WEDNESDAY 28TH APRIL 2021

OPS Urges FG to Save Economy as Insecurity Worsens Says Nigeria risks another recession

Dike Onwuamaeze

Members of the organised private sector (OPS) have urged the federal government to rise to the occasion and arrest the worsening insecurity

in the country in order to salvage the nation’s economy from a total collapse.

Representatives of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), the Lagos Chamber

of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), in separate telephone interviews with THISDAY said

the economy could slide back into another recession if the government fails to combat insecurity.

They also warned that insecurity could hurt manufacturing, severely

undermine microeconomic stability, scare away investments and constrain multinationals to shut down businesses and vacate the country.

According to them, the

worsening insecurity could impair Nigeria’s hope of benefiting from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

Continued on page 48

Afenifere Postpones 70th Anniversary Celebrations, Laments Nationwide Strife... Page 5 Wednesday 28 April, 2021 Vol 26. No 9516. Price: N250

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Tambuwal, El-Rufai Rally North-west States to Combat Banditry John Shiklam in Kaduna

CONSOLING MOGAJIN GARI SOKOTO...

L-R: Sarkin Dawaki Babba, Alhaji Aminu Babba; Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed Kuru; Chairman, THISDAY/ ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; and Directors of THISDAY Newspapers Limited, Alhaji Hassan Danbaba and Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, during a condolence visit to Danbaba over the death of his mother, Hajia Aishatu, in Sokoto…yesterday

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, and his Sokoto State counterpart, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday called for cooperation among the seven states in the Northwest in tackling banditry and kidnapping.

The duo spoke in Sokoto when el-Rufai visited to condole with Tambuwal over the death of Hajia Aishatu, the daughter of the late Premier of the defunct Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

While el-Rufai was in Sokoto, a statement by the Kaduna State government Continued on page 49

N’Assembly Laments over Worsening Insecurity as Buhari Seeks US’ Help Senate to meet president, service chiefs House demands state of emergency Security agencies silent over alleged Boko Haram’s flag hoisting in Niger, senator says 42 communities occupied Atiku, Saraki proffer solutions Terrorism in Nigeria complex, says UK minister Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh, Adedayo Akinwale, Udora Orizu in Abuja, Laleye Dipo in Minna President

Muhammadu

Buhari yesterday reached out to the United States and other important and strategic partners for help in combating the worsening security challenges facing Nigeria.

Buhari, during a virtual

meeting with the US Secretary of State, Mr. Antony Blinken, said the support is necessary because untamed insecurity in Nigeria will have dire consequences for her neighbours and many

other countries.

His plea for help came three days after Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, cried out about the endless martyrdom of the youth in the country and called on the president to

seek help to combat terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

Speaking on the same subject, British Minister for Africa, Mr. James Duddridge, at a meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Chief Geoffrey Onyema, said the disturbing trend of violence unleashed on Nigerians by Boko Haram sect and allied terror groups is a complex phenomenon that would Continued on page 48

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NEWS Afenifere Postpones 70th Anniversary Celebrations, Laments Nationwide Strife Calls for prayers, pays tribute to Awolowo, other founding fathers

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Gboyega Akinsanmi The apex Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, turns 70 today amid the spate of banditry, kidnapping and insecurity nationwide, which it said compelled it to reschedule its plan for the anniversary.

Consequently, it directed Muslim members and wellwishers to observe worships on Friday, in mosques, while the Christian counterparts were enjoined to attend service at designated churches determined by state chapters on Sunday.

The group, in a statement by its Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, yesterday, said while its 70th anniversary called for a grand celebration as already scheduled, the nation's mood, in view of the worsening and pervasive insecurity, had marred its plans to commemorate the birth of progressivism in the South-west.

The Chairman of Afenifere Organising Committee, Chief Supo Shonibare, Chief Korede Duyile, Dr. Femi Balogun, Chief Kole Omololu, Hon. Lekan Alabi and Mr. Tijani Babatunde co-signed the statement.

Afenifere said the second wave of COVID -19 and the mayhem by herdsmen and the spate of kidnappings in Yorubaland in particular and Nigeria, in general, has made

it to reappraise the programme in the light of present realities.

As a responsible organisation, Afenifere said, it could not afford to undertake all the events scheduled for the 70th anniversary, thus enjoining all its chapters “to observe Moslem worships in mosques on Friday, April 30, 2021.”

It added: “Christians are enjoined to attend service at the designated churches determined by state chapters on Sunday, May 2, 2021, to pray for peace and a restructured nation and for the health of mind and body for our people. Well-wishers are also enjoined to join them.

“At a more auspicious time in the not too distant future, when the security and health challenges must have abated, we shall announce the dates for the other programmes such as colloquium and lecture, essay competition for undergraduates and anniversary dinner and cultural festivities,” it said.

The organisation, also, commended the Premier of the defunct Western Region, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and other founding fathers for establishing a powerful political movement that changed the face of politics in Africa forever.

Giving the background to its establishment, Afenifere stated how its founding fathers publicly birthed the

Action Group, now defunct, at a press conference in Ibadan, on March 21, 1951.

Although many were invited, according to the organisation, those who turned up apart from the convener, were Chief Abiodun Akerele, Chief S.O.

Shonibare, Chief Ayo Akinsanya, Chief Olatunji Dosunmu, Mr. Samuel Akinsanya, Chief J.O. Adigun and Chief S.T. Oredein, all deceased.

It said: “These eight men, led by Chief Awolowo, were the founding fathers of Action

Group (Egbe Afenifere). The party was inaugurated in Owo, on the 28th April 1951 with leaders from 22 out of the 24 administrative divisions in the Western Region in attendance.

“Today, being April 28 is the 70th anniversary of that epic

event. We are most indebted for the enduring legacy bestowed upon the progressive political strand in the South-west by the efforts of these founding fathers and all the other leaders in attendance at Owo on the 28th April 1951.”

SIXTY HEARTY CHEERS...

President Julius Bio of Republic of Sierra Leone (left) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) during the 60th independence anniversary of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Freetown…yesterday

Lagos Defends Anti-graft Law, Asks Critics to Go to Court Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Lagos State Government yesterday defended the recently signed Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Act, saying that anybody who is dissatisfied with the law should challenge it in court.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, who spoke yesterday on ‘The Morning Show,’ a programme on ARISE NEWS Channel, THISDAY Newspapers' broadcast arm, downplayed concerns by critics that the law was meant to protect a former governor of the state, Senator Bola Tinubu, or any politician.

Under the law, which was sponsored by the executive arm, the state government is to establish an anti-corruption agency to take over graft cases concerning present and

former officeholders from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Already the EFCC is said to be probing Tinubu and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, for alleged fraud and financial misappropriation, while one of Obasa's predecessors, Mr. Adeyemi Kuforiji, is under trial for alleged corruption.

The enactment of the Public Complaints and AntiCorruption Commission Act, especially amidst swirling speculations about Tinubu’s presidential ambition in 2023, has triggered the suspicion that the law was meant to take over any corruption case involving the politician as 2023 general election approaches, with a view to giving him a “soft landing.”

But Omotoso said there was no ulterior motive behind the

enactment of the law as the state House of Assembly reserves the right to make laws for the good of the state.

He also faulted claims that the law may have conflicted with any federal law.

According to him, any idea that the law is meant to protect Tinubu or any other person is highly speculative, conjectural and imagination of anybody who thinks so.

“It is presumptuous and out of place to think that a law will be made because of a section of society or personalities. That is not the aim of the law. The governor said so when he signed the law and made it very clear that it is for accountability.

“It's not a law that somebody just woke up one day and put together and it was signed. A lot of sleepless nights went into it. So many lawyers have called

me to say that is the way to go,” he stated.

He added that anybody who breaches the law would be prosecuted, stressing that people shouldn’t consider the angle that it was enacted because of Tinubu as the governor has shown that he can be trusted to act in the best interest of the state.

He described the development as being in tandem with the practice of true federalism, stating that the state House of Assembly has the power to make the law, which it has rightly done, to complement the federal government.

He said: “This is what he (governor) promised the electorate when he was elected; to say that there will be accountability, people will not misappropriate state funds and get away with it. Why

is it that people are talking about personalities when we talk about corruption? They are not even talking about contractors who may go away with the state’s money without doing the job.”

Omotoso said anybody that is dissatisfied with the law should approach the court, adding that such a step will be in the interest of deepening jurisprudence and knowledge of the law.

“I do not see any conflict of this law with that of the federal government. The commission that it’s setting up is to complement what the federal government is doing and if there’s anybody that feels that there’s a conflict and the person goes to court, it is also in the interest of jurisprudence which will advance our knowledge of the law,” he stated.

Asked to throw more light on

his point that the law could help tame fraudulent contractors, he expressed wonder why Nigerians started picking politicians out when the law could work in other areas.

“A contractor could get a job and refuse to do it. They will be subjected to this law,” he stated, adding that “the law is all-encompassing in the fight against corruption.”

According to him, because the federally controlled police have a traffic department does not mean that the state government shouldn’t set up its own version.

On the alleged non-disclosure of procurement processes in the state, he stated that there’s no contract in Lagos that doesn’t go through a bidding process, stressing that the finances of the Lagos State government can be found everywhere, including the state’s website.

Medical Specialists Advocate Two-week Closure of Airports to Foreign Flights Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja President of the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria (AMSN), Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, yesterday canvassed an immediate shutdown of international airports in Nigeria for at least two weeks, to allow for a proper assessment of the COVID-19 strain that is reported to be ravaging India.

Ashiru expressed the fear that the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic may

soon be upon the country if precautionary measures are not taken, even though for now, transmission generally remains low in the country compared to other climes.

Ashiru, while fielding questions on ARISE NEWS Channel, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, said the virus was fast mutating and had multiplied into variants, that must be quickly checked.

He stated that India, like Nigeria, has almost the same

climatic conditions and had the same infection pattern with Nigeria, until recently when the level of infections rose to a daily rate of over 350,000 daily.

According to him, Nigeria does not have the capacity to cope if the India strain comes into the country through the airports that service Nigeria from India, since there are no direct flights from the country.

“There’s no direct flight from India, so flights are coming in from Ethiopia and other places.

We need to watch our airports and we need to temporarily halt operations not for more than two weeks just to assess what’s going on,” he said.

He called for firmness in the handling of the pandemic, adding that government needs to follow science in tackling the virus.

He stated that Canada for instance has banned flights from India, adding that the new strain of the virus is highly transmissible and therefore

Nigeria should not lose guard.

Ashiru asked Nigeria to do away with the Very Important Persons (VIP) syndrome if it must win the war against the virus, and expressed concern that Nigerians now go around like COVID-19 no longer exists.

He said the situation had become more critical because Nigeria was not buying vaccines, but waiting for free jabs, unlike other countries actively purchasing and stocking vaccines. He stated that beyond

media appearances, members of the group are also on the presidential task force and therefore consulting with the government.

He also called on the federal government to be proactive in dealing with the pandemic.

Ashiru expressed wonder that Nigerians have started partying and behaving like the virus has been defeated by breaking all the COVID-19 protocols like social distancing and washing of hands.

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NEWS

Nigeria’s Actual Daily Oil Production Unknown, NEITI Insists

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) yesterday doubled down on its recent disclosure that Nigeria does not know its actual daily oil production.

The Executive Secretary of the organisation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, who spoke when he received the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris, in his Abuja office, said the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) was still using estimates to forecast the quantity of oil produced daily.

DPR Director, Mr. Sarki Auwalu, had dismissed NEITI’s claim that the country cannot tell how much oil it produces, stating that the agency has developed an application which is deployed in getting the figures daily.

But Orji stated that many oil-producing nations have moved beyond estimates to actual data of daily oil produced, through the use of metering.

He added that that NEITI would continue to work with DPR to ensure that all areas of disagreement are resolved and that the federal government gets all its accruals.

He said: “There’s still a gap in our operation. A few days ago, NEITI made a statement that not many Nigerians can attest that we know how much oil we produce. This is a statement of fact and we

still stand by it.

“The issue here is not that we do not have estimates.

The issue is that from the work we have done, we have recommended metering infrastructure. The argument is that we need to know empirically and statistically what we are producing.

“From the point of production to the point of refining, a lot of water passes under the bridge, there are product losses due to outright stealing, a lot of pipeline vandalism and many processes lapses.”

Orji said the DPR's response that it had an idea or that it had an app to forecast and project the figures, was not the issue NEITI raised, but the exact number of barrels produced.

“But we are saying the same thing. Projection and forecasting is not an accurate measurement. Forecasts can be wrong or right, but what I appreciate in their response is that at least they are thinking in that direction by developing an app,” he added.

He pledged to work with the DPR to make it understand exactly what he meant when it made the statement, because NEITI has seen technology in action in the way and manner countries monitor production from the scratch up to the point of sale in the international market.

He added that the infrastructure has been demonstrated elsewhere

outside the country.

“It’s not child’s play. We will work with the DPR, which is a key agency covered by our process to boost that sector, developing a uniform approach to cost determination, so that the royalties and taxes are clear to us and to reduce to the barest minimum questionable decisions and use

of discretion to make decisions that cause the government to lose revenues,” he said.

In his comments, Idris said his visit attested to the importance that his office attached to the NEITI’s tasks, especially in terms of revenue generation, blocking leakages and curbing the menace of corruption.

He promised to revamp the Inter-ministerial Task Team (IMTT), headed by his office and comprising 16 government organisations, where among others, the development of a comprehensive remediation plan on findings and recommendations in NEITI reports are discussed.

The IMTT also ensures

the implementation of the plan using NEITI reports, providing regular feedback to NEITI multi-stakeholders working group (NEITI board) on implementation status and identifying risks and opportunities associated with implementation as they affect all agencies covered by NEITI reports.

BETTER HEALTH FOR THE PEOPLE...

Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, during his enrollment for the Contributory Healthcare Scheme in Katsina… yesterday

OPEC Leaves Production Plan Unchanged, Cancels Ministers’ Meeting Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies yesterday resolved to stick to plans for a phased easing of oil production restrictions from May to July.

The cartel, along with its partners known as OPEC+ also ditched plans to hold a ministerial meeting today since the group decided to adhere to policies broadly agreed at a previous April 1 meeting of OPEC+.

Speaking after a meeting yesterday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Alexander Novak, who co-chaired the occasion, stated that the next OPEC+ ministerial meeting will hold June 1 to review output levels for July and August.

OPEC+, which is responsible for more than a third of global production has cut output by around eight million barrels per day (bpd), equivalent to over 8 per cent of global demand, including a one million bpd voluntary cut by Saudi Arabia.

The group had resolved in April to bring 2.1 million bpd back to the market from May to July, easing cuts to 5.8 million bpd.

It expressed fears that even though more than one billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered globally, it was concerned that surges in new virus cases in India, Brazil and Japan might derail recovering demand for crude.

In a statement after the meeting, OPEC highlighted the continuing recovery in

the global economy, supported by unprecedented levels of monetary and fiscal support, while noting that the recovery is expected to pick up speed in the second half of the year.

It reviewed the monthly report prepared by the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), including the crude oil production data for March 2021, and put the overall conformity to the production adjustments at 115 per cent in March 2021, reinforcing the trend of high conformity

by the participating countries.

OPEC stated that participating countries performed beyond expectations in March 2021, with total overconformed volumes of 1.23 mb/d, but regretted that some countries had yet to achieve the minimum expectation of 100 per cent conformity and to compensate for overproduced volumes.

The meeting added that participating countries pledged to achieve full conformity and make up for previous adjustment shortfalls during

the extended compensation period, which runs through the end of September 2021.

“Under the referred circumstances, the ministerial meeting decided on the continued implementation of the production adjustment decision of the 15th OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting in the months of June and July.

“It was decided that the 30th JMMC meeting and the 17th OPEC and the non-OPEC ministerial meeting will take place on June 1, 2021,” it said.

Tinubu: Nigeria Must Remain United to Tackle National Challenges Says relationship with president cordial Deji Elumoye in Abuja National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday stressed the need for Nigeria to remain united to tackle the country's challenges.

Tinubu, while canvassing for people's support for President Muhammadu Buhari as he addressed the nation's challenges, also dismissed speculations about a frosty relationship with the president.

Speaking on Monday night after an hour closed-door meeting with Buhari, Tinubu, in company with a former Interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, stated that a concerted and

united response was what was needed presently to address the various crises facing Nigeria.

According to him, some of the ingredients needed to overcome the crises include "cooperation, understanding and determination, effective security and effective information."

He added that there is no president who will want his country in chaos.

"Have you seen one? Point one to me. There is no one that will want his citizens exposed to banditry and danger.

"There's no president or leader that will want his nation fractured by tribalism, religious differences and all that. It calls for serious management and

serious evaluation and dialogue once in a while," he stated.

He said he was at the State House to discuss with Buhari on finding solutions to the various national challenges and urged Nigerians to support the government in its journey to finding solutions to them.

According to him, the current challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria, adding that finding solutions, through consultations and exchange of views and ideas on how to change the fortunes of the country should be collective and contributive.

He said: "My visit is to generally review the perceptions going on outside there and equally focus on the

security across the country more. The president will have more information than we have, but we are his ears close to the ground and we have to exchange views so that a better Nigeria is grounded.

That's all.

"The best way is what we are doing; coming together to reduce banditry, to move for unity and be able to bring a better Nigeria to the people.

"The welfare of our people is extremely important. And yes, every nation will go through these curves and difficult times. How we communicate it to the people, what are the areas to help make it easier for people to bear, those are ideas on how to be able to

change the leadership of the country."

On the perceived frosty relationship between him and Buhari, Tinubu said they maintained a cordial relationship, adding that he doesn't have to be seen often at the State House to show the warm ties between them.

"There is nothing like that, nothing like unhealthy. Who is our doctor? Is it social media that is measuring the relationship? I don't have to disturb him openly on camera.

No, we have so many ways to look at issues. We have nothing like that. We have a very close and cordial, frank and honest relationship," he said.

On the forthcoming 2023

general election and the chances of the APC returning as the ruling party, he said: "I don't want to predict that one right now, I don't want to do that subject now. The chances are as bright as a midnight star. We'll continue to work for a better Nigeria and that's what we need.

"We cannot interject politics and assumption into everything, we have a nation to build, and we have a baton to pass. You can depend on Buhari that he will not spend one hour beyond his tenure.

He will do that; he will comply with the constitution. So, how does it happen? Read the Nigerian constitution and find out from the INEC website."

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COMMENT

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

JUSUN STRIKE AND GOVERNORS’LAWLESSNESS State governors should learn to obey the constitution, writes Sonnie Ekwowusi

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t is a pity that over the years Nigeria has been moving in a concentric circle with little or no progress. Same vomit. Same faulty-lines.

Same road travelled. Same judiciary workers’ strike. Same disobedience to court orders by state governors. Same injustices.

Nothing has changed. Who would have thought six years that the judiciary workers would be staging another strike in 2021 to press home their demand that state governors should obey constitutional provisions and court judgments and grant financial autonomy to the judiciary? But that is the reality unfolding before our eyes today. The ongoing indefinite nationwide strike of the Judiciary workers under the aegis of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) results from the stubborn refusal of state governors to obey the constitutional provisions and court judgments granting financial autonomy to the judiciary at both the state and federal levels. In essence, the ongoing judiciary workers’ strike is a strike against governors’ lawlessness.

Why the same vomit year after year? You will recall that in 2013 both JUSUN and Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN had, in their respective suits, dragged the federal government, state governments and others to court over the non-affirmation of the constitutional provisions on fiscal autonomy for the judiciary both at the federal and state levels in pursuant to sections 81(3), 161 (9) and 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution, In their respective considered judgments, the courts ruled in favour of both JUSUN and Agbakoba, to wit, that the federal and states governments should obey the constitutional provisions and grant financial autonomy to the judiciary. Specifically in its judgment in the suit filed by JUSUN, Justice Adeniyi Ademola had on January 13, 2014 held that the provisions of Sections 83(1), 121(3) and 162(9) of the Constitution remained sacrosanct and unassailable and therefore both the federal and state governments comply with the aforesaid sections of the constitution. In fact Justice Ademola said in that judgment: “The Attorney General of the Federation and the states should act responsibly and promptly to avoid constitutional crisis in this country, by ensuring financial autonomy for the judiciary….”

Similarly, in its judgment in one of the law suits filed by Olisa Agbakoba SAN, the court held that by virtue of section 81(2) and Section 84 (1), (2), (3), (4) and 7 of the constitution the remuneration, salaries, allowances and recurrent expenditures of the judiciary being constitutionally guaranteed charges (or “First Charge”) on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation does not form part of the estimates to be included in the Appropriation Bill. The court also held that by virtue of the constitutional guarantee of independent funding of the judiciary under Section 81(1), (2) and (3) (C) and Section 84 (2),(3), (4) and (7) of the Constitution, the National Judicial Council (NJC) ought not to send its annual budget estimates to the Budget Office of the executive arm of government or any other executive authority but to send the estimates directly to the National Assembly for appropriation. The court also held that in order to avoid underfunding of the judiciary, poor and inadequate judicial infrastructure, low morale among judicial personnel, corruption in the judiciary, delays in the administration of justice and judicial services delivery and generally low quality and poor output by the judiciary, any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation ought not to be released

STATE GOVERNORS SHOULD BE REMINDED THAT THE JUDICIARY IS NOT AN APPENDAGE OF STATE GOVERNMENTS: IT IS THE THIRD ARM OF GOVERNMENT CHARGED WITH THE GRAVEST RESPONSIBILITY OF DISPENSATION OF JUSTICE

to the judiciary in warrants or other means or through the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office or the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation or any other person or authority in the executive arm but should be paid directly to the NJC for disbursement to the judiciary.

Expectedly, the state governors have till date refused to obey the aforesaid court orders. In his effort to ensure the implementation of the financial autonomy for the judiciary, President Buhari, in exercise of his power under section 5 of the constitution which includes affirming enforcement of the court aforesaid orders on autonomy for the judiciary, had in March 2019 set up the Presidential Implementation Committee on Autonomy of the State Legislature and State Judiciary. Sequel to the recommendations of the committee President Buhari had on May 20, 2020 issued an Executive Order 10 on the implementation of financial autonomy of the state legislature and state judiciary. But in kicking against the Order, state governors are accusing the federal government of shirking its constitutional responsibilities to the judiciary and leaving only the state governments to shoulder huge capital and recurrent expenditures on the judiciary which in their view, is a big drain on their finances. Consequently JUSUN had on April 6, 2021 embarked on another nationwide strike to press home for financial autonomy for the state judiciary.

The state governors should obey the constitution and the court orders against them. Fragrant disobedience to court orders is a recipe for anarchy. State governors should be reminded that the judiciary is not an appendage of state governments: it is the third arm of government charged with the gravest responsibility of dispensation of justice. So the rule of law ought to reign supreme above any capricious and arbitrary exercise of governors’ powers. The paradox is that some of these governors now rubbing shoulders with the judiciary became governors through liberal court judgments. Those whose palm kernels have been cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble.

At the time of writing, the court gates were still locked. The closure of courts is tantamount to closure of justice. But justice cannot be in limbo otherwise there would be reign of anarchy. With the courts completely shut down, many aggrieved persons might resort to violence, intimidation, extra-judicial killings or other nasty forms of self-help in the settlement of their disputes. Most cases pending in courts especially the cases of awaiting-trial-inmates and suspects in police custody are stalled.

Having said this, JUSUN should learn to sheath the sword. Agreed, strike is a legitimate weapon of collective bargaining. However, JUSUN should be reminded that the use of this weapon each time there is a breakdown in dialogue between JUSUN and the government is unacceptable. Continuous dialogue that does not disrupt court activities is the bedrock of successful trade unionism. This is because dialogue creates the enabling environment for the settlement of disputes no matter how intractable such disputes might appear to be. By embarking on a series of strikes over the years, JUSUN has succeeded in denying litigants including JUSUN members access to justice in our courts.

Justice delayed is justice denied. On the other hand, state governors should learn to obey court orders. Closure of the country’s courts is an invitation to chaos, disorder, anarchy and doom.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM PANTAMI? Gimba Kakanda argues that the drift of the Pantami issue is unfortunate

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hen the spotlight on Dr. Isa Ali Pantami began, the direction of the conversation wasn’t unpredictable. The first sign of trouble was the refusal of his critics to retract their mistranslation of his conversations with the Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf. A social media user, David Hundeyin, had presented that famous debate organised by the Northern clerical establishment as proof of the minister’s endorsement of Yusuf’s terrorist ideology and cult. His refusal to acknowledge that misrepresentation of a well-documented period and venturing into excavating Pantami’s past utterances triggered a polarization that has now underlined Nigeria’s sectional sentiments.

To defend the past Dr. Pantami himself has described as a period of his limited understanding of Middle East politics in response to his scrutiny, is to misapply wisdom. But equally unwise it is to argue that the minister had not, years after sympathizing with the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban-led Afghanistan, opposed the Boko Haram. The age of these positions; lionizing Osama Bin Laden in the early 2000s and opposing similarly indoctrinated and dangerous Mohammed Yusuf a few years later, might be seen as a reflection of his intellectual maturation over the years. But the glaring danger in making this assumption is the absence of a publicized retraction prior to the storm, and so the trending outrage isn’t misplaced.

The difficulty in this conversation around the implication of Pantami is the unsuccessfully masked anti-Muslim North bigotry that keeps jumping out.

Even the critiques of Pantami’s past by Muslim analysts are being interpreted as lacking an adequate measure of anger. The reactions to Professor Farooq Kperogi’s column, in which he admitted the minister

is indefensible, left me confused. His sin was citing that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo too “has been accused of being an intolerant, narrow-minded Christian extremist” and reporting that Pantami’s story was “planted by executives of telecommunications companies.”

The reactions to Kperogi’s are a telling hint of where we are headed from Pantami, and it’s an agenda already in play mode. The anti-Pantami outrage, which is a justified democratic exercise, is transmuting into a mockery of unrelated Islamic heritage. Dispensing anti-Muslim North conspiracy theories has become a fad now that even seemingly sensible notable voices have become participants. On April 22, a widely-followed Twitter account, @DrOlufunmilayo, revisited the death of Flying Officer Tolu Arotile, described as “Nigeria’s first female combatant pilot.” He shared that She had “had many successful raids against ‘bandits’ in the North” before “She was killed by a ‘friend’ who ‘reversed a car’ trying to ‘greet’ her.” He signed off that tweet with; “That’s what we were told.” It was a dangerous insinuation, and he had to delete that failed propaganda when the names of the suspects were given.

If one found @DrOlufunmilayo’s theory absurd, then another by a certain @quinlateefa on Twitter shows the extent of this malicious caricaturing of the Northern Muslim establishment. She wrote about the National Identity Number (NIN) project, which has been noted as the genesis of Pantami’s troubles, thus: “NIN linking of Sim was not a mistake at all (sic), they needed the data of Christians and Muslims in every state in order to know how to manuever their people into the state. They want a Christian minority in every state that’s why the nigerien president has been visiting of late (sic).” Speechless!

These views are dispensed with the caveat that their outrage isn’t designed to demonize Islam or the

North. It’s akin to a domestic dog denying membership of the Canidae. But the North isn’t without its shortcomings, even though often misrepresented.

Mark Amaza sparked interest in this conversation on Twitter when, on April 20, he shared, “Today is a good day to talk about the gaslighting that’s always attempted anytime you criticize anything northern...”

For Amaza, a Northern Christian, “the North & Islam aren’t the same,” and that “for all the namecalling” Babachir David Lawal, a Northern Christian, “has gotten” on Twitter, it wasn’t interpreted as an attack on the North and that so is the criticism of Tinubu, a Southern Muslim. He asked why the North is quick to interpret criticism of, say, Buhari and Pantami as an attack on Islam. The Muslim North’s response to Amaza’s question was from Zayyad, tweeting from the handle @zvyyvd. He acknowledged that Amaza “raised some valid points re Northern Muslims and their posturing as custodians of Islam in Nigeria that should cause all of us to do some introspection,” and then pointed out the flaws of such arguments.

The comparison of the responses to Babachir and Pantami, Zayyad observed, is misplaced. Babachir “was not called names due to perceived incompetence simply because he happens to be of northern extraction. The name-calling was as a result of alleged corruption.” He shared that the suitable comparison would’ve been the former Pension Reform Taskforce boss, Abdurrasheed Maina, and that “Surely, you’ll be hard pressed to find any serious northerner calling an attack on Maina an attack on the north.”

Zayyad took followers of the exchange down memory lane, underlining the cases of casually dispensed anti-Muslim North bigotry: the caricaturing of Buhari who rose to the rank of a General in the Army as “illiterate Aboki” over his public service records, while Lawal was spared, thanks to his

Christian middle name. “(Much) like PMB,” Zayyad wrote to contextualize the religious tone of the trending attack on the Minister of Communications, “Pantami isn’t under fire for alleged corruption like Babachir was, but for faith-based utterances he made decades ago, which he has since renounced.”

Although Zayyad was neither defending nor justifying Pantami’s past utterances, his thread contextualized the genesis of this mass disdain for Pantami based on his origin, and drew our attention to the condescending reaction of a particular social media influencer who, on learning that Pantami had been appointed to head NITDA in 2016, wrote, “His PhD is from Saudi Arabia,” and that “The disdain Buhari shows for tech is unforgivable.”

But my fear isn’t Pantami’s stay in office, it’s the brewing hatred and propaganda warfare being sold as unaligned activism. On April 21, the People’s Gazette published a document that sought to drag Jama’atu Nasril Islam into Pantami’s case, profiling that umbrella body of the Muslim community in Nigeria as a murderous organization that plotted the assassination of Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa. While a few sheets of A4 paper, which was published on Nairaland 10 years earlier, can be produced by any poor-quality printer, this startling revelation shouldn’t be played down by our leaders even if untrue.

Kaduna is a volatile state and built on fragile ethnoreligious foundations, and it’s not gaslighting to ask us to tone down the volume of our sensationalizing and disinforming campaign. Although Jama’atu Nasril Islam and Christian Association of Nigeria Kaduna have cautioned against the story, calling the documents fake, I’m still unable to wrap my head around something: who takes minutes of a murder plot?

Kakanda wrote from Abuja

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EDITORIAL THE PROPOSED MAIDUGURI GAS-POWERED PLANT Solar-powered plant makes more sense

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he recent decision by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to build a massive gaspowered plant in Maiduguri makes no sense in light of the reason given for it. According to the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, the idea is to address challenges in electricity supply caused by incessant Boko Haram attacks. In evaluating this decision, several questions have come up: What will stop the insurgents from blowing up the plant when it is completed? Where will the gas supply to run the plant come from and at what cost to the operators? Who will fund the project and what market value in terms of demand and supply to convince potential investors to buy into it?

It is true that Boko Haram insurgents have constantly blown-up systems that supply electricity to the town even after they are fixed by the country’s power suppliers. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) especially has spent so much money fixing its lines whenever they are blown up. Most of the time, Maiduguri and its environs are cut-off from THE CORPORATION CAN the national grid, PARTNER WITH LOCAL and when power SOLAR POWER COMPANIES supply is restored, TO QUICKLY DEPLOY it often does not also last long before SOLUTIONS THAT WILL MAXIMISE THE FREE SOLAR the terrorists strike.

RESOURCE OF MAIDUGURI Yet this is not good enough reason for the NNPC to invest in new gas-powered electricity plant in the city. The economics for such investment must be right.

Despite its attachment to the government, NNPC should be meticulous with the political promises it makes. Coming up with wasteful projects that are designed to fritter away scarce resources should not be associated with the corporation especially in lean times. Kyari, in his promise to Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, claims that in three to four

Letters to the Editor

months, the dedicated plant will be ready to serve the current needs of Maiduguri and potentially that of neighbouring cities and even countries. How does he hope to accomplish this and what market survey has he done to guarantee its sustainability?

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T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI AJAYI, DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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

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

AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR BUNI

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ome of the country’s gas power plants that are closer to supply sources in the Niger Delta do not have steady gas flow to run, but Kyari envisages that the proposed Maiduguri plant will have stable supply. He also talked about the commitment of stakeholders such as gas suppliers and distribution companies (Discos) to the project. Who are these stakeholders and what are they bringing to the table? This is particularly important in light of Kyari’s avowed commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of NNPC’s affairs.

Has this project been competitively procured or vetted by the country’s public procurement office?

If the NNPC is considerate to the power supply situation of Maiduguri and is looking for potentially good options to express this concern, then it should look towards solar power sources which the north has in abundance. To buttress the solar power potential of the north, a 2018 survey of the World Bank on the solar photovoltaic power potential of Nigeria showed that the region has very promising solar irradiation levels which could be exploited to economically provide decentralised clean and stable electricity to towns and villages with minimal or no impacts in most cases from the activities of insurgents. The corporation can partner with local solar power companies to quickly deploy solutions that will maximise the free solar resource of Maiduguri.

Such solutions are also easily scalable.

Additionally, the three major hydro power stations producing power in Nigeria today are in the north; dedicated volumes of electricity could be sent from them to Maiduguri and environs through alternative safer transmission routes than expending the country’s limited funds to build new gas-powered plants.

