second reaction came from Shola Ogudu, the mother of Ayo Balogun’s first son, Boluwatife. Ayo Balogun is the superstar musician known popularly known as “Whizkid or Star Boy.” Ms Ogudu in a statement disclosed that her son attends the school in question and that she accompanied her son to Dubai for the World

School Games – 76 students from Chrisland and incidentally, the school won about 34 medals which no one has bothered to talk about!

Ms Ogudu indicated that there was no way she could have allowed her son to travel alone to a foreign country, in the midst of 76 children and others! She advised parents to be more attentive, and devote more time to their children. Unlike the aggrieved mother in the story, Ms. Ogudu was full of praise and support for Chrisland Schools.

The third reaction that caught my attention was the statement by more than one psychologist that both the girl in the video and her parents need psychological counseling. And I ask: how about the boys too? What kind of 11-year old male child starts having sex so early? What kind of homes are these characters from? I have heard some people arguing that parents do not have time. Schools and teachers are expected to act in loco-parentis.

This is where the problem lies.

In our time, growing up, our parents were hands-on guardians, coaches and advisers. They drummed values into our ears at every turn. Each time you tried to venture out of the house, to attend an event or return to school, you would be told: “Remember the child of whom you are.” This had nothing to do with money but everything about values, character, dignity and integrity. But in the new society in which we have found ourselves, many parents have abdicated their responsibilities.

They claim that they are busy looking for money to meet everyone’s needs. In the course of that pursuit, a child is handed over straight from the maternity ward to a retinue of nannies, home assistants and aides. In our new society, we throw money at everything including our children. Daddy has no time. Mummy is too busy trying to compete with the Joneses. The children are given all the toys that they want - from TV, to Play station to 24-hour electricity supply. These uptown babies of the new society do not cry. As Max Romeo and the Upsetters put it: “They don’t know what hungry is like/Uptown babies don’t cry/They don’t know what suffering is like/They have Mummy and Daddy/Lots of toys to play with/Nanny and Granny/Lot of friends to stay with…”

As soon as they are old enough to press numbers, they get a sleek, smart phone – usually the costliest in the market, with unrestricted access to social media. Some parents even open instagram and

TikTok accounts for their children as soon they start crawling. This Gen Z group is soon introduced to all the negative stuff that social media can offer.

Even outside that space, they are exposed to the dissolute lives of their parents: twerking moms, violent, 12 o’clock Dads and a community of sick uncles and aunties who set very bad examples. There are many households out there in which parents and their children are strangers to one another.

When the children then fail in school, morally and academically, the same parents blame the teachers.

They claim that they have paid so much money so that their children can get the best training possible.

The truth of the matter is that money cannot buy everything. There are just certain things money can’t buy. Many parents themselves are in need of parenting! What do you make, for example, of those overgrown babies who wake up in the morning, eat spaghetti and spend the rest of the day playing games in front of the TV. They don’t have to work: their own parents have made enough money to feed the next five generations of idle sons and daughters! These idlers father children and the cycle continues.

It seems to me that all cases of reported misdemeanor in our schools should trigger introspection in every right-thinking, concerned stakeholder. The problem is not that of Chrisland Schools. It is an indication of the deepening moral turpitude in our land. Everything that can go wrong is wrong with the younger generation: juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, value system, cultism, the kind of music they listen to- there is even a gang called the Naira Marley Gang – you don’t want me to describe the sociology of that. Adolescent sexuality is on the rise, with promiscuity now the order of the day. Aristotle told us that “a child learns by imitation” Nigeria has taught its children bad imitation, and that is why the children replicate the bad behaviour of their parents. It is beyond the schools. After all, one Christian university in this same country once decided that it would conduct compulsory virginity tests on its new female students. Many of us complained at the time that this was discriminatory and gender insensitive.

The school authorities stood their ground. After two sessions, they didn’t need to be persuaded to abandon the practice without any argument, when they discovered that among the teenage female university entrants, a virginity test was

no more than a futile search for a virgin in a maternity ward!

