FRIDAY 30TH APRIL 2021

First Bank: CBN Reinstates Adeduntan, Sacks Otudeko, Bank’s Boards Don’t panic, Emefiele tells depositors, shareholders Moves to recapitalise bank

Obinna Chima in Lagos and James Emejo in Abuja In one fell swoop yesterday, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) removed, effective immediately, all directors of

First Bank Nigeria Limited and those of its parent company, FBN Holdings Plc to stave off a boardroom crisis that led to the shortlived retirement of its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adesola

Adeduntan, on Wednesday.

However, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, at a press conference in Abuja, announced the reinstatement of Adeduntan.

He said the central bank

took the actions in order to preserve the stability of the bank and protect minority shareholders and depositors.

He also announced the appointment of a former Minister of State for Finance,

Mr. Remi Babalola, as chairman of FBN Holdings.

He takes over from Mr. Oba Otudeko who was chairman of First Bank for 12 years before assuming the position of Chairman of FBN Holdings

in 2010.

Other new directors on the FBN Holdings’ board are Fatade Oluwole, Kofo Dosekun, Remi Lasaki, Continued on page 16

Presidency Rebukes Ortom for Attacks on Buhari over Benue Killings... Page 8 Friday 30 April, 2021 Vol 26. No 9518. Price: N250

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Bauchi Gov: NNPC Zero Remittance to FAAC, Recipe for Crisis Obinna Chima, Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos, Chuks Okocha and James Emejo in Abuja L-R: Acting Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba; Chairman, House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Senator Onyewuchi Ezenwa; and Representative of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Olusina Thorpe, at the launch of the Digital Switch Over in Lagos…yesterday

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, yesterday warned that Nigeria will be in Continued on page 16

Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group Security beefed up at N’Assembly

Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry

in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Continued on page 16

Jonathan Pushes for LG Reform, Autonomy.. Page 5

INCREMENTAL PROGRESS...

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Adamu Aliero; and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Niyi Adebayo, during the inauguration of 10.25km Lusada Junction-Igbesa-Ogun

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

Jonathan Pushes for LG Reform, Autonomy

Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for the reform and autonomy of local government areas, as they would only be able to generate revenues if independent.

He, therefore, called on the National Assembly to make laws to guarantee strong and autonomous local governments.

The former president said if he were a member of the National Assembly, he would mobilise his colleagues to amend the 1999 Constitution to prohibit the appointment of a LGA chairman and make the chairmanship strictly elective.

He spoke yesterday when the national and state executives of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) paid him a courtesy visit in his country home, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, to solicit his support towards stopping a bill seeking to delist the LGAs from the 1999 Constitution.

Jonathan said the local government system was the oldest globally accepted means through which government impact positively on the lives of the people at the grassroots.

He said any bill targeted at delisting LGAs from the

constitution was an abuse of democratic tenets and procedures.

He urged governors to refrain from directly getting involved in the day-to-day running of local government affairs because their actions make governance unreliable, unacceptable and undependable at the grassroots level.

He added: “The problem with Nigeria is that our local government structure is still very weak. And whatever restructuring we are talking about, finally, Nigerians must sit down to discuss and the issue of LGA autonomy must be considered.

“As long as we have weak local governments, we would have difficulty managing this country. The way it is now, the person who runs the state, runs the LGAs and that makes nonsense of the whole concept of the third tier of government.

“The president should manage the nation, governors should manage the states and chairmen should be allowed to run the local councils.

“And until we are able to do that, it would be difficult to impact the people at the grassroots level. It is only through local councils that

House Concurs with Senate, Approves $1.5bn, €995m External Loans Okays N257bn 2021 budget for Customs

Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday concurred with the Senate to approve a request by President Muhammadu Buhari, in May last year, to borrow external loans comprising $1.5 billion, to be sourced from the World Bank, and €995 million ($1.2 billion) from other international agencies.

The House also approved N257, 183, 671,694.71 for the Nigeria Customs Service for the 2021 fiscal year.

The approvals followed the consideration and adoption of reports presented by the House Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, and the Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, presented by Hon. Leke Abejide and Hon. Ahmed Safana Dayyabu respectively.

Presenting the report, Abejide said the lawmakers also approved N1.678 trillion as the target revenue of the agency for 2021.

He said out of the N257,183,671,694.71 approved as Customs budget for 2021, N137,933,180,013.00 was for capital expenditure while personnel and overhead costs were N99,719,722,681.71 and N19,530,769,000.00, respectively.

The report said: ''That the House do consider the report of Committee on Customs and Excise on the issue from the Statutory Revenue Fund of the Nigeria Customs Service the total sum of N1, 678, 715, 061, 014 Nigeria Customs Service expected revenue from the seven per cent

collection. ''And 60 per cent from the comprehensive Import Suspension Scheme (CISS) is the sum of N 257,183, 671, 694.71.

"Also approved by the National Assembly, the projected revenue for the year 2021 budget of N1,678,715,061,014.00 be approved for the Nigeria Customs Service.''

Abejide said the committee considered the initial target of N1.465 trillion revenue as inadequate, and so increased it to N1.678 trillion based on the fact that the target for the 2021 fiscal year is less than N1.562 trillion collected in 2020 by NCS. He directed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to as matter of urgency procure the four scanners for the Customs from the best scanner manufacturers either from Germany or America.

Presenting the report on the external loans, Dayyabu said: ''That the House do consider the report of the Committee on Aids, Loan and Debt Management on the request for the approval of external loans to finance the priority projects of the federal government and approve the recommendations therein. ''Approve the external borrowing plan of $1,500,000,000 and Euro 995,000,000.00. That the terms and conditions of the loans from each lender as contained in a duly executed loan agreements be forwarded to the National Assembly for proper documentation.''

the dividends of democracy can permeate uniformly into the society. And all of us must advocate for this right.

“The local government council must be strong, autonomous and allowed to

generate its own revenue. If I were in the Senate, I would have mobilised members to ensure that we amend the constitution in a way that would prohibit the appointment of chairmen

to run governance at local council level.

“The issue of appointment now makes the local government council look like a part of the state’s administrative structure

but that is not what ought to be the case. This is an abuse of democracy. So this appointment system has made council chairmen become like aides to the governor and we must discourage that.”

MADAME CISSE AT THE VILLA...

2nd Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament, Hon. Haidara Cisse (left), and President Muhammadu Buhari, during the parliamentarian’s visit to the president in Abuja…yesterday

FG: Legal Challenges Hindering $5.8bn Mambilla Power Project's Take-off Gas shortage cripples operations of power plants in South-west Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government yesterday attributed the delay in executing the $5.8 billion Mambilla hydroelectric power project, expected to add 3,050 MW to the nation's electricity output, to court cases being pursued by its former contractor.

Minister of Power, Mr. Sale Mamman, however, said in a statement issued in Abuja that the government was finalising settlement terms leading to an amicable arbitration, so that the project could take off.

Also yesterday, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, stated that the gas shortage had crippled the operations of all power plants in the South-west.

Mamman, in the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Aaron Artimas, told the management team of the Chinese firm handling the project, including the Vice President of the China Gezhouba Group International Engineering Company, Mr. Yuan Baoy, that despite the delay in the take-off of the project, efforts were being made to ensure that the legal impediment did not derail the nation's efforts at boosting public power supply.

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari has also directed the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to review the progress so far made on the project and carry out "value engineering" in pursuit of optimised implementation

and delivery.

He said: “The government investment outfit has been given three months to submit a comprehensive report detailing the findings of the value engineering and also provide recommendations to move the project forward.”

According to him, as part of the process of acquiring land for the hydroelectric power project, the Ministry of Power has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Taraba State Government, leading to land and aerial survey mapping.

He stated that sensitisation and enlightenment activities had also been carried out with the full buy-in and participation of stakeholders and hosts communities.

The Project Delivery Committee (PDC) Chair, Mr. Faruk Yabo, while giving some insights into the take-off of the project, said the ministry had already committed N200 million to the training of junior and mid-level artisans, to ensure the availability of manpower for the project.

He added that the artisans include electricians, plumbers, masons, drivers and cooks, who will work on the site.

He said: “Three important issues, which may threaten the smooth execution of the project, have been prioritised for special attention; these include: financial viability and sustainability, land acquisition and the arbitration to free the project from any encumbrances.”

Yabo stated that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation had reached an understanding with Sunrise,

the former contractor and an amount agreed on as part of the settlement terms.

He, however, said the implementation of the agreement terms might have been delayed by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier, Baoyi had assured the minister that his company was ready to execute the contract once all issues regarding financing, land acquisition and arbitration were settled.

Gas Shortage Cripples Power Plants in South-west All the power plants in the South-west are non-functional as a result of gas constraints, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has said.

NDPHC Managing Director, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, said yesterday at an online event organised by “Electricity Power Hub,” that the situation had worsened in the last one month as a result of declining gas supply to the facilities.

The federal government also stated that it is revving up plans to sell an additional five power plants before the end of 2021.

The NDPHC’s power assets are jointly owned by the federal, state and local governments.

Aside from the ones in the South-west, Ugbo also named some other power plants in the South-south that have not been working due to gas supply constraints.

“Geregu was on this morning but from the information I got, it had to be shut down. They said it was

due to decaying gas pressure on the line. That has been the story, but it got worse in the last month.

“Geregu is not running today; Omotosho is not running; Olorunsogo is not operational, Sapele is down and of course, Ihovbor is not running. All the power plants, except Ihovbor, have evacuation facility from NDPHC power stations to the network,” he added.

According to him, while the total installed capacity in the country is 13,000MW, the country is generating over 5,000MW. He stated that the Azura power, which has been sharing transmission facility around the area with the NDPHC has reduced the ability of the company to evacuate what it produces.

He said there were always fluctuations within the system because even when the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), was operating, it had issues with frequency as a result of what he described as low rotation.

“Demand fluctuates in a very ridiculous manner. That’s why the system operator directs us to shut down many times in a day. We have gas for Calabar, Alaoji and Gbarain, but we do not have gas at all for any of the power plants in the South-west.

“We need about 560 mmscfd there. We were only able to get 60 mmscfd from Chevron there, but they are not obliged to give us. They only give us when they think it’s convenient for them,” he said.

Continued on page 40

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Presidency Rebukes Ortom for Attacks on Buhari over Benue Killings Deji Elumoye in Abuja The presidency yesterday chastised Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, for casting aspersion on his person over the recent killings, including that of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in a camp in the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, denied allegation of the president being complicit.

He said: "President Buhari has expressed his disappointment and sadness to hear Governor Ortom of Benue State make a litany of accusations against his person and his government following the recent unfortunate incidents in the state."

While sympathising with bereaved families, he said the president stated that the rising levels of incidents, especially the killings and violence in various parts of the country called for further collaboration

with security agencies to curb its recurrence.

According to him, no responsible government takes pleasure in such events as the killing of the military and that of innocent citizens taking refuge in the IDPs' camp.

The statement said Buhari was pained by the violence happening not only in Benue State but also in other parts of the country and expected that the law enforcement agencies would fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Shehu also quoted Buhari as saying that the lives of fellow citizens should not be desecrated by deploying them in political diatribe, as shown by the attack on the president by Ortom.

Shehu said: “Buhari took an oath to defend the life and property of every citizen, a duty he takes seriously and is committed to ensuring."

He stated that the president, while giving an assurance that

the killers would be arrested and prosecuted, said: "Those citizens regardless of their affiliations, who either incite, sponsor or are proven to be abettors of these atrocities will face the law squarely and be answerable for their crimes against our fellow citizens and nation.

"President Buhari continuously stresses that the strength of our country lies in our diversity in faith, culture, and traditions and attempts to sharpen the divide

between northern and southern Nigeria, between Muslims and Christians, and between communities that have coexisted for centuries should be frowned upon and resisted.

"As Nigerians, we accuse colonial rulers of the policy of divide and rule. Today, it is our own leaders who put region against region, religion against religion, ethnic group against ethnic group and community against community.

"The future of Benue State and indeed that of the entire

country lies in harmony and the respect for law, order, and the constitution. It is the only way to achieve progress and development.

"While the president will continue to keep security, police and the armed forces on their toes to be on top of their act in troubled parts of the country, the situation in the states will greatly be helped by everyone working together because that is the foundation on which progress and prosperity can be achieved.

"Benue under the Ortom administration ought to cooperate with the federal government in the implementation of a number of national strategies programmes in addressing underlying issues militating against peace, progress and development.

"This can still get done when the interest of the people is placed above all other interests.

A government voted into office by the people, should treat the people as its masters and not as its servants."

FG Transforming Agric Sector, Says Osinbajo To begin tracking of cattle movement Deji Elumoye in Abuja Nigeria is prioritising innovation and technology investments in agriculture so as to transform the sector by attracting young people and scale up productivity, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said.

This is just as he disclosed that an indigenous technology company has developed a microchip for tracking cattle movement.

Osinbajo, who stated this yesterday in his remarks at the 2021 HighLevel Virtual Dialogue on Feeding Africa, listed the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESC), National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) and the Green Imperative Project as some of the programmes of the federal government to ensure agricultural transformation.

According to him, “At the heart of Nigeria’s post COVID-19 recovery plan, or what we describe as our Economic Sustainability Plan is an Agriculture for Food and Jobs Plan (AFJP) where we seek to leverage suitable technologies to build a resilient food system for Nigeria especially in the light of the economic, health and food supply chain devastations caused by the pandemic. Implementation is well underway and we have quite a few impressive results already.”

He disclosed that during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the federal government trained and deployed over 34,000 young graduates all over the country, covering over 8,000 wards in 774 local government areas.

Each of the young men and women, he said, had a locally developed app on smart phones and electronic tablets to digitally register farmers and map out their farm GIS coordinates.

He said: ''So, we have registered and mapped about 6 million small-holder farmers

to their farmlands and we are also currently collecting 200,000 composite soil samples from these farms to be analysed in 22 local soil laboratories to guide local fertilizer blending.''

Osinbajo said on the back of the farmer-farm database, which the government developed, they are creating a digital Agriculture Exchange Programme (AgExchange), working with the Alliance Rabobank and MasterCard in collaboration with some local FinTech companies and are run by young Nigerians. ''The AgExchange will be an ecosystem or one-stop-shop for providing a range of services and products to small-holder farmers such as real-time e-subsidies, credit-connect by providing credit score of farmers on the platform and linking them to financiers, insurance services, market place services for connecting producers, aggregators and off-takers based on competitive market prices. Input suppliers, weather, pests, and disease indexing services will be provided on the exchange as well. The budget for the Agriculture for Food and Jobs Plan AFJP is $1.5billion.”

On the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), Osinbajo noted that the focus was on transiting gradually from nomadic system of cattle production to the more sedentary method of ranching.

This, he said, will involve training pastoralists in new ways of producing and rearing cattle sustainably to address the challenges of resource-based violent conflicts between crop farmers and cattle herders, and the generally low milk and beef productivity of indigenous cattle breeds.

Osinbajo explained that an indigenous technology company has developed a microchip for tracking the cattle and are working on a pilot project with one of the development partners – the Netherlands government.

GUBERNATORIAL ASSURANCE...

L-R: Ekiti State Governor/Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Alkali Usman; and Kebbi State Governor, Mr. Atiku Bagudu; during a visit to the police boss in Abuja…yesterday

Five Years after, FG Rolls out Digital Broadcasting in Lagos Targets 13 other states Emma Okonji Five years after the pilot launch of Digital Switch Over (DSO) from analogue television broadcasting to digital broadcasting, in Jos, Plateau State, the federal government, yesterday, launched the second phase of the country’s Digital Switch Over in Lagos with a plan to cover 13 other states in the second phase rollout before the end of this year.

The federal government had on April 30, 2016 launched the pilot programme of the DSO in Jos, and thereafter, began the phase one launch of DSO in four states and Abuja.

The states include Kwara, which was launched on December 20, 2017; Kaduna on December 22, 2017; Enugu on February 12, 2018 and Osun, launched on February, 23, 2018.

Following the success recorded in the pilot and phase one launch, the federal government, yesterday, commenced the phase two launch of DSO, beginning with Lagos, with a target to cover 13 states before the end of the year.

Speaking at the Lagos launch of DSO, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said

although it took the digital television train over three years to arrive in Lagos State, after the phase-one launch, the train would now move faster.

“The DSO train has now changed from narrow gauge to standard gauge, meaning it will move faster to cover 13 states across the country this year alone in the second phase of the DSO rollout, which begins in Lagos. From Lagos, the DSO train heads to Kano State on June 3; Rivers on July 8; Yobe on July 15; Gombe on August 12; Imo on August 24; Akwa Ibom on August 31; Oyo on September 9; Jigawa on September 23; Ebonyi on October 17; Katsina on October 21; Anambra on November 4 and Delta on November 18.

This may look like a daunting task. Indeed, it is. But the fact that we are here in Lagos today is a testimony to our resilience and determination to ensure the success of the transition from analogue to digital television across the country,” the minister explained.

The minister said the second phase rollout would begin with over one million Set-Top-Boxes (STBs) that were locally developed in Nigeria, adding that 70 per cent of the digital content would be locally

sourced.

“The switch-on of Lagos is unique and epochal, because it marks the first time that the DSO project would be beaming 60 choice channels to television households. Lagos is Nigeria's creative hub; hence it is important to harness the creative talents that abound in the state through this project.

Also, the DSO provides us with a great platform to key into the Lagos Smart City Project, which seeks to use technology to enhance service delivery in all spheres of life.”

Commenting on the Lagos rollout, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu, said the state would be committed to the DSO project for many reasons.

According to him, the DSO would enhance job creation and content development, be of immense benefits to the residents, and also empower many youths, especially those in the entertainment and tourism industry.

He added that the project would also provide opportunity for the government to use the content to inform and engage the citizens as well as bring governance closer to the people.

“Being a forward-looking

state, we are in partnership and we see it as bringing the future to our citizens, so we are really game on this. In the last two years, we have been developing our metropolitan fiber optics to provide fiber connectivity as one of the solutions for our citizens to have access to cheaper data.

Being the nation’s ‘Centre of Excellence’, it is our desire that Lagos will continue to set the pace for the nation.”

The governor urged the Ministerial Taskforce on the DSO to make the Free TV box and after sale support easily accessible.

The DSO television platform, which is branded as Free TV, offers its viewers about 60 digital channels, including sports, music, movies, and news, as well as Value Added Services, such as: Enforcement and Collection of TV Licenses, Premium Pay TV channels, Push Video on Demand, Information Services and Audience Measurement.

Federal government is of the view that the DSO project would cover the entire country by December 7, 2022, after which it will switch off completely, all forms of analogue broadcasting in the country.

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COMMENT

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

REFLECTIONS ON POLICE REFORM

Ejeviome Eloho Otobo and Oseloka H. Obaze argue that the pressing need is to devolve policing powers to the states

P

olice are integral part of every country’s national security architecture, and police reforms are a vital part of security sector reform and an important component of peacebuilding/state building.

Against the backdrop of the ongoing national policy debate on the Senate bill on police reforms, we offer these reflections on reforming policing in Nigeria.

In principle, every police reform effort is country-specific, but guided by a set of global best practices. The specific context of Nigeria is that it operates a federal political system.

Regardless, the best policing practices entail adherence to the principle of subsidiarity –the notion that policy decisions should be taken, and operational command exercised, at the local or lowest possible level rather than by a central arrangement; effective regulation of non-state security providers; and use of civilian police for civilian police duties and exclusion of the military in such roles.

The current draft bill gives the impression that whittling down the power of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is the panacea to better policing in Nigeria. That is a flawed diagnosis. The central challenge of policing in Nigeria, is the over-centralization of police arrangement; the deficiencies are regulatory and structural. Zonal restructuring of the police with about nine DIGs and 17 AIGs manning 17 zones, still does not empower the states and their governors who are the designated Chief Security Officers of their States. The pressing need is to diametrically devolve policing powers to the states and not an amorphous arrangement in which power is vested in zonal DIGs and AIGs. Supporters of devolution of police functions - moving it from the exclusive to the concurrent list –include many state governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress. This clearly indicates bipartisan support for devolution of policing to the states. It also bears emphasizing that the centralization of the policing functions accreted during the military regimes. In the immediate post-independence years, the regions and even local governments had much latitude in policing activities.

Several factors have provided the impetus for police reforms in Nigeria, and compelled demands for police devolution. First, the current centralized police arrangement has proven insufficiently responsive to the needs of the states and local communities in various parts of Nigeria.

This is because there is deep distrust of the police -- a distrust, reflected in the public resentment against police brutality. This requires not only enhanced effort at community policing but improved oversight of policing at the community level. Yet it’s wrong to conclude that community policing means assigning central police to communities: rather it means that the police functions at community levels are performed by persons from those communities who understand the culture, speak the language and can easily interface with the locals. It’s the deep disappointment with the centralized arrangement that resulted in the formation of hodgepodge of regional or state security arrangements in the country: Hisbah in some Northern states, Amotekun in the South West; and most recently Ebube Agu in the South East. A more simplified arrangement, advocated by many governors, is to devolve policing to the states.

THE CURRENT DRAFT BILL GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT WHITTLING DOWN THE POWER OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE IS THE PANACEA TO BETTER POLICING IN NIGERIA. THAT IS A FLAWED DIAGNOSIS. THE CENTRAL CHALLENGE OF POLICING IN NIGERIA, IS THE OVER-CENTRALISATION OF POLICE ARRANGEMENT

This reality demands reflection on the fate of the current federal police structure. Devolved police functions will result in most of the current police officers being posted to their states. As in most federal political system, the federal police will be entrusted the responsibilities of enforcing federal laws and investigating federal crimes. This opens the enticing possibility of seamless and efficacious collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS). Parallels already exist: in the United States, after which many aspects of Nigeria’s federal system are modelled, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) performs the triple tasks of enforcing federal laws, investigating federal crimes and undertaking domestic intelligence – while collaborating continually with state and local government police. Prevailing trenchant criticisms of the police reflects two current malaise afflicting the Nigerian police. The NPF are required to simultaneously enforce local, state and federal laws and with dismal police to population ratio that is well under the United Nations prescribed ratio of 1: 450 persons.

Next is welfare and pay for the Nigeria police. Most policemen and women not only work in poor physical conditions, they live in poorly maintained and dilapidated barracks. These are not the conditions for officers, women and men of the Nigerian Police to function optimally.

An inextricable link exists between these abysmal working and living conditions of the police and the endemic bribery and corruption that Nigerians often complain about. The Police Act of 2020 and the 2019 Police Trust Fund contain provisions for improved welfare, salaries, periodic training, and equipping of police training institutions.

Improved welfare, better training and increased pay for police require adequate financing. As these unmet needs manifest, most states have devoted significant financial resources to offering logistical support to the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies. Police financing are thus marked by three distinct dysfunctions: states are providing part funding to the police that they have no control over; the federal funding of police is inadequate; and the citizenry that the police is meant to serve and protect are indifferent to their dismal service conditions and dubious in advocating for, or contributing to, better police funding.

Devolution, holds the key to grappling with many problems that afflict centralized policing. With devolution, funding of police will come from three sources – the re-allocation of current federal funding to the states; the states’ contribution; and innovation of co-funding by communities. The last two forms of police funding exist vicariously, through the regional security outfits and community funding of vigilantes. Co-funding of policing by communities will connote ownership, bring the people and police closer, and engender better policing services to the local communities. Devolution will also close the extant constitutional gap of funding-without-authority, by which State governors are designated Chief Security Officers without having control over the police. The Senate should act with courage and boldness to devolve policing functions to address unmet security needs and the demands of the citizenry.

Otobo is author of Consolidating Peace in Africa: The Role of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (2015); Obaze is author of Waning Strength of Government (2020)

PILLARS OF FOOD SECURITY

The Lagos State government is exploring its potential to maximise food production, writes Lawson Agba

F

ood insecurity is one of the global challenges threatening humanity.

World leaders are constantly devising means of providing adequate food for the growing world’s population.

Research efforts are in legion on how to maximize land and other agriculture resources for bounty yields to feed mankind.

Genetic modification crops and green house farming are the popularized modern agricultural methods which aimed at controlling agric yields and outputs in a controlled environment and predicated fashion. All these among other scientific methods are geared at addressing food insecurity that looms as the world population explodes.

In Nigeria, the situation is not entirely different from realities in other climes. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report indicates a spiral trajectory of food price inflation hitting 21.7 percent Year -On-Year in February, 2021.

The implications of the research data are grave on the household incomes of the middle-class and mass of the people at the bottom of the pyramid.

The interplay of basic economic principles of demand and supply dynamics are largely responsible for the soaring prices of staple food which are fast becoming luxury for many families.

Violent extremism in the far north had forced many farmers to flee farms and banditry in north central states like Benue which is reputed as food basket of the nation has devastated impacts on aggregate farm produce.

So, the crisis, in addition to other factors, has caused food shortage; thereby forcing up the prices of agricultural commodities. The entire value-chain, and sectors in agriculture, was challenged including

livestock, especially poultry.

As imminent food crisis stares everyone in the face, the Lagos State government under the leadership of Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu set out a rescue plan that will preserve the lives of over 20 million Lagosians he pledged to serve. As a boardroom guru that transited into public service, he knows the importance of planning.

Though Lagos is Nigeria’s smallest state in land mass, Sanwo-Olu has evolved how the small acreages of land dedicated for agric purposes can be maximized using modern farming methods and science.

The Sanwo-Olu administration is also exploring the competitive advantage that nature has bestowed on the state in the areas of aquaculture and allied processing. The large bodies of water surrounding Lagos will be maximized to boost fish and other oceans foods supplies.

In the Sanwo-Olu five-year agric road map, the existing government agric schemes will get greater support and funding.

As the state targets economies of scale in the sector, the Poultry Estate in Erikorodo, Ikorodu, Fish Farm Estate, Odogunyan, Piggery Estate, Gberigbe, Imota Rice Mill, Farm Training Institute, Araga, Epe among other facilities are in for best of times as the deliberate agric-focused policies will stimulate outputs in those facilities.

All these great potential and plans are the issues that were highlighted at the well-attended formal unveiling of the Lagos State Five-Year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap (2021-2025) in Victoria Island last Thursday.

Stakeholders including mechanized farmers, development partners, banks and others who are critical to the success of the ambitious master plan

were assembled in the room for deliberations and cross fertilization of ideas.

The goal is to rake in a whopping $10bn by 2025.

Such a tall dream requires onboarding everyone that matters in the sector and financiers. After the conceptualization of the plans and thorough review, back and forth considerations, the event was to put the document through multi-disciplinary scrutiny.

The chief host, Governor Sanwo-Olu led the way and identified three pillars that the programme is anchored on, and they include the growth of the upstream sector via leverage on technologies, growth of the midstream and downstream sectors, and the doubling down of participation of the private sector.

He said, “Our strategies for sustainable Agricultural Development shall focus on three pillars. First, we will grow the upstream sector through interventions by leveraging technologies that are capable of lowering the cost of production of value chains; focus on growing the midstream and downstream sectors that are of value and lastly, we will improve on private sector participation by developing and initiating policies that will encourage more private investments in agriculture. The projection is that the total investment in the agricultural sector from the government, private sector, donor agencies and development partners will run into over $10 billion in the next five years. While we expect most of the investment to be private sector-driven, the government will continue to provide the needed infrastructure while the private sector will be encouraged to lead the key projects.”

Buttressing the position of the governor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said, “The road map was conceived to ensure that the agricultural sector plays the role of ensuring sustainable food security. It will focus on the

development of agricultural value chains where the state has competitive and comparative advantages to ensure that the state’s self-sufficiency in food production moves from 18% to 40% of food needs in the next five years and thus ensure that Lagos State achieves the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it relates to the sector.”

Olusanya said that the road map highlights intervention areas by the ministry to boost agricultural productivity at the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of seven value chains and services.

She stated a 21st-century economy is characterised by four key goals which are job creation, food security, standardisation and internal revenue generation for the state.

The initiative is highly commendable in view of recent developments in the country especially during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Food being a critical leg in physiological needs, managers of state affairs must have a mitigation plan to forestall food shortage crisis.

Massive job opportunities will be created for the army of youths if the industrialized agro-based activities come on stream fully: from marketing to packaging to agro-processing to supplies of agric inputs and other supplies. It will be an era of boom for jobs.

The hinterlands and the rural indigenous communities of Ikorodu, Ikosi-Ejinrin, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki and Badagry which are endowed with lands and other natural habitat for livestock will experience massive economic developments.

Mass rural-urban drift will slow down as many will get decent and productive engagements in their respective rural communities.

Agba wrote from Lagos

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

EDITORIAL PROTECTING RURAL DWELLERS Government could do more to secure rural communities

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he spate of attacks on rural communities in Northwest Nigeria has gradually brought the average citizen to the Hobbesian state where life has become nasty, brutish, and short. Or how else can one explain the fact that gunmen have killed no fewer than 1,126 people in the northern part of the country in the first half of this year, according to the latest Amnesty International report? That the various security agencies usually arrive scenes of attacks only after the damage had been done has only heightened the sense of helplessness. Besides, the inability to bring attackers to justice, according to Amnesty International, only helps to fuel dangerous conspiracy theories that escalate the violence.

“The government has an obligation to protect its population,” said the human rights body. “The rising death toll in the north of Nigeria shows just how badly the authorities are failing in this responsibility”.

The federal government has lost the capacity to rein in sundry SINCE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE cartels of criminals TO CARRY OUT FARMING who terrorise rural ACTIVITIES UNDER AN areas, particularly INSECURE ENVIRONMENT, IT in the north as the IS ALSO NO SURPRISE THAT communities are DOMESTIC AGRICULTURAL left at the mercy of rampaging gunPRODUCTION HAS BEEN men. “Terrifying STIFLED attacks on rural communities in the north of Nigeria have been going on for years,” said Osai Ojigho, director of Amnesty International Nigeria. “The ongoing failure of security forces to take sufficient steps to protect villagers from these predictable attacks is utterly shameful”.

To make matters worse, where some members of these marauding gangs are arrested, the justice system works to set them free. This gives the

Letters to the Editor

impression of a conspiratorial nexus between the invaders and rogue operatives within the security agencies, alluded to by Amnesty International. For most of these cases, the perpetrators have never been brought to justice, leaving the rural communities completely abandoned to their fate. The impact on their means of livelihood compounds the situation. Since it is impossible to carry out farming activities under an insecure environment, it is also no surprise that domestic agricultural production has been stifled while access to regional markets remain blocked.

F 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

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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.

NEEDED: A REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

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igeria is a multi-lingual society made up of six regional geopolitical zones namely, SouthSouth, South-East, South-West, North-Central, North-East and North-West. Nigeria may be described as having no specific, well formulated, clear regional development policy or framework.

Most of the country’s commitments towards regional development are products of other policies, which do not have basis for regional planning in all its ramifications. Research has revealed that every geo-political zone in Nigeria is enriched with untapped solid mineral resources, gemstones and agricultural resources.

The ideology of federal character that promotes exploitation of the resources of one geo-political zone in sustaining central government of Nigeria and other geo-political zones is encouraging laxity among other geo-political zones and its detrimental to the economy. To help the country attain a diversified economy, there is need for establishment of National Regional Development Commission with the mandate to support the six geo-political zones, identify areas of commercial interest in solid mineral resources, gemstones and agricultural resources for mining, exploration and production. I urge the Ninth National Assembly to pass a bill for National Regional Development Commission.

orced to flee their communities, many of these people are now being further traumatised to learn that their tormentors are considered more important than them.