...You can’t skip all the ranks in your state and see the ones in Abuja, there’s a hierarchy, meet the ones in charge in Yobe, at least for a first -hand account in the interim, most logically, and when it is beyond them, they’ll take it up….”

The recent attack on Geidam local Government of Yobe State by the Boko Haram insurgents is one of the most horrific attacks the state has witnessed lately. Many lives were lost, including about 11 people from one family, and numerous properties burnt or destroyed. Hundreds of people have been displaced, exposed to harsh weather. Majority of the people are fasting. Not to talk about dozens, whose whereabouts is still unknown. The situation can never be worse!

It is a well-known fact that the primary responsibility of ANY government is the protection of lives and property of its people.

However, in the case of Yobe State, the situation seems to be completely different. To even assume that the priority of our governor is to his party or that it’s possible to govern the affairs of the state from a distance, is pathetic. He’s often times referred to as sabbatical governor on the streets. Not entirely untrue, if I may say.

For well over 72 hours, Geidam residents were in consistent shock, fear, suffering and in unimaginable distress, with not even a direct address to the governor of the state. There was no one to stand up for them, to take responsibility. Except for a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, apparently for optics. Where was the meeting? Abuja?

Well, your excellency sir, if Abuja was where you met the

CoDS, then you should know that the military is a wellcoordinated institution, you can’t skip all the ranks in your state and see the ones in Abuja, there’s a hierarchy, meet the ones in charge in Yobe, at least for a first-hand account in the interim, most logically, and when it is beyond them, they’ll take it up. Or was it just a tactical way of showing us you can’t be in Yobe by that time, but you want to be perceived as someone acting?

Other state governors act and respond promptly to the happenings of their states. You’ll see them at the location of incidents a few hours after their occurrence, cheering up the troops and sympathizing with the victims. That is the way. Yobeans do not believe such governors are better than you, you can do the same or even better. But that has everything to do with your presence, determination and of course, affection with the state and its people.

Your Excellency sir, it is high time you listened to the calls of the good people of Yobe State and stay at home. Your presence is needed. It is high time you take your primary assignment seriously, for God sake. The good people of Yobe State elected you to have a caring father that’d govern them effectively and only visit other places when the need arises and in the interest of Yobe.

Your Excellency sir, we strongly believe there are other competent people in the party that can efficiently handle the party’s affairs. If the party is the reason, leave it to them, you’re needed at home. A humble word from a humble subject, even if not for the good and innocent citizens of the state, at least, for GOD the Almighty!

Bukar Atiyaye, Damaturu, bukardarulhaq@yahoo.com

BOKO HARAM IN NIGER STATE?

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t is not an understatement to say that Niger State has been battling rapacious bandits who have sacked many of its communities and displaced thousands of people. The activities of bandits have forced many peasant farmers to flee their ancestral lands. However, the statement credited to Governor Sani Bello on the infiltration of Boko Haram in the state, two hours drive to Abuja, the capital of the country, is frightening to say the least. Although, before Governor Sani’s outburst, many security experts have expressed fear that Boko Haram must have tied a knot with bandits in the north west states and some parts of Niger State to carry out their dastardly activities. The recent abduction of Kankara school boys, reminiscent of Chibok and Dapchi’s, heightened apprehension that the group has finally carved its fiefdom in North West.

It was baffling that our security and intelligence agencies looked the other way when sensitive information on the infiltration of Boko Haram kept emerging. Now, Governor Sani Bello has revealed that the deadly group has conquered some communities and hoisted their flags. Niger State will now have to contend with two variants of insecurity viz: banditry and Boko Haram with likely spilling effect on other communities that are bordering the state. The emergency of Boko Haram in Niger State came at a time when Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State raised similar alarm on the presence of Boko Haram in his state.

Unless pragmatic and coordinated military actions are pursued, the group will in no distant time start carry out their attacks on the remaining helpless communities, including the nation’s capital.

Ibrahim Mustapha, Pambegua, Kaduna State

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THISDAY, WEDNESDAY APRIL 28,2021

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

Seventy Years of Yoruba Socio-Political Engineering Segun James traces the formation of, Afenifere, the most enduring political group in the country from inception in 1951 till date

Awolowo

Ajasin

Adebanjo

Ige

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demand on Nigerians.

After Egbe Omo Oduduwa had decided not to take part in politics and approved of Chief Awolowo’s pioneering efforts to form a virile political organization, Awolowo invited about 60 persons for a meeting. Of all these invitees the following seven persons Mr. S. O. Shonibare, Chief Abiodun Akerele, Chief S. T. Oredein, Mr. Olatunji Dosumu, Mr. J. Ola Adigun, Mr. Adeyiga Akinsanya and Mr. Ayo Akinsanya attended the first meeting.

The meeting was held at the Oke Ado residence of Chief Awolowo in Ibadan. The Action Group was publicly inaugurated in Owo Town in Ondo Province on the 28th of April 1951 and had representatives from 22 out of the 24 Administrative Divisions of the Western Region. After the inauguration of the Action Group in Owo, the leaders returned to Ibadan to campaign and for a public inauguration and presentation. There and then people were asking what was going to be the interpretation of the meaning of Action Group in Yoruba language.

According to Chief Ayo Opadokun, a former Secretary General of the Afenifere, “At a party campaign rally, the party leaders led by Chief Adisa Akinloye were informing the public that the Action Group policy was summed up in Egalitarianism, Free Education, and Medicare, affordable Housing, and affordable Food, Minimum Wage to guarantee life more abundant that party loyalists and faithfuls started to describe the Action Group as a Movement of the People who want the best for ordinary citizens and who were committed to providing better quality of lives for all persons.

“Then Chief Meredith Augustus Adisa Akinloye helped them to sum up their descriptions as “Afenifere.” The name was popularized through diverse ways, songs and lyrics, poetic renditions and banters until it became an household watchword.

In fact, a textile factory was commissioned to manufacture bales of cloth materials with the picture of Chief Obafemi Awolowo on it and was worn as apparels by all and sundry even as caps and head gears for women.”

From that moment on, Afenifere became a Movement of people committed to the greatest welfare of the people as enunciated by Chief Obafemi Awolowo under the philosophical caption of Egalitarianism, Life More Abundant. Afenifere was never a registered political party but it was the propelling Movement of the people behind the Action Group that was registered.

Opadokun said again: “There had been no time when Afenifere was a cultural organization. Egbe Omo Oduduwa which was a cultural organization decided not to transform into a political party after exhaustive discussion because they believed that such a transformation into partisan politics could compromise the organization and divide the Yoruba nation, which was the very people it set itself up to protect and defend. Interested readers can Google the internet to be familiar with the names of the Yoruba distinguished leaders who collaborated with Chief Awolowo to establish the Egbe first in London and later in Nigeria in order to provide a credible voice for the Yoruba people in the immediate nationalist struggle for self-determination.”

With the formation of the non-partisan organisation, the Afenifere effectively become a pressure group with the sole intent of seeking the political and economic interest, first of the old Western Region but later of the Yoruba people no matter where they may be located within Nigeria.

After the first military coup of January 15, 1966, the government under General Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi issued series of decrees that suspended and abrogated the 1960 and the 1963 Republican Federal Constitutions to give itself some semblance of legitimacy.

Aguiyi Ironsi later issued a supplement to Official Gazette Extraordinary No. 51, Vol. 53, 1966 part A in a The Public Order Decree 1966 where in section 1 he announced the Dissolution of Political Parties, Tribal Unions and Cultural Organizations. A move which effectively dissolved the Afenifere along with similar groups.

Although all tribal groupings had been officially disbanded by the military government, Afenifere was still operating in the background. So when the Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo military decided to vacate power with a return to civilian rule, Afenifere became the engine room for the formation of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 1978. After the collapse of the Second Republic and the subsequent return of the military to power in December 1983, the Afenifere became mute again.

However, as Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s unending political transition agenda was evolving after the transition to glory of Awolowo, former governors of the UPN commenced meetings under the Chairmanship of Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin in Owo and it was called Owo Group for sometimes before the group became People’s Consultative Forum, PCF. At the first meeting of the governors, Opadokun was invited to be its General Secretary and Spokesman. That was how Opadokun served the organization for 15years.

Opadokun recalled that at a meeting held in Chief Bola Ige’s, Ibadan residence sometime in 1992, “we examined the prospect of adopting a name for our organization. A committee was constituted to verify whether or not Afenifere was among the organizations dissolved. The report of the committee was received at a meeting held in the Lagos, Ilupeju residence of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande. The report findings indicated that Afenifere was not listed in the Military Decree of May 1966.

Members were happy to rename the group with its original appellation, Afenifere.”

In 1998 following some political intrigues regarding the status of the Alliance for Democracy, it was the names contained in the Register of Afenifere in all Yoruba States including Kwara and Kogi that were used to register the party. Afenifere therefore, was the platform upon which the AD was constructed and upon which the six candidates in the Yoruba States contested and won. AD was

eaching an eclectic mix of politicians a new form of playing politics was never going to be easy. The Afenifere, the socio-political organisation of Yoruba people knows this, yet, this has been what it has been doing in the last 70 years, setting the political agenda for the people and letting the Yoruba political elites know that the people come first at all times.

But has the Afenifere lived up to what it preaches? Has it been successful? What has been the gains and losses within this period?These are the questions as Afenifere celebrates 70 years of guiding the Yoruba political consciousness through the political system of Nigeria.

On the website of the organisation, the Afenifere was formed in 1998 as a sociocultural organization for the Yoruba people of Nigeria, with Chief Abraham Adesanya as its leader and Chief Bola Ige as deputy leader.

Other founding members were Pa Onasanya, Chief Reuben Fasoranti,, Okurounmu Femi, Ganiyu Dawodu, Olanihun Ajayi, Olu Falae, Adebayo Adefarati, Alhaji Adeyemo and Ayo Adebanjo.

It gained prominence when the Alliance for Democracy (AD) political party was formed in 1998, it took the Afenifere agenda as its official manifesto. Following a poor performance in the April 2003 elections, in late 2003 rival factions of the AD held separate conventions. In the Lagos convention, Adebisi Akande was elected as AD chairman. The devastating loss by the AD during the 2003 election which left Senator Bola Tinubu as the remaining governor on the platform of the AD led to the a factional leadership within the Afenifere.

In 2008, a new faction, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) was formed with the stated intent of reuniting the feuding factions, but perhaps as an alternative to the faction headed by the older generation of leaders. In November 2008, a faction of Afenifere in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, installed Chief Reuben Fasoranti as the new chairman of the group.

ARG Leaders including Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Chief Bisi Akande, Wale Oshun and Yinka Odumakin stated that they did not accept the move. Today, the Afenifere is headed by Chief Ayo Adebanjo But contrary to what was on the website, the Afenifere actually came into being in 1951 following the decision of then Yoruba sociocultural organisation, the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, a brainchild of Chief Obafemi Awolowo not to participate in politics as many of its members held divergent political leanings. This led to the formation of the Action Group.

The Action Group as a national political party was the political machine of Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo and his untiring determination to prepare and get the Western Nigeria ready for productive responses to the then on-coming constitutional exigencies which the Richard Constitution would

On the website of the organisation, the Afenifere was formed in 1998 as a socio-cultural organization for the Yoruba people of Nigeria, with Chief Abraham Adesanya as its leader and Chief Bola Ige as deputy leader....Contrary to what was on the website, the Afenifere actually came into being in 1951 following the decision of then Yoruba sociocultural organisation, the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, a brainchild of Chief Obafemi Awolowo not to participate in politics as many of its members held divergent political leanings. This led to the formation of the Action Group. The Action Group as a national political party was the political machine of Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo and his untiring determination to prepare and get the Western Nigeria ready for productive responses to the then on-coming constitutional exigencies which the Richard Constitution would demand on Nigerians

Continued on page 19

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POLITICS

Seventy Years of Yoruba Socio-Political Engineering

GOVERNANCE IN PHOTOS

L-R: Ekiti State Governor/Guest Lecturer, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Rector, The Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna, Fr. Habila Daboh; at the Convocation lecture “Church, Politics and Future Elections” delivered by Gov Fayemi at the Seminary, in Kafanchan, Kaduna State

Akande

Opadokun

the national name, but songs/lyrics were waxed on Afenifere whose leadership had been the frontliners of the NADECO struggle.

So when for reasons best known but certainly not for the group interest some elected and Afenifere leaders started to insist on separation of AD from Afenifere, they knew they were playing dirty politics.

However, the performances of most of the six governors of AD/Afenifere were relatively commendable and pace setting as that of their forebares in the Action Group and the UPN of the 1st and 2nd Republics.

For example, each of them continued with the Free Education Programme with some modifications and that enabled many poor people’s children to enroll into public schools. Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Governor of Lagos State succeeded in expanding the revenue base of Lagos State beyond expectation. The consequence of that was that he was able to deliver some appreciable infrastructures and services that were relatively novel at that time.

Chief Bisi Akande, the Osun State Governor with his very low receipt from the Federation Account delivered impactful services including the construction of an enviable State Secretariat that remains his everlasting legacy and many rural roads without borrowing a dime throughout his tenure. There was no area of Ogun State that did not experience the development programme of Aremo Segun Osoba as the Governor (helmsman) of Ogun State.

Chief Lam Adesina and Otunba Niyi Adebayo were spectacularly commendable as Governors of Oyo and Ekiti State respectively particularly because they struggled to continue with the free education programme that the Action Group/Afenifere’s government led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo introduced in 1955.

The Afenifere leaders who along with other like minds and elder statesmen, retired senior citizens, professionals, civil society groups,

students, women, religious and traditional rulers established the National Democratic Coalition, (NADECO).

Since we have historically and factually established that Action Group was the registered political party but Afenifere had always been a Movement in Yorubaland of those who subscribe to Chief Awolowo’s political philosophy of life more abundant and that it was the registers of Afenifere membership in Yoruba states including Kogi and Kwara that were used to register AD in 1998, it stands to reason that those who may still desire to pursue their political ambition outside whatever the “progressive” political camp adopted as close to the Action Group tendency should be bold and honest enough to leave Afenifere. The platform should no more be used for political expediency.

The unfortunate inconsistencies of some of those who are associating themselves with Afenifere when it suited them only to railroad themselves into Afenifere again after their political misadventures and or miscalculations have negatively impacted on the credibility and acceptability of the movement. After all, Yoruba tradition and culture support plurality of views and opinions but that the best of such should lead our nationality.

The most important pre-occupation of any serious minded political group in Yoruba nation today is to make room for reconciliation so as to unite their ranks.

The past political misadventures and or miscalculations, unprincipled politics leading to inconsistencies of colleagues and their sister organizations should be forgiven in the overall interest of the Yoruba nation if those inconsistent members resolve to discipline themselves and stop playing politics at all costs and or without any moral value. The situation is dire and we must fend off in one accord those who have contempt for our nationality values.

It has been done before; it can still be done.

Although all tribal groupings had been officially disbanded by the military government, Afenifere was still operating in the background. So when the Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo military decided to vacate power with a return to civilian rule, Afenifere became the engine room for the formation of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 1978. After the collapse of the Second Republic and the subsequent return of the military to power in December 1983, the Afenifere became mute again. However, as Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s unending political transition agenda was evolving after the transition to glory of Awolowo, former governors of the UPN commenced meetings under the Chairmanship of Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin in Owo and it was called Owo Group for sometimes before the group became People’s Consultative Forum, PCF. At the first meeting of the governors, Opadokun was invited to be its General Secretary and Spokesman. That was how Opadokun served the organization for 15years

From left- Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Bola Oyebamiji;, Deputy Chief of Staff to Osun Governor, Prince Abdullahi Binuyo;, Governor Adegboyega, Oyetola; Chairman, Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society Osogbo Branch (NASFAT), Alhaji Gbadegesi Razaq Adetunji; Secretary to Osun State Government, Prince Wola Oyebamiji and others, during the 21st NASFAT Ramadan Programme, at NASFAT Building, Ring road, Osogbo

L-R: Founder, African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF), Engr. Noah Dallaji, Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman and ex-international, Daniel Amokachi (OON) during a condolence visit to Dallaji over the death of his brother, Dr. Aliyu Ishaku Dallaji in Wornu, Bauchi State

Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, Lead Visioner, Lagos4Lagos (left) welcoming Princess Denrele Ogunsanya, former Secretary to Lagos State Government and current Chairperson of Lagos4Lagos Apex Leaders to an Iftar Programme organised by the movement in Ikorodu

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FEATURES

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

Ready to Serve Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that for the 46 cadets of the Special Duties Pre-Commissioning Training as well as the 1,170 trainees of the ratings’ cadre, their recent commissioning and graduation respectively, was a call to serve the nation in protecting its territorial integrity

L-R: Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; and Rivers State Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo arriving for the Passing Out Parade

Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor inspecting the Special Duty Course 30 passing out cadets at the POP

A

ny military is as good as its manpower. For the Nigerian Navy (NN), this same holds true because in order to properly secure the maritime domain and the nation's territorial integrity, it requires an enormous capacity upgrade not just for fleet recapitalisation but also manpower boost in quality and quantity.

That is essentially why the NN trains professionally competent personnel in line with international best practices. Recently, it was a double whammy celebration at the passing out parade of cadets of the Special Duties Pre-Commissioning Training (SDPCT) 2020 of the Nigerian Naval College as well as the Batch 30 Trainees of the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers State.

While the college trains midshipmen and cadets in core maritime skills of the NN aimed at preparing them for further professional training and subsequent deployment for naval duties, the Basic Training School offers foundational training for all sailors of the navy.

From the college, 46 cadets comprising 39 male and seven female, passed out; while 1,170 trainees of the ratings’ cadre comprising 979 male and 191 female graduated from NNBTS. The reviewing officer at the ceremony was the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), who was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor. Also at the graduation to receive the reviewing officer was the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo and Rivers State Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo.

Review In his review, the reviewing officer, stated that the Nigerian Naval College and the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School have sustained their place as citadels of professional naval training within the nation and sub-region.

He said: "It is pertinent to mention that military service in a growing complex and ambiguous operating environment, as we have today, must of necessity be dynamic and innovative. Our nation has in the last few years been challenged by asymmetric and emerging security threats emanating from insurgent groups, kidnappings and economic saboteurs warranting critical operational and security engagements of the Armed Forces of Nigeria across different theatres of operation.

"In this regard, I am glad to note that in addition to assisting sister services in the North-east operations against the Boko Haram insurgents, the Nigerian Navy has continued to spearhead Internal Security operations in the Niger Delta Region against militants, pirates, operators of illegal local refineries, crude oil thieves as well as their sponsors and collaborators.

"Expectedly, significant successes have been achieved by the Nigerian Navy, either alone or in collaboration with other security forces at curtailing the excesses of these miscreants.

Maintaining these successes will definitely be tasking and will require developing appropriate knowledge, skills and attitude through rigorous on-the-job training onboard and ashore as well as pragmatic training in all naval training institutions especially in this vollege and the Basic Training School.

"As can be clearly observed, the Nigerian Navy has matched intent with clear practical steps, evident by on-going fleet recapitalisa-

Trainees of NNBTS Batch 30 digging in with gusto during their Passing Out Parade tion and expansion programme that has led to the acquisition of more Offshore Patrol Vessels, Seaward Defence Boats and strategic technology driven assets crucial to neutralise the myriad of threats in Nigeria’s Maritime Domain."

Charge In his charge to the graduands, he said: "No doubt, the past six months must have been challenging given the rigours that your training entail. However, today marks the beginning of the service to your fatherland in the officers’ cadre and you must not relent on your oars.

"A lot will be expected of you as newly commissioned officers, especially in the light of the contemporary security challenges our nation faces. These challenges call for dedication, selflessness, gallantry and professionalism as I am sure you have discovered during the course of your training."

To the NNBTS trainees he said: "The process of being converted from a civilian into the military personnel is not an easy one. Not all the 1,193 trainees that were initially selected completed the training. Your doggedness, perseverance and determination is therefore commendable as the completion of your training is a testimony of your will and desire to serve in the noble profession of the Armed Forces of Nigeria."

Charging them to remain committed to improving the welfare and operational requirements for members of the Armed Forces as they tackle the multifaceted security challenges across the nation, he asked them to be loyal to constituted authority and be prepared to give necessary support to the police and other Para-military agencies in the discharge of their duties.

With a further charge to be focused on their assigned duties to maintain peace and avoid actions that would bring disrepute to the Nigerian Navy and Nigeria in general, he added "as you interact with the civil populace, you must have respect for them and protect their human dignity. I further urge you to steer clear of today’s vices such as substance abuse, cultism, negative peer group pressure and negative use of the social media".

Course Highlights for SDPCT Giving further breakdown of the process involved, the Director of Naval Information (DINFO), Commodore Suleman Dahun said the SDPCT 2020 was inaugurated on

October 16, 2020 with 46 cadets from various specialisations in the Nigerian Navy. The cadets, he noted, were carefully selected from a group of experienced naval ratings who had distinguished themselves and were adjudged fit to undergo the special duty pre-commissioning training.

After they were placed on isolation and medical checks were conducted in line with the National Centre for Disease Control guidelines for prevention of COVID-19 spread, training commenced with the Induction Week during which they were subjected to intensive physical training aimed at developing the physical and mental stamina needed to see them through the training at the college. They also received introductory lectures on Time Management, Interpersonal Relationships, Salutations and Mark of Respect.

On completion of the Induction Weeks, they progressed to the Professional Phase of Navigation, Seamanship, Communication, Rules of the Road, Chart Work, Medicals, Logistics and Accounts and Budget, to mention a few. The next phase was the Leadership and Management Phase- Ship Administration, Mentorship, Leadership and OOD/ OOW Duties.

The last phase was the Security and Operations Phase. During the Phase, resource persons were invited to make presentations on General Introduction to Maritime Operations, Contemporary Operations, Maritime Domain Awareness, International Humanitarian Law, Blue Economy and Cyber Security including the Role of the Media in Military Operations.

The DINFO added that "the package also covered Parade Training, Physical Training, swimming, as well as practical sessions onboard NNS JEBBA. The conduct of the training also comprised educational visits and tours to army, navy and air force units and formations in Port Harcourt, as well as other security and maritime-related agencies. Notably, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, Charkin Maritime Academy amongst others.

"They also witnessed the operational readiness of the military formations visited, as well as improved their understanding of the synergy between maritime-related agencies and the NN. The cadets were assessed on a total of 31 subjects during the course of their training. It is gratifying to say that all passed, hence their commission."

Brief of NNBTS According to the DINFO, a total of 1,193

trainees of Batch 30 reported for Basic Seamanship Training in three batches as segmented into states at various times from September 19 to October 3, 2020 and subsequently commenced training on October 26, 2020.

However, in the course of training, he said 15 withdrew voluntarily, five were withdrawn on medical ground and three were withdrawn for financial fraud, making up a total of 23 trainees being withdrawn.

Giving further insight on the trainings at NNBTS, Dahun said it is structured to instill the core values of the NN, with emphasis on naval orientation, practical training with basic academic and physical exercises.

He said: "These include cross-country, obstacle crossing, novices boxing as well as swimming and other military sporting activities. They were also introduced to the naval working environment simulated onboard the training ship, NNS JEBBA. The trainees also undertook various practical range firing exercise. It is noteworthy that the training modules in the school are designed to enhance trainees’ regimentation, cooperation and comradeship required for assigned naval and other military duties.

"The basic training activities in NNBTS involve basic naval orientation, physical training, parade trainings and practical swimming to inculcate the desired naval discipline and military bearing in them, this improved their personal qualities, built their endurance and stamina level. The trainees took lectures in English language, Mathematics, French Language, First Aid, Anchor Work, Boat Work, Rope work and General Seamanship.

"Others are General Service Knowledge, Naval Ceremonial, Naval Communication, Naval Organisation, Health, Safety and Environment, Leadership, Ship husbandry, naval regulating and discipline, rigging and Piping. At the end of this stage, the trainees were examined accordingly. Some practicals were also examined, this include Rope work, Piping, weapon Handling, swimming, and Unarmed Combat.

"The outdoor training activities continued after the first term examination. During this period, the Trainees continued their swimming training and participated in novices boxing, cross country, obstacle crossing, rifle drill, burial drill, unarmed combat and drill square test.

"It is important to state that basic seamanship practical continued till the end of their training.

Nonetheless, the trainees were not opportuned to proceed for sea trip due to logistics problem, however, they were opportuned to pay a static visit to NNS OKPABANA for practical illustration of parts of ship and observation of its routine.

"At the end of phase one, the trainees were examined in the military theory courses from 21-24 Dec 20. Furthermore, at Phase 2, which is practical in nature, trainees were also examined from March 1 to 6, 2021. " As such, weapon handling training, practical seamanship training, range classification and obstacle crossing were reinforced. Most importantly, they were practically taught internal security exercises, in addition to having naval/military oriented firefighting exercise.

"Also, at Phase 3, which is the consolidation stage, security agencies such as National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Federal Road Safety Corp, Nigeria Police Force, others are Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army delivered lectures to trainees from March 22 to 31, 2021."

21

T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 28, 2021

FEATURES

Technology as Unifier: A WhatsApp Experience Tunde Olusunle

S

ometime in 2016, my good friend, Tunji Bamishigbin put a call through to me. Bamishigbin, more popular for his role in the long-running television soap opera, "Palace", and I, were good friends, classmates and roommates at the University of Ilorin. Since leaving school in 1985, we have kept in very good touch, even before mobile telephony was introduced shortly after the outset of democracy governance.

Tunji explained that alumni of our school were setting up a WhatsApp Group as a way of bringing together old acquaintances and schoolmates, most of whom had neither seen nor heard from one another, across the space of time. As at the time Bamishigbin and I chatted, it was already over three decades since we graduated. He listed a number of our mutual friends who had agreed to be on the platform, which made me salivate at the exciting potential of reuniting with many of these old friends.

I need to put my enthusiasm at this initiative within context. Owing to the nature of the occupations of my parents, I had a fairly nomadic beginning. I was born in Kaduna where I underwent preparatory classes and began elementary education. After my third year, my father was transferred to Benin City in the primordial Mid Western State.

I continued my elementary education and proceeded to secondary school at the Immaculate Conception College, ICC, Benin City.

Upon completion of my West African School Certificate Examination, WASC, my family had to move once again, this time to Ilorin. Here, I wrote the Cambridge University-Moderated Higher School Certificate Examination, HSC, at the School of Basic Studies of the erstwhile Kwara State College of Technology. Thereafter, I proceeded to Unilorin where I obtained my bachelor's and master's degrees in English.

The itinerant nature of my early life therefore, ensured I never quite stayed in a particular city long enough after specific phases of my education, to build upon the friendships I made in the various schools. While most of my schoolmates in secondary school for instance, progressed into the University of Benin which was virtually next door to our alma mater, ICC, I schooled in Unilorin after my HSC. As a young journalist in Lagos, I attended a few ICC Old Boys Association, ICCOBA meetings. Regularly called upon to serve in various capacities in my state of origin, Kogi, however, severed me from genuine bonding with fellow ex-students. It was therefore my utmost delight, that a virtual medium for reminiscences, interaction and engagement with my fellow alumnus and alumna, had been initiated.

A number of friends from the Unilorin fraternity had come together a few months before Bamishigbin reached out to me, to set up the chat group. It was led by Ade Adenuga, Ayo Wuraola, Sunmola Bakare, Segun Sanni and a few others. Instructively, these initiators were all friends who graduated from different departments in 1984. The idea started as a suggestion over drinks by the pioneers of the chatroom, that it would be a great idea to pay a visit to Unilorin in 2016, over three decades since our generation graduated.

Ilorin held a nostalgic feel for those of us in the much older generation of graduates.

We schooled in the primordial campus of the university famously called the "Mini Campus."

At its inception in 1975, the University of Ilorin appropriated the facilities of the former Kwara State College of Technology, which is geographically hemmed between the "Agbo-Oba" District in downtown Ilorin and the more urbane "Adewole Estate," a more modern, purpose-designed community for the Ilorin middle class. That was where our generation started out.

In latter years, the University had relocated to its permanent site on ambitiously expansive grounds, straddling three local government areas in Kwara State. It would be fun to "go back to our roots" as it were. The compact ambience of the old campus therefore, made for close interaction and integration by students, with potential convergence points being the hostels, the cafeteria, the library, the Students Union Building, SUB and the teaching areas on the campus. Many marriages spawned from this experience, culminating in many

"fully Unilorin couples."

As planning for the proposed trip to Ilorin proceeded, more and more old students of the institution expressed interest in joining the newly created WhatsApp group. An idea which began as a whisper was gaining rapid traction.

The enthusiasm of long "lost" schoolmates to savour this virtual reunion was palpable.

Roommates, classmates, boys, girls of times past, were resurfacing as professors, doctors, businessmen and women, civil servants, politicians, journalists and entrepreneurs. Yes, those old time friends were now technocrats, military officers, bankers, diplomats, educationists, public communications experts, administrators and more. The platform was unanimously christened "Unilorin 80s Friends For Life," "FFL" for short.

Admissions during the earlier years of the university, by the way, were more broad-based, attracting even foreign students, as against the more narrow-minded selection processes today. Whereas the immediate catchment of Unilorin at the time included contemporary Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Benue, students also came from Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Cross River, Rivers, Ogun, Lagos, Edo, Delta, and others. This multicultural pot-pourri was indeed critical to interaction and interrelationships in the institution. This is not forgetting small numbers of students from India, Sierra Leone and Benin Republic, among others, who were also on the nominal roll of the university.

Members of the platform come from all over the world: Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the United States of America, USA, the United Kingdom, UK, Canada, Australia, everywhere.

Nationalities have changed in a number of cases, with several people having adopted the citizenship of their host countries.

The sheer quality and diversity of the human capital which the University of Ilorin has gifted Nigeria and indeed the world, cannot be glossed over. Abdulfatah Ahmed (immediate past governor of Kwara State); Ishaq Oloyede (professor and incumbent Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB); Olusegun Adekunle (immediate past Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, PSO, in the Presidency); and Fatai Buhari (senator representing Oyo North Senatorial Zone), bear the imprimatur of the University of Ilorin.

Parliamentarians like Dave Idoko (who represented Okpokwu/Ogbadibo/Ado federal constituency of Benue State in the House of Representatives); Abayomi Sheba (also a former Member of the House of Representatives) and incumbent congressman, Tunde Adejare, were also bred in Unilorin.

The late Prof Aize Obayan (who was at various times Vice Chancellor of Covenant and Landmark Universities); Professors Dapo Asaju (immediate past VC of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo); Yemi Akinwumi (incumbent VC, Federal University Lokoja, FUL); Francis Oyebade (former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba and Abdulrasheed Na'Allah (VC of the University of Ilorin), were all nurtured in the same institution.

Jimi Olukoya (former Registrar of the

University of Ibadan); Sunnie Ododo (professor and chief executive of the National Theatre); Gbenga Ayeni (professor of Communications, East Connecticut State University); Tunde Ogunnaike (professor of medicine at the South West Medical Centre, Dallas, Texas) and the late Pius Adesanmi (former professor at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada), all trod the soil of the University of Ilorin.

For the avoidance of doubt, the human capital contribution of the University of Ilorin to the healthcare system in the USA, across medical specialties and states, include Layi Olagbegi; Segun Apoeso; Tunde Agoro; Tunde Dosu; Olu Fakiyesi; Victor Igbokidi; Harold Longe; Gboyega Adesokan; Dapo Oduwole; Toyin Bamgbola; Niyi Oni, Ajike Ogunsulire and Yomi Ige. Dele Abegunde (medical doctor and health systems economist, formerly of the World Health Organisation, WHO) and Ade Abanida (consultant epidemiologist with the WHO, Harare, Zimbabwe) are also former Unilorin students.

Eminent media practitioners from this same university would include Akin Akinkuotu (Executive Editor with Tell Magazine); Eniola Bello (Managing Director of Thisday newspapers); Hakeem Bello (longserving media advisor to Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN); Tunde Rahman (media advisor to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu) and Franca Aiyetan (Director of Public Communications, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC. Younger media practitioners like Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television, are products of the University of Ilorin.

Unilorin alumni in the military and security services over time have included Major General Alexander Mshelbwala (former Commander, Brigade of Guards, State House); Brigadier Generals Nurudeen Husseini and Folorunso Jegede (formerly of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps); Brigadier Generals Ibok Ette; Ayo Fayehun and John Obasa (formerly of the Nigerian Army Education Corps). There are of course many very senior serving military officers including Major Generals; several Commissioners of Police and top shots in the internal and external arms of the secret police, from the institution.

Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin, fiery human rights activist and wife to the departed Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, earned all her degrees from bachelor's to doctorate, from the University of Ilorin.

This is not forgetting alumni in the oil and gas sector notably Babs Omotowa (former Managing Director, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company, NLNG; Dr Victor Tunde Adeniran (former Group Executive Director, Ventures, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC); Isiaka Abdulrasaq (former Chief Finance Officer, CFO, also of the NNPC); Francis Osasona (Shell Production Ltd); Idowu Lawanson (formerly of NNPC) and Segun Ilori (Director Legal and Corporate Affairs, Green Energy International Ltd), all eminent former students of the University of Ilorin.

