THURSDAY 6TH MAY 2021

Elumelu Calls for Urgent Power Sector Reforms to Boost Economy Commends CBN on FX management Nume Ekeghe, Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc Group Chairman and Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Mr. Tony

Elumelu, has called for urgent reforms in the power sector to boost economic activities.

Elumelu, who is also the Chairman of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, also urged the federal government

to invest more in electricity supply in order to create an avenue for innovation and economic development.

He spoke yesterday during an interview on ‘The Morning Show,’ a programme of

ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcasting arm of THISDAY Newspapers and lauded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its foreign exchange management strategy as well as efforts to unify exchange

rates.

He stressed the need for the federal government to focus on diversifying the economy in a bid to increase the country’s forex inflow and reduce the dependence on oil revenue.

Also, responding to question on insider loan in companies he served as chairman, Elumelu stated that strict corporate governance are Continued on page 8

Brent Crude Nears $70 as Lockdowns Ease in Europe, US... Page 6 Thursday 6 May, 2021 Vol 26. No 9524. Price: N250

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Buhari Excited as 29 Abducted Kaduna Forestry Students Regain Freedom Urges release of kidnapped Greenfield university scholars Deji Elumoye in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed excitement at the news of the release of

the remaining 29 students of the Federal College of Forestry, Afaka, Kaduna abducted from their school 55 days ago.

Chairman of the Forum of Parents of the 39 Abducted

Students, Mr. Abdullahi Usman, confirmed the release of the students to THISDAY. “Yes, they have been released. They did not sleep in the (bandits) camp

yesterday. They were taken to the residence of one of the mediators to sleep. We have already sent our people with vehicles and ambulances to go and bring them. We are

expecting them any moment from now,” Usman said.

The bandits had invaded the school on March 11 and abducted 39 of the students.

They later freed 10 of them

in two batches of five after the parents had reportedly paid N17 million ransoms.

Usman described the release Continued on page 8

Governors Shift Ground on Financial Autonomy for State Legislatures, Judiciaries Propose percentage payment of statutory allocation to legislative arm Chuks Okocha and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Governors have shifted ground in their quest for an earnest resolution of the industrial crisis caused by the clamour by judicial and legislative workers for the implementation of financial autonomy for the two arms of government.

THISDAY gathered yesterday that the governors had proposed to pay lawmakers a certain percentage of their statutory monthly entitlements towards funding the legislature.

A source said the governors' offer followed the refusal of speakers of Houses of Assembly of the 36 states of the federation to accept the N100 million monthly offer made by the governors for each state legislature.

In rejecting the irreducible minimum payment of N100

million monthly to each of the legislatures in the states to fund their operations, the speakers had insisted on N250 million monthly.

It was also gathered that the governors had also rejected the demand of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) that the gross allocations should be remitted to the two arms of government directly.

The governors’ hard-line position was said to be responsible for the delay in the resolution of the strike embarked upon by judicial and parliamentary workers in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to press for the implementation of financial autonomy for state judiciaries and legislatures.

However, the governors agreed that the National Continued on page 8

HOSPITALITY GURUS...

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chairman, McFolly Hospitality Ltd (Owners of Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja), Dr Taiwo Afolabi; and MD/CEO, Lagos Marriott Hotel, Mr. Chike Ogeah, during the governor’s visit to the hotel in Lagos…yesterday

Agitations for Nigeria’s Disintegration, Insensitive, Says Obasanjo... Page 5

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

PDP Govs Move to Stop Ayade’s Planned Defection Party to commence nationwide consultations over insecurity

Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party’s Governors' Forum yesterday moved to Calabar, the Cross River State capital, to stop the planned defection of Governor Ben Ayade and 19 elected local government chairmen and 193 councillors in the state, THISDAY has learnt.

The governors were led by their Chairman and Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

The 19 local government chairmen and 193 councillors had in April stormed the national secretariat of the PDP threatening to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the crisis in the conduct of congress in the state.

The crisis in the state led to the emergence of two factions of the party, with one led by Ayade and Mr. Steve Odeh on one hand, and the other led by Hon. Agom Jarigbe on the other hand.

According to Tambuwal’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Mohammed Bello, the meeting between the PDP governors and Ayade and other stakeholders was to discuss issues bordering on the party's unity in Cross River State.

Tambuwal led his colleagues from Delta and Enugu States, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, respectively to visit Ayade.

Tambuwal, after the meeting that lasted for about two hours, told journalists the meeting was a fruitful, peaceful and productive

engagement with the stakeholders of Cross River.

He said: "We are here on the mandate of the PDP-GF which was sanctioned by the National Working Committee (NWC) to come and engage with our dear brother and colleague, Prof. Ben Ayade, the Governor of Cross River State, and the stakeholders of our party here in Cross River on the issues of the congresses held here in the state that became contentious.

"We have engaged with (them) and the feelers we have is that by the grace of God we'll soon resolve these issues and the party will bounce back as one.

"There were lots of concerns about how the congresses went about and every one of us is interested that we restore normalcy to ensure that the family is brought back together and work together for the common interest of Cross River State."

He stated that his team would take the report of the meeting to the governors' forum and the NWC for consideration.

As part of the visit, Ayade led his three colleagues to visit the state industrial park, comprising a frozen chicken line (aka Calachika), Cross River State Instant Noodles, branded KISIMIE Instant Noodles, complex and a rice mill nursery.

The governors expressed delight with the performance of their host who despite the economic crisis has done well, particularly in job creation and diversification of the state's economy.

Party to Commence Nationwide Consultations over Insecurity Meanwhile, the main opposition party has unveiled plans to begin consultations with critical stakeholders across the six geo-political zones in furtherance of its efforts to rescue the nation from insecurity and misrule.

The party said it was also working on templates that would enable it to, within the ambits of laws, further harness suggestions from

Nigerians on democratic means to tackle the festering insecurity, guarantee the safety of lives and property as well as restore national stability and cohesiveness.

PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, stated this yesterday in Abuja while receiving a former Minister of Information and National Orientation and founding National Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Jerry Gana, who recently returned to the party.

Secondus stated that the main objective of the PDP was to rescue the nation from misrule, adding that

it is imperative to tap from the wealth of experience of leaders like Gana.

“The main objective of the PDP is to rescue our nation from collapse. Our country is threatened and this is not a joke. We are confronted with guerrilla warfare and the very foundation of our country is being threatened. That is why the PDP is leading the charge in seeking a solution to the ugly situation our nation has been plunged into by the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.

He urged Gana to deploy his wealth of experience and

intellect in the collective quest of Nigerians to chart a path for the nation.

Earlier, Gana had rallied Nigerians to rescue the nation.

He said: “Nigeria is on the brinks. The economy is stagnated. There is insecurity everywhere. Nigerians are beginning to doubt our nationhood. The political answer to the situation today is for PDP to take back power. Nigerians do not deserve what we are going through today. We must take decisive steps that will help rescue our nation.”

ROYAL VISIT...

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (left), and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, during the monarch's courtesy visit to the governor in Ado-Ekiti...recently

Agitations for Nigeria’s Disintegration, Insensitive, Says Obasanjo Korean Ambassador cautions against country’s breakup Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday described calls for the disintegration of Nigeria as unmindful and insensitive to the plight of the minority groups in the country.

This is coming as the Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Mr. Kim Young Chae, has condemned the call by secessionists for the breakup of the country into several parts.

Speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, when he received the Tiv Professional Group (TPG) from Benue State, who paid him a courtesy visit, Obasanjo recalled a discussion between him and “a military friend.”

According to the former president, his friend had described the major tribes in the country as selfish and not sufficiently caring for the minority groups.

Obasanjo said he aligned with his friend’s opinion and expressed worry over what would become of the minority groups if the major tribes decided to secede and operate as separate countries.

“If the Yoruba can stand as a country; if the Igbos and the Hausa/Fulani can stand as separate countries, where do we want the minority groups to be?

“Now, by virtue of the present situation, they are a little bit protected but if Nigeria breaks up, they will be oppressed and exterminated,” he added.

Obasanjo noted that when he had meetings with a number of socio-cultural organisations in September 2020, nobody at such meetings talked about disintegration or breakup, stressing that “all they clamoured for was a change for good.”

He urged the Nigerian leaders to be mindful of

the ethnic diversity of the Nigerian nation, adding that the country would not make any meaningful progress without such consideration.

Obasanjo, who expressed hope that the rough times that Nigeria was going through would not last forever, urged Nigerians to be patient while the country gathered her goodwill and moved in the right direction.

The leader of the group, Prof.

Zacharys Gundv, in a paper he presented to Obasanjo, highlighted the challenges of the nation, including insecurity, poverty religious intolerance, kidnappings and banditry, among others.

He explained the Tivs were worried about the skewed narrative of insecurity in Nigeria In a related development, the Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Mr. Kim Young Chae has condemned the call by secessionists for

the breakup of the country into several parts.

The diplomat offered his reservation yesterday at a roundtable discussion with some journalists to mark his 100 days in office as the Korean Ambassador in Nigeria.

Kim described the idea of balkanisation of Nigeria as very dangerous, which could result in bloodshed and displacement of many communities by virtue of conflict that could result from such.

He urged Nigerians to continue to live in harmony, having intermarried and carried out a lot of activities together for over 100 years.

“The call for the breakup of Nigeria is not a good idea. We had the Korean War in 1950 and more than one million people were killed. We also had the Biafran War in Nigeria and more than one million lives were lost. To divide a country means cutting your

body. Let us imagine we have a whole body and I want to make my own body into two, then we have to cut some portions. And in the process I have to bleed a lot, not to wonder the pains and loss of blood,” he said.

He cautioned that if Nigeria eventually splits into several parts, the smaller offshoots will become insignificant and irrelevant in the global stage, without any voice of note.

“Nigeria right now is internationally well-acclaimed.

The Korean candidate was defeated by a Nigerian candidate, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala for the post of DirectorGeneral of World Trade Organisation, which indicates that Nigeria is very strong at the diplomatic level. We also see many accomplished Nigerian nationals, notably Amina Mohammed at the UN and Akinwunmi Adesina at the African Development Bank making their presence felt on

the global stage. Why you have so many high-ranking Nigerian policymakers at the global level is because Nigeria is a very relevant nation, otherwise, Okonjo-Iweala would not have been elected. In the event Nigeria is splintered into many countries, those countries won’t be of relevance internationally”.

He also warned of the cost implication of running the offshoot nations, like building new army and institutions like the presidency, new embassies and the civil service.

Kim also bemoaned decrease in bilateral trade volume between Nigeria and Korea.

He said last year trade between both countries was $1.2 billion, which was a sharp decline from the $2.6 billion transactions in 2017.

He attributed the slide to the fall in the global price of oil and gas, noting the fall negatively affected the two nations’ bilateral trade volume.

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Brent Crude Nears $70 as Lockdowns Ease in Europe, US Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Oil price continued its strong rally yesterday as lockdowns in the United States and some countries in Europe heralded a boost in fuel demand in preparation for the summer season and suppressing the impact of rising cases of COVID-19 infections in India, Japan and Brazil.

It was a good day for the commodity as both contracts hit the highest level since mid-March in intra-day trade and a return to $70 fast becoming reality, supported by a large fall in U.S. inventories.

India has routinely been the top buyer of Nigerian grades. Last year, 17 per cent of Nigerian crude exports went to India, equivalent to 300 barrels per day on an annual average basis.

India’s national demand for transportation fuels dropped by at least 20 per cent in April as regional governments introduced lockdowns once again, including the capital, New Delhi.

However, Spain which has maintained its role as an important buyer of Nigerian crudes, equivalent to about 0.23mbpd, trailing only India has remained sturdily on course, giving hope that Nigerian cargoes may not suffer at sea.

Brent crude, Nigeria’s oil benchmark, rose yesterday by over 80 cents, or 1.2 per cent, to $69.75 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up 67 cents, or over 1 per cent to hit $66.53 a barrel.

Crude oil stockpiles fell by 7.7 million barrels in the week ended April 30, in the United States, more than triple the drawdown expected while petrol stockpiles fell by 5.3

million barrels.

The rise in oil prices to nearly two-month highs has been supported by COVID-19 vaccine rollouts in Europe and the United States where more than 40 per cent of U.S. adults have been vaccinated.

With the partial lifting of mobility restrictions, the expectation that tourism will return soon and the lure of the psychologically important $70 mark are all likely to have contributed to the price rise.

Goldman Sachs, the investment bank, had earlier in the week stated that it expected global oil demand to realise the biggest jump ever over the next six months, buoyed by higher demand for travel and acceleration of vaccinations in Europe.

It predicted that the commodity could hit $80 per barrel by the summer on the back of the magnitude of the coming change in the volume of demand, a change it noted supply cannot match.

By this time in May last year, crude oil was selling for about $30, after spiralling to the negative territory around March while Brent sold for as low as $10.

The federal government had set an oil production target of 1.86 million barrels per day and an oil price benchmark of $40 per barrel in the 2021 national budget.

While Nigeria has not been able to hit the 1.86 million barrels per day target due to the compulsory cuts by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), however, the rising price of the product, which is now close to $30 above the oil benchmark, could compensate for under-production and even leave more cash for government spending.

Again, Okonjo-Iweala Seeks Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, has again, called for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Okonjo-Iweala made the appeal yesterday at a WTO General Council meeting, where the issue of equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine and other medicines were addressed.

He urged WTO members to urgently respond to the need of providing solutions to improve equitable access to vaccines around the world, describing the need as the “moral and economic issue of our time”.

She pointed out that, “the way the WTO handles this matter is critical.”

According to her, WTO will develop a sense of urgency towards the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines.

“We need to have a sense of urgency on how we approach this issue of response to COVID-19 because the world is watching.

“Vaccine policy is economic policy because the global economic recovery cannot be sustained unless we find a way to get equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics,” she added.

Okonjo-Iweala used the opportunity to extend her sympathy to countries that were experiencing an upsurge in the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the meeting, a status report indicating the common goal of WTO members to provide access to affordable vaccines and medicines for all was submitted and approved.

The status report gave factual and neutral information which highlights the discussions and the need for further discussions on vaccine distribution.

On the other hand, the return of petrol subsidy, which is being paid by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), now amounting to N77 per litre means that the additional petrodollars from the rising price does not exist in reality.

In March, the Group Managing Director of NNPC,

Mallam Mele Kyari, said the corporation could no longer bear the over N120 billion monthly subsidy on the product.

He stated that the actual cost of importation and handling charges at the time amounted to N234 per litre, while the government was selling at N162 per litre.

“Our current consumption from our depots is about 60 million litres per day. We are selling at N162 a litre. The current market price is N234, which is the actual market price today. The difference between the two, multiplied by 60 million, times 30, will give you what we pay per month.

“This is a simple calculation you can do. If you want the exact figures from our book, I do not have them at this moment but it’s between N100 billion and N120 billion per month. We are putting the difference in the books of NNPC and we cannot continue to bear it,’’ he had said.

MISSION FOR PEACE...

L-R: Governors Ben Ayade (Cross River), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), during a visit by a delegation of Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum to Calabar…yesterday

APC Senators Fault Minority Caucus’ Threat to Sack Buhari

Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja

Members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Senate have frowned at the statement by the minority National Assembly caucus threatening to remove President Muhammadu Buhari from office for his failure to curb the worsening insecurity in the country.

The minority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the National Assembly had on Tuesday made the threat while addressing journalists on the state of the nation after the meeting of the caucus.

But addressing journalists after over an hour closed-door meeting, the APC Senate caucus rejected the minority caucus plan, saying the utterances of the opposition lawmakers were capable of over-heating an already charged polity.

Chairman of the caucus and Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi said while the APC Senators understood the role of the opposition in any democracy, the current situation of things in the country required men of good conscience and patriotism to act as leaders and statesmen, rather than play politics with

the lives of the citizens.

He said, ''In any democracy, the rights to present criticisms and concerns on the state of the nation’s affairs are unassailable.

However, while we respect such rights; which come with obligation and responsibility, we are concerned that the statement issued by the Minority Caucus is capable of overheating an already charged polity in which men of good conscience and patriotism are expected to act as leaders and Statesmen. ''While we acknowledge the natural disposition of playing politics, we are worried and disturbed that our colleagues are playing with lives. The unfortunate state of insecurity; for which the Senate has continuously debated and issued resolutions to support the actions of the executive under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari in the overriding interest of the public is too delicate to play with. ''We reject and dissociate ourselves from all and any inflammatory statements that appear to threaten the authority of Mr. President and our party. We accordingly, wish to remind them that blame game and threats of “constitutional measures” are

unwelcome and will not help in any form to address the challenges the nation currently faces.''

The ranking Senator also decried the assertions in some quarters that the President had not been seen to be efficiently manning the affairs of the country.

While describing the assertions as false and cheap politics, Abdullahi said President Buhari and the Service Chiefs were busy every day and every night in deliberations with a view to addressing the security challenges across the entire country.

He recalled that the president also had always made statements to Nigerians on all major security incidences and assuring Nigerians and indeed the international community that he would continue to do his best in making sure that the security challenges are tackled head-on.

The Senate leader assured Nigerians that the President is in charge of government and is discharging his duties conscientiously and patriotically.

He called on the minority federal lawmakers and all Nigerians to join hands with the government to proffer solutions to the hydra-headed

security challenges. ''It is a well-known fact that the federal government under the PDP refused to invest in the security infrastructure of the country while Mr. President under the APC-led Government had massively invested in this regard more than any past governments and we are confident that the nation will surmount its current security challenges. ''Furthermore, it must be noted that the global economy is in turmoil triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and Nigeria’s is not an exception. The federal government is aware of the challenges and is working to massively get the economy working for Nigerians through agricultural intervention projects, infrastructure development projects and social interventions to reduce the pains of the economic downturn on ordinary Nigerians. Finally, the APC Caucus strongly and unreservedly supports the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as we continue to work in addressing the economic, health, social, security and other challenges that beset our nation. We sincerely seek the continuous support and understanding of all Nigerians in this regard.”

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PAGE EIGHT BUHARI EXCITED AS 29 ABDUCTED KADUNA FORESTRY STUDENTS REGAIN FREEDOM of the students as “a big relief to parents,” who have been emotionally traumatised since the incident.

The parents had on Tuesday protested at the National Assembly in Abuja.

However, attempts to confirm the release of the students from the police were unsuccessful as Mr. Mohammad Jalige, spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command was unreachable on the telephone.

However, it was learnt that the release of the students was nearly frustrated following a claim by one of the parents during their protest in Abuja on Tuesday that they paid N800, 000 to one of the mediators.

A source among the parents

told THISDAY that the claim by the woman that they paid N800, 000 to an associate of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi nearly stalled the negotiation process.

He said the allegation angered Gumi and others helping to ensure the release of the students and they were not taking their calls.

According to him, the woman was not part of the meeting with Gumi and wondered how she got such unfounded information.

The woman had said that the parents were taken to Gumi, who directed them to a Fulani man named Ahmed.

She said the parents paid N800, 000 to the man but the man said the money was for transportation and insisted that they should pay

an additional N500 million.

However, the source who said he was part of the negotiations, stated that the woman made her comments out of ignorance.

“That woman made that unfortunate comment out of ignorance. It is just side talks.

She was not at the meeting with Gumi; so, she didn’t know what happened at the meeting. She just heard what some people are talking about at the corner,” he said.

The parents of the 39 students later issued a statement dismissing the claims that they gave out N800, 000 to the Fulani man, who was recommended by Gumi.

In the statement issued in Kaduna, the parents said: “The

claim has no basis.”