For many Nigerians, particularly those in the north-east, life has never been so brutal. With the maimed, the orphans, the widows, widowers and the tide of refugees in IDPs camps practically left to their own devices, the preoccupation with making some killers happy is not lost on them. Inmates of Kuchingworo and Durumi camps in Abuja recently threatened to join Boko Haram should federal government continue to romance with repentant terrorists and ignore their victims. This is against the revelation that 603 ‘repentant’ Boko Haram insurgents who had completed the de-radicalisation programme would be reintegrated into the communities. With the federal government expending huge resources on these insurgents, their victims who have been condemned to the IDP camps now wonder whether their lot would not be better if they also carry arms. It is criminal to ignore these most vulnerable citizens and then begin to pamper those who put them in the situation they are in.

The first duty of any government is that of securing the citizenry. The government also owes every member of the society protection from injustice or oppression. When a government loses the capacity for these, anarchy beckons.

The act will help majority of the states to become innovative in fund generation and attain independency from federal allocations. The bill should be aimed at helping every region explore and develop their natural resources for commercial purposes.

It would help transit the economy from mono to a diversified economy. It is aimed at reducing Nigeria’s dependent on crude oil. It will help to open every region for commercial innovation and trade across solid mineral resources, gemstones and agricultural resources. The National Regional Development Commission will be positioned to help states in different regions identify commercial areas of interest that can serve as fund generation channels and gain financial freedom from the central government. It would lead to healthy competition designed to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity among the different regions. A National Regional Development Fund of three billion dollar with each region allocated $500 Million will help drive each geo-political zone to economic prosperity and abundance.

The National Regional Fund will help states endowed with sold mineral resources and other resources of commercial quantity seek ways to explore those resources for national development.

The solution to the problems facing Nigeria is linked with regional development policy.

Pedro Ukokobili, Lagos

NIGERIA IS BLEEDING

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he state of insecurity in the north and other parts of the country is becoming troubling.

Innocent people are being killed, maimed or kidnapped. Students are no longer safe, businessmen cannot travel in peace, terrorists are invading communities, burning homes and schools and rendering farms idle.

The menace of insecurity has led to so many people migrating from their homes to internally displaced camps where everything is scarce. People sleep in the open and many women and girls are daily abused. This is so pathetic!

In contempt of all this tough situation, the government is not making any effort to deal with the issues. They keep telling us that they are on top of the situation. Yet people are dying by their thousands.

Lack of professionalism recently led our soldiers to attack and bomb their colleagues. This is not the first time that “error” is happening. Aren’t we doomed? This is really terrible.

The government really needs to look for a panacea to this problem; protection of lives and properties of citizens is the primary duty of every government. A government that cannot protect the lives and properties of its people is regarded as a failed one.

I pray that the government will understand the situation and do the needful. May Almighty Allah protect us all, Amin.

Isah Sani El-mash, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

SCIENCE FOR SCIENCE ONLY?

S

cience is again misused and this time it’s not just for making bombs.

There is now a bed that comes with two USB ports and this is considered a special feature. USB ports are useful for charging many things although of course a power board can achieve this and not seem weird.

Although probably useful it does make you wonder why someone, probably not really a scientist, thought this was worthwhile given that there are so many other problems to solve. It is also suggested that for better sleep people do not take their phones, iPads and other devices to bed.

Wake up to this strange device and go back to sleep.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

16

FRIDAY, ͻ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE SIXTEEN BAUCHI GOV: NNPC ZERO REMITTANCE TO FAAC, RECIPE FOR CRISIS chaos and financial hardship if the NNPC does not rethink its decision to make zero remittance to the Federation Account in April because of the need to defray the cost of petrol subsidy.

The NNPC had in a letter to the Accountant-General of the Federation warned that it would be unable to make any remittance to the central account of the federation for distribution in May because it needed to defray around N111 billion cost of February’s subsidy on petrol.

Reacting to the NNPC's zero allocation notice, Mohammed said: "You have just heard that the NNPC said that they will not be able to give money to FAAC. I don't know the amount of chaos that would

cause because most of the states are depending on the Federation Account."

He attributed the downturn in the economy to what he described as the cluelessness of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.

According to him, it is "because of the cluelessness and lack of capacity to manage the economy that we have found ourselves in this. There is even a blame game between the members of the party within the APC." Mohammed told reporters after the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja that the PDP, if given a chance in 2023, would not be arrogant with power.

"So, I think we are not going

to be arrogant. We know the mistake we committed before and we have taken steps to correct them. We are presenting to Nigerians the better framework, better platform for them to really actualise their aspirations," he said.

The Bauchi state governor said that the task before the PDP is to ensure unity within its rank ahead of the 2023 general election.

FG, States Urged to Prioritise Spending, Remove Petrol Subsidy Meanwhile, analysts yesterday called on the federal, state and local governments to prioritise

their spending and be more creative in generating internal revenue as a way of coping with the hard times heralded by dwindling revenue from the Federation Account.

The analysts, in separate interviews with THISDAY, also urged sub-national governments to defer expenditures that could be delayed till the revenue situation improves as well as to develop measures that would help boost internally generated revenue (IGR) in the states.

They spoke against the backdrop of a letter, dated April 26, 2021, by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed

Idris, that it will not be able to remit any funds to the Federation Account in April for distribution in May, in a bid to recover about N120 billion spent on petrol subsidy.

The analysts called on states to look inwards and come up with ingenious plans to boost their revenues by encouraging more investments as well as creating an enabling environment for businesses.

They stated that the announcement by NNPC about not remitting revenue to the Federation Account was particularly "very worrisome."

The Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, in his reaction, explained how petrol subsidy affects government’s revenue.

He said: “The truth is that what this points to is the fact that subsidy is a cost to the NNPC and a cost to the government and the bottom line is that when subsidies increase, the revenue available to run government’s activities is reducing. So, there is an inverse relationship between subsidy, the level of subsidy and the level of revenue available to the government.”

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dignity Finance and Investment Limited, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, said it was high time the government recognised the need to change fiscal allocation policy and allow the states to be selfContinued on page 40

MILITARY, POLICE RING ABUJA TO FORESTALL BOKO HARAM ATTACK Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.

The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group's flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT. Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.

However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.

But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn't the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.

The security of the nation's airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.

THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel

and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.

More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.

THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.

Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.

Security sources told THISDAY: "There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment."

It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.

The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT. "I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly," a source said.

National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.

Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.

The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.

Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.

Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.

Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation's airports.

A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.

PDP Demands State of Emergency In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.

He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.

Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.

Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: "We are worried Abuja

is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.

"We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.

"There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation.

It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let's keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”

He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.

Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central "Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.

Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow

the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.

He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.

Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.

The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.

Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.

“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.

The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the

FIRST BANK: CBN REINSTATES ADEDUNTAN, SACKS OTUDEKO, BANK’S BOARDS Alimi Abdulrasaq, Ahmed Modibbo, Khalifa Imam and Peter Aliogo.

Mr. UK Eke retains his position as Managing Director of FBN Holdings.

First Bank Nigeria Limited now has as Chairman, Tunde Hassan-Odukale, who replaced Mrs. Ibukun Awosika.

Other board members are Tokunbo Martins, Uche Nwokedi, Adekunle Sonola, Isioma Ogodazi, Ebenezer Olufowose, Ishaya Elijah B. Dodo and Adeduntan.

Gbenga Shobo, deputy managing director; and Remi Oni and Abdullahi Ibrahim, executive directors, are members of the reconstituted board.

The CBN had on Wednesday queried the

erstwhile board of First Bank Nigeria Limited over the removal of Adeduntan, saying the action was without regulatory approval.

The query followed the earlier announcement of the appointment of Shobo as the new managing director/chief executive officer.

However, the CBN, to douse tension generated by the boardroom crisis in the bank, assured depositors, creditors and other stakeholders of its commitment to safeguard the bank.

It said: “The CBN hereby reassures the depositors, creditors and other stakeholders of the bank of its commitment to ensure the stability of the financial system. There is, therefore,

no cause for panic amongst the banking public, given that the actions being taken are meant to strengthen the bank and position it as a banking industry giant.”

Emefiele told journalists yesterday that with the changes, the bank must assume its leadership position in the industry, adding that the central bank will be looking into allegations of insider abuse in the bank and will ensure that corporate governance is restored.

According to him, the CBN will insist on proper re-capitalisation of the bank to restore its capital adequacy ratio.

He stated that the CBN took the action because it considered itself a stakeholder

in management changes involving First Bank due to the forbearance and its close monitoring of the bank over the last five years.

He added that ordinarily, the board of a bank is vested with the authority to make changes in the management team subject to CBN's approval.

“However, the CBN considers itself a key stakeholder in management changes involving FBN due to the forbearances and close monitoring by the bank over the last five years aimed at stemming the slide in the going concern status of the bank.

“It was, therefore, surprising for the CBN to learn through media reports that the board

of directors of First Bank, a systemically important bank under regulatory forbearance regime, had effected sweeping changes in executive management without engagement and/or prior notice to the regulatory authorities,” he explained.

He said the board's action sent a negative signal to the market on the stability of leadership on the board and management.

He added that it was in the light of the foregoing that the CBN queried the directors on the change.

He described First Bank as one of the systemically important banks in the banking sector given its historical Continued on page 40

morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.

Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.

“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.

State of Emergency Won't Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.

Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.

According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.

TOP GAINERS FIDSON JBERGER EKOCORP CHIPLC ROYALEXCH TOP LOSERS CWG MBENEFITS FBNHOLDINGS

NGN NGN 0.48 5.28 1.90 20.90 0.50 5.90 0.03 0.36 0.04 0.49 NGN 0.25 2.29 0.03 0.37 0.50 6.90 CORONATION 0.02 0.50 HONEYWELL 0.05 1.28 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,420.00 Volume: 270.681 million shares Value: N2.031 billion Deals: 3,897 As at yesterday 29/4/2021 See details on Page 39

% 10 10 9.2 9.0 8.8 % 9.8 7.5 6.7 3.8 3.7

THISDAY, FRIDAY APRIL 30, 2021

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY APRIL 30, 2021

18

POLITICS

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

Politics of President’s Medical Trip Segun James looks at the implications of not handing power over to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo when President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to Europe recently for 14 days to see his doctors

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igeria’s health care delivery system has become bedevilled with so many intractable problems in recent years. The question is why are the nation’s health facilities not working? Like many simple questions, it leads to complex answers. Because it demands that we confront a profound new reality about our healthcare system which the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed.

With the virus raging, along with political storms and an economy on a roller-coaster ride, these haven’t exactly been a fun time for Nigerians. But surprisingly, it is the time the president chooses to travel out of the country.

Not too long ago, the Presidency had announced that President Muhammadu Buhari was travelling to London for a “routine” medical check-up that will last two weeks!

The announcement came barely two days before the country’s doctors were to embark on strike action over unpaid salaries.

It is Buhari’s first medical trip abroad since the outbreak of the pandemic, which stripped much of Africa’s elites of the option of flying to the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America or India to see a doctor.

While Buhari consulted with doctors in London, millions in Africa’s most populous country and the supposed largest economy were left without access to medical facilities.

The doctors stopped going to work. They were complaining about the non-payment of medical interns for months and demanding an upward review of hazard allowances and COVID-19 care incentives, according to a statement issued by the National Association of Resident Doctors on March 29.

Nigerians have for decades suffered from an inadequately funded healthcare system, squalid clinics and hospitals, and poorly paid and overworked health care workers who frequently move abroad for greener pastures.

There are at least 8,178 medical doctors of Nigerian origin working in the U.K., according to data on the U.K. General Medical Council website, a more than 50% increase from 2015. The exodus has worsened health care in a country that has one doctor for every 5,000 people, according to the Nigeria Medical Association.

Why should the president go to Europe which is in the midst of a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic for his medical checkups when he could have had his doctors brought to the Villa without fanfare and the noise now associated with his travel to London?

The fact that may be gleaned from the disposition of the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari to healthcare facilities in the presidential palace.

She exposed the Aso Villa clinic as a glorified chemist shop and complained about the mismanagement.

From all indications, the medical centre must still be in the same sorry state, hence the president’s decision to go abroad. Although the president has shown that he never had COVID,-19 what if going to London will exposed him to the pandemic?

Who was in charge of the country?

Or was the government on autopilot?

There was a chance offered by Buhari’s trip abroad to make a turning point in the ever-deepening

JUSUN Strike Counter-Productive to the Stability of the Judicial System Popular Abuja-based lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo cautions the striking members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria that strike may not be the ultimate panacea to resolve disputes

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here is no doubt that various courts in Nigeria have been grounded consequent upon the indefinite strike action embarked upon by judicial workers under the auspices of Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on the 6th of April, 2021 on the backdrop of the failure of state governments to implement the financial autonomy of the judiciary.

As a concerned member of the Bar, a labour leader and an advocate for the enthronement of rule of law and justice, I am compelled to pensively and dispassionately analyse the issues at hand and lend my two cent while admonishing the leadership of JUSUN to “cease fire”.

As a prefatory, there is no gainsaying the fact the cause of members of JUSN is not a causeless as same is an echo of the extant provisions of the Constitution. It must be noted that the benchmark for the assessment of any democratic government is the independence of its judiciary. This is because democracy is built on the twin doctrines of separation of powers and the rule of law. This is why the Constitution clearly delineate the powers of each of the three arms government and also provides instances where they work together.

Any thing short of these instances is tantamount to rule of arbitrariness which is frowned upon by all democracies in the world.

It is interesting to note that the provisions of Constitution are clear to the extent that the judiciary both at the federal and state level shall be independent. A careful perusal of Section 81 and 121 of the Constitution will reveal that the burden of the welfare and maintenance of judges is placed on the National Judicial Council and not on the governors.

For the sake of emphasis, Section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution provides as follows: “Any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state shall be paid directly to

the heads of the courts concerned”.

It is therefore patent that the refusal of the governors to comply with the extant provisions of paw amounts to a total infraction of the provisions of the Constitution.

Without prejudice to the right agitations of members of JUSUN as clearly enunciated above, it must be noted that the importance of a functional judiciary at all times cannot be overstated and even more in these times to maintain law and order in a drastically burdened and changing society as ours.

While the issue at hand is not res integra, the leadership of JUSUN should take a clue from the incessant strike action embarked upon by ASUU including other trade unions in Nigeria and its consequent implications. The point I am painstakingly driving home is that, strike action is not the ultimate panacea to resolve disputes, each case has to be decided based on the circumstances surrounding it and parties involved.

The leadership of JUSUN is thus admonished to look inward and consider a more beneficial approach to ensure that their agitations are implemented by these erring governors and not allow same to inimically affect the fundamental rights of the Citizens and the confidence reposed in the judiciary by members of the society.

In order to permanently tackle this impasse, it is advised that the Attorney General of the federation as the Chief Law Officer of the federation should approach the Supreme Court pursuant to the provisions of Section 232(1) of the 1999 Constitution for an Order of Court to deduct at source from the Federating Account and Consolidated Revenue Fund of the states, any amount standing to the credit of the Judiciary.

As a corollary, each Attorney General of the Ssates should ensure due compliance with the extant and clear provisions of the Constitution as the Chief Law Officer of the state.

mistrust and distrust in the presidency, but the refusal of the president to commute power, no matter how brief, to his deputy while on medical leave in Europe. The President and his advisers may have depended on the constitution which allows him a maximum of 14 days absence from the country without handing over power to his second in-command.

What was the political implication of the president going abroad, not on an official state visit, but on health grounds for two weeks without devolving powers to his deputy? What kind of ailment is the president having that will require two weeks leave out of the country?

Who ran the government in the absence of the president? After all, if the ailment was so serious that it required that the president spend 14 days outside the country, then it is safe to assume that he did not have time to tend to any state matters while tending to his health.

But the presidency said, the president attended to state matters while away. It can also be argued that with the modern tools of communication, the President can work from anywhere in the world. His spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu who disclosed this however did not say exactly why or how the president would be running the country from a sickbed in London.

In 2017, following an undisclosed ailment that forced the President to stay away from his duties for about 100 days, he officially handed powers to his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. By the time he came back, Nigerians were informed that his office had been taken over by rodents and that he would be working from home. The reasons given were suspicious, but Nigerians were happy that he returned safely.

At that time, the President devolved powers to his deputy who acted in his place. In his capacity as the acting President, Osinbajo took some far-reaching decisions including the nomination of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of the federation. He also sacked a member of the cabal around the president for insubordination and appointed a Southerner as acting head of the Department of State Security (DSS). He also tackled the economic issues facing the nation, a situation which saw the Naira appreciating back against the Dollar.

These actions drew the ire of the cabal, and that was when the problems of the Vice President with his principal began. From that moment on, the President refused to hand over again to his deputy . But the powers behind the throne are always invincible and they wield the greatest force and they exert revenge.

The greatest sin of Osinbajo was that he sacked Alhaji Daura for taking a unilateral decision without recourse to him as the acting Pesident. That incensed the cabal, a group of which Daura is a member so much that they never forgave him. Osinbajo’s executive actions within that period showed a man who knew his onion and has an independent mind. The cabal never liked that. They have since ensured that he never has any opportunity to act again.

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PERSPECTIVE

Insecuroty: Why Buhari Must Seek Help Now Immediate-Past President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki argues that calling for help in Nigeria’s present situation of choking insecurity Chido Nwangwu, Publisher, USAfricaonline.com should not be viewed as a sign of weakness, but commends the vast improvements recorded by a courageous step which President Muhammadu President Joe Biden since he assumed leadership of Buhari must take immediately

A Look at Biden’s First 100 Days

that country about 100 days ago

P

resident Joe Biden loves to paint and persuade with bold strokes on the canvas of public policy..

He likes to paint a big picture of the possibilities and power of the United States. On April 28, 2021, he assessed the country at the joint sitting of the U.S Senate and House of Representatives, to make the point that just before and shortly after he took over, “America’s house was on fire.”

For those who might have, willfully, forgotten, he was hinting at the massive disruption of regular living, more than one half of a million deaths and other devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Especially, its decimation of small business and wider economic insecurity that came with it.

Indeed, “America’s house was on fire”, at the time, regarding the issue of COVID-19 because of the truancy, incompetence and lies told to Americans by our former, impeached President, Donald J. Trump. Here is the contrast; according to Biden: “When I was sworn in, less than 1% of seniors were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 100 days later, nearly 70% of seniors are fully protected.

Senior deaths from COVID-19 are down 80% since January. And, more than half of all adults in America have gotten at least one shot.”

Without any doubt, “America’s house was on fire”, in part, because Mr. Trump instigated and inflamed most of the desecration and destruction which took place on January 6, 2021 as an armed attack, an insurrection at the U.S Capitol by his supporters and foot soldiers. Yes; as in most cases regarding the direction and vitality of this country, America triumphed.

“Now — after just 100 days — I can report to the nation: America is on the move again,” Biden said, adding that the U.S. is now “turning peril into possibility. Crisis into opportunity. Setback into strength.”

President Biden’s first words dramatized part of the trail of overcoming and moving forward to greater, unfold in chapters of history when he said: “Madam Speaker!

Madam Vice President!

No president has ever said those words from this podium, and it’s about time.”

Yes; for the first time in the history of the United States, two women were in the immediate line of succession to the presidency, the most powerful position in the world!

For proper record and identification: “Madam Speaker is Nancy Pelosi, an Italian American.

Madam Vice President is Kamala Harris,

a Black woman.

I believe and think that it is important to share with you the very significant text of his introductory comments; he spoke to the spirit and resilience of America. Here: “My fellow Americans.

While the setting tonight is familiar, this gathering is very different - a reminder of the extraordinary times we are in.

Throughout our history, Presidents have come to this chamber to speak to the Congress, to the nation, and to the world.

To declare war. To celebrate peace. To announce new plans and possibilities.

Tonight, I come to talk about crisis - and opportunity.

About rebuilding our nation - and revitalizing our democracy.

And winning the future for America.

As I stand here tonight - just one day shy of the 100th day of my administration.

100 days since I took the oath of office, lifted my hand off our family Bible, and inherited a nation in crisis.

The worst pandemic in a century.

The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

The worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War. Now, after just 100 days, I can report to the nation: America is on the move again.

Turning peril into possibility. Crisis into opportunity. Setback into strength.

Life can knock us down.

But in America, we never stay down.

In America, we always get up.

And today, that’s what we’re doing: America is rising anew.

Choosing hope over fear. Truth over lies. Light over darkness.

After 100 Days of rescue and renewal, America is ready for takeoff.

We are working again. Dreaming again.

Discovering again. Leading the world again.

We have shown each other and the world: There is no quit in America.”

A critical segment of Biden’s plan to ensure that America neither quits nor stays down is a relatively expensive yet important $4 trillion infrastructure, child care and early education agenda.

Predictable denunciation came from the Republican party leadership and activists who called the price tag “socialism” and unrealistic tax-and-spend plan. Biden insists he wants to rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges, water pipes and other technology-related and environmentally progressive investments.

“For too long, we have failed to use the most important word when it comes to meeting the climate crisis…. Jobs.

Jobs. For me, when I think about climate change, I think jobs.”

He referenced the word “jobs” 43 times in the speech.

His predecessor Trump also focused on jobs; and had some success of it.

I think it is refreshingly clear that Biden is leading a team of individuals and professionals who have elevated the quality and methodology of both governance and communicating to Americans and the world. They have chosen discipline and mutual respect over bravado and bluster.

They have chosen factual delivery instead of manufactured data and deception.

As far as I can tell, Americans and others know that it’s a new day in America, since these 100 days of the Biden presidency.

Regardless, I am guided by the wise words of the late, great Chinua Achebe who wrote decades ago that ‘it’s morning yet on creation day.

O

n Monday, April 26, Nigeria experienced one of the saddest days in recent memory. All in one day, from Anambra State to Kaduna, Yobe, Niger, and Lagos States, critical insecurity issues were recorded and reported. Hour after hour; breaking news after breaking news, we saw numerous unacceptable reports of violence, kidnapping, terrorism, and the systematic breakdown of law and order in many parts of the nation. This should not be so.

We read reports of Boko Haram hoisting up its flag in Niger State, in Shiroro LGA that houses one of Nigeria’s largest power stations — and is just about 200 kilometres from our federal capital. We also read the statement of the Niger State governor, where he expressed how helpless the government has become, and how thousands of people have been displaced in his state. He also lamented how the efforts of the federal government have not yielded concrete results.

We also received sad and disturbing reports that Mainok, a town on the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway was invaded on Sunday by the insurgents who unabashedly went on a killing spree — targeting our brave soldiers and innocent civilians alike. Nine people were said to have been killed by hoodlums that invaded Ukpomachi Village, Awkuzu in Oyi LGA of Anambra State.

In Kaduna State, two more innocent students that were kidnapped from Greenfield University were killed by their abductors. While, an unspecified number of students have now been abducted from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, in Benue State. All in one day.

All within a 24-hour news cycle. This cannot continue. This cannot become Nigeria’s new normal.

Before giving my comment, I want to state that as we reel from the multiple tragedies, my family and I will continue to pray for all the affected families and communities. We will lend them our full support as we all bind together to get past this difficult time. May God grant them the fortitude and the strength that they need to withstand this difficult and sad period.

However, 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.

Just as I stated in my press statement on the same issue on January 24, 2021, I want to reiterate that the President needs 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 finding solutions to the problem at hand.

The meeting must hold expeditiously and must be followed by immediate actions. I know there are many people who believe that the fact that this suggestion is coming from a source outside government is a good reason for the President to ignore it. I think the attitude

this time around must be different. This is definitely not a time for partisanship or for people to play politics with the lives of the citizenry and the future of the country.

Security of lives and properties is the first and most important duty of government and it must be taken seriously. My suggestion here is an appeal made out of genuine concern with what is going on in our dear country.

More important, in the democracy that we practice, the institution charged with holding the executive accountable is the legislature. In this regard, I strongly call on my colleagues in the National Assembly to be more assertive in finding solutions to this issue of insecurity. l need to make it clear that they will not be helping the administration if they do not become more insistent and decisive in their approach to getting this security crisis tackled immediately. Doing this cannot be logically interpreted as antagonising the executive. Just as treating the issue in a mild manner does not amount to co-operation. They must stand up and put Nigeria first before any other consideration. It is by doing this that they can genuinely help both the government and their constituents.

The leaders of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) also have a vital role to play. They must do all that is necessary to help the administration to get solutions to this national crisis. This is a time for them to be part of the search for the solution and getting the government to act swiftly in implementing good ideas that will return the country to normalcy and the path of genuine development.

Even those of us in the opposition party recognise the fact we can only exist if we continue to have a country. Thus, we are willing to cooperate with the government in finding solutions to this problem.

Our former leaders, I am sure, are ready, willing, and able to assist the government with their wealth of experience. With their active role in combating the COVID-19 crisis, even the private sector has shown that if called upon, at any time and on any issue, it is ready to help solve this crisis. Our friends in the international community, have also demonstrated their willingness to help us out.

However, all these actors will not jump into the arena without the government facilitating their intervention. The government needs to call on them before this problem consumes all of us.

At this point, words and press statements are not enough. We need to see action. I appeal to Mr. President to take the bull by the horn. He should act to stem the tide of this violence threatening to tear the country apart.”

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THISDAY, FRIDAY APRIL 30, 2021

THISDAY, FRIDAY APRIL 30, 2021

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T H I S D AY ˾

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

Ͱ ͱ ˜ Ͱ ͮ Ͱ ͯ MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

REPO 15.88 % 16.75 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

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EXCHANGE RATE ͱ͵ͷ˹ͯ ̩ ̩

Quick Takes

Lufthansa to Resume PH Airport Flights

NIGERIAN INVESTOR VALUE AWARDS

L–R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, Mr. Temi Popoola; Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. Urum Kalu Eke; and Managing Director/CEO, Central Securities Clearing Systems (CSCS) Plc, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, at the 2021 Nigerian Investor Value Awards held in Lagos…recently

Stakeholders Seek Enhanced Security at Airports Chinedu Eze Aviation industry stakeholders have reacted to new security alert that warned of looming security threat at the airports.

They advised the federal government to evolve new security apparatus to protect air travellers and other airport users in the country.

The alert was contained in a letter from the Ministry of Interior to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps titled, “Looming Threat of Attack on Nation’s Airports.”

The letter, which was signed

by P. O. Egbodo, Director (Joint Services) for Ministry of Interior, stated, “I am directed to forward herewith letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) with

AVIATION ref: NSA/366/S dated 6th April, 2021 on the above subject and to request you to liaise/partner with all airports management nationwide and other stakeholders to upgrade the existing security measures around the nation’s airports in the interim to prevent such threats.”

Since terror and bandit attacks pervaded the country there has been continuous threats at the airports with successful kidnapping of airport workers at Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) near the airports in Jos and Kaduna.

Owing to this, the stakeholders who insisted that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and FAAN

should brainstorm and find ways to fortify security at the airports said the regulatory agency should follow its security programme guided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The CEO of Centurion Securities and the Secretary of Aviation Round Table (ART), Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd) said NCAA, FAAN and all government agencies working at the airports should put heads together to reinforce the security architecture at the airports.

He said the core security operatives should be deployed to the airport and given responsibilities, noting that aside from the police, DSS, Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigerian Immigration

Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Air Force, “the others are just additional problems in what the insiders threats are in our airports.”

“Every operator airline and others should have security programmes approved by the NCAA; same way the NCAA approved the airport security programmes. Whenever issues of national security like the one at hand comes up, the NCAA releases security directives based on the need to know on the national security intelligence.

“Each time I hear that the government should do this or that where the responsible agency is relevant and approximately positioned, I wonder why the masquerade or the cloaking.”

Importers, Custom Agents Request Compensation on Impounded Explosives Eromosele Abiodun Importers and customs agents operating at the nation’s seaports have called on the ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col Hameed Ali (rtd) to promote the acting Controller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, Yahaya Usman and officers of the unit that intercepted explosives and Indian hemp smuggled into the country from Benin Republic.

The clearing agents said automatic promotion for the officers and Usman’s elevation to a full-fledged controller would serve as morale booster to other officers in the service.

The agents described the seizure as spectacular due to the current security threats and increased crime rates around the country, especially in the South-East and Northern part

MARITIME of the country The FOU, Zone A, had last week intercepted 42 drums of calcium carbide and 2,843.6 kg of Indian hemp smuggled into the country from Benin Republic.

Usman had while addressing newsmen stated that the unit acted based on credible intelligence, disclosing that the explosives were smuggled into the country through the porous Ogun State borders.

In a chat with newsmen, the President-General, National Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators, (NAFFAC), Bakare Adeyinka, said the seizure had shown how porous the Nigerian border in Ogun State has been despite the presence of Customs officers as well as other security agencies.

Adeyinka said the officers

who intercepted the drums of explosives should be rewarded with automatic promotion.

“The right thing to boost the morale of officers that intercepted these drums of explosive is to compensate the officers who achieved this feat with automatic promotion. That is the way to make them do more because they could as well compromised and put the nation in a mess,” he said.

He stated further that the promotion would enjoin others to do more, as they will understand there is dignity in doing the right thing.

He said: “Doing this will make other officers understand that there is reward for doing the right thing but we shouldn’t also forget that the service need to up her game because the number of illegal arms in Nigeria is alarming and majority come in through the nation’s

porous borders.”

Also speaking, a member of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chukwudi Daniels, added that the hard work should be compensated by the service.

Daniels said the current security situation in the country make it imperative for the Customs management to boost the morale of officers who achieved feat like this.

He said: “What they achieved wasn’t a mere feat. They saved innocent souls that may have been lost if it get to the wrong hands.

“Though, it’s their job but when officers achieve spectacular feat, the same way we criticize them for doing something bad is the same way they should be appreciated when they save the country of impending doom and calamities.”

Lufthansahasconfirmedthatithasconcludedplantoresumeflightsfrom the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, as soon as the federal government reopen the airport.

ThiswasdisclosedbytheGeneralManager,Sales,NigeriaandEquatorial Guinea, Lufthansa Group, Mrs. Adenike Macaulay.

Macaulay said Lufthansa is interested in resuming flights from Port HarcourtandhadindicatedsametotheconcernedauthoritiesinNigeria.

“Lufthansa is waiting to resume its flight operations to Port Harcourt with high interest and have indicated same to the relevant authorities.

We hope that the airport will soon open again for international flights.

“For our flights to Port Harcourt we expect good demand, as we are learning from our customers every day that they would like to get back our Lufthansa flights from Port Harcourt.

“The booking figures make us confident that we will run a profitable operation out of Port Harcourt. That is why we offer these flights in our bookingsystemssincemonthsandhavingtocancelthemweek-by-week due to the delayed reopening.

“However,teamingupwithPHCairportmanagementandwiththesupport of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) we are confident to reopenthisdestinationhopefullysoon,akeyonealsofortheoilandenergy business. Lufthansa already resumed its flights to Lagos and Abuja last December 2020 and has well reestablished two out of three Nigerian connections, awaiting finally Port Harcourt,” Macaulay said.

Ethiopian Tests IATA Travel Pass

Ethiopian Airlines Group said it has conducted trial of IATA Travel Pass, a digital travel mobile app to enhance efficiency in testing or vaccine verifications, making it the first African airline to do so.

Astravelrestarts,travelersneedaccurateCOVID-19-relatedinformation like testing and vaccine requirements, which vary among countries.The IATATravelPassinitiativehelpsverifytheauthenticityoftestinformation presentedbytravelerswhichisessentialforensuringthesafetyofpassengers while complying with entry requirements of countries.

AccordingtoEthiopianAirlines,thetrialwouldbeconductedonflightsout ofAddisAbabatoWashingtonDCandTorontoaswellasonflightsoutof London andToronto to Addis Ababa, effective April 25, 2021.The airline saidithasgonedigitalinallofitsoperationstoavoidphysicalcontactand combat the spread of the pandemic and now embarks on this initiative which will allow passengers to relish unparalleled flight experience.