Chika Mordi (former Executive Director, United Bank for Africa, UBA, now Chairman, United Capital Plc); Segun Ogbonnewo (formerly of Guaranty Trust and Access Banks) and Leke Ogungbe (former Regional Director,

Trade Bank of Nigeria), among others have flown the flag of the university in their respective vocations over time.

Entrepreneurs include Sunmola Bakare (a big time farmer and operator in the marine transportation sector); Segun Sanni (investment and capital market operator); Dapo Adelegan (seasoned marketer and public relations consultant); Basirat Payne (major importer and exporter); Labake Adetunmbi (real estate); George Onwuchekwa (corporate affairs and advertising) and Ade Adenuga (who is in the information technology and hospitality industry).

Oba Michael Ajayi, the Elerinmo of Erinmo in Osun State, leads the line of traditional rulers of Unilorin extraction. Shiaondo Aarga (alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies); Tivlumun Nyitse (communications scholar); Blessing Wikina, Sunday Joshua Adeleke and Abraham T.J. Adavi, all alumni, have retired from the civil service after ascending to the top of their careers as permanent secretaries and directors in Benue, Rivers, Kwara and Kogi States respectively.

Exchanges on the platform are typically mature, robust and engaging. Subjects and topics include almost everything under the sun. Politics, governance, public policy, economy, education, security, human rights, infrastructure, healthcare, name it, continue to re-echo and reverberate from the platform.

Because of the differing time zones of members of platform, the chatroom never sleeps. While the Nigerian-African contingent is retiring for the day for instance, those in the diaspora sustain discourse. When engagements grow heated and tense, edgy nerves are soothed by witty, humorous interventions by self-appointed umpires.

Side by side with the evolution of "FFL", another platform, "Unilorin SUB", emerged.

The abbreviation "SUB" translates as Students' Union Building, a rallying intersection in most universities and a major hub of activities on campus. Members of this chatroom are slightly younger than those on FFL, much as the ideals are similar in the advancement of interrelationships between erstwhile friends and associates from the institution.

Beyond bonhomie, beyond the chatter and banter of these platforms, however, the platforms have been variously deployed for humanistic and humanitarian purposes. Alumni continue to engage with the authorities of the institution, to give back to the university in various ways. For instance, scholars and academics continue to send academic materials such as books, journals and monographs to their former faculties the University. US based graduates of computer science from the institution have also gifted their former departments with computers and information technology devices.

A few years back, alumni of the Department of Performing Arts, coordinated by Bamishigbin, George Chekwas and Biodun Abe commissioned a bust of the respected late female playwright, intellectual and performing artist, Prof Zulu Sofola which was mounted in front of the Performing Arts Department. It was their way of paying tribute to Nigeria's, nay Africa's first ever female professor of theatre arts, who taught in Unilorin for almost two decades, before her demise.

Alumni in the academia also continue to leverage the interconnectedness provided by these platforms, to expand the frontiers of the exchange of knowledge and education. At the instance of Yemi Akinwumi who was a former Dean of the Arts Faculty in the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Gbenga Ayeni spent some time teaching at the university, away from his base in Connecticut.

Similarly, in as many instances as challenges or incapacity of ex-Unilorin alumni have been brought to the attention of each platform, members have risen in unison to aggregate support for such needy friends. Beyond rallying to conscientiously raise generous fiscal support for such friends in need, the platforms delegate select members to visit and follow-through with such friends, reenacting our age old tradition as brothers' keepers.

Such is the amity, the new sense of family, fraternity, community and communality which has been engendered by WhatsApp. ...Dr Tunde Olusunle, poet, journalist and scholar, writes from Abuja.

22

THISDAY, WEDNESDAY APRIL 28,2021

23

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

Ͱ ͱ ˜ Ͱ ͮ Ͱ ͯ MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

REPO 16.75 15.88

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

17.75 12 12.50

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

515.85% -0.36% - 7.68%

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

- 7.68% - 23.04%

EXCHANGE RATE ͱ͵ͷ˹ͯ ̩ ̩

Quick Takes Smile Introduces New Products

COURTESY VISIT

British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones (left), and Group Executive Director, BUA Group Kabiru Rabiu during the envoy’s working visit to BUA’s head office in Lagos to discuss areas of potential partnerships between British businesses, BUA and the Nigerian private sector in general, held in Lagos…yesterday

‘Weak Fiscal Space Putting Pressure on Monetary Policy’ Obinna Chima A member of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Prof.

Mike Obadan, has said the country’s weak fiscal policy is putting, “significant pressure on monetary policy in addressing economic challenges.”

Obadan, stated this in his personal comment at the March 2021 MPC meeting, the communique which was posted on the CBN’s website yesterday.

He noted that the country relies on crude oil for the bulk of its forex earnings and government revenue, which are vulnerable to frequent shocks in the global oil market.

According to him, because of the absence of savings, the country is confronted with limited fiscal space to effectively address the twin economic crisis.

“Also, because of uncomfortable public debt accumulation, there is very limited headroom for further borrowing. Consequently, fiscal policy remains weak and

ECONOMY this puts significant pressure on monetary policy in addressing the economic challenges.

“Also, unlike in the advanced countries, Nigeria’s industry, in particular, manufacturing, is comatose making the economy to be heavily dependent on imported manufactured goods,” he said.

According to the Professor of Economics, serious efforts were made by the government in the 1970s to encourage industrialisation through import-substitution policies. He, however, noted that the manufacturing factories developed were not sustained in the absence of enabling environments.

In his contribution, the Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate, CBN, Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, stated that the Nigerian banking system has continued to show signs of resilience, describing as the major channel for sustaining the economy during the crisis and beyond.

“Industry asset, deposit and credit grew further at endFebruary 2021. The average capital adequacy ratio improved to 15.2 per cent, against 15 per cent regulatory threshold, while industry liquidity ratio, at 44.5 per cent in February 2021, remained above regulatory threshold of 30 per cent.

“Measures of profitability were positive, though the nonperforming loans (NPL) ratio deteriorated marginally to 6.3 per cent, above the regulatory minimum of five per cent.

“Growth in credit to the government, domestic claims and credit to private sector reflected impact of various measures by the Bank to promote flow of credit to drive economic activities.

“Money market rates were moderated by ample banking system liquidity, buoyed mainly by inflow from maturing bills.

The capital market closed on a bearish note in February 2021 due to switch by investors to take advantage of the higher yields in the fixed income market and

profit taking sell-off,” Shonubi said.

According to him, though the fiscal space has remained tight, performance of major fiscal measures moderated in February 2021.

He disclosed that retained and total distributed revenue increased over the levels in January 2021, while overall deficit was lower than the level in the previous month.

“Decline in government expenditure reflected weak capacity of the fiscal authority in a period that requires aggressive spending to boost economic activities.

“The external sector was characterised by persisting demand pressure in the foreign exchange market and deteriorating balance of payments position,” he added.

He commended the central bank’s effort at improving external sector conditions through its various policies to promote non-oil exports and remittances.

According to Shonubi, Continued on page 24

FMDQ Exchange Records N50.3tn Turnover in Three Months Goddy Egene FMDQ Securities Exchange recorded a turnover of N50.32 trillion in the Fixed Income and Currency (FIC) market in the first quarter (Q1) of 2021.

A breakdown of the performance showed a steady monthly growth, rising from N13.03 trillion in January, N17.74 trillion in February and to N19.55 trillion in March.

A review of the transactions in the month of March indicated that the Foreign Exchange (FX) and Open market operations (OMO) bills transactions were

INVESTMENT the highest contributors to the FIC markets, jointly accounting for 56.52 per cent of the total FIC markets turnover.

The total FX market turnover in March was $12.35 billion, representing a month-on-month (MoM) increase of 16.51 per cent from the turnover recorded in the previous month.

FX Derivatives turnover increased by 28.01 per cent to $1.84 billion, offsetting the 2.23 per cent ($0.09 billion) decrease in FX Spot turnover, and accounting for

the total increase in FX market turnover.

According to the exchange, the increase in FX Derivatives turnover was jointly driven by the increase of 71.48 per cent ($2.31 billion) and 14.8 per cent ($0.12 billion)in FX Swaps and FX Futures turnover respectively, offsetting the 4.72 per cent ($0.05 billion) and 20.9 per cent ($0.36 billion) decrease in FX Forwards and Other Derivatives turnover respectively.

Turnover for OMO bills decreased by 8.84 to N5.98 trillion, contributing to the decrease in its trading intensity to 1.93 in

March 2021 from 1.97 recorded in February 2021.

Similarly, FGN bonds turnover decreased by 30.19 per cent to N1.48 trillion, resulting in a decrease in its trading intensity to 0.13 in March 2021 from 0.19 recorded in the previous month.

However, T.bills’ and CBN Special bills turnover increased by 80.21 per cent and 363.33 per cent to N1.73 trillion and N1.39 trillion respectivelyin March 2021. The increase in T.bills turnover resulted in the increase in its trading intensity Continued on page 24

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Theuniquenessoftheselatestdataplanadditionstothe365product rangebySmileisinitslong-lasting(full-year)validityperiod.Thevalidity period for most data plans in Nigeria ranges from one month to three months.Atbest,itmayextendtosixmonths,underscoresthenovelty of the range of new offerings.

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The three new data plans will, among other things, compliment the earlier product offerings from Smile with 365 days validity period.

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Ecobank Nigeria to Host Webinar

Ecobank Nigeria Limited has concluded plans to host a digital conference as part of its commemoration of this year’sWorkers’ Day. According to Head, Consumer Banking, Korede Demola-Adeniyi, the webinar which is scheduled for April 29th, titled: “Inflation and Your Money–OurroleAsYourBank,”istargetedateducatingmembersofthe publiconhowtomanagelimitedresourcesattheirdisposal,stressing that it would also provide tips on savings, borrowing, investments and how Ecobank can be useful to the participants and general public amidst the rising inflation. According to Demola-Adeniyi, though Nigeria recorded early exit from the recession in the fourth quarter of last year, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to impact negatively on the revenues of many corporate entities, businesses and income of individuals; noting that this development has been further compounded by inflation.

“Inflation rate has continued its upward trend to settle at about 18.7 per cent in March with prices of goods rising significantly in the last six months. This, in turn has significantly reduced the disposable income and cash available to consumers,” she added.

Consequently,asabanksetuptocontributetoeconomicdevelopment, we thought it important to facilitate a discussion during this period of Worker’s Day, that will provide some guidance to our customers and the general public on how they can manage their cash and resources through rising inflation.”

NICON Insurance Denies Report

NICON Insurance Limited has refuted recent media report which alleged that the company has been summoned by the Senate over failure to remit N17.4billion to the PensionTransitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD). NICON in a statement said it did not at any time receiveanysummonfromthesenateonpaymentofanyfundtoPTAD. Defending itself in the matter, the company explained: “The management of NICON Insurance has not received any summon from the Senate Committee on Public Accounts and is therefore unaware of the existence of such summon as reported by the media.

“It is of great concern to our management that NICON has been subjected to the court of public opinion on a matter in which we have discharged our duty as a responsible corporate citizen.

“Tosettherecordsstraight,NICONtransferredassetstoPTADunder the leadership of Sharon Ikeazor in lieu of the legacy pension funds for over 50 agencies and parastatals of the federal government in June 2017.

“Recent studies have shown the significant role women play in promoting social unity and economic advancement”

Minister of State for Industry,Trade and Investment

Maria Katagum

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BUSINESSWORLD ‘WEAK FISCAL SPACE PUTTING PRESSURE ON MONETARY POLICY’ sustained implementation of the measures was expected to yield desired outcomes in the coming months.

“Recent moderation in fiscal deficit, improvement in retained revenue due to modest rise in crude sales and decline in debt-service-to-revenue ratio, on account of Covid-19 Relief-loan repayment deferment concession, are envisaged to provide some head room for the fiscal authority.

“Rising food prices, as the major driver of inflation, has been attributed largely, to insecurity induced disruptions to food farming and distribution, as well as, other rigidities affecting availability and cost of essentials.

“In addition, subtle monetary drivers of inflation may be attributed to rising credit and money supply, high liquidity etc. it is therefore pertinent that as the fiscal authority takes pragmatic steps to resolve the structural bottlenecks, the Bank, must in addition to supporting growth, act to preserve price stability, especially since inflation is seen more as a monetary phenomenon. On his part, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, noted that short-term prospect of the domestic economy was tepid and vulnerable.

FMDQ EXCHANGE RECORDS N50.3TN TURNOVER IN THREE MONTHS

to 0.67 in March2021 In the secondary market, turnover for OMO bills decreased by 8.84 per cent to N5.98 trillion, contributing to the decrease in its trading intensity to 1.93 in March 2021 from 1.97 recorded in February 2021. Similarly, FGN bonds turnover decreased by 30.19 per cent to N1.48 trillion, resulting in a decrease in its trading intensity to 0.13 in March 2021 from 0.19 recorded in the previous month. However, T.bills’ and CBN Special bills turnover increased by 80.21 per cent and 363.33 per cent to N1.73 trillion and N1.39 trillion respectivelyin March 2021. The increase in T.bills turnover resulted in the increase in its trading intensity to 0.67 in March 2021.

NEWS

Report Advises Nigeria, Others on Measures to Achieve SDGs Oluchi Chibuzor Countries in Africa have been urged to strive for improvement in the areas of data aggregation, developmental techniques and empowerment of people to enable them meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Tolu Oyekan, made the call while highlighting challenges hindering development in the region and proffering possible solutions to address the numerous problems in the continent. Oyekan said: “The UN has set a target of 2030 to reach the SDGs and in effect eliminate the developmental obstacles to growth and minimum livelihoods that hold back Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other countries around the world. For SSA, that is an ambitious deadline.”

He, however, suggested that for SSA countries to meet the set target, various governments and citizens must gather more and better data and utilise them more effectively.

He added that the governments must also increase and adjust the developmental techniques they employ to ensure they sufficiently address concerns and issues while taking advantage of existing best practices, even from other

disciplines.

He added that SSA must enlarge the tent to bring a wider and more diverse group of people into the design and implementation process.

The BCG Partner emphasised that when effectively used, data, developmental techniques and human capital could help SSA countries achieve meaningful developmental gains, thereby

making the region more competitive.

According to Oyekan, statistics reflect that the region has an alarming poverty rate as about 40 per cent or over 400 million people, live on less than $1.90 a day, defined as the extremepoverty line.

He, however, stressed that good data from the SSA region was mandatory as it would enable the

people understand the prevailing challenges and conditions; and can also be used as a yardstick in comparing SSA countries with other countries of the world.

Oyekan further pointed out that for meaningful development to be achieved, SSA countries must implement developmental techniques and methods that are aligned with unique regional needs.

He said: “For instance, behavioural techniques can encourage desirable actions by sub-Saharan individuals and groups, which in turn can help in local development.”

While speaking in terms of people, Oyekan appealed for a push to increasingly widen the participation of African people in the campaigns to solve Africa’s problems.

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP

Chairman, African Initiative for Governance (AIG), Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede (right), handing over the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Manuals to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan during a ceremony held in Abuja...recently

Lagos Targets Conversion of One Million Vehicles to Autogas Peter Uzoho Lagos State Government has outlined plans for the conversion of one million vehicles, representing 25 per cent of the four million vehicles in the state, to Autogas over a four-year period.

The state said the move was in line with the federal government’s commitment to emission reductions through the national Gas Expansion Plan.

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Lagos State, Mr. Olatere Odusote, disclosed this at a recent twoday sensitisation and advocacy workshop on the adoption of

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for industry stakeholders.

The workshop, with the theme: “Stimulating Lagos State Socioeconomic Growth through LPG Adoption,” was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources with the support of the Office of the Vice President, the National LPG Expansion Plan and the German International Development Agency (GIZ).

According to him, “Nigeria can showcase Lagos as its flagship economy in addition to other pilot states. Lagos State has over four million vehicles and our plan is to commence with the conversion of 25 percent (1,000,000 vehicles)

over a four-year period.”

Odusote, explained that the plan will also involve the deployment and roll out of LPG and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centers in partnership with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and the rolling out of Autogas dispenser on the forecourts and standalone Autogas stations across the five divisions of Lagos State.

He stated that the Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation (IOGC)’s retail filling stationsoe in Lagos will act as an enabler for gas--for-transport in Lagos.

He further said the vision was to ensure that each station could supply the different types of fuel-

ing options such as petrol, diesel, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) LPG and CNG to the end user at affordable prices in support of the federal government’s mandate.

He added that the state’s gas-for-domestic scheme focused on the deepening of LPG for cooking, through the conversion of Lagosians from the use of dirty fuels such as charcoal, kerosene and firewood.

Odusote hinted that the IOGC will deploy two LPG cylinder filling plants in the state, with a total capacity of 50MT (40mt in Ikorodu, and 10mt in AmuwoOdofin respectively, in the next two months.

“We envisage having a statewide retail network of strategically located LPG filling plants and a fleet of trucks, offering our customers the opportunity to easily refill their cylinders.

“The IOGC LPG Scheme will eventually result in supporting and promoting the reticulation of all estates in Lagos State,” he explained.

However, for gas-to-power, the commissioner said the goal of the government was to drive gas supply to underserved areas in the state and stimulate demand for gas-powered industries, while also expanding commerce into neighbouring West African countries.

Operator Pleads for Cryptocurrency Regulation Dike Onwuamaeze

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

The Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Paxful, Mr. Ray Youssef, has pledged to cooperate with the government and regulators of Nigeria’s financial system to evolve an innovative regulation of crypto-currency transactions in a manner that would widen financial inclusion, spread

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

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

prosperity and eliminate poverty.

Youssef, who is based in the United States of America, said Nigeria is the world’s number one user of crypto-currency with 1.5 million users that have moved more than $1.5 billion worth of value in crypto-currency transaction, adding that the value has grown by 15 to 20 per cent since the Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN) placed a restriction on the processing of crypto-currency transactions by commercial banks.

He said: “There is amazing opportunities in this continent especially in Nigeria. I will like to meet with the government one day to share my vision and listen to them to understand what their concerns are.

“We will give them the data and the information, show them

what is happening so that we can come together and make an agreement to put a regulation that is innovation friendly that will help the youths to make money.

“We cannot do this with hate and animosity. We are all together in this: the youths, the rich, the poor, everyone is a member. We have to respect each other and work together with each other.

“I understand the central bank put the ban because they saw things moving fast because Nigerians can move things pretty fast when they are motivated.

“So, the CBN is concerned about safety with regard to money laundering and financing terrorism. These are pretty valid questions regulators all over the world, including the United States of America, are asking.”

Andela Announces Global Talent Expansion With roots deep in Africa,global talent network , Andela has announced its plans for the expansion of its engineering talent. The firm, whose aim is targeted at helping companies build remote engineering teams, explained that expanding into new regions allows Andela clients to tap into regional expertise and nuances that can support their international growth.

The Chief Executive Officer of Andela, Jeremy Johnson, in a statement issued, noted that its mission was to connect brilliance with opportunity.

“This expansion has always been part of our long term roadmap, and we are excited that the world is ready for it. When we began inviting developers from across Africa to apply last year, we more than

doubled the number of countries represented. We are already seeing the same effects in new regions, and we’re excited to welcome new talent into our growing community.

The future of work is now, and this expansion continues our march towards bringing us all closer together,” he said.

According to the statement, this global expansion provides

clients with greater diversity, which McKinsey reported to be a major factor in delivering innovation and company growth.

“Andela clients will have more flexibility to build diverse teams across country borders, skill sets, time zones, and cultures. The future of remote work is global, and Andela provides the vital link to talent wherever it is found.

We have a proven track-record

connecting remote engineers with opportunities from businesses across the globe, and is perfectly positioned to support global talent for businesses worldwide,” the statement further said.

Vice President, Engineering , GitHub, Dana Lawson, also reiterated that having a local presence there with amazing talent is super valuable to building a global product.

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Merging for Value Creation Goddy Egene writes that the merger between Chemical and Allied Products and Portland Paints and Products Nigeria Plc is expected to create value for all stakeholders

W

hen the Boards of Directors of Chemical andAllied Products (CAP) Plc and Portland Paints and Products Nigeria (PPPN) Plc last year announced the decision to merge their respective businesses, discerning stakeholders knew it was a very strategic decision that would unlock potential in both firms and create value in the near term.

The companies had explained that CAP would emerge as the resultant entity at the end of the merger process.

According to the companies, their respective boards strongly believe that the proposed merger, which provides a unique opportunity to change the Nigerian paints and coatings landscape, would be attractive and value accretive to shareholders of both companies. They noted that the decision to pursue the merger is driven by the strategic objectives of the boards to drive growth and expansion within the Nigerian and African markets.

“CAP and PPPN play in distinct segments, and the enlarged CAP Plc would have a broader portfolio covering the top-end/premium decorative segment, the mid-market decorative segments as well as the industrial segment (in particular marine and protective coatings).

“We believe that will provide our customers access to a broader product portfolio and a wider range of value options to meet their needs. The combination of CAP and PPPN will create a formidable paints and coatings company that will be strategically positioned across segments as a result of its combined brand portfolio. They explained that the merger will be executed by way of a Scheme of Merger in accordance with Section 711 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

It will involve the transfer of all PPPN’s assets, liabilities and business undertakings including real property and intellectual property rights to CAP Plc.

In consideration for the transfer, CAP offered shareholders of PPPN a choice to receive N2.90 cash every PPPN share held or one new ordinary share of CAP credited as fully-paid up for every eight PPPN shares held. Commenting on the merger, Managing Director of CAP, David Wright, said: “The decision to pursue the proposed merger, is driven by the board’s strategic plan to aggressively grow within the Nigerian and African markets. “We believe that the proposed merger presents a unique opportunity that will benefit all stakeholders, from shareholders to customers as well as the broader economy.

“I am excited by the prospect of an enlarged company with a broader decorative paint portfolio covering the premium, mid-market and affordable segments and the inclusion of marine and protective coatings, all of which will benefit our customers and shareholders.”

According to him, CAP would become the largest player in the Nigerian paints market by market share which is estimated at 14.9 per cent and this is due to the fact that the Portland Paints’ Sandtex brand provides access to the large, untapped, high volume “mid-market and value for money” segment of the decorative paint market.

“The enlarged company will have a broader decorative paint portfolio covering premium, midmarket and value for money segments to the benefit of our customers.

“Furthermore, CAP is also expected to benefit from enhanced distribution capabilities in addition to economies of scale and operational efficiencies.

CAP has 73 stores across 31 states, whilst PPPN has 14 stores across nine states. The combined entity will have 88 stores across 32 states.

“We are quite confident that PPPN is the right partner for CAP Plc and that the merger would create value for all stakeholders of the merging entities,” he added.

Also speaking, MD/CEO of PPPN, Mrs. Bolarin

Okunowo, said: “In recent months, the board and management of PPPN have evaluated various strategic options with a view to positioning our company to capture emerging growth opportunities.

“CAP business is complementary to ours, and both companies will be better able to serve our respective customers by coming together. I believe the combination of PPPN and CAP Plc will yield significant benefits for all of our stakeholders.”

According to her, PPPN holds a 35-year record of manufacturing and selling industrial, marine, decorative and protective paints for the construction and oil and gas industries in Nigeria, pointing out that the company’s flagship, Sandtex, is renowned for its exceptional quality for residential commercial and industrial buildings.

She said the merger would create opportunities for shareholders and stakeholders on both sides as the two companies have complementary synergies that would lead to greater returns. Okunowo noted that the business combination would lead to an enlarged and a formidable paints and coatings company with larger brand portfolio including Dulux, Sandtex, Caplux and Hempel with the broadest distribution channels and retail footprint in Nigeria.

Given the value proposition in the merger, the shareholders two months ago approved the merger at separates court-ordered meeting (COM) in Lagos. CAP Plc is a consistent dividend payer and shareholders are optimistic that the enlarged company would not only maintain the regular dividend payment but would also increase the payout as the merger yield the expected fruits. For the year ended December 30, 2020, CAP Plc recommended a dividend of 210 kobo per share. Just like many companies that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, CAP Plc had its own share of the negative impact. However, compared to losses posted by some companies, CAP Plc ended 2020 with lower profit as a result of the headwinds.

The company ended the year with a revenue of N8.7 billion, indicating an increase of 3.9 per cent compared to N8.4 billion recorded in 2019. Selling and marketing expenses fell 3.5 per cent from N584 million to N564 million, while administrative expenses rose 19.7 per cent to N1.636 billion.

Gross profit declined 5.5 per cent to N3.755 billion from N3.973 billion decline due to input cost pressures on account of currency devaluation and supply chain disruptions. Earnings interest and tax(EBIT) fell from N2.120 billion to N1.645 billion due to the decline in gross profit and investments in talent to strengthen the work force and drive profitable growth.

Profit before tax stood at N1.896 billion in 2020, compared to N2.546 billion in 2019, while profit after tax (PAT) printed at N1.289 billion as against N1.742 billion in 2019. Explaining the performance, Wright, said: “CAP Plc recorded modest top-line growth last year despite the COVID-19 lockdown in the second quarter of 2020 and protests in the fourth quarter of 2020, effectively losing seven weeks of sales. We are encouraged by the growth in revenue which has been solely driven by underlying volume growth in line with our strategy. Alongside the rest of the world, we experienced supply chain disruptions which impacted our raw material sourcing and resulted in input costs pressures.

We have embarked on initiatives focused on mitigating these disruptions and expect to see positive results in 2021.”

Although CAP Plc was said to have experienced supply chain disruptions which impacted its raw material sourcing and resulted in input costs pressures, the company has put strategies in place to mitigate these disruptions. Stakeholders are optimistic that CAP Plc would be a leader in the Nigerian paints industry that has brighter future as efforts are being made to bridge the infrastructural gap and narrow the housing deficit.

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Omogbenigun: Nigeria’s Unbanked Gap Still Huge The Group Head, Digital Banking, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Dipo Omogbenigun, in this interview says OnePay for Business, a contactless, cashless and cardless payment product, will make payments to merchants by customers to be more hygienic, Covid-19 compliant and faster. Dike Onwuamaeze brings the excerpts: Can you tell us about OnePay for Business and why it was introduced?

OnePay for Business is a contactless, cardless, cashless payment product. It is designed to help merchants or small business owners to receive money digitally from their customers. It was introduced because traditional payment methods such as cash and POS have not proven hygienic and Covid-19 compliant. We came up with a product that is Covid-19 compliant such that customers do not need to touch a POS or somebody else’s card that others have touched. With cash, you cannot know who has held it and the kind of places it has been to before it got to you. So, we wanted something cardless, cashless and contactless, and we came up with OnePay for Business.

How is it different from OneBank and a host of other digital payment solutions for merchants and customers launched recently?

OneBank is designed to help customers make payments to family and friends and also do other things like airtime purchases or bill payments, and many other things. However, OnePay for Business is the acceptance side of OneBank. The POS is there, but it needs a card to work with. Without a card, merchants would not be able to accept payment with a POS. What we have done with Onepay for business is to convert the merchant’s phone into a POS. This is why when you log in to the app, you will see a message that says, ‘Now your phone is your POS.’ We try to make sure that OnePay or OneBank customers or GoMoney customers can go to a merchant location and use OneBank or OnePay or any of those platforms to make payment at a merchant store using OnePay for Business. So OnePay for Business is the acceptance side, while OneBank, OnePay and GoMoney represent the issuance side. Think of OneBank as the card, and think of OnePay for Business as a POS. I want to add that OnePay for Business will also have an inventory module. The inventory module helps small businesses to keep stock of their products such that once they are running low, the app will notify them and request a replenishment of supplies from suppliers. OnePay for Business is also integrated with the suppliers, and we will now be able to offer suppliers’ credit to the merchants so that we will pay the suppliers, and then the merchant pays us in instalments.

So this implies that a customer intending to use the solution does not have to download a new mobile app to conduct other transactions.

Can you confirm that, please?

No, you do not have to download a new mobile

Omogbenigun app because all the features you need to make payment at the merchant location have already been embodied on OnePay, OneBank and GoMoney.

It means that if you have GoMoney, OneBank or OnePay, you can go to any merchant that has OnePay for Business and probably scan a QR code, and money will leave your OneBank account and go into the merchant account with Sterling Bank.

How would you explain QR codes to those who have no idea what they are?

One of the things that have happened to us over the past year is that COVID has become the chief innovation officer for most businesses. Many businesses have started looking at other ways to digitise their processes. And one of the things I have seen around is the use of QR codes in many places. Like in some restaurants in Lagos, you will find a QR code placed on tables for you to order the food instead of talking directly to the waiter. So, it means that businesses have started looking at QR code functionality. In response to your question, I will tell an Adamu that a QR code is a quick response code it is a machine scannable image that can be read using a smartphone camera and once that is done; the code is translated into something that human beings can understand and use for financial transactions. It is like scanning a bar code and using that information to confirm what a product is. It is a safe and easy platform for them to use to receive payment, and it is instant.

You spoke about QR codes being safe for both customers and merchants alike, but QR codes can also expose users to malware. Malicious QRs can be generated and displayed for an unsuspecting user to scan to give hackers access to their phones?

Yes, that is very valid. A QR code will encrypt that information into all the boxes and dots that you see. What happens is that when you scan a QR code, it points you to either a website or a phishing site. Customers need to know the QR code they are scanning. Now, on OnePay for Business, the QR code points directly to the merchant’s QR platform. Once you scan it, it takes you to the merchant’s QR platform, and once you get there, it will read the transaction information, and once you authorise the transaction, the money will move from your account to the merchant’s account. That is how we have built it, and it complies with industry payment standards PCI-DSS and all the other security protocols required for this type of payment product. Users should not scan any QR code that they do not know the source, but most of the time, a QR code will tell you that it is linking to something. From there, you can take an informed decision to move forward. Today, some people create QR codes to link their complimentary cards to their profiles to access their information by scanning that QR code quickly. Some people put QR code on newspapers, and if you scan it, you will get information about the company and what their products and services are, and they link it with their websites. QR codes can be used for multiple cases, and I know that fraudsters and hackers will also try to use the QR code to do so many things, but you must launch OneBank or OnePay to scan the OnePay for Business QR code with the camera of your phone. It is encrypted and secured on both sides.

What type of QR Codes are deployed on OnePay for Business? Are they entirely dependent on mobile network connectivity?

We have two variants of the QR codes that we can issue to merchants. We have the static QR code and the dynamic QR code. The static QR code is a QR code that the merchant can print and place in the office or their store and even probably wear as part of their ID card. When a customer comes into the store, the customer can scan the QR code and pay for goods and services at the merchant location. The dynamic QR code is what happens on the OnePay for Business where, when you want to make a payment of N100, for instance,

the merchant will dial N100 on his phone using the OnePay for Business app, and the dynamic QR code will be displayed for you as the customer.

You, as the customer, will need to launch OneBank and search for the QR payment option, scan that QR code and money moves from your account into the merchant account. If the network at the location is weak, you can use the Bluetooth payment option. Once connected, details of the transaction will show on the merchant side once you authorise the transaction, and money will move from your account into the merchant’s account via Bluetooth.

This is a new payment method. I am not sure many banks have it in Nigeria yet, but that is one of the many features we have on OnePay for Business. We are also introducing pay with transfer. We know that transfers are still being done, but the problem with transfers today is that, when you transfer in a merchant scenario, what typically happens is that the salesgirl will need to alert the manager or the owner of the store who may not be in the store to confirm the payment and it is only after payment confirmation has happened that the product will be released to you. OnePay for Business solves that problem because, once you pay into that account number, the salesgirl gets a notification on the app instantly and can decide to release the product to you. At the same time, the business owner is also able to get an online notification of that transaction immediately.

Beyond receiving and making payments, how does this solution benefit merchants, especially small businesses?

The primary reason why many merchants or SMEs have not been able to access loans is that the banks do not have visibility into their collections.

They do not have visibility to the turnover they do majorly because their transactions are cash-based.

A lot of SMEs’ customers as well do not have POS terminals. And for a bank, you want to look at the ability of that business to repay for the facility you want to give out. What OnePay for Business does is that it allows us as a bank to see how much money is coming through that business and make an informed decision. In fact, for OnePay for Business customers, once you have signed up and used it for a couple of weeks, we will be able to track your transactions, and we will be able to offer you a loan that would be disbursed into your account in a few minutes. That is one of the benefits of getting OnePay for Business.

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

Olaleru: We’re Focused on Providing Solutions to Clients The Chief Executive Officer, RMB Nigeria Stockbrokers Limited, Layi Olaleru, in this interview speaks about the operations of the firm in Nigeria. Oluchi Chibuzor provides the excerpts: Can you give us an overview of the relationship between FirstRand and RMB Nigeria Stockbrokers?

RMB Nigeria Stockbrokers is a subsidiary of the FirstRand Group, the largest listed Financial Services Group (by market capitalisation) in Africa. FirstRand established the business in Nigeria in 2013, through a merchant bank, RMB Nigeria. To further its longterm vision of being an end-to-end financial services provider, FirstRand then expanded operations into a brokerage business in 2017. Currently, the brokerage business provides a unique platform for our domestic and foreign institutional fund managers to invest in Nigerian equities and achieve their desired fund objectives. RMB Nigeria Stockbrokers offers services to both domestic and international investors. Our clients include pension fund administrators, asset managers, insurance companies, offshore funds investing in frontier, emerging and sub-Saharan Africa markets, and sovereign funds. Our services include efficient execution of trades, post-trade services, market insights and research.