The statement jointly signed Mr. Abdullahi Usman and Ms. Catherine Saleh, Chairman and Secretary respectively of the parents' union, also apologised to Gumi, “for any personal injury the statement might have caused him.”

However, the statement said though the woman in the said video has a child in captivity, “her claim is untrue,”, as she was not a member of the (negotiation) committee representing the parents and did not speak on behalf of the parents.”

Buhari Excited Meanwhile, Buhari expressed happiness with the release of the students yesterday.

He also pleaded with the kidnappers to effect the release of the abducted students of Greenfield University also in Kaduna and other Nigerians being held in captivity.

The president, in a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, congratulated the released students’ friends, families and the government and people of Kaduna State following the happy end to the saga.

He said: "We are happy they have been released,” while also expressing deep appreciation to all the actors who contributed one way or the other to the happy outcome, "in particular the defence and security agencies, the officials of the Ministry

of Environment and the government of Kaduna State.

We thank Nigerians for their prayers.”

He called for steadfastness and security awareness on the part of citizens and the law enforcement agencies and deplored the increasing politicization of security in the country by opportunistic politicians.

He appealed for the release of the students of Greenfield University and all other citizens held in captivity, expressing the strong determination of his administration to ensure that Nigerians lived in a country where everyone can move where they want, when they want without the fear of kidnapping and banditry.

strategy, Elumelu said he supported efforts being made by the regulator to achieve convergence of rates.

He said: “Two years ago, our vice president conveyed a meeting of a few of us to express our opinion and talk on the economy. The position then was quite critical at the time. But today, when things have improved, you should be also critical to say that things are moving in the right direction. On the convergence, I support it 100 per cent and I think we are there.

“When you are in the saddle or seat you would see things more differently. For Nigeria, we generate foreign currency largely from oil. We used to produce around 2.5 million barrels before and today, we are doing 1.4 million barrels per day and that should have an impact on our foreign currency which is no rocket science.

“Also, there was a time oil was $100 per barrel and it dropped to almost $40 per barrel and today it is at $69 per barrel. So, there is a basket of so many things we have to watch as economic managers in making decisions and there is a lot of pressure on our foreign currency.

“What people want to see from outside is a low exchange rate, but from the business world, people want to predict that this would be available and I think to a large extent, it is happening Elumelu, who also spoke about the ease of doing business in Nigeria, said government must improve on its policy to attract more investors.

“The truth of the matter is that investors, who are looking for where to invest

their money, will go to countries where the policy on the ease of doing business is investor-friendly. The private sector must also work with government to ensure that the ease of doing business in Nigeria improves,” Elumelu said.

Speaking on the impact of Tony Elumelu Foundation, Elumelu said it was established seven years ago to empower young Nigerians and Africans, stressing that the future of Africa remains in the hands of the youth who have key roles to play in developing Nigeria and the continent.

He said: “I strongly feel it will be a waste of resources to save so much money in banks without using such money to empower people, especially when there is poverty among the masses.

It is for this reason that we established Tony Elumelu Foundation to empower young people and make successful businesses out of them.

"Every year, the foundation supports young people with a seed capital of $5,000 each, which is non-refundable and the foundation supports 1,000 people every year. We train them for 12 weeks and appoint business mentors for them and we create a networking platform for them to interact and grow their business ideas.”

According to him, the foundation gets support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union, stressing that the EU recently released $25

ELUMELU CALLS FOR URGENT POWER SECTOR REFORMS TO BOOST ECONOMY upheld in all the organisations.

Commenting on the need for reforms in the power sector, he listed the three components of power supply as generation, transmission and distribution.

He said Nigerians would do better in business and creativity if they had steady electricity supply.

He decried the situation where inadequate electricity supply was crippling innovation and the economy.

He said: “Transcorp through Transcorp Power and Afam Power today in Nigeria own the highest generating capacity in Nigeria that can generate 2,000 MW of electricity per day.

But unfortunately, we do less than 500MW at this point in time and the major constraint in this area is gas; then there is the issue of transmission and there is the issue of payment.

“For this to work well and for us to generate more, we need to have gas and our group has invested in oil and gas. And so, for us as a group, it is not necessarily for oil, it is because of gas because we want to be able to ensure that we have gas from our oil and gas production to convert to electricity.

“The acquisition we did recently, I’m happy to say, it is already supplying gas to our power plant. But going back to the subsidiary element, the issue of transmission, we need to make sure we stabilise our transmission for take-up.”

He said Transcorp invested in the power sector to help Nigerians have access to electricity because businesses across all sectors of the economy like health, e-commerce, manufacturing, SMEs, among others, need power.

“They cannot grow their

businesses without adequate electricity. Nigerian and African youths are multi-talented, but they need a steady electricity supply to be creative and innovative,” he said.

Elumelu said if the government improves access to electricity in Nigeria, the Nigerian youths will create the Nigerian version of Silicon Valley and the likes of Steve Job and Bill Gates, explaining that what is holding Nigerian youths to a large extent is the lack of adequate electricity.

“Nigeria needs at least 100,000 MW of electricity a day to power the economy but today we operate less than 5,000 MW and we need to do more,” he said, adding: "Government, therefore, needs to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.”

He commended the CBN and its Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for the support given in the area of metering.

He said to drive the economy, power generation has to be increased by fixing the gas supply to generating companies, adding that there was the need to make sure that the transmission lines are utilised to evacuate the power as well as ensure that power generated is taken by Discos and the end-users and they pay.

The business mogul said: “Power is still a critical sector; we need to invest and the stakeholders need to make sure that it works. And when it works, the country’s economic development becomes more real.

“Every sector of our economy needs the power sector and I think we need to prioritise it more. But I commend efforts going on

and also by making sure we privatise the remaining ones.

The transmission lines need to be fixed and we need to make sure we improve the payment system.”

He advocated the privatisation of the entire value-chain of the power sector.

Elumelu stated: “The area of privatising the transmission lines, I think that ultimately, it should be privatised. What some of us have advocated is that the Gencos, the Discos and the entire power stakeholders should come together and have a deal with the federal government to take over the transmission lines and it would be in our self-interest to make sure it works.

“We have the transmission lines and it doesn’t work when you are generating, there is no way you would evacuate your power. That sector is so critical and pivotal for the survival of the power sector. It is critical to improving access to electricity, and where it is now there is no problem but what is important to us is that we have expanded capacity.”

When asked about the recent development at First Bank Nigeria Limited, Elumelu declined to make a comment.

But he said the decisions arrived at in resolving the board crisis in the bank were appropriate and beneficial to all major stakeholders.

He said: “You need to understand the unique situation of this question. I am chairman of a competing institution and it may not be prudent for me to express a judgment or comment on this because it may not be very professional of me.

“But I know the shareholders of the bank, and I also know the regulatory mindset, and the

regulators want a safe banking environment and I believe the shareholders also seek that in due course, I believe they would be able to resolve the issues. I must say the banking sector has done very well, both the regulatory part and the participants.”

Responding to questions on if UBA is exposed to insider trading and lending with his other businesses, he stated that his oil and gas interests were financed by a consortium of local and international banks, excluding UBA. In addition, his other ventures have exposure below the threshold and the loans are serviced.

He said: “The oil and gas acquisition we just made, UBA did not participate in the funding. It is a club of international and local lenders.

The local receiving bank for our proceeds is Union Bank of Nigeria and the international receiving bank of our oil sales is Standard Chartered Bank, London.

“The transaction was funded by consortium of banks Standard Chartered, ABSA IN South Africa, Afrexim, Union Bank, Fidelity Bank in Nigeria and a host of other international banks. So, we are mindful of all this and we are very prudent in making sure we do not put pressure on the bank.

“We also put in equity investment and when we need to get investment, we try not to put pressure on the institution. What is important is that it is within the limit UBA should be exposed to a company and it is by the way performing very well.

Our loans are performing very well.”

On CBN forex management

Continued on page 10

GOVERNORS SHIFT GROUND ON FINANCIAL AUTONOMY FOR STATE LEGISLATURES, JUDICIARIES Judicial Council (NJC) will handle funds for states’ judicial councils to take care of the high courts while the state governments will be responsible for funding the magistrates and customary courts.

In a bid to resolve the issues and end the ongoing industrial dispute, the federal government has invited the leadership of JUSUN and PASAN to a negotiation today.

A statement by the Deputy Director Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Charles Akpan, said the Minister, Senator Chris Ngige, would host the negotiations with the workers.

An earlier plan to hold talks with the striking workers was stalled by a lack of harmony in the positions of the team representing the federal government and that of governors.

The Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr. Dayo Apata, who had represented the federal government, and the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr. Asishana Okauru, had presented different position papers, which stalled negotiations.

But a source told THISDAY yesterday that the two parties had reached a consensus, while all the grey areas have been resolved.

He confirmed that Ngige would schedule a meeting

with the leadership of JUSUN and PASAN to sort out any other outstanding issues.

He said: “Right now; there’s a consensus. There’s some agreement, grey areas have been cleared and I think the minister is committed to putting a meeting together with the workers and in the next couple of days. I think all the grey areas will be sorted out.

“Some of the grey areas for the judiciary, for instance, is that it is clear to all the parties now that the National Judicial Council (NJC) will be handling that because that’s the position of the constitution. They have been doing that for recurrent at the state level, but have not

been doing it for capital spending.

“That will continue, especially for courts of record. The governors will be in charge of customary courts and magistrates courts.

“For the legislature, the major issue was whether the deduction should be based on gross or net. What they have agreed is that it is going to be an agreed percentage of appropriated amount.”

Following the different positions adopted by the federal government and the governors, Ngige had urged the governors to rework the agreement for negotiations to resume.

The governors had accepted in principle the funding of both the state

legislatures and judiciaries from their allocations from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), to be deducted from the States Accounts Allocation Committee (SAAC).

As part of its implementation, the state governments were expected from May 1, to set up the States Accounts Allocations Committee (SAAC) with members from the states Assembly committee chairmen on Finance and the States Commissioners of Finance to discuss on monthly basis the disbursement of funds.

However, the governors and speakers could not reach a consensus on how much to be given to each state legislature monthly.

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NEWS

Labour Rejects FG’s Plans to Review Payrolls Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Organised labour under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday condemned the moves by the federal government to review payrolls as part of measures to reduce the cost of governance.

It expressed concerns that the planned review, listed on Tuesday by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, as part of a directive by President Muhammed Buhari to cut costs in view of dwindling revenue may lead to slashing workers' salaries.

The NLC President, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, said in a statement yesterday that

it would be absurd for the federal government to be thinking of a salary slash.

He said instead of contemplating a reduction in salaries, the government, as a social partner should respond to the demands by labour for an upward review of salaries.

He stated: "It was with huge shock that we read the statement credited to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who said that the federal government was working to reduce the high cost of governance by cutting down on the salaries of Nigerian workers."

NLC described the call for salary slash as a ‘mass suicide’ wish for Nigerian workers.

It demanded an immediate

retraction and apology from the minister.

The NLC called on Buhari to “call the Minister of Finance to order now before she sets Nigeria on fire with her careless statements."

It added that if any salary should be slashed, it was the humungous remuneration and allowances pocketed by political office holders.

NLC said it would be most unthinkable that the government would be contemplating to unilaterally slash the salaries of workers at this time.

"The question to ask is ‘which salary is the government planning to slash? It certainly cannot be the meagre national minimum wage of N30,000, which right

now cannot even buy a bag of rice! The proposed slash in salaries is certainly not targeted at the minimum wage and consequential adjustment in salaries that some callous state governors are still dragging their feet to pay," it added.

NLC said it was public knowledge that the multiple devaluation of the naira in a short time and the prevailing high inflation rate in Nigeria had eroded the value of workers' incomes.

According to the NLC, workers are only surviving by hair’s breadth.

It said: "Indeed, Nigerian workers are miracles strutting on two legs. It is, therefore, extremely horrendous for a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to

pronounce a salary slash for Nigerian workers at this time.

"We do not constitute any unnecessary cost or burden to governance! It is also important to make the point that salaries are products of contracts governed by laws.

They cannot be unilaterally adjusted.

"While many countries of the world are increasing the salaries of their workforce, extending social security coverage for their citizens and providing all forms of palliatives to help their people through the terrible socio-economic dislocations occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be completely absurd for the Nigerian government to be thinking of salary slash.

"This move is not only at great odds with global best responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is also in violation of relevant ILO Conventions and Declarations on Wages and Decent Work.

"We urge government as a social partner to quickly respond to the demands by labour for an upward review of salaries of all Nigerian workers. Nigerian workers have shown sufficient understanding with the government through the tough patches of the pandemic.

Now, Nigerian workers demand reciprocity of our understanding.

Nigerian workers demand an increase in their remunerations and allowances. Enough is enough."

FG Approves N6.2bn for Six Power Projects Set for second phase distribution of free meters Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved $8.29 million and N3 billion for the execution of various electricity projects.

It also said it was ready to commence the distribution of four million free electricity pre-paid meters in the second phase of the free metre programme.

Minister of Power, Mr. Mamman Saleh, told journalists at the end of the FEC meeting, presided over

by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, that the projects were for the procurement of equipment as well as designs and manufactures.

The fund also covers the upgrading of the nation's electricity facility and

improvement of power supply nationwide.

According to him, the Ministry of Power presented six memoranda to the council, all of which were approved.

The aggregate of all the figures, in both naira and dollar denominations, is a total of N6,156,168,822, when the dollar component is converted through the official exchange rate of N380 to $1.

Saleh said: "The Federal Executive Council today approved six memos under the Ministry of Power.

The first one is the award of a contract for design, manufacturing and supply of critical spare parts for Crompton Greaves 330 kV, 132 kV and 33 kV circuit breakers to Messrs. Legen Engineering Nigeria Limited in the sum of N298,339,887.04.

"The second one is the award of the contract for the procurement of 50 sets of 400 AH battery banks, 30 to 50 volts and 30 number of 110-volt battery charges for the substation used by the TCN in favour of Messrs.

DTS Transformers Electric Industry Limited at the sum of N644,805,953.10.

"The third award of the contract is for the procurement of 50 cents also of 132 kV isolators for the TCN in favour of Messrs. Leading Diagonal Engineering Nigeria Limited in the sum of $840,650 plus N53,900,000 within the delivery period of six months.

"The fourth one is the award of the contract for the design, manufacturing and the supply of three 60/66 MVA 132kV power transformers with accessories

and 15 number of 500 kV transformers, 33/0.415kV earthing transformers for the TCN in favour of Messrs.

Zhenjiang Transformers Company Limited, in the sum of N1,296,953,044.55 with a delivery period of 12 months.

"The fifth one is the award of the contract for the design, supply and installation of Optical Wire (OPGW) and Universal Optical Transportation Network System (OTN) for some critical transmission lines in favour of Messrs. Xinjiang Power and Transportation Company Limited in the sum of $6,800,743.51, plus N668,843,634.74, with a delivery period of 12 months.

"The last one is the upward review of the contraction for the design, manufacture, supply, installation and

commissioning of 1X 100MVA, 132/33kV power transformers at Ogba Transmission Substation, Lagos, in favour of Messrs. Power Control and Appliances Limited, in the sum of $648,038.31, plus N48,342,524.18, with the delivery period of six months.

"All these procurements are geared towards upgrades of the transmission system, to the national grid, so that we can have sufficient power supply to the nation".

The minister added that the federal government will soon begin the second phase of the free distribution of four million pre-paid electricity meters to Nigerians.

According to him, the federal government is almost through with the distribution of one million free pre-free

paid meters to Nigerians.

"We have almost finished with phase zero, we are now going into phase one of the distribution of the meters, that is the remaining four million the central bank promised to augment with.

"The first set is one million, we are about to finish with that, but you know, it is not the target, one million is very negligible compared to the demand of Nigerians," he said.

Asked if there was any improvement in power generation, Saleh said: "We are improving, it (power generation) has improved, you can see, I don't have to tell you.

"We are moving from 3,000 megawatts, today we are generating up to 5,000 megawatts or over that, so it is a great improvement."

Enugu Catholic Bishop Behind My Two-day Ordeal, Says Mbaka Christopher Isiguzo, Arinze Gideon in Enugu and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Fiery Catholic Priest and Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has accused the Bishop of the Enugu Diocese of the Church, Callistus Onaga of being behind his two-day ordeal.

The priest, who addressed his parishioners last night at the adoration ground in Umuchigbo Nike, Enugu, said the Catholic Bishop had planned to keep him for 30 days before finally sending him to the Vatican.

He also disclosed that his major offence was the blessing he pronounced on the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra

(IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu as well as his recent verbal exchange with President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

He said a lot of issues were presented against him after which the Church leadership, led by Onaga told him that he would remain indoors for one month, a period that would allow him pray and meditate over his activities.

The priest said he requested to be allowed the opportunity to come and address his parishioners after which he would shut down, “but they said ‘No’. ‘Allow me to go and celebrate Mass for my people just for today; I won’t even tell them that I am being punished; they said, No. I will just tell my members that I’m going for 30 days prayer, that

after 30 days, we will come back and everybody will obey, they said, No’.

“I also begged them to appoint another priest to come and celebrate mass for you today; they also said No. “They didn’t treat me in a pastoral way. I was asking ‘am I being punished for what’?

“They said it was a meeting, but even before I reached the Bishop’s house, conclusion had already been made. “What happened to me was like the day I was shot on the road.

“Unfortunately for them, even before the meeting, a woman was already going around bragging that the Bishop will call me for a meeting, and that I was going to leave my house here for 30 days, and that after the 30 days, I would be sent to

Rome, and Adoration Ministry will be closed.

Mbaka cautioned that “in a time and cases like this, don’t give me a punishment that will cause troubles for us because I’m not alone.”

He said Bishop Onaga upon seeing the protest over his predicament, allowed him to go.

The cleric had been declared missing in the early hours of yesterday by the youth wing of the apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide.

The council had given the federal government 48 hours to produce the fiery priest, accusing it of having a hand in his sudden disappearance following his following his declaration that President

Muhammadu Buhari should resign if he could not deal with insecurity and provide employment for the teeming youths.

In a swift response, the Department of State Services (DSS) denied arresting the cleric.

Spokesman of DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya said Mbaka was not with the agency.

"This is not true. Father Mbaka was not picked up by the DSS. Rev. Fr. Mbaka is not with the DSS. The DSS did not pick him up, please," he said.

When the news of his sudden disappearance broke, hundreds of youths, including Catholic faithful and supporters of the cleric marched to the house of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu

Diocese who was said to have invited the priest before he disappeared.

The protesters destroyed the windows to gain entry.

In their show of solidarity, the protesters also marched around the Enugu metropolis, blocking major roads and causing traffic gridlock.

The Enugu State Police Command had deployed four police vans to protect the Bishop's court and guard against any display of violence by the crowd of supporters.

After hours of suspense and protests by his followers, Mbaka yesterday re-appeared at the residence of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Callistus Onaga.

The priest however did not say a word as he merely waved to the jubilant crowd.

stakeholders here - the customers of UBA - will they like to know that we took our regulator to court?

No, then the staff of UBA; will they be comfortable working in a bank that took their regulator to court? No, then the shareholders, then the regulators themselves, they wouldn’t like it.

"So, four constituents will not like us going to court.

There is only one constituent that may like it and that’s Tony Elumelu, which makes it one over five, and that is 20 per cent, and it’s not enough to go to court,” he added.

He, however, said he was already planning to exit as the bank’s CEO at the age of 50, before the directive came, adding that within 24 hours of CBN directive, the bank appointed his successor.