GroupCEOofEthiopianAirlines,Mr.TewoldeGebreMariamsaid,“Digital technology is vital to solve many of the problems that arise from the pandemic. We are glad that we are offering new digital opportunities to our passengers so as to fully and safely restart air travel.

“Ourcustomerswillenjoyefficient,contactlessandsafertravelexperience with their travel pass digital passport. As a safety first airline, we have become the first African airline to trail IATA’s travel pass initiative to facilitate travel. The new initiative will increase travelers’ confidence in travel, encourages governments to reopen their borders and expedites industry restart.’’

ICAO Marks 2021 Earth Day

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has released two publicationsaspartofitsEco-AirportToolkite-collectionfocusingonclimate resilient airports and water management at airports. Each publication providesstateswithpracticalinformationfordecisionmakersengaged in green airport planning and design.

ICAOCouncilPresident,SalvatoreSciacchitanosaid,“Thepaceofinnovation in all aspects of aviation is unparalleled, and ICAO has been helping drive thegreenrecoveryofaviationbypromotinganambitiousde-carbonisation pathforthesectorincludingthepromotionofpioneeringeffortstosupport the development of airport infrastructure projects.”

ICAO said it continues to engage with all stakeholders to facilitate the acceleration of greener technologies and initiatives, including the development of electric and hydrogen planes, new processes for generatingsustainableaviationfuelsandcleanenergy,andmodernised, more sustainable infrastructure solutions.

AccordingtoICAO,aseriesofitsmonthlypre-stocktakingwebinarshave beenheldtocollectandsharethegreensolutions,movingtowardthe2021 ICAOStocktakingEvent,whichwilltakeplacefromAugust31,toSeptember 2, 2021, followed by a green recovery policy day on 3 September 2021.

ICAODeputyDirectorforEnvironmentalProtectionstressed,JaneHupe, said, “Following a request from the 40th Session of the ICAO Assembly, andinspiredbyseveralannouncementsforzerocarbonemissionby2050, ICAO is currently assessing the feasibility of a climate global long-term aspirationalgoalforinternationalaviation,alongwithrealisationroadmaps.”

“There is a huge opportunity for the Nigerian market to grow. That is why you see many airlines coming into the country” Director General, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),

Captain Musa Nuhu

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ANALYSIS

Why Nigerian Passport is Scarce Chinedu Eze traces the root cause of the protracted passport scarcity in the country

T

he protests and petitions have been deafening over the failure of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to promptly issue passports to Nigerians who have applied and paid for them.

At the Federal Capital Territory and in Lagos, there are many applicants who have waited for months for the passport, which they had applied and paid for and had also, been captured in the data base, but they could not obtain their passports because there are no booklets.

In 2019, the Nigerian Immigration Service introduced the enhanced e-passport as part of the new reforms by the federal government in the Ministry of Interior.

These new passports are in two categories of 32-page for five years validity, 64-page five years validity, both of which are available for adults and minors and 64-page 10 years validity for adults who were above 18 years of age.

But since after the introduction of these enhanced e-passports there has been protracted scarcity of the 32-page booklets, especially in the nation’s busiest passport officer in Ikoyi; that many persons who ordinarily would have loved to request for 32-page passport booklets were forced to go for the 64-page, five years category, which is more costly.

But the situation is now exacerbated because both the 32-page and 64-page categories are scarce.

A source told THISDAY how his son applied for the renewal of his passport in January, but three months later was yet to obtain the new passport. He said he requested for the 32-page category but was told that it was not available so he had to pay more for the 64-page category and was yet to get the passport.

It was the same situation with the mother of his colleague, a 70-year old woman who returned from Canada and requested for the renewal of her passport in February and be the end of April was yet to get the new passport.

“I requested a new passport for my son from the Abuja passport office on January 13, 2021 and since then till today I am yet to get the passport. We went for the 32-page passport but later they said it was not available so we paid for the 64-page passport but we have continued to wait till today.

“I also have somebody who lives in Canada but returned to Nigeria and requested for the renewal of her passport since February, but she is yet to get it. She is about 70 years and the mother of a colleague, so I know.

“She applied for the 10 years passport category. But what is really most annoying about this is the fact that some people are getting these passports. I know two of my friends who have some connection who walked into passport office and collected their passport after few days. This means that the booklets may be available but not enough to go round,” he said.

Debts THISDAY investigations revealed that the major reason why the passport booklets are scarce is because the producer of the passports, Irish Technologies is allegedly owed debts that run into millions of dollars by the Ministry of Interior.

The Nigerian passports are produced overseas, contrary to the belief that they are produced locally.

The Ministry had a Public, Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with the foreign company, which produces the enhanced e-passport, but it has refused to supply the product due to the alleged huge debts.

THISDAY also learnt that Irish Technologies had met with the Ministry and requested that it should be given easy window to access forex directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which the Ministry was unable to facilitate, but rather was purported told to access forex through the parallel market, which the company said would be very expensive for it.

Burdened with huge debt profile and finding it difficult to obtain foreign exchange, Irish Technologies was thrown into a dilemma.

It was this impasse that led to the current

Aregbesola expressed the optimism that the new service delivery strategy would bring great relief to those renewing and applying for new international passports.

Illegal Deals As stated earlier, some persons who spoke to THISDAY, alleged that there are booklets which senior officials use as bargaining chips for favours and for monetary reward, noting that, “some people will go there and come back with their new passport.”

THISDAY learnt that in some passport offices in Lagos before an applicant’s file is treated he or she must pay N5, 000 in addition to the cost of the passport and when it is paid the applicant’s file is signed with green biro.

A source told THISDAY that this had been going since 2019 and despite outcry by applicants the trend has subsisted.

“Your file cannot be treated unless you make that payment. It is only when you do so that your file is taken in and you are invited for capture. The N5, 000 is even small; those who want urgent passport can be made to pay any amount possible and you don’t have any other choice than to pay,” the source said.

Babandede

scarcity, which inside sources projected would last long; unless there was urgent intervention.

In addition to the above challenge, an official of NIS who preferred anonymity told THISDAY, “Our machines and general infrastructure for capturing and process of passports and other working materials have degenerated. The existing equipment is over worked and they face constant breakdown due to wear and tear. So it is expected that the Ministry will look into this.

“We need ministerial intervention because the Nigerian Immigration Services is a department in the Ministry of Interior. The Ministry endorsed the partnership,” the official told THISDAY. High Demand THISDAY gathered that since last year there has been a spike in the demand of passports but many of those who have completed the requirements are yet to receive their passports so NIS faces piling demand which could reach choking level if Immigration continues to delay the issuance of completed passports.

Passport Office Ikoyi, Lagos records the highest passport demand in Nigeria with average demand of 15,000-20,000 monthly, while Festac and Alausa offices produce about 50 per cent of that figure of about 7,500 to 10, 000 passports monthly.

“In 2016, for example, Ikoyi office issued 145, 000 in one year, while Alausa and Festac issued 70, 000 per annum. Before the current leadership we have skilled and trained officers on the enhanced e-passport, but recently those officials have been replaced by other officers who are not trained and this has created hiccups in the process,” government official told THISDAY. Government Intervention However, the federal government recently announced that henceforth, the timeline from when the application for a new passport is

submitted to the time of issuance should not exceed six weeks.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who disclosed this in a meeting with the Comptroller General of Immigration, Mohammad Babandede, Passport Officers, and Attaches for Nigeria Missions abroad, said the Immigration Service would create special centres to fast track service delivery.

The special centres, he explained would operate on Public-Private- Partnership basis.

He said a model centre had started operating in Abuja and10 others would be opened nationwide in few weeks’ time and each of the centres he explained would fix the timeline for each applicant to collect his/her passport but would not exceed six weeks.

Aregbesola said the federal government had resolved to be at par with what obtained in the best of climes, adding that the new timeline would allow enough time to investigate and validate personal information supplied by the applicants.

He however added that should there be any unforeseen occurrence that could cause delay, the Immigration officers would promptly notify the applicant at least one week before the collection date.

The Interior Minister also said government intention was to reduce if not eliminate contact by the applicants with officers, adding that government arrangement was for applicants to fill the form and leave the venue and that would be all the physical contact except when picking the passport in six weeks’ time.

He acknowledged that the service had hitherto been bedeviled with challenges such as shortage of booklets, touting, racketeering, which had caused the increase in cost and had made it possible for people who were not qualified to obtain the passport to access them.

The Immigration service also said it would soon publish the list of backlog of applications that have since been ready but their owners have not come to pick them.

Ask those who are complaining of not being able to get their international passport out who they went through because at times, they go through touts. We have sent out circulars and write in the newspapers that people should apply online and when they have problems they should let us know

New Passport Regime But the Nigerian Immigration Service has introduced new passport application policy, which insisted that all current passport backlogs must be issued on or before May 31, 2021 and those with issues with their application would be contacted.

“Names of all those whose passport are ready and currently waiting for collection will be published in the dailies and they will be required to visit the Command Head Quarters in the state where they applied for collection.

New passport application regime begins June 1, 2021. Passport application processing to collection has now been standardized to take a total of six weeks. Those who desire express service of 24hrs-72hrs waiting time, can visit any of the passport express centres,” statement from NIS said.

Immigration also said a zero-tolerance stance to all forms of touting has been declared, noting that no applicant would be made to pay any illegitimate fees.

“Security operatives – seen and unseen – have been embedded in all passport offices.

They will wear body cameras. They will detect and report any form of solicitations, inflation, improper communications, extortion, diversion, hoarding and other corrupt practices.

“Those caught will be dealt with according to the law. An ombudsman has been created for members of the public to receive complaints and reports on officers trying to deviate from prescribed guidelines and subversion of the process.

“Applicants will have no basis for further communication with officers, other than to complete their application process and leave the venue. The date for the collection of their passports or any challenge to the application will be communicated to them. The technology for the efficient running of this system has been acquired,” Immigration said.

Patronising Touts The Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. Sunday James, urged applicants to follow due and recognised process of obtaining passports and not to patronise touts.

“Ask those who are complaining of not being able to get their international passport out who they went through because at times, they go through touts. We have sent out circulars and write in the newspapers that people should apply online and when they have problems they should let us know.

“When they have problems with the area boys, they will now run to the media. It is a very shameful experience when they do this. We tell them not to go through a third party and if they go through a third party and the person is not in passport office, it is also a criminal act. Let them stop patronising people. Let the system work for itself. We have a systemic issue that works and not someone helping the people,” he said.

However, the recent scarcity of passport booklets has been acknowledged by top officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

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As FAAN Signs Airport Management Deal with Arlington Chinedu Eze There are indications that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has signed a deal with Arlington Securities Nigeria Services for the provision of Common Use Terminal Equipment and other passenger facilitation services.

FAAN decided not to renew its contract with Societe International Telecommunication Aeronautiques (SITA), which had handled these services for the agency in the last 10 years and which contract terminates on May 2, 2021.

The decision to migrate to Arlington, which is a representative of French-based RESA Airport Data Systems, aroused mixed feelings among airlines and officials of FAAN because SITA is global firm with long pedigree in the provision of software solutions and passenger facilitation, while Arlington may be having its first major deal in Nigeria.

THISDAY learnt that FAAN management has directed airlines to hook up to the new company’s system after it received clearance from the National Information Development Agency (NITD).

The new company would provide services to the five international airports in the country, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa and Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Reacting to the decision of FAAN to engage Arlington, industry consultant and CEO of Belujane Konsult, Chris

Aligbe, said FAAN took time to evaluate SITA during the years it provided services to the agency.

He disclosed that there were areas SITA did not provide certain services as agreed in the contract and they challenged the company and extended its services to two years in 2019.

“FAAN evaluated SITA’s services and then in the evaluation found that there were some services that SITA was not delivering and they challenged SITA. SITA agreed, and said it would give FAAN 10 month’s free service, which it did.

“So that has been the situation. FAAN has been studying the services and it has gone out to look at how some other airports where those services are being operated in other parts of the world are doing.

“It is total airport solution including self-check in kiosk, including baggage drop, all those things. SITA arrangement was a different thing, after passengers have flown, before you can the passenger figures.”

He added: “But with Arlington, immediately passengers pass the boarding gate, all the record goes to FAAN. So they know those who have passed through the boarding gate, they are not waiting for people to get to their destination.

“So I learnt that for three years FAAN studied this and going to various airport and looking at the systems in those places.

And they came to the obvious conclusion that there are other organisations that can offer better services. SITA has been there for a long time.”

“FAAN officials were involved in the evaluation, both the ICT and finance management. They did the evaluation

and the analysis and they came to the conclusion that they can get more than what SITA is giving to them. And also came to the conclusion that in getting more it should also cover all the international airports.

“So they have five airports here and then I asked about the procurement processes.

FAAN also went to NTDI because it is an IT thing. The NTDI is in charge of any government contract on IT. It must be cleared by the agency, so they took pains to make sure that the mistakes of the past were avoided,” Aligbe said.

But THISDAY learnt that international airlines, which are the recipient of the services, are skeptical about the new company because it is not well known.

But FAAN seems to insist on the new contract.

But reacting to the new development, a senior official of FAAN told THISDAY that in his own personal opinion he was not comfortable with the decision of FAAN to sign a contract with a new company, noting that it was not good to remove the airlines that have already hooked on to the SITA system.

“The truth of the matter is that somebody high up there who felt he or she knew the new company is the one pushing for them. If we don’t live up to the contract we signed I don’t know what the consequences will be. SITA has pedigree. It is a conglomerate that provides services to airlines across the globe. It has international reputation. But those who have

Managing Director, FAAN, Rabiu Yadudu the power have decided.

“In the few meeting I attended on this I know that there are part of SITA contract we have not fulfilled. We expect SITA to perform miracles. At domestic and international terminals we have not installed some SITA infrastructure.

“Whatever advantage the new company may have, we have to think of the litigations that may come against us. We should think about the interest of our organisation first before we think about our own interest,” the FAAN official said.

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MARITIME

Renewed Onslaught on Maritime Criminals Eromosele Abiodun writes that apart from investment in security assets, partnership with Inter Regional Coordination Centre, Yaoundé, training of cadets to man various security platforms in the Lagos-Bayelsa coastal corridor will boost maritime security and the deep blue project

O

ver the years Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea were known to be the hotbed of piracy and maritime crimes and criminality. Put simply, Nigeria was rated number one in pirates attack in the Gulf of Guinea by the International Maritime bureau (IMB) last year.

The IMB is a specialised department of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The IMB’s responsibilities include in fighting crimes related to maritime trade and transportation, particularly piracy and commercial fraud, and in protecting the crews of ocean-going vessels.

The IMB in a report last year had said Nigeria led the table of pirate attacks with 21 recorded incidents between January and June 2019, as against 31 for the period of 2018, thereby beating Indonesia, which recorded 11 attacks, Venezuela six attacks and Peru with four attacks in six months.

The IMB is part of ICC Commercial Crime Services whose other divisions include The Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau, The Financial Investigation Bureau.

According to the report, Gulf of Guinea saw 73 per cent of all kidnappings at sea, and 92 per cent of hostage takings. Pirates kidnapped 27 crewmembers in the first half of 2019 and 25 in the same period in 2018.

Also, two chemical tankers were hijacked, as well as a tug that was then used in another attack. Of the nine vessels fired upon, eight were off the coast of Nigeria.

These attacks took place on average 65 nautical miles off the coast.

According to the report, the four locations contributed 55 per cent to the total 77 attacks reported in the period as against 75 per cent of 106 attacks reported in 2018.

IMB said pirates and sea robbers are often well armed, violent and have attacked, hijacked, robbed ships, kidnapped crew along far from the coasts, rivers, anchorages, ports and surrounding waters.

While six country namely: Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Venezuela featured on that pirate attack chart in 2018, Nigeria and three other countries with Peru coming in as a new entrant on the chart.

It added that all kind of weapons such as guns, knives and other dangerous material were deployed to carry out attacks on vessels, a development that led to some seafarers being injured and kidnapped.

The report read in part, “In the past, incidents reported up to about 170 Nautical Miles from the coast. In many past incidents pirates hijacked the vessels for several days and ransacked the vessels and stole part of the cargo usually gas oil.

“A number of crewmembers were also injured and kidnapped in these incidents. Generally, all waters in and off Nigeria remain risky. Vessels are advised to be vigilant, as many incidents may have gone unreported.

“Incident continues to rise substantially especially kidnapping of crews for ransom.

Vessels are advised to take additional measures in the high-risk waters.

“Although, there was a reduction in the number of attacks in the African region, Nigeria still led the continent all through 2018 and first half of this year. In first six months of 2018, 39 bulk carriers were attacked as against 20 in 2019.

For container vessels, nine were attacked in 2019 while six attacks were reported in 2018 as against crude oil tanker that reported 9 in 2018 and 12 in 2019.

“For Chemical tankers and offshore tug vessels, 30 and 3 vessels were reported in 2019 while 22 and 2 attacks were reported in 2019.

Vessels carrying Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) had no reported cases in 2018, but had one of such vessels attacked in 2019.”

Renewed Onslaught Following the IMB report, Nigeria stepped up its fight against pirates, a move that yielded the desired results.

The most cheering news following the deployment of new equipment was the arrest and successful prosecution of 10 pirates mid last year by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Since then, efforts have been made to see that the issue of maritime crime is tackled headlong.

Early this week, Nigeria and the Inter Regional Coordination Centre (ICC), Yaoundé, formed a forum to galvanise regional and international efforts to ensure security in the Gulf of Guinea (GOG). Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum (GOG-MCF/SHADE) was floated after meetings between Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Bashir Jamoh, representing Nigeria, and Executive Director of ICC Yaoundé, Admiral Narciso Fastudo Jr. A joint statement by NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and ICC Yaoundé said GOG-MCF/ SHADE, which was purposed to facilitate shared awareness and deconfliction of activities in the Gulf of Guinea, “will be open to all GOG countries with similar capacities to join on a voluntary basis.”

The statement dated April 26, 2021 said: “GOGMCF/SHADE will focus on counter-piracy and armed robbery by bringing together regional, international, industry and NGO partners to advance and coordinate near term maritime activities with a view to working toward a set of common operational objectives in order to protect seafarers and ships operating off the coast of West and Central Africa.”

Jamoh and Fastudo agreed to hold the first virtual meeting of GOG-MCF/SHADE as soon as practicable, saying modalities would be announced later. They said due to its complementary nature, the G7++Group of Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (G7++FOGG) would support the creation of GOG-MCF/SHADE, which would comprise an open plenary session; working group meetings; working group chairs, coordination meeting; and a plenary session report.

Jamoh said: “The new maritime security framework speaks to our own integrated approach to security in the country’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea. We have always believed in bringing all maritime stakeholders on board in the search for security, and we have proffered that as a solution at various forums with our regional and international partners.

“I am confident that cooperative efforts and shared capabilities are the best approach to success in our collective quest for maritime security. GOG-MCF/SHADE is coming as a powerful new force for security in the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.

Training Cadets In a related development, NIMASA recently announced that it was training 250 new cadets to man its various security platforms in the Lagos-Bayelsa coastal corridor as part of efforts to boost maritime security and the deep blue project.

The move by the agency is expected to nip piracy and other maritime crimes on the Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea in the bud.

Jamoh, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Communications and Strategy, Ubong Essien, said the recruitment exercise was part of the current drive to develop local capacity for improved operations.

He said the 250 cadets are about to be sent for training as part of NIMASA’s commitment to developing manpower to man its many platforms that are coming on stream soon.

“We felt that we must develop our hands locally, which will have ripple effects on the nation’s economy,” he said.

Jamoh disclosed that he was working hard to ensure the full implementation of his three-point agenda of boosting maritime security, safety and shipping development.

He said the new Deep Blue Project (DBP), which would be launched in the coming weeks, would rid the nation’s maritime environment of illegalities adding that the DBP is the nation’s Integrated Surveillance and Security Architecture that will sanitise Nigeria’s maritime industry.

According to him NIMASA is investing in air assets through the acquisition of three special mission helicopters; two special mission aircraft and four unmanned air vehicles.

“On maritime assets, the agency is also investing in two massive well-equipped special mission vessels that will patrol the high seas.

The vessels have the capacity to deploy about 17 fast-moving interceptor boats – which are designed for interdiction purposes should there be any crises requiring a swift response.

“On human assets, we have well-trained Special Forces from the various security agencies, including, navy, army and police, among other security agencies,” he said.

The director-general said the agency had also integrated the services of the special police unit, C4I to run its intelligence-gathering centre.

According to him, the agency has invested in a computer command and control centre that will be used to effectively monitor activities on the waterways.

Partnering PAP Also recently, the NIMASA promised to work in partnership with the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in the fight against piracy and other crimes in the country’s maritime domain.

Jamoh disclosed this during a working visit to the interim Sole Administrator of PAP, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd.) in Abuja.

Jamoh underscored the importance of collaboration among relevant agencies and communities in the quest for maritime security.

“We should be working together in partnership to help us appreciate and evaluate the challenges

from our various perspectives and collectively come up with solutions that would work for all of us, and the country at large.

“Security problems more often than not have a local content. So, as the country’s maritime regulatory agency, we want to partner the amnesty programme, which interfaces with the littoral communities, to nip the security challenges in the bud, and stand our nation in good stead for the optimisation of our huge maritime resources.”

Jamoh added that he has prioritised advocacy for inter-agency cooperation in the fight against maritime insecurity since his appointment last year,” he said.

“We cannot proffer solution to the issues and crisis in the Niger Delta without the collaboration of the PAP,” he added.

The NIMASA boss said a Maritime Intelligence Unit was recently established by NIMASA to help in the identification of early warning signs in order to prevent security breaches in the littoral areas.

He disclosed that many of the assets being installed and deployed under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure (the Deep Blue Project) had intelligence gathering capabilities through air, land and sea surveillance.

Jamoh stated that NIMASA was planning to introduce educational, entrepreneurship training, and skills acquisition programmes in the areas of fishing, clearing and forwarding, and legal bunkering, for people in the coastal communities as a way of empowering them and discouraging criminal tendencies.

In his response, Dikio commended Jamoh for his vision and commitment to maritime security.

He also praised the NIMASA DG for his passion for inter-agency coordination and collaboration in the security of Nigeria’s maritime environment.

He said detecting the early warning signs and engaging early responses to prevent security challenges at their early stages would be vigorously pursued.

The PAP boss expressed the willingness of his agency to partner with NIMASA, especially in the empowerment of the locals. He suggested that the people’s knowledge of the local communities should be leveraged in the area of information gathering.

Dikio advised that the training programme being planned by NIMASA should target subjects relevant to the Niger Delta in order to impact them directly and get to the root of the problem.

He also suggested the appointment of nodal officers from PAP and NIMASA to interface and harmonise action points to fast-track the actualisation of the partnership for the overall good of the maritime sector.

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NEWS

NAMA Trains, Certifies 24 New Traffic Controllers Stories by Chinedu Eze In a bid to boost capacity and efficiency of air traffic management in the country, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has obtained licenses for 24 newly recruited air traffic control officers from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Organisation (NCAA).

This was after they successfully went through the necessary training and examination on Aerodrome and Approach Control.

The new air traffic controllers are currently being posted to strategic aerodromes in the country according to their need.

In the same vein, the agency has also recertified a total of 30 air traffic control-

lers in different categories air traffic control including Terminal Approach Radar, Area Procedural Control and Area Surveillance Control after passing the required proficiency/rating tests and certified mentally fit in line with Annex 1 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and part II of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR).

Making this disclosure in a statement, the Managing Director of NAMA Capt.

Fola Akinkuotu recalled that from 2020 to date, the agency recertified a total of 194 air traffic controllers in addition to their periodic training and retraining, targeted at keeping them up to speed with latest skills and technology in air traffic management to ensure

they remain competitive with their peers globally.

The NAMA boss also revealed that in order to reduce delays and congestion in the nation’s airspace the agency has commenced the construction of Aerodrome and Approach Control simulator at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos as a pilot project to be replicated in Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

Akinkuotu, who noted that the safety of the Nigerian airspace remained a cardinal goal of the agency also enjoined air traffic controllers to continue putting in their best in order to justify government’s huge investment in building critical infrastructure as well as capacity of personnel.

Ethiopian Airlines Ready to Restart Flights to Enugu Ethiopian Airlines said it is fully prepared to resume operations to Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, as soon the federal government gives the go ahead for international flights into the airport.

This assurance was given by the airlines’ Manager, Senait Ataklet, who led the airlines’ team on a courtesy visit to the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji in Abuja.

Ataklet also disclosed that the airline was equally planning to introduce cargo operation to the airport to cater for the needs of its South Eastern passengers this time around.

She described the Enugu route as an important one that the airline would not want to undermine, stating

that Ethiopian Airlines would want to be the first to land in Akanu Ibiam International Airport when it is eventually reopened for international flights operations.

The Manager who solicited for supports from the committee further disclosed that Ethiopian Airlines was ready and willing to render assistance to federal government in setting up national carrier if given the opportunity, stressing that the airline has attained robust experience and capabilities in airline management and aircraft maintenance, which would be put at the disposal of the proposed new national carrier.

Nnaji, while thanking his visitors for coming, stressed that the duty of the legislature is to make

appropriate legislation and properly oversight the industry for the benefits of the flying public and airlines.

He assured the team that his committee was determined to ensure that the industry was safe for flight operations through its oversight responsibility.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has hinted that the three international airports in Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt would soon resume flight service to international airlines and the airlines have expressed their readiness to start operation, waiting for the go-ahead from government.

It is expected that Nigeria would give Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to signal resumption of operations from these airports.

IATA to Provide Training to Boost Runway Safety The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is collaborating with the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on a virtual training to boost runway safety and improve the operational efficiency of aviation.

The three industry organisations have launched a new virtual training course on the new ICAO Global Reporting Format for Runway Surface Conditions (GRF).

The GRF, which goes into effect on November 4, 2021, sets out new ICAO methodology for assessing and reporting runway surface conditions aimed at improved flight crew assessment of take-off and landing performance.

The online course is specifically designed to meet training requirements for

air traffic controllers and aeronautical information service staff. The course content has been preliminarily reviewed by state and regional regulatory bodies to ensure it complies with the GRF training requirement.

The training partnership is the first of its kind between the three international organisations and sets the stage for future collaboration on global safety enhancement activities.

“Safety is always the number one priority in aviation and as an industry we constantly work to mitigate risk even further.

The GRF is a globallyharmonized methodology that is intended to be the sole reporting format for international aviation, with the objective of reducing runway excursions.

“Collaboration between the main stakeholders on training will ensure that

all parties understand and apply this new and enhanced common standard,” said IATA’s Senior Vice President for Safety and Flight Operations, Gilberto Lopez Meyer.

“We are pleased to be working with IATA and ICAO to provide Air Navigation Service Providers with a common method of meeting the training requirement.

This initiative will help to ensure understanding and improved adherence to the new runway surface condition reporting standard in an efficient way,” said Director General CANSO, Simon Hocquard.

“Runway safety continues to remain aviation’s biggest safety challenge, representing more than half of all accidents reported to ICAO for commercial operations,” emphasized ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu.

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THISDAY, FRIDAY APRIL 30, 2021

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 07010510430

Nimi Ekere: Burning Desire to Address the Menace of Child Sexual Abuse

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COVER

Nimi Ekere: Burning Desire to Address the Menace of Child Sexual Abuse Consultant Family Physician, a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Family Physicians, Dr. Nimi Ekere is also a child advocate, author, speaker and humanitarian. She has practised medicine in urban and rural areas for over 15 years, and has endeared herself to her patients through dedication to duty, selflessness, empathy and love for people, especially the less-privileged and children. As a proponent of effective and intentional parenting, she convenes different informative and educative programmes for children. Passionate about combating Child Sexual Abuse through her foundation, the Smile and Shine Children’s Foundation, she has also written four books for children, pre-teens, teenagers and parents on the dangers of Child Sexual Abuse with effective practical remedies. Ekere, who has carried out numerous medical outreaches, free training, workshops and events, partnering other NGOs, both home and abroad, in this interview with MARY NNAH, talks about her latest books written to combat the scourge of child sexual abuse; her numerous exploits and plans for future

Y

ou recently published four books. Why so many at a time?

Yes. I had a burning passion to address the menace of child sexual abuse in our society. I needed to educate children and parents on the child protection and ingredients required to build an effective parent-child relationship as this was also an essential ingredient in child safety. I knew that I may not be able to pass the message efficiently if I wrote just one book.

I needed the children to understand the message adequately, so I decided to write age appropriate books, meaning that there would be something for every child to read and get the message effectively. When teaching children about any topic at all, the language and words are very important, comprehensibility is also key. You want to teach a toddler in ways that they can understand, keeping it really simple, straight to the point, sometimes with a lot of pictures or illustrations to catch their attention.

On the other hand, a different approach would be used for a pre- teen or teenager.

My books have been written with the children’s age and level of awareness in mind. I want them to protect themselves without revealing too much for the child’s age. The first book is “Some Parts Are Special,” for children aged two to seven, teaches them about their special body parts and how to keep them private. It teaches them not to let anyone see or touch their special body parts and in turn, they should not see or touch anyone’s special body parts. It also teaches them about how to tell mummy and daddy everything. This is because if children are taught to tell their parents everything, it would go a long way towards keeping them safe. Additionally, this book has a section for drawing and colouring, to help the children with their motor skills. It also has a question and answer section to further drive home what the kids have read or been taught.

The second book is “Setting Boundaries” and it is a collection of four short stories. The stories are short, so that the readers do not find them boring. They are stories about courageous children who set boundaries for themselves and never went against all that they had been taught at home, by their parents. They had one thing in common; they were smart and courageous enough to say no to predators and they really meant it when they said No. They went ahead to tell their parents and guardians and the predators were punished. At the end of each story, there is a section for questions and answers to further help the children comprehend what they have read. This book has sections for word puzzles and glossary, as children would also have to improve their vocabulary.

The third book is “Sparkles at Dawn” and it contains eight empowering stories for teenagers. The stories in this book are intriguing and educational. Each story has deep life lessons to draw from. The stories are riveting, enlightened and illuminating. More importantly, they are relatable. Also there is a section for questions and answers to further buttress all they have read.

“Into The Light” is my third book and it is an exposé for parents and guardians. It is a veritable guide for good parenting, child management,

to be careful who you bring to the house and who you leave your kids with.

To teachers and educators, there are signs to look out for in children that have been abused.

Sometimes, these signs are subtle, other times they are obvious. You must pay attention to details. You must do your background checks thoroughly before you employ staff to care for the children as some children are abused in schools as shown in some stories in my books.

Ekere

and perpetual vigilance. It opens the reader’s eye to the scourge on child sexual abuse in the society, the trauma it causes families, practical steps to take to prevent it from happening, the danger signals to look out for, and what to do in the unfortunate event of abuse. This book also discusses the ingredients for building an effective parent-child relationship.

What is the inspiration behind those books?

I wanted and still want to combat the scourge of child sexual abuse. It has done so much to children and if we don’t nip it in the bud, it would leave our children with so much trauma and stigma which will affect them in all ramifications, now and in the future. The books summarily address the menace of child sexual abuse; what it is about, signs to look out for/ red flags and what to do in the sad event of an occurrence. It also emphasizes the importance of an effective parent-child relationship and how to make it happen.

How long did it take for you to put these books together?

It took me a long time. I would say, more than two years. I put in a lot of hard work, sleepless nights to see it become a reality. I would just write down my thoughts regularly and leave them there and later put them together. I love to write. Writing for me is therapeutic.