How will you describe the outlook for Nigeria’s equities market in 2021?

The global economy is projected to grow by 5.5 per cent in 2021 on the back of the successful rollout

Olaleru of COVID-19 vaccines, additional fiscal stimulus support coming from economies like the US and Japan, continued observation of social distancing, reopening of businesses and increased consumer demand. The Nigerian economy is also projected to return a positive growth of 1.5 per cent during the same period. Going by the strength of the tailwinds, we remain overweight on equities, largely due to a dearth of alternative investment assets with returns likely to be superior to inflation (currently at 17.33%) and the projected recovery of the global economy.

Less compelling valuations and our meagre GDP growth expectation taper our 2021 base case ASI returns expectations to about 12 per cent.

How would you rate the Nigerian equities market compared to mature, emerging, and other frontier markets?

The Nigerian equity market is quite different from other frontier markets particularly in the African continent due to its advanced trading platforms and products, and market capitalisation. In addition, the relatively low equity market capitalisation to GDP of about 10 per cent indicates significant headroom for growth and development. The market could easily develop into the leading frontier market with additional trade liberalisation efforts and more alternate investment instruments such as derivatives and commodities.

What makes RMBNS distinct from other stockbrokers in the market?

Our desire to offer excellent investment advisory services, best execution and quality research leveraging the global reach of the RMB Morgan Stanley joint venture and the FirstRand Group makes us stand out as a broker of choice. RMB has successfully built a world-class stockbroking franchise in South Africa via a joint venture partnership with partner

Morgan Stanley. RMB Morgan Stanley has consistently maintained its top ranking on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in the last few years, by being strategically focused on best execution, strong access to corporates, an innovative product offering and active participation in primary market deals.

Drawing on lessons learnt, including best practices, RMB Nigeria Stockbrokers has a unique advantage to and is able to compete favourably. We are able to harness the compelling RMB Morgan Stanley experiences and strengths and bring it to bear in our innovative product offerings and services in the Nigerian market.

What is your goal for RMB Nigeria Stockbroking over the next five years?

Our goal is to build a leading stockbroking firm that will provide investors (domestic and international) best in class trade execution services, equity sales distribution, strong corporate access, distribution of primary market products and a highly rated Sub-Saharan Africa research offering. RMB Nigeria Stockbrokers prides itself on having an experienced and top performing team focused on providing solutions to our clients. Their work is underpinned by a sound knowledge of the Nigerian and African equities markets.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

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Brunner: Real Estate Investment is Hedge against Inflation Risk Angel Brunner is the CEO and Founder of EB5 Capital, an $800 million commercial real estate firm with nearly 30 projects across the United States. The firm has attracted foreign investors from 70 countries around the world, including Nigeria. In this interview, she speaks about various immigration and investment opportunities EB5 Capital offers Nigerians. Hamid Ayodeji brings the excerpts:

F

or those who have not come across EB5 Capital, could you please describe the firm and its services?

For many years I worked in finance in Washington, D.C., and I noticed that many inner-city neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., which are largely populated by the Black community, were not being rebuilt due to the absence of institutional financing. When I discovered that the EB-5 Investor Immigrant Program was a vehicle to bring development and employment to many of these communities, I decided to start EB5 Capital. Today, more than a decade later, we have stayed true to our mission and have financed $800 million in diverse commercial real estate projects across the United States through the investment of nearly 1,600 foreign families from 70 countries, including Nigeria and other African countries.

At its essence, EB5 Capital is a commercial real estate investment firm in Washington, DC that provides qualified investors from around the world with opportunities to invest in commercial real estate, obtain the U.S. permanent residency (Green Cards), as well as secondary passports, such as the Grenada Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program.

Considering some of the challenges that Black people face in America, why should an African investor invest in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program?

There is no country in the world without its challenges; certainly, we in the United States

fully arrive.

Brunner have ours. I often try to remind those who ask, that the US is a relatively young nation and is facing the growing pains of a country still working through the collateral damage of the “original sin” of chattel slavery. Our youth combined with our one-of-one economy, educational opportunities, and diversity of people gives me hope that we will overcome these challenges. They are also the very reasons why so many of our current and past clients still see the promise in the idea of the American Dream, even if we have yet to

How can prospective clients from Nigeria specifically benefit from investing in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program and Grenada Citizenship by Investment (CBI)?

Nigerian families who desire to relocate to the United States permanently can invest the required $900,000 investment amount and apply to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. Our team has noticed that the End SARS movement and COVID-19 pandemic has increased interest from Nigerian citizens considering foreign residency programs because of a desire to have a backup plan for their families. With the EB-5 visa, Nigerians can live and work anywhere in the US and qualify for lower tuition fees at some of the world’s best colleges and universities. For entrepreneurs, there are attractive business opportunities in the US, and of course, EB-5 also permits the investor to apply for US citizenship after five years. We are proud to have assisted numerous Nigerians in their efforts to relocate to the US through the EB-5 program. If EB-5 is not the right fit, but there is still a desire for a second passport, the Grenada CBI program is a less expensive alternative to EB-5. Starting at $150,000, the Grenada CBI provides applicants with a strong passport with visa-free travel to most of the world, including China. The processing time for Grenada citizenship is also fairly quick within three to four months. One of the most important reasons motivating Nigerian citizens to invest in the Grenadian passport is because Grenadian citizens have access to the E-2 Investor Treaty Visa, which gives them easy access to live and work in the United States.

What if someone aims to invest in real

estate, but is not necessarily interested in US permanent residency or Grenadian citizenship?

Our team manages a private equity real estate fund, which is separate from our immigration offerings. Nigerians who are looking to diversify their assets and seek access to exclusive offerings in the US, while making market-rate returns, may be eligible for our private equity platform.

Our fund structure can accommodate investors seeking to make a large investment or those who wish to start at the required $100,000 minimum.

With the devaluation of the naira, investing in US real estate, especially multi-family apartments which historically perform well, is a method to hedge against inflation risk, protect, and grow capital.

Traditionally many Nigerians who invest in the Caribbean go through the St. Kitts program. How is the Grenada CBI different from St. Kitts?

Grenada is the only Caribbean country with a CBI program whose citizens are eligible to apply for the US E-2 visa. As mentioned earlier, the E-2 visa allows an investor to live and do business in the US and can generally be obtained within 3-4 months. The E-2 visa has an unlimited number of extensions and may be converted to an EB-5 Green Card over time. Grenada also offers visa free travel to China. We know St. Kitts traditionally is more popular in Nigeria, but the Grenada CBI program is a more complete package and just has less exposure in Nigeria.

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

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Enhancing Safety of Nigerian Waterways Peter Uzoho The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria (SHIN) Limited have entered into strategic alliance on the construction of barges for the waterways authority.

This strategic alliance is part of NIWA’s efforts to rid the Nigerian waterways of illegal operators; reduce accidents and also eliminate unlicensed jetties and unseaworthy water crafts along the brown waters.

NIWA’s inter-agency committee had recently clamped down on six unseaworthy barges operating illegally within the Lagos inland waterways, while three illegal jetties were sealed.

This followed the increasing reports of abuses of process in the operation of barges and private jetties.

The inter-agency committee comprises representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Nigerian Maritime Administration Agency (NIMASA); NIWA and the Lagos State Inland Waterways Authority (LASWA). NIWA is also set to build and own barges for inland waterways activities in Nigeria.

Maritime experts believe this strategic alliance with SHIN is a positive development that would improve the safety of the waterways and eliminate all forms of illegalities in the operations of jetties and barges.

NIWA’s decision to partner SHIN will encourage other foreign investors to make investments in Nigeria.

The federal government and its agencies should constantly take deliberate actions to demonstrate that Nigeria is a good destination for investments by protecting foreign investors against predators, masquerading as local investors.

These so-called local investors connive with some ministries and agencies of the government to sabotage efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FIDs).

The Nigerian government should be wary of these supposedly local investors whose investments are only on the pages of the newspapers.

Other ministries and agencies in the maritime sector, particularly, the Ministry of Transport should emulate the NPA and NIWA to protect the muchneeded foreign investors by giving them incentives, waivers, leases, assurances and guarantees that will secure their investments. Due to their unfamiliarity with the political environment in their areas of operations, foreign investors need government’s protection; they need assurances and guarantees that their investments are safe. Commenting on the alliance, a representative of SHIN said: “This strategic alliance is a revalidation of the faith the agencies of the Nigerian government have in SHIN, which

aligns with our long-term commitment to Nigeria.

“Total safety, cost control and quality management will remain our priority. We will also improve on the local content standard and retain our position as local content champion.”

In its 10 years of operation in Nigeria, SHIN has contributed significantly to the Nigerian economy, particularly in the development of local manpower, job creation and increasing the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) The company demonstrated its undisputed global leadership position in shipbuilding and ultra-deep offshore projects when it built the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel designed to hold 2.3 million barrels of oil for Nigeria’s Egina deep water project developed by the French oil giant, Total. Weighing close to 220,000 metric tonnes and measuring 330 metres long by 60 metres wide, the Egina FPSO is the largest ever built by Total Group worldwide. Egina oil field, which is producing 200,000 barrels of oil per day, scored first on many fronts because of SHIN’s contribution in the project.

SHIN used the Egina FPSO to set a new record in Nigerian content development when it locally fabricated and integrated six modules out of the 18 modules in the facility.

The FPSO berthed at the SHI-MCI yard in Lagos, and that was the first of its kind to be berthed at quayside in Nigeria.

SHIN’s investments in the fabrication and integration yard in Lagos transformed Nigeria into an FPSO hub in Africa. In recognition of the huge investments SHIN made on the 11.2426 hectares of land that hosts the SHI-MCI yard, the NPA had in November 2019 leased the land to the global shipbuilding giant.

The global shipbuilding giant is also legally operating a jetty in the zone.

NPA’s support was part of the bold reforms initiated by its Managing Director, Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman to restore foreign investors’ confidence in the country in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to attract foreign investments to create jobs, increase Nigeria’s GDP and boost the economy.

Recognising that ultra-deep water projects require specific expertise, which only few companies such as SHIN could offer, NIWA is set to take advantage of SHIN’s position as the world leader in shipbuilding and construction of barges.

This strategic alliance with NIWA will no doubt boost the contributions of SHIN to the Nigerian economy and also encourage more foreign investors to make investments in Nigeria.

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Akwa Ibom’s Investment in Human Capital Ndifreke Essien In May, 2018, during a visit to Nigeria, Bill Gates, one of the world’s richest men had advised the federal government that the best form of empowerment was not the financial handouts it gives citizens. He had said the best, long-term and rewarding empowerment is investment in human capital through provision of quality education and healthcare.

In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel did not wait for Mr. Gates’ advice. Apart from natural resources with which the state is hugely endowed, it is also blessed with abundant human resource waiting to be harnessed for optimal use.

With the vision to make the state Nigeria’s industrial hub, the governor demonstrated at the inception of his administration an understanding of the importance of human capital in the development of a nation by investing in education and provision of healthcare, in order to have an educated and healthy workforce.

Today, with a little over two years remaining of his eight-year tenure, there is no let-up in the effort by his administration to educate, train and equip the youth of the state to be employable not only in the state’s emerging private sector, but to be internationally marketable as well.

This is part of the eight-point Completion Agenda of the second term administration of the governor.

The latest of the many training and empowerment programmes of the government is the Ibom 3000 Project, for which registration has since commenced in the 31 local government areas of the state.

The programme is designed to train 3000 youths in key areas such as Information Communication Technology (ICT), Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Agriculture, Oil and Gas, as well as Business Education. The Ibom 3000 Project is in addition to over 3, 000 youths the government has trained in ICT, to make them fit into a global economic environment that is being designed by technology.

The government has carried out extensive reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure such as classroom, library and hostel blocks, as well as provision of science and laboratory equipment in secondary schools throughout the state. This is in addition to taking the burden of running 17 secondary schools off religious organizations, in a bid to give all schools in the state access to adequate funding and equipment which it is providing.

The government goes beyond reconstruction, rehabilitation and equipment of schools to take up the responsibility of paying the WASSCE and NABTEB fees for all final year students in public secondary and technical schools, respectively. The aim is to ensure no child in school misses out on the chance of getting quality education.

It mustn’t be forgotten that the government has a policy of free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary school levels for all children of school age resident in the state, irrespective of whether or not they are Akwa Ibom indigenes.

Tertiary institutions like the Akwa Ibom State University at Mkpat Enin, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic at Ikot Osurua and the University of Uyo have also benefitted from the government’s efforts at investing in highly educated and trained man power the state needs for its emerging status as an industrial hub.

Investment in human capital cannot be complete without having in place a healthcare delivery system that guarantees accessibility and affordability of quality healthcare by all citizens.

Emmanuel This explains the government’s huge investment in health infrastructure through rehabilitation and remodeling of health facilities in hospitals across the state.

This exercise has seen notable general hospitals like St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, Uyo; Immanuel Hospital, Eket; Iquita, Oron, Etinan and Ikot Okoro not just wearing a new look in terms of reconstruction and

rehabilitation of wards and various structures, but also being equipped with modern facilities to be able to provide healthcare that meets international standards. Many of the hospitals were moribund when Governor Emmanuel assumed office in 2015. The transformation they have undergone bears testimony to the government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare to the people of the state.

The focus on human capital development is a deliberate and holistic approach by the government to ensure the state has the required manpower to drive the industrial revolution that has already commenced with the establishment of more than 16 industries in the unprecedented period of five years. It is a reflection of Governor Emmanuel’s ability to see beyond the present – to create a rich pool of well-trained manpower that would make it unnecessary to look outside the state for expertise to run its various industrial projects, now and in the future.

Since charity must begin at home, it is natural the youth of the state must be the first beneficiaries of the influx of investments that are coming into the state, through employment in all the cadres in the industrial establishments that are being set up. It shouldn’t be the case of the proverbial carpenter who makes doors for others and lives in a house

without doors because he can’t afford them (A popular proverb in Akwa Ibom).

This, however, is not to suggest that indigenes of the state would have vacancies created for them in industrial establishments just on the basis of being ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ of the soil, regardless of whether or not they are qualified. Coming from the private sector where emphasis is on excellence, Governor Emmanuel is sparing no cost and effort to ensure the youths of the state are equipped to participate actively in building the industrial hub of his dream.

A good number of the state’s indigenes is already benefiting from the industries that are currently operating in the state, like the Jubilee Syringe manufacturing Company Limited, Electric Metering Solutions Company, Kings Flour Mills and numerous others that have collectively provided direct and indirect employment to thousands of them.

These efforts are impacting positively on the lives of thousands of people. And as the state’s private sector-driven economy expands to create more jobs and benefit more families, there is going to be corresponding improvement in the standard of living of the people. t /EJGSFLF &TTJFO XSPUF JO GSPN "CVKB

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THISDAY, WEDNESDAY APRIL 28,2021

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IMAGES

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Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: Tega Awaritoma, Esq., Florence Abhulimen Okundaye, Esq. ,Gladys Odidi,Esq., Paula Agbale, Esq. (NBA Benin Vice Chair), Nosa EDO-OSAGIE, Esq., Felicia Otaigbe, Esq., Ose Akahon,Esq., and Efe Osamede, Esq. during the valedictory court session in honour of late Irene Ododo Odaro Esq. at the state High Court Benin City...recently

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo; Head, United Kingdom Prosperity Fund, Nigeria Office, Miss Martha Bostock; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. (Mrs) Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Team Lead, Future Cities of Nigeria, Mr Kayode Khalidson, after submission of Abeokuta Urban Transport Policy by the United Kingdom financed Future Cities of Nigeria at Governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta...recently

L-R: Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor and Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, during the inspection of the graduants at the passing out parade of Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) Batch 30 and Special Duty Course 20 in Onne, Port Harcourt, Rivers State...recently

L-R: Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri and Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy, Kathleen FitzGibbon, during a meeting in Abuja...recently

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Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and Federal Commissioner representing Ogun State at the FCC, Hon Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, during the commissioning of the 320-Seater Computer Based Test (CBT) Centre in Ogun West at the GEM School in Owode-Yewa, Ogun State...recently

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; Speaker House of Reps, RT Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and the House Majority Leader, Hon Alhassan Doguwa, at a closed door meeting in State House Abuja...recently

L-R: Vice President/ Chairman, Nigerian British Golf Tournament, Mr. Uwamai Igein; President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce, (NBCC), Mr kayode Falowo; MD/ CEO Greenwich Merchant Bank, Mr. Bayo Rotimi; and DG, NBCC, Madam Ayomide Olajide, during the golf tournament at Ikoyi Golf club...recently PHOTO: ABAYOMI AKINYELE

L-R: Ekiti State Governor/Guest Lecturer, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Rector, The Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna, Fr. Habila Daboh; at the Convocation lecture “Church, Politics and Future Elections” delivered by Gov Fayemi at the Seminary, in Kafanchan, Kaduna State...recently

THISDAY, WEDNESDAY APRIL 28,2021

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EDUCATION Giving Edo Education its Pride of Place Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe is the Chairperson, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board. She explained to some journalists in the state, including Funmi Ogundare the various steps the current administration has taken to give education its pride of place through its Basic Education Sector Transformation initiative as it enters its third year, among other issues. Excerpts:

Y

our board has expanded the Edo State Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo BEST) initiative to the junior secondary school level, three years on, how equipped are your teachers to kick-start the initiative?

As you are aware, basic education extends to junior secondary school, we are trying to put in place the necessary tools that will make us to roll it out. In line with that, we have the Edo Supporting Teachers to Achieve Result (STAR) teacher recruitment programme. We had over 38,000 applicants, of this number, 11,000 were shortlisted for a computer-based test. From those that did the test, we would do a further review so that we can select the best 3,000 graduate teachers that will be hired amongst them. By the end of May, we ought to have shortlisted. We have started a further work on the curriculum for junior secondary school. Our executive governor has given us a marching order to educate students that have the requisite skills. Skills acqusition on technical and vocational education are now a strong components of our basic 7, 8 and 9 system in Edo State. We are ready to expand. We would have done that by now, but the COVID-19 held us back. We have to train these teachers on what to do before we take them into the classroom and introduce the Edo Best programme. So until we were able to train the teachers, we can’t start the programme in anyway.

What is your board doing to ensure a successful expansion?

We want to start at the initial stage which is JS one. We started the pilot phase of Edo BEST with the primary school, although it was at a very short term but we expanded quickly.

So for junior secondary, we want to start from JS one, understand the rudimentary of junior secondary school, what the issues are and one of the lessons we have learnt from the current work we are doing is that how you plan and audition it is not always how it would work or play out in real life. There are always factors you don’t plan for. No matter the plan, in this environment that is so dynamic, there is so much happening. External factors also impact on the ability of our pupils to learn. In our own case, we discover that even while we were trying to ensure quality education, we also needed to tackle in some ways the issues of poverty.

A child that is ill or hungry will not be able to learn no matter how well trained the teachers are and five star environment created. So we are still tackling some of those extraneous issues which are still impacting learning negatively.

How will your board ensure the sustainance of the Edo Best initiatives?

To ensure the sustainability of what we are doing now, it is really about having a system in place that manages education which is part of the work we are doing now under the framework of the governor’s civil and public transformation programme. Instead of just having people running round saying they work here, everybody must have a role and job description, key performance indicators and work plan. Our organisational work plan for this year was derived from starting with the individuals. As a learning and development officer, what are your key targets for this year?

How does that link to your unit, departmental and organisational targets? So we believe that when we start putting in place all of these processes and procedures; and having proper documentation and utilising technology as well, we believe that it becomes part of the system and people will continue to do it.

What effort is your board making to ensure the delivery of quality teaching in Edo schools?

What we are doing in those schools is to ensure that our quality assurance officers are visiting to see what is happening. So because of that, every teacher knows that there are no

Dr. Oviawe sacred cows no matter who you are. If you do the wrong thing, you are out. So everybody is sitting up now. The only difference between our analogue and digitals is that the analogue schools are not using the scripted lessons that we are using now. In terms of other practices, on their own, the analogue teachers met with their colleagues who have gone through training to also get trained and they are already doing the same thing in their classrooms with the character board, songs and energisers.

Are you working with partners to support special needs schools in the state?

In the last three years, we have focused on the normal school, but in the next few months, we are going to be directing our attention to strengthening our special needs schools and ensuring that the special pupils are getting the requisite education and skills training that they need to live independent lives. We have started the work of testing our pupils. We have a couple of NGOs that will come and do test, so when they come to our schools for intervention, we tell them that rather than distribute biscuits, they should ask us what we want and we will in turn ask the schools what they want.

In doing these and streamlining, we found out that we are now able to give the support that really makes sense. We are still in need of a lot more support. Most of what we are doing now is the state government’s effort and the federal through UBEC infrastructure. But majorly, we don’t have any international development partner.

We are hoping that more and more people will get to see what we are doing. Already, we have gotten delegations from Rwanda and Sierra Leone, they have come to understudy what we are doing and Lagos, Ekiti has also come and we are hoping that more states and countries are going to come. Of all that have come, Rwanda is about to start a version of our programme. Lagos has started with the EkoExcel. So I think for us, we have a lot to share in terms of our experiences so far. We are a large ecosystem with over 12,000 teachers, over 300,000 pupils and over 700 non-teaching staff.

In basic education, we are three or four times the size of the civil service in Edo State. So if you can reform us, you can reform anybody.

What is the state’s intervention for children who have visual impairment?

Under the inclusive education of the National Policy on Education, everybody is supposed to go to the same school irrespective of their impairment, but we are not there yet. We have some regular kids that are going to speacial schools. We feel that we have to go back and look at the kind of interventions they will need. What kind of specific training we have to give to the teachers so that they are not just in class and nothing is happening. We have special schools across the state, but for now, we want to strengthen the ones that we have and ensure that they are actually teaching. Part of that work also requires massive sensitisation because we found out that a lot of parents that have special needs children are still not taking them to school, particularly those of lower economic status. The resources are not there. So we want to destigmatise the stigma around special needs children and find the necessary support for them.

Before the introduction of Edo BEST, how would you describe the state of education in the state?

For several decades, the state of education in Edo State was deplorable. It got to a point that teachers will not come to school, and if they came, they were either coming to school to sell or giving the children chores to do. So there was really nothing going on. In fact one of the reasons we decided to scale very quickly was because when we started Edo BEST in our pilot schools, we realised that in schools where we didn’t have the initiative, nothing was going on. I remembered a particular incident when I went with some of my staff for monitoring. We had two teachers in the same classroom, teaching less than 25 children in the classroom. They were jisting. As soon as they sighted me, they quickly told the pupils

A lot of parents that have special needs children, are still not taking them to school, particularly those of lower economic status. The resources are not there. So we want to destigmatise the stigma around special needs children and find the necessary support for them

to bring out their textbooks. So whether the pupils know how to read or not, the teacher does not care, sometimes they will ask the pupils to put their heads on the desk and sleep. So the pupils brought out their textbooks while I stood outside the classroom. I asked them the subjects they were supposed to be teaching, and at that point, one of them brought out a marker because they have a white board in the classroom. This was supposed to be the third week of resumption and she was just breaking the seal on the marker. I was able to deduce that for the last four weeks, she had not taught. There were so many instances of such. We realised that we had to instantly find the resources to scale. The other thing we did as part of the Edo BEST programme, was to abolish corporal punishment and replace it with discipline. So initially, people complained that if we spare the rod, we will spoil the child, but we said no. There is a distinct difference between corporal punishment and discipline. When a child comes to school late in the morning, you don’t ask them why they are late, you just start flogging them, what message are you sending to that child? If these children go through that regime of violence, by the time they get to junior secondary school, the canning doesn’t have any effect anymore. In search of love and affection, they will join a cult and start terrorising the teachers who used to terrorise them. So we said no more corporal punishment, but discipline.

When a child does certain things, these are the various behaviour modification techniques that they need to use. We introduced the reward system. In the past, it used to be that it was the problematic children that will get the attention of the teacher, but now it is the ones that are doing well. We introduced songs, energisers and cheers so that the child can feel important.

We introduced the character board and found out that even parents wanted to be part of it.

When we had our open day, the parents will come and see their children and we will let them know about the character board that if they come to school early, their names will be on the board. So they now come early for open day because they want their names on the board.

How many primary schools are there in Edo State and what is the percentage of out-of-school children?

We have about 1,046 primary schools and about 305 junior secondary schools. Based on the data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), I think we have about 114,000 children out of school in Edo State.

How has the state performed in terms of UBEC counterpart funding?

We have performed very well. We just have two years to access it and COVID-19 pandemic really slowed us down and at a point nothing was happening and nobody was doing anything.

We are slowly picking up now and by next year, we would have cleared all our counterpart funding. When Obaseki came in, Edo was able to clear to the first quarter of 2014, but now he has cleared up to 2020.

Has Edo State keyed into the national feeding programme, what level is it now in the state and how has the feedback been in terms of enrolment?

In Edo, the governor decided to do the national feeding programme for pupils from primary one to six. These are children, some have food and some don’t have. So how do you explain it? The first set of schools that started the feeding programme witnessed an enrolment spike, even pupils were now going to where they were feeding them which necessitated us to quickly expand the programme. In Edo, we have the least number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. So that is a direct result of the effort of the governor in basic education reform. Even though we are the least, we are not resting on our oars, we are devising different ways to bring back the ones that are out of school.

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EDUCATION

COREN Reiterates CONUA Kicks against Remittance of Members’ Need for Work-oriented Dues to ASUU Curriculum Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

James Sowole in Akure The Council for Registration of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), has reiterated the need to ensure that all students are equipped with the knowledge, competence and qualities needed to be successful after school.

The Registrar/Chief Executive of COREN, Professor Joseph Odigure, who made this known recently while delivering the 10th convocation lecture of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State titled ‘The Reality of University Education Objectives: Post Convocation Life’, said schools should be structured and operated so that those outcomes can be achieved and maximised for all students.

According to him, the traditional education system of yesterday has outlived its usefulness because it is teacheroriented and lecture-based, curriculum centred and formal in transmitting information from.the teacher to the student.

“Knowledge and skills learnt are not always coupled to a specific outcome, so the learning takes place in a vacuum.

“More attention is put on what is taught rather than what student learnt. Students are given grades and ranking, comparing each other not on skills, but examinations. The students therefore become exam oriented or Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) driven.

Graduates are not completely

prepared for the work life.

“The lack of emphasis on soft skills needed in jobs like the communication skills, interpersonal skills, analytical skills, working attitude and many more, makes it very difficult for graduates to fit into the working environment.”

Odigure, who was confered with Honourary Doctoral degree of the institution, said success at institution level is of limited benefit, unless learners are equipped to transfer academic success to life in a complex, challenging, high technology future.

According to him, “today’s job environment requires specific learning outcomes. All learning activities must be towards, not what the teacher is going to teach, but what the outcome of that teaching should be, what the learner is supposed to do and at what standard.

“We need complete restructuring of curriculum, assessment and reporting practices in our education to reflect the achievements of high order learning and mastery rather than accumulation of course credits.”

Speaking after he was conferred with the Honorary Doctoral degree of the institution along with three other recipients, the COREN registrar promised to assist the institution in the areas of certification of the university engineering programmes and in terms of manpower of the engineering faculty.

NB Begins Search for Exceptional Teachers for MTOY Awards Uchechukwu Nnaike Entries are now open to all secondary school teachers in private and public schools in Nigeria for the seventh edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year.

The award is a brainchild of the Nigerian Breweries Plc/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, established in 2015 to recognise and celebrate exceptional teachers in Nigeria for their contribution and impact on the future of the nation.

Speaking at the launch of the seventh edition in Lagos recently, the Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mrs. Sade Morgan announced that entries are open online for submission from April 20, 2021 and will close on June 25, 2021.

She said the initiative is one of the numerous ways through which the company is fulfilling its corporate philosophy of “Winning with Nigeria”.

She urged all secondary school teachers in the country to take advantage of the initiative to gain the deserved reward and recognition.

“I know that I speak for everyone in Nigerian Breweries Plc when I say that we are proud of all our teachers and this is why we intend to continue rewarding and honouring them, as they continue their critical

work of building tomorrow’s generation of leaders.

We are therefore very excited to flag off the search for the best secondary school teacher in Nigeria in the seventh edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year.

The winners would be unveiled at a gala event to be held in October in commemoration of the 2021 World Teachers Day,” Morgan said.

She advised eligible teachers who are interested in participating in the seventh edition of the initiative to visit the dedicated website (www. maltinateacheroftheyear.com) to complete the forms online.

Alternatively, they can download the forms, complete, scan and email the completed form to maltinateacheroftheyear@ heineken.com On the reward for the winners, Morgan announced that just like the previous editions, the ultimate winner will receive a total cash prize of N6.5 million as his/her reward, in addition to capacity development training abroad, while his/her school receives either a block of classroom or a computer laboratory.

She stated that the first runner-up will get N1 million, the second runner-up will receive N750,000, while all state champions would be rewarded with N500,000 each.

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has condemned the remittance of its members’ check off dues to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

In a release signed by the National Coordinator, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, CONUA said several members from all its branches complained that union dues deducted from their salaries are being remitted to ASUU; a

union they do not belong to.

Sunmonu said CONUA had written the Accountant General of the Federation to request for stoppage of the remittance of CONUA members’ check off dues to ASUU with the hope that the matter would be urgently investigated and addressed.

According to the group, the leadership of ASUU, through its president, unilaterally withdrew money running into millions of naira in 2017

from the account of the OAU branch.

This illegal act it said necessitated the request to stop check off dues deduction.

Sunmonu called on the Accountant General of the Federation to also ensure the refund of what had been deducted from CONUA members, adding that it is inappropriate and against the tenets of the law to deduct check off dues of CONUA members for a union they do not belong to.

“CONUA is an independent academic staff union in Nigerian universities. Hence, remitting CONUA members’ dues to another union is tantamount to an attempt to financially strangulate CONUA. It should also be emphasized that Nigerian workers have the right to either belong to an appropriate union of their choice or not to belong to any union; and that this right should always be respected and protected,” he said.

L-R: The Registrar, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Prof. Jonathan Nwosu; Elder Markus Dangana; Chair, Babcock University Governing Council, Pastor Yohanna Harry; and council member, Dr. Kanelechi Nwangwa, during the inauguration of the governing council... recently

World Book, Copyright Day: 9mobile Affirms Commitment to Promoting Literacy among Nigerian Youths Innovative and youth-focused telecommunications company, 9mobile has restated its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote a culture of reading and publishing, especially among youths.

The telecom company gave the assurance while marking this year’s World Book and Copyright Day, an event set aside to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.

According to the Executive Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, Abdulrahman Ado, the World Book and Copyright

Day presents an opportunity to celebrate Nigerian authors, inspire youths to read more, as well as pen down their own thoughts through writing and publishing.

“The importance of books cannot be over-emphasized.

Books are valuable assets that stimulate innovation and national development. At 9mobile, we are passionate about the growth and development of the youths and by extension, Nigeria.

We see education as a critical factor for driving sustainable development and impacting the lives of Nigerians. The World Book and Copyright Day ties

into our CSR efforts to promote education in Nigeria. We are leveraging this auspicious event to encourage Nigerian youths to embrace the culture of reading and learning,” he said.

Reacting to the focus for this year’s World Book Day, which highlights the importance of books in combating isolation, occasioned by COVID-19, Ado opined that reading is therapeutic and helpful in tackling the boredom that comes from staying indoors. “Books continue to play a huge role in helping people navigate through this period, while also stirring their creative minds to be more productive.

My word of advice is; pick up a book today and read. While at it, also consider writing your own books too.”

In marking this year’s event, the telco partnered Zikoko, a digital media platform that creates exciting media content, for an online quiz titled ‘Only True Bookworms Will Ace This Quiz about Nigerian Novels’, to engage and test the knowledge of participants on how well they remember the books they read growing up. The online quiz drew extensive attempts by participants while reliving the memories of the evergreen titles of their growing up days.

Bridge Academy Canvasses Sustainance of Reading Culture among Children The Managing Director of Bridge Nigeria, Ms. Foyinsola Akinjayeju has said the practice of reading to young children daily, starting in infancy, can help enhance their language acquisition, communication, social and literacy skills.

Akinjayeju, who made this known recently at a brief programme to commemorate the 2021 World Book Day in Lagos, said “literacy and the ability to read is a skill that is vital to a child’s future success.

The habit of reading should begin at an early stage and should be imbibed throughout one’s lifetime.”

In nurturing the reading culture in children during their formative years, she said parents and caregivers must

consciously stimulate children in that direction, provide them books and importantly, let them read for fun. “Bridge Nigeria, a network of nursery and primary schools serving underserved communities in Lagos and Osun States, considers reading and literacy to be foundational to a child’s learning.”