ELUMELU CALLS FOR URGENT POWER SECTOR REFORMS TO BOOST ECONOMY million.

He said the fund would be used for the next batch of trainees.

Elumelu stated that about 10, 000 Nigerians, including other Africans, have benefited from the training offered by the Tony Elumelu Foundation in the last seven years.

On the issue of girl-child education, Elumelu said there was a need to close the gap

on gender inequality.

“I am a direct beneficiary of women’s impact in molding the society, through the training I received from my mother, and cherish to support the girl-child education in order to bridge gender inequality,” Elumelu added.

Giving details of his exit from UBA as managing director and chief executive officer, Elumelu said the

orders came from the then CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who felt that all bank CEOs that had served for 10 years, should step aside at that time.

“That day, we had a Bankers' Committee meeting and at the end of the meeting, the then CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, told me that CEOs who had done 10 years will step aside.

I called the chairman to explain what happened and the next day, we conveyed an emergency board meeting.

At the board meeting, it was a divided household for the first time; some directors said ‘no, we have to go to court to contest it’ and about one or two other directors did not think so. But I spoke and I told the board members that there are five critical

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COMMENT

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

A MILITARY COUP IS NOT AN OPTION

Preserving our democracy is no longer a choice, but a bounden duty, writes Fredrick Nwabufo

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hen there are murmurs and whispers of a putsch, someone somewhere may be fiddling with the sticks.

Where there is smoke, there is fire.

Turning and turning in the widening gyre, the hawks and vultures circle seeking supper from anarchy and insecurity in the land. But may it never be said that Nigeria experienced a coup d’état after 22 years of democratic experiment.

In political science, coups are often governed by the zeitgeist – the prevailing mood of the time. In the 70s, 80s and 90s coups were fashionable in Africa, and particularly in West Africa. But with the turning of the 21 century, democracy stabilised in the region. However in 2019, there was a divergence from the assumed norm. The military struck in Sudan, deposing President Omar al-Bashir after weeks of popular protests.

The protests over prices of bread and petrol and violent crackdowns on citizens by security agents created the tenor for the usurpation of power by the ‘’barracks boys’’.

In 2020, there was a mutiny in the army in Mali.

The rebellion thickened and degenerated into a coup which sacked the democratically elected government of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Mali had been in the throes of a deadly insurgency and soldiers were being killed in quotas. This quandary was compounded by an alleged fraudulent election conducted by the government -- effectuating citizens’ revulsion which climaxed in the unsolicited intervention of the military.

There is always a ‘’mood to the madness’’.

In April, Idris Deby of Chad was murdered by rebels but the speculation that the killing of the Chadian strongman was an insider plot remains dense. His killing happened on the heels of protests over his unending commandeership of the country. For keen political watchers, it is clear that the wraith of coup is hovering over West Africa again. Really, some Africans have become disillusioned with the democratic system government over the years owing to intractable corruption, insecurity and state repression. Democracy may not be perfect. We cannot pretend it is. But it is still the best form of government among all other forms.

KEEPING NIGERIA AS ONE IS NO LONGER A CHOICE BUT A DUTY – A PATRIOTIC DUTY. WE SHOULD NOT GIVE IN TO ANARCHISTS, ETHNIC FLAG-WAVERS, AND POLITICAL DESPOILERS. NIGERIA IS THE HOME WE KNOW AND ALL THAT MOST OF US HAVE

We cannot obviate the fact that Nigeria is at a perilous intersection – insecurity is defying effort, the economy is prostrate and unemployment rate is on the stratosphere. The mood of the nation is ominous; it portends danger. Political tradesmen are on hand seeking to extract a toll and make merchandise out of the general malaise and discontent.

It is regrettable that at a time of great tribulation when Nigeria needs statesmen, there are merchants and pallbearers seeking gain from anarchy. But if Nigeria burns, we all burn. This is a time we all have to cast aside whatever personal interest we hold and put our hands on the wheel to roll Nigeria out of the doldrums.

Political leaders should know their unpalliated public statements are capable of making the cauldron boil over. Keeping Nigeria as one and preserving our democracy is no longer a choice, but a bounden duty.

This is not about President Buhari. It is about our country and everything we hold dear. We should not give relief to crisis entrepreneurs and pirates.

Again, keeping Nigeria as one is no longer a choice but a duty – a patriotic duty. We should not give in to anarchists, ethnic flag-wavers, and political despoilers.

Nigeria is the home we know and all that most of us have. It is not without obstacles but the challenges are not insurmountable.

A military coup is never an option. It is never a solution to any problem. We cannot traipse helplessly into a dark past of state terror. We cannot come this far in our political evolution only to slither back into the abyss of coups and military interregnums.

The countries in Africa where there have been recent military interventions are still steeped in crisis. Mali is still devastated by insurgency. Chad is still in a jeopardous state, and Sudan has not recovered from the chaos of 2019.

Every insinuation and suggestion of coup should be repudiated and dispelled by all-well meaning Nigerians. The only way to effect a regime change remains the ballot not the gun barrel.

May Nigeria not return to a past of jackboots.

Nwabufo is a journalist

CRY (FOR) THE NIGERIAN PASSPORT Olusegun Adeniyi writes that everything should be done to make the passport available to those who need it Continued from backpage

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or a lost passport, a 32-page booklet for resident costs $404 and for non-resident, $523. A 64-page booklet costs $435 for resident and $554 for non-resident. The ETC costs 250 Euro comprising such charges as ‘reciprocity’ and ‘TWP/ STR endorsement’. In Turkey, Ankara, a 32-page booklet for a resident costs $225 and non-resident, $280 while a 64-page booklet for resident costs $246 and for non-resident, $317. The charges for renewal of passport are similar. But for a lost passport, a 32-page booklet for a resident costs $404 and for a non-resident, $523. A 64-page booklet for a resident costs $435 and for a non-resident, $554. An ETC costs £60.

The foregoing are examples of what Nigerians pay to obtain a passport.

When people pay such outrageous fees, the least they should expect is a stress-free process and timely receipt of their passports. Sadly, the stories in many of our embassies reflect the way we mismanage our affairs at home.

Following a recent THISDAY editorial which queried why, despite the problem associated with the production of Nigerian passports, the NIS has refused to collaborate with the government-owned Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) to ease their process, I got a call from the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. He explained that the issues are far deeper

than what the editorial canvassed.

He suggested a meeting with the NIS Comptroller General, Mr Mohammed Babandede so he could explain the problems to me.

My meeting with Babandede was quite revealing. According to him, the contract for the system architecture for the production of e-passports was awarded to Iris Smart Technologies Limited (ISTL) in 2003 under President Olusegun Obasanjo. This was at a time that production of booklets and embedding of chips were not included. When the decision was taken to upgrade with as many as 12 new security features, bids were accepted from five companies: ISTL, Gieseoke & Deviant F2E Dubai, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, Francis Charles Orberthur Security and Sagem S.A. of France which eventually did not respond to the Ministry’s invitation. At the end of the exercise, ISTL had the best evaluated tender in terms of price and technical competence. The company’s bid was N690.08 per copy, NSPMC’s bid was N1,500 and with that, lost out.

From January 2020 to the end of March 2021, according to Babandede, 976,483 passports were issued to Nigerians in the 42 diplomatic and consular missions abroad and 43 local offices across the country with an outstanding backlog of 244336. While this represents 80 percent performance, it doesn’t capture the dismay of those who miss their scheduled travel for important appointments simply because they could

not secure their passports.

On the perennial shortage of booklets, Babandede said the Nigerian passport is a wholly contractor-financed project with no seed money provided by government. The challenge, he explained, is that revenue generated abroad is paid directly into the country’s JP Morgan account for remittance into the Consolidated Revenue Account. The implication is that NIS relies solely on the money generated from passports in Nigeria for all its operations across the world! Aside the fact that “the dollar component paid by passport applicants abroad goes directly to JP Morgan account with no share apportioned to the NIS”, Babandede also accused the CBN of “a deliberate effort to block ISTL from accessing foreign exchange for the importation of booklets.”

These are issues the federal government needs to resolve. It is a shame that in this day and age, we cannot provide passports for our citizens even when they pay outrageous sums of money for it. At his media briefing last week, Aregbesola admitted that his ministry has had challenges in recent years on the issue of passports. “These include, shortage of booklets, touting, racketeering, inflating the cost, passports being issued to ineligible persons and so on. Then there are Covid-19 related challenges such as the suspension of public interface by our missions abroad as a result of the directive of the host government,” said Aregbesola.

While craving the understanding of

Nigerians because “other person-toperson necessities like data capture are beyond our control”, Aregbesola also promised to “embed security operatives – seen and unseen – in all our passport offices. They will wear body cameras.

They will detect and report any form of solicitation, inflation, improper communication, extortion, diversion, hoarding and other corrupt practices. Those caught will be dealt with according to the law. An ombudsman will also be created to receive complaints and reports from members of the public on officers trying to deviate from prescribed guidelines and subversion of the process.”

I have no problem with these measures. But if we are ever to resolve this disgraceful lack of availability of Nigerian Passports for deserving citizens, it will require more than the usual ‘fighting corruption’. We need a presidential intervention to deal with what is at the root of it. The money realized from passport applicants abroad cannot continue to be a source of revenue for the Federation Account without it being ploughed back to produce the booklets.

The details can be worked out between the NIS, CBN, NITL and the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Interior as well as the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. But the only enduring solution to this national embarrassment is for the NIS to be allowed to use the dollar component of revenue generated abroad for the continuous supply of passport booklets, especially to our Diaspora citizens.

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EDITORIAL FIGHTING SEX-FOR-GRADES WITH TECHNOLOGY The Campus Pal App is a promising instrument for tackling the problem

A

technology-driven platform called the Campus Pal App designed to report cases of sexual harassment in Nigeria higher institutions of learning has been launched by a nongovernmental organisation, Gender Mobile Initiative.

It is a feature-rich platform with confidentiality-driven reporting and tracking device to curtail the prevalence of sexual violence on the campuses of institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. According to the promoter and Executive Director, Gender Mobile Initiative, Ms Omowunmi Ogunrotimi, the idea was borne out of the desire to bridge existing gaps in terms of reporting sexual and gender -based violence. “With data we can do a lot of things, with data we can be sure that our interventions are meeting the needs of the communities that we are doing programing for. It is now time to move into the institutions to drive the adoption of the mobile application.”

We endorse the idea and commend Ogunrotimi and her team. There is a growing body of evidence which indicates that when reporting becomes the new norm, it will deter perpetrators. Hence, the anonymously-driven reporting app will help address the high rate of underreporting of sexual THERE IS A GROWING harassment in colleges BODY OF EVIDENCE WHICH and universities. Over INDICATES THAT WHEN the years, victims in REPORTING BECOMES THE learning environment NEW NORM, IT WILL DETER in Nigeria most often fail to report due to PERPETRATORS possible backlash occasioned by lack of confidential reporting platforms and fear of being further victimised.

Speaking at the unveiling, wife of the Governor of Ekiti State, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, said the historical launch of the Platform was the first of its kind and a truly imaginative application of technology to a social problem.

She said, “The Campus Pal Mobile Platform will engender real time confidential reporting of sexual harassment, data collection, and effective case management. It is a step in the right direction that underscores the intent and

Letters to the Editor

commitment of its creators to curbing the recurrence of this campus vice.”

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

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

e agree with Fayemi that the adoption of this technological approach is indeed a great new measure in the prevention or effective prosecution of incidences of sexual harassment, while simultaneously providing succour and solution to victims. Sexual and gender-based violence is all too common in Nigeria with the result that some of the graduates churned out are un-educated in their courses of study. In exchange for sex, unscrupulous lecturers have been found to leak questions or write examinations for some students. The initiative presents opportunity for a paradigm shift in the consciousness of Nigerians and to precipitate the return to the days when academic excellence and hard work were rewarded just as sloth and mediocrity were punished. But in the main, we must recognise that sex-for grades is a national shame that requires the involvement of all stakeholders to eradicate.

For years, this social malaise had straddled our tertiary institutions, threatening the future of the nation’s youths, particularly the female students who are usually held to ransom by randy lecturers, intent on having illicit sex with them. In several cases, many female students have had their academic careers extended, and sometimes truncated, because of their refusal to succumb to such demand for sex.

Ordinarily, the internal rules and regulations of the tertiary institutions would have been sufficient to rein in these sexual abusers. Unfortunately, the malaise is so endemic that even those at the highest levels of most institutions are believed to be neck deep in the unwholesome practice of demanding sexual gratifications for marks. In several instances, heads of departments to whom students report the harassment; and members of panels to which the reports were referred for investigation, were themselves involved in the abuse. That then explains why we commend the promoters of the Campus Pal App as we urge the authorities of our institutions of higher learning to subscribe to it.

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 DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT

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ocal government is the closest level of government to the people in Nigeria. The Nigerian Constitution in the Fourth Schedule lists out the many functions of local governments, some of which include construction and maintenance of roads, streets, street lightings, drains, public highways, parks, markets, gardens, open spaces, amongst others. These functions show that local governments are essential to the advancement of the welfare of the people. Unfortunately, the local government system is often abused and neglected by states. The result is that the impact of local governments is not felt by the people.

The Nigerian Constitution provides for a democratically elected local government council. Section 7 (1) of the constitution provides that, “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.

The effect of Section 7(1) above is that local governments must be administered by persons elected by the people and state governments must work to establish a framework for democracy. This however is not the case in many states in Nigeria.

Democratically elected local government councils are routinely removed by state governors with the support of State Houses of Assembly and replaced with un-elected local government interim, caretaker or transition committees before the expiration of their tenure. An example is the case of Governor, Ekiti State & Ors. V. Prince Sanmi Olubunmo, Executive Chairman Ido-Osi LGA & Chairmen Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Ekiti State Chapter & 13 Ors. (2017) 3NWLR (Pt. 1551) 1 SC. In the case, the state governor relying on the local government administration (amendment) law, 2001 of Ekiti State removed and replaced elected local government councils in the state with un-elected caretaker committees before the expiration of their tenure. In a lawsuit brought against the state governor by the removed local

government chairmen, the Nigerian Supreme Court declared the action of the governor unconstitutional. The Supreme Court held that Section 7(1) of the Nigerian Constitution provides for democratically elected local government councils and any law enacted by the State House of Assembly must be in accordance with the Constitution.

Despite this decision of the supreme court, state governors have continued to arbitrarily remove and replace democratically elected local government councils with unelected interim, caretaker or transition committees. In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde on assumption of office on May 29, 2019, immediately dissolved democratically elected local government councils and replaced them with unelected caretaker committees. Local governments in Katsina, Borno, Yobe, Kwara, Kogi, Bauchi, Taraba, Benue, Anambra, Imo and Ogun States are administered by caretaker committees.

Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN took steps to stop this unconstitutional practice by state governors by instituting Olisa Agbakoba v Federal Ministry of Finance & Ors FHC/L/770/13 where he asked the Federal High Court to stop the federal government from allocating funds from the Federation Account to unelected local government interim, caretaker or transition committees. Regrettably, the court declined his prayers as it held that it is the local governments that are entitled to statutory allocation from the Federation Account and not local government officials.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami also tried to end this unconstitutional practice via a letter titled: “Unconstitutionality of Dissolution of Elected Local Government Councils and Appointment of the Caretaker Committee: The Urgent Need for Compliance with Extant Judicial Decisions,” addressed to the Oyo State Governor. The attorney general directed the state governor to dissolve the Oyo State local government caretaker committees and restore democratically elected government councils in compliance with the constitution and the supreme court decision. Unfortunately, the state government refused to heed his directive.

Collins Okeke, Head, Development Law Group, Human Right Law Service

THE COFFEE IS BETTER AT HOME

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ne of the major changes due to the COVID pandemic was having to work from home.

As Victoria, has had no community cases for at least a month, the government has instructed all workers to return to their offices. The problem is that only about 50% have actually returned after almost a month.

Returning to office would give you a chance to talk with all of your colleagues whereas working from home would allow you to avoid talking to your colleagues and the coffee is much better. What many businesses and organisations have not realised is that the nature of the workplace has changed and working by video is often quite effective and most employees won’t miss the regular meetings and especially the meetings to discuss the meeting schedule.

It’s time to move on and stay at home.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021

POLITICS

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

‘We Have Not Missed a Single Meeting Since the Cabinet Was Formed in Bayelsa’ Hon. Ayibaina Crowther Duba is the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation. In this interview with journalists, including Segun James, in his office in Yenagoa, he paints a picture of a government that understands the daunting tasks it is faced with and its readiness to face them squarely

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t has been over one year since the coming of the Miracle Governor, you are in your second year now, what has the state government done in almost two years now?

We came in on February 14 last year, and in the joy and euphoria of coming in we were faced with a whole lot of problems.

You know we had the pandemic which the world is still managing with its attendant effects on international business. And then oil revenue which is the main stay of the country and for a state like Bayelsa that doesn’t have the critical industries to bring in, and where the IGR is low, you will recall that things were not that rosy on the economic front. Then as a state that witnesses flooding, it dealt a huge blow on us because almost the entire state was submerged. But the good thing is that while all that was going on, as we were managing COVID-19 and the economic situation and all that, we were doing some planning. You will recall that the executive council was constituted only in August last year. And then immediately after that we went into full swing. By 2021 that is this year, to the glory of God, we have been able to start a good number of projects. I am sure you are aware that two of the senatorial roads that were stalled for one reason or the other, we have mobilized all the contractors back to site and we are working seriously. On road construction, the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road is going on, and we have taken it upon ourselves that that road will be completed in our own tenure, that is a commitment. The Sagbama-Ekeremor Road, the contractor, is back on site and they are working. You know this very well, you know that the Igbogene Ring Road, we are working on it, the work is going on. Then the Gloryland Drive, you will recall that when you are coming from Patani, coming into Bayelsa State, for some reasons the phase one of it was completed. And from the Economical Centre to Tombia to Government House, we have re-awarded to CCECC, (A Chinese construction company), they are working seriously now. The internal roads in Yenegoa, they were in a very deplorable condition, all Bayelsans know, it was as if they were neglected. But today, if you go into Yenagoa metropolis you will realise that those roads have been rehabilitated.

We have given the city a facelift. There is this urban renewal going on that people don’t talk much about. The beauty of a city is sights and sounds. And when areas are filled with illegal structures it will deface the city, which is in a way a security problem because people can commit all sorts of crime in some of those places. So, in carrying out our urban renewal, we are trying to make sure that there are no shanties within the city. If you want to do a business, do it in a proper manner. We have been able to get certain places right, Kpansia Market which was a problem, we brought some decency to it. Tombia Roundabout is still a work in progress, but if you look at it today, you will realise that we have done a great job, and the job is still ongoing, it is not completed. I will use this opportunity to plead with the traders that that place is not a market. It is not designated for a market, whoever that is there is carrying out an illegal business.

And we have always mentioned to them that they should leave that place, so that we will give the place the beauty it deserves.

Talking about roads, you mentioned the two senatorial roads, we know that it was abandoned in 2014, how many kilometres have you done now and is it still the same contractors that are handling both roads?

that happened was an unfortunate incident.

But His Excellency, the governor of the state deemed it necessary to engage him in a discussion. And they had several meetings and agreed to have an amicable resolution of the problems. So he was prevailed upon and he on his own agreed with government to withdraw all the cases in court. And to be fair to him, Engineer Fakuma, who is the MD of the company, withdrew all the cases and then agreed with government that it should be re-awarded. So, every litigation that arose from the misunderstanding between the previous government and the contractor was resolved. I think it was a win-win situation because the government mobilised him to go and complete the Nembe Bridge, which he is working on now.