Now, I want my readers to know that child sexual abuse is as real as it is evil. I want them to know that it could occur in places where they least expected and by trusted people. No one has the right to see or touch your special body parts and you should not see or touch anyone’s special body parts. You are bold enough to say no and mean it. Your parents deserve to know everything about you including those “secrets” that people have told you not to tell them.

And to parents, you shouldn’t be too busy for your kids. No one can take care of them like you. You have to build a wonderful relationship between you and your kids and it doesn’t come by wishing. It comes by taking steps to build and nurture it. You don’t have to be perfect but you can be an excellent parent. You have

Some of these books we hear have been approved by Lagos State for use officially at school. How do you feel about this? And what does this have to do for you?

I am so grateful to the Lagos State Ministry of Education and would like other states to follow suit. As much as I feel happy, it is a call to do more. Every milestone calls for more hard work and that is exactly what I am doing. I want schools to use these books as part of their curriculum. I want children to be safe and until every child in Nigeria is safe, I will not scream Eureka yet, neither will I rest on my oars.

You also run an NGO. Can you tell us about it and what its focus is?

It is safe to say that I have two functional NGOs. The first was founded several years ago and it caters to the needs of young children and the indigent in our society especially vulnerable women. It is called Ekom Charity Foundation.

We organise training for young women who are very poor and desire to have some skills. They have been empowered in snack making like cake, bread, meat pies, chin-chin etc. We also organise free medical outreaches in communities where medical services are almost inaccessible.

We also organise parties in the slums for children who otherwise may never have known what a party or Santa Claus looks like and I dare say that it has been amazing as well as fulfilling.

My new Foundation is the Smile and Shine Children’s Foundation. It was conceived as a result of my journey with abused children.

The foundation helps children and parents prevent child sexual abuse while providing primary care and interventions to victims and those at risk, including members of their families. In the course of my practice, I have become very close to child sexual abuse survivors and I realised that our culture of “don’t tell anyone” has made this children develop a lot of issues and complications as there is really no one to help them heal adequately.

These children end up being dysfunctional and most times, the cycle continues. I decided to come in and help them, together with their parents and other family members.

We educate them on how sexual abuse can be prevented and then offer emergency care in the event of an abuse. This would include but not limited to medical, legal and psychological care. We also rehabilitate victims to ensure that they are fully integrated back into the society without carrying with them the trauma and stigma.

This is collaborative (as we are still growing) for now as we work with other NGOs to help the children.

Your foundation focuses on a very sensitive

area where the society hardly talks about. Tell us what the inspiration behind picking interest in such an area is. I have always been an optimist and as far as I am concerned, nothing is impossible. This said, I love children a great deal and having seen a lot go through traumatising and agonising experiences, as a result of this menace and also seeing that a lot of people in our society shy away from the subject, I decided to be a voice. I am a doctor, don’t forget and using the privileges and platform, I decided to go all out. I am happy that I am not alone in this fight. A lot of people are doing well and we are demystifying the cultural dogma that has been held on for some long as regards this subject. We are not yet there but it definitely is a fight that we must win.

Did you have any personal experience of sexual abuse, probably the reason you picked interest in this.

No, I wasn’t abused as a kid. At least I can’t remember being sexually abused as a child, maybe because I was so vocal and talkative however, I had very close relaives and friends that have confided in me about their ordeal( sexual abuse) and it is heartrending to say the least.

Can you share some unique challenges you have encountered in trying to achieve your goals in pursuing your passion about combating child sexual abuse?

I haven’t had much difficulty with children speaking up. They almost always tell me everything, even things they will not tell their parents. The children in all honesty are hurting and yearning to be heard but they still have a lot they are grappling with and must be sure you are worth confiding in. The problem I have had would be from the parents who are always mindful about being judged, looked down on or stigmatized. They would like it settled amicably and like they say “treated like a family matter “. Many times, poverty is contributory to this.

Can you talk about one memorable experience on this journey of rescuing the vulnerable and sexually abused?

The most memorable is the case of a teenager from a very rich home who had been serially molested and misjudged by her parents. She was on the verge of committing suicide when I saw her. After some courses of psychotherapy and counselling, she is so positive about life and now has a good relationship with her parents.

The relationship isn’t perfect now but totally a great transformation from what it used to be.

What are some of the memorable moments in your life and career?

The birth of my oldest son was the most memorable day of my life. He is growing up so fast and each time I remember how little he was and how excited I also was as a first time mom, it leaves me with so much joy. For my career, it would be passing my fellowship examination to become a Consultant Family Physician.

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

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NEWS

‘Pantami Saga, a Sad Commentary’, Says PFN Stories by Mary Nnah The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has decried the continuous presence and the retention of the controversial Communication Minister, Isah Pantami, in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the development as absurd and ludicrous.

Besides, PFN noted that the Pantami’s defence by the Buhari-led administration, was an indication that the government was not serious about its fight against Boko Haram insurgency and other related security challenges facing the country.

According to the President of the body, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, the controversy currently generated by the Pantami saga was needless as he (Pantami) ought to have resigned or be sacked on account of his past complimentary stance on Boko Haram and the insurgents.

Oke made this known in a statement issued by the PFN Media Department as signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bishop Emma Gospel Isong.

“That Pantami is still in

PFN President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke

Buhari’s government, tells much about who we are and the mockery that trails us. What is the man still doing in government; why has he not resigned or why has he not been sacked by the government?

“More questions than answers or are we running a government of abradacabra, the more you look, the less you see.”

The PFN President who is also the Presiding Bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries Ibadan, lamented that the Buhari’s government supposed fight against insurgency, banditry and the like, was after all, a facade.

“To us at the PFN, the Bu-

hari’s government is not sincere in its alleged war against Boko Haram, killer herdsmen and other criminalities.

“Do we have to look beyond our shoulders for the sponsors of the mindless killings and bloodshed currently ravaging our country? The answer is no!

The government knows them,” the statement added.

The PFN insisted that things would continue to go awry for the nation unless the government and its people learn to be just and righteous, demanding that those behind various heinous crimes in the country be made to face the wrath of law no matter how highly placed.

“Regardless of our religions, where we come from and who we are, Nigeria belongs to us all as enshrined in our constitution. That’s sacrosanct and must strictly be adhered to and respected by all.”

Wale Oke bemoaned that criminal activities have been festering under this administration due to the way it has been treating those behind it with kid’s gloves, warning that the situation would degenerate unless concrete steps were taken to salvage the it.

“We want to urge President Buhari to rise above primordial sentiments and sectional attachments in dealing with the issue at hand.

“Frankly speaking, it’s no longer at ease for the nation and its people. We want Nigeria that we can proudly call our own The present one we are all living in, is nothing to write home about,” he further decried. The fellowship therefore called on the government to do all within its reach to ensure that the sponsors of criminal activities in the country are not only fished out, but brought to book in accordance with the law of the land.

DavidoTurns Viva Brand Ambassador Aspira Nigeria has signed a deal with international superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, as brand ambassador for VIVA, its flagship and one of Nigeria’s leading detergent and multipurpose soap brand in Nigeria.

Aspira Head of Marketing, Mr. Santhosh Kumar Nair said Aspira decided to sign on the prolific hit maker and boss of DMW because of his dynamism, popularity among Nigerian youths and his hardworking disposition which has put Nigeria on the global music map.

“We are glad to inform the Nigerians that henceforth, Davido will be the official face of our Viva brand” he noted.

Enumerating reason why the multi-award-winning singer was chosen by Viva, he explained that Davido is no

MD, Aspira Nigeria Limited, Hussein Jafaar; pop star, Davido and Head Marketing, Aspira, Santosh Kumar Nair at the event

doubt making Nigerians proud all over the world through his music and that he is one of Nigeria’s top brands.

He said further that the music artist has contributed immensely towards the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

“He continues to inspire millions of Nigerian youths and this is in consonance with the

core values at Aspira which is youth empowerment, because there is an alignment between Davido’s vision and the core values of Viva as a brand.

“The synergy between both brands would impact the society in positive, unique and in significant ways”, Nair said further. Aspira Nigeria Limited is one of the largest

manufacturers and distributors of personal health care and laundry products in Nigeria.

It began operations in Nigeria in 2009, with the production of various detergents and soaps.

Today it has expanded to 12 manufacturing facilities and their products are distributed across Nigeria. Due to COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Aspira decided to develop a detergent that could reduce the risk of spreading illness-causing viruses in addition to keeping clothes stain-free, in addition to their Viva Detergent packs.

That initiative gave birth to Viva Plus Laundry Sanitizer, Nigeria’s leading detergent and multi-purpose soap which was developed under multi-enzyme and eco-friendly technologies and contains zero percent bleach. It is gentle on fabrics and works even in cold water.

Tunice Entertainment World Presents New Movie, Touchline TouchLine, a new movie produced by Tunice Entertainment World, is a story that deals with domestic violence and how it affected different characters in the film. The producer explains that “most of the happenings are replica to what most people have experienced except that there are so many twist and turns”.

The film to be directed by SaheedApanpa (DGN) features Eddy Watson, Scarlet Gomez,

Rita Arum, Joseph Daniel, Joseph Momodu, Abayomi Alvin and many others.

The Producer, Evbierhoma Edward Onajite, who is also the general manager and head writer of the production outfit, said the film will be shot in Warri in few days’ time.

The writing of this movie is said to have been inspired by the CEO of Tunice Entertainment World, John Esedafe.

“He has a good taste for mov-

ies and one day, he just decided that I should write a film that deals with domestic violence.

And holla, I did. Along the line, a good friend of mine called Gabari Barry introduced me to Saheed. Immediately, I knew this was the right director for the project. I have seen most of his movies and he possesses a great skill in interpreting scripts and giving it life”, Onajite said.

The producer said his motivations for producing movies

developed from writing stage plays “Originally, I was just a writer for stage plays until I met the CEO/ Executive Producer of Tunice Entertainment World. “ He had a great vision for setting up a film company in Warri particularly in his hometown. I keyed into his vision which has already started manifesting. In other words, the drive to produce scripts for screen and producing came as a result of our encounter.”

Adnom Communications Raises the Bar with New Film

Managing Director of Adnom Communications and Executive Producer of movies and series, Adeniji Omirin has reiterated the endless possibilities that abound in the entertainment industry.

He also hinted on how his platform contributed in uplifting talents like Mr Macaroni.

“Check our movies and series, I am proud to say Mr Macaroni today Adnom Communications MD, is amongst those that has graced Adeniji Omirin Adnom Series ever before stardom and seeing what he has become today should open people’s acceptance to the possibility of new talents everywhere” Omirin said.

Omirin who started out as a staff of NTA in the 90s after studying Accountancy in Yaba College of Technology, said this while speaking to reporters recently about his coming project titled, “No Man’s Land”.

The movie is scheduled for principal photography on May 10 and the director of the flick is Saheed Apanpa.

No Man’s Land is about a psycho ex-husband who came back for his long lost love who has found solace in the arms of another man. It’s guaranteed to be another Saheed Apanpa hits.

He also spoke on the influx of foreign soaps into Nigeria.

“Sincerely, I don’t watch foreign movies or soaps as you call them, but yes, we won’t deny their influence in our style of movies and growth of the entertainment in Nigeria.

“But we all know, be it music or movies, Nigerians are making magic, so let’s just embrace our growth. Nobody can tell your story more than yourself; let’s keep telling our stories before foreigners take over our right. It is a thing of joy that our youths have changed to our local contents and this has given us the liver to do more.”

Adnom Communications, he revealed further, has a lot of contents and TV projects under its belt. “Our series is endless both seen and yet to be seen. We plan not only to tell a meaningful story, but also entertain our audience while providing attractive stories and tales to keep every audience at every level or age glued to their screen and demanding for more”, he added.

CGMtoHoldRoundtableonEmerging BusinessOpportunitiesinRealEstate The Church of God Mission (CGM), Garden City, Lekki, Lagos has concluded arrangements for its roundtable Lekki event, scheduled for May 1, 2021, with the theme: “Emerging Business Opportunities in Real Estate at the Lekki Axis”.

Speaking during a press briefing heralding the event, Senior/ Lead Pastor of Church of the church Rev. Chris Ugbamadu said the event is an avenue for wealth creation and equally would provide access to the key players in the real estate industry to mentor young people on how to invest as well as provide information for growth in the real estate industry.

The experts would also educate the young professionals on the business and future of real estate, as well as open up channels for people to earn and increase their income.

“The church is giving support through this project to eliminate poverty using the opportunity in the real estate industry. It is a yearly event that will annex the opportunity for people to tap into the real estate sector.”

Ugbamadu who emphasised that the church engaged in other corporate social responsibility, apart from this project to compliment government effort added “uf the youths are gainfully employed, the various vices would reduce as a result of the impact made”.

Furthermore, he added that the knack of technology advances would enable investors to invest in the business and open up a lifelong career path that is profitable to everyone.

The Team Lead/Programme Coordinator, Mr. Tseyi Ejueyitsi said the project aimed to develop effective means to empower people in the real estate industry.

“The strategies deployed to tackle unemployment would be tackled by experts in the industry. They would be available to address the inherent weaknesses in socioeconomic fuelling unemployment.

“Our intention is to create a wealthy environment for the future generations, especially for the young ones to have a meaningful income that can foot their living expenses,” Ejueyitsi added.

Digital Landlords Predict Spike in Real Estate Growth In the wake of the gradual return to life and resumption of business activities following the COVID-19 inspired lockdown globally to contain the spread of the deadly disease, Lagos-based firm, Digital Landlords has predicted a spike in the real estate, hospitality, and tourism sector.

This is just as more people are expected to seek the desired trip away from home to their choice holiday destinations or even a short break away from home hav-

Digital Landlords CEO, Keji Giwa

ing spent the large part of the previous year working remotely.

While hotels have taken a

beating in bookings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and global lockdown, short let homes and apartments bookings have soared with the number of bookings continuing to rise as we return to normalcy.

Commenting on how his company, Digital Landlords is leading the charge to drive short let homes utilisation and investment, Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Keji Giwa, said digitisation and the huge cost of hotel rentals have created a huge

opportunity for short let homes to thrive.

“Today, Lagos Island is experiencing a real estate boom driven by high yield rental income from short let opportunities. This can be seen as both a threat and an opportunity for the hospitality industry.

“The prospect of its continued expansion is clearly a timely warning to hotels offering rooms at the same rates that consumers can use to get a whole apartment and, in some cases, much lower”,

he added.

Giwa stressed that the hospitality and tourism industry is evolving to meet the needs of the yearning end users, adding, “hotels can choose to evolve or compete, however with digitisation, automation and artificial intelligence, digitally focussed start-ups within the short-let rental market can create a terrifying monster for large and small hotel chains just by using technology to deliver on the go instant bookings, convenience, comfort and the

use of virtual booking agents to replace human agents.”

With over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s population having internet access via their mobile devices according to a 2021 digital report by We Are Social, the country is wellpositioned to benefit from the global digital opportunities.

This also affords more online rental platforms to provide an opportunity to capture demand for domestic and international bookings where affordability and luxury go hand in hand.

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

The Future of Entertainment Takes Centre Stage at NECLive Stories by Vanessa Obioha Entertainment and technology professionals who convened for the eighth season of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive) deliberated on how and what will shape the entertainment industry in the future.

From innovation to collaboration, each of the speakers drawn from different segments of the creative industry shared detailed insights into various opportunities that can be exploited; the infrastructure that would be required to build the industry and how young creative Nigerians can play an intrinsic role in that future.

“Technology is a utility in itself,” argued Future Africa’s founder, Iyin Aboyeji. “It can be good or bad. Nothing really stops us from building our own YouTube, our own Facebook, our own Twitter. Why is it important for us to consider this? African

L-R: Media personality and producer, Bolanle Olukanni; co-founder, Andela, Flutterwave, and Future Africa, Iyin Aboyeji; CEO, ID Africa, Femi Falodun; and founder, Temple Management Company, Idris Olorunnimbe during the eighth edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive8) held in Lagos

exports are currently at the centre of the global conversation. The future of our country rests on our ability to train people. We have to restore respect to our people.”

He added that the partnership between innovation and creativity is the biggest partnership to make

Nigeria the pride of Africa once again.

For Big Brother Naija season four winner Mercy Eke, it’s important to strike a balance between being famous and maintaining a fan base.

“A lot of people just want to be famous, but they don’t have

any direction. Even with the fame from Big Brother, I’m still taking on many projects: I have real estate, I have my M & M luxury, I also supply diesel to a lot of companies, people don’t know about this. I could have gone on business trips, but no, I am taking risks in various business

The Voice Nigeria Wraps up Blind Auditions Tomorrow’s episode of The Voice Nigeria will mark the last leg of the blind auditions. So far, each of the coaches has five talents on their teams. They need one talent each to complete their team before proceeding to the next stage of the competition which is the Knockouts stage.

Episode five saw coach Falz taking most talents. His first talent for the night was 20-year-old Oghenekpabor ‘KPee’ Okoro who gave a melodious twist to Kizz Daniel’s hit ‘Sofa’. His performance got Falz and Waje dancing as well as pressing the red button for him.

“He sang this song as if he wrote it by himself. He owned it. He owned the microphone.

An emotional KPee on The Voice Nigeria

You have something special,” commented Darey on his performance as the talent is joined by his mother and younger brother on stage.

Falz would also be the pick for Naomi Mac, a 29-year-old singer and fashion designer whose rendition of Bryan Ad-

ams ‘Everything I Do’ was the highlight of the episode. Her tenor sent coaches Waje and Yemi to church and had them hoping that she would choose them.

The other talent for Falz was Tamara Ebelike while Blessing Ucheonye landed on Darey’s team.

s the blind auditions wrap up tomorrow, First Bank Nigeria, the lead sponsor of the singing competition is reminding fans that there are prizes to be won.

Fans are to follow the bank on its verified social media handles for more information on their participation.

The financial institution reiterated that it’s committed to promoting employment, economic empowerment in the country through products, services, initiatives and partnerships.

Correction: A previous report misstated the number of talents needed by the coaches to complete their teams. The coaches only need six talents on their teams, not 12.

New Fashion App Connects Designers with Customers Oyoyo, a recently launched fashion app, is set to revolutionise the Nigerian fashion industry.

Developed by the fashion tech business, Catwalk Creatives Limited, Oyoyo will connect designers, tailors and (Aso Ofi) weavers in Nigeria with a nationwide customer base.

The app serves as a marketplace that allows artisan tailors, weavers and fashion designers to create online profiles, enabling them to connect with customers nationwide and around the world.

Each profile has the ability for the designer to create seasonal or style-driven “look books” as well as promote their specialisms, their skills and advertise their signature designs.

Building on the heritage of the Nigerian fashion and traditional textile industry, the app uses technology to harness the history of garments designed and manufactured by individual fashion designers and weavers and cataloguing them in an accessible format. Creating this resource

Oyoyo fashion app

enables simple re-ordering and a point of reference for customers.

Traditionally, fashion artisans rely on word of mouth and repeat customers to grow their businesses, travelling to visit clients to discuss their requirements and gain their measurements. The app enhances the traditional tailoring operating model by opening up the market, removing barriers to growth, building a strong online presence and expanding their commercial opportunities.

One unique benefit of Oyoyo is the intuitive “measurement management” feature which allows fashion designers to take, store and convert measurements of the individual into the desired format. By creating this order history, provides transparency between the tailor and client and overall improves productivity and levels of quality.

Clients, or the “Oyoyo fashionistas” as the app terms them, can search, like, comment and follow

individual artisans and designers as well as connect with them and access their services.

“This is an exciting time for Catwalk Creatives and Lassod as Oyoyo is the first of our products to launch in Nigeria,” said the Executive Chairman, Lanre Sanni.

“I feel very proud that an idea I had a couple of years ago is now coming to fruition. Using visual technology in a very accessible way as a digital marketplace, Oyoyo will showcase local talent on both the national and international stage.”

The app which is supported by a leadership team based in Nigeria and the UK spanned 12 months in development and plan to develop its content further by the end of 2021.

The Oyoyo app is available on Android and is currently offering a free subscription for designers, tailors and weavers as well as other professionals operating in the fashion industry. It will be free to access for customers.

ventures. This is where the fans come in: they support my luxury business because I sell what they love and what they can connect with.”

Other speakers like Nollywood superstar, Dakore EgbusonAkande; entrepreneur and founder, Temple Management Company, Idris Olorunnimbe; accomplished comedian Bovi; Big Cabal CEO, Tomiwa Aladekomo made similar submissions at the two-hour conference.

A recurring statement from their opinions was that the entertainment industry is ripe enough to be a global leader and technology has a significant role to play in achieving that.

“Nigeria’s entertainment industry is full of energetic, enterprising and creative young people who are often the direct victims of poor governance, lack of opportunities and social injustice,” stated ID Africa’s CEO Femi Falodun.

“They have also recently emerged as the leaders of a new national movement and drivers of an ongoing conversation about the future of our country. Our goal with NECLive8 is to provide the tools, resources and connections that will further drive the change and innovation that the industry is yearning for.”

Organised by ID Africa and hosted by media personality Bolanle Olukanni, the eighth edition of the conference is the first instalment since the COVID-19 imposed hiatus in 2020.

It began with the broadcast of the NECLive TV special, a scripted 90-minute production, featuring a seven-year chronicle of the most powerful speakers and memorable moments from the NECLive stage. NECLive serves as a marketplace for innovative ideas and products for the sustainability of the entertainment industry.

17ContestantsSurviveTheatre WeekonNigerianIdol After four weeks of auditions, Nigerian Idol theatre began with the 68 lucky contestants battling it out for a chance to become the next Nigerian Idol.

Unlike the auditions, the theatre week began with group selections. The 68 contestants were grouped according to their voices and trained to perform as a group for the judges.

In this round, the judges were not just assessing the voices of the contestants, but also looking out for the ability to maintain composure on stage and teamwork.

Star, however, did not get the memo. She expressed her dislike for her teammates as soon as she was grouped.

And when Comfort, unfortunately, forgot her lines on stage, she let it get to

her. Luckily, the team had Agbutun to hold the bar.

While some let the pressure get to them and forgot their lines, others like Godwin however recovered quickly and maintained composure.

Some contestants were also victims of their teammates’ flaws while others in an attempt to outdo their teammates jeopardised their chances to advance to the next round.

At the end of the day, out of the 68 contestants that made it into theatre week, and 39 to the group selections, only 17 contestants progressed to the next round.

Aired on Africa Magic channels every Sunday at 8pm, more contestants will fight their way to stardom on this weekend’s episode.

SwypeGlobalAnnouncesPrize For SwypatuneContest A UK startup operating in the digital technology space, Swype Global, has announced the launch of Swypatune Nigeria series one.

Swypatune is a dedicated digital contest and pitching platform. The app offers aspiring artists a new way to contest and win amazing cash prizes and the opportunity to be discovered, just by downloading the app from Google Play Store and App store, signing up, and uploading their content from their mobile devices. They will be voted by the public who also

stands a chance to win fantastic prizes and rewards.

“Our mission is to harness the possibilities of digital mobile technologies and expand access to opportunity for people who live anywhere, wherever there is a connection,” said the founder and chief executive of Swype Global, Peter Atorough.

A total of N20 million is to be won by contestants with the ultimate winner carting away N10 Million and a recording deal. The contestants will also get a chance to work with renowned producers on the continent.

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OMAA Rolls Out First Gas-powered Buses in Nigeria Chiamaka Ozulumba An indigenous energy firm, OMAA has rolled out Nigeria’s first locally assembled natural gas-powered buses and are already producing in volumes.

The roll out took place at its facility in Igbo Ukwu, Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State in the presence of Dr. Ishaku Abner, technical assistant (Downstream) to the Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Mrs. Pat Igwebuike, special adviser to the Anambra State Governor on Legal Matters and Dr. Mohammed M. Ibrahim, Chairman of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).

OMAA manufactures factory-fitted dual-fuel vehicles to meet the growing demand of vehicles that run on cleaner energy sources within Nigeria and across Africa.

The company showcased its facility and demonstrated

its ability to cater to energy demands for the transportation and energy industry with natural gas.

The event is coming on the heels of the Federal Government’s declaration of the decade of gas, a commitment to diversify the economy and see Nigeria develop and commercialise its gas resources.

According to the NNPC, domestic demand for natural gas will rise from current levels of 1.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf) to 7.4 Bcf by 2027.

Mr Chinedu Oguegbu, Founder and CEO of OMAA, said at the event “This is the beginning of a trend that will revolutionise not just the transportation industry but the energy industry in Nigeria, by accelerating utilisation of the abundant natural gas resources we are endowed with”.

He noted that the buses are rugged and more durable because they are adapted to Nigerian roads; the company

L-R: Dr. Ishaku Abner, Technical Assistant (Downstream) to the Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Mrs Pat Igwebuike, Special Adviser to the Anambra State Governor on Legal Matters; Dr. Mohammed M. Ibrahim, Chairman National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) and Chinedu Oguegbu, Founder and CEO, OMAA

is also expanding its network nationwide to ensure quality aftersales and availability of spare parts. Speaking at the roll-out, Dr Mohamed M. Ibrahim mentioned, “OMAA has been a robust partner of the National Gas Expansion Program and there is no doubt that the company is on track to make a tremendous impact in the energy and transportation

industries.”

In her remarks, Mrs Pat Igwebuike stated “it is delightful to see such innovative developments take place in Anambra state. With this technology, I believe that OMAA will eventually become a staple brand in the industry”.

Taking advantage of the African Union’s latest charter on free trade, Oguegbu noted

“with AfCFTA already in force we hope to expand our service beyond Nigerian borders, exploring opportunities in Africa’s 54 countries and 1.2 billion population”.

“Whatever the need for our development and industrialisation as a people today, we should be sustainable in our approach and think of the livelihood of future generations.

“Whether we like it or not, climate change is real and the use of gas as a transition fuel reduces the damage done by biomass, not just to the environment but to human health”, he noted.

World Health Organisation (WHO) had recently released a report that showed that 3.8 million people die yearly from illnesses attributed to household pollution arising from inefficient use of solid fuels and kerosene for cooking.

Oguegbu further stated that OMAA was also committed to job creation and in due course

will have a phased migration in its operations when it transits from semi-knocked down (SKD) to completely knocked down (CKD) operations.

That way, it will be “localising more components, upskilling staff and contributing to the burgeoning automotive ecosystem”.

He claimed that, “by switching to CKD, we will end up creating more jobs for the teeming youth population in the country. It is a part of our overall policy where we commit to training and retraining our people.

“Sourcing components incountry also has a positive impact on the local supply chain as capacity utilisation, jobs, value addition all move in the right direction”.

The company plans to introduce within the next year a wider portfolio of solutions to address the energy demand in the residential, commercial and industrial markets, using natural gas.

Lagos State Launches Five-year Agricultural Development Roadmap Oluwabunmi Fache The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has launched a five-year agricultural development roadmap in line with its THEMES developmental agenda particularly the fourth pillar - Making Lagos State a 21st Century Economy.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya made this known last week in Lagos during which she explained that the roadmap would help the state achieve its goal of making Lagos a 21st

century economy by ensuring that the agricultural sector plays the role of ensuring sustainable food security.

According to Olusanya, “the focus of the roadmap is on the development of agricultural value chains where the state has competitive and comparative advantages to ensure that the state’s self-sufficiency in food production moves from 18 per cent to 40 per cent of food needs in the next five years and thus ensure the achieves the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) as it relates to

the sector.”

The five-year roadmap therefore highlights intervention areas by the ministry to boost agricultural productivity at the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of seven value chains and services taking into consideration the comparative advantages Lagos State has in these sectors.

According to her, the agricultural sector in the state has evolved through several decades from when the state was created in 1967.

At the inception of Lagos

State Ministry of Agriculture, the policy focus was on direct production of agricultural produce by the state.

For many reasons, over the years, the policy thrust changed from direct production to provision of conducive environment for private sector investment.

She said a 21st century economy is characterised by four key goals which are job creation, food security, standardisation and internal revenue generation for the state.

In achieving these goals, the ministry has painstak-

CDVFlagsoffNewProjects,UnveilsBryanOkwaraasAmbassador In a bid to provide affordable homes for Nigerians, a major player in the real estate industry in the country, CDV Properties and Development Limited has flagged off its new projects, Apple Wood 2 Estate and White Oak Estate 2.

This is just as the company also unveiled Bryan Okwara, former Mr Nigeria and the contestant for Mr World, as its ambassador.

Speaking during the flag off at its head office in Lagos, Dr Charles Mba, CEO, CDV properties and Development Limited, said with the launch of these new projects, CDV is set to provide affordable homes for average Nigerians.

Mba said the company expects to have more subscribers after the launch of the projects, adding that the two projects will be completed within 24 months and 18 months.

He disclosed that people can pay within the period of construction as the project is

R-L: General Manager CDV Properties and Development Limited Stella Ogunseyinde; CDV Properties and Development Limited Ambassador Bryan Okwara; the Chief Executive Officer CDVProperties and Development Limited, Dr Charles Mba; and Mrs Onyii Mba during the unveiling of former Mr Nigeria as the ambassador of the company in Lagos... recently

very economical and has a flexible payment plan.

The CEO stated that the Apple Wood 2 is located at Orchid road by Chevron Toll Gate Lagos, while the White Oak Estate 2 shares a fence with VGC right on the regional road, Lagos.

He said the project would kick off by May 2021 and people have started subscribing for it already.

Speaking on the services CDV properties and De-

velopment Limited offers, he said, “We are one of the leading real estate firms in Lagos and Nigeria. We are into real estate development.

“We build affordable and quality houses for Lagosians and people in Nigeria in general. We have all kinds of programmes and payment plans which are very flexible for our buyers.

“We build houses and the buyers furnish themselves.

We do the basic things like

the tiles, the paintings, the windows, and the POP amongst many other things.”

While giving his remarks, Bryan Okwara, the company’s new brand ambassador, said he felt excited, noting that his synergy with the company as a brand ambassador will help to amplify what the company is already doing, which is making sure people are getting the best from real estate, personal customised homes and their investments.

“CDV properties have been known to give the very best of not just products but to also make sure investments with them are safe and secure.

“One of the best deals people can get is through CDV and I am making sure that people are getting value for their money.

“We are bringing value to consumers and we are getting more recommendations.

It feels great to be doing this with CDV. The real estate business is very beneficial,” Okwara said.

ingly prepared a strategic plan to collaborate and partner stakeholders in the intervention areas such as policy review, formulation and implementation; database collation and upgrade.

Others include repositioning of its agencies and department; capacity of its workforce and stakeholders with special focus on youths and women; encourage public private partnership to establish companies and processing to boost and sustain agricultural productivity in fisheries, poultry, piggery, red meat coconut, rice and veg-

etables value chain by adopting appropriate technologies in line with global best practices.

In addition to the value chain interventions, she explained that “the roadmap also highlights the need for the state government to partner and collaborate with private investors and relevant authorities in improving the environment through proper waste management and relocation/ upgrading of service centres such as sawmill and open markets in the state”.

Foursquare Church Urges Nigerians to Embrace Unity Omolabake Fasogbon The General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church Nigeria, Reverend Sam Aboyeji has sued for peace and oneness among Nigerians.

Aboyeji was speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded Foursquare International Conference of Ministers and Leaders (ICML), at the church’s headquarters in Lagos. According to the cleric, secession would not bring the needed change to Nigeria but rather aggravate the country’s problem.

He specifically appealed to groups agitating for O’odua nation to reconsider their stance and embrace unity.