In the area of literacy, the managing director noted that Bridge pupils in Lagos are demonstrating higher attainment than their peers in other comparable private schools (by 0.35 standard deviations) and public schools (by 1.38 standard deviations), adding that this is corroborated in an independent study report by DFID. The Regional Director, Academics, Rhoda Odigboh said

reading expands the mind by developing a child’s imagination and engaging critical thinking skills, adding that reading to children at an early age stimulates the part of the brain that allows them to understand the meaning of language which helps build key language, literacy and social skills.

According to her, “Bridge pupils are provided with resources and textbooks to help them improve literacy among other skills such as problem-solving, creative and critical thinking, as well as social awareness.”

Bridge offers an electronic reading programme, in which pupils spend time working and reading books on a computer tablet per lesson in the classroom.

“We also have the Bridge@

Home virtual storybook library with hundreds of age and grade level story books which provide daily reading practice for pupils, even when they are at home.”

She said.

The Bridge @Home learning resources was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that children continue to learn and grow even when at home. The resources include learning guides which help children complete different learning activities for each subject, self-study activity packs which are designed to help children complete different tasks, hundreds of stories through the virtual storybook library to help children practice literacy and free mobile interactive quizzes that children can take directly on WhatsApp.

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T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 28, 2021

EDUCATION

World Book Day: Eminentville School Moves to Encourage Writing, Documentation As the international community marks World Book Day, Eminentville School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has commemorated the day with emphasis on the promotion of writing and documentation.

World Book Day, an event celebrated yearly on April 23 is a day set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to promote reading, publishing and copyright.

Eminentville School management chose to celebrate the event last Saturday to enable parents and laureates watch performances by their children and wards on achievements by the school.

Speaking at the event, Manager of the school, Dr. Chinyere Amaewhule said it has become important to encourage children to read and write to improve the reading culture in the society.

She said the school had to celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day yearly as its contribution to reviving the dying reading culture

in the nation and to build a properly enlightened and educated society.

According to her, the school also included in its programme the unveiling of Eminentville School’s anthology, creativity on the spot, quiz on World Book Day and book review, epic drama, tautology and pronunciation, among other activities.

The Head Teacher, Mrs. Doris Owuso also noted that the art of reading and writing has improved the children’s critical reasoning skills.

“It has given them a broad horizon in the different forms of writing and the processes involved in writing.”

To motivate the students on reading and focus on academics for a successful future, Prof. Okey Onuchukwu of the Department of Economics, University of Port Harcourt, commended the school management for providing environment and facilities that are conducive, saying that those would enhance the children’s reading ability.

“The kind of environment

and facilities we have here are conducive for learning.

The students are acting very intelligent because they are being taught properly.

“Coming to today’s event, it is obvious we keep reminding our people of the importance of reading and writing because that will really help us and make the society grow.

All the things we are saying are ideas that are generated and put down by people. We read them to expand it and then adopt them to suit our purpose, and that is the only way society grows.

“So, if you don’t write and document, it means some of those ideas will go into extinction and there will be nothing to build upon.”

Parents at the event commended the management of the school for the extra effort to keep the children current in academics, especially the reading and writing culture in them.

A parent said: “I want to commend the management of the school for their educational standard. Everything

done here is excellent, it is one of its kind because in today’s society people hardly read. Imbibing this culture in these children will go a long way with them in the future. If they continue with this standard, in the nearest future they will be the best in Port Harcourt.”

Some students who spoke with THISDAY expressed delight that they are part of the future that will transform the society through the knowledge and academic values they will gather from the school.

Christabelle, a level 10 pupil said: “We are live at the World Book Day celebration to create awareness on how books impact on our lives.

We are also using this as a medium to express ourselves in many ways.”

Mario Azimba, a level eight pupil of the school also said “reading and writing has helped me more in internal and external competitions as well as school examinations. Reading habit expands my scope of knowledge in everything I come across.”

Some students of Eminentville School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State during the commemoration of the World Book Day

Prioritise Students’ Preparation for Life after Secondary School, Educators Told The Senior Assistant Principal of Greensprings School, Lekki, Lagos, Mrs. Deborah Alabi, has stressed that students should be equipped with the necessary practical life skills needed to survive and thrive even after school.

Speaking at a recent virtual event organised by the school, she said to be progressive in today’s fast-paced and challenging world, students need more than academics. She claimed that by complementing academics with extracurricular activities, students will be well-positioned to face the future.

“Our world has changed and every day, it becomes more evident that many Nigerian graduates are

not well-prepared for life after school because they lack valuable skills such as entrepreneurship, communication, emotional intelligence, leadership, critical thinking and growth mindset. The root of this problem can be traced back to elementary and secondary schools focusing mainly on academics.

“Schools would do better by taking extracurricular activities seriously, as these activities help children to develop many of these valuable skills. This is why at Greensprings School, we earnestly encourage our students to get involved in extracurricular activities like sports, student-run clubs, and vocational electives,” she said.

Alabi added: “Aside from

extracurricular activities, our students also get to participate in both local and international trips and competitions. Some of the competitions in which our students regularly partake include the Conrad Challenge, in which 20 of them recently bagged a scholarship worth $1.2 million; the World School Games; the World Robotic Challenge; the GTBank Masters Cup; the AISEN Public Speaking Competition; and so on.”

Alabi also noted that the Nigerian entertainment industry is booming and that schools should endeavour to support students interested in the industry.

“As we can see, many Nigerians in the entertainment industry are enjoying

amazing career and gaining global recognition. Personally, I think schools should be interested in supporting students who dream of becoming musicians, comedians, actors and actresses, directors, scriptwriters, and so on. For us at Greensprings School, we provide relevant support by deliberately engaging our students in drama and music productions.

“By complementing academics with extracurricular activities, educators would be sure to prepare their students for life after school. We believe that Greensprings education prepares children for life, because there is adequate attention given to well-rounded learning,” she said.

KEHINDE OMORU www.kayomoru.com

DOES THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT REALLY AFFECT PUPILS’ LEARNING? Astoundingly, research have shown that the physical environment can have such an impact on pupils that it could affect a pulpil’s learning progress by variant percentages.

You may erroneously believe that structured activities outside the school or classroom environment are not of much importance. You couldn’t be more wrong. Research suggests that children pick up some of their most important skills from programmes and activities outside a school’s pedagogical environment. That is why children who do not participate in any extracurricular activities are generally slow and less vibrant.

The learning environment, that you enroll your child in outside of his or her school’s activities, must however contribute to the overall development of your child. It must be as disciplined and as functional as that found within the school. This is especially true of educative out-of-schoolprogrammesandactivities.Awell-resourcedplaceofthis nature should teach the child important skills like time-management and goal setting.Time-management is a vital skill, but it is not achieved easily. Time management is a skill that is learnt and imbibed over a length of time, children need to experience the discipline that is needed to finish a task and the happiness of finishing the allotted work, within a specific time span.

Children look for different things in learning settings, be it formal or recreational. Your chosen environment should be attractive, colorful and informative. Teachers or organiers must use charts, pictures, posters and drawings to liven up a class. Age appropriate audiovisual and other sensory aids should also come into play. Additional resources that are not easily available in the school may make your teaching and learning sessions arresting and interesting. For instance, when teaching a biology lesson, allow the child to, for instance: see through a microscope, see slides of bacteria, see live insects and animals (safely). This direct experience with nature, adds to his/her knowledge and also makes him /her more enthusiastic about his/ her learning. Discipline should be upheld as a must in school and recreational activities. In fun or sport-based activities, it is easy for children to step out of line and create havoc.

While children should be allowed to have fun, they should be curtailed from displaying unacceptable behavior. The best way to practice discipline is to lay down the rules at the very beginning. Let the children partake in listing out what is unacceptable, right at the beginning.

They should also democratically list out penalties for derailments.

Rewards are an important aspect of any learning process.The reward can be a simple pat on the back or a token of appreciation. Motivate your children to aspire for higher attainments by rewarding their achievements. Holding competitions or sport activities where the children can show their proficiency is a reward in itself.

Children do get bored easily, during educational and structured programmes.The main thrust of an academic programme is to repeat what has been taught in class and to allow the child to learn it quickly.

It is difficult to pique the child’s interest a second time, especially when the child is already tired of one dose of the same lesson. You must quickly tweak boredom by using creative techniques like an impromptu activity like: a quiz; a slideshow or a game.

Omoru is a freelance writer, education, health and social care advocate

Victims Support Fund Donates Wash Facilities to Bauchi Schools Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi As part of effort to complement government in addressing water challenges in schools and to curb the spread of COVID-19, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Victim Support Fund (VSF) has donated over 4,000 litres of solar powered borehole each to three secondary schools selected from the three senatorial districts in Bauchi State.

The NGO also donated to each of the schools four hand washing stations, 2,000 pieces Face Masks,20 litres of sanitizer,120 bottles of five hundred millimetres liquid soap, as well as five cartons of bleach.

The benefiting schools include Government Girls

Secondary School, Kafin Madaki, Government Secondary School, Toro and Government Girls Secondary School, Yana, The Chairperson, VSF Task Force on COVID-19, Mrs. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji said the intervention was part of the organisation’s third phase mandate to provide such in three selected schools in 18 states across the six geo-political zones of the country aimed at extending hands of fellowship to the indigent.

“Water is very essential we want to help your school and help you (the girls, your teachers and every stakeholder around this environment) to be able to observe hygiene protocols during and beyond the pandemic.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Alternate School Programme and the Humanitarian Imperative Dapo Bruce On Tuesday January 26, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated an 18-member Presidential Steering Committee on the Alternate School Programme (ASP). The President charged the committee to coordinate and lead the deployment of a national plan which will address the issue of out-of-school children in the country.

Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development was named co-chair alongside Mallam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education.

The choice of Farouq as co-chair is instructive when the mandate of the steering committee is taken into consideration.

The Alternate School Programme has as its mandate to improve access to education for all Nigerian children in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-4), which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

The terms of reference for the National Steering Committee include: “refine and focuse the vision of the initiative; ensure engagement and effective uptake of the ASP initiative across the country; review and approve all work, implementation plans, expected deliverables, feedbacks and reports as proposed and undertake any other task that can enhance

the effective delivery of the initiative.

In his remark, the president noted that despite the strides made with the Universal Basic Education Commission under the Federal Ministry of Education, it remained an unacceptable aberration to see young children “abandoning formal school to become apprentices in shops, workshops, and markets, whilst many others choose to loiter at markets, become cart pushers and hawkers.”

To put the new initiative in context, Unicef notes about Nigeria that “even though primary education is officially free and compulsory, about 10.5 million of the country’s children aged 5-14 years are not in school.

Only 61 per cent of 6-11 year-olds regularly attend primary school and only 35.6 per cent of children aged 36-59 months receive early childhood education.

In the north of the country, the picture is even bleaker, with a net attendance rate of 53 per cent. Getting out-ofschool children back into education poses a massive challenge.”

That challenge is at the core of the Alternate School Programme which, if viewed from the perspective of the ripple effect an uneducated population can have on the polity, presents a humanitarian imperative.

The UN lays the blame for the huge number of out of school children, over 5 per cent of the population at the feet of poverty, geogra-

Babcock Varsity Inaugurates New Governing Council Funmi Ogundare Babcock University, IlishanRemo, Ogun State, has inaugurated a new governing council that would steer the affairs of the institution for the next four years.

The new council is headed by the President of the Northern Region Conference of the Seventh Adventist Church, Pastor Yohanna Harry.

The inauguration ceremony, held at the institution, was performed by the Chancellor of the university and President of the West African Central Division of Seventh Day Adventist Church, Dr. Elie Weick-Dido.

Other members of the Governing Council present at the inauguration ceremony included the President/ViceChancellor, Babcock University, Ademola Tayo, Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Academics, Professor Philemon Amanze, Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Management Services, Professor Yacob Haliso; Vice- President, Financial Administration, Dr. Ilesanmi Akande; Vice-President, Student Development, Dr. Sunday Audu; former 32nd President of General Conference of UNESCO, Emeritus Professor Michael Omolewa, and Abia State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kanelechi Nwangwa and Elder Markus Dangana.

The chancellor appealed

to members of the council to discharge their duties effectively with passion and dedication to the service of God and humanity.

He said at a time such as this, every institution requires best practices to excel and drastically stave off competition.

“With about 197 universities in Nigeria, Babcock University requires your best input to continue to raise the bar of learning and training for maximum global impact.”

In his acceptance speech, Harry said the council would exercise its primary responsibility in the overall interest of all and sundry without hindrance, adding that it would continue to determine the educational character and academic direction and integrity of the university to ensure that students have quality learning experience leading to academic awards which are subject to the application of appropriate academic standards.

In his remarks, the vicechancellor said he would, with the support of the governing council, work to implement and fulfill the mission and strategic aims of the university, the corporate plan and the key indicators of university performance.

“I would ensure that the university is financially sustainable and it is using its resources judiciously in the overall interest of its students and stakeholders.”

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu phy and gender imbalance.

A lack of economic empowerment, location in conflict impacted states and disinterest in educating the girl child have contributed in exacerbating the problem.

The Unicef report contends that “gender, like geography and poverty, is an important factor in the pattern of educational marginalization. States in the north-east and north-west have female primary net attendance rates of 47.7 per cent and 47.3 per cent, respectively, meaning that more than half of the girls are not in school. The education deprivation in northern Nigeria is driven by various factors, including economic barriers and socio-cultural norms and practices that discourage attendance in formal education, especially for girls.”

The ASP hopes to help tip the scales and achieve a balance in this disproportionately lopsided state of affairs by providing an innovative and flexible approach to schooling as well as skills development.

By focusing on out of school children, the ASP will ensure a reversal of Nigeria’s abysmal statistics which the UN has captured in very poor terms - “one in every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in

Nigeria.”

According to Umar Farouq in a January 31 tweet, “that translates to 10.5 million children aged 5-14 years. There is also a high percentage of absenteeism with only 61 per cent of children aged 6 to 11 are able to attend primary school regularly. The figures are worse in the north.”

An uneducated child will grow up into an illiterate adult who will be unable to access neither gainful employment nor economic empowerment. Such an individual will constitute an unproductive component of the population and remain a burden on the system.

Viewed from these perspectives, it is easy to see why the ASP constitutes a humanitarian imperative especially as the bulk of the out of school children are already in the grip of a humanitarian emergency after over a decade of insurgency in the north east states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno where the UN estimates that 2.8 million children are in need of education-inemergencies support with at least 802 schools shut, 497 classrooms destroyed and another 1,392 damaged but repairable.

The Alternate School Programme is not the first of such initiatives to

tackle the menace posed by out of school children. In January this year, during an inter-ministerial briefing, the minister of education had informed his audience that the number of out-of-school children has reduced from 10.1 million in 2019 to 6.95 million in 2020. He said the reduction was consequent on gains from the federal government’s Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) initiative, which was being implemented in 17 states of the federation, in conjunction with the National Association of Proprietors and School Owners of Nigeria. The effort, he announced, had led to the enrolment of 1,053,422 children during the period.

The coming of the Alternate School Programme with its innovative approach will help accelerate the gains by ensuring that every child gains access to quality education, irrespective of social, cultural or economic standing.

Highlighting the humanitarian approach, the co-chair, Sadiya Umar Farouq noted that the FG through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development and the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) is working to

improve household incomes for the families of out of school children as it seeks to equip them with literary and numeracy knowledge, as well as the requisite skills to engage with and contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian economy. To help achieve the goal, the ministry has begun the collation of data of all out-of-school children across the country.

It was pleasing to read news of the inauguration of a Technical Working Group on Tuesday April 13, 2020. This development speaks to the seriousness with which the assignment is being addressed. The TWG will oversee and ensure effective planning and implementation of the ASP which will, in the short term, evolve means of delivering a limited number of subjects with emphasis on numeracy and literacy, as well as basic and social sciences from Mathematics to English Language, and Basic Sciences to Social Studies. These would be scaled up in the long term to facilitate the acquisition of relevant technical skills.

As work progresses on this very laudable initiative, the hope is that in a year or two, Nigeria would no longer score so abysmally low when it comes to out of school children.

Augustine Varsity Matriculates 91, Honours Outstanding Students Augustine University, IlaraEpe, Lagos, recently held its sixth matriculation ceremony which witnessed 91 new students being admitted into the institution.

In his remarks, the ViceChancellor, Prof. Christopher Odetunde said the university is focused on producing students who would be excellent in academic and character, as their performance would not only be measured on academic activities alone.

“Let it be known that Augustine University does not measure academic excel-

lence by CGPA alone, but by the totality of performance taking into consideration AUI’s motto of learning and character. “ He appealed to the students to reject peer pressure, cultism, drug abuse and any tendency that is inimical to their academics and social life on campus.

“We do not build students who will only excel academically. This our nation, Nigeria, needs a value reset. We hope that during your time here, you learn the importance of having the right values

and attitude that will help build this nation and take it to greater heights.”

As part of the efforts to encourage the inculcation of good values, Rev. Fr. Patrick Obayomi sponsored awards for the best behaved student ( male and female) with the sum of N100,000 each. The awardees are determined via electronic voting by members of staff and their peers.

The winners of the award were: Thomas Chinwuba Okafor, a 200 level Accounting student for male, while Munachi Onyia, a 400 level

Philosophy student won the female category.

Delivering the matriculation lecture titled ‘Education: The Tonic of Life’, Prof. Adeseko Ayeni noted that the importance of education cannot be over-emphasised.

He opined that the lack of education leads to poverty of different types.

“A nation that does not give education its pride of place in the scheme of things is on its way to destruction.

The lack of education leads to poverty of different types,” he said.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

CITYSTRINGS

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Managing Millennials: Adapting to a Changing Workforce Kehinde Folarin

M

illennials are thriving in the workforce today. They are the next generation to be leaders in the workplace and will be the generation that shapes the future of leadership. There are not many millennial role models that potential leaders can follow and emulate.

Thus, we must attract leaders for the new generation. This means that it is time for a change in leadership style and approach.

Millennials are multiplying into the workforce population today as they are reaching their peak employment years.

They are giving new insight into office life and the structure among employees and employers. Senior management at many organizations is seeking the right steps to recruiting and developing millennials into leadership roles. The first step is to create a successful plan to help millennials transform into a leader.

The Best Practices to Enhance the Number of Millennial Leaders To cultivate and enhance the number of millennial leaders, it is important first to understand the attitudes and behaviors of the generation. “The primary traits of the millennial generation that may manifest as elements of millennial leadership styles are collaboration, integration, multitasking, experimentation and nomadic behaviors.”

There are three things leaders can do to assure these millennials will achieve success on the job, despite generational differences.

The first is giving them the big picture.

Millennials want to contribute their part in the workplace. By making sure that they understand goals, mission statement, and how the company works together as a whole, a whole new understanding will be created. Second, leaders need to help the millennials find the “me” in team. From team sports during youth to classroom projects, millennials are no stranger to teamwork.

Team performance expectations need to be laid out for a supreme understanding.

They can bring knowledge of technology that will be helpful in ways such as social networking and virtual environments.

Lastly, millennials need to be mentored on career-building behaviors . Careerbuilding is one area in which beginning workers may be deficient compared to the older or more experienced employees.

The future of any company is founded on good leadership. Many good leaders have a great understanding of the company activities and are dedicated to achieving the goals of the company.

Young leaders, especially the millennials, are innovative, and flexible to new ideas.

These future leaders are willing to work longer hours since they understand the importance of developing into a good leader. It is important that the organization recognize and develop the millennials into leadership positions.

For millennial leaders to be successful, there are some ways that management can support them in their leadership development.

Help them understand the “why” of their job – why they are asked to do something and why it is important to the overall cause of the company.

Give them regular feedback, so they understand their progress.

Help them understand that they may need to demonstrate to their team how using technology can improve productivity.

Help them understand what credibility looks like for the team members they lead and help them modify their leadership style when needed.

Recruiting Millennials 60 per cent of our current workforce is made up of millennials and as the older generation continues to retire, that number will continue to increase. We must start training and promoting the millennial generation to ensure the company’s future.

Folarin The millennial generation is different than those that came before it and we must take that into consideration when it comes to their motivation and engagement.

To do this we must we must make an environment which they want to work in and that promises growth in a supportive environment. Life outside of the workplace is also very valuable to millennials so we must make an environment that provides a balance of both work and personal life.

Millennials can benefit the companies in many ways. Their leadership role is today’s generation is outstanding, they understand their weaknesses and strengths. Millennials have changed the role of leadership and creating a new trend in leadership where a manager would direct and not command. Millennials treat everyone in the company equally, which can create trust and loyalty within company’s employee. They have taken a strive towards inclusive leadership instead of authoritarian leadership to create to equal opportunity for everyone.

Another way we can benefit from millennials is the way they would collaborate and brain storm with each other in the company. It is one of their main priorities when it comes to handling big projects.

They would consult with many trusted people in the company to push the project forward, such as managers, mentors, peers, and other advisors.

In today’s world, millennials value

flexibility and work-life balance. We must keep this in mind and provide them with many benefits from our company. Millennials can be reliable to work from home as well, which can make a job a lot easier for them. They been raised along technology, digital communication, and other tools to understand how to work remotely.

Millennials can switch job quickly, providing them with these options would convince them to stay with our workforce.

Millennial care about trust, we should share every decision or announcement from our workforce and keep it less confidential. This can increase the rate of job satisfaction from our workforce. This is another way that convince millennials to stick around the company. We need to be open and honest with all our employees and make sure they all understand their role.

Also, give opportunities to grow and allow them to earn bigger roles in the company. When it comes to the millennials they would love to be able to have a job that supports them with a great environment . I know for a fact they would be looking for a new career, they love employee engagements in any office setting that will engage with their workers, showing them that you actually care about them and their employment at your company. Work outings, work parties, and work gathering I feel like will build the culture better around the working environ-

To cultivate and enhance the number of millennial leaders, it is important first to understand the attitudes and behaviors of the generation. The primary traits of the millennial generation that may manifest as elements of millennial leadership styles are collaboration, integration, multitasking, experimentation and nomadic behaviors

ment for the millennials and they love having those type of engagements.

Some practices we could implement to create this culture would be: r 'MFYJCMF XPSL IPVST BOE TDIFEVMFT r &NQMPZFF FOHBHFNFOU 8PSL QBSUJFT Work outings, work event and gatherings, incentives r $MFBS DBSFFS QBUI BOE PQQPSUVOJUJFT r 0QFO DPNNVOJDBUJPO r (JWF UIFN QVSQPTF r "DLOPXMFEHF UIFJS XPSL Conclusion Analyzing the motivations, behaviors, and characteristics of the millennial generation is a critical first step when designing a leadership development program. Millennials have many positive leadership traits of which a company should take advantage; they are great multi-taskers, embrace diversity, innovative, flexible, innovate, and willing to put in the extra hours to move toward success. Incorporating these factors while also providing the future leaders with a strong sense of the company’s programs, goals and vision are all important when developing this generation of leaders ...Folarin is a Strategic Leadership Expert, Certified Management Consultant, Success Coach, Pastor, Trainer, and Facilitator. He has worked with some of the most successful leaders to grow their business and organisation exponentially by focusing on people and leadership development. His trade tools include people empowerment, dispensing leadership principles and institutionalising personal development to fast-track individual goals and transform organisations. He is a doctoral Candidate at Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia USA, for a Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership. He is also the Chief Operating Officer(COO) at Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos, Nigeria. He can be reached through Email: Kennyfolarind@ gmail.com

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

CRIME&SECURITY

For Attahiru’s Rebuilding Plans to Succeed For the plans by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, to rebuild the Nigerian Army to be effective, stakeholders want him to reinstate some of the 38 senior officers whose careers were truncated in 2016 by his predecessor, Davidson Iriekpen writes

I

n line with his promise to rebuild the army and improve on the morale of officers and soldiers, their confidence, capacity, fighting skills and procuring fighting equipment, stakeholders in the security sector have called on the new Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, to carefully review the cases of 38 senior officers who were compulsorily retired without justification under the leadership of his predecessor, Lt-General Tukur Buratai (rtd).

The stakeholders who spoke to THISDAY on account of anonymity, said a review of the retirements of the officers in the interest of justice could be a good way to start the rebuilding plan. They said when the officers and soldiers know that they won’t be unnecessarily and unjustly marked for premature retirement or victimisation, it would boost their morale and confidence and motivate them to put in their very best to defend their fatherland. They added that this would be a huge boost to the fight against banditry and Boko Haram insurgency and the image of the army.

Nigerians can recall the army under Buratai in June 2016, compulsorily retired 38 senior officers without justification.

At the point when the action was taken, Nigerians were informed by its former spokesman, Brig. Gen SK Usman (rtd), that the officers were compulsorily retired on “disciplinary grounds, serious offences”.

Even the then Minister of Defence, Brig.

Gen Mansur Dan-Alli (rtd) and Buratai himself, corroborated Usman’s statement, alleging further that due process and fair hearing were granted to all the 38 officers, implying that they were found guilty by a competent legal procedure.

Specifically, Buratai the then COAS said: “It took us painstaking procedure to ensure we did not pick innocent ones.

We started with one inquiry from One Division GOC to the other. After that, we subjected it to legal review. After the legal review, we forwarded our recommendations to higher authorities for consideration. So, it took us time; we have our own process also; our administrative process dovetailing into legal review and so on.”

However, it did not take long for Nigerians to know that none of the 38 officers was found guilty of any offence, and were never charged, tried or found guilty, let alone even appeared before any court martial.

Several of the officers who felt the army breached its extant rules and regulations in carrying out the retirements took their grievances to courts to clear their names.

This was after they appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari for his intervention and reinstatement, but no response from the presidency or the army.

Six of the officers won their cases in court and have obtained judgments ordering their reinstatements into the Nigerian Army. The officers who got judgments against the Army are: Maj Gen Ijioma, Cols Hassan and Suleiman as well as Lt Cols Arigbe, Dazang and Mohammed. In the first half of last year alone, the army lost four of these cases.

Added to these six, are another two officers who obtained National Assembly resolutions ordering their reinstatements representing some 20 per cent of the 38 officers.

Some of the officers, who are still in their 40s, are hoping that the army authorities would carefully examine their case because they still have a lot to offer the country in military service.

Curiously, Buratai refused to comply with both the court judgments and the resolutions. This has led to serious questions about the army’s desire to adhere to the rule of law and provide

New Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru (left), taking over from his predecessor, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (Rtd.) justice for these officers.

For instance, in delivering his judgment on February 5, 2020 in Col M. A. Sulaiman v Nigerian Army and others, Justice Sanusi Kado corroborated the officers by stating that: “The compulsory retirement of the claimant (Col MA Sulaiman), is hereby declared null and void and of no effect whatsoever, as it was not done in line with the extant rules and regulations.” This has been the pattern in the cases that have been concluded.

In fact, in a society where the rule of law is supreme and strictly adhered to, the plethora of losses the Nigerian Army has suffered would have caused a judicial review of the retirements. But this has not been the case as sources close to army authorities revealed that the former COAS and the others may have sworn “with their last blood” never to revisit the retirements while they remained at the helm of affairs of the army as that would be an admission that they lied against the 38 officers.

Many observers have since questioned Buratai for his action. Firstly, what manner of due process was followed by the supposedly highly professional Nigerian Army that made the 38 senior officers to be retired without being found guilty of an offence? When and where, were all the officers charged, tried, and found guilty? Is there any evidence of the dates and times of the Court Martial sittings?

Were the officers granted fair hearing?

What are the status of the appeals of these officers to Mr. President? When will the Nigerian Army comply with the rule of law and obey the court orders and judgments?

The above questions are significant because in January 2016 the army leadership under then COAS Buratai, reinstated Maj-Gen Ahmadu Mohammed after his appeal was reviewed by Mr. President.

Mohammed, it would be recalled was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 7 Division in 2014 when his troops mutinied and fired at his vehicle. The soldiers accused him of dereliction of duty and sending them to the battlefield with minimal logistic supports thereby leading to many deaths. The former

GOC who is from Kano State, did not appeal his retirement within 30 days as stipulated by the conditions of service but in September 2015 after ninr months, which according to defence sources, was already a breach of the appeal process but this was ignored because the army headed by Buratai had an interest to ensure fairness and justice was served.

Mohmmmed instead, waited for the outcome of the 2015 general elections as well as the removal of the previous service chiefs. As soon as President Buhari and Buratai came onboard, he was pronto, reinstated.

In Wing Commander Mshelia v. NAF & ANOR (2014) the Court of Appeal held: “The Armed Forces as a body, is supposed to be exemplary, in discipline, the world over. To violate the law and retire a member of that body in consequence is not an exhibition of discipline or exemplary conduct. To refuse to act in accordance with Section 178 of the Armed Forces Act 2004, and to continue to keep the appellant in suspense, is an abuse of office, calculated at denying the appellant the right to seek redress in a court of law, and that is why the Public Officers Protection was invoked.

The law does not give reprieve in such a situation. No one will be allowed on the one hand, to act in breach of the law in a high-handed manner, and on the other hand, seek the protection of the law. The courts will not open their doors to such unlawful acts and dereliction of duty, a duty imposed by law… As earlier opined, the Public Officers Protection Act is meant to shield public officers and bodies, lawfully and conscientiously carrying out their duties, within the scope of their authority, from attack.

It is not meant to be used as a sword by public officers acting without good faith and in flagrant disobedience of the law, to attack and maim others, more so when those others, are members of the same family, engaged in the service and defence of our country.”

Despite this "locus classicus" judgment of the Court of Appeal, and the series of legal losses sustained by the army, the illegal and unjust retirements of the 38 senior military officers was not reviewed under the Buratai-led army.

This is why the stakeholders are urging both the Chief of Defence Staff, General LEO Irabor and Attahiru to ensure that justice is served on the retired officers.

They appealed to them not emulate the former service chiefs, in order for them to make a difference in their time and comply with the court judgments in the interest of equity, fairness and justice.

“Some of the these officers are still in the their 40s and still have a lot to offer this country. These are men who were forced out of military service in their prime. They are finding it difficult to cope with premature retirement because they were not prepared to retire at the time they did. General Irabor and General Attahiru have to do something to save their career. “The first step to rebuilding the army under General Attahiru is to ensure that it is not an army of anything goes. He has to undo to many things.

He has to correct so many injustices.

“Don’t forget that in 1993, the outgoing Chief of Army Staff, General Salihu Ibrahim, after reviewing the injustices in army during his time, said it was an ‘Army of anything goes.’ That was the army Buratai bequeathed. That is what we want General Attahiru to correct.”

“Injustice is injustice, if the officers were not granted fair hearing and found guilty by a competent military court as they are legally entitled as Nigerian Army officers. And these same retired officers took the pains to prove their innocence after spending several years in the lengthy judicial process to obtain valid court judgments, ordering their reinstatements. Then what is preventing the army from obeying the courts and the law,” asked a former military lawyer who wished to remain anonymous. “It all reeks of Injustice,” he further added.

Analysts believe that for a long time to come, the compulsory retirements 38 officers who were regarded as some of the brightest officers in the army will remain one of several matters lingering on his table requiring his urgent intervention from the Nigerian Army. They submit that justice demands condemnation of the wicked and guilty, while by respecting the country’s laws, the people preserve the common good and sacrifices of the innocent.

40

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Lagos Explains Increase in Human Capital Investment Ugo Aliogo The Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube, has explained the state government’s increased budgetary allocation for human capital development, which he put at N160 billion in 2020.

Egube, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos during the EMWA exhibition and conference with the theme: “Industrialisation and Innovation Revitalising the Industrial Sector to Unlock Nigeria’s Potential,” expressed the readiness of the state government to develop the capacity of young people which he said constitutes 45 per cent of the population of the state. He also stated that there was need to engage the youths having seen their active involvement in the technology space, adding that the state government has

increased its budgetary allocation to improve the productivity of the people.

Egube further explained that as part the administration’s commitment towards making Lagos a hub for business in Africa,, it has flagged off a 3,000kilometres fiberdock infrastructure to bring high internet capacity through underwater cables into homes and industries.

The commissioner said technology remains an effective way to fast-track development and improve behaviour in Lagos.

According to him, “When Mr. Governor came into power, one of the things he promised the people was improved transportation. It was clear to us that transportation will not improve just by building roads alone, because of the rate of Urban migration in Lagos.

“It was also clear to us that for us to improve the environment

and the transportation system, it was important we invested heavily in mass transportation.

So the state government felt they needed to find a creative way of solving the problem otherwise movement will be difficult.

“So we have decided to drive a multi-modal transport which involves enhancing movement on road, rail, and waterways. By the innovation of Mr. Governor and working with the finance team, we were able to finance the redline rail. The redline rail will move people from Agbado down to Oyingbo, then to Marina in its phase two.

“It could move 22.5 million people monthly thus reducing their travel time by 50 per cent from 2 hours to 45minutes. The redline will have 10 overpasses (bridges), it will have 13 pedestrian bridges and eight bus stations.

Sanwo Olu

Unity Bank, MEDIC Mark World Earth Day

MARKET INDICATORS

Nume Ekeghe

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

As part of commitment towards promoting environmental sustainability, Unity Bank Plc has collaborated with the Mental and Environmental Development Initiative for Children (MEDIC), a non-governmental organisation, for the cleaning of Lagos Kids Beach Garden within the Oba Elegushi beach environs.