Duba Yes it is Setraco, you remember that for the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road, the West Senatorial District road, Dantata and Sawoe was the original contractor. But the previous administration deemed it necessary to bring in Setraco too. And what we did was tell Setraco to go back to site. So Setraco is actually on the road now, so it is the same contractor that is there. CCECC, the Chinese Central Engineering and Construction Company was the one that handled the beat you are talking about. But I would not want to say it was abandoned, let us just say financial considerations came in and then funding issues were there. But we came in and then decided that we should talk with the contractors. And then the contractor CCECC is back and they are the ones constructing the road today.

Would you like to tell us the prices variation, how much is the total?

If this was properly planned I would have

given you the figures because I am not into history where I will say about, I will would have loved to be exact on the figures. Mind you from Agobiri to Angiama is not cleared yet, so this new part of it, you will realise that the issues involved in survey and all of those things will come in. So they came in as a component part of the contract, so those items were added too.

There is this particular road that is controversial, that is the Gloryland Drive. We are aware that the former contractor took the state government to court. Now you said the project has been re-awarded, is it to the same contractor and what is the situation on that road?

When I started I said that 2020 was a period that was used to do a lot of planning.

You will recall that Fark Engineering is an illustrious son, the founder and managing director of that company is an illustrious son of the state. And whatever there was

What we are trying to do now, which you can see is that we are doing a needs assessment. We want to know exactly what we need for effective performance of our duties as civil servants. Yes, it is a drag on other areas but when you look back we are still Bayelsans, we don’t need to sack, they have been employed and by the time we finish the needs assessment, we will know whether we still need to employ or not.

What are we doing with the needs assessment? Take for instance, you are Ministry of Works, you need engineers, and what you have are admin officers. What does Ministry of Works need? They need engineers and the professionals that are needed, so we want to know that. In the education sector, we want to know, do we need teachers? If we need teachers, can they be drawn from within the service?

What is the political situation in the state, because it seems that, the opposition party says that your government is not doing anything? How true is this?

It is strange to me as Commissioner for Information that the opposition party is saying that we are not doing anything. Even if they say we are not doing anything, what do you expect from them? They are opposition party. But people who are resident here know that the government is doing something. And I know that even when you came in there is this atmosphere of total peace in the community. And like the governor, Senator Douye Diri will always say, if there is darkness, you show light, where there is hatred you show love. And that is what we have been doing. And he sees everybody, be you APC, PDP, you are a Bayelsan first and foremost. And if all these things I have counted are not visible, I don’t know what will be visible. If you see bridges being constructed, Elebele Road, the bridge collapsed since, we are back there reconstructing the bridge. Is it that there are no APC persons in Elebele? Is it that there are no APC persons in Ekeremor? No APC person in Yenogoa and Oporoma, Southern Ijaw? That they are not seeing these things that are happening? That statement is more political than real.

The government is said to be working on many projects. Can you please name some of the projects?

In Yenagoa now, for quite a while the street lights where not on, but if you go now at night, Yenagoa is back to those days when everywhere was glowing with light.

What is the situation with Peace Park?

Where we are using now, if you look at it, they have done some facelift there. What government is intending to do, the last time I spoke with the Honorable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, since government is using this park for some of its activities, he was telling me that they want to find somebody to manage the place. People have been coming, but you know how it is with all these PPP arrangements, sometimes some don’t come with the intention to even spend a dime, they just want to take what government can bring and go away. But the Commissioner for Culture has assured me, the last time I spoke with him, that about three or four companies are interested, that they will want to turn the place to its original intent, which is to be a peace park. A park that people can go and have fun with family and friends. That is what they are doing, and I am sure that he will achieve that because he is a serious minded person.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021

POLITICS

‘We Actually Have Two Governments in the Country’ Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu hold a discussion with a member of the House of Representatives, representing Esan North-east/Esan South-east Federal Constituency, Hon. Sergius Ogun on the worsening insecurity, true federalism and why power should shift to the South in 2023

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he issue of insecurity is one of the challenges we’re facing, people are saying the legislature is not doing enough to be able to help deal with the situation, what are the things constraining you to be able to deal with this?

I think people are also disenchanted with the way government is handling it, because when someone asked me in a forum, that we are not saying anything about insecurity, i had to start posting some of my YouTube videos in the 8th Assembly. The last executive session we had the Speaker said people will be able to speak when we are in the Executive session so things ordinarily you won’t be able to say in front of cameras, you will be able to say it.

But when Speaker said we’re going to go into executive session, I raised my hand and he recognised me, my question was, this shouldn’t be an executive session, we should speak so Nigerians will hear. He said it was good but there are things people will not be able to say before the camera that they can disclose during an executive session, let’s do the executive session then the resolution agreed on we will now take it to the executive. Remember we fought for the removal of Service Chiefs, has anything changed? Someone said our motion was to take out the Service Chiefs and bring in competent ones, so what we’re saying now is that we are sure these ones are competent. Ok take these ones out, who else will come? I think it’s just the system basically, those in the north are paying tax to the bandits, a colleague of mine said that, he’s from Katsina, they said the village heads gets like N30000 but now they are collecting money on behalf of the bandits. We actually have two governments in this country. For us it’s not just talking about it, it’s a resolution, it’s not binding on the executive.

People believe that legislators are not doing enough, especially in regards to oversight on this issue of security, the security committees what are they really doing in regards to this? Also last week a controversy arose from the Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu’s motion calling for Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami’s resignation for his pasts comments backing activities of terrorists, the motion divided the majority and minority caucuses of the House, where does the House stand on the issue of terrorism?

I think whatever the spokesperson of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu said that became interpreted as APC and PDP politics is not necessary at all. We have a common problem today which is insecurity and this is when we need to unite as a country and fight this common enemy. From where I stand I believe the minister (Isa Pantami) should resign. He will go. I don’t think he will stay beyond the end of this year. Now we are approaching America for help, will America tolerate such things, they will give you terms if they are going to come here. Right now we don’t have the power to dictate. Anything they throw at us we well accept, so for me if he doesn’t go today, he will go tomorrow. But I thought the President should release him, but what do you expect from this President.

On the ongoing arms procurement probe, over a billion dollars was taken from the excess crude account to purchase arms, the new service chiefs said they can’t see how the money was spent, that there are no arms, so is it that the National Assembly approved for such money to be taken without follow up?

They keep telling you this is security, and they don’t divulge anything, I’m a member of the committee on army, the last budget I think we worked with the Senate there were even specific questions the chairman had told me to ask, and I told him trust me I will ask. But just then they said ok relax the Chief of Army Staff said there will be another Committee, he cannot brief committee of the whole, so I didn’t know the outcome of that. But it comes under the fact that this is insecurity you can’t say everything before everybody. But now you’re aware that they have set up another adhoc

him. But it’s now in the news that this April there might be no money from NNPC, if they don’t borrow money things will collapse, if you don’t pay workers then we are in crisis clearly.

So I am in support of true federalism, allow the states to fend for themselves. True federalism will take care of all these, and I even think now if we wake up tomorrow and say ok , that’s the way forward, states government raise money for your states, pay tax to the center, things will quiet down a bit.

Ogun committee on purchase of arms in the House, but the chairman senate committee on Army, Ndume is saying that there’s no need to probe and if anything the army need more money, yes we agree on that but we need to know what they are buying with the money because no one is happy with the state of insecurity today, if we are sure on what they are buying then by all means we can make the sacrifice and give them the money so that people will sleep with both eyes closed. But how do we know that when the money is given to them, tomorrow when you say ok account for it they are saying this is executive matter and should not be debated openly,. In the whole House, you cannot debate it, Committee you cannot debate it.

Then what is the way out, or are we just going to accept it like that?

You the media, the civil society organisations should begin to talk. I use to think as a politician you have power to just change certain things, so when you are handicapped and you can’t say some of these things, if the people begin to talk, I don’t think it’s because of our motions that Mr President changed the Service Chiefs, it’s because of the people, they kept commenting, talking about it, that’s what pressured him. So I keep saying everybody should take part. A system that’s not functioning will become a security problem, because people somehow will have to get that money to survive, be it a teacher or civil servant. We need to form these sectors, train them all and be more responsive to them. We have to go back to the recruitment process, most people in these services shouldn’t be there, we can clean the police now and then going forward you recruit the right people. Even the army subcommittee on recruitment that’s what they told us clearly. It’s not enough for the

National Assembly to recommend someone and say the person was not taken the person must meet our criteria required for recruitment.

If you look at the police we have all manner of people, nobody is doing the right test, they don’t even ask them why they want to join the police, because it’s recommended from somebody that’s it and you expect these people to come into uniform and do magic? So we need to go back to the process of how we recruit people be it the armed forces, police or even the civil service. When was the last time you heard they advertised in the civil service? But they have all manner of people there and you expect these people to deliver this country? How much are you paying them anyway, how much does a permanent secretary or director earn? If the person is earning N150,000 or N250,000 and then you give them a budget of over N50 billion, that’s like giving yam to a goat, he will eat it.

Till we look into these things, I am the first person to criticise the President, but in fairness to Mr President, he’s part of the problem but not the problem. It’s not enough to blame him alone because it didn’t start today. Why he’s part of the problem is because he has been in the system, and for the past five years he has been in the office, what has he done?

Are you in support of the calls for secession?

I’m not in support of secession, I believe in true federalism. My governor last month at a meeting said something about the need for states to be independent, that’s where he made mention of monies shared by FAAC not being enough and how they did printing to cover up, and he said going forward they should be prudent and states need to support themselves and they should also deregulate.

But they turned it around and used it against

From where I stand I believe the minister (Isa Pantami) should resign. He will go. I don’t think he will stay beyond the end of this year. Now we are approaching America for help, will America tolerate such things, they will give you terms if they are going to come here. Right now we don’t have to power to dictate, anything they throw at us we well accept, so for me if he doesn’t go today he will go tomorrow. But I thought the President should release him, but what do you expect from this President

Speaking on True Federalism, it’s contradictory, the National Assembly asking for true federalism when they can’t even allow states create more development areas.You hear some governors, and other people complain that they have brought certain items that the National Assembly ordinarily being a progressive lot would embrace and include in the constitution, but they won’t. The National Assembly has the constitutional powers to impeach a President that’s not doing the right thing and year-in year-out we hear only threats. You begin to wonder when will the lawmakers really bite?

It’s the politics, the truth is when they were in opposition they were agitating for state police, when they came in it was the PDP governors that were now asking for state police, if the governor said he wanted us to thinker with the exclusive list the National Assembly can’t just do it, there has to be constitutional amendment.

For the constitution review, we are already engaging the governors because we know that there are certain things we want to put there that will not fly. In the last review we granted autonomy to the House of Assemblies it didn’t fly, they turned it down, I think we got some states but they had a enough number to make it fail. So who does that? You would rather go cap in hand begging the governor to give you money. Now we’ve agreed that we will lobby the conference of speakers and then the governors forum, that’s what they should be doing so that when we add it as part of the amendment then they would have spoken to themselves and by the time it get to states houses of assembly, it will fly.

What are your thoughts on Igbo Presidency?

I strongly believe that the PDP is most likely to field an Igbo candidate, I believe APC will field a Yoruba and I believe that if we really want to clean this country this is not time for sentiments, somebody like Peter Obi should be allowed to be the next President. The way the country is today, he’s the kind of President we need. Take sentiments away. You talked about impeachment, in the last assembly I signed for the impeachment of this President. I was talking to one of my colleagues from the North, he said to me I don’t like this President but I cannot sign that because how can I agree to impeach my brother for a Yoruba man to take over? That’s why we are where we are today, those sentiments. There are people from the North that don’t agree with this President, but if you put such proposal forward they will back down for political, ethnic or religious reasons.

But like I said I will support an Igbo President, I will support Peter Obi. Let me put it on record also that if my party (PDP) doesn’t support a Southerner I might walk away from the party.

You cannot give the North 16 years, is it that there’s nobody capable from the South? They are finishing eight years. Why should it go back to the North.

Are you confident PDP will Anambra Governorship election in November?

If they don’t fight they will win it. Because APGA doesn’t exist, not even APC. APC’s last governorship candidate Tony Nwoye is back to PDP now. If there’s no interference and the PDP people don’t fight they will win. I heard there are 16 aspirants who collected forms and they were cleared, so before you eliminate 15, they will fight among themselves and some people will move across parties. If they come out like that in the presidential too they will also fail in the election, my prayer is they agree, for once, to work together.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ʹ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

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

Alternate School Programme and the Humanitarian Imperative Dapo Bruce

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

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

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

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

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

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

To put the new initiative in context, Unicef notes about Nigeria that “Even though primary education is officially free and compulsory, about 10.5 million of the country’s children aged 5-14 years are not in school. Only 61 percent of 6-11 year-olds regularly attend primary school and only 35.6 percent of children aged 36-59 months receive early childhood education. In the north of the country, the picture is even bleaker, with a net attendance rate of 53 percent. Getting out-of-school children back into education poses a massive challenge.”

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

The UN lays the blame for the huge number of out of school children, over 5% of the population at the feet of poverty, geography and gender imbalance. A lack of economic empowerment, location in conflict impacted states and disinterest in educating the girl child have contributed in exacerbating the problem.

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

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

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq

as well as skills development.

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

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

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

Viewed from these perspectives it is easy

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

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

The Alternate School Programme is not the first of such initiatives to tackle the menace posed by out of school children. In January this year, during an inter-ministerial briefing, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu had informed his audience that the number of out-of-school children has reduced from 10.1million in 2019 to 6.95 million in 2020. He said the reduction was consequent on gains from the Federal Government’s Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) initiative which was being implemented in 17 states of the federation in conjunction with the National Association of Proprietors and School Owners of Nigeria. The effort, he announced, had led to the enrolment of 1,053,422 children during the period.

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

Highlighting the humanitarian approach, the co-chair, Sadiya Umar Farouq noted

that the FG through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development and the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) is working to improve household incomes for the families of out of school children as it seeks to equip them with literary and numeracy knowledge as well as the requisite skills to engage with and contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian economy. To help achieve the goal, the ministry has begun the collation of data of all out-of-school children across the country.

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

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

21

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ʹ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

#THISISNIGERIA -kenneth adejumoh

POLICE BRUTALITY, TAKING A CLUE FROM DEREK CHAUVIN’S CONVICTION

O

n that faithful 25th day of May 2020, if anyone had told George Floyd the AfricanAmerican that it would be his last, I presume that the African blood in him would have sparked up some rebuke religiously or spiritually such as; ‘May the gods forbid’, ‘ I rebuke that in Jesus name’, ‘It is not my portion’ and so on. That is the African spirit and it does not know boundaries even if you are on the white man’s land.

On that day, the overzealous white-skinned Police Officer, Derek Chauvin possibly woke up thirsty for human blood. To beat the common phrase of a ‘trigger happy police’, he opted to sniff life out of a fellow man employing choke – holding him down by the throat with his knee. I watched in pain wondering what he was thinking to subject Floyd to such a gruesome act resulting in his death. His faint voice of ‘I can’t breathe’ should have melted Chauvin's heart but it appeared he had non at the time. It was grieving to watch that video on social platforms and cable networks.

This spurred a rampage in the entire Minneapolis that caught the attention of the world. It berthed two hashtags: #BlackLivesMatter and #ICantBreathe. My heart is heavy not just for Chauvin’s action that denied a healthy-looking brother of his right to life. But I grief more for my home country, where many of these have occurred and justice is swept under the carpet.

The #EndSARS and #EndPolice Brutality peaceful protest by unarmed Nigerian youth was a clarion call to restructure the police institution. It was an agitation to end the incessant harassments, molestations, and killings of innocent citizens by the men of the Nigerian Police. Rather than yield positive results or change, it resulted in what seems like a hijack to dent the development causing a shipwreck.

Hundreds of better still thousands of ‘Chauvin’ exist in our Police Force and they carry out life-threatening actions resulting in loss of lives that are unaccounted for.

Where the culprits are booked, the legal system has not been able to convict many of such and they are still in the force wielding around with guns purchased with taxpayers’ money. One of the cheering parts of Chauvin’s story was how he was fished out immediately and became a public figure for the negative or wrong reason.

Derek Chauvin was not only charged with three count charges of third-degree murder, second-degree murder, and manslaughter, he was tried and convicted in the space of 11 months. It started from his trial lasting just 15 days, with 44 witnesses to the case.

The peak of it all was that that Judge Cahill did not wait for long but just about 11 hours to reach a verdict and got Chauvin convicted of all three charges.

This happens where the institutions are properly structured and run independently.

Of course, the American Judicial system may not be 100% in its modus operandi, but this sweet judgment has put their judicial system on a high pedestal on a matter that attracted a global audience. It has shown to us that justice prevails where the judiciary is independent. Justice of this magnitude is a herculean task in a system knotted in coercion, corruption, manipulation of judges, intentional delay of case files where trials can be dragged for half a decade or more, decayed and dilapidated court infrastructure, poor wages for judicial staff which has resulted to indefinite strike by Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) since April 06, 2021. This sort of system will barely deliver justice and it will only continue to dampen the hope of the masses such that they would rather let the matter off the grid than waste time seeking legal

proceedings. This is typical of us as a people and it is prevalent in our judicial system.

Does one wonder how many of the triggerhappy police officers have been shamed nationally? Often, we only hear that the Force has apprehended the officers in question and would be tried. From that point, we are kept in the dark and that is it. Where they are announced to be dismissed, cases of them still in active service abound and they walk freely while the victim’s family remains in anguish. Who has not heard men of the police force in Nigeria boast how they have killed, and nothing happened?

In confidence, they make statements such as; ‘I go kill you and nothing go happen’; ‘e de do me make I light (shoot) person’; ‘ I go kill you throw way (away)’ and many unimaginable statements to threaten the armless and innocent citizens they took an oath to guide and protect. These officers have become reckless with words by the power of the guns they carry.

Not to forget the place of the eyewitness, the role of Darnella Frazier was well acknowledged with her video recording of the incident, which she uploaded on her Facebook wall that triggered the global protest of police brutality and racism. As a people, we have heroes and heroines who cover Chauvin-like scenes, but they are soon discovered and dealt with. I have had to travel to Ibadan in August 2020 at the ease of the lockdown and interstate travel.

A neighbor was unlawfully detained for 72 hours because the Police sighted him with his mobile phone while his vehicle

approached the checkpoint. His offense was that the police saw him holding his phone at one of the (illegal) checkpoints.

His phone was seized and smashed living him without a phone a reach his family.

This is what happens in our society where the uniform men abhor civilians holding their phones within their premises or sight.

The fear of not being caught has inhibited the type of evidence required to nail an average Nigerian police officer who exhibits ‘Chauvinism' on civilians. This must be addressed by possible legislation that empowers the citizens to be allowed to use their camera-enabled mobile devices to capture any scene of interest or crime scenes by law enforcement agents. For years now, an average road user on the nation’s highways cannot or dare not receive or make a call or be seen with his or her phone handy while approaching a roadblock or checkpoint by the uniform men be it NPF or NA. It is an offense that would amount to impounding the vehicle, routine search of all passengers, and invading their privacies at will. This should be checked and stopped.

Space would not permit me in this piece to list some names of victims of Police brutality and no one has heard anything about the guilty officers. We need to make deliberate efforts to emulate what is right and not in books. The #BlackLivesMatter campaign was a major trend on social platforms. We also need to champion more home-related issues of police brutality. This is not a time to give up on a life-threatening social menace. If we

keep quiet, we all might become victims and our blood spilled on the streets with one to hold accountable.