According to him, Nigeria needs to pray for God fearing leaders, which is where the solution lies. He said, “ We would not appreciate what we have until we lose it. By the time each tribe go their separate way, then we we will have to obtain visa

to visit another state in the country. , moreover is that we would be talking about foreign exchange before trading can take place amongst us.”

He stated that the church recognised the country ‘s problem, hence its investment on the youth arm which constitutes 70 per cent of the nation’s population.

At the final day of the conference, the church inducted 400 youth pastors across the nations and also announced plans to set up new youth churches.

The youth pastors were charged to focus on and convert wandering youths.

Aboyeji said further, “majority of Nigerians are under 30, which is why we have devoted our all to these ones. While the youth pastors would also preach to other people above 30, they are expected to focus more on the youths and bring them to the knowledge of the gospel.”

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ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Gallery at the Landmark Opens with Isaac Emokpae The all-new Gallery at the Landmark, Victoria Island, Lagos may have a scintillating recipe for enticing old and new art connoisseurs with the high-street styled art pieces from Isaac Emokpae. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

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y tomorrow, May 1, the walls of Gallery at the Landmark will be popping with arts pieces on window displays. The walls will speak to the historical trail of the artist, Isaac Emokpae, the son of the legendary sculptor, Erhabor Emokpae. Titled, “In My Father’s House,’’ Emokpae made a mystery of what to expect at this show except for a few details: twenty pieces of paintings, coupled for window displays and some hints at his Benin heritage.

For him, the lockdown in 2020 was a time for introspection; reflecting on his childhood influences that spurned him on to becoming a versatile artist. He bears the same responsibility of adding value to a family, or better still, generational profession in a way that resonates with the likes of Femi Kuti, Dare Art Alade and others. Isaac was only seven years old when his father died. He still remembered the first time his father taught him how to draw.

“I was drawing horses on the walls and everybody had been scolding me for drawing on the wall. My father just said, ‘Come,’ and took a pencil and a sheet of paper and said, ‘This is how you draw a horse.’ My mother, grandmother and everybody else gathered around. He was just sketching the horse. That was the first time that I realized that this is what he does. It dawned on me that I wanted to do that. My mother kept that drawing through the years. I want to believe that my father would be proud of an exhibition like this,’’ he said.

Isaac Emokpae

Emokpae recounted how his father made the National Theatre his home-away-from-home as he was always busy with creating art pieces some of which are in public spaces. It was not a surprise that till date, his father remained the only artist who had the honour of being laid-in-state at the National Theatre.

Like a typical chip-off-the-old-

block, Emokpae (Isaac) found his way into advertising with photography. In this show, his works in stained glass, oil on board and canvas will dazzle the viewers for four weeks.

“The theme is very straightforward. It underscores family, love and respect; success through hard work. I learnt from my father that a message is effective when

it is simple. The Benin heritage is embodied in the work and it leaves an indelible mark on the minds of the viewers. This is the ethos behind the show,’’ he revealed.

Owing much to the impression made on her when she visited a museum of tapestry, the Director, Gallery at the Landmark and daughter of the legendary Emokpae, Mrs Igbiwiyisi Jacobs is confident that the window display experience will revolutionalise the way art is perceived at first glance. During the press briefing with select journalists, she spoke vivaciously about the unique selling point for this new gallery. Situated in the part of Lagos with the most art galleries, its competitive edge is vested in the high-powered creativity that drives its physical presence.

“You remember how you look at high streets abroad. The high streets are very big on their window displays and Nigerians are yet to understand that which I don’t get because Nigerians travel a lot and people entice them through their windows.

Throughout the world, artists are contracted to design some of these window displays for big designer brands. If I just put this object on the floor in one corner, nobody would buy it unless you are a dedicated customer for that thing. So, the idea is to move these art pieces from just being an attraction for art collectors but the entire public. We want people to see art and not necessarily need someone to explain it to them.

The beauty is intrinsic. Africans know what they like and they like colour. We need to show people that art is not just something in a frame in a building. Westerners now know and appreciate art from all dimensions. People who walk in on the corridor will see something,’’ she explained.

The Return of Oloibiri Movie on Netflix Yinka Olatunbosun Oloibiri movie. First, when it was released in 2015 to the cinemas, it got the attention of the relevant governmental authorities. After three decades of neglect, the current administration has approved the takeoff of the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre to look into the challenges plaguing the community where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in Nigeria.

Right now, Oloibiri is set to get the attention of more people as the heart-thumping movie hits the film streaming site, Netflix. An action thriller film directed by Curtis Graham, produced by Rogers Ofime and it stars Nollywood legends such as Olu Jacobs, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Richard Mofe Damijo.

Rated 16, Oloibiri movie is an expose on the plight of Niger-Deltans abandoned by the government and oil multinationals. Based on true-life events, the movie was produced to drive change.

In a virtual encounter with the producer, Rogers Ofime revealed why it is important to put the movie on the streaming platform after six years of its initial release.“It is an original Nigerian story. It is a beautiful work

A scene from Oloibiri movie

or art and every day, technology gives us ways to document art, educate and entertain for posterity. We also believe that the message of Oloibiri is evergreen and will continue to be relevant even in another ten years.

We just hope that change comes to

the community so that our message can then become about when Oloibiri was in ruins,’’ he said.

In his view, technology has offered movie makers in Nigeria some good options of revenue earning even in the face of distribution bottlenecks.

“SVOD, VOD and Digital Satellite platforms have created the avenue through which filmmakers to a large extent have begun to receive remuneration for all their hard work and sweat,’’ he said.

Asides the economic returns to the production team, Oloibiri is expected to reach a wider audience especially in diaspora for impact.

“A wider audience means we can reach more well-meaning Nigerians in the diaspora especially of NigerDeltan heritage in order to do more especially with the clean-up of the rivers and provide a drinkable water system that works,’’ he said.

The Canadian based film maker, Ofime is best known for producing several notable Nigerian television soap operas, including the successful ‘Tinsel,’ which was the first multi-camera studio based television daily soap to be produced by a Nigerian producer in all of East, West or North Africa and more recently ‘Hush.’ He has produced other movies including ‘Voiceless’, ‘Mugabe’ ‘Blood & Oil’ ‘Price of Spice’ amongst others.

Interestingly, Oloibiri is not the only movie from this producer that will hit Netflix stand. A six-part series titled ‘Mystic River’ is expected to captivate the movie audience very soon.

Goethe-Institut Gears Up for Digital Conference on Art and Mental Health Yinka Olatunbosun Goethe-Institut Nigeria in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative and Art4Life has set up the project “Art and Soul” to create awareness on mental health and art therapy.

Using theatrical tools as well as critical discussions, the project aims to encourage debate surrounding suicide and mental health problems.

The project comprises two parts; the first part features a collaboration with Nigerian theatre group Kininso Concepts, which has made a documentary play titled ‘Sniper’. Sniper will be screened in the next few months in a series of performances across universities in Lagos State as well as across neighboring states.

The first performance in this series was featured last Saturday at Alliance Francaise de Lagos/ Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi. The performance which was attended and highly praised by Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Honourable Commissioner for Health Lagos State; Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Health also saw the likes of acting German Consul-General, Mr. Alexander Ernst and the Swiss ConsulGeneral, Mr. Thomas Schneider.

The second part of the project will include an international digital conference to be held on May 6 and 7 where German as well as Nigerian doctors and therapists can exchange ideas on issues surrounding mental well-being and suicide prevention.

The conference is designed primarily for German, Nigerian and international professional audience including physicians, psychologists, art therapists and other professionals working in this field alongside medical students drawn from various Nigerian universities.

It will provide insights into current developments in the treatment of mental illness and the use of art therapies.

Among the German experts to speak at the conference are: Prof.

Dr. Phil., Dr. Med. Andreas Heinz, Professor of Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a joint institution of the Freie Universität Berlin and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Prof. Dr. Kathrin Seifert, certified art therapist at the University Hospital Bonn, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and at the University for Arts in Social Life, Ottersberg Mrs. Maria D’Elias, who is an art therapist and President of the European Federation of Art Therapy. From Nigeria, the project will include amongst others, Prof.

Akin Abayomi; the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, and Prof. Abiodun Adewuya, Provost Lagos State University, College of Medicine.

A scene from the stage play, Sniper

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Chidinma Chima-Oji: Passion for Curating Beautiful Events For the Creative Director of Events by Eki, Chidinma Chima-Oji, her venture into events planning was spurred by passion and buoyed by the satisfaction that comes with creating and curating beautiful events. Established in 2012, the events planning company has executed several events ranging from weddings to social and corporate events and boasts of clientele like General Electric, Catholic Relief Services, and USAID, among others. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that aside her flair for her job, she truly desires to empower and impact many lives as she can

H

back to the client and make sure it’s properly understood as nothing must be missed.

ow was growing up for you?

Growing up was pretty normal, my family was close knit.

I went to good schools and I didn’t really lack much.

Do you source locally for what you use?

Yes, I try as much as possible to get everything needed for my events within Nigeria. Although, Sometimes it can be very challenging.

Where are you based and are you open to traveling out of your state for outside jobs?

What school did you attend?

For my Secondary Schools, I attended Holy Child College in Lagos and GSS Karu in Abuja.

I later went on to attend Madonna University in Anambra State.

I am based in Abuja, and yes I am willing to travel outside the state and even the country for jobs. I have had events in several states ranging from Imo State to Benue State and so many others.

What aspect of your background set the tone for your career path?

I’d say my Mum, she used to throw a lot of Owambe’s (parties) for almost every occasion.

What influenced your choice of events planning?

So during my Youth Service I had some free time on my hands, and I started researching ideas for businesses that didn’t require intensive capital, I came across Ushering Service and decided to start recruiting ushers and sourcing for jobs, I took an interest in the planning aspect. I started researching on it and decided to venture into it.

At the time it was something I wanted to do on the side while hustling for a white collar job but it eventually became my bread and butter.

You mentioned diversification, to what exactly?

I have thought of going into prints and hopefully when I’m as big as I want to be in the industry I can fulfill my dreams of owning a ceremony venue.

Also, can you break down what your job entails?

After consultation where we find out what the client brief is for the event, we draw up a budget that includes all the services and materials requested, during this time we contact vendors that can provide them and compare quotes and quality. Once we are done choosing the vendors based on the plan for the event, the budget will be completed and sent to the client. Then we start booking and briefing the vendors on their tasks. Weeks prior to the event there’s a vendors meeting, we make sure everyone is on the same page and all the briefs and timings are understood.

On the day of the wedding or event, my team arrives for set up, coordinate the event, manage the guests and wait for take down of the event. I think the job really ends when the client gets their deliverable ( I.e the wedding photo books and videos).

Creative Director, Events by Eki

Any formal training or did you learn on the job?

I learnt on the job. By 2012, I got my first event after so much research, a lot of reading, sleepless nights trying to understand the business etc. I’m proud to say it was a very big event and it was a success.

Has the business visibly yielded any result?

Of course, I basically feed and survive through it.

Do you think this field/industry is fair to women?

Definitely, people actually view it as something women should do but I’m glad that more men are venturing into the business of event planning.

Any challenges?

Like every business there are a lot of challenges.

Unreliable vendors is one of them, as an event planner you’re responsible for sourcing and managing the vendors, some of them tend to not deliver what is expected. So finding reliable vendors is a big challenge but thankfully many exist, but it can be tougher on those who are new in the business.

Also, some clients on the other hand, I’ve come to realise don’t believe we deserve our wages, after all “they can do it themselves”.

Convincing them that they need a planner and that you are worth your fee can be very tasking

Some of the jobs executed by Events by Eki

Where do you see your business in the next five years?

By the grace of God, one of the events powerhouse in Nigeria and beyond. I would particularly like to start planning destination weddings and be well known for it by this time.

What are your dreams and aspirations?

I would love to be a big brand name in my industry nationwide, maybe diversify into a few other events related businesses. But most of all, I have always wanted to give back and as much as I’m empowered to I’d love to impact as many lives as I can.

What are some mistakes you made that you would advice any upcoming uptake to avoid?

Never take any new client without first signing a contract. Keeping records of conversations will save you from a lot. A very big one though, is working before payment.

What drives you daily now?

Well money is definitely one of them (lol) but essentially, passion for what I do and the satisfaction that comes with creating beautiful events.

How do you interpret briefs given by a client?

The first step we take is providing an initial consultation form where the client gives us an idea of the number of guests, budget, their

taste and expectations for the event.

Once we’ve been contracted to plan the event, we her series of consultations with the client to ascertain what is and isn’t possible especially considering the event budget. This might later

determine the exact client brief we receive.

Once it’s received we proceed to making sure the entire team is clear on the brief, their roles and know how to execute it properly.

If there’s anything we aren’t clear on, we go

People can’t differentiate between planning and coordination, at an early point in my career I found myself planning someone’s wedding without being paid and the person disappeared by the time I presented the budget and wedding plan. So I worked without payment, since then I’ve learnt to only offer an initial consultation before payment.

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METRO

…Your city life in print

Nigerian Tour Company Expands Charter Flight to Jamaica Vanessa Obioha Nigerians Travel Too, a tour company that coordinated the Nai-Jamaica Project — the fusion of Naija and Jamaica and the celebration of both countries’ common history and culture — recently announced that plans are underway to expand charter flight from Lagos to Montego Bay, Jamaica. The company recorded the historic inaugural flight between Nigeria and Jamaica last December.

“I was happy to be at the forefront of the initial charter and my team and I are committed to working with all stakeholders, to ensure the success of the next charter in

May and all subsequent flight rotations”, remarked the CEO of the tour company Elizabeth Agboola.

Scheduled from May 24 to June 1, the flight will leave Lagos and proceed directly to Montego Bay. An inbound leg is also being organised from Jamaica to Nigeria from May 25 to 31. This will allow Jamaicans and others from the Caribbean to experience the diverse culture and tourism opportunities within Nigeria. They will also be able to discover their roots and visit heritage sites in various states including Lagos, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Ondo, and others. Nigeria’s leading national carrier, Air Peace Lim-

Jamaican beac

ited, will continue to partner with the Nai-Jamaica Project in transporting passengers to and from the Caribbean. The flights will be conducted with state-of-the-art, wide-bodied aircraft, that will enable the journey to be completed in

Pastor Adegboyega Hits Aspiring Pilot with $10,000 Course Fee Ferdinand Ekechukwu For Fakayode Daniel Olagoke, a young Nigerian resident in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, a future that once looked depressing is now vibrant and colourful as renowned Philanthropic and Founder of SPAC Nation, London, Pastor Tobi Adegboyega has come to his support with the sum of $10,000 to enable him obtain his commercial pilot license.

Olagoke, an aspiring commercial pilot was about to round off his training but was beset by financial issues.

This disrupted his plans and life became miserable and desolate for him. He had to leave school to fend for himself in the midst of hostility and xenophobia.

He also had to leave a predominantly white populated neighborhood for lack of funds to live in the suburbs. In the course of his travails, he slept in the streets, encountered countless muggings and assaults.

Even after approaching

Jamaican beac

people of prominence within his family’s reach, he was still met with disappointments until Pastor Adegboyega came to his rescue. Reacting to the humanitarian gesture to him, Olagoke, 35, revealed that “the major aim for the money is to obtain my commercial pilot license. I have already obtained my private pilot license here in South Africa”.

His journey started at Airline Pilot Training Centre, Port Elizabeth, SouthAfrica. It should’ve been a 12 months program but he could not complete it due to financial reasons. This led to him opting out of school to do some other things. It was because of his father’s dream;

money was raised for him to start afresh at Madiba Bay School of Flight, South Africa.

He started the commercial pilot training but could not continue due to financial issues and unfavorable exchange rates.

Olagoke, an indigene of Osun State Nigeria and his folks being ardent followers of Pastor Tobi Adegboyega on all social media platforms and seeing his philanthropic works had to approach him with their challenge.

“He promptly came to our aid and helped us put an end to this long and embarrassing saga for our family,” Bolarinwa, a sister to Olagoke narrates of Pastor Adegboyega’s philanthropic deed. “He fulfilled a father’s wish of seeing his son, not only alive, but also as a commercially licensed pilot”.

“This is all due to Pastor Tobi’s influence and assistance.

Just when all hope was lost, a shining light came in the form of Pastor Tobi Adegboyega. We are indebted to this great man of God for doing the Lord’s work in this family,” she added.

LSETF Boss Lauds Lagos State Govt on Infrastructural Development, Economy Mary Nnah The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mrs. Tejumola Abisoye, has lauded the Lagos State Governor for exhibiting unusual bravery in the face of daunting economic challenges to invest in massive infrastructural development, even as the national economy is still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The commendation was contained in a media statement made available to THISDAY, following an interview granted by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to Channels Television, where he enumerated the many

physical projects that the administration is currently undertaking.

Sanwo-Olu said, amongst other things, that the Lagos Rail Project would cost over N100 billion, a project that is a first by any sub-national government in Africa. Abisoye said the courage shown by the Lagos State government is the kind required to free the country and the continent from the shackles of economic slump and mass unemployment.

“I must say that I am particularly proud - as should every well-meaning Lagosians - of the unmatched fearlessness with which my Principal, Governor Babajide SanwoOlu, is leading the way,” the statement reads.

“He and the State Executive Council have chosen to implement massive physical projects that will surely pay dividends in the near future by creating favourable conditions to attract foreign direct investment in manufacturing, transportation and logistics, which will in turn create jobs for the teeming population.

“We, at the LSETF, are poised to ride on the back of these projects to open up employment opportunities for the good people of Lagos.

We are committed to live up to our mandate of supporting businesses with access to affordable finance, provide technology and business support as well develop and train Lagosians on bankable skills for their financial security.”

style and comfort, in just over 11 hours. TheAir Peace crew will continue to offer outstanding in-flight service across First, Business, and Economy Class cabins on each flight.

Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Esmond

Reid, in a statement, embraced the prospect of more sustained flights between Africa and the Caribbean. “Jamaica is pleased to be part of this dynamic initiative between Africa and the Caribbean. We look forward to diverse partnerships and business opportunities in tourism and related areas being established due to this timely development”.

The Caribbean country offers a range of experiences and attractions to visitors.

There will be opportunities to sample the world-famous Jamaican Rum, Jerk Chicken, Ackee and Saltfish, and Devon House Ice Cream. In addition, there will be scope to visit the

Bob Marley Museum, go rafting on the Martha Brae River, chase picturesque waterfalls, catch the breathtaking rays of sunset in Negril and experience the Luminous Lagoon, among other things.

Details about the flight bookings and tour packages are available on both the NaiJamaica Project and Nigerians Travel Too websites. Prospective passengers are encouraged to book early, as reservations will close on May 15, to ensure timely visa processing and other formalities. COVID-19 travel insurance, underwritten by LeadwayAssurance Company, is automatically included as part of the tour packages.

Sahara Group Urges Increased Awareness on Occupational Safety, Health

L-R: Corporate Finance Manager, Sahara Power Group, Steve Nwokocha; Safety Manager, Sahara Group, Adeniyi Ige; and Business Development Executive, Asharami Energy (a Sahara Group Upstream Company), Olubukola Mafe at the session to flag off the Sahara Group Safety and Health Week on April 26, 2021

Leading energy conglomerate, Sahara Group has called for increased stakeholder collaboration towards achieving sustained awareness campaigns and interventions that will enhance workplace safety and health across the globe.

Adeniyi Ige, Safety Manager at Sahara Group, said employers and employees need to adopt a unified approach to safety and health issues to safeguard lives and drastically reduce the number of workrelated deaths and injuries.

Ige said as the world marks another Safety and Health at Work Day on April 28, the focus must be on how increasing investment and participation of all stakeholders can make Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages and SDG 8, to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all.

“Workplace safety and health issues must be seen as everyone’s business and should be instutionalised in a manner that

makes everyone’s involvement crystal clear.

“The International Labour Organisation estimates that about 2.78 million workers die from occupational accidents annually, while lost work days globally represent almost four per cent of the world’s GDP. “This trend highlights the need for a systemic approach to effective management of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) concerns at work. We must all make safety first a way of life within and outside the workplace,” he said.

Ige said collaboration, investment and adoption of technology would help achieve timely identification and monitoring of health and safety hazards within the workplace; train employees to minimise and/or avoid any risks associated with their jobs; review health and safety legislation to ensure compliance with the most recent standards; perform safety inspections of the workplace environment and write workplace-specific safety policies and best practices.

He added: “It is essential for

businesses to have consistent OSH awareness programmes and interventions that are proactive and tailored to address existing and potential safety and health issues in the workplace.

“From obvious hazards like banana peels to potential power surges and mental health issues, the OSH approach focus must be holistic, collaborative, and relentless.

“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses shows that the world needs to be prepared always to take on workplace safety and health issues to safeguard global economic development and prosperity.”

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is celebrated by the International Labor Organisation (ILO) annually on 28th April as an awarenessraising campaign to promote the prevention of accidents and diseases at work globally.

It gives international attention on the magnitude of the problem and on how promoting and creating a safety and health culture can help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries.

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POLSCOPE

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Is the Jihad Finally Here?

President Buhari

“If we get the opportunity, we will make the Nigerian military capable again because if we could go through ECOMOG forces to stabilize troubled zones and go to Darfur and to other places of the world to perform, why can’t we perform at home when our national sovereignty is being threatened”….. Buhari in December 2014

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n the run up to the primaries of the All Progressives Congress in 2014, THISDAY Newspaper published what it called PRESIDENTIAL SERIES, featuring the lead aspirants at the time. The first in the series featured then aspirant Mohammadu Buhari . The quote above was one of his declarations amongst others.

This column shall undertake an exegesis of that interview next week, for us to, not only see how far we have wandered away from set goals, but also to underpin the point that among politicians, talk is indeed cheap.

Perhaps more than ever before, this week had been the bloodiest in the nearly six years of President Buhari’s rule under a democracy.

Everyday, listening to news has become a trying time for most people as your heart is bound to drop at the avalanche of gory and bad news that will hit you. The torrent of bad news wafting in from the north, south, west and east, one cannot help asking, if indeed, the much talked-about Jihad has come. Faithfully, the next news item you hear, helps to suck off the smidgen of hope that is ever left in you.

Without necessarily being in a clear war situation, Nigeria had appeared like a large killing field, and the god of peace appears insatiable and unappeasable with the barrels of blood being shed in the land every day. And we are all worried, to say the least.

The national lawmakers merely stopped short of passing a vote of no confidence on Mr President for his cluelessness in handling the menace the bandits and Boko Haram terrorists have long become. While the House of Representatives resolved that a State of emergency be declared on the nation’s security issue, the Senate resolved to summon the NSA, service i chiefs (hoping the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will not rake up some clauses that forbid service chiefs from appearing before lawmakers). The emotions expended by Senator Smart Adeyemi (kogi West), last Tuesday, in driving home the frustrations and near hopelessness of Nigerians is aptly depictive of the way Nigerians feel about the insecurity issue.

The harvest of killings and abductions in the last one month will suggest that the country has lost control of its security. Perhaps the sadder end to all these is that all those who should be speaking to reassure us of safety are numb and wringing their hands in utter helplessness. Just when I had compiled the list of all the killings before starting this article, the killing of seven persons in an IDP, in Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen, once again, altered the casualty figures. Gov Ortom lamented that in two weeks over 70 persons have been killed in his state. It is bad enough that people have been sent packing from their ancestral homesteads and forced to settle in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps, yet it is doubly evil that their attackers still trail them to the ID camps to kill them there. How bestial can these killers be!

Weeks ago, Mr President had given a shoot-onsight order to those illegally bearing firearms. But

Magashi

the Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (One of the problems of this administration)—citing 37 years as a lawyer-- countered the President when he said people caught with arms should be arrested and prosecuted, not shot as directed by Mr President. This same Magashi had faulted the law banning open grazing in Benue, arguing that the Fulanis have always had a traditional grazing route stretching from the Sahel to the Savannah.

And so till today, none of the platoons of illegal arm bearers has been shot. And they keep multiplying.

The level and spate of insecurity is simply overwhelming. Perhaps, not even during the Nigerian civil war did we record as many incidents of killings as this.

Professor Wole Soyinka rightly declared that “we are at war”, just as the Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello lamented that “we are in trouble”. In the same way, even the APC National leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, acknowledged that the nation’s security forces are struggling with the Boko Haram terrorists. There is danger in every nook and cranny. And it smells like the advent of a Jihad, as we seem to have an emperor Nero picking his teeth, as Rome burns.

Kaduna carnages Long before the debate of amnesty for bandits opened, the spate of killings and unrest in Kaduna State were essentially in Southern Kaduna where there have been historical issues of distrust and tension between the Katafs and the Fulanis. Yes, the attacks on communities, killings and destructions were frequent. But all that doubled and worsened when the state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai swore that he will never negotiate with bandits who have been abducting people and lately students in the North-west. That avowal seems to have drawn the kidnappers into Kaduna, perhaps to cause the governor to bend. Public and private tertiary institutions have been broken into and students abducted at will.

While a few students of the School of Forestry have been released, five students of the Green Field University have been killed and dumped in nearby bushes.

Icannotimaginetheagonyofconcernedparents,nay we are all casualties! My heart bleeds. The abductors demanded ransom of N800 million.Yes, N800million!

And to prove that they are dead serious, they have started killing the students. What is this life! Late Chinua Achebe must have been prophetically right to have titled his last work, There was a Country…..

How can it be reconciled that innocent children who were sent to go acquire knowledge, for no fault of theirs, end up being killed by mindless marauders?

And we all wring our hands in utter helplessness In the last one month, there have been six abduction of students from their hostels , three of which are from Kaduna State.

In the same Kaduna State, bandits broke into a Baptist church, killed the pastor and abducted some worshippers. Weeks earlier, some members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) who went on evangelism were abducted on the highway. They were released after about three weeks in captivity.

In no mean measure, Kaduna has become the killing capital of the North.

The Benue Pogrom Continues…

Long before many states started feeling the heat from the Fulani herdsmen, Benue had been

Sheikh Gumi

a long standing victim. The state governors, right from the time of Gabriel Suswan down to Samuel Ortom, have shouted themselves hoarse, but all to no avail. Fulani herdsmen had taken very vicious hit on Benue people. From Agatu to Makurdi, the spate of killings and destructions is inexplicable.

And nobody seems to be willing to do anything.

Even the governor narrowly escaped being killed recently when bandits chased him from his farm.

The attacks on Benue communities have been fierce apparently because of the state’s laws that banned opened grazing in the state. The herders have thus been visiting the communities with fire and brimstone. Homes are being burnt, people are being killed, almost on a daily basis. I do not understand how a Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is able to eat and sleep in the face of so much unrest across the land.

Just last Sunday, again, the so-called bandits found their way into the Benue State University of Agriculture campus and abducted three students from where they were reading.

Is it any surprise that the cost of food items has literally hit the roof? If the Food Basket of the nation (Benue) as well as many northern states are under siege and turmoil and farmers are held down in IDP camps and not their farms, why won’t food items be scarce and expensive?

Niger on its Knees It got to a height that the governor of Niger State, Gov Sani Bello had to raise the alarm that Boko Haram terrorists have taken over some communities in his state and gone ahead to not only cease the wives of the people and converted them to their own wives, but have also hoisted their (Boko Haram) flags in such communities, after distributing pamphlets and some literature espousing the ideologies of the terrorists. Niger is less than 200 kilometers from Abuja, the seat of Government. On the other flank is Nasarawa State which has been severally harassed by terrorists. What it all means is that even Abuja is not exactly safe. Indeed, pockets of abductions, killings and attacks have been recorded in Abuja and its satellite towns. It is instructive that Gov Bello has long repented of his advocacy for amnesty for repentant bandits.

Geidam’s Girdle Groans Geidam, in Yobe State, is the home town of the acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba. Perhaps to test the vulnerability of the nation’s security system, the Boko Haram terrorists literally seized Geidam, causing many residents to flee the town, just as the Nigerian soldiers battled the terrorists for days to regain control of the town. The statement the Boko Haram terrorist seeks to make is that if the hometown of the acting IGP can fall, then everywhere else is similarly vulnerable.

Before Geidam, Damasak, in Borno State had also fallen to the terrorists, after the community was razed, some eight persons killed and injured a dozen. The residents fled the town and the Boko Haram flag was hoisted there for some days, before the military recovered the community. Early this week, over 30 soldiers were killed at Mainok, by the terrorists when they laid ambush against the Nigerian soldiers who were escorting some arms to Maiduguri. They overwhelmed the soldiers during a prolonged shoot out and eventually seized some of the weapons the soldiers were escorting to Maiduguri.

As if all that was not bad enough, last Monday there was a friendly fire that killed an officer and six

other soldiers when an Airforce plane mistakenly (?) bombed Nigerian soldiers taking them for Boko Haram members.

From all prisms, it’s been an awful week for Nigeria.

A national newspaper aptly described it as Black Monday at the beginning of the week.

In the South, the story has not been less terrible.

South East Umbrage Raged on Following the attacks on Imo Police Command, Correctional facilities wherein over 1,884 inmates were set free from custody, the scale of disquiet and raw crime has simply increased in the South east region.

Police commands, and stations have been attacked in Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and huge threat of same in Abia States. These attacks come with killings of uniformed personnel. Last Tuesday, armed men attacked a High Court in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, setting ablaze sections of the court building. The attack did not end until some two policemen were killed at a checkpoint.

Before that attack, the country home of the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, at Omuma, was attacked with petrol bomb, again burning parts of the building and killing two security personnel guarding the compound.

In the South East region, there has been a running battle between the IPOB separatist group and government establishments. While the IPOB sees every organ of government as a traitor that must be brought down, the state governments also see IPOB as agents of destabilization and a disgruntled group.

The plan by south east governors to establish their own regional security outfit, Ebube Agu, has not offered any reprieve to the spate of insecurity and destructions in the region.

In the neighbouring Rivers State, it’s been hell to the armed personnel as uniformed men have been killed too often in various parts of the Port Harcourt city. Suddenly, the police, Civil Defence, Soldiers etc., have become soft targets and endangered species, prompting the state governor, Nyesom Wike to declare curfew in the entry points of Rivers State. Only the Government Houses across the country have remained unassailable. But how many people live in Government Houses?

In one week, over a hundred persons have been killed with scores.

The vibes and body language of the President and many of his allies suggest that falsehood has been institutionalized and now truth is appearing like rebellion.

So, What Next?

Last Tuesday, President Buhari appealed for support from the United States of America. An appeal coming too late in the day. But why is there this silence on the $1 billion released for arms and ammunition? Did the former service chiefs not order them? Why is it taking eternity for the arms to arrive, even when it is true they are hardly bought off the shelves? Too often, our soldiers are overwhelmed because of the superior fire power of the assailants. And pray, where are the terrorists getting their own arms and ammunition plus all the sophisticated weaponry including special purpose gun trucks, whereas Nigeria is nibbling at it? How? Enough of the silly excuses!

Would the volume of deaths we have harvested in recent weeks enough to get President Buhari cracking? We wait!

38

T H I S D AY ˾

ͱͮ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

AfDB, IFAD, Others Strengthen Partnership on Food Security Obinna Chima The African Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in partnership with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and the CGIAR System Organisation, have pledged to work closely with African leaders to address rising hunger in the continent and shore up adequate financing to transform and modernize Africa’s food production.

The impact of climate change, rising fragility and conflict, and locust invasions in East and Southern Africa are taking a toll on the continent, they noted.

According to a statement, a two-day high-level dialogue

in this regard focused on modernising food production, making African agriculture more business oriented, and strengthening agriculture value chains.

Finding solutions will require strong backing from governments, development partners and the private sector, it noted.