The Lagos Beach cleaning exercise was held in commemoration of the World Earth Day. Staff of Unity Bank, MEDIC and other volunteers who thronged the venue of the cleaning exercise to support efforts aimed at reducing environmental

degradation, picked up and removed well over 50,000 plastic bottles were from the beach.

Speaking at the event, the Head, Brand Marketing & Communications, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. DeVoe Okorie, said the Lagos Beach Cleaning was part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility aimed at leading major collaborative initiatives for climate action.

Citing recent reports on ocean pollution, he decried that, “of the over 300 million tons of plastic that are produced yearly, an estimated 8 million tons of plastic enters our oceans.

“There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste estimated to

be in our oceans. While 70 per cent of our debris sinks into the ocean’s ecosystem, 15 per cent floats, and 15 per cent lands on our beaches.”

He added that such activity as the collaboration and partnership by organisations would play a vital role in reducing the threats of ocean plastics and thereby reduce the climate risks they pose to the earth.

Unity Bank has overtime promoted corporate and business philosophy that encourages low paper usage, recycling and adoption of renewable energy through increased investment in solar-powered branches and ATMs.

Stanbic IBTC Sensitises Customers on Pension Scheme Hamid Ayodeji Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers has organised the 2021 edition of its pension employer’s forum with the theme, ‘Pension Administration in the New Normal’.

This is coming as the company said it has paid over N800 billion to more than 62,000 retirees in the country The virtual event which was held recently, featured industry stakeholders who discussed issues such as, new and efficient ways of serving customers as mental and physical health of employees becomes imperative for any organisation.

Also, at the events it was noted that emerging trends like the transfer window, amongst

other metrics in the sector were a positive development for the pension industry which in the long run would offer much stability and sustainability to the sector.

In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Olumide Oyetan, said as an organisation, Stanbic IBTC remains dedicated towards boosting contributor’s confidence in the Nigerian pension industry and the larger financial services space.

According to him, these are both exciting and challenging times, even as he noted that, “The Nigerian Pension Industry is changing rapidly, and while some of us might be against the

changes, they are necessary if we must grow as an industry.”

He added: “As an institution with over 155 years of proven track record in Africa, we remain committed to enabling dreams, expertly managing contributors’ funds and partnering with stakeholders in order to develop our industry and economy.

“Also, as an organisation we remain thankful for the confidence bestowed upon us regarding our ability to deliver value as this is what has made us the largest PFA in Nigeria today, both in volume of Retirement Savings Accounts and value of Assets Under Management; we do not take the confidence reposed in us for granted,” he affirmed.

Great Nigeria Insurance Pays N501.6m Claims in Q1 Great Nigeria Insurance Plc (GNI) said it paid a total of N501.6 million claims in the first quarter of this year.

Great Nigeria Insurance spokesperson and corporate communications/brand manager, Oyinkansola Sobande, in a statement on the total claims so far paid by the company this year, stated that claims experienced so far have been very alarming, a situation she attributed to the downturn in the economy. According to her, “every insured wants to claim at every given opportunity which impacted the company’s claims

figure since the occurrence of the pandemic.”

Giving the breakdown of claims paid by the company in the first quarter of 2021, she said Group Life Insurance had the highest figure of N422 million while General Insurance business totalled N79 million.

According to Oyinkasola, under the Non-Life business: Fire ranked first with total claims figure of N32.2 million while General Accident was N25.8 million.

“The total sum of N12 million was paid as claims on Motor Insurance; Engineering gulped

N6.7 million; Oil and Gas Insurance claims stood at N1.1 million with Marine Insurance closing the figures with N0.96 million.”

Commenting on the development, GNI Managing Director/ CEO, Mrs. Cecilia Osipitan, said there was no compromise to claims settlement in Great Nigeria Insurance.

According to him, the major focus of the company is to ensure that its customers get to enjoy the benefits of taking out any form of insurance policy with the company through prompt settlement of their claims when the need arises.

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ Ͱͱ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $63.63 a barrel on Friday, compared with $63.06 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), 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).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

41

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Q1: Ecobank Group Grows Profit after Tax by 23% to N30 Billion Goddy Egene Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) has released its unaudited results for the third quarter (Q3) ended March 31, 2021, showing growth in key performance indicators.

The pan-African bank posted revenue of N214.3 billion, showing an increase of 10 per cent from N194.860 billion recorded in the corresponding period of

2020.

Operating profit before impairment charges stood at N67 billion compared with N48.795 billion in 2020, which is 37 per cent higher.

The bank increased its impairment charges by 48 per cent from N15.454 billion to N22.799 billion. As a result, profit before tax rose by 22 per cent to N40.343 billion, from N33.026 billion. Profit after tax grew by

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

23 per cent from N24.694 billion to N30.494 billion.

A further analysis of the results showed that customers’ deposits stood at N7.378 trillion, up one per cent from N7.324 trillion, loans and advances printed at N3.644 trillion compared with N3.699 trillion. ETI ended the quarter with total assets of N10.433 trillion, up from N7.324 trillion. According to analysts, the remarkable performance

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

despite the global economic headwinds, could be traced to its digital platform and innovative products and services.

Commenting on the results, Ecobank Group Chief Executive Officer, Ade Ayeyemi, said: “We are focusing on achieving execution momentum in our payment business, the sustained reliability of all our platforms, driving increased adoption of our products and services,

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

bringing our NPL ratio low and exceeding the expectations of our customers to truly be the pan-African Bank that Africa trusts.”

He added that “these, together with all our investments and achievements to date, will enable us collectively grow revenues and generate long-term return of capital to our shareholders, despite the near- term challenges from

O F

COVID-19.”

Meanwhile, the stock market closed on negative note yesterday with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) All-Share Index (ASI) shedding 0.04 per cent to be at 39,305.48. Similarly, market capitalisation shed N6.8 billion to close at N20.6 trillion. The decline followed losses in banking counters such as Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc.

2 7 / 0 4 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

42

˾ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021

ଂ

ଂ ଂ

ଂ ଂ

ଂ

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 R O X P H

7 R S * D L Q H U V P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

P R EST IGE

0.46

9.5%

A C C ESS

57.2

-1.3%

WEM A B A N K

0.62

8.8%

T R A N SC OR P

30.8

1.1%

R OYA LEX

0.42

7.7%

F ID ELIT YB K

29.4

0.4%

T ic k er

T ic k er

C H A M P ION

2.16

7.5%

GUA R A N T Y

15.9

-0.5%

R EGA LIN S

0.29

7.4%

Z EN IT H B A N K

14.8

-0.5%

6.3%

SOVR EN IN S

13.9

0.0%

UN IT YB N K

0.68

OKOM UOIL

95.00

5.6%

WEM A B A N K

9.5

8.8%

A R D OVA

15.45

5.5%

CHA M S

8.7

-4.5%

NA HCO

2.20

4.8%

WA P IC

6.0

1.9%

C A VER T ON

1.90

2.7%

UC A P

5.6

1.6%

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 D O X H

7 R S / R V H U V T ic k er

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

496.4

-0.5%

0.30

-9.1%

GUA R A N T Y

UP L

1.17

-8.6%

A C C ESS

CHA M S

0.21

-4.5%

Z EN IT H B A N K

C H IP LC

410.1

-1.3%

328.0

-0.5%

H ON YF LOUR

1.29

-4.4%

F ID ELIT YB K

66.8

0.4%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.53

-4.4%

WA P C O

57.1

0.2%

UA C -P R OP

0.77

-2.5%

M TNN

56.5

0.0%

T R IP P LEG

0.70

-1.4%

UA C N

42.6

0.5%

UB A

7.40

-1.3%

UB A

32.3

-1.3%

-1.3%

UC A P

31.6

1.6%

-1.0%

N EST LE

30.5

0.0%

A C C ESS ET I

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P ric e

Brokerage

7.45 5.20

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com Taiwo Ogundipe | togundi-

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

43

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 ˾ 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 26Apr-2021, 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 155.54 157.07 -3.86% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.08% Nigeria International Debt Fund 306.35 306.35 -16.62% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 110.55 110.55 -1.37% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.31% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.37 3.53 -4.95% 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 0.33% Anchoria Equity Fund 128.84 130.34 -3.14% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.08 1.08 -19.03% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 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 ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 103.78 103.78 2.04% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.99 1.99 -24.63% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.19 2.23 -5.92% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.36% Paramount Equity Fund 15.26 15.55 -4.55% Women's Investment Fund 131.36 132.75 -1.34% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.52% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 129.14 129.99 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.00 111.00 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.17% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.15 1.16 -4.29% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.34 1.34 -15.44% 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 100.00 100.00 2.55% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2.31% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,169.64 1,175.42 -2.41% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 186.01 187.28 -0.89% FBN Halal Fund 110.85 110.85 4.42% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.16% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 124.30 124.30 3.11% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 149.17 151.23 -1.33% 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 2.11% Legacy Debt Fund 3.92 3.92 1.41% Legacy Equity Fund 1.56 1.59 2.33% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.15 1.15 1.57% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,827.56 3,880.06 2.12% Coral Income Fund 3,356.66 3,356.66 2.45% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 2.05%

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.55% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.73 2.79 19.04% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 147.96 148.40 -4.80% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.08 1.08 5.76% 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 1.37 1.39 0.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,129.78 1,129.78 2.33% 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 10.47 10.54 Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.67% 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 1.59 1.62 7.47% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.16 12.31 0.61% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.22% PACAM Equity Fund 1.59 1.61 0.73% PACAM EuroBond Fund 110.87 113.75 1.41% 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 130.70 132.87 6.01% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 2.20% 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 3,116.07 3,140.69 -3.11% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 228.52 228.52 1.63% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.15 1.17 -1.69% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 299.49 299.49 1.64% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 211.59 214.18 -3.18% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.32% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,895.71 10,020.01 -5.78% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.25 1.25 1.78% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 113.26 113.26 1.96% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 100.64 100.64 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.34 1.36 -2.15% United Capital Bond Fund 1.93 1.93 1.98% United Capital Equity Fund 0.89 0.91 2.83% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.62% United Capital Eurobond Fund 119.67 119.67 2.21% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.10 -0.82% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.03 1.03 3.43% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.11 12.22 2.07% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.31 13.39 8.78% Zenith Income Fund 24.30 24.30 1.34% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.99%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

122.53 53.06

1.48% 1.26%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.47 121.64 95.07

12.57 121.64 96.83

-5.60% -0.08% -4.34%

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

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

3.71 5.54 16.90 1.00 18.94 162.83

3.75 5.62 17.00 1.00 19.14 164.83

-1.70% -2.55% 3.36% 2.66% -7.66% -25.68%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.52

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

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THISDAY, WEDNESDAY APRIL 28,2021

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WEDNESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

FOR THE RECORD

Afenifere at 70: Footprints of a Colossus Movement Ayo Opadokun

P

ermit me to open this unique dialogue with the following unimpeachable facts sourced from few credible historical accounts including “AWO”. The Autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo; “Path to Nigerian Greatness”, and face to face interviews with Chief Awolowo, Chief Adekunle Ajasin and other distinguished participant actors and prolific writers like Chief Wumi Adegbonmire who later became Secretary to the AD led government of Chief Adefarati between 1999-2003 among others concerning the pace setting achievements of Afenifere in Nigeria’s political epochs. I unreservedly acknowledge the copyrights of original writers of all quotations and references made in this discourse because they were invaluable to making this statements much more informative, educative and instructive.

Action Group Political Party among others was dissolved by the Military decree and Public Gazette in January 1966, but it's MOVEMENT called AFENIFERE remains the only one of its kind that precedes Nigeria’s political independence and has gone through circumstantial, existential, external treats, assaults and self-inflicted injury of fractionalizations, (Papa Fasoranti/Adebanjo; Late Senator Fasanmi; Senator Durojaiye; Afenifere Renewal) and still counting in spite of its current limitations over time.

Action Group as a National Political Party was the brainchild of the late sage, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, GCFR and his untiring efforts, grim determination to prepare and get the Western Nigeria ready for productive responses to the then on-coming constitutional exigencies which the Richard Constitution provisions would demand on Nigerians. After Egbe Omo Oduduwa had decided not to take part in politics and approved of Chief Awolowo’s pioneering efforts to form a virile political organization, he invited about 60 persons for a meeting. Of all these invitees just the following seven persons namely: Mr. S. O. Shonibare, Chief Abiodun Akerele, Chief S. T. Oredein, Mr. Olatunji Dosumu, Mr. J. Ola Adigun, Mr. Adeyiga Akinsanya and Mr. Ayo Akinsanya; attended the first meeting.

The first meeting held on Sunday, March 26, 1950 at 9.0’clock in the morning at the Oke Ado Residence of Chief Awolowo in Ibadan. Before the public announcement of its existence, nine secret meetings of the Action Group had been held between 26th March 1950 and 4th March 1951.

The secret meetings were necessitated to avoid the virulent attacks and hostility that could have been unleashed by Dr. Azikiwe and his media stable. Chief Awolowo could not forget in a hurry, the strident, vile and unbelievable hostility which Dr. Azikiwe and his ethnic nationality students unleashed on him and the associates when Egbe Omo Oduduwa was formed in Great Britain in 1945 not minding that there were already in existence, the Ibibio State Union as well as the Ibo State Union respectively.

The Action Group was publicly inaugurated at the historical hall on the hill in Owo, Town in Ondo Province on the 28th of April 1951 and had representatives from 22 out of the 24 Administrative Divisions of the Western Region.

AFENIFERE therefore could not have been created by anybody recently as was attemptedly claimed in revisionism to fit for the purpose of a private agenda. What is true and factual were that: After the inauguration of the Action Group in Owo, the leaders returned to Ibadan to campaign and for a public inauguration and presentation.

There and then people were asking what was going to be the interpretation of the meaning of Action Group in Yoruba language.

At a party campaign rally in Adamasingba/Dugbe, the Party Leaders led by Chief Adisa Akinloye were informing the public that the Action Group policy was summed up in Egalitarianism, Free Education, and Medicare, affordable Housing, and affordable Food, Minimum Wage to guarantee life more abundant that party loyalists and faithfuls started to describe the Action Group as a Movement of People wanting the best for ordinary citizens and who were committed to providing better quality of lives for all persons. Then Chief Meredith Augustus Adisa Akinloye CFR helped them to sum up their descriptions as Afenifere. He later became the National Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN in the 2nd Republic. The name was popularized through diversed ways, songs and lyrics, poetic renditions and banters until it became an household watchword. In fact, a textile factory was commissioned to manufacture bales of cloth materials with the picture of Chief Obafemi Awolowo on it and was worn as apparellels by all and sundry even as caps and head gears for women.

It is important to state that AFENIFERE from its inception remained a MOVEMENT of people who are committed to the greatest welfare of the people as enunciated by Chief Obafemi Awolowo SAN, under the philosophical caption of EGALITARIANISM, LIFE MORE ABUNDANT. AFENIFERE was never a registered political party but it was the propelling

Opadokun Movement of people behind the Action Group that was registered. There had been no time when Afenifere was a cultural organization. Egbe Omo Oduduwa which was a cultural organization decided not to transform into a political party after exhaustive discussion because they believed that such a transformation into partisan politics could compromise the organization and divide the Yoruba nation, which was the very people it set itself up to protect and defend. Interested readers can Google the internet to be familiar with the names of the Yoruba distinguished leaders who collaborated with Chief Awolowo to establish the Egbe first in London and later in Nigeria in order to provide a credible voice for the Yoruba people in the immediate nationalist struggle for self-determination.

Three important decisions had to be made; the first was whether the Action Group should continue to function as a separate political organization, or whether its members should dissolve it and transfer its activities to the Egbe Omo Oduduwa which was then contemplating the formation of a political wing. The Egbe was not a political party but was savagedly attacked by Dr. Azikiwe, thus drawing most Yoruba politicians to rally round the Egbe. From all available accounts, the Nigerian Youth Movement had become fractionalized in 1941 because many members had political disagreements with Dr. Azikiwe who himself became party-less until he in 1945 joined the NNDP formed by Dr. Hebert Macaulay. Again, the National Emergency Council, NEC which was formed in 1949 when Dr. Azikiwe was outside the country, died soon after his return.

Chief Awolowo at a meeting on 4th June 1950 was prepared to disband the proposed Action Group if the Egbe decided to have a political wing. This was according to him, “because party organization cost money and the people he looked up to for financial support were in the top hierarchy of the Egbe”. Chief Awolowo could only continue with the first meeting for the party organization after the Egbe had given its blessing.

The second decision was taken at the sixth meeting held on 8th October 1930, where nine persons were present and Chief Awolowo was so disappointed that he suggested winding up the meeting. It was Mr. E. A. Babalola, first time attendee, Chief Sowole and Mr. Ajasin who opposed the suggestion to wind up the meeting.

They argued that such a major project did not need a large number of people to get started. At the very next meeting which was the seventh, 27 people attended, encouragingly.

Furthermore, the third decision arose because of the higher number of attendees. Chief Awolowo suggested and ensured that the group set up a SHADOW CABINET. Each member was placed in charge of a subject and was also appointed as Chairman of such committee. Each committee was to study its particular subject thoroughly enough to be able to produce a policy paper on it.

The formation of the Action Group became a kind of necessity because the sage observed that the performances of the Western Region Representatives in both Regional and General Conferences for the review of the Richards Constitution exhibited lack of organization and they were lacking programme and effective leadership. For example, the then Mr. Anthony Enahoro deplored the weakness of the Western Members of the Legislative Council. They never knew what the other person was doing thereby exhibiting such kind of undisplined disposition.

Chief Awolowo in his Autobiography reiterated that “the new Constitution would be a test of the readiness and fitness of Nigerians to manage their own affair”.

The Action Group was the first to propose and establish the institution of “SHADOW CABINET”.

This is the practice in parliamentary system whereby the opposition party has permanent people to oversee different departments of government with a view to getting themselves well acquainted and

knowledgeable about their ministries so that if their party were to win at the next election, they will be ready to hit the ground running from their first day in office.

The Action Group was the first to have a party motto: FREEDOM FOR ALL, LIFE MORE ABUNDANT when Nigerians have (i) Freedom from British rule; (ii) Freedom from Ignorance; (iii) Freedom from disease; and (iv) Freedom from want.

In the 1951 Regional Election, the Action Group was the only party that published policy papers as well as a manifesto. There is a detailed account (Annexure 1) attached to this narrative to debunk the reactionary and false allegation that the Action Group introduced carpet crossing to Nigerian politics. Read the authentic account of the Colonial Government Public Relations Official in charge of the election. Also the late Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu, one of the first set of Action Group Organizing Secretaries along with Papa Adebanjo who was a participant actor had written a credible account about the 1951 Election.

In 1949 as a result of series of editorial comments written personally by Chief Awolowo entitled “CRY HAVOC” in the Nigerian Tribune, the Lieutenant Governors who thought that the power vested in them to nominate and pick ministers had no condition precedent, i.e. their powers were unfettered had to accept the painful reality that such powers could only be exercised after the advice of the majority party. The Colonial Officials erroneous impression got corrected in favour of the majority party. The East and the North in sequence followed and enjoyed the advantage that the Action Group courageously fought hard to achieve against the wishes of the colonial officers who wanted to continue to dominate the government formed by the Nigerian elected party representatives.

The Action Group was the pacesetter in the following among others, namely: “ i.

Voting by symbol was introduced into Nigeria by the Action Group and was first practised at the Local Government Elections in Ijebu-Remo in 1953. ii.

Steel ballot boxes and security-printed ballot papers were first used in the Western Region in 1956, at the instance and insistence of the Action Group Government. iii. The first motion calling for Nigerian Independence was moved by Chief Anthony Enahoro, CFR of the Action Group in 1953. iv. The first motion ever for the creation of a new Region – in this case for the creation of a Midwestern Region now broken into Delta and Edo States – was moved in the Western Region House of Assembly by an Action Group Member of the House. v. It was only in the Western Region that the Leader of Opposition was elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. vi. It was also in the Western Region that Ministers of Finance and of Works were withdrawn from the Tenders Board, and the membership of the Board was restricted to Officials headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, together with known members of the Action Group and of the NCNC chosen, from time to time in equal numbers by the said Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance. vii.

Agricultural Settlements and Institutes were first established in the Western Region. viii. It was in the Western Region that a minimum living wage was first introduced in Nigeria, and paid to workers in the Region. ix. The first-ever industrial estate and housing estate in Nigeria were established in the Western Region. x. The first television service in Nigeria, indeed in the whole of Africa, was established in the Western Region in 1959. xi. The very famous Liberty Stadium was the first and the best of its kind in Nigeria when it was built in 1959. In terms of elegance and comfort, it still remains the best in the country. xii. Before 1952, the Nigerian Government had never awarded as many as twenty university scholarships a year to Nigerian students. In that year (1952), the Western Region Government became the first ever to award two hundred university scholarships in one year to students of Western Region origin. xiii. It was in the Western Region, on 17th January 1955 that Free Universal Primary Education, and Free Health Services for children up to the age of eighteen, were first introduced in any part of Nigeria. It was also in the Western Region that a six-year primary course, instead of the then existing eight-year primary course, was first introduced.

Some people have disrespectfully and insultingly described the Western Region as “the wild, wild west”. No people with predominant wild inclinations such as are implicit in the description can record in a short period of eight years the supremely impressive, epoch-making, and pacesetting innovations and achievements which have been itemized above.

The truth about the people of the Western Region is that they are sufficiently enlightened and bold to refuse to be led by the nose by any person or group however sophisticated such person or group may appear. They are slow to anger; robust in contentions; alert to their rights, and will fearlessly resist and combat evil whenever and wherever they discern it, with all their might and resources.

To the people of the Western Region a leader is made, not born. He is expected to justify his leadership by his personal attributes, and by his works for the good of the people. Whereas in

some other parts of the country a leader is born and it is the followership that are expected to justify their worthiness to follow by the extremity of their obedience and subservience”.

There is no attempt here to claim that the Action Group was perfect as it never obtains in human domain. Yes the AG in fact erred on some policy measured which the party had to correct in conformity with the popular will of the electorate.

In fact there were many parts of Western Region which detested and rejected the Action Group party till the January 15, 1966 violent military insurrection against Alhaji Balewa’s led NPC/ NCNC coalition government.

EXISTENTIAL TRANSFORMATION/ METAMORPHOSIS OF AFENIFERE 13(i) After the first military insurrection of January 15, 1966, the Military Junta under General Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi issued series of decrees that suspended and abrogated the 1960 & the 1963 Republican Federal Constitutions to give itself some semblance of legitimacy. Let it therefore be stated again and for posterity that the negotiated 1960 Independence Constitution which was amended to produce the 1963 Republican Federal Constitution remained the only legitimately produced constitution that was democratically subscribed to by Nigerians.

Nigerians have not been given the democratic rights to produce an Autochthonous Constitution but rather, the Military Junta have severally imposed decrees called “Constitutions " that have unitarised and centralized Nigeria for the undue advantage of a section of Nigeria till date.

Major General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi, the new Military Head of State and Commander In-Chief on the 24th of May 1966 issued supplement to Official Gazette Extraordinary No. 51, Vol. 53, 1966 part A in a THE PUBLIC ORDER DECREE 1966 where in section 1 he announced the Dissolution of Political Parties, Tribal Unions and Cultural Organizations.

In schedule, Part 1, Section 1 and 12, the gazette listed the Political Societies or Associations. 84 Political Parties and Organizations that were dissolved. Along with that, the decree also dissolved 26 Tribal and Cultural Associations. The names were contained in the decree that is hereby annexed as Annexure 2 with explanatory remarks.

As soon as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the sage left and resigned from General Gowon’s Government, on July 1, 1971, (General Gowon’s response to Chief Awolowo’s resignation is hereby attached as Annexure 3), he and his closest allies started to brainstorm on the prospect for Nigerian political future ie the Second Republic. The group eventually crystalized into what was known as “The Committee of Friends”.

Part of their resolutions had to do with the name to be adopted for whatever political organization they formed. The Committee was composed of star studied people in several respect, quite a number of old faithful and respectable guards of the Action Group were the initial frontliners.

They were mindful of the Military Decree No. 33, A. 149 of 24th May, 1966 which had dissolved Political Parties Societies and tribal organizations and the transition decree of Muritala/Obasanjo government which prohibited any linkage with the First Republic Political Parties. Arising from the variously adopted policy options, the group adopted the name UNITY PARTY OF NIGERIA, UPN which was a National Political Party but was equally known as EGBE IMOLE in Yoruba land. So, AG/AFENIFERE became muted.

However, as Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s unending political transition agenda was evolving after the transition to glory of the AVARTAR, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, the former Governors of the UPN commenced meetings under the Chairmanship of Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, CFR, in Owo and was called Owo Group for sometimes before the group became People’s Consultative Forum, PCF. At the first meeting of the Governors, the meeting decided to invite me to join their next meeting and to be its General Secretary and Spokesman. That was how I served the organization for 15years honourarily.

At a meeting held in Chief Bola Ige’s, Ibadan residence sometimes in 1992 we examined the prospect of adopting a name for our organization.

A committee was constituted to verify whether or not Afenifere was among the organizations dissolved.

Being text of a press statement to mark the 70th Anniversary of the founding of Egbe Afenifere, issued by Mr. Ayo Opadokun, former General Secretary of Afenifere, former General Secretary and Spokeman of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), founding Convener, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER) and former Assistant Director of Organisation of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) on April 27, 2021.

NOTE: This piece continues in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, WEDNESDAY APRIL 28,2021

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WEDNESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE FORTY-EIGHT N’ASSEMBLY LAMENTS OVER WORSENING INSECURITY AS BUHARI SEEKS US’ HELP require varied approaches to resolve.

The security crisis also engaged the attention of the National Assembly with the House of Representatives demanding a state of emergency in the sector.

In the Senate, many senators fumed over the worsening insecurity and mandated its leadership to book an appointment with the president and service chiefs to discuss the issue and proffer solutions.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, were also on hand yesterday to proffer solutions to the security challenges hemming in the country.

Buhari, during the virtual meeting with Blinken, canvassed the support of the international community in the moves by Nigeria and the West African sub-region to tackle insecurity to avoid spillovers to other countries.

He also urged the United States to consider relocating the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) from Stuttgart, Germany, to Africa, nearer the theatre of operation.

He said: “The security challenges in Nigeria remain of great concern to us and impacted more negatively, by existing complex negative pressures in the Sahel, Central and West Africa, as well as the Lake Chad Region.

“Compounded as the situation remains, Nigeria and her security forces remain resolutely committed to containing them and addressing their root causes.

The support of important and strategic partners like the United States cannot be overstated as the consequences of insecurity will affect all nations hence the imperative for concerted

cooperation and collaboration of all nations to overcome these challenges."

He said the relocation of the AFRICOM, which partners with countries to counter transnational threats, to Africa, would strengthen ongoing efforts to check the insecurity and prevent the likelihood of a spillover if done.

“In this connection, and considering the growing security challenges in West and Central Africa, Gulf of Guinea, Lake Chad region and the Sahel, weighing heavily on Africa, it underscores the need for the United States to consider re-locating AFRICOM headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany to Africa and near the Theatre of Operation,’’ he said.

According to him, Nigeria will enhance collaborations in all forms, with friends and strategic partners to work together for greater security for all, which remain the most significant condition for overcoming existential challenges.

Buhari while congratulating Blinken on his appointment by President Joe Biden, commended the United States for the decision to repeal the immigration restriction known as the “Muslim ban,’’ re-joining the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Blinken said he was pleased to make Nigeria part of his “first virtual visit to Africa,” adding that Nigeria and the US share a lot in bilateral issues.

He stated that he would be delighted to build on the foundation laid over 60 years ago between the two countries.

He listed areas of discussion with Nigeria to include “how to build

our economies back after the COVID-19 pandemic, security for vulnerable communities, and climate issues.”

Terrorism in Nigeria Complex, Says UK Minister British Minister for Africa, Duddridge, has said the violence unleashed on Nigerians by Boko Haram and allied terror groups was a complex phenomenon that requires varied approaches to resolve.

Fielding questions from journalists yesterday in Abuja, when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy visit on Onyeama, Duddridge said the United Kingdom was a strong ally of Nigeria in the efforts to mitigate the challenges posed by terrorism and insurgency.

He stated: “The situation is massively complex and no partnership is going to resolve the multiplicity of problems whether it is Boko Haram or Daesh or a number of other issues. In the UK, you have a strong partner across the full gamut of issues, so, it is not just about intelligence and hard security and military, it is about societies, it is about humanitarian support, it is about education and development partnership.

“It is not an end game, we don’t get to a point where we would say ‘this is the end of our relationship with Nigeria,’ because we got what we want, we set a higher bar, we are long –term partners.”

Onyeama decried the complex nature of the challenges the country is facing, especially in the North-east due to the unconventional nature of the war against terrorism.

“It is not a conventional war, where the enemy is readily identifiable; it is asymmetrical warfare, and we are dealing with very difficult situations. We have an intelligence fusion unit with our partners -the US, UK, France,’’ he said, adding that intelligence sharing will continue to help.

Onyeama stated that there are issues to address such as deradicalisation, education, jobs, girl-child education and so many others needed to resolve the challenges of terrorism.

Senators Fume over Rising Insecurity, to Meet Buhari, Service Chiefs In the Senate yesterday, senators expressed anger over the deteriorating security situation in the country, mandating their leaders to book an appointment with Buhari and service chiefs to discuss the issue and proffer solutions.

It resolved to invite the service chiefs to brief senators on what they've been doing to tackle the menace.

These were part of resolutions the Senate made after senators debated a motion of urgent national importance, titled, 'Need for the federal government to deploy troops and other security apparatus to immediately bring an end to the menace of insurgency and terrorism in Niger State and other parts of Nigeria,' sponsored by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger East).

The Senate will also, invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Onyeama; Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), and the Director-General of

Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) to discuss the regional implications of the security challenges.

The Senate also called on the chief of defence staff, the chief of army staff and the inspector-general of police to immediately deploy troops to defend the unarmed populace and bring back security to the affected communities.

It also urged them to establish a permanent military and police command base at the axis adjoining Shiroro and Rafi Local Government Areas respectively and to redesign the modus of operandi of the military operations within the affected areas so as to curtail the escalating insecurity.

Moving the motion, Musa lamented that the activities of bandits and Boko Haram terrorists in Niger State has taken a dangerous dimension.

He recalled that the Senate had made resolutions, set up Ad-hoc Committee on Security and offered support to end the insecurity, all to no avail.

The Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, while rejecting the proposal by some senators to shut down the Senate for some time as they deliberated behind closed doors on the issue, suggested that supplementary budget would be needed to recruit more security personnel and purchase arms.

Adopting the motion, the senators thereafter observed a minute silence for all the victims of criminality nationwide.

House Demands State of Emergency In

the

House

Representatives, members called on Buhari to declare a state of emergency in the security sector with the growing spate of attacks and kidnappings nationwide.

The lawmakers also summoned the National Security Adviser (NSA), service chiefs, paramilitary chiefs, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service and the Managing Director of Nigerian COMSAT to brief the House on the security situation in the country.

House Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, read the resolutions of the lawmakers after a three-hour executive session yesterday to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the country.

The debate at the executive session made it impossible for the plenary to hold.

As part of its resolutions, the House condemned attacks on security agents and formations and sympathised with their families.

The House also sympathised with all the families and communities that have been victims of banditry, terrorism and criminal elements, particularly in Ukpo, Ifitedunu, Dunukofia, Geidam LGA, Abagana, IDP Camp in Makurdi Urikpam, Jato-Aka, Police Divisions in the South-east, Ehime Mbano, Uzo-Uwani in Enugu State, Uzuakoli in Abia State, Balenga Local Government Area of Gombe State, and parts of Imo and nationwide.

The House reiterated its commitment to the security and corporate existence of Nigeria and promised to accelerate its engagement with stakeholders on a special security summit to be organised by the House.

It stated: "Considering the security situation, the

of

Continued on page 49

urgent action to end this very serious problem. The situation, if left unchecked, will certainly have a negative impact on the economy and reverse recent economic gains.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the BIC Consultancy Services Limited, Dr. Boniface Chizea, told THISDAY that the worsening insecurity would undermine the country’s microeconomic stability desired by economic agents to be able to predict the economy.

Chizea said: “The Nigerian economy is wobbly and in dire straits and what is happening now (insecurity) would make it even more difficult for headway to be found. The beat must change.

“Generalised insecurity, as we have it today, could even negatively impact on some unlikely indices such as something as basic as the exchange rate. The insecurity in Nigeria has affected productivity at the farms and pushed up the inflation rate. Moreover, 73 million Nigerians are out of work today, estimated at 33 per cent of the workforce.

“Funds spent on attempting to curtail insecurity are money that could have been spent on the social sectors like health, education and for the provision of municipal services, including water supply and environmental

sanitation. At the level of the individual, money is also diverted for the provision of security instead of being spent in other welfareenhancing engagements.