Beyond protesting and agitating against the excesses of the police, we also need to start drumming for the judiciary to be prompt in delivering judgments of ‘Chauvin’ related cases or issues in our country. It is no longer enough to have the officers apprehended or dismissed, the entire court process from trial to conviction should be publicized at every stage as we saw in the case of Chauvin. The world had a regular update on the case, and it came through to the desire of the majority. Our officers need to go through the trauma of being publicly humiliated, stripped of their ranks, dismissed, and convicted. Their faces should trend across media channels to an extent that they would beg the ground to open and swallow them even before they are convicted.

If this becomes a practice, it will go a long way to reform the police and judicial institutions. Uniformed personnel will begin to think twice before satisfying their urge to take the life of another, whom they never created. It will reduce the rising death profile of our young ones from the hands of police brutality. It will restore confidence to believe in the force and embrace personnel as a compatriot. t,FOOFUI "EFKVNPI " 1VCMJD 3FMBUJPOT 4PDJBM "OBMZTU BOE $PSQPSBUF $PNNVOJDBUJPOT &YQFSU XSJUFT JO GSPN -BHPT

22

THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

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Quick Takes Engineers Advise on Healthy Living

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BUSINESS EXPANSION

L-R: CEO, Adekolme(owners of Kolmesigns),Tayo Adelakun; Head, Business Finland Nigeria and Finnish Trade Commissioner for West Africa, Olu Raheem; MD, Kyosk Digital Kenya, Raphael Afaedor, and Lead Developer, Kolmesigns, Nicholas Akpas, at the inauguration of Kolmesigns in Lagos...recently

Lagos to Bridge Digital Divide with Innovative Technologies Stories by Emma Okonji Lagos State government has reiterated its commitment to bridging the exiting digital divide in the state by leveraging technologies to drive innovations that will assist the state in achieving its mission to build the Lagos Smart City that will digitally empower Lagosians.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Hakeem Popoola Fahm, who gave the assurance in Lagos during the ministerial media briefing to mark the second year anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration recently, said the state government would continue to invest in projects and technology in order to provide digital skills for the people of Lagos.

To achieve the mission, Fahm

TELECOMS said the state was deploying metro-fibre cable across Lagos to deepen broadband connectivity in the state so as to give access to distant learning, telemedicine, e-commerce, and internet connectivity in schools and hospitals.

According to him, “the state has concluded the implementation of the first phase rollout of 3,000 km of fibre metro network connection in year 2020 and has commenced the second phase rollout of additional 3,000km of fibre metro network connection, which is expected to be concluded by the end of 2021.”

He said the metro fibre network would support the comprehensive Smart City programme of the stare that

seeks to provide a 24-hour driven economy.

Fahm said the implementation of Lagos State Smart City Project would enable governance, connectivity and environmental security, adding that the use of technology will make reporting of security incidents easy to reach, and promote access to major stakeholders in the government.

The commissioner reiterated that the project would also incorporate smart technologies into transport infrastructure surveillance and security, healthcare services, education, government services and make Lagos to be technological developed through the provision of affordable internet access, which would close the digital gap and the gap between the people and the government.

“We plan to connect the fibre optic cables to all our public schools and institutions of learning, health centres, and all government offices and parastatals, and the state government is working tirelessly to increase public access to the internet and promote digital literacy,” Fahm said.

He further said upon completion, the project would advance Lagos State economy by becoming a 24 hour driven commercial centre, which would allow companies to operate in a safe, secure and smart environment that would create more jobs and increase GDP of the State.

The commissioner described the Lagos Smart-City project as a transformation being achieved Continued on page 26

Expert Decries Dearth of Indigenous Computer Manufacturing Firms The President of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof.

Adesina Sodiya has expressed dissatisfaction over the drop in the assembling of local computers and manufacturing of their accessories in Nigeria, while calling on the federal government for immediate bailout.

Sodiya told THISDAY that the government needed to come to the rescue of indigenous computer brands like Zinox, Omatek, Brian, SpeedStar, among others, that are gradually going into extinction, occasioned by unfavourable policies and harsh business environment.

According to him, “Nigerians are doing well in the area of software development because

TELECOMS it is less capital intensive, but facing serious challenges in hardware manufacturing and assembling. Our indigenous Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) need a lot of support from government in order to address the issues.”

The likes of Zinox, Omatek, Brian, etc., came up to compete with foreign brands like HP, Dell, Apple, Asus, Lenovo, etc, and they were doing well in local assembling and manufacturing of computer accessories, but such competition is becoming weak, paving way for the influx of foreign brands of computers in Nigeria, Sodiya said.

He explained that hardware manufacturing does not just require technical competences but huge financial support because it is capital intensive.

“That is why we are thinking that government should provide our indigenous brands with more supports. Production of hardware components does not come cheap all over the world.

We have seen a situation some components of a particular system are manufactured in different countries by different organisations. In addition, we need to get to that level of production of durable hardware.

“Before we can get to the level where Zinox, and Omatek can compete favorably with foreign brands, government must come

in by introducing incentives for them. These OEMs can’t compete when bank loans are at double digits and electricity supply is not at its best to support full manufacturing and assembling processes,” Sodiya told THISDAY. He, however, said government should formulate policies that would encourage foreign brands to set up production factories in Nigeria for onward technology transfer, and to further strengthen the production capacity of indigenous brands.

He said recent survey showed that the level of patronage of foreign computers by Nigerians, runs into millions of naira every Continued on page 26

HP Launches Z2 Desktop

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Kaspersky to StrengthenWest African Footprint

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“The Digital Switch Over (DSO) train has now changed from narrowgauge 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” Minister of Information and Culture,

Alhaji Lai Mohammed

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THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

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BUSINESSWORLD LAGOS TO BRIDGE DIGITAL DIVIDE WITH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES through technology in order to enhance the ease doing business, adding that it involves stationing of security cameras around the state.

Speaking on the installation of CCTV Cameras, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Technology, Mr. Tunbosun Alake, said “Safeguarding Lagos has gone beyond the ordinary. We have built new data rooms, install more cameras and effectively deploy technology in our operations, especially as regards to security and traffic management.”

Alake said the state sponsored 12 startups in the last one year on different innovative ideas. According to him, “Startup Lagos is building the largest directory of the largest ecosystem in the sub-Saharan Africa and offering retail and institutional investors, the opportunities of tapping into the vast potential of early-stage tech driven startup initiatives to blossom into regional and continental scale solutions to Africa’s diverse challenges.”

EXPERT DECRIES DEARTH OF INDIGENOUS COMPUTER MANUFACTURING FIRMS month.

“We conducted a study on the number of foreign brands of computer that Nigerians buy monthly and the numbers are high, running into millions of naira every month. The huge patronage should be encouraging enough for the foreign brands to consider manufacturing from Nigeria.

“By so doing, they will be creating opportunity for our people to venture into manufacturing of different components of the computer systems. I am aware that Transsion Group has taken up the challenge to build a factory in Nigeria for the production of Tecno and Infinite brands of mobile phones, and from available information, the group has commenced the construction of the factory and would complete it in no distant time. We want such replicated in computer manufacturing in Nigeria by the foreign computer brands,” Sodiya said.

NEWS

Report: Ransomware Recovery Cost Hits $1.85m Yearly Stories by Emma Okonji Sophos, a global next-generation cybersecurity company, has released the key findings of its recent global survey report, titled: ‘The State of Ransomware 2021,’ which revealed that the average cost of recovery from a ransomware attack has more than doubled in a year, increasing from $761,106 in 2020 to $1.85 million in 2021.

According to the report, the average ransom paid was $170,404.

The global report also stated that only eight per cent of organisations managed to get back all of their data after paying a ransom, with 29 per cent getting back no more than half of their data.

The survey polled 5,400 Information Technology (IT) decision makers in mid-sized organisations in 30 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, which includes Nigeria.

While the number of organisations that experienced a ransomware attack fell from 51 per cent of respondents surveyed in 2020 to 37 per cent in 2021, and fewer organisations suffered data encryption as the result of a significant attack, reaching 54 per cent in 2021 compared to 73 per cent in 2020, the new survey results reveal worrying upward trends,

particularly in terms of the impact of a ransomware attack.

Analysing the survey findings, the Principal Research Scientist at Sophos, Chester Wisniewski, said: “The apparent decline in the number of organisations being hit by ransomware is good news, but it is tempered by the fact that this is likely to reflect, at least in part, changes in attacker behaviors.”

According to Wisniewski,

“We’ve seen attackers move from larger scale, generic, automated attacks to more targeted attacks that include human hands-on-keyboard hacking. While the overall number of attacks is lower as a result, our experience shows that the potential for damage from these more advanced and complex targeted attacks is much higher. Such attacks are also harder to recover from,

and we see this reflected in the survey in the doubling of overall remediation costs.”

The main findings of the State of Ransomware 2021 global survey include: The average cost of remediating a ransomware attack more than doubled in the last 12 months.

Remediation costs, including business downtime, lost orders, operational costs, and more, grew from an average of

$761,106 in 2020 to $1.85 million in 2021. This means that the average cost of recovering from a ransomware attack is now 10 times the size of the ransom payment, on average The average ransom paid was $170,404, but while $3.2 million was the highest payment out of those surveyed, the most common payment was $10,000.

Ten organisations paid ransoms of $1 million or more

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

L-R: Team Lead, Marketing Communications, Cordros Capital Ltd, Lanre Sonubi; Analyst, Cordros Securities Ltd, Solomon Ogene; Director, Cordros Insurance Brokers Ltd, Shola Bola-Audu; Partnership and Stakeholder Manager, Slum2School,Sandra Onyedum, and Partnership Executive, Victor Emaye, during the presentation of a N1.8 million commitment for relief packs for 200 learners under the Slum2School programme in Lagos...recently

UK to Support Nigerian Female Tech Entrepreneurs The UK Government, through its UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, has launched a Green Tech Programme, which will support 30 Nigerian female green-tech entrepreneurs with 12 weeks coaching sessions with industry experts.

The coaching sessions is expected to boost the capacity of the entrepreneurs, as well as the likelihood of the enterprises to scale and become more sustainable businesses.

The Hub, in collaboration with Future Females as the implementing partner, has taken this next step as part of its pledge to help drive clean, resilient and inclusive recoveries in Nigeria, shaping the low carbon economy of the future that will create new jobs,

attract green investment and protect the environment for future generations.

The programme targeted at Nigerian female entrepreneurs with early-stage businesses aimed at protecting the environment and conserving natural resources using alternative technologies that are less harmful to the environment, will run virtually for three months and will cover 10 actionable modules that take entrepreneurs through the fundamental building blocks of starting and growing a GreenTech business.

Speaking on the initiative, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Ben LlewellynJones said: “As the world looks to build back better from the COVID 19 Pandemic, which has

affected millions of lives and adversely affected economies, it is important to remember that we are still tackling an even greater crisis – climate change.

“The UK, as the host of the 2021 UN Climate Change summit is working hard in advance of COP26 to increase the level of global ambition necessary to ensure that we are on track to limit global warming to below two degrees.

“The UK, as a bilateral partner, is committed to supporting Nigeria in delivering an accelerated and just transition, not only to meet the climate imperative but to ensure the country is at the forefront of shifts in the global economy.

“Like the transition itself, this support is at all levels - from

£200 million flowing into major clean technology programmes through International Climate Finance to entrepreneurs, to designing and developing small and micro-enterprise sustainable companies of the future.”

The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub Interim Country Director, Lamide Johnson said: “Climate Change remains a priority for the UKGovernment. We are pleased to have partnered with Future Females to help and support Green Tech Female Business entreprenuers in Nigeria who are tirelessly working hard to promote the use of technology to solve problems caused by climate change, and invariably promote a greener world.”

Commenting on the Green-

Tech programme launch, Future Females Co-Founder, Cerina Bezuidenhout said: “At Future Females, we have always been passionate about supporting sustainable businesses, and we are very excited to be focusing on GreenTech businesses in our partnership with UK-Nigeria Tech Hub. The entrepreneurs who participate in our programmes are not just building businesses - they’re creating innovative solutions to real problems we’re facing in this ‘new’ world, and they are a source of hope for their communities - and we can’t wait to meet them.”

The programme commences on May 24th 2021 and applications to participate will close on Friday, 7th of May 2021.

24 Unity Schools Qualify for National Robotics Championship Nosa Alekhuogie Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Asst. Editor, Money Market

Nume Ekeghe

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) ××ËØßÏÖ ÎÎÏÒ (Energy) Reporters

ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Twenty-four teams drawn from the Federal Unity Colleges have qualified for the First Lego League (FLL) National Robotics Championship Competition 2021.

The teams were selected after a competitive zonal championships held in Lagos and Kano, respectively.

The qualified teams from the Northern Zone – Kano are: Federal Science and Technical College, Orozo, Abuja; Federal Government Boys’ College, Apo, Abuja; Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari, Abuja; Federal Government Girls’ College, Kabba, Kogi

State; and Federal Government College, Kano, Kano State.

Others are Federal Government Girls’ College, Tambuwal, Sokoto State; Federal Government College Daura, Katsina State; Federal Science and Technical College, Dayi, Katsina State; Federal Science and Technical College, Michika, Adamawa State; Federal Science and Technical College, Jalingo, Taraba State.

Also, the listed included Federal Government Girls College, Bauchi, Bauchi State and Federal Government Girls’ College Jalingo, Taraba State Also qualified were 12 teams from the Southern Zone – Lagos are: Federal Science and

Technical College, Usi-Ekiti, Ekiti State; Federal Government Girls College, Akure, Ondo State; Queens College Lagos; Federal Government College, Odogbolu, Ogun State; Federal Science and Technical College, Awka, Anambra State and Federal Government Girls College, Lejja, Enugu State.

Others are Federal Government Girls College, Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State; Federal Science and Technical College, Awka Ohanso, Anambra State; Federal Government College, Ikom, Cross River State; Federal Science and Technical College, Tungbo, Bayelsa State; Federal Science and Technical College, Ahoda, Rivers State

and the Federal Government Girls College, Ikot-Obio Itong, Akwa-Ibom State.

The seventh edition of the championship, which is organised annually by Coderina Education and Technology Foundation, was carried out in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and the Principals of 104 Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria with supports from SAP, FIRST; National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); Ford and DOW. Coderina is an independent non-profit organisation ed-tech that works to promote ICT development, youth innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa.

Commenting on the project, the Director, Technology and Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Elizabeth Adedigba, said the objective was to expose the children to 21st Century technology and skills.

“The Ministry is aware of the fact that the world does not wait for anybody and artificial intelligence is gaining ground across sectors.

“The Federal Unity Colleges; being model schools, we have to start with the children to acquire the skills and boost their creative insights, innovation and team work progression such they can built it in them right from this stage.”

T H I S D AY ˾ MAY 6, 2021

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

As FG Connects Lagos to Digital Television Broadcasting The second phase rollout of Digital Switch Over, which commenced in Lagos last week, with over 60 digital channels, is expected to boost job creation through digital content development, writes Emma Okonji

L

ast week, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, launched the second phase of the country’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) from analogue broadcasting to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcasting.

With the Lagos launch of free DTT viewing, analogue broadcasting in Lagos will be switched off by October this year and for the entire country, analogue will be switched off by December 7, 2022, if the rollout plans are fully implemented.

The Lagos launch is coming five years after the pilot launch of DSO from analogue television broadcasting to digital broadcasting, in Jos, Plateau State. The federal government launched the second phase of the country’s DSO in Lagos, with a plan to cover 13 other states in the second phase rollout before the end of this year.

The federal government, through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), had on April 30, 2016, launched the pilot programme of the DSO in Jos, Plateau State, and thereafter, began the phase one launch of DSO in four states and in Abuja, the federal capital territory. The states included: Kwara State, which was launched on December 20, 2017; Kaduna State on December 22, 2017; Enugu State on February 12, 2018 and Osun State on February, 23, 2018.

Following the success recorded in the pilot and phase one launch, the federal government, last week, commenced the phase two launch of DSO, beginning with Lagos.

Speaking at the Lagos launch of DSO, the minister 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 3rd; Rivers on July 8th; 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 looks like a daunting task. Indeed, it is, but the fact that we have launched in Lagos, 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.

DSO journey since 2004 The journey of DSO started in 2004, when a regional radio conference for region one of the International Telecoms Union (ITU), was held in Geneva, a city in Switzerland. The conference set up the technical parameters for the basis for a regional agreement for DTT broadcasting in ITU region one.

Two years later, in 2006, a second regional radio conference was held in Geneva, and the conference carried out the planning exercise for the ITU Region One, and the plans were based on specified digital standards for sounds and television broadcasting, and it covered specific frequency bands.

The second conference also resorted to the signing of an agreement by the member states of ITU in Region One, which Nigeria belongs to. One of the key elements of the agreement, was that all analogue television transmitters operating in the UHL frequency band must be switched off by June 17, 2015. The agreement was referred to as ‘Geneva 2006 Agreement’, and Nigeria was a signatory to the agreement.

After the World Radio Conference of 2007, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), initiated the setting up of a Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC), to drive the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting in Nigeria.

The committee submitted its report to the federal government on June 20, 2009, with a well-defined roadmap that would see Nigeria complete the DSO by June 17, 2012, but unfortunately, for political reasons government could not address the recommendations of PAC until late 2012, precisely December 2012, when DigiTeam Nigeria, which is the Presidential Implementation Committee for digital transmission was inaugurated.

However, the DigiTeam was set up with no take-off grant and no budgetary allocation in the

2013 federal budget to actualise the implementation of the transition from analogue broadcasting to digital broadcasting, despite the fact that the white paper document on the transition specified some policy decision of government for the successful transition, which stipulated that television stations would be responsible only for the content of their broadcast, while Signal Distributors would be responsible for the transmission of the broadcast content to viewers.

A new switchover date of January 15, 2015 was then fixed. Nigeria, however, missed out on all deadlines for DSO rollout, until the pilot launch of DSO in Jos, Plateau State on April 30, 2016, with 16 digital channels on the platform of Integrated Television Services (ITS), one of the licensed Signal Distributors, by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

After the pilot launch in Jos, NBC commenced the actual rollout of Terrestrial DTT in other locations, beginning with Abuja with over 30 channels on the platform of Pinnacle Communications Limited, another licensed Signal Distributor, on December 22, 2016. Subsequent DSO rollout was held in Kwara, Kaduna, Enugu and Osun states.

Lagos DSO rollout Speaking at the Lagos DSO launch, which marked the commencement of the second phase rollout of DSO in the country, the minister said: “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.”

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, 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, and it would empower many youths, especially those in the entertainment and tourism industry. The governor 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,” Sanwo-Olu said.

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

Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, who

also spoke at the Lagos DSO launch, said Lagos, being the commercial hub of Nigeria that is hosting the largest demographics of Nigeria, was deliberately left for second phase rollout after experimentations of other cities in the country.

“The digital terrestrial TV project is unique because it has our indigenous culture and traditions and the empowerment of the mass of Nigerians, as a core value proposition. I want to say that the constant policy direction and support from President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration led to the conscious transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, which began in 2016, and I thank President Buhari for his commitment to bring information and access to Information to the mass of Nigerians. I also thank the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed for delivering the DSO proposition to Nigerians,” he said.

Benefits of DSO The DSO television platform, which is branded as FreeTV, offers its Lagos 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 PayTV channels, Push Video on Demand, Information Services and Audience Measurement.

The 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.