When incidents such as the one under review occur, processes are important. I hope that the Lagos State Government and the Police would make their findings public. By deciding to re-open Chrisland Schools, both authorities must have made some findings and reached a conclusion that the school has no case to answer. Many parents are relieved. But the public has a right to know more. Parents in particular, need to know. There are also lessons to be learnt from how Chrisland Schools management has controlled the crisis and managed the communication process. They have done much better than the managers of Dowen College who practically slept off in the face of a crisis until things went out of hand. The team of crisis managers at Chrisland stayed on the matter and bombarded the public with their own version of the story before the alternative could gain ground.

They had the support of other stakeholders who helped to intensify other aspects of the narrative, including detailed revelations about how the girl in question is an indulgent, over-pampered child with a reputation for sexual displays on social media and a wayward, bad-girl-attitude for which she is reportedly unapologetic!

Chrisland School has done a good job of rescuing and protecting its brand all through the storm. In a statement signed on behalf of the school by Akin Fadeyi, a member of the school’s Advisory Board, the school has in place a strong child protection mechanism. Going forward, the school must see the need to invest more in that mechanism, and constantly engage with parents to provide the best possible arrangements for students. Besides, Mrs Winifred Awosika needs to take a second look at the Victoria Garden City (VGC) branch of the School.

It was in this same school three years ago, that a teacher was eventually sentenced to a prison term of 60 years for sexually abusing a 2-year old. Is there something amiss in that school that needs to be addressed? Could it be the celebrity environment on the Island? Lagos State has more than 20 thousand schools – public and private, from the primary to the tertiary level. The Government should strengthen the Inspectorate Division of its Ministry of Education to make it more efficient, vigilant, and productive for the good of all. To parents, a simple message: wake up!

47

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Unrelenting Arsenal Make $80m Bold Move for Osimhen

Aiming to meet the other condition of UCL qualification

Femi Solaja withagencyreport

Premiership side, Arsenal are reportedly stepping up their interest to sign Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Osimhen in the coming summer transfer window.

The Nigerian forward has been inspirational to Napoli’s brilliant standing in the on-going Italian Serie A season. They were at a time in contention for the title until they dropped out in ranking lately to the two Milan sides.

According to Italian tabloid, Gazzetta Dello Sport, Arsenal have taken ‘concrete steps’ to sign the Napoli hitman and are ready to cough out the asking price of $80million by the Naples side but the stumbling block, according to reports, is that the London side must qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. This is a condition agents of the Nigerian striker insist must be met before the switch.

With Gunners aiming to sign a number of striking options this summer given that Alexandre

Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah will be out of contract, Osimhen comes to mind as worthy replacement.

Speculation is however mounting that Arsenal may have agreed personal terms with Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City, prior to his four-goal heroics against Watford last Saturday.

Despite this link with Jesus, the North Londoners are not relenting making a stronger effort to bring Osimhen to the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s side are fourth

in the Premier League table with six outings left, but they still have to visit Tottenham Hotspur – who are two points behind them – in May. The 23-Year-old Osimhen has scored 16 goals across all competitions this season and bagged another five assists.

In fact, Serie A legend Alessandro Altobelli said on Italian television earlier this year that he feels Osimhen is even better than ‘Dusan Vlahovic’, whom Arsenal tried and failed to sign during the January window.

Victor Osimhen...Arsenal unrelenting in the quest to lure the Napoli star to North London

Guardiola Wants Man City to Forget Past History against Madrid Tonight Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said that his team, who face Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-final, first-leg this evening, need to put aside the different European pedigrees of the two clubs and draw on their collective strength.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Real have won Europe's top trophy a record 13 times while City remain in search of their first Champions League title after losing in the final to Chelsea last year.

"If we have to compete with their history, we don't have a chance. It speaks for itself," said the former Barcelona coach, when reminded of the contrasting records of the two clubs.

"We have the desire to compete against them. For us playing

against them is an incredible test and we want to try it. (We will) Suffer when we suffer, (but) stick together. Try to do as best as possible."