“Generally, insecurity, as we have it in Nigeria today, is a piece of veritable bad news and this is the major reason why we must spare no efforts and expenditure to curb insecurity in the land.”

OPS URGES FG TO SAVE ECONOMY AS INSECURITY WORSENS NECA Director-General, Mr. Timothy Olawale, told THISDAY that the implication of the current insecurity on the economy is an unstable business environment that would impact negatively on the economy.

Olawale said: “Insecurity can depress or decimate consumer confidence, which in turn reduces consumers’ spending. Not only does insecurity affect individual spending; it also affects businesses due to the uncertainty insecurity creates, put off investment decisions. This certainly affects economic output and could be a major factor for total disruption of a nation’s economic growth."

He stated that the insecurity would negatively affect Nigeria’s participation in the AfCFTA agreement.

“In an insecure environment, production and manufacturing are highly affected and Nigeria can only benefit more and compete in the AFCTA when it has products to export under the agreement.

“But when insecurity has affected the process of production, there would be little or no form of exportation in the country, thereby making Nigeria to be at the receiving end of the bargain, as other nations under the agreement with relative peace would be

bringing in their own goods into the country under the agreement.

“Thus, to ensure Nigeria active participation in the AFCTA and sustain Nigeria’s economic growth rate, the government needs to protect domestic investments by stepping up its national security,” he added.

According to him, insecurity has reached an alarming proportion leading to loss of lives on a daily basis, comatose businesses, nose-diving investments and soaring unemployment.

He said: “Clearly, insecurity poses a threat to governance and economic growth. We have witnessed how economic activities in the North-eastern states of Nigeria have been crippled over the last decade due to the violent Boko Haram insurgency.

“We have also seen how agricultural produce in Benue State and a number of other North-central states of Nigeria have been badly affected by the herdsmenfarmers clashes. Thus, the spread of violent activities to other parts of the country, particularly the South-east, will further affect the general economy of the nation.

“But there is still hope for the economy if the federal government can quickly rise to the occasion and arrest these issues in a bid to salvage the nation.”

Olawale added that the impact of insecurity on investors’ confidence is already at play in Nigeria as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), stated that FDI flows to Nigeria averaged $5.3 billion annually from 2005-2007 but dropped to an average of $3.3 billion from 2015-2019, a period that has been marked by heightened and widespread insecurity in the country. It even went down to $2.6 billion in 2021.

News coverage on insecurity in a nation, according to him, could make things look worse to outsiders than they really are, thereby affecting their decisions to invest in such a country in less positive ways.

He said: “This is more reason the government needs to act quickly against this spate of violence.

“Insecurity will no doubt affect the economic growth rate and when the economic growth rate is impacted, the Gross Domestic Product would definitely be impacted negatively.

“We, however, hope that government will act now to stop the rising rate of violence in the country and prevent the nation from sliding into another recession, which is imminent in the event of their failure to act swiftly.”

Also, the Director-General of the LCCI, Dr. Muda Yusuf, expressed concern about the implications of the worsening insecurity on the economy, including the huge reputational cost for the country.

He said: “Nigeria’s country risk has been aggravated.

There is a high risk of capital flight, which would complicate matters for an already floundering economy.

“Unless we quickly stem the degenerating insecurity, it would be difficult for Nigeria to benefit from the AFCFTA. If we cannot make Nigeria a good investment destination, then the benefits of AFCFTA to us can only be very limited.

“The risk is that we may become a market destination for finished goods rather than an investment destination for production.”

Yusuf's counterpart in NACCIMA, Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, lamented the impact of insecurity on inflation.

He said the security situation in the country “will worsen inflationary trends as farmers are abandoning their farms while the distributive and logistics chain are being disrupted due to activities of bandits and kidnappers among others.

“As a national chamber with members across the country, we are deeply worried and call for

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WEDNESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

49

NEWS

Bandits Release another Video of Abducted Kaduna Forestry School’s Students Naval officer’s wife too John Shiklam in Kaduna A second video of the remaining 29 abducted students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna has surfaced on social media.

The bandits had invaded the school on March 11, 2021 about 11:30 pm and abducted 39 students.

Weeks after the abduction, 10 of the students were released following the payment of N17 million, according to sources close to the parents.

In the 4 minutes, 56

seconds-long video, recorded in the night, one of the bandits ordered the victims, including the wife of a naval officer, who was abducted in her home in Trikaniya, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis, to speak to their relations to pay ransom for their release.

The students spoke in both Hausa and English languages.

A female student, who was the first to speak, begged parents to pay the bandits so that they would be freed.

“Our parents we are begging you in the name of God to look for money and free us. Please do your best,”

she said in Hausa language.

Another student who gave his name as Yahaya Paul also pleaded with parents to help them out of captivity, saying they are facing hunger while many of them are sick.

“Please we are calling on our parents to help us and take us out of here. They should try their possible best to see us out of here.

Some of us are sick. We have not been eating well. Please parents help us so that we will come out of this place,” he said.

Benson Emmanuel, one of the students featured in the first video, begged the

parents to come to their rescue, saying they are tired of living in the forest.

Another student identified by the bandit as Hajiya, said almost all the students are sick.

“We are begging our parents to come and help us out of this place. We are tired. We have not been feeding well, there is sickness, there are challenges, and we are begging our parents to try hard to get us out of here.

We have spent 47 days here.

Almost all of us are not well.

There is no food. Rain is beating us outside, no room for us to sleep.

Another student, Vicky Sani, also begged parents to assist in securing their freedom.

A wife of a naval officer abducted in Trikaniya area of Kaduna metropolis also called on her husband to come and pay money for her release.

The woman who said her husband is serving with the Nigerian Navy in Warri, urged her husband to pay the bandits for her release.

“I was abducted at home in Trikaniya, Kaduna. My

husband is a Naval officer working in Warri, (Delta state).

“I am calling on my husband to come and get me out of this situation. I have been here for 17 days.

“Initially all of us were asked to bring N30m, I don't know what was later agreed upon,” she said.

The bandit who supervised the video recording asked the woman to send a message to the federal government.

“We are appealing to the federal government to come and rescue us... The government should help us,” the woman said.

Alleged Hoisting of Boko Haram's Flag in Niger

Headquarters (DHQ) were unsuccessful.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, did not respond to calls and messages sent to him.

But THISDAY gathered that the service chiefs have met severally with commanders in the past one week in order to develop a holistic response to security challenges afflicting the nation.

"There have been several meetings with governors in that regard. The chief of defence staff has held several meetings with governors in relation to security.

"The service chiefs have also been interfacing with commanders in all the services to develop a holistic response to all these issues," a security source said.

N’ASSEMBLY LAMENTS OVER WORSENING INSECURITY AS BUHARI SEEKS US’ HELP president should immediately declare a state of emergency in security so as to fast track all measures to ensure the restoration of peace in the country."

The House called on the judiciary to accelerate the prosecution of those awaiting trial due to banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities.

The House said the president should as a matter of urgency, ensure financial autonomy to local government councils to guarantee their functionality to serve the local populace.

Atiku, Saraki Proffer Solutions Meanwhile, a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has advised Buhari to seek help to tackle the increasing insecurity in the country.

In a statement he issued yesterday, Saraki lamented the spike in insecurity, stating that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has a role to play to combat it.

He said: “It is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) government need help. They have been overwhelmed by the situation and they sure need assistance from all.

Thus, I urge Mr. President to seek help wherever it can be given. This matter has gone beyond what the government can handle alone. The president should know that calling for help in our present situation is not a sign of weakness."

Saraki urged Buhari to bring together all former presidents and heads of state, serving and former chief justices, serving

and former presiding officers of the National Assembly, serving and former heads of security agencies, traditional rulers with relevant experience, leaders of the private sector, development partners, friends of Nigeria in the international community and all others who can help in ending insecurity.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar warned that criminality should no longer be treated with kid gloves.

He warned that darkness awaits Nigeria, if attacks on schools, particularly universities, are not stopped forthwith.

In a statement he issued yesterday, Atiku said the abduction of yet an unspecific number of undergraduates of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue

State, was one abduction too many.

He stated that abductions must not be allowed to become Nigeria’s new normal.

He said: “It is time for us as a nation to face the reality that we have an emergency on our hands. A catastrophe that must be decisively dealt with before it snowballs into an existential crisis.

"We must stop treating these acts of criminality with kid gloves. Enough is enough! There must be safety of lives and property in our citadels of learning, because without it, there would be a loss of confidence in the sector, which will result in low enrolment rates in a country that is amongst the highest statistically for out-of-school children," he stated.

Military Mum over

Meanwhile, the military high command did not respond to inquiries about its preparedness to tackle the threat posed by the alleged hoisting of Boko Haram's flag in Niger State, a contiguous state to the Federal Capital Territory.

Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, had on Monday raised the alarm that insurgents had sacked 50 villages in his state and hoisted the Boko Haram's flag.

He said the threat was so serious that even Abuja, the nation's capital, a two-hour drive from Niger State, was no longer safe.

However, efforts made

by THISDAY to get a response from the Defence

TAMBUWAL, EL-RUFAI RALLY NORTH-WEST STATES TO COMBAT BANDITRY vowed not to surrender to criminals terrorising the state, stressing that the duty of the state is to uphold the law and not to reward hoodlums for violating the lives, property and liberties of citizens.

According to another statement signed by Tambuwal’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Muhammad Bello, el-Rufai commended Tambuwal’s unflinching commitment to the pursuit of peace and security in all states, especially in the North-west.

He stated that governors of the seven states in the North-west have been working closely with President Muhammad Buhari to end banditry and kidnapping in the zone.

He described Tambuwal’s role in tackling banditry in the area as complete, fraternal and unbiased.

He said: “I want to express my appreciation to Governor Tambuwal for cooperating with us in a totally, brotherly and nonpartisan manner to bring the whole of the North-west together. May Allah reward you with His blessings.”

He, however, expressed concern over the rising cases of kidnapping and banditry in the zone and its effect on the public.

“There is concern on the sufferings that people face, as they have been going through difficulties because of these attacks occasioned by bandits.

“From Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and parts of Kebbi and Niger States, our people have been going through trials and tribulations arising from the activities of bandits.

“As governors, we have been meeting, putting our heads together to do the best we can. The last meeting we had was last Thursday with the president. ”We expressed our concerns and came up with a critical road map to end this banditry in our region once and for all,” el-Rufai said.

Tambuwal stated that the security challenges in the zone have become worrisome and a great source of concern to all the governors in the region.

Tambuwal said the latest was the murder of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and eight policemen in Kebbi on Monday and the recent attack on Dange Local Government of Sokoto State, during which lives were lost.

“We must all put our hands on deck to ensure

that we nip this thing in the bud,” he said, adding: “As you rightly said, we have been working together and collaborating. There’s no issue of party."

He said security and development have nothing to do with party, explaining that it is all about the people that they represent.

“I have always said there should not be politics in developing and dealing with security issues.

“We must remain one to confront the bad elements among us. They came together to fight us, so we must come together to fight them,” Tambuwal said.

We Won’t Surrender to Criminals, Says Kaduna Govt Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government has vowed not to surrender to criminals, saying it would not waver in discharging its duty to uphold the law and not to reward hoodlums for violating the lives, property and liberties of citizens.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, the state government stated that it would not negotiate with

criminals.

It acknowledged that el-Rufai had in a 2014 interview called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to use all options, including negotiation, to rescue the Chibok girls but added that the situation is different now.

It said: “The years since 2014 may have led some people to forget the denial and doubt that defined the federal government’s response to the Chibok abduction, especially the initial refusal to acknowledge that it happened. That was the context under which civic pressures were brought on the government.”

The state government added that Nigeria’s journey since 2014 Chibok tragedy has proven that the solution to violent crimes, including terrorism and banditry is a robust response from the state and its coercive agencies.

According to the statement, the money paid as ransom following many negotiations with bandits have not stopped kidnappings, reduced their frequency or deterred the criminals.

“The experience of many states in the North-west of Nigeria since 2015 has

included cattle rustling, kidnappings, killings and the devastation of communities by criminals.

Several states sought to negotiate their way out of the problems by talking to bandits, paying them money or offering them amnesty.

This has not worked and has only encouraged the criminals to press ahead for a surrender of the public treasury to them. That is clearly not in the public interest,” the statement added.

It stated that negotiations and ransoms have not stopped the criminals but have only encouraged them.

“It is only prudent to review one’s position when the facts change and the suggestion made by a citizen years ago cannot be taken as the immutable answer to a serious problem that has evolved since 2014, no matter the viral replays of the said video clip,” it said.

The Kaduna State Government said it had been consistently transparent about its security challenges.

“It has supported and continues to resource the security agencies in the state. We are engaging the federal government to have security responses that move

away from the reactive response of repelling bandits towards a comprehensive, proactive offensive that takes the battle to the criminals and uproot them.

As a sub-national, with no direct control of any of the security agencies, we cannot make this task more difficult by giving criminals the resources to acquire more arms,” the statement said.

The state government said it regretted the recent kidnapping and killings of students from tertiary institutions in the state, and sympathised with their families with whom it also shared the aim of the safe return of all the students.

It said: “We mourn the dead students and we offer our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. The ruthless and the heartless resort of the kidnappers to murdering these young persons is part of their effort to further their blackmail and compel us to abandon our ‘no-ransom, no negotiation policy. Are people bothering with the consequences of state surrender to hoodlums, or is the continued politicisation of security challenges not going to make all of us ultimately victims of the insurgents?”

50

WEDNESDAY APRIL 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Ortom, IDPs Kick as Suspected Herdsmen Kill Seven in Benue Gunmen kill policeman in Ebonyi, raze federal high court

George Okoh in Makurdi Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Abagana camp, yesterday protested against the recent attack on their camp and killings by herdsmen.

The IDPs, who embarked on physical protest, blocked the Makurdi-Lafia Federal Highway and laid the corpses of the victims on the road.

Also, one policeman was feared killed yesterday by gunmen who raided Onueke community in the Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Three civilians were also reportedly shot and dispossessed of their valuables by the rampaging gunmen who stormed the busy Onueke town at about 3pm.

The slain policeman and his colleagues were trying to repel the six hoodlums who held the town hostage for more than an hour.

The gunmen were said to have first attacked a residence of a native doctor identified as Azuoba, where they allegedly

damaged vehicles and other property in his compound.

Hoodlums have also set ablaze the Federal High Court in Abakaliki.

The fire, which was said to have been started in the early hours of yesterday, affected the library and security posts of the building.

No casualty was recorded in the attack but court records in the Library were completely destroyed.

The building is located along the Enugu/Abakaliki Highway opposite the state People’s Democratic Party (PDP) State office.

Meanwhile, the suspected herdsmen yesterday morning invaded Abagana IDP camp killing seven persons.

Ortom yesterday confirmed the attack on Abagena Internally Displaced Persons camp in Makurdi by suspected herdsmen, that left seven persons dead and many others injured.

Ortom stated this when he visited the camp, where the IDPs were already protesting the attack by blocking the Makurdi-Lafia road

Finally, Ibezim Takes Oath as Imo North Senator Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Ibrahim El-Ladan, yesterday administered the oath of office on Imo North Senator, Chukwuma Frank Ibezim.

The Senator took the oath in the course of the plenary presided over by President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had on February 16 affirmed the December 4 verdict of the trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, which disqualified Ibezim as the APC candidate over false statements contained in the educational documents he tendered before the party and INEC. The suit was instituted against Ibezim by one Asomugha Elebeke, while APC; Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume were the respondents.

In another judgment, a Federal High Court in Abuja on March 18, 2021, ordered the INEC to declare Ararume as the winner of the December 5, 2020 by-election for the Imo North Senatorial District of Imo State.

Justice Taiwo Oladipupo Taiwo held in a judgment that Ararume remained the authentic candidate of the APC in the election and should be declared the winner of that election.

But Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Supreme Court, while delivering a unanimous judgment of the panel on Friday, April 16, 2021, held that the suit and verdicts of the two courts cannot stand because they were statute barred (out of time)

Zulum: I Have Told Buhari Truth about North-east Security Challenge Deji Elumoye in Abuja Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State yesterday disclosed that he had given President Muhammadu Buhari a detailed information about the security challenges facing the North-east geo-political zone.

The governor, who spoke after a closed-door meeting with the President on Monday night at the State House, Abuja said he told the President all what he should know about security issues facing the zone.

Zulum said: “I think it is my own responsibility to come and say the truth to Mr. President; let him know what is going on in the entire North-east

sub-region”.

He stressed the need to seek external support in the move to fight the mounting security problems especially in his home state, Borno.

“I think there is the need for us to get support for us to succeed in this war against insurgents. It’s very pathetic.

Few days ago, Damask was attacked; hundreds of people started fleeing Damask and now Geidam is almost deserted; many people have left Geidam In Borno, particularly, the Brigade Headquarters was attacked; many soldiers, men and officers of the Nigerian Army were killed”.

The governor said that the attacks were becoming unacceptable, warned that with the current insecurity situation in the country Nigeria was becoming a Banana Republic that needed to be salvaged.

He also said that more than 70 people were killed in Guma, Makurdi and Gwer West Local Government Areas, of the state in the last two weeks.

“You have all seen what is happening within the last two weeks. We have lost over

70 people in Guma, Makurdi and Gwer West LGAs alone, in addition to what you have seen here.

“Many are in the hospital apart from the seven that were killed. But I want to say that our patience is being overstretched in spite of our preaching of rule of law and due process. You can see that the people are fed up.’’

He added that the patience of Nigerians was being overstretched by the

situation, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari should declare an emergency on security before the country collapses.

“I want to say that our patience is being overstretched on preaching due process of the law. Mr. President must rise up. He is the president of Nigeria and over 250 nationalities in the country who voted him into power” “We all voted him and he took an oath to protect

lives and property. What is happening now is unacceptable and can’t continue. Mr. President must rise up to address the nation himself, not Garba Shehu.

Mr. President must tell us where we are going in this country. The body language, the actions and inactions of Mr. President shows he is the president of Fulani. I have written to him severally over the activities of these people”.

SEVENTY-SEVEN HEARTY CHEERS……

L-R: Acting Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Oyedamola Oke (left); and the Guest Lecturer, Prof. Onipede Wusu, at the 77th inaugural lecture of LASU in Ojo, Lagos… yesterday ETOP UKUTT

Army Threatens to Sue those Sharing Photos of Slain Soldiers The Nigerian Army has threatened to take legal actions against those sharing photos of slain troops on social media, Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General, Mohammed Yerima, has said.

Photos and videos of soldiers killed in Rivers, Borno and other states by insurgents and criminals had surfaced lately on social media.

But in a statement issued yesterday, the Army “condemns in the strongest term possible, the indiscriminate sharing on

social media of graphic pictures of personnel who paid the supreme price in the cause of defending and protecting the country from its adversaries”.

The statement was titled: ‘Protest against Indiscriminate and Insensitive Sharing of Graphic Pictures of Kill-inAction Soldiers on Social Media’.

The Army described the act as “unpatriotic” and “utterly reprehensible”.

The statement partly read, “Officers and soldiers of the

Nigerian Army deployed to various theatres of internal security operations are on legitimate duties and are in the harm’s way to defend and protect the country from those who are intent on destroying it.

“In the course of carrying out this constitutional mandate, troops put their lives on the line to ensure that innocent citizens and institutions of the state are protected from violent criminals. In some cases, these gallant officers and soldiers are meted with

the worst form of savagery by the heartless adversaries whose intent is to instill fear on of the citizenry.

“While the Nigerian Army and its personnel understand the nature of the noble calling and are ever ready to confront any danger of adversity on the way, what is most unfathomable is the glee with which some people share the gory pictures of officers and soldiers who are either killedin-action or Wounded-in-action in the media.

Osinbajo: Nigeria will Overcome Current Security Challenges Deji Elumoye in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has given an assurance that Nigeria would soon overcome the current security challenges it was facing.

He also disclosed that the nation’s security architecture was being re-organised with a view to achieving optimal result.

The vice president, according to a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, stated this while playing host to

His Royal Majesty, Yakanaje Uke in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi Hassan.

He promised that the present challenges would prepare Nigeria for a greater and prosperous future, urging the traditional institution to support the reengineering process.

“I believe strongly that the reason why we are experiencing what we are going through today is because we are being prepared for the future. A future where we

will take into account all of the problems because if we haven’t gone through the problems we are going through now, it will be difficult for us to appreciate the importance of fairness and justice, the importance of giving people a voice and a representation. I am very pleased to hear about what you are doing.”

According to him, “there is no question at all that we are facing security challenges, but we are able to overcome them. The role

of the leadership is to sit down to think through the problems.

“This is a big country, so policing is very difficult. There is a need for us to reorganise our security architecture, which is what is going on now.”

He explained that “one of the reasons why we have some of the divisions and conflicts in the parts of the country is because people do not feel included in the management of affairs in their localities.”

NAF Trains 233 Pilots in US, UK, S’Africa to Tackle Insecurity Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday disclosed that no fewer than 233 NAF pilots were undergoing specialised training at different aviation colleges in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa and the Czech Republic.

Also, four new wings comprising two fighter pilots and two combat helicopter

pilots have just completed their training in the US. Disclosing this at the winging of the four new pilots in Abuja, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, said this bears glowing testament to the NAF’s commitment towards enhancing and sustaining critical airpower capabilities required for joint force employment in pursuit of

national security imperatives.

This, according to him, was based on the fact that the service cannot effectively and efficiently employ airpower if it did not have sufficient number of well-trained aviators and support personnel.

Amao promised to sustain purposeful training and human capacity development for NAF personnel.

He stated, “In line with this

drive, I am glad to note that the Nigerian Air Force has several other pilots as well as personnel from other specialties undergoing various training courses both at home and abroad.

“For instance, we currently have a total of 233 officers and airmen/airwomen undergoing training courses overseas, cutting across several specialties and trades.

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NEWSXTRA

Sanwo-Olu Delivers 51 Road Projects in Two Years Segun James No less than 51 iconic road projects have been delivered across Lagos State by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu within two years of the implementation of his administration’s infrastructure renewal programme, an official has said.

The Governor’s Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Aramide

Adeyoye, listed the roads yesterday during the ongoing inter-ministerial press briefing organised to commemorate Sanwo-Olu’s second anniversary in office.

Adeyoye said the projects were selected on the basis of their strategic importance to enhance connectivity and improve economic activities across the metropolis.

She observed that the state government was undertaking 43 capital projects deemed pertinent to delivering efficient traffic management and intermodal transportation system in Lagos.

She noted that traffic management and transportation is the first pillar in the Sanwo-Olu administration’s development blueprint, known as T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.

She cited some of the projects delivered to include Pen-Cinema flyover, ramp and

road works on Ikorodu Road, Lagos-Ogun Boundary roads Phase II, Lekki Oniru Traffic Circulation Projects, network of 31 roads in Ojokoro, and Aradagun-Epeme-Iworo-Ajido, among others.

The Special Adviser disclosed that construction was moving towards completion on 23 public buildings mapped out by the state government to drive socio-economic development.

Aside the capital projects, Adeyoye said the state

government had also embarked on regular maintenance work of the major and inner roads across the State.

The intervention, she pointed out, has led to the rehabilitation of over 632 arterial roads by Lagos State Public Works Corporation, covering an approximate length of 192 kilometres.

She said: “Lagos State Government, under the leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu, has continued

to deliberately invest in infrastructure as the development driver of the State’s economy and the Greater Lagos vision, thereby providing jobs for hundreds of our residents, as well as bringing immediate impactful succour to commuters in the State. In this aggressive campaign on delivery of roads and bridges, this administration has embarked on massive repair and rehabilitation of existing roads and construction of new road projects.

Davidson Iriekpen

from today (Wednesday night), was necessitated by the deadly attacks on security personnel by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

He said: “The Government of Rivers State has decided to restrict night movements into and out of the State from the land borders of the state.

“Consequently, a night curfew is hereby imposed and no person or vehicle is allowed into and out of

Rivers State from 8.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. from tomorrow (Wednesday) 28 April 2021 until further notice.

“We wish to advise that those who have any legitimate need or reason to come into or go out of the state must do so before 8.00 p.m. when the curfew shall come into force daily.”

The governor stated that security agencies have been posted to monitor and enforce

strict compliance with the curfew at all borders and or entry and exit points with Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Imo States.

He explained that on Saturday some innocent officers of the customs, police, and civil defence services on their duty posts along the Port Harcourt – Owerri Expressway were ambushed and gruesomely murdered in cold blood by armed attackers.

FG to Monitor Exclusivity of TV Programmes Rivers Imposes Curfew to Avert Security Breaches Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the federal government was setting up an audience measurement system to be able to facilitate its decision to fight exclusivity of programme to any cable TV. The minister, who appeared yesterday before the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, said it had been discovered that there was no scientific measurement system to know the number of viewing eyeballs glued to television per time or its content.

This, he said, prompted the government’s decision to guide advertisers and manufacturers seeking to promote a product.

He said it was also observed

that exclusivity of programme that was limited to one organisation, thereby shutting out Nigerians who are not on that platform from having access to the same popular content on their platforms.

However, in a bid to ensure that there is access to same content, the ministry has carried out some amendment of the broadcasting code and compelled the organisation to carry out negotiation between platforms so that in spite of their purchase of television content from the UK and Italy they are compelled by the code to negotiate with other cable platform to allow them use it.

Speaking further, the minister said the rollout of the Digital switch over which will begin April 29 has challenged many artistes to improve on their game because the use of the boxes will create millions of jobs in the industry.

Following the incessant security breaches and deadly attacks on security personnel in Rivers State, Government has imposed night curfew at all entry and exit points into the state, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Imo States.

In a state broadcast yesterday, Governor Nyesom Wike said the curfew which takes effect

19 Bandits’ Informants Nabbed in Niger Laleye Dipo in Minna Not less than 19 suspected agents of bandits have been arrested by men of the local security outfits in Munya and Shiroro Local Government Areas of Niger State.

Five of the agents, made up of two brothers and three Fulani herdsmen, were apprehended

at Chiri village in Shiroro LGA. The remaining 14 informants were arrested at Fuka in Munya LGA according to a report from the area.

They were said to have been assisting the bandits with information about the movements of security operatives in the state as well as areas to attack by bandits.

It was gathered that the suspects have been handed over to the Police in Minna, the state capital, for investigation.

When contacted, the state Police Command Public Relations Officer confirmed the arrest of the alleged informants, promising to get across to THISDAY on the actual number of those arrested but did not

do so until the time of filing this report.

The state Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, had said at a recent meeting at the Government House that there were moles in the security set up of the state, and that the moles were giving out information about government’s plans to apprehend the bandits.

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CAN Cautions Muslim Leaders against Instigating Religious Crisis Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned some Muslim leaders in Nigeria against promotion of violence that may throw the country into avoidable religious crisis.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Secretary, Rev. Joseph Bade Daramola, the religious body accused some Islamic leaders of provoking their Christian counterparts to anger in the way they conducted their activities.

“We are worried and disappointed with the activities of some Islamic extremists in the country whose past time is how to trigger religious crises and violence and throw the already nervous country as a result of serious security concerns into utter confusion.

“All over the country, there are some actions that are being taken by some Islamic leaders, who are out to provoke their Christian counterparts to anger, which CAN has been working behind the scene to nip such ungodly actions in the bud,” it said.

CAN said that it was still trying to curb the violence occasioned by the Kwara State Governor’s directive to mission’s schools to allow the wearing of hijab.

CAN noted that some extremists had capitalised on the situation to build Ummul Khair Central Mosque and Islamic Centre beside the Catholic Bishop’s House and the Secretariat primarily to tempt peace-loving Christians into a religious crisis.

CAN wondered if Islamic

1,175,285 Nigerians Have Received COVID-19 Vaccine, Says FG Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja A total of 1,175,285 eligible Nigerians have so far received the first dose of the COVID19 vaccine.

From the statistics released yesterday by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), only 58.4 per cent of the targeted population in the first phase had been vaccinated.

The report showed that Lagos, Kaduna and Kano states were still leading in the number of persons vaccinated with 228,378; 61,170 and 60,597, respectively.

The vaccination statistics showed that Abia has 13,270;

Adamawa ,20,732; Akwa Ibom, 13,032; Anambra, 12,591; Bauchi, 36,726; Bayelsa 10,783; Benue, 23,268; Borno, 23,081 ; Cross River, 26,435; Delta, 22,354; Ebonyi, 9,932; Edo, 29,889; Ekiti, 24,164; Enugu, 13,997; FCT, 527,805; Gombe, 27,515; Imo, 20,256; Jigawa, 29,969; Kaduna, 61,170; Kano, 60,597; Katsina, 39984; Kebbi, 16,328 and Kogi, 12,563 Others are: Kwara, 31,352; Lagos, 228,378; Nasarawa, 19,966 ; Niger, 27,722; Ogun, 53,484; Ondo, 31,579; Osun, 21,387; Oyo, 40,122; Plateau, 29,148; Rivers, 39,927; Sokoto, 12,169; Taraba, 9,935; Yobe, 21,463 and Zamfara, 16,552.

Abe Debunks Alleged $650m Contract Scam Peter Uzoho A member of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and former federal lawmaker, Senator Magnus Abe, yesterday debunked his alleged involvement in a so-called $650 million oil contract scam, insisting that it only existed in the imagination of those interested in ripping Nigeria off.

Abe, who insisted that he would continue to defend the country’s interest, was reacting to a report (not by THISDAY) titled: “Petroleum Minister, Cronies Plot Kangaroo NNPC Report to Divert $650 million Oil Contracts to Themselves.”

In a statement he personally signed, Abe noted that the report was designed to create the impression of a major scandal and armtwist the federal government in the recent attempt to revoke some oil blocks from a foreign company, Addax Petroleum.

The Abe-led presidential interministerial committee recently submitted a report to the federal government on the abandoned $1 billion Kaztec Engineering Limited (KEL) fabrication yard, located in Ilase village, Snake Island, Amuwo-Odofin Council, Lagos State.

While presenting the report, Abe stressed that aside the 3,000 jobs lost to the collapse of the facility in which Kaztec already invested over $650 million, after Addax declared a force majeure

over an unrelated matter, monies invested in equipment were also wasted.

The former senator explained that the committee was set up by presidential directive conveyed by the Chief of Staff to the President, saying that there was nothing in the committee’s assignment that involved the allocation of oil blocks.

“In 2015 the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari in keeping with its anti-corruption agenda accused Addax of tax atrocities which resulted in substantial losses to the federal government.

“Addax was asked to pay. In response, they declared a force majeure on their exploration activities and cancelled their investments in the oil fields,” Abe explained.

He added that the Nigerian company, Kaztec that had invested millions of dollars in the project with Addax was forced to bear the brunt of the entire dispute, which was actually between Addax Petroleum and the Nigerian government.

“Nigerians must look beyond the needless sensationalism and ask the hard questions that need to be answered,” Abe stated.

He queried whether it was the company accused of tax fraud and abandoned its Nigerian investments for over 10 years or the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) that tried to hold them to account that should be held responsible for deceiving the president.

schools would allow Catholics or Christian women who are their students to dress to the school premises in their cassocks.

“To compound the problem, one Imam Abubakar Ali-Agan and the General Manager, Kwara State Physical Planning Authority, are claiming that there was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Catholic Bishop of Ilorin and

the owners of the Ummul Khair Central Mosque before they built the two buildings, whereas, it was absolute falsehood and misinformation.

“But if they are certain about their claim, they should publish the said Memorandum of Understanding.

“It is high time we advised some Muslim leaders in the country to stop fishing in

troubled waters with a view to provoking Christians whom they share the same neighbourhood with. This should stop,” CAN said.

CAN said that no religion had monopoly of violence, “hence, Christian leaders continue, always, to caution faithful Christians against provocative actions against other religions or citizens

wherever they live as Jesus Christ taught us.

“We therefore call on the security agencies to caution and prevent any group of people whose actions can lead to religious and social crises and violence in the country. We also call on all well-meaning Islamic leaders to talk to their members with provocative and evil-intended actions.

TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY…

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Kamar Olowoshago; Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Oluwatoyin Fayinka; Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederick Oladeinde; Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Olusina Thorpe, during the 2021 ministerial press briefing of the transport ministry to commemorate second year in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, in Ikeja…yesterday

EFCC Sets up Chemical Laboratory to Fight Illegal Oil Bunkering The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded plans to establish a fully-integrated chemical laboratory in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to combat illegal oil bunkering in the zone.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the Commission, Aliyu Naibi, while hosting the executives of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, System 2E Eastern zone, who paid him a courtesy visit.

According to a statement by the EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, Naibi said the issue of

illegal oil bunkering was rampant in the Niger Delta region, noting that the EFCC had been relying on the Department of Petroleum Resources for product analysis, in the investigation of such cases.

To reduce the time of waiting for product analysis and improve on the investigation of cases of illegal oil bunkering, the commission is setting up a chemical laboratory to that effect.

“I want to use this opportunity to inform you of the establishment of a Laboratory in the Port Harcourt’s Zone. With the Laboratory in place, the waiting time for report of product

analysis will be reduced and the investigation of cases of illegal oil bunkering will gain more speed,” the statement titled, ‘EFCC floats chemical laboratory,’ quoted him as saying.