The virtual event brought together government officials, heads of multilateral development banks, development partners, regional organizations, research institutions, business leaders, private sector operators, investment agencies, participants from academia, civil society organizations and experts from across Africa and beyond.

The dialogue was an oppor-

tunity to share achievements and lessons from across the African continent and accelerate agricultural transformation.

“Across the continent, hunger poses an even greater risk than Covid-19. The number of people living with hunger increased from 214 million to 246 million between 2015 and 2020.

Agricultural and agro-business related activities could provide employment opportunities for millions of young Africans, who account for 70 per cent of the population.

“Transforming commitments into action, the parties are expected to announce new financing to support food transformation and the creation of jobs in Africa’s agro-industry,” the statement noted.

Aig-Imoukhuede Launches Internship Programme for Young Nigerians The founder of the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede has announced an opportunity for five young Nigerians to join his ecosystem of businesses and philanthropic ventures for a year as mentored interns.

He said the offer was part of the global launch of his new book, ‘Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa,’ which was unveiled recently.

According to a statement, Aig-Imoukhuede made the announcement recently, when he met with the youth of the Ovie Brume Youth Centre to inspire

them and engage with them on key learnings from his memoir.

It was both his responsibility and honour, he said, to create the mentoring internships, saying he also benefited greatly from the mentoring he received early in his career.

He further stated that he was driven to share, with young people, the knowledge and experience he gained through years of building his businesses and bringing about real, impactful socio-economic change in Nigeria, a pursuit he said he remains actively involved in.

“The internships will be offered

to five Nigerians aged between 19 and 26 who either hold a degree or who will graduate at the end of 2021. Outside of these formal criteria for eligibility,” Aig-Imoukhuede said, adding the he is looking for young people with grit, determination, a passion to succeed, and the will and drive to work hard to accomplish their ambitions.

The five interns would join Aig-Imoukhuede, working alongside him and other senior executives, and would benefit from one-to-one and group mentoring meetings throughout the 12-month internship period.

Sanwo-Olu Lauds NNPC, Total, Others over Oxygen Plant Peter Uzoho Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commended Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and their operating partners, Sapetro, CNOOC, and Prime, over their donation of a medical oxygen plant to the state.

Sanwo-Olu gave the commendation while inaugurating the facility sited at the Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos State. He said the plant which has the capacity to produce 100 bottles of oxygen per day was the biggest of such plant to be inaugurated in the state.

Sanwo-Olu said: “I also want to commend Total/NNPC and their partners for putting together this Oxygen plant here. I have

been informed that this facility has the capacity to produce a hundred bottles of oxygen per day. It is much bigger than the one commissioned earlier on.

“Total and its partners deserve a round of applause. I want to put it on record that we continue to acknowledge all the various support that we have received from Total.

“I am aware that at the height of the COVID-19, when we were high on the storm, a lot of resources were also supplied and donated by Total Nigeria; both PLC and Total Upstream. Thank you very much,” Sanwo-Olu said at the handover event held on Wednesday, April 28, 2021”.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Mike Sangster, who was represented by the Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water, Mr. Victor Bandele,

highlighted why Total and its partners embarked on the project.

“The COVID-19 pandemic simply made an already bad situation much worse. As the number of cases spiked, with Lagos as the epicenter, we decided that building and donating a medical oxygen plant would not only help improve the state’s capacity to care for COVID-19 patients, but could further strengthen Lagos’s ability to manage other conditions associated with oxygen deficiency.

“So, in collaboration with the Lagos Ministry of Health and our partners- NNPC, CNOOC, SAPETRO, and PRIME 130, we decided to build and donate this medical oxygen plant to help meet some of our medical oxygen needs in the state. We believe that this facility would be useful even beyond the COVID-19 pandemic,” Sangster said.

CHI Limited Introduces Hollandia Zero Yoghurt CHI Limited has expanded its brand offering with the introduction of Hollandia Zero Yoghurt.

According to a statement, the product is a premium innovative product offering that combines the natural taste and nutrition of yoghurt with unique benefits of Zero Added Sugar, Zero Artificial Sweetener & Zero Lactose.

The product launch would be supported by a campaign with the launch message, “So Much Yoghurt Goodness, Zero Compromise”, and deployed

across TV, Radio, Out-of-Home, Digital platforms, Van branding, and Point of Sale communication channels.

The new Hollandia Zero Yoghurt is a perfect option for those looking to explore a more mindful approach to drinking yoghurt, while being able to enjoy the goodness of yoghurt.

“Hollandia Zero Yoghurt targets the increasing number of health-conscious consumers who desire a nourishing drinking

yoghurt beverage that has no added calories.

“Hollandia Zero Yoghurt’s unique premium packaging will appeal to its target audience and ensure the brand stands out on shelves in stores.

“The packaging boldly highlights its nutritional cues such as Zero Added Sugar, Zero Artificial Sweetener, Zero Lactose and nourishing goodness, reassuring consumers of a high quality yoghurt despite being a lower calorie option,” it added.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͰͶ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $64.53 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $63.91 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

39

T H I S D AY ˾

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Access Bank Posts N222bn Earnings, N60bn Profit in three Months Goddy Egene Access Bank delivered strong results in the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2021 despite the challenging operating environment.

According to the results, the bank recorded gross earnings of N222.1 billion, which was an increase by six per cent, from N2029.8 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2020.

Profit Before Tax (PBT) rose by 30 per cent to N60.1 billion, from N46.2 billion, while Profit After Tax (PAT) grew by 28 per cent to N52.6 billion compared with N40.9 billion in 2020 on the back of a 13 per cent growth in operating Income and a 16 per cent reduction in interest expense.

Commenting on the results, Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said the performance

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

shoed the strong capacity of their business to generate sustainable earnings on the strength of their balance sheet, diverse revenue streams and their dedicated people. “As a result of effective implementation of our cost reduction strategy, operating expenses remained flat, despite the inflationary environment and increased regulatory cost. Our retail banking business also showed steady growth with a

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

112 per cent increase in revenue to N57.5 billion and a 941,631 new customer sign-on via our financial inclusion drive during the quarter. This improvement is evidenced by the consistent and robust savings account growth to N1.3 trillion , leading to asignificant reduction in our cost of funds,” Wigwe said.

According to him, with the increased adoption of digital channels and the growing cus-

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

tomer base, the bank recorded a 29 per cent growth in USSD transaction value and 40 per cent increase in mobile and internet banking transaction value.

“In line with our risk appetite and efficient risk management, our asset quality continued to improve as guided with NPL Ratio of4.0 per cent (Dec. 2020 4.3 per cent), as we intensified our recovery efforts.

Likewise, we expanded our loan portfolio cautiously as reflected by

O F

the marginal growth in our net loans and advances to N3.65 trillion year-to-date (Dec 2020: N3.61trillion).

Furthermore, we maintained robust capital and liquidity positions, well above regulatory levels with a Capital Adequacy Ratio of 22.2 per cent and a liquidity ratio of 48.3 per cent, positioning ust o support our customers across various markets and adequately execute our expansion strategy,” he added.

2 9 / 0 4 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

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FRIDAY, ͻ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

40

NEWS FG: LEGAL CHALLENGES HINDERING $5.8BN MAMBILLA POWER PROJECT'S TAKE-OFF He said since the first budgetary allocation to the NDPHC between 2007-2009, there has been no other monies from the government, whether federal or state.

He added that NDPHC operations have been largely managed from the revenue it gets from the industry for

dispatching electricity.

Ugbo stated that till today, the company still has a credit of about N150 billion from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company Limited (NBET). He expressed the hope that when the privatisation is completed the NDPHC will be better funded.

In his contribution, DirectorGeneral of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Mr. Alex Okoh, said the federal government was fast-tracking its efforts to sell five more power plants.

He described the last privatisation effort as the biggest power sector

privatisation ever, adding that it was over-ambitious.

According to him, perhaps, the government should have adopted a different graduated or phased approach to the reform of such a complex sector.

Okoh said last October, the federal government concluded

the sale of Afam power for N105 billion.

“We are in the process of restarting a fresh transaction and it will be a competitive bid and we are going to advertise for five out of the 10 power plants, which are Geregu, Olorunsogo, Omotoso, Benin and Calabar.

“These are the plants with the least problems and as a result of that, they are considered to be the most viable and likely to be the most successful. We have started the process and we will be advertising for the expression of interest shortly," he said.

of BIC Consultancy Services Limited, Dr. Boniface Chizea, said the zero remittance from NNPC to the Federation Account in May would affect the three tiers of government to the extent that they are allowed to feel the shortfall.

Chizea said the only way the impact could be minimised was to borrow from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make up the shortfall.

He said the fact that the NNPC contributed N 96.86 billion, N64.16 billion and N41.184 billion to the Federation Account in January, February and March respectively was sufficient alert for remedial steps to have been envisaged.

“A back of the envelope calculations gives the average contribution from the NNPC over the three months at about N60 billion. So, if this shortfall cannot be made up, we can assume that the states collectively would experience a shortfall of N60 billion in their allocation which could approximate to N1.5 billion allocation to beneficiary entities,” Chizea said.

He added that public servants would have a course to worry because state governments' inability to pay salaries would worsen the hardship in the land and might

precipitate macroeconomic instability.

Chizea said complete removal of subsidy was the only solution to forestall future recurrence.

“We have been on this matter for a very long time now. But the political will has been lacking to push this through. One of the first requirements for subsidy removal is that the major oil marketers will take over this responsibility for supplying petrol. There is a glimmer of hope for an end to the payment of subsidy from consideration of the fact that Dangote has 650,000 barrels a day refinery,” he said.

In his contribution, Managing Director of Cash Express Limited and a licensed Bureau De Change Operator, Mr. Josaphat Madueke, said the situation would affect the economy depending on the percentage of the NNPC’s contribution to the Federation Account and the amount of savings the government could fall back on.

Madueke said: “It means that the month of May may be tough for the foreign exchange market if it affects the ability of the CBN to fund the market. But, it is a bad omen, whichever way one looks at it.”

best that could be done of a professional banker. He had insisted on governance being put in place and we suspect that it is because he has stood his ground on certain decisions that are not in favour of major shareholders in the bank that they felt hurt and thought he should be removed.

"This is against what we stand for. This is a bank where depositors' funds are almost ten times shareholders' funds.

And like I said earlier, our interest is to protect depositors and minority shareholders who have no voice in this business."

He added: "We would not sit idle and continue to allow this to continue.

"I spoke to Dr. Oba Otudeko; he refused to grant my entreaties. I had cause to call two of his major shareholders to ask him to ask the board not to take such decisions without the approval of the CBN, but he refused to pick the calls of these shareholders who are co-owners of the bank.

"I called him a second time and heard one of the shareholders listening to me on another line, begging Dr. Otudeko that he should not take that decision, he insisted on taking that decision.

"We hung up the phone and I sent that shareholder back to the office of Mr. Oba Otudeko to appeal to him to please suspend the decision to remove the MD. He refused to see the shareholder.

"I feel we had done our best and that we would not allow a shareholder who feels that he cannot subject himself to regulatory control and authority to remain as a director of the bank.

"So, we didn't have any choice but to take this decision.

As we speak, the chairman of the bank was queried, Ibukun Awosika, we are yet to receive any response. In any case, I would imagine that response is no longer necessary."

He gave reasons why the CBN spared the executive directors, deputy managing directors and managing director of the bank from being removed in the shake-up.

Emefiele said having worked with them since 2016, the CBN perceived the board crisis to be more of a breakdown of governance and insider abuse by shareholders.

He said:" We felt that because we have worked with them from 2016 till now, what we saw was more of a breakdown of governance and insider abuse by shareholders.

"And we felt that we needed to stamp our authority to reappoint and give them a chance to continue to remain executive directors, deputy managing directors and managing director of this bank."

THISDAY learnt that the apex bank aims to insist on the recapitalisation of the bank and restore it not only to profitability but also to its erstwhile leadership position in the industry.

It would also tackle insider abuse and ensure the restoration of good corporate governance.

Meanwhile, the shares of FBN Holdings Plc fell by 6.7 per cent yesterday as investors reacted negatively to developments in First Bank.

The stock depreciated from N7.40 to N6.90 per share.

BAUCHI GOV: NNPC ZERO REMITTANCE TO FAAC, RECIPE FOR CRISIS sufficient and self-sustaining.

He said the development was an indication that the federal government needed to allow the pump price of petroleum products to be determined by demand and supply and "not by any meeting with the labour union."

"But it is also a time for these governments to look inwards and harness other sources of revenue to cushion the effect," added.

Similarly, President, Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, stated that austere times equally calls for cutting costs and reducing wastes in government spending.

He said the development should be of concern to Nigerians, especially civil servants at the state level as salaries would either be delayed or not paid, adding that a shortfall in projected revenue will also affect states' capacity to pay contractors handling various projects.

Uwaleke said the situation would "adversely affect the distributable revenue for the months that NNPC is unable to remit money to the Federation Account due largely to rising under recovery costs or fuel subsidy."

"This is because the NNPC is a major contributor to that

pool. The others are the FIRS, Customs and to a little extent, Ministry of Solid minerals," he added.

According to him, given the situation, state governments should reprioritise their spending and make salary payment a priority.

On his part, Managing Director/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, said the non-remittance by NNPC would constrain the federal government to meet repayments of due obligations, including salaries, counterpart funding and debt repayments.

He said the states would also not be able to pay salaries and service local debts, adding that there will be increased insecurity of jobs and life, should the trend persist.

According to him, the states should look inwards and evolve ingenious plans to boost their revenue by encouraging more investments as well as create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

He added that the states should also energise the local economy by encouraging businesses, especially SMEs with incentives to increase their capacity.

In his contribution, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Economics, Pan-Atlantic

University, Dr. Olalekan Aworinde, said printing of money as disclosed recently by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, should not be considered.

“This issue of subsidy, I have always said is a fraud because there are a lot of people that would not bring in petrol products but are being paid subsidy claims. Oil as a matter of fact cannot solve our problem; there is the need for the government to diversify.

There is a need to improve the state of infrastructure as well as the Ease of Doing Business in order to attract the much-needed foreign investors.

“The way out is for governments at all levels to be proactive. Nigeria is broke and a lot of people that are supposed to be paying taxes are not paying taxes. "We need to bring in a lot of people into the tax net and all of these require a lot of cooperation.

There are only a few people that are paying taxes, while a lot of people are not.

“There are so many people that are working and earning incomes, but are evading taxes.

Apart from that, there are lots of issues with our tax policies in this country and there are lots of loopholes in our tax policies,” Aworinde added.

The Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Muda Yusuf, said the unfolding scenario was troubling and described it as the consequences of the perpetuation of an unsustainable subsidy regime.

Yusuf said if the NNPC became incapacitated because of the burden of funding subsidy, the implications for states and local government would be dire.

He said: “The social and economic systems of many states and local governments would be at risk of complete collapse. The NNPC is a major source of funds into the Federation Account. Many states are about 70 to 80 per cent dependent on revenue allocations from the Federation Account.

“Infrastructure spending will suffer serious setbacks across all levels of government, payment of salaries will be at risk, fiscal deficit may escalate and debt sustainability issues will be aggravated.

“It is thus imperative to come up with a creative and innovative exit strategy from the subsidy regime. It is also important to address the fiscal federalism question to reduce the current high dependence of sub-nationals on the centre.”

Also, the Managing Director

FIRST BANK: CBN REINSTATES ADEDUNTAN, SACKS OTUDEKO, BANK’S BOARDS significance, balance sheet size, large customer base and high level of interconnectedness with other financial service providers, amongst others.

Emefiele said: “By our last assessment, First Bank has over 31 million customers, with a deposit base of N4.2 trillion, shareholders’ funds of N618 billion and NIBSS instant payment (NIP) processing capacity of 22 per cent of the industry.

“To us at the CBN, not only is it imperative to protect the minority shareholders that have no voice to air their views, also important, is the protection of the over 31 million customers of the bank who see First Bank as a safe haven for their hard-earned savings.

“The bank maintained healthy operations up until 2016 financial year when the CBN’s target examination revealed that the bank was in grave financial condition with its capital adequacy ratio (CAR) and non-performing loans ratio (NPL) substantially breaching acceptable prudential standards.”

He added that the problems at the bank were attributed to bad credit decisions, significant and non-performing insider loans and poor corporate governance practices.

He said shareholders of the bank and FBN Holding also lacked the capacity to recapitalise the bank to minimum requirements, adding that the conclusions arose from various entreaties by the CBN to them to recapitalise.

With this, he said the CBN stepped in to stabilise the

bank in its quest to maintain financial stability, especially given First Bank’s systemic importance.

Emefiele listed regulatory actions taken by the CBN in this regard to include: change of management team under the CBN’s supervision with the appointment of a new managing director/chief executive officer in January 2016; granting of regulatory forbearances to enable the bank work out its non-performing loans through provision for write off of at least N150 billion from its earning for four consecutive years; and granting of concession to insider borrower to restructure their non-performing credit facilities under very stringent conditions.

Others included the renewal of the forbearances on a yearly basis between 2016 and 2020, following thorough monitoring of progress towards exiting from the forbearance measures.

Emefiele said: “The measures had yielded the expected results as the financial condition of FBN improved progressively between 2016 when the forbearance was initially granted to the current financial year. For instance, profitability, liquidity and CAR improved whilst NPL reduced significantly.

“Notwithstanding the significant improvement in the bank’s financial condition with positive trajectory of financial soundness indicators, the insider related facilities remained problematic. The insiders who took loans in the bank, with controlling influence on the board of directors, failed to adhere to

the terms for the restructuring of their credit facilities, which contributed to the poor financial state of the bank.

“The CBN’s recent target examination as at December 31, 2020, revealed that insider loans were materially noncompliant with restructure terms (e.g. non perfection of lien on shares/collateral arrangements) for over three years despite several regulatory reminders.

“The bank has not also divested its non-permissible holdings in non-financial entities in line with regulatory directives.”

Responding to a question on whether Otudeko was given the opportunity to engage with the central bank before the earlier decision to remove Adeduntan before the expiration of his tenure, Emefiele said, efforts he personally made in that regard were rebuffed, adding that the CBN had exhausted all measures to forestall the ensuing crisis after HassanOdukale called him to intervene in the matter.

Nonetheless, he said the CBN would not "allow a shareholder who feels that he cannot subject himself to regulatory control and authority to remain as a director of the bank."

He said there was no need for the initial changes at the bank, but all entreaties to Otudeko to save the situation fell on deaf ears.

He said: "Like we said, this decision came to us as a surprise. Like we said, this bank has been under regulatory forbearance intervention since 2016.

"The truth is that yes, even before we issued a query yesterday (Wednesday) to the chairman of the board and copied all the directors and shareholders, the initial attempt to remove the Managing Director, Dr. Sola Adeduntan, was leaked to me by an interested party in the course of the board meeting.

"When I heard about this, I had first to call the chairman of the holding company, Mr. Oba Otudeko. He picked my call and I reminded him about the regulatory intervention and forbearance regime in the bank and that the decision to make such sweeping changes would require prior approval of the CBN. "I pleaded with him to step down the decision and that we could hold the meeting to discuss the issues. The current managing director was running on a tenure that is expected to expire on December 31, 2021. And as far as we are concerned, there was no need for such changes.

"And I repeat that given our regulatory intervention and forbearance regime, we felt that if there was any misconduct on the part of Dr. Sola Adeduntan that he should have been queried, the CBN should have been informed and the CBN should have been party to such an action to punish Dr. Adeduntan.

"We were not informed of any misconduct, nor were we informed of any query; indeed, the CBN has been satisfied working with Dr. Adeduntan on a stabilisation regime for First Bank since 2016.

"He had played his role to the best of our knowledge, the

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Buhari Hails Ogunsanya’s Appointment as Airtel Africa’s CEO Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Emma Okonji in Lagos President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed the appointment of Mr. Segun Ogunsanya as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa Plc. Airtel Africa Plc, provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with presence in 14 African countries, Nigeria inclusive, has announced the Managing Director and CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Ogunsanya, as the CEO of Airtel Africa.

In his reaction, the President, in a statement issued yesterday

by his Media Adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the flag of Nigeria had been hoisted proudly across the African skyline once again with Ogunsanya’s elevation.

Congratulating Ogunsanya, the President said the appointment has once again proven that Nigeria has a surfeit of quality professionals, who can hold their own in any part of the continent, and even beyond.

He stated that with the cognate experience of the new MD/CEO for Africa, which spans consulting, banking, fast moving consumer goods, and telecommunications, he would acquit himself creditably in his

Lagos Police Arrest 135 Armed Robbers, 18 Cultists, Others

new role, and repeat the strides that made him position Airtel Nigeria as the second largest telecommunications company by revenue, serving over 50 million customers.

Buhari urged younger Nigerians to draw inspiration from Ogunsanya, saying with focus, dint of hard work, and resourcefulness, they would reach the peak of whatever careers they have chosen for themselves.

“The reward for hard work is more work,” the President said as he wished Ogunsanya greater successes ahead Ogunsanya will succeed Mr. Raghunath Mandava following the retirement of Mandava, who had since informed the Board of his intention to retire.

Ogunsanya will join the Board

of Airtel Africa Plc with effect from October 1, 2021.

Ogunsanya joined Airtel Africa in 2012 as Managing Director and CEO of Aitel Nigeria and has been responsible for the overall management of its operations in Nigeria, which is the largest Airtel market in Africa.

Ogunsanya has more than 25 years’ business management experience in banking, consumer goods and telecoms. Before joining Airtel in 2012, he held leadership roles at Coca-Cola in Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya as Managing Director and CEO. He has also been the Managing Director of Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd (Coca-Cola Hellenic owned) and Group head of retail banking operations at Ecobank Transnational Inc, covering 28

countries in Africa. He is an electronics engineer and also a chartered accountant.

Mandava will be retiring as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, as a Director of Airtel Africa Plc and as a member of the Market Disclosure Committee on 30 September 2021.

According to the telecoms company, arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.

Following his requirement, Mandava will be available to advise the Chairman, the Airtel Africa Board and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for a nine-month period.

Airtel Nigeria said it would soon announce the appointment of a new Managing Director and CEO of Airtel Nigeria, who will

replace Ogunsanya.

Announcing the appointment of Ogunsanya, the Chairman of of Airtel Africa, Sunil Bharti Mittal, said: “We are delighted to appoint Segun Ogunsanya as the Group’s next Chief Executive Officer.

He has displayed significant drive and energy in turning around the Nigeria business by focusing on network modernisation, distribution, and operational efficiency.

It is this commitment, together with his industry experience, strategic vision, constant customer focus and proven record of delivery that will enable him to continue to deliver our strategic objectives and to lead the Group in the next stages of its development.”

Recover 97 ammunition, 37 arms

Chiemelie Ezeobi The Lagos State Police Command yesterday said its operatives arrested 135 armed and traffic robbers, as well as 18 cultists in various locations across the state between March and April.

Giving further breakdown of arrests made by the command since last month, the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said the police arrested a total of 42 traffic robbers, 93 armed robbers, 18 cultists and also foiled two attacks on police stations.

Odumosu said the command also recovered 97 ammunition, 37 arms and one vehicle, while four armed robbery suspects lost their lives during encounters with the police.

Noting that the command foiled 54 armed robbery cases, he added that a total of 39 murder cases were recorded across the state.

Speaking at the parade of suspects at the command headquarters, Odumosu said they arrested four suspects for murder, seven for armed robbery, one for child abuse, and five for defilement.

Others include three for unlawful possession of firearms, 16 for cultism, one for arson, one for child trafficking, and one sexual assault.

On the menace of cultism, Odumosu said: “The state has been generally calm as the Command has improved on the security network of Lagos State.

“Most of the hoodlums, cultists and miscreants who terrorised

the state have been arrested and prosecuted while many of their leftovers were being kept at bay.

“This was made possible because of the Lagos State new law on Anti-Cultism which prescribes 25 years imprisonment for cultist as well as punishment for whoever that serves as accessory before and after the fact to any cult member.

“The law also prescribes 15 years imprisonment for anybody whose property, be it house (landlord), event centre, recreational centre, bar, and vehicle is used to aid or facilitate any cult- related activities and two years’ imprisonment for parents of any cult member.”

Reacting to the increasing cases of armed robbery attacks, Odumosu noted that just few isolated cases had been recorded, adding that strategies have been put in place to counter it.

He said: “In line with the proactive policies in addressing the security issues in the state, we rejigged security architecture and strategies during the last marathon meeting with the Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders where they have been mandated to ensure that no traffic robbery or security infractions occur in their area of responsibility.

“Similarly, special teams have been established to basically and frontally tackle incidences

Boko Haram Fighters Attack Yobe Town Michael Olugbode Boko Haram fighters yesterday attacked Kanamma, the headquarters of Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Kanamma, is historic in the insurgency war for being the town where the terrorists later to be known as Boko Haram launched their first attack before they relocated to Maiduguri The Police Public Relations Officer of the Yobe State Police Command, ASP Dungus Abdulkarim confirmed the attack

to some journalists, but said he had no details yet as at last night.

He said on phone: “Yes, there was Boko Haram insurgents’ attack on Kanamma.

Unfortunately, we have lost contact with our people there due to the absence of mobile network in the area; we will update you when we reach out to them”.

A community leader in the area, who spoke anonymously to journalists, lamented that the people of the town had fled into the bush for safety.

ASSERTING REGULATORY POWERS…

L-R: Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Kingsley Obiora; Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Mrs. Aishah Ahmad; Governor, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Mr. Edward Adamu; and Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr. Adebisi Sonubi, at the media briefing to announce restructuring of management at FBN Holding Limited and FBN Plc in Abuja…yesterday

Okowa Urges Buhari to Reconstitute NDDC Board Delta State Governor and Chairman of South-South Governors’ Forum, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reconstitute the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) without further delay.

Speaking when he led his Akwa-Ibom counterpart, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, to inaugurate roads, bridge and school projects

built by his administration in Agbarho and Oleh, Okowa said it was a great injustice for the federal government to continue to run the NDDC without a constituted board.

He stated that Niger Delta states were being taken for a ride with the running of the commission without conforming to the laws establishing it.

Okowa said that the continued

agitation from stakeholders for the reconstitution of the board was germane because the region was being short-changed.

“I believe that the governors of the South-south have spoken and we are embarrassed that after several months, the government has been unable to reconstitute the board of the NDDC. “We believe that what is going on at the moment is not the best

for our region and it’s not the best for the oil-producing states.

“In the first instance, the sole administratorship is not known to law and the board has the full representation of the people and they are able to speak for their people to ensure that there is fairness, justice and equity in terms of amenities and facilities.

EFCC Arrests 34 Suspects over Internet Fraud in Ondo James Sowole in Akure Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested no fewer than 34 suspects in Owo , the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State .

It was gathered that the operatives of the anti-graft commission stormed the

community on Wednesday and arrested the suspects, who were code-named ‘Erinle’, following a tip off.

The suspects are: Adesuyan Ayoola, Oyesanmi Shola, Adegbole Victor, Osagie Ekiende, Akinayomide James, Okunade Jamilu, Omotoso Oluwaseyi, David Oluwatobi, Ahmed Rilwan, Saheed Odunayo and Olorunfemi

Emmanuel, Others are: Obakpolor Tommy, Emmanuel Ibe, Temiloluwa Joshua, Victor Benjamin, Akinwale Oluwaseun, Ogunboye Dotun.

Adeniyi Femi, Obademi Samson, Oladunjoye Teniola, Eze Raphael and Samson Fadugbagbe Also arrested are: Oguntimehin Bamidele, Moshood Kazeem, Oniye Damilare, Balogun

Mayowa, Obadapo Wale, Ese Stephen, Atakili Pelumi, Adesumo Fatai, Olalekan, Demi Temidayo, Oshorun Joseph and Oluwafemi Damilola Michael.

A source said, after the arrest, the suspects were taken to the Benin, Edo State office of the agency for investigation .

According to the source, some of the items recovered

PDP Clears all 16 Anambra Governorship Aspirants Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (PDP) Screening Committee that vetted all the 16 governorship aspirants for the June 6 primary election has submitted its report on Wednesday, which cleared all the aspirants.

Moreover, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP has also approved the appointment of the Edo

State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseke, as the chairman of the e-registration planning committee.

The screening committee was headed by the former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Idris Wada.

Some of the aspirants cleared include Ms. Uche Ekwunife, Mr. Obiora Okonkwo, Mr. Chris Azugbogu, Mr. Winston Udeh, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo and Mr. Emeka Etiaba.

The National Publicity

Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, confirmed that all the aspirants that purchased the governorship forms were given clearance by the screening the committee.

Others include Mr. Ifedi Okwena, Mr. Ugochkwu Uba, Mr. Tony Nwoye, Mr. Chidi Onyemerukwe, Mr. Godwin Maduka, Mr. Chuma Nzeribe and Ms. Ekwochi Genevieve.

Ologbondiyan, who briefed

newsmen after the 91st NEC meeting, said that the NEC also received reports on the e-registration of members as the NWC announced.

He said that the membership of the committee set up to conduct the e-registration exercise consisted of Obaseki, who would serve as its chairman while his Adamawa State counterpart, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, was appointed to serve as the deputy chairman.

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Senate Quizzes Minister over N32.4bn COVID-19 Palliative Fund Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Senate Committee on Special Duties, yesterday asked the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, to explain how N32.4 billion allocated to her ministry for palliatives meant to cushion the effect of the COVID-19

pandemic was being spent.

Farouq however explained only N2.4billion out of the N32.4billion allocated for palliatives has been released to the ministry.

She said that the ministry is presently engaged with the Ministry of Finance to get the balance N30billion released.

The exchange between members of the Committee and the Minister took place at an interactive session organised

for the purpose by the panel.

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo had asked the minister about the impact of the palliatives distribution on the lives of poor Nigerians.

Ndume said even though the ministry is doing its best, what it

has been doing was not enough to properly cater for the poor and vulnerable in the country.

Ndume said: “You are not doing enough as far as poverty eradication in the country is concerned.

“The modus operandi being adopted by your Ministry cannot in

“Giving unemployed people N10, 000.00 or even N20, 000.00 for a month or two, cannot take them out of the poverty.

“The handouts should be channelled into creation of employment for the unemployed,”Degi-Eremienyo said.

anyway help in fixing the country.

“Humanitarian intervention should be looked at more holistically.”

Senator Degi Eremienyo, said the palliatives given to some Nigerians by the ministry, cannot in anyway, take them out of poverty.

Fayemi, Bagudu Meet IG, Baba over Insecurity Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his Kebbi State counterpart, Mr. Abubakar Bagudu, who is also the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, yesterday met the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Baba, to seek ways of partnering the police in tackling the security challenges confronting the country.

At the meeting, the IG said the police with the support of the governors would “surmount the insurmountable”.

The state chief executives said they were at the Force Headquarters to congratulate the IG on his appointment and commiserate with him over attacks on police formations and loss of police personnel.

The duo said the visit was

also aimed at seeking ways of partnering the police high command to tackle the raging insecurity across the country.

“It’s a routine visit; we haven’t had the opportunity to see the new acting IG, since he took over.

“In addition to that, the police have been of tremendous assistance to many of us, as state governors and chief security officers. So, it stands to reason that if you have any reason to be in Abuja, and we have the opportunity to meet the Inspector-General police, particularly someone just coming into the office, you shouldn’t be too surprised to see us visiting at a time that the country is also experiencing a number of security challenges”, Fayemi said.

“So, apart from coming to congratulate him, we are also here to extend our own condolences over the loss of personnel in this unfortunate development across the length and breadth of the country.

Abiodun Begins Reconstruction of Atan-Lusada-Agbara Dilapidated Road Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, yesterday turned the sod for the reconstruction of the Atan-Lusada-Agbara Road, with a promise that the road would not be abandoned.