Guardiola also talked down the significance of the role of himself and Carlo Ancelotti in

the game, saying that in the Champions League, games are won by the decision-making of players on the field.

"History is there, we can't change it, but it's eleven against eleven and one ball moving. The players decide their decision making," he said.

"You can imagine a plan but it's eleven v eleven, the quality of the (players), how strong they are, it will make a difference. This game is players, it won't be Carlo or myself who win it."

There is some history that is in City's favour, however -- two years ago Guardiola's side knocked the current LaLiga leaders out of the competition in the last 16 stage after winning both legs 2-1.

City may have to take on Real without their first choice right back Kyle Walker and central defender John Stones, who are both doubtful

with injuries.

Walker has been struggling with an ankle injury picked up against Atletico Madrid in the previous round and Stones is battling with a hamstring strain he gained in the midweek win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

"They are doubts, Kyle didn't train in the last 10 days, John since Brighton. That's why, I don't know if they will train. We see how they feel, (and) take a decision (on Tuesday)," said Guardiola.

Liverpool face Villarreal in the other semi-final, at Anfield, tomorrow.

TODAY@8pm Man City v Real Madrid

WEDNESDAY@8pm Liverpool v Villarreal

...Heineken’s Quality UCL Merchandise for Fans as Push for Final Tickets Begins

Raheem Sterling (left) with Pep Guardiola. Sterling with 23 Champions League goals will be aspiring to increase his tally tonight in the attempt to upstage Wayne Rooney's 30 English goalscoring record in Europe. He’s presently level with Chelsea legend Frank Lampard and one shy of former Manchester United’s Paul Scholes.

NPFL: Rivers, Plateau Continue Title Chase with Home Victories

Four games were decided on Monday in continuation of Matchday 25 of the Nigeria Professional Football League, (NPFL) with top teams winning at home to continue their push for the title.

While Rivers had it rosy to take out Niger Tornadoes in Port Harcourt, Plateau United laboured to claim the match points against a continental hopeful, Remo Stars.

NPFL top scorer, Ishaq Kayode put host Rivers United in front a minute after the hour mark as

he finished off a through pass from Morice Chukwu with a chip over Lucky Jimoh.

Rivers doubled their lead two minutes after as Nwagua Nyima tapped in a low cross from Chijioke Akuneto following a spill by Tornadoes' keeper in the box.

With ten minutes to end the game, substitute Konan Ruffin Ngouan made quick impact to put the icing on the cake for the leaders as he stabbed home Rivers' third after he was released by Nelson Esor

in Tornadoes' box.

The 3-0 victory meant Rivers United retained their top position on the log with 55 points after 25 league games.

The Tin City Boys on the other hand kept the chase on leaders Rivers United close following a hard earned 1-0 win over Remo Stars in Jos, thanks to second half header from Ibrahim Buhari.

The hosts could have taken the lead within the opening five minutes but Jesse Akila's goal was chalked off for offside

after the referee had spotted an infringement in the build up to the goal.

Plateau are still within distance to Rivers with 51 points from 25 games.

RESULTS Rivers Utd 3-0 Tornadoes Plateau 1-0 Remo Stars Shooting 2-0 Enyimba Wikki 0-0 Heartland

As the world looks forward to another interesting week of Champions League football, international premium brand, Heineken has perfected plans to shower fans with lovely merchandise to reward them for their passion for the game.

With only four teams left and just one Nigerian player in contention, feisty battles are expected for the final tickets when Manchester City take on Real Madrid and Liverpool face the giant killers, Villarreal on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

Having always provided unique and exquisite viewing experiences for fans and loyal customers every other match-day and even bringing the iconic Champions League trophy for a tour of two cities, Heineken is adding more for the fans in this semi-final stage.

To win the high-quality merchandise being graciously provided by Heineken, fans are simply required to show just how much they love the game and support their darling teams with captivating pictures that highlight their passion.