Speaking on the benefits of DSO, Idachaba said the digitisation of broadcasting would bring lots of opportunities for Nigerians, since it is the fastest and safest way to leapfrog those at the lower run of the digital divide.

“With the second phase rollout in Lagos, a projected five million Nigerians will be accessing the digital television services, not only for broadcasting, but will also converge opportunities for telecoms and other ancillary services. It will bring about additional creation of jobs for Nigerian engineers and content creators and small scale businesses are going to be stimulated around this proposition,” he said.

Since the implementation of DSO in 2016, NBC has licensed over 140 digital terrestrial television channels, cutting across regional and national local channels and we expect that Lagos will quickly scale up to over 60 channels within the next few weeks.

“Six months from the date of the launch in Lagos, analogue broadcasting in Lagos will be switched off, and I encourage all Lagosians to get the Set-Top-Boxes that are produced in Nigeria. I also appeal to the manufacturers to make the Set-Top-Boxes affordable for Nigerians,” Idachaba said.

Set-Top-Box A Set-Top-Box (STBs) is a little decoder, with which viewers could have access to digital contents from different digital television channels, free

of subscription.

STBs offer the same experience like the decorder of the pay TV and it offers over 60 channels in Lagos free of charge. STB allows viewers to have access to all free-to-air channels free of charge, including sports channels, entertainment, music and other family programmes.

The box comes digitally ready and allows viewers to receive broadband connectivity. The box is self-installed and can be operated with in-house antennae or outdoor antennae. It has a yearly activation fee of N1,500. The box is available everywhere in Lagos at a cost of N12, 000.

Giving details of STB, the Head of DigiTeam Nigeria, Mr. Edward Amana, said in order to benefit from the economy of scale, DigiTeam developed a common ECOWAS standard for transmission, digital receivers and STB for the whole of the ECOWAS sub region and that in line with the policy decision of government, two signal distributors, Integrated Television Services (ITS) from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), and Pinnacle Communications Limited, a private entrepreneur, were licensed and they had since been rolling out their terrestrial digital television transmission networks.

According to Amana, “A total of 13 companies were approved for the manufacture of Set-TopBoxes (STBs) and conditional access software was introduced to protect the STB manufactures in Nigeria. It is for this reason that all STBs purchased by consumers, must be activated with the software, before it can function effectively in Nigeria, and this will help control STBs that may be smuggled into the country or produced outside of the 13 approved manufacturers. Two companies, Inview Nigeria Limited and Renmore Nigeria Limited were licensed to provide the STB services from among the 13 that were approved. An Abuja-based company has been contracted as a call centre operator to handle the STB activations, using the access software,” Amana said.

According to Idachaba, “Our indigenous STB is a melting point and a point of convergence of our collective heritage. I say this because the STBs were produced in Nigeria, by Nigerians, using local content.”

“As at today, STB manufacturers have set up their assembling plants in Abuja, Calabar, Lagos, Ogun and Osun States and they have since commenced production of STBs and generating employment for the country,” Idachaba further said.

Local STB manufacturers Chairman, STB Manufacturers in Nigeria, Godffery Ohabunnwa, who also spoke at the launch said: “I am proud that I am a Nigerian, and Chairman of one of the licensed STB manufacturers for our DSO. This simply shows that good things can still come out of Nigeria, despite the difficult times we are passing through as a nation. We have capacity to produce over two million STBs when we begin full capacity production.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

Mastercard Foundation, MainOne Expands Cloud Services to Data Science Launch Drive Business Digital Transition Audio e-Learning Platform Emma Okonji

Stories by Emma Okonji Mastercard Foundation and Data Science have launched an audio e-Learning platform that will provide free, online, and unlimited learning access to more than 100 million Nigerian youths.

The first-of-its-kind audio e-learning platform will offer unlimited access based on the national mobile phone penetration, low-data, and basic feature phone requirements. The platform is a continuum of Data Science Nigeria’s successful ‘Learn at Home’ initiative, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, that provided learning to millions of Nigerian pupils amid the COVID-19 disruptive restrictions.

Learn at Home is based on an inclusive e-learning approach.

It is designed to eliminate the barriers of internet access (data) cost and over-dependency on expensive smartphones in the delivery of locally relevant, convenient, and inexpensive access to quality education.

The Learn at Home audio e-learning initiative, is part of an extensive effort to reduce the urban-rural learning disparities in Nigeria.

Mastercard Foundation, in a statement, said it would be a continuation of efforts to ensure universal learning and improve

learning outcomes across all communities in Nigeria. Already, more than four million students have joined audio classes with USSD/SMS support, where they receive educational materials on key subjects, based on the Nigerian Educational Research and Development (NERDC) curriculum for primary and secondary school students.

Country Head, Mastercard Foundation Nigeria, Chidinma Lawanson, said: “The disruption of the pandemic did not only halt learning for many, but also revealed and exacerbated existing inequalities in learning opportunities. The purpose of www.learnathome.radio is to ensure children have equal, convenient, and affordable access to quality learning.”

On the platform, pupils and students from primary 1 to Senior Secondary (SS3) will gain access to a special examination readiness series that includes a collection of solved past questions in WAEC, NECO, BECE, and Common Entrance from 2009 to 2020. Expert teachers have been engaged to provide answers and explanations to the past questions in a step-by-step and easy-to-understand format, with complementary live classes that enable each student to learn at a preferred pace irrespective of location and socioeconomic conditions.

Stakeholders Restate Commitment to Support Girls in ICT The recent event to celebrate the global campaign for the International Girls in ICT Day, organised by eBusinesslife in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other stakeholders in the industry, has placed more emphasis on grooming more young girls that will take up the challenge of exploring ICT-related careers.

The event, which held recently in Lagos, was part of a yearlong campaign instituted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to sensitise young girls to explore career options in ICT and related fields, which prior to now have been malegender dominated.

Introducing the event, the Convener and Publisher, e-Business Life Communication Limited, Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro, aligned with a report by the ITU, stating that the ICT sector remains a buoyant and growing sector for employment, and a key economic factor reinforcing both national and international development.

“Any professional job we can think of today has a strong tech component. Technology has become a critical tool in fields as diverse as art, history, archaeology, law, primary teaching, to mention but a few. As such, tech qualifications will give an advantage in a competitive job market, earn a high salary and give career mobility,” she said.

While encouraging the

students to tap into the future, Emuophedaro stated: “The future of the ICT sector promises to be an exciting one. It is estimated that within the next 10 years, there will be more than 2 million technology jobs that cannot be filled because of lack of qualified ICT specialists.”

A statement by the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, said: “Gender equality is a human rights issue, but it is also in all our interests: men and boys, women and girls. Gender inequality and discrimination against women harms us all.

There is overwhelming evidence that investing in women is the most effective way to lift communities, companies and countries. Women’s participation makes peace agreements stronger, societies more resilient and economies more vigorous.

Gender equality is the unfinished business of our time.”

She noted that that given the rising need for software engineers and web developers, and coupled with the projection that advances in gender equality can result in a $12 trillion boost to the global GDP by 2025, it is hardly surprising that the world is making more space for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

She applauded female mentors with whose efforts more girls have and will dare to pursue careers in STEM in the near future.

MainOne, provider of connectivity solutions for businesses in West Africa, is responding to the increase in the adoption of cloud technology by connecting businesses across the region directly to public cloud service providers.

The company in a statement, said the MainOne Cloud Connect service would ensure direct secure and reliable network connectivity between enterprise data centers or office locations and public cloud providers such as Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services. MainOne also has a partnership with Equinix-Telecity that grants

the company direct access to other global providers such as Oracle and IBM thereby giving customers access to the services they need.

Deputy General Manager, Marketing and Customer Experience at MainOne, Ololade Shonubi, said: “With MainOne Cloud Connect, businesses have a cost-effective solution to scale up as cloud resource utilization increases while benefiting from an improved network experience than Internet-based connections. This connectivity solution is backed by MainOne’s private submarine cable and supports direct connections to Cloud services at speeds from 10 Mbps to 100 Gbps.”

She added, “Our Cloud Connect service enables businesses in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire adapt to the rapid growth of cloud solutions equipped with always-on, secure access to their cloud enabled applications. Businesses across the region are strategically positioned to use our world class connectivity platform coupled with technology from our global partners to support their digital transformation efforts.”

Customers have continued to commend MainOne for connecting businesses to the cloud.

One of the company’s customers said: “MainOne Cloud Connect service allowed our team have

direct access to Microsoft Azure services, which means we don’t have to leverage on the shared internet of the bank which was resulting in high bandwidth usage, unpredictable latency and impact on other services.

The latency of the service is guaranteed, and the service performance is predictable”.

MainOne is a broadband infrastructure company providing innovative telecoms services and network solutions across West Africa. Since its launch in 2010, MainOne has been providing services to major telecom operators, ISPs, government agencies, small to large enterprises, and educational institutions in West Africa.

MEDIA BRIEFING

L-R: GM, Lagos State Resident Registration Agency, Ms. Ibilola Kasunmu; Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Technology, Mr. Olatunbosun Alake; Chairman Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Science and technology, Olanrewaju Afinni; Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Hakeem Fahm; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho and Permanent Secretary, Information and Strategy, Mr. Shina Thorpe, during the media press briefing in commemoration of the second year in office of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, held in Lagos...recently

HP Extends Partner Program to Global Retailers HP has announced the extension of HP Amplify, a first-of-its kind global channel program, to its vast ecosystem of more than1350 online pure players, omni channel, and brick and mortar retail partners.

Launched in the fall of 2020 to commercial partners, the powerful new partner program, built on a single, integrated structure provides the insights, capabilities and collaboration tools needed to drive digital transformation and growth as consumer buying behaviours continue to evolve.

HP will begin to transition retail partners1 to the HP Amplify program beginning August 2, 2021 and continue through the calendar year.

Built on a simplified and easy-to-navigate structure

with two distinct retail tracks (Synergy and Power including Power CDR Retail targeted at retail sub-distributors), HP Amplify is designed from the ground up to turn data analytics into insights that spark new strategies, steer innovation and reward partners for performance, collaboration and capabilities while accelerating digital transformation with insights, building a data driven culture and augmenting common knowledge with collaboration tools.

Managing Director, HP Inc. Africa, Bradley Pulford, said: “For the IT industry overall, and the retail channel specifically, it is clear that business as usual is no longer an option.

HP Amplify not only makes it easier for retail partners to do

business with HP, it provides a clear path, built on a proven framework, to transform their business for today while enabling long-term sustained growth in the future.”

Pulford further said: “Together with our partner community we are reinventing how consumers experience our products and services, by investing in our shared capabilities while developing new areas of strength to remain competitive.”

Spurred by rising demand for work, learn and entertain at home products accelerated by the pandemic, the retail industry has experienced an accelerated pace of change. According to Pulford, capitalizing on the momentum of transformational experiences will be critical to building and maintaining the

flexibility that is demanded of doing business today. For the foreseeable future, changes in consumer behaviour will have a greater impact on value in retail than any other single factor.

While in-store traffic decreased, e-commerce sales grew by more than 27 per cent in 2020, and is expected to account for 40 percent of total sales for consumer-packaged goods by 2025. Trends such as hybrid work, the emergence of the prosumer and continued ecommerce growth are making collaborative partnerships in the retail industry more essential than ever. With the introduction of HP Amplify, HP is empowering retailers to capitalize on these shifts, arming partners to deliver superior customer experiences and drive future growth.

MTN Nigeria Adopts Remita for Improved Post-paid Transactions MTN Nigeria has introduced Remita, a leading electronic payment platform, for the management of all its post-paid invoicing, payment as well as service-and-expense reconciliation needs so as to enable ease of payments and achieve instant value in a flexible manner for its post-paid customers, With the development, enterprises and individuals on MTN’s post-paid billing system will now be able choose

an invoice and amount to pay through any of the multiple payment channels available on Remita, receive a payment notification and an automatically updated transactions record with Nigeria’s largest mobile company.

The telecommunications company made the announcement recently after integrating its system with Remita’s invoicing and payments solutions suite.

The partnership is expected to

holistically transform the experience of post-paid customers of MTN Nigeria, enabling them consummate transactions in the most convenient way, achieve payment flexibility and maintain a record that is up-to-date and truly reflective of their payment status.

With post-paid payments now to be made on Remita, customers can centrally view, pay and manage all their bills.

They can also retrieve their

invoices and complete payments for their total outstanding bills or selected invoices. They would also be able to enter a custom amount to be settled through a wide array of payment options available on Remita including card, internet banking, electronic wallet, USSD, bank transfer, phone number and registered Remita profile.

Remita transactions can also be completed at any bank branch and agent locations nationwide.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Youssef: CBN’s Concerns about Cryptocurrency Legitimate The Chief Executive Officer of Paxful, Mr. Ray Youssef, who was in Lagos recently to dialogue with government officials, in this interview advises on the way forward for cryptocurrency business in the country. Dike Onwuamaeze brings the excerpts:

W

hat is Paxful all about and its vision?

It is all about helping people by impacting their lives and making them wealthy, but not through speculation, but by allowing them to build businesses. It is also about allowing people to use their money in a way everyone will have the right to use money. That is human rights. The fact that people have to live in this world and do not have equal access to money is really a crime.

Financial access should be a fundamental human rights. My vision for the world is a place where the hardest working people should be the ones on top. That is essentially my vision for the world though it may not be the commonest thing to say, but I actually believe it because people in Africa have shown that it is possible, especially the youth in Nigeria with what they have done in the past five years by leading in cryptocurrency globally without help from anybody. Then you can imagine what can happen in the next five years. That is why Paxful is bringing not just Bitcoin, but is also coming to educate the people and show them something legitimate that can help them in their everyday lives.

Few months ago, the Central Bank of Nigeria restricted financial institutions from processing any transaction on cryptocurrencies. How do you intend to play around this?

At Paxful, we do not want to get around anything. You want to engage everyone including the regulators and speak with them and show them what this is all about.

I understand the central bank put the ban because they saw things moving fast because Nigerians can move things pretty fast when they are motivated. So, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is concerned about safety with regard to money laundering and financing terrorism. These are pretty valid questions regulators all over the world, including the United States of America, are asking. So, there is no need to move around anything because we can engage them and we have been engaging them and we want to continue to engage them to show them that this is safe and can create wealth for everyone. This is a pure marketplace. We just connect people together. We want to engage the regulators, meet with them and give them the clarity that people involved in the trading are not criminals but normal businesspeople that want to deal and transact with everybody, including the government. This is why we are communicating and listening to the regulators to understand and respect all their concerns.

What are the products traded on your platforms and their uses and benefits?

The product that is primarily trading on our platform is money in every single form it can pass to those that need it whether as a gift card, cash in a bank account and on wallet like VISA or MTN mobile money, credit and debit card and every form of value container that can be traded with password. We use Bitcoin as the clearing, which is almost a universal translator and transporter of money.

For example, someone here in Nigeria may want a relative in California to send money back home to him in Nigeria. Usually, he will use the Western Union that can charge between 20 and 40 per cent and can take one or two days. But with Paxful, he will just go and buy a gift card in a local shop in Los Angeles and give me the code and upload the picture of the card to me. Then the guy takes the code and finds someone in China or Indonesia and says “do you want my gift card and I can give it to you at 10 or 20 per cent discount with a Bitcoin in exchange? The question is what he will do with the Bitcoin? He can turn around and sell it to another Nigerian on Paxful and say I will give you this Bitcoin but I will want you to send money from your own Nigerian account to mine. And because Bitcoin is in more demand here he can make a profit out of it. So, instead of paying 40 per cent, he can

only thing saving your money from hackers is your password. There are some hackers somewhere in Europe or Russia or America that has your email and your password. So, use two factors authentication, meaning that you have to get a message on your phone as well. That is the basics and if you will not do that you shouldn’t be in the game. The responsibility is on you to protect your own money and understand the game.

Youssef

accept 15 per cent and that happens within a minute or less. Crypto-currency in this case is not a means of investment or speculation but just a vehicle of exchange.

Is it a payment instrument or means of payment?

It is like the kind of liquid clearing layer that allows anyone to access any means of payment in the world.

hubs of innovation that will be incubators for your young unemployed geniuses in this country to use to build something amazing and have success. It is the greatest hope for an entrepreneur.

A recent report showed that Nigeria is the global market leader in the use of cryptocurrency. What is the current situation now?

Nigeria is still leading and the lead is even growing. Nigeria is further ahead since the CBN’s ban and our value has grown by 15 to 20 per cent. And it is going to continue to grow. We have 1.5 million users here in Nigeria that has moved over $1.5 billion worth of value.

What do you mean with the ‘Built on Bitcoin Foundation?’

It is officially a not-for-profit foundation.

We have built four schools in the past three years. The question is why? My first experience was in New Orleans, during the hurricane Catherina disaster. I was looking for a way to help people any way that I could. I was nearly shot by the police that thought I was a looter.

But I was lucky to meet five Dominican nuns led by Sister Mary Rose. We worked together to rebuilt a whole school. This showed me the power of giving back in the right way.

And I thought what better place to be doing this than in Africa. Our mission is to build a hundred schools in the next five years.

Why are you in Nigeria?

I came to Nigeria because Nigeria is the hustling capital of the world. The Nigerian people have special gift and by my own opinion the best businesspeople in the world. They have the passion on how to make things move faster. And that is why Nigeria is the leading global cryptocurrency users. We want to help their acceleration. The beautiful thing about Nigeria is that it is not a rock that is just sitting and waiting for you to push it. Nigeria is a moving train that is moving so fast. Now we want to add more fuel into that train so that it goes even faster, picks up more passengers and takes all of Africa and the entire world with it. So, how do we do that? Education!

This is important. People need to understand what they are getting into. Cryptocurrency is just connecting things together. We have set up office in Abuja that will be the centre of education, centre of incubation where anyone can go and learn this thing and see that it is good and meet good people that want to help to see them succeed and that is so very important. The other thing that I will love to do is to have a campus here. We have a campus in South Africa and Kenya in 2019 and after that values in Kenya and South Africa skyrocketed. If we do that here in Nigeria I think that it will be hundred times better. If you give a Nigerian a dollar he is going to turn it into $10,000. I am super excited to see what the Nigerian youths can do with just a little bit of love. We have just built a school in Kaduna State, which is one of my best investments in the world. And you can imagine building up these central

What is Paxful putting in place to address the skepticism that crypto-currency is an investment?

First, their skepticism is healthy because no people have been scammed more than the African people throughout history. And cryptocurrency is prone to being scammed and a lot of people have lost their money. So, skepticism is good. You should be skeptical when someone comes to you and said hey this coin is blowing up, put on your life savings.

You need to be skeptical enough to run away.

When we come to people we do not say this is an investment. Rather we say that Bitcoin is just a tool for making all-round instant payment easier. It is a technology that is powered by people. And by using this system you can access money anywhere in the world much easier and faster. But you are not going to get rich quick here because it is like building a business. If you work hard at it and put your mind into it, take your time and be patient to learn about the risks you can do very well. There are tremendous profit margins to be made that can be up to 30 per cent.

But where ever there are high profits there are high risks. The risk of fraud is very big.

In China, India and Nigeria and the entire world I am very proud to say that over 99.9 per cent of all Paxful trades have not had any issues at all. And we really worked very hard to get that number. There is still a whole lot of work to be done. The number one thing I have to say to people is that they have got to educate themselves their money is not in a brick building with some security guards but on the computers and the phones and the

Can Bitcoin be used as a vehicle for creating jobs for the youths?