The locality is a hub to no fewer than 10 industries in Ogun State.

The governor also inaugurated the 10.25km Lusada JunctionIgbesa-Ogun Guangdong FTZ Road, a project undertaken via a Public-Private Partnership.

Flagging off the 19km AtanLusada-Agbara Road, Abiodun said the commencement of rehabilitation work on the road would impact positively on the ease of doing business along the industrial corridor.

Both events were attended by

the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo; Chairman, Senate Committee on Works and former governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero; Senator representing Lagos West and Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Olamilekan Adeola; Senator Ayo Akinyelure, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and Senator Micheal Nnachi, among other dignitaries.

While saying the road would be completed in 15 months, the governor said though the road, which is part of the SokotoBadagry Expressway, belonged to the federal government, his administration decided to embark on the reconstruction of the road in order to give succour to the residents and industries along the axis.

FG Declares Monday Public Holiday to Mark Workers’ Day MichaelOlugbodeinAbuja The federal government has declared May 3, 2021, a public holiday to mark this year’s International Workers’ Day celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola,whomadetheannouncement on behalf of the federal government, congratulated Nigerian workers for witnessing this year’s celebration.

He commended them for their patience, understanding and support in drivingthepolicies and programmes of this administration in its determination to move the country to the next level

of socio-economic development.

Aregbesola called for more dedication and patriotism from all Nigerian workers and the labour unions, saying the present challenges will soon be over as the government is committed to securing the lives and property of all Nigerians.

He said: “The government is putting all strategies in place to curb the security challenges in the country.

I therefore call on the labour force and all patriotic citizens to be fully committed to the task of putting insecurity to a permanent end as much as possible.”

CONSULTATIVE VISIT…

Former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon (left), and Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, during the visit of the NYSC boss to the former head of state in Abuja…recently

FG Tasks Nigerians to Unite against Insecurity NLC oppose deployment of US troops to Nigeria blames states for failing to pay minimum wage Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has urged Nigerians to set their differences aside and join hands to address the current security challenges bedeviling the country.

The appeal was made yesterday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, while declaring open a one-day National Peace and Security Summit organised by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja.

Mustapha said: “Nigerians should join hands to fight this insecurity that’s assuming a frightening dimension.”

He said the federal government is ready to collaborate with stakeholders, including the Organised Labour, to find lasting solutions to the current security challenge facing the country.

According to the SGF, “President Muhammadu Buhari is leaving no stone unturned in dealing with the

security situation in the country.

“Labour and its constituents are integral part of solution providers on the critical issues that confront the country, and we cannot all be in the trenches at the same time as we are being confronted by security challenge at the moment.

“Security is the most vital element of human life, without which, economic and political aspirations cannot be realised in. It is in this direction that the current state of insecurity calls for concerted effort to find a last solution to it. It is very important that we begin to think and find solutions to all that are bedeviling us and we must find solutions to them.”

He said the government would look forward to receiving the reports and recommendations of the security summit to help in its decision-making.

Meanwhile, in his address at the

Oshiomhole

opening of the security summit, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said the current state of insecurity in the country is worrisome.

He, however, said the labour movement is not in support of plans by the United States to relocate its military forces from the Mediterranean ocean to Nigeria.

Wabba argued that inviting an occupation force would be counterproductive, adding that Nigerian armed forces have what it takes to defeat the terrorists if they are provided with weapons and proper welfare.

According to him, “We are concerned about plans to relocate the US African Command from Germany to Nigeria. While we welcome intelligence sharing and ammunition support to our armed forces, we warn that it will be counter-productive to replace our army with foreign soldiers.”

He said the Nigerian armed forces are equal to the task of surmounting the insecurity challenges in the country if they are supported and well-funded.

Wabba, who stated that the summit was taking place against the background of rising incidence of criminality in the country, said: “Oganised Labour has the responsibility to represent and defend not only the interest of workers but also national interest that bothers on national security.

This summit is taking place against the backdrop increase in criminalities, including terrorism, banditry, including, kidnaping, abduction among others.”

On the objectives of the summit, the NLC chief said it was meant to interrogate the issues causing insecurity and find a lasting solution to insecurity in the country soon.

Lagos East: Abiru Defeats PDP’s Gbadamosi at Appeal Court Davidson Iriekpen The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos yesterday dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s suit, which sought to disqualify Senator Adetokunbo Abiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from continuing to represent Lagos East senatorial district.

A three-man panel of the court affirmed the March 1, 2021 decision of Justice Chukwuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Lagos, which dismissed Babatunde Gbadamosi and the PDP’s suit for lacking in merit.

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Abiru won the last December 5, 2020 senatorial

by-election by a landslide, polling 89,204 votes against Gbadamosi’s 11,257 votes.

But Gbadamosi and the PDP challenged Abiru’s eligibility to contest the election.

The challengers sought to disqualify Abiru on the grounds of double voter registration, residency, indigeneship and violation of

Section 31 of the Electoral Act. But in dismissing their case, Justice Obiozor agreed with Abiru’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) and APC’s counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) that the issue of residency and indigeneship were not disqualifying factors under the constitution.

Nigeria on Fire, Falling Apart, Says Ekweremadu Deji Elumoye in Abuja Former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has painted a gory picture of the country presently, saying Nigeria is on fire, and that it is falling apart.

He, however, remained optimistic that the current ugly situation of the country is still redeemable.

Ekweremadu, who stated this

at the 10th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Umuahia, Abia State, with the theme: ‘Let us Rebuild and End this Reproach’, raised the alarm over the worsening state of the country characterised by wanton destruction of lives and property.

Delivering the Synod lecture entitled: ‘The Role of the Christian Politician in Nation-building’, the senator, who was represented by

the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Hon. Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia, said the country was at crossroads, and it was high time leaders urgently rescued it.

According to him, “Nigeria is burning, literally and figuratively. Put even more appropriately, we are at that juncture where we must rebuild

or risk perishing. But God forbids that we perish!”

He expressed regrets that reports of bloodletting, mass killing, and kidnap-for-ransom had become the daily realities of Nigerians, adding that hunger was on the rise because insecurity had dislodged Nigerians from their legitimate businesses and farming.

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Bandits Invade Plateau School, Abduct Student Parents of 29 abducted Kaduna school threaten more protests John Shiklam in Kaduna and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The Plateau State Police Command yesterday confirmed the abduction of a student pastor at the King’s School, run by the

Calvary International Ministry, also known as CAPRO, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

Also, after fruitless efforts to secure the release of the 29 remaining abducted students of

Ibom Air, Dana Airline Seal interline Agreement Chinedu Eze After so many years of pushing by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian carriers Dana Air and Ibom Air yesterday reached agreement on the first interline/codeshare deal between both domestic airlines.

A codeshare agreement is a business agreement in which two or more airlines publish and market the same flights under their own airline designator and flight number, known as the airline flight code.

Industry experts believe that such interline or codeshare would enhance domestic airline

operation, reduce flight delays and cancellation, cost of operation and generate more profits to the airlines participating in that agreement.

The Chief Operating Officer of Ibom Air, George Uriesi, who disclosed this at the quarterly Aviation Round Table (ART) breakfast meeting held virtually with the theme: ‘Utilising Interlining and Codeshare Agreements as Tools for Domestic Airlines Profitability and Passenger Comfort’, gave details of the extent at which his airline had gone to bring the innovation to fruition.

He stated that his airline just finished a long process of

the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Kaduna, the parents of the abductees have threatened to take their protest to the National Assembly.

The Plateau school is a few kilometres from the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang in the same local government area.

It was learnt that the bandits invaded the school to kidnap many students, but the timely intervention of security agents forced them to withdraw, leaving with four students. But three of the abducted students later escaped during a gun battle between the security personnel and the abductors.

The school was reportedly attacked in the early hours of yesterday when the armed men gained entry through the rear side of the fence.

A witness said some of

the students noticed strange movements and alerted security agents, who repelled the attackers.

He said three of the students escaped during a gun duel between the security agents and the abductors.

Confirming the attack, a global mission leader and President of Parra-Mallam Peace Foundation, Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam, said the attackers broke into the compound by drilling the school fence from the rear side.

The state police spokesman, Mr. Gabriel Uba, an assistant superintendent of police, said: “The command received a report of abduction of a student pastor from King’s School, Gana Ropp in Barkin Ladi LGA. Tactical operatives have been deployed in the area.

Concerted efforts are on towards

rescuing the victim and arresting the perpetrators.”

Meanwhile, the parents of the 29 abducted Kaduna students have threatened to take their protest to the National Assembly.

In a statement yesterday in Kaduna, the parents accused the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) of allegedly not doing anything to ensure the release of their children.

The statement, jointly signed

by Usman Abdullahi and Catherine Y. Saleh, Chairman and Secretary, respectively of the parents’ association, stated that if the FRIN failed to ensure the release of the students by today, they would be left with no option than to take their protest to the National Assembly.

On March 11, 2021, bandits invaded the school and

abducted 39 students.

Ten of the abducted students were later released in two batches of five. The remaining 29 are still being held by the bandits.

The statement said the parents were depressed about the continuous holding of their children in captivity and the inhuman treatment being meted out to them.

On Tuesday a new video where the students were seen begging their parents to pay the bandits ransom for them to be released went viral on the social media.

The statement said the parents “rose from their meeting on Monday, April 26, giving the FRIN 72 hours, which expires in the midnight of Thursday, April 29 within which to secure the release of the abductees.”

Police BarYoruba Nation Rally in Ogun The Ogun State Police Command has barred the Oduduwa nation rally expected to hold May 1 in the state.

The Ogun Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, made this known in a press statement issued yesterday.

“Consequently, the rally slated for Abeokuta on May 1, 2021, is viewed by the command as one too many in the State, and therefore not approved.

“Parents and guardians are hereby advised to warn their children and wards not to be involved in any of such gathering that may expose them to violence

and consequently bring them on a collision course with the security agencies,” the statement read in part.

While describing the rally as disturbing, the Ogun police command, said a previous rally by the organisers caused “serious panic in the minds of the people”.

The statement added, “The Command is not oblivious of the constitutional rights of citizens to freedom of association and expression, but we however want to caution that these rights should not be exercised to the detriment of other citizens.

EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION…

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (left), and Director General, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, during the DG’s visit to the Naval Headquarters in Abuja…yesterday

Diri Reinforces Ban on Open Only 18 States Domesticated Fiscal Responsibility Law, Says Commission national level. on a regional basis before and must be keyed into by all Chuks Okocha in Abuja Grazing According to a statement encouraging other states to states,” he said.

Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on citizens and residents of the state to watch out for troublemakers who might want to unleash attacks in the state.

Diri, who warned that the state would not be a safe haven for troublemakers, also restated the ban on open grazing of cattle.

He made the call during the 33rd Executive Council meeting in

Yenagoa and noted that security is everybody’s business and urged people of the state not to hesitate to avail the security agencies of information to help tackle insecurity.

The governor expressed appreciation to the various arms of government and Bayelsans at large for their role in ensuring that the state remained peaceful and called for all hands to be on deck to sustain the prevailing peace.

The Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Mr. Victor Muruako, yesterday told the governors of the 36 states that only 18 states have fully domesticated the Fiscal Responsibility Act He disclosed this when he visited the secretariat of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) in Abuja to discuss potential opportunities for collaboration towards promoting fiscal responsibility at the sub-

issued yesterday by the Head of Media, NGF, Mr. Abdullraque Barkindo, Muruako said that it was imperative to encourage states to adopt the fiscal responsibility law.

The chairman of the commission said that at the moment only 18 states had been able to domesticate the fiscal responsibility law in their domains.

He argued that the way to start is to take things

key in.

“For now, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission says that the way they have been engaging with states is by providing technical assistance,” he said.

The chairman of the commission said moving forward, they could nominate two or three persons to work with the NGF’s office.

“For us as a nation, fiscal responsibility is very important

However, the chairman maintained that through potential collaboration with NGF, they could join to take the study of fiscal responsibility to the grassroots.

In his response, the Director-General of the NGF, Mr. Asishana Okauru said there was a clear nexus between the mandate of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and that of NGF

Gombe Gov Seeks Resuscitation of Port Harcourt-Gombe-Maiduguri Rail Line

PFN President Invokes God’s Judgment on Kidnappers, Bandits, Others

Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

Disheartened by the increasing incidences of banditry and other forms of crimes in Nigeria, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, yesterday said he has invoked God’s judgment on those behind the heinous crimes in Nigeria.

The cleric in a statement issued by his media office and made available to THISDAY yesterday lamented that the situation in the country is increasingly becoming

The Gombe State Governor, Mr. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has called on the federal government to expedite action towards the resuscitation of the rail line connecting the North and the Eastern corridor of the country, which he described as the most neglected.

Yahaya made the call when the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Rukayyat Saraki, paid him a courtesy visit

yesterday in Gombe ahead of the commissioning ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Gombe Outreach Learning Centre in Kumo.

He noted that no reasonable manager of human resources can do without transportation because of its critical role in the movement of goods and services, adding that the Gombe outreach learning centre of the NITT in Kumo is a welcomed development for the people of the state and by extension, the North-east sub-region.

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

worrisome, saying: “The Lord, will visit all those killing and kidnapping people in Nigeria today with His judgement.”

Oke, while noting that security was everybody’s business, however, averred that the government has more to do in ensuring the protection of lives and property of the populace.

The PFN president maintained that unless the President Muhammadu Buhari administration approached the security challenges in the country with utmost seriousness, the country would continue to

retrogress.

According to him, “Nothing compares to peace, and in its absence in any society, development is never achieved. So unless our government fixes our present challenges, our economy will continue to nosedive and be in doldrums.”

The cleric, who is also the presiding bishop of The Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Ibadan, Oyo State, said peace was central to the advancement of any nation, lamenting that peace was fast becoming an alien to Nigeria.

He further warned those remotely or directly connected to the on-going shenanigans in the country to desist or face the wrath of God, stressing: “It is not too late for all those causing the current security challenges in the country, whether directly or indirectly, to repent. God abhors bloodshed, and as such, we should stop the senseless and mindless killings going on in the country. This is to mitigate the growing concerns, agitations and apprehensions in our land.”

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FRIDAY APRIL 30, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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House Directs Immigration to Issue Passport to Nigerians within 72hrs Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The House of Representatives has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to issue international passports within 72 hours to thousands of Nigerians who have applied, paid, and have been captured but are yet to be issued their international passport booklets.

It also urged the Ministry of Interior and the NIS to review its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Security

Printing and Minting Company and IRIS Smart Technologies Limited in order to boost capacity and development of more passport booklet production lines.

The House said that this would ensure better service delivery that would enable Nigerians to get their international passports within 24 hours.

The directive followed the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary yesterday by Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo.

Ozurigbo said while moving the

NSITF Tasks Employers on Occupational Safety, Health As the working community of the world celebrated safety and health at work, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSIFT) has preached about the need to anticipate, prepare and respond to crisis by investing in resilient occupational safety and health (OSH).

Speaking on the occasion of the World Safety and Health Day, Assistant General Manager in the Agege branch office, Lagos, Mrs. Muibat O. Alabi, encouraged all employers to invest in resilient OSH system as a preventive measure for accident occurrence.

NSITF is saddled with the implementation of employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS).

In a statement issued to mark the occasion, Alabi said: “The emergence of the COVID 19 pandemic is an eye opener, and has thought us a lesson that we need to plan and prepare for emergencies.”

She further stated that the pandemic had touched nearly every aspect of the world on work, from the risk of transmission of the virus in workplaces to occupational safety and health (OSH) risks that have emerged as a result of measures to mitigate the spread of the virus.

According to her, proper preparation helps greatly in the prevention of accidents at work.

Alabi said “So anyone who fails to plan, has already planned to fail.

“There is no way a person will

plan without envisaging outcomes.

“Often celebrated annually by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on April 28, the envisioning of outcomes, appropriate planning for the outcomes and timely and adequate responses speak to the theme of this year’s ‘World Day for Safety and Health at work 2021.

“NSITF, which has a profound interest and mandate in the welfare of the employees, joined the ILO in commemorating the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.”

Since the commencement of the scheme in 2011, Alabi said: “NSITF has proactively engaged stakeholders in ensuring the safety of employees in workplace through its mandate of promoting the enforcement of occupational safety and health standards in the workplace.”

She disclosed that NSITF anticipates risks at workplace, and when avoidable and unavoidable accidents happen, the fund with its experienced workforce and branches nationwide respond appropriately and ensure adequate compensation is paid.”

She said most registered employers whose employees are captured with NSITF continuously enjoy medical expenses refund, disability benefits, death benefits, loss of productivity benefits and rehabilitation.

“At the moment, cases of industrial accidents, injuries and diseases are being promptly treated as they are reported in full compliance with the Act and to the satisfaction of the stakeholders,” NSITF Agege

Masari’s Wife Urges FG, States to End Malnutrition Francis Sardauna in Katsina The wife of the Katsina State Governor, Dr. Hadiza Bello Masari, has urged the federal and state governments to end the scourge of malnutrition among children by committing more funds for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in the country.

Massari added that all the polices and operational plans enacted by both federal and state governments to tackle malnutrition should be operationalised and implemented at all levels in order to end the age-long predicament.

The governor’s wife made the call at a press conference she termed “Severe Acute Malnutrition: We only Have Today to Secure Our Tomorrow,” that was held at the Katsina Local Government Service Commission

yesterday.

According to her, growing number of Nigerian children are dying of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and there is urgent need to procure nutrition commodities such as Ready-toUse Therapeutic (RUTF) for their treatment.

She that all hands should be on deck to save about two million Nigerian children below the age of five years who are currently battling with severe acute malnutrition in different parts of the country.

She said: “It is because we have failed to handle nutrition issues at the very basic levels that we now have a growing number of children dying of severe acute malnutrition. So, there is need to procure nutrition commodities for their treatment.

motion that the Ministry of Interior, through the NIS, is responsible for the issue and re-issue of Nigerian international passport to citizens and liaises with the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc and IRIS Smart Technologies Limited for the production of passport booklets and allied services.

The lawmaker decried the persistent scarcity of the passport booklets at most offices of the NIS and some of the nation’s foreign embassies.

He expressed concern that most Nigerians who have applied

for international passports and fulfilled all the requirements are constrained to wait endlessly for their international passports, which ordinarily should take less than 48 hours to be issued.

The situation, he said, has been causing untold hardship on Nigerians with urgent needs to travel out of the country.

The lawmaker added that Nigerians who are on medical referrals outside the country are developing needless health complications while waiting for their

passports to be issued while those for urgent business trips, conferences, etc. have missed rewarding business opportunities due to the unavailability of passport booklets to enable them to travel.

Ozurigbo lamented that Nigerians in the diaspora are experiencing undue delays due to the scarcity and the situation is fast breeding a class of passport racketeers who extort innocent citizens with the promise to assist them to secure international passports on time.

He stressed that access to international passport was one of the rights enjoyed by citizens all over the world.

The lawmaker said that international passports could be obtained with ease with immediate issuance upon completion of application.

The House resolved that “the NIS shall within 72 hours, issue international passports to thousands of Nigerians who have applied, paid, and have been captured but are yet to be issued their international passport booklets.”

IN SEARCH OF YOUNG TALENTS…

L-R: Marketing Specialist, inq.Digital Nigeria, Adedamola Ojomo; Voice and Edge AI Specialist, inq.Digital Nigeria, Olanrewaju Justice-Anyai; student, Peak Lane Colleague International Lagos and winner, e-Business Life communications, Girls in ICTDay Graphic Design Competition, Itua Oluwashola; and Acting Marketing Manager, inq.Digital Nigeria, Martina Ogbebor, at the celebration of 2021 International Girls in ICT Day programme in Lagos...yesterday ABAYOMI AKIYELE

Akeredolu Decries Frequent Changes in NDDC Leadership James Sowole in Akure The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, yesterday decried frequent changes in the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Akeredolu spoke in Akure, Ondo State capital, when the management of the commission led by the Interim Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Effiong Akwa, paid him a visit in his office.

During the visit of the management team, the NDDC donated three waste disposal trucks and skip bins to the state government.

The team also paid inspection visit to the construction site of the 132 KVA Transmission Station at Erinje in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state financed by the NDDC. According to Akeredolu, “Frequent changes in the leadership of the NDDC do not augur well for the purpose

for which the organisation was created, as it does not allow for continuity.

He said: “The purposes for which the NDDC was created were so much important than the way its leadership was being changed.

“The frequent changes do not augur well for the organisation. The leadership in the management of the commission was just being changed as if we are just sending them to fetch water.”

Akeredolu urged the NDDC to partner the state for the purpose of diversification of the economy, saying the state has many potential.

Specifically, the governor said there were many sectors the NDDC could invest in the state and stopped reliance on oil revenue.

Akeredolu listed bitumen exploitation, gem stones, cassava, tourism among others, as areas the NDDC could enter into partnership with the state.

Nasarawa Attracts N10bn Investment for Rice Farmers Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia The Nasarawa State Governor, Mr. Abdullahi Sule, yesterday disclosed that the state has concluded plans to assist farmers with an investment of N10 billion.

Sule disclosed this when he flagged-off the sales of 1,020 metric tons of fertilizer, 1,950 sprayers, five tons of improved seeds and assorted agro-chemicals for the 2021 planting season.

It would be recalled that last year, the Nasarawa State

Government procured and distributed 240 metric tons of assorted fertilizers to dry season farmers.

Sule said: “The state has concluded plans, in collaboration with the Rice Farmers Association, to attract investment of a whopping sum of N10 billion to assist rice farmers in the state under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers Programme.”

The governor also said that effort is being made to procure

more quantities of fertilizer to help rejuvenate most of the soils in the state that have remained less fertile and unproductive.

“It is pertinent to state that affordable technologies are critical to increased crop productivities. In this regard, government is determined to the strengthening of the extension services delivery system of the Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP), to provide effective extension services and train farmers on GoodAgricultural Practices (GAP),” he said, adding that “the

fertilizer will be sold to farmers at subsidized rate of N5,000 only per bag. I wish to charge the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Local Government Distribution Committee to ensure that the relevant Small Holder Farmers benefit from this gesture of government.”

Sule concluded by sounding a warning that any untoward practices in the sales of fertilizer would not be tolerated and would be met with stiff punitive measure irrespective of the calibre of persons involved.

Moghalu: Buhari has Done Well in S’East David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Managing Director of the National Inland WaterwaysAuthority (NIWA), Mr. George Moghalu, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has done well in the South-east geo-political zone of the country.

Moghalu spoke to journalists yesterday in Awka, Anambra

State, after he held a meeting with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to notify them of his intention to run for the governorship seat of the state.

He said: “President Buhari has done well in the South-east and I’m running for the governorship of the state to consolidate on his achievements in the zone.”

The managing director of the NIWA explained that he visited the State Secretariat to seek the support for the leaders of the party in the coming APC governorship primary to win the election.

He assured that he would win the election if he grabbed the party’s governorship ticket.

“The governorship election would

be a tough contest, and I urge all members of the party to brace up to the challenge of working for the party’s victory.

“I advise particularly my co-aspirants to desist from name calling, but, to sell themselves by explaining to the people what they intend to do for the state if elected,” he said.

FRIDAY APRIL 30, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Sexual Assault: Lagos Police Deny Plans to Release Baba Ijesha Chiemelie Ezeobi The Lagos State Police Command yesterday denied plans to release comic actor, Olanrewaju James Omilani, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, who was arrested and detained for alleged defilement of a minor.

The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who debunked the report, said contrary to claims, the actor was still in detention at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) at Panti, Yaba.

Although, he admitted that it was a bailable offence since it’s not defilement but sexual assault, Odumosu said his release can only happen based on legal advice from the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

He said the case file of the popular actor has already been sent to the office of the Attorney General of Lagos State and DPP for legal advice.

Odumosu further clarified that the police were investigating two different cases against the actor, adding that the case of the defilement came up as a result of the recent sexual assault allegation.

The police commissioner said: “Baba Ijesha is still in our custody.

The case is a bailable offence, but we will not consider him for bail.”

Noting that he personally interrogated all the parties involved in the case last Wednesday for three hours, he said he ascertained that it was a case of defilement which happened seven years ago and a recent case of sexual assault.

Bauchi Suspends Islamic Cleric Indefinitely for Incitement The Bauchi State government has suspended indefinitely, an Islamic Cleric, over alleged incitement in his preaching.

The suspension was contained in a media statement signed by the Commissioner, Ministry for Religious Affairs and Social Welfare, Mr. Ahmad Jalam, and addressed to the Islamic Cleric, Malam Abubakar Idris, Azare, of Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

According to the statement entitled: “Violation of the ethics of Preaching and Sermons in the state,” the

Cleric was found to have been castigating companions of Prophet Muhammad in his preachings.

This, the government said, was capable of instigating violence which would lead to the breakdown of the law and order in the state.

The government, therefore, suspended him from preaching in any part of the state.

The statement read in part, “The attention of the Bauchi State Government has been drawn to the manner of your preaching and sermons.

Police Uncover Fake Wine Factory in Delta, Arrest Owner Sylvester Idowu in Warri The Delta State Police Command has uncovered an illegal factory producing ‘fake’ alcoholic wine at Ovwian in Udu Local Government Area of the state.

The state acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Edafe Bright, disclosed that the Commander of the state Anti-Cult Unit (SACU), SP Christopher Igbaji, acting on intelligence, mobilised operatives from SACU on a sting operation with the civilian anti-cult volunteer corps, and arrested one Kenneth Ajie in Amadaga village that specialised in brewing fake wine.

He disclosed that the suspect was alleged to have been producing the fake drinks in his house for sale to the unsuspecting public.

According to the PPRO, the suspect, with no operational licence, sold the drinks for N300 per bottle and N3,600 a carton.

He said the bottles containing the said products were the ones used by other brands and disposed by consumers.

The suspect was said to have confessed that he usually buy the bottles for N10 per bottle, while he purchased the cork from the open market.

Secondus Threatens Afegbua with N1bn Suit Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Uche Secondus, has threatened Kasim Afegbua with a N1 billion suit if he failed to apologise to him for the defamation of his character Secondus, in a letter he wrote to Afegbua through his lawyers, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, and Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), dated April 29, 2021, said: “Take notice that if you fail to retract your said publications, apologise to our client in the said newspapers with the same prominence with which you published the offensive

statements and pay the sum N1 billion (One Billion Naira) to him as damages (all within 48 hours from the date hereof), we shall proceed to institute an action to seek redress from a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Etiaba said that his client has served the PDP in the following capacities: Rivers State Chairman for eight years (1999-2007), National Organising Secretary for four years (2007-2011), Deputy National Chaiman for three years (2013-2015), Acting National Chairman for about one year (20I 5) and currently the National Chairman for over three years (2017 till date) without any blame or blemish.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as ONYINYE AWUOMA NZE, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYINYE ABAZIUWA and my DoB was wrongly written as 13th June 1991 instead of 13th June 2003. All former documents remain valid, the general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MFON INUAH, now wish to be known and addressed as NGOZI JAMES MMEGBURUONYE. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as VANESSA BERNARD CHINYERE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FIFI BERNARD MILONGO. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS HELEN CHIBUZOR OBIEKEZIE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS HELEN CHIBUZOR EFANGWU. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as JUDITH TITILY SHEKARI. now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JUDITH AMILE BATURE. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as JUDITH TITILY SHEKARI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JUDITH AMILE BATURE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OGAJI DORCAS , now wish to be known and addressed as PAUL ABIGIRL DORCAS. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as NKPECHA FAVOUR ONYINYECHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGHENAOGWE FAVOUR ONYINYECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Understanding Zakat

Source: IslamiCity/The Peninsula

Zakat is one of the major religious duties in Islam. Literally, zakat means to “purify”.

It refers to the purification of a believers’ wealth and soul. Wealth purification denotes the mobilization of assets for the purpose of financial growth and justified distribution.

Purification of the soul implies freedom from hatred, jealousy, selfishness, uneasiness and greed. Other Quranic connotations also include the purification of sin.

Zakat is a fixed proportion collected from the surplus wealth and earnings of a believer.

It is then distributed to prescribed beneficiaries and for the welfare as well as the infrastructure of a society in general. This contribution is made payable by a Muslim once every year.

Zakat is paid on the net balance after a Muslim has spent on basic necessities, family expenses, due credits, donations and taxes.

Every Muslim male or female who at the end of the Hijri year is in possession of the equivalent of 85 grams of gold or more in cash or articles of trade, must pay his or her zakat at the minimum rate of 2.5 percent.

Zakat has a deep humanitarian and socialpolitical value. This religious act prevents the hoarding of wealth and advocates solidarity with humanity because excessive wealth is distributed among the poor. The paying of zakat also helps purify one’s soul and encourages a person to have gratitude towards God’s bounties.

Zakat is mentioned along with Salat (prayer) in 30 verses of the Quran. It was first revealed in Surah 73:20; “.... and establish regular prayers and give regular charity; and loan to God a beautiful loan.

And whatever good ye send forth for your souls, ye shall find it in God’s presence, Yea, better and greater in reward and seek ye the grace of God: for God is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.”

In another verse, God declares that those who pay zakat, are included within the Muslim society “But (even so), if they repent, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, they are your brethren in Faith: (thus) do We explain the Signs in detail, for those who understand.” (9:11) God says in the Quran: “They were enjoined only to worship God, sincere in their faith in Him alone - and of upright religion - and to establish the Salat and the Zakat. Such is the upright religion, (98:5) “Those who lay up treasures of gold and silver and spend them not in the way of God; give them the news of a painful punishment, on the Day when that (wealth) will be heated in hellfire, and their foreheads and their sides and their backs branded therewith: “This is the treasure which you laid up for yourselves!

Taste, then, your hoarded treasure!” (9:34-35).

“Let not those who are miserly with what God has given them of His bounty think that this is good for them. Rather, it is bad for them.

That which they withhold shall be hung around their necks on the Day of Arising. (3:180) Bukhari and Muslim relate on the authority of Ibn Abbas that the Messenger of God sent Mu’adh to the Yemen he told him, “You are going to a people who have a Scripture, so call them to testify that there is no deity but God, and that I am the Messenger of God. If they respond to this, then teach them that God has imposed five Salats upon them in every day. If they respond to this, then teach them that God has imposed upon them a charity to be taken from the wealthy amongst them and given to their poor. If they respond to this, then beware of taking any more of their wealth! Beware also of the prayer of the oppressed, for there is no veil between such a prayer and God.” Then he recited the verse: “Let not those who are miserly with what God has given them of His bounty think that this is good for them. Rather, it is bad for them. That which they withhold shall be hung around their necks on the Day of Arising.” (3:180)

Conditions for Zakat

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to notify the general public that my %LUWK &HUWLÀFDWH UHDGV ELIZABETH KOSISOCHUKWU UWAEZUOKE, my Passport reads KOSISOCHUKWU ELIZABETH UWAEZUOKE and Drivers license, $FDGHPLF FHUWLÀFDWHV WUDQVFULSW UHDG ELIZABETH KOSISO UWAEZUOKE. is the same person and now wish to be known as ELIZABETH KOSISOCHUKWU UWAEZUOKE All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Several conditions must be fulfilled before zakat can be paid. These conditions are necessary as zakat can only be applied on those who are of legal age and who own enough assets. These conditions are categorized into two broad categories, namely performer and asset.

Every Muslim who is of a certain age and owns enough assets is required to pay zakat.

Zakat Asset Full Ownership: A Muslim will only be required to pay zakat if he or she has full and legal ownership of an asset.