Following the Heinekenng handle on Instagram, they would

be required to post a picture showing how they and their squad FAN UP for the semi-final games.

To stand a chance of being selected for the mouthwatering prizes, fans must tag @Heinekenng and use these hashtags #CheersToPassion #CheersToAllFans The Senior Brand Manager Heineken, Chinwe Greg-Egu, said the fans equally deserving for rewards just as the players on the pitch.

“The game is incomplete without the fans, that is why we always factor them in and hold them in high esteem in all that we do” he stated.

Heineken’s 2021/22 UEFA Champions League campaign entitled, “Cheers to All Fans”, highlights the inclusive nature of the game of football, communicating that football belongs to all passionate fans; regardless of gender, age, or tribe.

Though the two teams that would face off in the 2022 final at Stade de France — Saint-Denis, France are not yet known, what is certain is that every fan is a winner with Heineken, sponsors of the Champions League for over 15 years.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

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MISSILE M ISSILE

Yoruba Group to FG

“It is inconceivable that any serious-minded government should ever consider human population enumeration amidst unprecedented insecurity, mistrust, unbridled corruption, and pervasive economic woes. We should admit the obvious fact that Nigeria is at war with itself. Census exercises are never conducted in a war situation” --- President, Yoruba Global Alliance, Dr. Amos Akingba, and Council Chairman, Tola Adeniyi, faulting the planned census next year.

MUHAMMMADU BUHARI GUEST COLUMNIST

We Can Make The Commonwealth A Real Global Power Why should our 54 countries not lend weight to each other in international bodies, compounding our influence as the EU does?

W

hat becomes of the Commonwealth should one of its 15 members that is not a republic join those 39 others which are? With Jamaica considering such a move, this question is being asked. But it is misplaced: the modern Commonwealth was constituted in 1949 specifically to accommodate a republic – newly independent India – precisely after such constitutional change.

Still, it is right to debate the Commonwealth’s future. Though perfectly sustainable in its current form, it would be a disservice to its members should current levels of co-operation be the limit of our aspirations.

For a start, we should strive to reduce trade barriers, given the unity nearly all of us hold through the English language, jurisprudence and education systems. We might explore grouping more readily together at intergovernmental forums such as the United Nations to deliver outcomes for one member individually or all collectively. We should work closer on defence interoperability and mutual support in the fight against global terrorism – now centred on Africa, and which threatens new waves of refugees into the West.

Queen Elizabeth Some will point to factors such as Commonwealth countries’ membership of regional trade blocs, UN ballots with members voting in opposite ways and a lack of military compatibility as proof that closer cooperation cannot be achieved. It is possible to

prove these people wrong – but only if we attempt to do so.

The forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this June should be a moment when the potential for our club is reimagined. This bi-annual senior decision-making body is being hosted by Rwanda: a republic no less, and prescient, when the largest contingent of Commonwealth countries is African.

Not far from the official agenda will be the question of how Brexit will continue to affect us all.

Already the U.K. Global Tariff (UKGT) has reduced, removed or simplified tax on thousands of imported goods, which is an important step in reconfiguring Commonwealth trade. When the club’s largest economy was unable to practice the free trade it long preached, others had little incentive to lower barriers. Association within their own trade blocs is not prohibitive. There is still much more that members can do inside their respective frameworks.

A number of the Commonwealth’s African members have now signed product-based trade agreements with the UK. But a potential deal with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), set to become the world’s largest free trade area, heralds the greatest opportunity.

The UK signed the world’s first memorandum of understanding with the nascent bloc last year, with a future deal securing free trade simultaneously with nineteen African Commonwealth members, collectively representing the majority of Africa’s

GDP. It would likely presage further agreements between AfCFTA and other members, further opening intra-Commonwealth trade.

With trade could come greater defence cooperation.

African Commonwealth members are active in many theatres across the continent, whether battling ISISaffiliated militants across the Sahel region in the West, the Horn of Africa in the East, or Mozambique in the South. Arms and defensive equipment are part of the solution.