Absolutely! People can build their own financial services business on Bitcoin. And as they are growing and breaking into new markets jobs are created. My advice to the youths is to learn about everything else and also learn about crypto-currency. They do not need much money to start. They can start with just few amounts, play around it, send them to their friends and see how it works.

Then it becomes an entrepreneurial journey of solving problems. First, do you have problems sending and receiving money on daily basis? Solve that problem for yourself with every tool that you have including the crypto-currency if it makes sense. And once you have solved that problem for yourself then you can turn it into business by solving problems for others. If that works and people want to pay for it because it adds value to their lives then you can scale it and that is what technology is good for. Once you scale it up with the public you keep fine tuning it with real feedback from your customers.

What happens over the years is that you are wealthy because you have built something useful for others.

What role do you envisage for the crypto-currencies in the implementation of the emerging African Continental Free Trade Agreement?

I hope that this initiative by the leaders of the continent works. And I am really praying that it works. There is a crypto-currency in every single African economy. So, while the leaders of Africa is working on the system and playing all the political games they have to with Europe and France hoping to make it work, the youths of Africa have already gotten a system for playing the game and it is going to spread to the entire continent of Africa. They (African leaders) are trying their best but let us keep building what we are building because this is the real game that when it starts no one person can control it.

There is no way to stop Bitcoin.

How prepared is Paxful to work with the government of Nigeria in regulating the crypto transactions?

We are ready right now brother and I will love to meet them and engage with them. We cannot do this with hate and animosity. We are all together in this: the youths, the rich, the poor, everyone is a member. We have to respect each other and work together with each other bringing the regulators and the government on the table.

What are your expectations?

I am very optimistic. There is amazing opportunities in this continent, especially in Nigeria. I will like to meet with the government to share my vision and listen to understand what their concerns are. We will give them the data and the information, show them what is happening and we can come together and make an agreement and put a regulation that is innovation friendly that will help the youths to make money.

Nigeria can do better, much better.

How is Paxful positioning itself for growth and expansion?

Number one: create a safe marketplace that gives people universal access to money. This is the ultimate challenge. Next is responsive instant support to customers 24/7 that listens and understands the people to build trust.

Third, is building things that make using money easier.

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ʹ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: Celebrant/Chairperson, Nigeria Bar Association NBA, Benin branch, Mrs.Paula Agbale,Esq ; Mr Nosa EDO-OSAGIE; Past NBA Benin Vice Chair Mrs. Violet Olumese Esq. and FIDA Edo State branch Publicity Secretary, Mrs Florence Abhulimen Okundaye Esq., during the Birthday Party held in honour of Mrs Paula Agbale Esq. In Benin City.. recently

L-R: Area Head of Talent, OE and Inclusion, British American Tobacco West and Central Africa market, Tunji Solanke (MCIPM), and Regional Strategic Manager, Middle Belt, Julia Adelodun, after receiving the maiden ‘People First Health & Safety Awards (CEO Category)’ at the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) awards held in Abuja...recently

L-R: Head, Human Capital, Humphrey Ozegbe; Executive Director, Technical, Okanlawon Adelagun; Managing Director/CEO, Daniel Braie, and Chief Financial Officer, Emmanuel Otitolaiye, all of Linkage Assurance Plc during the unveiling of the Company’s new Brand Identity at its corporate head office in Lagos...recently

L-R; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr Oluyemi Kalesanwo; Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Cecillia Dada and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Sina Thorpe during the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation press conference to commemorate the 2nd Years in Office of Gov. Sanwo-Olu Administration in Lagos...recently

L-R: Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji; Member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Okoroafor and his newly wedded wife,Juliet Chinyere during the solemnisation of their Holy Matrimony at St. Finbarr’s Catholic Church, Umuahia...recently

L-R:,Chief Executive Officer, The Access Media group, Mrs. Mary Ikoku; Senator MAO Ohuabunwa;Prof Okoro Ijoma; Deputy governor Abia state, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu;his wife Nnenna and ,son of the deceased/former Abia state commissioner for Environment and SME, Hon Gabe Igboko,at the funeral ceremony of madam Esther Nnennia Igboko held at Amuvi, Arochukwu in Abia state...recently

L-R; Oworo Mega Undertaking Manager, Ikeja Electric, Desmond Abayomi Idowu; Ifedapo CDA Chairman Ilaje Bariga, Mr Dimehin Akintoye; Brand and Event Coordinator, Ikeja Electric, Adebimpe Akintola; Ekerin Ilu Ilaje Community, Chief Ajodun Farotoye and Isale Akoka CDA Chairman, Mr Banjo Odukale, during the distribution of mosquito nets, nose masks and medical materials to Ilaje community residence in Lagos... recently

L-R ; Area Sales Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc, lbadan branch, Rotimi Oguntimoju; Missioner, Nasfat Ibadan, Alhaji Fathiu Sanni; Divisional Customer Marketing Manager, West, Guinness Nigeria, Lade Akinsanya ; Zonal Chairman, Nasfat, lbadan, Alh Bayo Azeez; , Chairman, NASFAT Akobo Branch, Ibadan , Alhaji Mukaram Aliu and Coordinating Missioner, NASFAT Ibadan Subzone, Alhaji Yushau Aderoju Adebayo, during the presentation of gifts and care packages to Nasfat Ibadan...recently

THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ , MAY 6, 2021

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Assessing COVID-19 Management in FCT Olawale Ajimotokan examines the response by the FCT authority on the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in one of the country’s epicentre in the last 12 months

L-R- The Chairman FCT Ministerial Expert Advisory Task Team on COVID-19, Dr Aliyu Modibbo; FCT Minister Mohammed Musa Bello; Minister of state, Dr Ramatu Aliyu; and former Permanent Secretary FCT, Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa at the commissioning of the 400-bed Idu Isolation Centre

A

year has elapsed since the index case of COVID-19 in the Federal Capital Territory was recorded in the middle of March 2020. Since the outbreak, the response by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to the pandemic, which is to stem the further spread of the virus could be categorised into healthcare measures, security approaches and humanitarian efforts.

As the first subnational to reach the recommended testing target by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) of one per cent of its population, there are indications that the FCT is on course on the total eradication of the pandemic in the country.

In spite of the status of the FCT as one of the epicenters of the disease in the country, the FCT, as of April 30, 2021, accounted for only 126 deaths of the nation’s total 2,063 fatalities.

The FCT, Lagos and Ogun States were the epicentre of the pandemic when the virus that causes severe respiratory infection began to traction across the country, prompting the federal government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to declare a local lockdown on the affected places to prevent it from spiraling out of control.

All schools, non-essential government services, religious institutions, markets, recreational centres, among others were shut for an initial period of two weeks.

Under the PTF watch, the FCTA having monitored the situation in China and the various measures adopted by other countries to tackle the pandemic, took deliberate pragmatic steps to contain and curtail the spread of the deadly virus.

One of the measures put in place by the

FCTA led by the FCT Minister, Muhammed Musa Bello and the Minister of state, Dr Ramatu Aliyu was the setting up of the Ministerial Expert Advisory Task Team on COVID-19. The team comprised private sector stakeholders and headed by a former Minister of FCT, Dr Aliyu Modibbo.

Its scope was to harness private sector support and efforts towards defeating the deadly virus. Specifically, the team was mandated to rally well to do individuals and organisations to provide medical, financial and other material support that will alleviate the effect of the pandemic in the FCT. The Karu General Hospital was renovated to cater for patients either coming for general testing and identification or to be quarantined. In addition, a 17-bed section that was equipped with all the needed facilities, including ventilators was provided for those who required intensive care.

The Asokoro General Hospital was also renovated while the private sector in conjunction with other stakeholders, like the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), outfitted the Idu train facility Training Centre to accommodate an initial 300 beds before it was later expanded to 400 beds to be deployed as isolation and treatment centre.

The FCTA also worked very closely with the University Teaching Hospital at Gwagwalada to expand the capacity of the isolation and treatment centre at that location so that it would be able to accommodate more patients.

The Zuba General Hospital was also set aside for possible conversion into isolation and treatment centre to be able to accommodate more patients, should the need arise.

Several other private sector organisations like the FATE Foundation, Polaris Bank, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Binani Group, among others were also rallied to provide Personal

Protective Equipment (PPEs), monitoring machines, furniture, and air conditioners and power generators at the Idu facility, helping to boost FCT’s isolation and treatment centres as well as increase the number of bed spaces.

To effectively superintend the isolation and treatment centres, the FCTA in collaboration with the NCDC and other health organisations, trained and deployed hundreds of health workers, including doctors, nurses on the tactical and operational response to the virus.

Hundreds of ad-hoc staff were recruited and trained to man the call centres and provide support for the FCT’s testing and tracing effort. It also set aside special remuneration packages to motivate this category of workers to ensure that their morale remained high as first responders to the pandemic.

In a related manner, in a bid to enforce the lockdown, the Ministerial Expert Advisory Task Team rallied security organisations like the Nigerian Police Force, relevant formations of the military, Civil Defence Corps, the Road Safety, the Department of State Services, FCT Department of Road Transport Services as well as all the agencies involved in the provision of services within the FCT to enforce the presidential lockdown directive.

The FCTA also set up a Ministerial Team on COVID-19 Restriction Enforcement, headed by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bala Ciroma. This team, comprising all the security agencies, worked to enforce the lockdown directive at places of worship, hotels, event centres, markets, schools, among others while defaulters were arrested. It also ensured that social distancing was observed in the various markets for foodstuffs and medical services allowed to operate.

Apart from that, it also established a robust mechanism to cater for vulnerable people within the city as well as within the area

councils and satellite towns by delivering palliatives to the people through the setting up the FCT Palliative Committee headed by the Minister of state, Dr Aliyu, and supported by the chairmen of the six area councils and other stakeholder groups, including traditional and religious authorities. NGOs were also made part and parcel of this community-wide initiative to ensure that vulnerable members of the society were catered for.

In the end, a reasonable number of the vulnerable people in the FCT were identified and given palliatives. With the support of the security personnel and private individuals who volunteered their vehicles, these palliatives were escorted and delivered to various locations across the FCT. The target was to ensure that at least a hundred thousand households in each area council received palliatives. A total of 600,000 households were targeted in the entire six area councils.

An increase in awareness for testing led to a drastic drop in COVID-19 infections and deaths in the FCT by September 2020 with many of the tests done returning negative. The number of patients in the various isolation and treatment centres across the nation’s capital had also decreased massively compared to the number during the peak of the infections. This led to the relaxation of the lockdown measures as well as the reopening of markets, schools and places of worship and recreation centres.

The FCTA’s effective handling of the COVID-19 pandemic attracted commendations from various quarters. It was touted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Country Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, who acknowledged the effectiveness of the actions of the FCTA notably in the fight against the virus.

T H I S D AY ˾ , MAY 6, 2021

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NEWS

Malnutrition: 10 Zamfara LGs Benefit from UNICEF, USAID Nutrition Supplements Kuni Tyessi ÓØ ÌßÔË *O TUFNNJOH UIF UJEF PG malnutrition and its devastating consequences especially in northern Nigeria, 10 local governments in Zamfara State have benefitted from 6OJUFE /BUJPOT $IJMESFO T 'VOE 6/*$&' 3FBEZ UP 6TF 5IFSBQFVUJD 'PPET 365'

The programme in colMBCPSBUJPO XJUI 64"*% through Food for Peace (FFP) project is being run JO "OLB #JSOJO .BHBKJ #VOHVEV (VNJ (VTBV Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Maru, Shinkafi and Zurmi -PDBM (PWFSONFOUT 6/*$&' 4FOJPS -(" Facilitator for nutrition in

Zamfara State, Mr. Micheal &EJFNFI TBJE UIF JOUFSWFOtion which is for children between the ages of 0- 59 months has been effective with no recorded case of relapse. )F TBJE UIF .JDSP /VUSJFOU Powder which is given to children between the ages of TJY UP NPOUIT JT GPS UIF prevention of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) while the 365' JT GPS UIF USFBUNFOU of SAM which is given to children between the ages PG TJY UP NPOUIT )F TBJE TVDDFTT IBT CFFO possible due to the cooperation of the mothers with the caregivers at the Primary )FBMUIDBSF $FOUSFT BT XFMM

FERTILITY

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

Sickle Cell Disease And Infertility (Part 3)

as the community nutrition mobilisers who educate and enlighten mothers at the community level.

“Micro Nutrient Power is the prevention package which is usually given to children between the ages PG TJY UP NPOUIT 8IJMF 3FBEZ UP 6TF 5IFSBQFVUJD Foods is for the treatment of SAM in children between UIF BHFT PG TJY UP NPOUIT “There has been no case of a relapse because the mothers are disciplined and so not share the supplements with the children. The supplements are always available and in stock and treatment comes as of when due” he said.

RCCG Donates Life-saving Equipment to LUTH

L

ast week we talked about managing fertility challenges in patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and treatment options to achieve pregnancy. This week, our concluding focus will be on sickle cell disease and care during pregnancy and after delivery.

Women with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) should be seen before conception (per conception consultation) by a sickle cell specialist care giver to receive information about how this condition affects pregnancy and effect of pregnancy on the patient with this disease, and also how to improve overall outcome for mother and the baby.

Primary care physicians do play a key role in preconception screening, and also the provision of contraceptive advice. This consultation should include optimization of management and screening for end organ damage.

The assessment for chronic disease complication should include:

the healthy red cells in blood) the increased risk of crises and acute chest syndrome (ACS). r5IF SJTL PG JODSFBTFE JOGFDUJPO FTQFDJBMMZ urinary tract infection) during pregnancy. r5IF JODSFBTFE SJTL PG IBWJOH B HSPXUI SFTUSJDUFE baby, which increases the likelihood of fetal distress, induction of labour and caesarean section. r5IF DIBODF PG UIFJS CBCZ CFJOH BGGFDU CZ 4JDLMF Cell Disease. r"O VQ UP EBUF BTTFTTNFOU GPS DISPOJD EJTFBTF complications that may be related to pregnancy and child birth. r7BDDJOBUJPO TUBUVT TIPVME CF EFUFSNJOFE BOE updated before pregnancy.

r1FOJDJMMJO QSPQIZMBYJT PS UIF FRVJWBMFOU TIPVME CF QSFTDSJCFE 1FOJDJMMJO QSPQIZMBYJT BOE WBDDJOBUJPOT r#MPPE QSFTTVSF BOE VSJOBMZTJT TIPVME CF are usually monitored and administered in primary performed to identify women with hypertension care, but should be reviewed by the physician and/or proteinuria. haematologist/obstetrician during pregnancy. r 3FUJOBM TDSFFOJOH TJODF QSPMJGFSBUJWF SFUJOPQBUIZ is common in patient with sickle cell disease.

Adeyemo (middle) receiving donated medical equipment from Pastor Emovon while others look on

Mary Nnah As part of efforts aimed at reducing infant mortality in the country, members of 5IF 1SBJTF 7FTTFMT PG UIF 3FEFFNFE $ISJTUJBO $IVSDI PG (PE -BHPT 1SPWJODF recently donated life- saving equipment to Olikoye 3BOTPNF ,VUJ $IJMESFO &NFSHFODZ 6OJU PG UIF -BHPT 6OJWFSTJUZ 5FBDIJOH )PTQJUBM -65)

Speaking during the donation, Pastor in Charge PG 1SPWJODF 1BTUPS "NPT &NPWPO TUBUFE UIBU UIF gesture is in alignment with the strategic direction from the leadership of the mission.

According to him, “our dearest esteemed father in UIF -PSE BOE UIF (FOFSBM 0WFSTFFS PG UIF 3FEFFNFE $ISJTUJBO $IVSDI PG (PE 1BTUPS & " "EFCPZF DPNmissioned all senior pastors to impact positively on our environment. i)F DSFBUFE B OFX PGGJDF Assistant Pastor in charge of $ISJTUJBO 4PDJBM 3FTQPOTJCJMJUZ *O PVS QSPWJODF XF IBWF the office and through that, we have been running with the vision, touching lives within our environment.”

)F MJTUFE JUFNT EPOBUFE to include digital weighing scales for neonates/infants, paediatric digital sphygmomanometer with different DVGGT *OGSB SFE UIFSNPNFUFS regular thermometer, suction NBDIJOF QJO JOEFY HBVHF & cylinder, hand held pulse PYJNFUFS SFHVMBS QVMTF PYJNFUFS "&% NBDIJOFT multi-parameter monitor BOE &$( XJUI QBFEJBUSJD leads.

Continuing, he said “today, we want to contribute our quota to the reduction of infant mortality in Nigeria. .PSF UIBO ZFBST BHP my first daughter was HJWFO CJSUI BU -65) 5IJT equipment will assist the doctors and nurses do their work better.

“We have done various $43T JO EJGGFSFOU TFDUPST *O the health sector, we have given incubators to state and general hospitals and reached out to the educational secUPS XIFSF XF SFOPWBUFE classroom blocks at a senior secondary school in Surulere.

“We also donated security gadgets to the four police divisional stations in Surulere. We felt we should also touch tertiary health

institutions.” *O IFS TQFFDI UIF 8JGF of the Pastor in Charge of Province who is the DPOWFOFS BOE )FBE PG "MM 4JTUFST 'FMMPXTIJQ 5IF 1SBJTF 7FTTFMT 1BTUPS .ST 5FNJUPQF &NPWPO TUBUFE UIBU “we can only pray that as we deploy these equipment for the use of the children, JO UIF OFYU UP ZFBST some of these children will be in a position to go back BOE TBZ -65) XBT UIF QPJOU PG DPOUBDU UIBU 3$$( VTFE to give me a second chance.”

Similarly, Chief Medical %JSFDUPS -65) 1SPG $ISJT #PEF TUBUFE UIBU iBOZXIFSF in the world, it is practically impossible for the government alone to fund health and when you see countries that are doing well, it is not only the government that is responsible. Other groups like religious bodies and /(0T BMTP BTTJTU u 3FQSFTFOUFE CZ UIF $IBJSman, Medical Advisory ComNJUUFF -65) 1SPG -BOSF Adeyemo, he added, “We are going to make the best use of the equipment. We are Oliver Twist; we would appreciate it if you can give us more.”

r1BUJFOU XJUI 4JDLMF $FMM %JTFBTF IBWF SFEVDFE spleen function (hyposplenic) which makes them at a high risk of infection, in particular from encapsulated r 4DSFFOJOH GPS JSPO PWFSMPBE JO XPNFO XIP IBWF bacteria such as Neisseria meningitides, Streptococcus had multiple transfusion in the past or who have QOFVNPOJB BOE )BFNPQIJMVT JOáVFO[B 5IPTF a high ferritin level. Cardiac magnetic resonance with this disease should be advised to receive imaging may be helpful to assess body iron.

UIF JOáVFO[B BOE ATXJOF áV WBDDJOF BOOVBMMZ r 4DSFFOJOH GPS QVMNPOBSZ IZQFSUFOTJPO XJUI r)FQBUJUJT # WBDDJOBUJPO JT SFDPNNFOEFE BOE echocardiography UIF XPNBO T JNNVOF TUBUVT TIPVME CF EFUFSNJOFE preconception. r 4DSFFOJOH GPS SFE DFMM BOUJCPEJFT UIFTF NBZ indicate an increased risk of haemolytic (destruction Vitamin supplements recommended for of red blood cell) disease of the new born.

SCD patients.