He also explained the efforts of the EFCC in boosting the economy, stressing that the “EFCC is working tirelessly to provide enabling environment for businesses. We are committed to support the genuine business aspiration of every Nigerian.’’

Earlier, PERTOAN’s Zonal Chairman, Prince Sunny Nkpe expressed delight with the EFCC in its synergy and support for

his association, “especially the intervention of the commission in ensuring that our members illegally arrested by the Joint Task Force were released”.

He explained that PETROAN was concerned about illegal refining, bunkering and adulteration of petroleum products in Rivers State and had taken practical steps to ensure quality control of products.

“If there are issues of product adulteration, we will trace such a product to where it was loaded.

Movements of trucks and drivers are now being tackled through our Quality Control Unit”, he said.

Insurgency: Yobe Asks Military to Incorporate Vigilantes, Hunters Michael Olugbode in Damaturu Yobe State Government has called on the military and other security agencies to incorporate hunters and local vigilantes into their war strategies against Boko Haram terrorists.

This was part of the recommendations of the expanded security meeting convened by the state Governor, Hon. Mai-Mala Buni, to discuss the security situation of the state after weekend’s attack by Boko

Haram on Geidam.

A communique signed by the Special Adviser on Security to the governor, Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd), after the meeting yesterday, which was chaired by the governor and had in attendance cross-section of stakeholders, including senior government functionaries from the executive and legislative arms, traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and representatives from the army, police, civil defence, and the

Department of State Services (DSS), said it has become important to welcome the hunters and vigilantes into the ongoing war against insurgents in the state.

They also agreed that the military and other security agencies should work to protect Gaidam and its environs to enable the people who have fled their homes to return and live in peace, and that the security agencies should liaise more closely and engage

actively with community leaders and the people in the community generally to ensure synergy and intelligence sharing that would be useful in preventing attacks.

The state urged the police to quickly re-establish their presence as a symbol of authority in Gaidam, and that the traditional leaders should also be actively engaged in the effort to restore public confidence, peace, and security in other parts of the state.

Foundation Condemns Incessant Attacks on Police Sunday Okobi Irked by the incessant attacks on police personnel and formations in the South-east, an international non-governmental organisation, Jose Foundation United Kingdom, yesterday condemned the acts, lamenting that it was a threat to justice, peace and development.

In a statement signed and issued by the President of the Foundation, Dr. Martins Abhulimhen, which was

made available to journalists yesterday, the group said the police were the foundation of stability and peace in any society.

It said an attack on the police was an attack on Nigeria’s foundation of peace, justice and good governance, reproving the attacks in its entirety.

The group argued that an attack on the country’s security apparatus of stability was an attack on Nigeria, and

must be condemned by all well-meaning citizens of the country.

Abhulimhen said the ugly development was tainting Nigeria’s image as a major player in the international community, and must not be allowed to continue.

According to him, “We condemn the recent attacks on our revered police and their formations in the south-eastern part of Nigeria carried out by enemies of peace, justice and

development.

“These attacks on the police personnel and destruction of police stations are done by those who are bent on tarnishing the good image of Nigeria and paint the country as a lawless state.

“We cannot allow such callowness to continue to reign in our land because it will impair justice delivery, as the police are a major player in the process of serving justice to the offended.”

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NBC’s Threat on Channels TV Unacceptable, Says IPC Station apologises for breach of code

The International Press Centre (IPC) has rejected the decision of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to sanction Channels Television for interviewing the spokesman of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), during

the broadcast of its ‘Politics Today’ programme on Sunday April 25, 2021.

In a statement issued by its Communications Officer, Olutoyin Ayoade, IPC argued that Channels Television was actually acting in the public

and national interest by seeking to question the spokesperson of an organisation whose existence, despite proscription, the government especially through the Nigerian Army had continuously recognised and which in the past couple of weeks had been accused of being

responsible for reprehensible acts of serial killing of policemen and arson in Imo State and other parts of the South-east.

This is coming as the NBC yesterday said Channels Television had apologised over its infraction of the broadcasting code.

IPC noted that in the course of the said interview, the anchor, Mr. Seun Okinbaloye, did refer to IPOB as a proscribed organisation, just like many other media outlets that had previously reported the tactical assault on its operational headquarters.

IPC disclosed that the decision of the Nigerian media to report the alleged activities of IPOB was in full cognisance of the fact that there is no law of the Nigerian Federation that forbids the media from reporting the activities or alleged activities of a proscribed organisation.

Report: Politicians Own 800 Assets Worth $400m in London, Dubai Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

An Associate Fellow of Chatham House, London, Mr. Matthew Page, said yesterday that 800 property worth $400 million and owned by Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) in Nigeria were located in London and Dubai.

The revelation is coming as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof.

Bolaji Owasanonye, said it dragged about 2,000 corporate entities into the country’s tax net.

A statement issued by ICPC said Page made the disclosure in his paper presentation titled: “IFFs through the Real Estate and Education Sectors: Implications for Investigators,” at an event organised by the agency in Abuja.

He urged the investigators of the ICPC to pay attention to real estate and education sectors-linked

illicit financial flows.

He noted that IFFs provided opportunities for politically exposed persons (PEPs) in Nigeria to launder money through real estate and education sectors.

“Most of the properties held

by Nigerian politicians in London and Dubai are held by proxies, family and shell companies.

“Over 800 properties worth over $400 million have been linked to Nigerian PEPs,” Page said.

Responding to questions from journalists at the end of a capacity building for ICPC investigators on investigating Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) held at the corporate headquarters of the Commission, Owasanoye disclosed that the 2,000 corporate entities were uncovered by investigations undertaken by the commission, which also forwarded their names to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for profiling.

Kaduna Assembly Declares Ex-Speaker’s Seat Vacant John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State House of Assembly has declared the seat of its former Speaker, Hon. Aminu Abdullahi Shagali, vacant.

Shagali was said to have been absent from the activities of the Assembly for more than a year without any reason.

The decision to declare Shagali’s seat vacant was taken by the Assembly during a plenary session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Isaac Auta Zankai, yesterday.

The Assembly also extended the suspension of three of its members-Yusuf Liman (APC, representing Makera); Isah Hazo (APC, representing Basawa), Nuhu Goro Shadalafiya (APC, representing Kagarko), and Salisu Isa (APC, representing Magajin

Gari) for another 12 months.

The three lawmakers were initially suspended on August 11, 2020, for a period of nine months following the fracas that erupted during the plenary on June 11, 2020.

A committee that investigated the incident, which was caused by alleged plot to impeach the Speaker, Yusuf Zailani, had recommended the suspension of the three members, and reprimand other members in accordance with the Assembly’s code of conduct.

The Clerk of the Assembly had been directed to communicate the decisions of the Assembly to the affected lawmakers as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce new date of re-run for the seat.

Enugu Raises the Alarm over Plot to Sabotage NCC’s Industrial Park Project Gideon Arinze in Enugu The Enugu State Government (ENSG) has raised alarm over plans by some individuals to sabotage the ongoing construction of a Digital Industrial Park (DIP) by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), at the green triangle of the popular Murtala Mohammed Park.

The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Obi Kama, said yesterday in a public statement that some individuals have been using different guises to disrupt the ongoing construction works at the site.

Kama clarified that the ENSG allocated Plot OS/1, Old GRA

Enugu (where the green triangle, Murtala Mohammed Park is located) to the NCC via the Enugu State Ministry of Land’s letter reference No. LEN:38779/8, dated September 8, 2020, for the construction of DIP. He pointed out that the park would birth the digital transformation for advancement of socio-economic goals of the South East geo-political zone in particular and Nigeria in general.

He warned that those involved in the sabotage would face the full wrath of the law, adding that any person with genuine grievance is encouraged to channel it through the appropriate agency of government.

DIPLOMATIC VISIT…

Algerian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Hocine Latli (left); and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, during a visit to the minister’s office in Abuja…yesterday

House Uncovers Budget Fraud in NUC Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee, which is investigating capital projects executed and funds repeated every year in the Appropriation Act

by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) since 2015, yesterday uncovered a three-year duplication of annual budget figures by

the National Universities Commission (NUC).

This was as the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, berated MDAs for failing to turn up for the probe.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Abubakar Makki Yalleman, said the agency duplicated its annual capital budgets from 2017 to 2020.

He urged MDAs to provide accurate information which is supported with facts to assist the committee in the discharge of its task.

Yalleman also appealed to those yet to make submission to the ad-hoc committee do so urgently as they would not accept any excuses on plea of ignorance.

Speaking on absence of MDAs at the probe, he said

he expected permanent secretaries of government agencies and their directors of procurement not to have turned down their invitation to the inquest.

Yalleman, however, assured them that their absence, notwithstanding, the committee will be thorough and conclusive in its task to get erring agencies to account to the people.

CSOs Protest Exclusion of e-voting in Electoral Act, Demand INEC Independence

Chuks Okocha and Udora Orizu in Abuja

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations yesterday protested at the National Assembly against the non-inclusion of electronic voting, provision of financial autonomy for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), protection of people with disabilities, among others, in the new Electoral Act. The coalition in a statement jointly signed and presented

on its behalf by the Project Manager of YIAGA Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, harped on the need to reform the electoral legal framework that would encourage active citizens’ participation and guarantee their rights in electing leaders and representatives that will provide good governance by addressing gaps in the current electoral legal framework.

The statement read: “In December 2020, the National Assembly held a public hearing on the Electoral Act

Amendment Bill which provided an opportunity for citizens and stakeholders to participate and make their input in the electoral reform process. The Senate president at that time promised Nigerians a new Electoral Act

by March 2021. That timeline has come and gone! ‘’Elections remain the fulcrum and constant cardinal feature in a democracy. It is important to protect all conditions and instruments required to conduct free, fair and

credible elections to ensure that the sovereign will of the people prevails always. The seeming lack of progress in the National Assembly on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is therefore worrisome.

Nigerians demand that their elected representatives respond to the urgent need for an electoral legal framework that genuinely strengthens the electoral processes and procedures; promotes inclusivity and addresses impunity.’’

Imo Monarchs Vow to Invoke Curses on Perpetrators of Violence Amby Uneze in Owerri Traditional rulers in Imo State yesterday condemned the recent attack on the country home of the state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, at Omuma, calling on security agencies to carry out thorough investigations into what transpired and ensure that the culprits and their sponsors are brought to book.

Rising from a critical meeting that lasted for few hours at their office in Owerri, the traditional rulers also threatened to invoke curses on those behind the insecurity ravaging the state should they refuse to change.

In a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting, the Chairman of the traditional institution and Chairman of the Imo State Community

Policing, Eze Emmanuel Okeke, said the royal fathers are of the opinion that the attack was politically motivated, and therefore warned politicians instigating the crisis to have a rethink or be ready to face the consequences.

They stated that as custodians of the culture and tradition of the state, they are appealing to all involved in the “wicked

act” to desist from it, and if they refuse, “the traditional institution will consult the gods of the land and invoke curses on them.”

They acknowledged that the security situation in the state required all hands on deck to secure the state so as to ensure that peace, progress and development thrive in the state.

Gombe to Upgrade Airport to International Standard Segun Awofadeji in Gombe Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has stated that his administration will work with the National Assembly and relevant authorities to ensure the take over and standardisation of the Gombe airport by the federal

government for the state to leverage on what it generates to provide more services to the people.

Yahaya stated this yesterday when he granted audience to members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation led by Senator Smart Adeyemi and Hon. Nnoli

Nnaji, chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation respectively.

The governor described the services rendered by the state airport as national and international, and therefore aligned with the standardisation of the airport through its

complete take over by the federal government since the state does not have adequate resources to do so.

He said any improvement on the Gombe airport is not only for the state economy and social wellbeing, but that of the North-east sub-region and the country in general.

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Man City Fans Want ‘Senior Man’ Iheanacho Back at Etihad Femi Solaja with agency report Like the Biblical ‘Rejected stone becoming head corner stone’, several Manchester City fans have taken to social media to plead with the Etihad team to re-engage Kelechi Iheanacho from Leicester City due to his current.

Iheanacho’s goals are sustaining the King Power Stadium outfit’s drive to finish in the top four and gain ticket to play in the lucrative money awash Champions League.

Iheanacho, who joined the professional football train in Europe shortly after his exploits at FIFA U-17 tournament in 2013, signed for Manchester City less than a year after but was surplus to requirement under current Manager, Pep Guardiola.

He was consequently shipped out to Leicester City three seasons ago.

But lately, the AFCON 2019 Bronze medal winner with Nigeria is now the rave of the moment in the English Premiership with 14 goals in 14 appearances as the former Champions continue to fight for a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League

tournament.

While the ‘Cityzens’ are initiating the move for the Nigerian forward to return to Etihad, Iheanacho’s £50million buy-back option expired last summer thus leaving the incoming Premier league winner with exorbitant purchase of the forward if they would be willing to have him back.

The Nigerian was a bit-part player at City until his move to the Foxes in 2017, stuck behind Sergio Aguero in the pecking order and regularly coming on as a substitute late in the game.

When he headed for Leicester, Man City included a £50m buy-back clause, and following his recent incredible form fans of Pep Guardiola’s men have urged the club to make use of it, with Aguero set to leave at the end of the season.

But Sportsmail reported that it is bad news for City fans, Iheanacho’s buy-back option expired last summer - just before his superb form of this season began.

The Nigeria international scored a stunner against Crystal Palace on Monday night to help Leicester move one step closer

to next season’s Champions League, securing his side a 2-1 victory late on.

Iheanacho now has 14 goals in his last 14 matches, and is on a run of five in his last four.

Taking to social media after the 24-year-old’s latest impressive display, one fan wrote: “I really hope we activate that buy back clause on Iheanacho,” while another tweeted similar to the club.

Another City fan tweeted a picture of City legend Vincent Kompany and boss Guardiola celebrating, alongside the caption: “When City realised they have a buy back clause in Kelechi Iheanacho’s deal.”

Although, it looks unlikely that Leicester will part ways with Iheanacho unless a very

big transfer fee is offered in the summer.

Regardless, the Foxes will be keen to keep hold of one of their biggest stars, after watching him replace Jamie Vardy as their main goal scorer.

Meanwhile, Leicester City’s Manager, Brendan Rodgers, has saluted Iheanacho after his superb display in Monday’s 2-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace.

The 24-year-old set up Leicester’s equaliser for Timothy Castagne, then smashed home an 80th-minute winner to complete the turnaround at King Power Stadium.

Rodgers started Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy together only eight times last season but injuries have forced him

to opt for a strike pairing in the last 10 games.

And Iheanacho has responded, scoring 12 goals from the last nine games, and Rodgers described his form as “incredible”.

“The top priority for me as a coach is helping players to develop,” Rodgers told the BBC. “It’s been difficult for ‘Kele’ because of the style we normally played which was one striker - Vardy.

“We had to change it with injuries, he’s come in and been exceptional. Not just his goals, he’s so happy to work hard for the team and his quality is phenomenal.”

Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said

Iheanacho had all the qualities to be a top striker.

“He’s so good at the particular one where he shifts it and then puts it through the defender’s legs and wrong-foots the goalkeeper,” Schmeichel told Sky Sports.

“He’s a nightmare in training.”

Vardy, who has 15 goals overall this season, has been Leicester’s top scorer in the last five campaigns but faces stiff competition this time from Iheanacho (17).

“As a team we work for each other, it doesn’t matter who scores,” Iheanacho told the BBC. “There’s so much to improve in games so I’ll keep going, doing my best.”

C O N F E D E R AT I O N C U P

Enyimba Captain, Oladapo, Ruled out of Must-win Clash with Pirates Tonight Enyimba FC will be without suspended captain and leading scorer, Augustine Oladapo when they host South African outfit Orlando Pirates tonight in a crucial CAF Confederation Cup group game.

Only a final-round victory against the unbeaten Buccaneers will give the two-time African champions a chance of a top-two finish and qualification for the quarterfinals.

“I knew this group would go down to the wire. We must collect maximum points against Pirates to keep alive our hopes of becoming the first winners of the Confederation Cup from Nigeria,” said Enyimba coach Fatai Osho.

Entente Setif of Algeria will host Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya in the other Group A fixture and all four clubs have a chance of reaching the knockout stage.

Supersport.com previews matchday six with alreadyqualified clubs in two of the other three sections striving to finish first, and avoid other group winners in the draw.

Enyimba hope the dribbling skills of rising star Anayo Iwuala can help unlock a Pirates defence that has conceded only one goal in eight qualifying and group matches.

That goal was scored by Oladapo, but it could not prevent the Nigerian visitors losing 2-1 in Soweto with Tshegofatso Mabasa snatching

a late winner.

Enyimba have won their last four CAF home matches, all by one-goal margins, and a 1-0 win or a two-goal victory will ensure they finish above Pirates on head-to-head record, and progress.

In Group B, victory for leaders and six-time CAF title winners JS Kabylie of Algeria at home to bottom club Napsa Stars of Zambia will seal first place.

Kabylie lead Coton Sport of Cameroon on head-to-head and have what should prove an easier finish as the central Africans must visit 2020 titleholders Renaissance Berkane of Morocco.

Berkane, the fifth Moroccan club to win the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League, will want to bow out on a high note after two losses and two draws since defeating Napsa in the opening round.

While in Group C, secondplace CS Sfaxien of Tunisia will be wary of Papa Paye when they host surprise leaders Jaraaf of Senegal in a match that will decide who tops the standings.

Record three-time Confederation Cup winners Sfaxien also boast a consistent scorer in Firas Chaouat, whose combined CAF Champions League/Confederation Cup goal tally this season is nine.

And in Group D, only pride is at stake in this section with 2018 title-holders Raja Casablanca of Morocco assured of first place and 2020 runners-up Pyramids of Egypt finishing second.

Kelechi ‘SeniorMan’ Iheanacho is wanted back at Etihad Stadium

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Chelsea Hold Real Madrid in S’final First Leg Clash

Christian Pulisic scored an important away goal as Chelsea held 13-time winners Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal in Spain last night.

Thomas Tuchel’s side were superior on the night and might even regard themselves as unfortunate not to take an advantage into the return at Stamford Bridge in eight days’ time as they set their sights on a final date against either Manchester City or Paris St-Germain in Istanbul on 29 May. Chelsea over-ran Madrid in the early stages and should

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema scored an over head stunner yesterday to equalise the first leg semi final of the UEFA Champions League 1-1 with Chelsea last night

have taken the lead when Timo Werner shot straight at keeper Thibaut Courtois from only six

yards - but they were ahead after only 14 minutes when Christian Pulisic kept his cool

to steer home a clever finish.

Real were on the ropes but danger man Karim Benzema, who had glanced the outside of an upright from long range, brought them back into the game with a brilliant equaliser, cushioning the ball with a header before sending an acrobatic volley beyond Edouard Mendy in the 29th minute.

Chelsea had the better of the second half but could not carve out the chance to score a potentially vital second. Manager Tuchel will still be very satisfied with both the performance and result.

Lagos Judo Organises Seminar for Women The Lagos State Judo Association (LSJA) is organising a one-day seminar cum enlightenment programme for female youths in the state as part of the efforts to popularise the sport.

According to the Chairman of LSJA, Sheriff Hammed, the essence of the seminar is aimed

at promoting self-defence among females in the state.

“With the spate of rape, robbery, kidnappings, and general violence against women, the Lagos State Judo Association has partnered with the Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) Lagos Chapter to raise awareness

of rape in our society and promote self-defence amongst the youth by engaging them in judo. It is hoped that this programme will help protect our loved ones and provide an effective remedy against the security malaise afflicting our society,” Hammed said.

The event will take place

at Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park Apart from the self-defence skills to be acquired by participants, the event is aimed at unearthing talents for the state in judo as well as providing a platform for youth to engage in meaningful activities.

55

WEDNESDAY APRIL 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

WednesdaySports

Bash Ali Needs Pity Not Prosecution I just saw a report claiming that our Sports Minister, Mr Sunday Dare intends to sue Bash Ali for N5billion.

According to the report, Mr Dare is to drag the ex(?) boxer to court as soon as practicable. Bash Ali’s offence? “.... he maliciously accused the Minister of wrong doing.

The Sports Minister through his lawyers... will seek injunctive and pecuniary damages against Bash Ali and will not hesitate to join any person, medium or organization that published any of the defamatory contents authored by Bash Ali, his agents or proxies as a co defendant to the suit.” The report stated that Bash Ali had launched a campaign of calumny against the Sports Minister because he refused to sign on to Ali’s so-called Guinness World Record Championship fight which readers would remember has been pending for more than 12 years!

I am surprised the Sports Minister has decided to take Bash to court for libel and defamation of character.

Surprised in the sense that if Sunday Dare had been abreast of happenings in our world of sports before he became minister, he would have known that Bash has always had issues with almost all Sports Ministers. The current

Bash Ali

allegations against Sunday Dare are rehearsed versions of earlier diatribes against his predecessors in office. He had always accused them of corruption. Always insisted that they are opposed to him because he refused to give the bribes they demanded before they would pass on his request to have government commit billions of dollars into sponsoring his so-called Guinness World record fight Along the line, he seems to have accepted that the government could not on its own sponsor his fight and now seeks endorsement of the fight to the private sector which he expects would provide the money needed to stage the fight.

I have been a keen watcher of events about what I call the Bash Ali never ending fruitless effort to stage the

most promoted boxing bout in our country- the Guinness World Title Fight. I am not too sure if the idea of the record making event was not first mooted in my ACME Road Office in Ogba Lagos. Thereafter, a first Organizing Committee was formed in Jaiye Ojo’s Prex office. Razak Giwa- Osagie, a fine gentleman who later became a member of the House of Reps, Jaiye Ojo, Toyin Okpaise and I together with Bash were members.

The Committee folded up soon after because we could not agree with Bash Ali’s outlandish views which reeks of greed. Needless to say the original concept of Guinness World Record fight became something else that has not been implementable.

That was how Bash’s problem with the Federal

Ministry of Sports began.

Anytime he failed to get his way, he would resort to blackmail, often accusing officials of government of demanding money from him to push his case. I don’t know how he does it but he has often bulldozed his way to the Presidency where he is invariably referred to the Ministry of Sports.

The trouble is that there is no way Ali’s plan would sail through because it is predicated on very false pedestal. In the first place he doesn’t need as much as he is insisting on to stage a World Record Championship. There is no way such a fight would generate as much as zero point one percent of his claim of Pay Per View earnings.

His claims that four sporting facilities costing $20million USD each would be built in Nigeria by organizers of the event is pathetically false.

Everyone knocks a hole in his presentation for the Guinness World Record Championship- some state governments including his home state, Edo turned him down. He went to Libya to claim that religious consideration prevented the fight from holding in our country. Perhaps Gaddafi might have eventually hosted the fight but he was ousted .

Outside his shenanigans, Bash Ali has tremendous capabilities that we can help him nurture to do well for

himself and our country. I do not think Sunday Dare and his men are right to sue Bash Ali regardless of the provocations. Very early in his tenure, I had warned the Sports Minister not to be drawn into any controversy with Bash. I don’t know if he heeded my advice but the campaign against him are vicious. The luck the Minister has is that no one takes Bash Ali seriously again. His accusations against Sunday Dare are not too different from those against previous ministers.

Moreover if the Ministry of Sports wins the suit how will Bashiru Ali pay?

I think that with the daunting task before the Minister, he should have little time for the irritation Bash Ali’s claim would cause. He has a lot to do as Sports Minister and he should concentrate on the rescue mission he should be on. In some quarters, he is being accused of not doing enough to make the various

sporting association under him function effectively. He has done nothing on the National Sports Commission bill that had been forever before Parliament. If we can’t win the FIFA World Cup or win some Olympic gold medal what would he refer to as a legacy? Definitely not suing Bash. Olympics is around the corner and there are many questions about the quality of our preparations. Some have suggested we pull out because the Covid-19 pandemic isn’t abating in the host country.

Sports can help our country during these difficult times and Sunday Dare can help our sport get better. Suing Bashiru Ali is not even worth a minute of his time.

He is an irritant that had plagued his predecessors.

They survived him. He was appointed Minister to make our Sports better.

As for Bash Ali, maybe it is time to rechannel his energy to more realistically profitable ends.

Wednesday April 28, 2021

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MISSILE

PFN to Buhari “To us at the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), the Buhari government is not sincere in its alleged war against Boko Haram, killer herdsmen and other criminalities” – PFN National Publicity Secretary, Bishop Emmah Isong, berating the Buhari government for the worsening insecurity in the country.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

Buhari Needs Help from Within and Without

A

s far back as June 27, 2018, Nobelist Wole Soyinka suggested that President Muhammadu Buhari should seek foreign help to stem the rising tide of insecurity in

the land.

In a statement entitled “On DEMAND: A Statement of Non-Capitulation, NonAppeasement,” Soyinka said: “It is a time of far-reaching, yet immediate decisions. The nation is dying. The time for false pride is over.

“If this nation lacks the necessary technical resources, then there remains only one blameless, overdue recourse: ‘Get Help, Mr. President!’ ” Three years ago Soyinka reacted to the killings across the country in an atmosphere of helplessness. About 100 people were killed in Plateau state alone in the week the statement was made. According to Soyinka, condemnation of the killings and expression of sympathy with families of the victims were not enough; the government should take “pragmatic” steps to bolster public confidence in the capacity of the Nigerian state to secure the nation.

At the weekend, however, Soyinka was no more talking of “if” the Buhari administration lacked the resources to secure the territory of the federal republic of Nigeria. There is now a greater sense of urgency in the tone and tenor of another statement entitled “ The Endless Martyrdom of the Youth.” Soyinka said: “To this government, we repeat the public cry: seek help, stop improvising with human lives. Youth, that is, the future should not be used as a ritual offering on the altar of a failing state.”

It is, therefore, a measure of the progress made in the security sector that a call on the President to seek help from abroad had to be amplified three years after it was first made.

The security situation is, indeed, worse today than it was three years ago in virtually all the states of the federation.

The latest statement was in response to the killings of some of the kidnapped students of the Greenfield University in Kaduna. The kidnappers have chosen to murder the students in bestial instalments as a way of shocking the parents of those still in captivity to pay ransom.

Now, Soyinka’s statement sums up what many other patriotic voices have been saying as the insecurity in the country worsens by the day. Similar statements have been made by other Nigerians in finding solution to the problem. Senate President Ahmed Lawan and his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki, in different tones, have also stressed the imperative of foreign help to Nigeria at this difficult hour.

Although the degree of insecurity is relatively higher in some parts of Nigeria than others, there is no part of the country that could be said to be completely safe. The difference is only in the magnitude of violent crimes.

Although a national state of emergency has not been declared by the President, the situation in some highly troubled states is really that of emergency. In fact, the condition in some local government areas of Niger, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Imo etc. is akin to that of emergency.

The atmosphere in the numerous ungoverned spaces around the country is unimaginable with all the horrific consequences on the lives of people in rural areas.

The collective humanity of the nation has been assaulted in the last few weeks by a deluge of horrendous reports of killings and kidnaps from all the zones of the country. A

Buhari spectre of kidnapping dominates the national atmosphere. The violent activities of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals have become the major news.

Niger State Governor Sani Bello said two days ago that Boko Haram elements had hoisted their group flag in Kaure village in the Shiroro local government area of the state .

The village is said to be just two kilometres from Abuja, the nation’s capital! Governor Ortom also lamented that there are over a million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue state. Killings continue in the state in which students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, were kidnapped. Only yesterday, seven persons were killed allegedly by bandits in an IDP camp in the state. Governor Ortom said that 70 persons including soldiers have been killed in the state in the last one month.

In Katsina state, the home state of the President, women attending a ceremony for naming a new child were kidnapped. Among the killings in the last three days alone were those of five soldiers in Rivers state and nine police officers in Kebbi state. In Imo state the apparatuses of the Nigerian state have been continuously attacked. In the last two weeks, some policemen have been killed while police stations and correctional centres were burnt in the state. The private house of Governor Hope Uzodinma was attacked and the security men on guard were killed by gunmen. This happened hours after a gun battle between the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and a security squad of soldiers, policemen and security agents. In the battle, an army officer and some soldiers were killed just as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/ESN lost a commander and other members. The confrontation between the

The President should seek foreign help. He should also tap on the internal reservoir of moral, political and professional resources in tackling insecurity

Nigerian state and IPOB/ESN has virtually turned Imo state into a theatre of war.

The mood of the nation was captured in the National Assembly yesterday as the two legislative chambers considered resolutions on the state of insecurity. The Senate resolved to meet the Commander-in-Chief and the service chiefs as part of the efforts to seek solutions to the problems. On its own part, the House of Representatives asked the President to declare a state of emergency in the security sector, among other suggestions.

The response of the Buhari administration to the calls by Soyinka and others for decisive action should not be the usual riposte from the presidency. The suggestions should be soberly considered along with several others coming from different quarters.

As the Commander-in-Chief of a nation that is gravely insecure, Buhari needs help from other countries.

The President sought the help of the United States yesterday in a virtual meeting with the American Secretary of State Anthony Bilken.

Buhari also proposed to the United States the relocation of US - Africa Command (AFRICOM) from Stuttgart, Germany nearer the Theatre of Operation on the continent.

Buhari makes it clear that Nigeria and the region would need the help of America to tackle insecurity.

His premise: “The security challenges in Nigeria remain of great concern to us and impacted more negatively, by existing complex negative pressures in the Sahel, Central and West Africa, as well as the Lake Chad Region.”

However, a reservoir of human, moral and political resources that could be of help seem to be ignored by Buhari and his strategists.

Not a few Nigerians are saying that their nation “is at war.” The war may not be a conventional one, but in tackling the present insecurity some of the resources used in prosecuting conventional wars might be useful.

To start with, the leadership of a nation at war should summon the national spirit so that a sense of belonging and solidarity would be felt in every part. Apart from the physical weapons and equipment to arm the soldiers, policemen and security agencies, the leadership should also deploy the intangible weapons of honestly promoting unity and being accountable to the people. Policies should be informed by social justice, equity and scrupulous compliance with the rule of law. For instance, the morale of the armed forces, police and other security agencies would be raised when recruitments, promotions and appointments are based on merit, constitutional provisions, transparency and fairness. The welfare of those serving the nation in the security sector should be prioritised It will be easier to tackle criminality when the criminals are unable to exploit opportunistically the fault lines. Policies of inclusion amid diversity would make it easier to convince the separatists about the richness and beauty of unity. The mismanagement of the Nigeria’s diversity by the President is in a way fuelling insecurity.

Besides, Buhari should tap on the collective experience of the former managers of the various apparatuses of the Nigerian state. In retirement they remain a significant part of the nation’s security establishment in the broad sense of the term. A lot could be learnt from their successes and failures while they were in charge of security in the various departments. There is

no point for their successors to be repeating their mistakes Some of these professionals were trained at the huge of expense of Nigeria.

Others have had vast international exposures.

They represent various interests and groups in the country. They have varied orientations and perspectives. But they all speak the language of the establishment.

Here we are talking of retired service chiefs and other generals, inspectors-general and other retired senior police office, national security advisers, directors-general and senior retired officers of security agencies, retired diplomats, civil servants and other defence-related categories. What is being suggested here is not a jamboree in the name of a “security summit.” What is essential is a patriotic and professional engagement between a listening administration on the one hand and an honest and frank group of selected retired officers in the security sector on the other hand. The engagement doesn’t have to be formalised or even advertised. Other nations go beyond partisanship in optimising the use of their human resources when the situation demands such an approach. President George W. Bush appointed Robert Gates as defence secretary at a time America was still deploying troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. President Barack Obama retained Gates because of the purpose his appointment was serving in the defence sector.

Furthermore, at the broader political level Buhari should pay more attention to forging the necessary elite consensus for resolving the present crisis in Nigeria. It is in the collective interest of the elite to have such a consensus.

Some elements of this elite as politicians, religious leaders and ethnic champions manipulate the people by peddling prejudice and sowing seeds of division. Buhari should, in good faith, engage other partisan forces within the ambit of law on the security question. In some highly troubled states, the governors have alleged that some “political forces” are behind the wave of insecurity. Others have claimed they know the “sponsors” of criminality. Beyond political tirades, the government should give leadership in depoliticising insecurity and the criminality that fuels it.

This is no time for arrogance of power. The greatest legacy that Buhari should aspire to have is to leave power with Nigeria more secure and united than it was on May 29, 2015 when he became President. There may be no agreement on the political theory of a failed state. It is, however, not debatable that the Nigerian state under the leadership of Buhari has failed to ensure the security of the people as specified in the constitution. The state has failed to keep farmlands safe for farmers and schools secure for children. The roads are dangerous.

Worse still, the security sector is bereft of moral accountability. This is beyond auditing of books. The point here is more about having a sense responsibility for the security of the people. If there was a sense of accountability, a retired chief of army staff, after six years in command, would not declare that Nigeria would be fighting terrorism for the next 20 years.

While condolences go the bereaved, pressures should be mounted by the people and their organisations on the security establishment to free all those in captivity. The President should seek foreign help. He should also tap on the internal reservoir of moral, political and professional resources in tackling insecurity.

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