There is no reason why one of the world’s foremost military manufacturers should not sell more widely to our association when it is a group of allies. When Britain does not, they must look elsewhere. Today we have a mosaic of incompatible systems. But particularly in Africa, where members find themselves on the same missions, interoperability would make a material impact on the ground.

And in diplomacy, when trade and defence ties are drawn closer, so too do geopolitical interests.

The EU’s 27 members tend to have each other’s backs in, for instance, UN votes. Why should the 54 Commonwealth partners not similarly organise, lending weight to each other in such bodies and wielding more influence?

At CHOGM, these new opportunities can be grasped. What holds us back is only the limit of our ambition. For those who say this cannot be done, I say we will never know until we try.

Muhammadu Buhari is President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Chrisland, Parenting And Our New Society

T

he Lagos State Government following reports of an alleged “rape incident” involving an 11-year old female student of Chrisland Schools Lagos, and male pupils of the school, during a trip to the World School Games in Dubai (March 10 -13, 2022), promptly shut down the school, to investigate exactly what happened. A video was put into circulation showing the girl, in a dominant cowboy position, riding a young male student like a horse in an amorous fashion, with one of the students watching and recording the bedroom scene. Some other people said the girl was also shown in a reverse osmosis position, whatever that means. The public was shocked. These are primary school children for Heaven’s sake engaging in activities straight from the pages of Kama Sutra, the iconic text on sex and dalliance that their mothers, fathers and grandparents may never have ever heard of or experienced. Raw sex in a primary school!, photographed and videoed and put into circulation. It was like a screen shot of Sodom and Gomorrah. Matters got worse when the mother of the girl involved raised an alarm and made statements to the effect that the school, Chrisland, had failed in its duty to take care of her daughter while on a trip to Dubai, under its auspices; on the return of the students, her daughter was taken for a pregnancy test without her consent, and that when the video became public, every attempt to engage with the school failed, and that the school had told her daughter not to say a word to anybody about her experience. Her daughter, she claimed, went to Dubai as a virgin, and returned as the protagonist in a sex video, traumatized, afraid to

Chrisland school return to school.

I followed the story closely. The Lagos State Government having shut down the school and its various branches warned the public to desist from sharing the video. Long before the state government reminded everyone that the circulation of pornography would attract a penalty of 14 years imprisonment, the video was already in circulation in any case, and many social media sites used it as click-bait.

But what would any parent gain from a group of minors exploring adult experience? Many must have been motivated by sheer curiousity and the native belief that seeing is believing. The Lagos State Government has now re-opened the Chrisland Schools, and the students are on their way back to the classroom in all the locations where the school has branches: Victoria Garden City where the incident occurred, Idimu, Ikeja, Festac, Lekki

and elsewhere.

Chrisland is one of those well-appointed schools with a strong reputation and record of achievements dating back to 40 years. The Awosikas, owners of the school, have through their educational system produced generations of students who have become established in many fields of human endeavour at home and abroad. In the absence of a functional public system, many parents patronize schools like Chrisland which aspire to and maintain higher standards of instruction. Nigeria is a country where education is still valued in terms of the acquisition of certificates, observing the routine and the process to the letter. Even if a child is still going to end up as an internet fraudster or as a Boko Haram soldier, parents believe that a starting point is to give their child, good education. This is more the case among the troubled Nigerian middle class, especially in the Southern parts of the country. Elsewhere, in other parts, the story is different. The North, for example, has the largest collection of out-of-school children. In parts of the East, the enrolment of the boy-child in trade apprenticeship schemes, by the way a global business model, continues to compete with enrolment in the formal school system.

This then makes it all the more surprising when it is reported one case after another that there are serious issues with the same schools that middle class parents and their wannabe colleagues patronize. In the same Chrisland School in question, there was a report around 2019 about a male teacher who was said to have defiled a 2-year-old. The man was convicted. In Abuja, there was also the case of a victim of sexual abuse, 14-year old Keren-Happuch Continued on page 46

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