Zakat is payable only on those assets that are acquired for the purpose of creating or

generating wealth. Some examples of this type of assets are livestock or crops that are traded or sold, inventory of goods used for trading, and investments such as gold or securities that have potential for appreciation in value. However, zakat is not payable in the case of fixed assets such as buildings, if they are not subjected to “capital circulation”.

Assets that exceed a minimum value: Zakat need only be paid on those assets that exceed a minimum value. This minimum value is calculated based on the market price of 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of pure silver. This minimum value is termed Nisab. The Islamic Fiqh and Research Councils, as well as Jumhur (majority) of Ulama’ recommend that gold be used as the basis for the calculation of nisab.

Completion of Haul Haul is defined as the completion period for a zakat asset. The length of time for haul is one Islamic or Hijri year (1 year Hijri = 354.5 days, 1 year Solar = 365.25 days). Zakat is only payable on assets that have been held for at least this period.

Beneficiaries of Zakat The Holy Quran (9:60) classifies the due recipients of zakat under the following eight categories.

“Zakat is for the poor, and the needy and those who are employed to administer and collect it, and the new converts, and for those who are in bondage, and in debt and service of the cause of God, and for the wayfarers, a duty ordained

by God, and Godis the All-Knowing, the Wise”.

Zakat can only be distributed to any of the eight eligible beneficiaries (asnaf) that are mentioned in the Quran in Surah Taubah:60. However, priority should be given to the poor and needy. Where there is no central authority to administer zakat, it can be paid directly to the needy.

“Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of God; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by God, and Godis full of knowledge and wisdom.” (9:60) r 5IF QPPS 'BRJS 'VRBSB 5IPTF XJUIPVU BOZ means of livelihood and material possessions. r 5IF OFFEZ .JTLFFO 5IPTF XJUIPVU TVGàDJFOU means of livelihood to meet their basic necessities.

For instance, those who, although may have a job, a house and a car, but whose income is below the minimum requirement. r 5IF BENJOJTUSBUPST PG [BLBU "NJM 5IPTF appointed to manage and administer zakat.

This category is sub-divided into the following categories: r (SPVQ PG QFPQMF XIP HP PVU UP UIF TPDJFUZ and determine those who fall Fuqara and Miskeen categories. r 5IPTF XIP DPMMFDU UIF ;BLBU NPOFZ r 5IF BDDPVOUBOU PG UIF ;BLBU NPOFZ r 5IF BENJOJTUSBUPS NBOBHFS DMFSJDBM XPSLFS or secretary who puts the files in order. r 5IPTF XIP IBOEMF ;BLBU EJTUSJCVUJPOT r 5IF BVEJUPS XIP BVEJUT PWFSBMM ;BLBU management and administration. r 5IF TZNQBUIJ[FST .VBMMBG BU 2VMPPCVIVN

Those whose hearts are inclined towards or have accepted Islam. r 5P GSFF TMBWFT 3JRBC ;BLBU DBO BMTP CF used to free slaves or captives. r 5IPTF XIP BSF JO EFCU (IBSJNJO ;BLBU can be used to pay off the debts of a person who has borrowed to pay for basic necessities so that IF TIF DBO MFBE B OPSNBM MJGF ;BLBU DBO BMTP be distributed to those in financial difficulties e.g. bankruptcy due to the loss of employment and heavy debt. r 'PS UIF DBVTF PG (PE 'JTBCJMMJMMBI ;BLBU can be used to finance any form of struggle or work for the love of God. The following examples fall under this category, e.g. Da’wah; building & developing society’s infrastructure; defending Muslims, who are being oppressed; assisting poor travelers and sponsoring a student’s educational expenses. r5IPTF XIP BSF TUSBOEFE EVSJOH B KPVSOFZ (Ibnus Sabil): Zakat can also be used to help a traveler facing difficulties in continuing his journey due to reasons such as loss of money or the breakdown of his vehicles, the repair of which he cannot afford.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “If someone gives as charity so much as the equivalent of a single date from honest earnings - and God accepts only what is honest - God takes it in the Right Hand, then makes it increase for the one responsible, just as one of you raises foal, until it becomes as big as a mountain.

46

FRIDAY APRIL 30, ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Enyimba’s Opponent in Confederation Cup Q’final to Emerge Today Femi Solaja Fresh from last-gasp qualification into the knockout phase of CAF Confederation Cup, Enyimba FC will this afternoon know their opponents in the quarter final round of the competition as the

draw ceremony holds today in Cairo, Egypt.

As group leader, it is very clear the teams the Nigerian representatives will meet at later phase of the competition will all emerge today.

According to THISDAY checks,

Sports Ministry, AFN Move to Secure Olympic Relay Qualifications for Nigeria Following the refusal of the Polish Embassy in Nigeria to issue entry visas to Nigeria’s contingent to the World Relays starting on Saturdayin Silesia, Poland, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) have moved to ensure Nigeria qualifies for the five relay events at the Tokyo Olympics.

To this end, a number of athletics meetings have been secured in the United States of America while a five-nation relay meeting is also on the card to hold in Nigeria before the window for qualification closes on June 29, 2021.

It must be noted that only top 16 relay teams/ times will participate at the Tokyo Olympics. The Ministry is properly guided and Team Nigeria is not in any jeopardy.

Both the Sports Ministry and the AFN had anticipated that former president of the AFN, Mr Shehu Ibrahim Gusau would block the registration of Nigerian athletes for the event as he illegally held on to the official password of the federation and moved to organise a few meetings in the USA to ensure the teams get

the chance to still qualify for the Olympics.

The AFN led by acting president, Olamide George was only availed the opportunity to register the team following the intervention of the twoman Confederation of African Athletics team that came to Abuja last week to resolve the conflict within the AFN. ‘We did not get to officially register the team until Thursday last week and apply for entry visas at the Polish Embassy.

Upon our application, the Polish Embassy insisted it would take two weeks to process the visa applications and all entreaties for a quick consideration were ignored,’ said Niyi Beyioku, the AFN Secretary General.

‘The Sports Minister, Chief Sunday Dare had to involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure we get the team visas to Poland but the embassy stood its ground and we,after consultations with the Sports Ministry decided to switch to our second plan which was to convert a pre-arranged training tour to inlcude qualification for the five relay events.The AFN wants to assure Nigerians that our relay teams will be in Tokyo come this July,’said Beyioku.

Lagos Woo Women to Judo, Plan Tournaments Following the staging of a successful seminar for women, the Lagos State Judo Association (LSJA) is aiming to encourage females to take up the sport for self-defence in the society.

Speaking at the one-day seminar organized by LSJA in collaboration with Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO), at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, the chairman of LSJA, Sheriff Hammed said the aim of the seminar was to woo more women to the sports in their effort to popularize the sport as well as a form of self-defence amidst the security challenges bedevilling the country.

“This seminar is part of our efforts to revive judo in Lagos and we are using the seminar and judo exhibition to create awareness about violence and sexual harassment against women because of what is happening around the society. This is part of our mission to improve the sports and probably get more female athletes to participate in judo. So this is to enlighten the public and educate our girls about the art of self-defence using the sport

to tackle all those happenings in our society.”

He added: “This will not end here and it is actually a journey because from here we will go to schools across the five divisions of Lagos and educate girls about sex education, violence and abuse.

By this we will encourage them to participate in judo and get a lot of athletes for Lagos State. We will organise a lot of competitions so that athletes can be engaged and busy.”

For the Coordinator of TSG, Niyi Gbodimowo, the partnership was aimed at improving the fortune of judo in Lagos.

“With this partnership with the Lagos State Judo Association, we believe we can help to develop the sport and give back to the youths who are the future of Nigeria. One of the objectives of today was to increase the number of people that are doing judo in Lagos and measure our success.

So far, we have seen over 150 women who indicated interest in judo and we are going to get more like 500 or 1000 new people registering so that the state can produce world beaters,” Gbodimowo said.

Enyimba will meet any of the three teams that finished second in Groups B, C and D of the just concluded league phase of the competition.

The runner up clubs include: Coton Sport FC (Cameroon), CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) and Pyramids FC (Egypt).

By implication, Orlando Pirates, whom Enyimba defeated late Wednesday night to head the group will meet any of the leaders from the other groups.

As group winners, Enyimba will host the second leg of the last eight tie on 23th May having

played the first leg away a week earlier To reach this stage of the competition, Cyril Olisema scored as late as the 95th minute, as Nigeria’s Enyimba defeated South African visitors Orlando Pirates 1-0 in Aba on Wednesday night to top Group A of the 2020-21 CAF Confederation Cup. With the score goalless five minutes into injury time, Enyimba was trailing the group on seven points, and with Algeria’s ES Setif leading at home 1-0 to Libya’s Ahly Benghazi at the same time, it was Pirates and Setif who were

in the quarterfinals.

But Olisema scored a priceless goal that won Enyimba the game, and shifted his side from the group’s bottom to top, as they levelled Pirates on nine points but with a better head-to-head record on away goals’ rule. Setif tally stopped at eight to leave the tournament with broken hearts.

Enyimba and Pirates joined the quarterfinals draw, while Ahly Benghazi trailed the thrilling group on seven points.

Meanwhile in Setif, it was an early bizarre goal that gave the hosts victory. After a cross, the

ball rebounded from Benghazi’s Ali Al Qomati’s hand, and while the referee was about to whistle a penalty, his assistant waved that the ball already crossed the goal line to give the hosts a second minute early lead.

Ahli Benghazi tried to find the equalizer but in vain. And while Setif thought that was enough to qualify with the final whistle going while it was still goalless in Aba, they were to have a very late heartbreak with Enyimba snatching the qualification ticket from their hands,

Enyimba FC players rested a shock wave with a last-gasp winner against Orlando Pirates on Wednesday night in Aba

Nigeria to Host Africa Mini Football Nations Cup Olawale Ajimotokanin Abuja The Nigeria Mini-Football Association will host the second edition of the Africa Mini-Football Confederation Cup of Nations in Ibadan from July 8to 17, 2021.

The President of Africa Mini-Football Confederation, Achraf Ben Salha and World Mini- Football delegates, Mrs Ben Khalifa and AMC Tarik Zakaria are expected in the country on May 18, 2021.

They will pay courtesy visit to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare before

embarking on inspection tour of the facilities in Ibadan on May 20.

The Nigeria Mini-Football North Central coordinator, Batako Umar Lapai said Tuesday that the visiting global and continental delegates are also expected to pay a courtesy visit on the Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports before the inspection tour of the facilities in Ibadan.

Lapai said Ibadan was chosen because it has astro turf facility required by the Africa Mini-Football Confederation.

He added that six properly

equipped ambulances are also on the stand by.

About 20 countries including hosts Nigeria, have indicated interest to participate in the tournament, which is the second in the series. Libya hosted the maiden edition in 2018 that was won by Cote d’Ivoire after beating Senegal in the final, and Nigeria distantly finished in the fifth position in the tournament that attracted nine countries.

According to Lapai, each participating country is expected to come with a team of 24 members comprising 18 players and six technical officials.

“One playing turf was used in Libya in 2018 with nine teams in attendance, and I believe that the facility in Ibadan would adequately and successfully host the tournament with about 20 teams being expected”, Lapai he said.

The defending champions, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Zambia are among the expected teams. Others include Ghana, Mozambique, DR Congo, Libya, Algeria, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Mali, Djibouti, Benin Republic, Somalia, Kenya and host Nigeria.

Tyson Fury: I Will Retire If Anthony Joshua Goes Beyond Round Three Tyson Fury has claimed during an extraordinary rant that he will quit in his corner if Anthony Joshua makes it further than three rounds with him in their mouth watering all-British world heavyweight title unification showdown.

A date and location for their bout is edging ever closer, with latest reports claiming that Saudi Arabia will pay a staggering £108million to host the fight between two of Britain’s best ever boxers.

Fury was keen to keep the promotion going on his Instagram this week, once again calling out Joshua, while making a ridiculous claim in the process.

‘While I’m on a rant,’ he

began, to his 4.1m followers, ‘I may as well call out one more person. A big, useless dosser. Not a real fighting man.

A hype job. Bodybuild(er), crossfit, big, ugly s***house.

That’s Anthony Joshua.

‘AJ, if you’re out there, let’s make this fight happen, you big dosser. You big s***house bum dosser. I’m gonna smash your face in, too, and there’s not one thing you can do about it. Prove me wrong, sucker.

Prove me wrong. I’m number one, uno.

‘AJ, if you go past three rounds with me, I’ll quit in the corner, because that’s how confident I am [of] taking you cold out within the first two, three rounds. Out, out like a

light switch.’

Joshua has only been knocked out once in his career, against Andy Ruiz Jr in the seventh round of their fight in 2019.

Fury confirmed earlier this week that the first of a two-fight contract with Joshua will take place in July, with the 24th and 31st both previously touted as options.

Although Saudi Arabia is the favourite, alternative options in England, the United States and Russia have all been discussed.

Currently Fury is at a training camp in Las Vegas, and he took some time out from his schedule to also call out another big name - UFC’s Francis Ngannou.

Taking to Instagram once more, he said: ‘This is a message to Francis Ngannou and the UFC guys. Look, you want some of this Gypsy King money? You know where to come and find it. You want some of this Gypsy King power? I’ll give it (to) you.

‘Any time, any place, anywhere. Seven days a week and twice on a Sunday, you big ugly dosser.’

And it appears Ngannou got the message, as he later tweeted a short message to Fury, claiming that he would ‘come after’ him once he’d beaten former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in his next title defence.

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FRIDAY APRIL 30, ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Europa Semi: Brace from Cavani, Fernandes Give Man Utd 6-2 Rout of Roma Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani both scored twice as Manchester United came from behind to take a major step towards sealing a place in next month’s Europa League final.

Fernandes gave United a perfect start in their semi-final with Italian side Roma when he swept home Cavani’s first-time lay-off.

Paul Pogba’s handball allowed Lorenzo Pellegrini to equalise before the Roma skipper’s pass allowed former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko to score his sixth goal in five Old Trafford appearances to turn the tie on its head by half-time.

But United rallied after the break. Cavani levelled with a superb first-time effort before tapping the hosts back in front when substitute keeper Antonio Mirante pushed Aaron WanBissaka’s angled shot into his path.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were in no mood to let their advantage slip a second time, although it took a fortunate penalty for what seemed to be an innocuous Chris

Smalling tackle on Cavani to give Fernandes the chance to add a fourth from the spot.

Pogba then powered home a precise header from Fernandes’ cross before Greenwood ran on to Cavani’s pass and drove home United’s sixth.

In the other semi-final match, Nicolas Pepe’s second-half penalty gave Arsenal renewed hope of reaching the semi-final first-leg loss at Villarreal as both sides finished with 10 men.

With the Gunners trailing 2-0 and a man down following Dani Ceballos’ sending off, Pepe stepped up and fired home a precious away goal from the spot after Bukayo Saka had been tripped in the box.

It means Mikel Arteta’s side go into next Thursday’s second leg with genuine hope of reaching a second Europa League final in three seasons and with the potential of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

They appeared to be sinking without trace when Manu Trigueros fired in an early low, angled drive for the home side before Raul Albiol slammed

home at the back post following Gerard Moreno’s flick-on from a corner.

Ceballos’ red card with 30 minutes left, courtesy of a

second booking for standing on the boot of Daniel Parejo, looked to have sealed their fate.

But Bernd Leno produced two good saves to keep the

home side at bay before Pepe - playing as a false nine - had his say.

Villarreal may still have fancied their chances of scoring

again, but this was hampered when they too were reduced to 10 men, as Etienne Capoue showed a second yellow for a late tackle on Saka.

Edinson Cavani, celebrating one of his two goals for Manchester United in 6-2 rout of Roma last night at Old Trafford

Health Experts Counsel UEFA to Allow Wembley Host Champions League Final Public health experts are urging UEFA to see sense and not allow thousands of fans to travel across Europe to attend the Champions League final in Istanbul, where Covid-19 cases are sky high.

UEFA is expected to confirm that visiting supporters will be allowed to attend the final at the Ataturk Stadium in Turkey.

With Chelsea and Manchester City now well placed to progress to the showpiece on May 29, English fans would face a 4,000mile round trip to a country with one of the highest average daily infection rates in Europe.

Chelsea earned a 1-1 draw away to Spanish giants Real Madrid on Tuesday and Manchester City won 2-1 at the home of Paris Saint-Germain, last night.

Bookmakers now see an all-English final as the most likely outcome.

While Turkey is not on the government’s ‘red list’ - countries

from which travel to the United Kingdom is banned - the number of daily cases of Covid in Turkey is currently 16 times higher than in the UK, which has prompted experts to say ‘move the game to England’.

Turkish premier President Tayyip Erdogan has ordered a ‘full lockdown’ of the country starting today, which will last until May 17, in an attempt to drive the level of infection down, with schools closed and travel restricted. But there is still an exemption for international tourists as the countries try to hold on to a crucial source of revenue.

‘It’s crazy and unnecessary to have the game in Turkey,’ said Professor Keith Neal, an expert in public health at the University of Nottingham.

‘I think there is going to be serious problems. Turkey is a Covid hot zone and it is likely to remain so in May. You cannot

Leicester Boss, Rodgers, Rules out Spurs Move Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said he has no interest in leaving the Premier League club for the vacant job at Tottenham.

The former Liverpool and Celtic manager, 48, had been touted as a leading candidate to join Spurs after they sacked Jose Mourinho last week.

Leicester are third in the Premier League – on track to qualify for next season’s Champions League – while Spurs are five points off the top four after a disappointing season.

“Tottenham is a great club, one of the biggest clubs in Britain, but for me I’m just in a really, really happy place in my life,” Rodgers said, according to media reports.

“I have a huge respect here for the players, the board and I really feel that I want to continue my work here.

“I’m very, very happy here and I’m happy because I’ve got a set of players that give me their heart and soul every single day

and also I can see a future here in terms of the development of the squad.”

The Northern Irishman, who joined Leicester in 2019, said he had a strong relationship with the board at the King Power Stadium.

“I think over the last couple of years what we’ve been able to do is build an infrastructure around behaviour and creating a mindset in order to win,” he said.

“That’s not easy and it’s taken us a couple of years but you see now the mentality around developing that will and desire to win.

“And now for the next period of years let’s see if we can roll that out now that we’ve created that mentality.”

German champions Bayern Munich announced this week RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann, who had also been linked with the Tottenham job, would be joining them from next season.

see it being better in five weeks.

‘And the disease rate in Istanbul itself, like all major population centres, will be higher.

UEFA have not realised they have a problem.

‘People will be travelling in crowded planes, passing through crowded airports and spending time in bars and restaurants. It is too risky.

‘I would move the game.

Move it to England where you can manage it better. You could move it to England for the two English teams.’

On Tuesday, there were 552 new confirmed cases of covid per million people in Turkey, compared to just 35 in the UK. During the latest surge of cases, at its height in April,

there were more than 60,000 new cases a day and more than 300 deaths.

Meanwhile, the vaccination programme lags behind most other European countries with only 16% of the population receiving at least one dose of vaccine, compared to almost half of UK residents.

Despite the high rates of infection, Turkey is desperate to preserve tourism and has granted an exemption from the restrictions to all foreign visitors during the current lockdown, according to local reports.

Last year Turkey saw a 70% fall in foreign visitors.

Flights are currently operating between the UK and Turkey. All passengers aged six years and

above are required to show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure. And there is currently no requirement to self-isolate once in Turkey.

The Ataturk Stadium, which was due to host the final last year before the latter stages of the blue riband competition were moved to Spain, can accommodate 76,000 fans.

While the number of available tickets has not been confirmed, UEFA reportedly told clubs at the quarter-final stage that 9,000 fans were expected to attend the final.

However, it is not the management of fans in the stadium that is causing concern.

‘The issue is not the stadium, it is the travel and what people are doing when they are there,’ said

Professor Paul Hunter, Professor in Medicine at the University of Norwich.

‘It is bringing a lot of people together there may well be alcohol in excess.

‘I do not think it is a wise thing to do. From a public health perspective this is not a good idea at this time.

‘Globally, there are more infections than ever and there are potentially new variants around.

‘So, from a global perspective holding big international events where people will probably not adhere to the guidance because they are overseas and there will probably be a lot of alcohol around does not seem a good idea.

Lionel Messi Sets Condition for Barca Stay Lionel Messi has committed his future to Barcelona and has agreed to stay beyond this season, according to reports in Spain.

The Argentine star’s current contract at the Nou Camp is set to expire at the end of June and his future has been up in the air ever since he told the club by fax of his desire to leave last summer.

But now the uncertainty appears to have disappeared with Messi letting Barcelona know that he will remain at the club, according to Spanish broadcaster TVE. The report claims that Messi,

who has been linked with moves to Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, has also expressed to club president Joan Laporta that he needs to make the team around him stronger in return.

It has been a topsy-turvy season for Messi and Barcelona following the appointment of Ronald Koeman as manager last summer.

Koeman was thrown into the deep end with his star man agitating for a move away but the 33-year-old ended up staying because the club blocked his transfer by insisting on demanding his astronomical

release clause of £625million was met.

In December the Catalan giants were 12 points behind LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid and were mired in institutional chaos but fast forward to now and Barcelona are just two points off Atletico and have a game in hand.

Laporta, one of Messi’s allies, was also appointed club president in March and Koeman won his first trophy at the helm as Barcelona lifted the Copa del Rey earlier this month.

Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League after being comfortably swept aside

by PSG. That European exit came after their humiliation by Bayern Munich at the quarter-final stage last season.

Messi wants assurances that Barcelona will bring in reinforcements this summer but the club is cash-strapped as a result of the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

While Barcelona great Xavi has insisted that Messi ‘has not been happy on the field’ over the past few seasons as he lamented his former club’s failure to make the most of having the ‘best footballer in the world and in history’.

FIBA, NBBF Launch Mentorship Programme for Retired Professionals The Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) is to organize a three-step Mentorship program for individuals across Nigeria.

The webinar training which in conjunction with the NBBF will be held via Zoom platform and is targeted at supporting all young elite players to attain their highest level on the court and increase the education among professional basketball

players while supporting them in their transition to life after their basketball career.

According to the guidelines, interested trainees must be a retired professional player, recognised and respected by younger players, have a good command of English as well as be in good standing with the National Federation.

The mentorship program is in partnership with Talented

Athletes Scholarship Scheme (TASS) which specialises in providing lifestyle support to athletes off and on the court.

The three programmes will include Athlete Lifestyle Mentor Certificate (delivered by TASS and FIBA), FIBA Off-Court Guide (FIBA) and Individual Assignment (Players’ Mentor and supported by FIBA).

To this end, all interested individuals in Nigeria are to

register through the Nigeria Basketball Federation.

Successful members have an opportunity to work with the National Federation and FIBA Players’ workshops during FIBA events.

They can also be hired by clubs, leagues or individual youth players with an opportunity to provide lifestyle support to athletes from other sports.

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Masari to PDP “We have a problem that everybody has a role to play; we better play it. The security situation of this country is beyond partisan politics. It’s a national concern for all of us — every responsible person in this country” – Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, carpeting the PDP calling for a declaration of state of emergency on rising insecurity.

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Ode to Mahmud Tukur

T

here is no better way to pay my last respects to the memory of the late Dr Mahmud Tukur than truthfully and objectively bear witness to the precarious political situation of Nigeria, the amelioration of which was his lifelong passion. Unfortunately, he had wrongly bet on the potentiality of his friend, President Muhammadu Buhari to make the necessary positive difference to Nigeria’s fortunes.

Tukur was the most committed intellectual rapporteur, exponent and defender of the Sokoto caliphate and its historical legacy. He notably put his participant-observer commitment to practice in a remarkable duty tour (of Nigerian politics and governance) as Director, Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, ABU; Vice Chancellor, Bayero University, Kano, BUK and Minister in Buhari’s military dictatorship).

No engagement better animates him than the scholarly discussion of Nigerian politics. He personified the notion of a putative hegemonic pressure group called the ‘Kaduna Mafia’ - the name given to a loose group of young (they are now old men in their late seventies and early eighties by the way) Northern Nigerian intellectuals, civil servants, business tycoons and military officers residing or conducting business in the former Northern capital city of Kaduna during the end of the First Republic.

Not unlike many Nigerians north of the Niger, he was intellectually sold on the notion of Buhari as political role model in the mould of the historic Turkish reformer, the attaturk, Kemal Mustapha. Tukur then lived long enough to grapple with the agony of Buhari’s comprehensive demystification and disappointment; and an implicatory ruin of the political reputation of his Northern regional base. The jury is out, that, so far, Buhari has the worst presidential record perhaps surpassing that of late General Sani Abacha. After all, Abacha can be excused for inheriting the fraught situation of an escalating political turmoil, an emergent political jungle where personal regime survival was the first law of nature. To the contrary, the inauguration of Buhari’s presidency was serenaded in a cascade of national goodwill inclusive of unprecedented latitude to supplant his administration with a personality cult of power. As he waxed dangerously parochial and made nonsense of the constitutional requirement of federal character principle in political and public service appointments, the peculiar refrain was that he should be allowed to work only with the people he can trust. The revelation of the Osama Bin Laden hero worshiping Minister Pantami as a central player in Buhari’s presidency is the culmination of this political waiver and the equivalence of an imagined appointment of convicted terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab as Nigerian minister upon release from his American jail.

Tukur saw Buhari as a Nigerian leadership approximation of the Shehu Usman Dan Fodio caliphal leadership values of “justice; ease and kindness; humility/modesty; abstinence, moderation and asceticism; integrity and honesty; and service to community. Beyond the compulsion of his obvious Fulani identity politics which prompted his premature misidentification of messianic utility in Buhari was his more profitable concern with British colonialism as the bane of Nigeria’s political development. He attributed the principal cause of the breakdown of Nigerian civil politics as ‘the disharmony between the transplanted institutions and

Tukur the ethos which they represented on the one hand and the sociocultural environment in which they had to operate on the other...The educational system and the secular ideals on which the system was founded are in fact a denial of the heritage of the great majority of Nigerians” Not exactly for the same argument, I share his belief that Nigeria’s sociopolitical dysfunction is rooted in British colonialism.

As Nigeria spins out of control, I have pondered on what magnitude of insolvency is required for our notorious colonial master to declare Nigeria bankrupt and weigh in with its neo colonial hegemony to embark on damage control; to pay down the debt owed the communities and societies herded together to fulfill the fancy and failure of establishing a nation of its imagination.

And in so doing, act in accordance with the contemporary dictates of what should now constitute the enlightened self-interest of the British patriarchy in Nigeria. At independence, this enlightened self-interest was extrapolated as the subordination of any modern state potentials of Nigeria to the power politics imperative of adopting, as protégé and standard bearer, the most British colonial compliant faction of the Nigerian political ruling elite. One of the numerous attestations to this effect and the mentor-protege relationship was the insight of veteran British journalist, Walter Gould: “It could be argued that if Cumming-Bruce (British high commissioner) had not interfered in the civil war, Nigeria would have fragmented into several states, possibly as a confederation, in the style proposed by Ojukwu, and most importantly war would have been avoided.

However, Cumming-Bruce was only extending British policy that had been formulated in the run-up towards independence: that Britain’s investments will be best protected if the country was left to run in a ‘safe pair of hands,’ those of the Northern rulers…”

This is the realpolitik of British neo colonial policy on Nigeria- which makes sense and serves British purpose to the extent there is a Nigeria, stable and secure enough for British economic exploitation. The moment this utility evaporates, it then becomes untenable to argue that the vested interests of the British patriarchy is served by the perpetuation of Nigeria’s political status quo, by omission or commission.

It has been difficult for me to live down the deserved insult on Nigerians by former British prime minister David Cameron to the effect that “Nigerians are fantastically corrupt”. The reason it has been so (for me) is that if Nigeria has failed, the responsibility for the failure is more that of British than of Nigerians. Nigeria is a British creation and experiment that has gone awry and fulfilled the fate to which it was doomed. “With Lord Lugard’s arbitrary conception of Nigeria in mind, one can begin to see the many and varied problems colonialism created in Nigeria, across West Africa, and around the world”. Walter Gould further revealed that “Cumming-Bruce was able to persuade the Emirs that secession would have been an economic disaster…As Cumming-Bruce stated: ‘But it wasn’t on the face of it easy to get them to change, but I managed to do it overnight. On a second meeting with Cumming-Bruce he greeted me with the comment: ‘I sometimes wonder whether I did the right thing in keeping Nigeria together”.

Similarly bitten with buyers remorse, the neo Lugardian establishment pundit, Anthony Kirk Green, soberly reflected, “The tragedy of 1967 is that many of its seeds were not, as is often claimed, sown in October or even July 1966, but in the 1950s or, as some see it, in 1914 or maybe in 1900 itself.” And in his memorandum that crystallised from the 1957 London constitutional conference on Nigeria, the Secretary of state for the Colonies, Allan Lennox Boyd, regretted that “the North fears and dislikes the more educated Southerners and if they were not economically bound to the federation would be glad to be quit of it.”

“Since 1914, according to Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country, but the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their backgrounds, in their religious beliefs and customs and do not show themselves any sign of willingness to unite… Nigerian unity is only a British intention

The Nigerian inheritors of British colonialism were entrusted with the tall order of making the best of a bad situation and this they did for a few intermittent years until the emergence of the perverse primitive breeds who came to make the worst of a bad situation

for the country.”- Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

Somewhat echoing Tafawa Balewa in lucidity I would never have thought of Isaac Adaka Boro, he reasoned that “The attitude of the British to the Nigerian problem suggested that their handing over to Nigeria a political set up of total democratic imbalance and contradictions was satanic and a calculated trap to overwhelm the country with disastrous political upheavals.

Surely, their reasons would be that they were reluctant to leave the country and were only forced out by political pressures of certain ambitious citizens of the country…What all lovers of peace and equity would tell them was that they made a mess of Nigeria and owe a profound apology to the democratic world at large.”

Regardless the validity of this train of opinion, the remorse I regularly feel is how to make the point that Nigeria is an ill-conceived nation without hurting the sentiments and emotions of friends and confidantes across the cleavages of region and religion. As a theoretical proposition, Nigeria is a non-starter, a creation in whose womb resides the virus of its destruction.

The fact that the ill fate of Nigeria was near inevitable does not however extenuate the culpability of the willful and cruel midwives of its failure. As the scriptures warned “the Son of Man will go as it has been decreed but woe to that man who betrays him!” The Nigerian inheritors of British colonialism were entrusted with the tall order of making the best of a bad situation and this they did for a few intermittent years until the emergence of the perverse primitive breeds who came to make the worst of a bad situation.

BUA Vs Dangote If there is any positive news buzz that caught my attention lately, it was that of the business row between the two giant industrialists, Samad Rabiu and Aliko Dangote. It is a signal that it is less likely than not that they are jointly exploiting the relative lack of competition to collude and foist a sellers market price regime of cement and sugar commodities in the Nigerian market.

Moreover, “If anything, this battle or clash of the titans can only be a good thing for the country, and indeed the continent. America was built by bold industrialists, each vying for dominance. The Korean Chaebols (large, conglomerate family-controlled firms) which are now global giants, grew huge thanks to fierce competition amongst themselves that pushed them to innovate, be lean and become globally competitive.”

Significantly, together, the two wildly successful entrepreneurs constitute the utility of a Nigerian role model especially for their home region of the North. Weaning Nigeria away from a general obsession with public office to the productivity driven industrial sector is a magic wand against Nigeria’s killer pandemic of corruption.

They offer me a clarification of my position on the political reforms that are germane to the productivity driven development of Nigeria. That no one is suggesting that Fulani or northern Muslim identity is synonymous with backwardness and lacking in achievement motivation.

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