Folic acid is recommended in all pregnant r4JDLMF $FMM %JTFBTF JT B DISPOJD MJGFMPOH DPOEJUJPO women to prevent neural tube defects. Folic acid and there are recommendations for clinical care at a dosage of at least 1 mg daily is recommended which apply to all patients, including women for women with SCD outside pregnancy in view planning to become or those already pregnant. of their haemolytic anaemia, which puts them at increased risk of folic deficiency. r8PNFO XJUI 4$% TIPVME SFDFJWF OPU POMZ Folic acid 5 mg daily should be prescribed before, the general preconception care which is given during and throughout pregnancy to reduce the to all women but also additional advice about risk of neural tube defect and to compensate for vaccinations, medication and crisis avoidance. the increased demand for folate during pregnancy.

Those with low pain threshold are advised to What medications should be reviewed before seek medical help for management of pain crisis. preconception?

Medical review at least once yearly by a sickle cell *U JT JNQPSUBODF UIBU B QBUJFOU XJUI 4$% WJTJUT physician for the monitoring of chronic disease the doctor to identify the medications you are complications while getting information on the presently using to know if they should be stopped treatment process is recommended. before attempting pregnancy. r*OGPSNBUJPO UIBU JT QBSUJDVMBSMZ SFMFWBOU GPS Hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea): This is the women planning to conceive includes: medication used to increase red blood Cells), should be stopped at least 3 months before conception. r5IF SPMF PG EFIZESBUJPO DPME IZQPYJB BO )ZESPYZDBSCBNJEF IBT CFFO EFNPOTUSBUFE UP BCTFODF PG FOPVHI PYZHFO JO UIF UJTTVF UP TVTUBJO decrease the incidence of acute painful crises in CPEJMZ GVODUJPOT PWFS FYFSUJPO BOE TUSFTT JO UIF individuals with severe clinical manifestations of frequency of sickle cell crises, and how to avoid SCD, however studies have proven that they are not safe for the development of fetus. them.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors r)PX OBVTFB BOE WPNJUJOH JO QSFHOBODZ NFEJDBUJPO XIJDI IFMQ UP SFMBY CMPPE WFTTFM

can result in dehydration and the precipitation and angiotensin receptor blockers (medication which helps to enlarge blood vessel) should be of crises and pain. r5IF SJTL PG XPSTFOJOH BOBFNJB SFEVDUJPO JO stopped before conception.

38

T H I S D AY ˾ , MAY 6, 2021

FEATURES

Arise Monalisa Foundation Raises Awareness on Lupus Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports that to commemorate World Lupus Day on May 10, 2021, Arise Monalisa Foundation is organising a series of activities aimed at increasing awareness of the disease

A

s the world seeks to understand more of the disease, May 10 has been dedicated by the World Lupus Federation as World Lupus Day to bring greater attention and resources to efforts aimed at ending the suffering caused by this disabling and potentially fatal autoimmune disease.

The annual event serves to draw global focus to the debilitating impact of Lupus while addressing the need for improved patient healthcare services as well as increased research into the causes of and cure for lupus.

While this condition has no boundaries, understanding Lupus can help control its impact. Therefore to mark this occasion of the World Lupus Day on May 10, 2021, Arise Monalisa Foundation (AMF), a not-for-profit organisation founded by veteran multi awardwinning actress, TV show host and humanist, Monalisa Chinda-Coker, in collaboration with Jackie and the Butterfly, is organising a series of activities aimed at increasing awareness of the disease in Nigeria.

With the theme of this year’s event tagged “Make Lupus Visible”, which brings to the front burner of discourse on key issues pertaining to health and well-being, this year’s theme is greatly significant as it reflects the need to close up the yawning gap in available information relating to Lupus.

Part of activities planned to mark the event will include a 2km Sensitisation Walk around Unity Fountain Abuja on Saturday, May 8, by 7:00am.

This will be followed by a symposium on Monday, May 10, by 10:00am at Hilton Hotel. Expected at the event are the First Lady, Ministers of Health and Federal Capital Territory, healthcare workers, pharmaceutical companies as well as other well-meaning Nigerians and members of the press.

In addition to the Lupus awareness programme, Arise Monalisa Foundation is also intent on providing health intervention activities,

Monalisa Chinda

in collaboration with Benjamin Olowojebutu Foundation, for patients suffering from fibroids, breast lumps, hernia and lipoma.

The intervention will involve visits to selected states by a team of surgeons led by Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, a CNN Hero Award Nominee, to perform surgeries on the patients with the above-mentioned ailments.

This medical outreach is designed to help bring relief to rural dwellers that can ill-afford the cost of these surgeries by bringing their

health solutions to them right where they are in their localities.

With the mission to inspire hope, promote creativity and create opportunities, AMF has over the years, actively worked in association with other well-meaning organisations to provide empowerment initiatives for indigent women, youths and children in Nigeria.

However, this healthcare affair is timely as it brings to spotlight the awareness on Lupus, a systemic autoimmune disease, a condition

in which the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissues and organs.

In this context, it is a chronic disease that can result in inflammation and pain in any part of the body, and while it affects both genders, women are known to be more susceptible.

Patients with Lupus experience a loss of self-tolerance as a result of abnormal immunological function and the production of autoantibodies, which leads to the formation of immune complexes that may adversely affect healthy tissue.

According to experts, the manifestations differ from person to person with attacks on major functioning parts of the human body like; joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

Symptoms include fatigue, pain and swelling in the joints, sensitivity to light, chest pain, fever, headaches among others. Not much is known about the cause of the disease but attributions can be made to genetic and environmental factors as likely triggers.

Lupus can therefore be described as an emerging disease, with increasing incidences of it being experienced globally. Nigeria has little or no data on Lupus even though there have been a few reported cases.

Data available in the United States indicate that an approximate 16,000 new cases are being reported annually while 1,500,000 people in the US are already living with the disease suffered by over 5 million people worldwide.

Existing information also point to the fact that women of African descent are among those who have the greatest risk of contracting the disease which makes Nigerian women vulnerable.

Experts further observed that there are four main types of Lupus: Neonatal, Discoid, Druginduced, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) – which is the type that affects most patients.

Sadly, a large majority of people have little to no idea about Lupus, often confusing it with arthritis, a much less serious disease. Many people have no idea Lupus even exists until they or somebody they know is diagnosed with it.

Dexa Medica Launches Herbal Cough Syrup in Nigeria Sunday Ehigiator Dexa Medica, a leading multinational pharmaceutical company in Nigeria, has launched a first of its kind, herbal cough syrup, HerbaKOF, aimed at providing better cough remedies to Nigerians.

At the launch of the product, held in Lagos, the company’s Country Manager, Nigeria and West Africa, Dhanang Anggoro, revealed that the herbal syrup was an improvement from every other types of syrups which were banned in the country, due to their addictive tendencies, and abuse.

According to him, with the rainy season fast approaching, Nigerians need to have the syrup in their homes to tackle cough which is the common illness suffered by many people during the period.

“As the rainy season has arrived, the air will be colder.

Cold air is believed to absorb extra moisture, making virus and bacterial particles more able to survive in the air.

“Generally, the common illness suffered by many people in the rainy season is cough.

If your health and immune system are not properly maintained, coughing can attack you for weeks and interfere with your productivity.

“In fact, apart from interfer-

L-R: Brand Manager, Dexa Medica, Mr. Antonius Tri Haryono; Public Health Physician, Dr Oni Shallom; and Country Manager, Dexa Medica, Mr. Dhanang Riyo Anggoro, at the launch of herbal cough syrup, HerbaKOF, in Lagos...recently

ing with daily activities, if not addressed immediately, coughing can quickly be transmitted to anyone.

“Currently there are many herbal and chemical cough medicines that have been provided in the market.

However, the many types of cough medicine actually make it

difficult for people to find what cough medicine to consume.”

Anggoro noted that chemical cough medicines (non-herbal), generally have various side effects, such as causing drowsiness and heart palpitations, hence the herbal syrup is a better option for Nigerians as it has no side effects, nor

addictive tendencies.

“Another problem that causes consumers to worry about choosing cough medicine is that they often have difficulty recognising the type of cough they have.

“Therefore, Dexa Medica, which is a leading multinational pharmaceutical company, is

continuously committed to conducting research with natural ingredients to produce effective and safe drugs to use, launched its newest product, HerbaKOF. “Herbacough is the right solution for whatever type of cough you have. HerbaKOF has four advantages, namely

relieves all types of coughs, relieves sore throat, eases breathing, and warms the respiratory tract.

“HerbaKOF is the only herbal cough medicine in Nigeria that is processed with the latest fractionation technology, which is an extraction process to find a specific fraction in the form of Reconyl Active Substance.

“The fraction is obtained from saga leaves, the fruit of the god’s crown, legundi leaves, and ginger rhizome. Through the latest fractionation technology, HerbaKOF is proven to work fast, effectively treat cough and sore throat problems, and is safe for consumption by all family members.

“HerbaKOF is not an ordinary herbal cough medicine. Besides having a good taste, HerbaKOF also works to suppress coughs, as an anti-inflammatory (soothes sore throat), as well as a tracheoplasmolytic (relieves the respiratory tract),” he said.

Speaking with THISDAY, a Public Health Physician, Dr. Shallom Oni, said the product contains less alcoholic substance, and it “is non-addictive like the codeine-containing types, banned in 2018 by Nigeria.

Significantly, it is non-drowsy unlike most syrups with dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, phenylephrine and Robitussin.”

THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 • T H I S D AY

39

40

T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Access Completes Acquisition of S’African Bank Nume Ekeghe Following the completion of all regulatory procedures, Grobank Limited has been officially renamed Access Bank South Africa Limited.

The deal was finalised after Access Bank’s acquisition of controlling shares in the former Grobank Limited, South Africa.

According to a statement from the Nigerian lender yesterday, with this development, “Access Bank South Africa Limited is positioned to deliver a robust banking operation that connects key African markets.”

It stated that at an official closing ceremony in Sandton, top executives of the two banks were upbeat about new op-

portunities for clients, noting that the bank will continue to support all its stakeholders, while opening doors to growth opportunities both in the short and long term.

CEO of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe said: “Today’s ceremony in South Africa seals our commitment to delivering our strategic aspirations of becoming Africa’s Gateway to the World, in line with our vision to be the ‘World’s Most Respected African Bank.’

“We look forward to the many opportunities our collective experience and deep understanding of the African market brings to our valued clients, and the journey ahead being one of great promise for

our institution and the continent.”

On his part, the CEO of Grobank Bennie van Rooy said, “This is an extremely exciting day for the South African banking industry. Our corporate customers will now have increased access to trade finance, treasury, international payments and loans through the wider distribution network offered by Access Bank’s presence in the key trade corridors that connect Africa to the rest of the world.

“Banking with Access Bank South Africa means greater security as well as access to more products and services through a best-in-class digital platform, and a full retail banking suite will soon be on offer.”

BDAN Seeks Increased Corporate Governance Adherence Nume Ekeghe The President, Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN), Mrs. Osaretin Demuren, has called on directors of financial institutions in the country to increase their corporate governance practices in order to ensure stability and accountability in the banking sector.

She said this yesterday on the sidelines of BDAN’s 24th annual general meeting in Lagos yesterday. She noted that it was important to also ensure that the emergence and appointment of directors in banks are properly vetted and should be given to only qualified candidates.

She said: “Corporate gov-

ernance should be entrenched in bank directors. Even when recruiting directors, you have to find out on what basis and not everyone is corporate governance compliant.”

According to her, banks should not be in position where it is majorly owned by an individual, saying this brings about lapses in corporate governance.

She added: “We have gone beyond banking where banks should be owned by individuals.

Once that is out of the way then corporate governance can be entrenched.

“But when you have an individual, whether directly or indirectly, then it is now left to the regulator or the nation to

call that person to order.”

The BDAN President is set to step down as her tenure was recently extended by the council and members by another 90 days, pending an election and appointment of a new President.

Earlier, in her opening remarks, she said: “I took over as the President of BDAN in October 2018, at the 21st Annual General Meeting, and since assuming office, I can confidently say that with the support of my colleagues, we have been able to deliver on the mandate of the association by increasing members’ participation, increase in revenue as evident in our financial statements and improved quality of our programmes.

Julius Berger Q1 Profit Rises to N2.8bn Goddy Egene Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc has reported a major jump of 586 per cent in profit after tax (PAT) to N2.827 billion in the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, up from N412 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2020. The performance is coming on the heels of a cash dividend of 40 kobo and bonus shares recommended for the 2020 financial year.

Details of the 2021 Q1 results showed that JBN grew revenue by 27 per cent from N55.913 billion to N71.201 billion in 2021.

Profit before tax rose from N1.054 billion to N3.456 billion, while PAT soared from N412 million to N2.827 billion.

With an operational cashflow of N6 billion, company continued implementing strategic investments, amounting to N10 billion in 2020 and was able to overcome temporary shutdowns of its construction sites in the second quarter of 2020 by utilising its strong base of personnel and capital resources.

JBN continues to maintain its historical and robust resilience to top the class and retained the driving seat of the engineering construction sector. Looking at the result from JBN analysts have said the fact that the company worked in such a focused way to successfully improve on its turnover to maintain its leading edge in the construction sector despite the operational threats occassioned by the global pandemic, is a clear

plus for the country’s engineering construction leader. Speaking to the trajectory of the share value of the company, market experts opined that, looking at the increasing operational scope or work portfolio of the company, its widely experienced board as well as its hardworking, determined and forward-looking executive management team, and based on a resilient business history, the business outlook JBN reasonably assures all stakeholders of better performance going forward.

JBN had said it would be looking into diversification opportunities based on the emerging developments, including economic and structural reforms in Nigeria and the resultant paradigm shifts by the government.

Asharami Energy Promotes Responsible Engineering Peter Uzoho Asharami Energy, a Sahara Group upstream subsidiary, has reported 1, 852,052 man-hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) across its operations, saying the feat was driven by its responsible engineering and unwavering commitment to global occupational safety and health (OSH) standards.

The company added that the feat represented LTI-free manhours over 873 days of zero work related incidents, enabled by the company’s robust Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) policies. In a statement, Asharami disclosed that in 2020, it achieved

1,712,295 LTI-free man-hours, a record it claimed, surpassed the industry recording standard which is set at 1,000,000 LTI-free man-hours.

A key oil and gas sector OSH benchmark, Lost Time Injury is a measure of injury or illness resulting from a work-related event which involves lost days away from work or resulting in downtime in operations.

The Chief Operating Officer, Asharami Energy, Mr. Henry Menkiti, said the exploration and production company puts the safety and health of its workers, partners, and stakeholders above all other considerations.

“We are delighted at achieving

this feat of 1,852,052 LTI-free man-hours as of March 31, 2021. At Asharami Energy, we have adopted responsible HSSE policies which align our upstream operations, community relations, procurement, environmental, social and governance impact with global best practice. We are happy to be leading the charge towards promoting sustainability in Africa’s oil and gas sector,” he said.

Menkiti said Asharami’s safety and health protocols were instrumental to achieving hitch-free operations during the COVID-19 pandemic which literally caused global business disruptions.

Wigwe

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 ˜ Ͳ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $66.67 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $65.09 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

41

T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ 2021

Transcorp Hotels Unveils Strategies to Boost Operations Goddy Egene The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Transcorp Hotels Plc, Dupe Olusola, has said the company has developed strategies that would boost its operations and deliver sustainable value to all stakeholders.

Olusola, who spoke while presenting the company’s ‘Facts Behind the Figures (FBF) to investors and other stakeholders at the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX),

said the Covid-19 pandemic made the company to think outside the box and came up with new innovations.

According to her, Transcorp Hotels Plc recently launched Aura, a digital platform for booking quality accommodation, great food and exciting experiences.

The hospitality brand has also inaugurated a purpose-built co-working space at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, which it called Workspace by Transcorp Hotels

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

and would be expanded to other locations.

Speaking on the first quarter (Q1) performance, the Transcorp Hotels Plc boss said it was quite impressive with a total revenue of N3.8 billion which is above budget by 21 per cent (N3.15 billion).

“This impressive performance was driven majorly by our intensive drive for Leisure & Staycation and unique packages for key events and activities such

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

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as the new year festive package in January, Valentine’s Package, Mother’s Day package, Group Conference & Events activities from major companies and parastatals,” she said.

Looking ahead, Olusola said the company would continue to invest in new businesses and asset-light initiatives that leverage technology to increase our footprint across Africa.

“We have also engaged other strategic and cost optimizing

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

initiatives across both our hotels in Abuja and Calabar, as we increase focus on our leisure and staycation business segments.

We will constantly continue to challenge ourselves to ensure that we meet the diverse customer needs and provide excellent experience across all touchpoints.

We are in for a long haul. Our plan is to expand beyond Nigeria and we are looking at everything recreation and entertainment. Sustainability is

O F

the most important thing for us,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, the Divisional Head, Listings Business at NGX, Mr. Olumide Bolumole expressed pleasure at Transcorp Hotels Plc.’s interaction with the market.

“Recently, the NGX hosted the MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc. Mrs Dupe Olusola to a digital closing gong ceremony to commemorate the formal listing of their N10 billion rights issue”.

0 5 / 0 5 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

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42

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 04May-2021, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 153.98 155.49 -4.83% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 3.47% Nigeria International Debt Fund 301.47 301.47 -24.09% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 110.42 110.42 -1.48% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.27% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.37 3.53 -5.08% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 1.31% Anchoria Equity Fund 128.21 129.70 -3.61% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.06 1.06 -20.01% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 18.99 19.56 4.72% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 413.75 426.22 3.34% ARM Ethical Fund 36.81 37.92 9.19% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.20 1.20 -1.81% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.03 -8.69% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.78% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 103.94 103.94 2.19% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.35% Paramount Equity Fund 15.72 16.00 -1.73% Women's Investment Fund 131.29 132.66 -1.40% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.36% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 128.73 129.51 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 110.93 110.93 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.47% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.17 1.18 -2.73% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.36 1.36 -14.36% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 2.93% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2.51% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,162.48 1,168.67 -2.99% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,362.39 1,362.39 8.29% FBN Balanced Fund 185.91 187.19 -0.94% FBN Halal Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.67% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Growth Fund Coral Income Fund FSDH Treasury Bills Fund

124.53 151.57

124.53 3.10% 153.66 0.26% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.53% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.75 2.82 20.06% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 148.11 148.54 -4.70% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.20 1.24 27.03% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.08 1.08 5.83% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.38 1.40 1.39% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,131.61 1,131.61 2.49% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 10.59 10.66 Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.87% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.63 1.66 7.31% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.39 12.55 2.54% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.38% PACAM Equity Fund 1.59 1.61 0.95% PACAM EuroBond Fund 110.55 113.47 1.14% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 127.58 129.71 8.01% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 2.37% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,119.09 3,143.67 -3.02% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 228.79 228.79 1.75% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.16 1.18 -0.85% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 299.88 299.88 1.77% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 215.74 218.38 -1.28% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.12% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,192.29 10,320.94 -2.95% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.25 1.25 1.89% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 113.37 113.37 2.06% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 100.76 100.76 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.33 1.35 -2.54% United Capital Bond Fund 1.93 1.93 2.14% United Capital Equity Fund 0.89 0.91 2.87% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.01% United Capital Eurobond Fund 119.97 119.97 2.47% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.08 -1.98% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.04 1.04 4.11% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.11 12.17 1.86% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.20 13.32 8.05% Zenith Income Fund 24.32 24.32 1.39% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.04%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

122.84 53.12

1.74% 1.37%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.79 122.63 97.52

12.89 122.63 99.30

-3.25% 0.73% -1.88%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.63 5.59 17.16 1.00 19.26 160.67

3.67 5.67 17.26 1.00 19.46 162.67

-3.82% -1.82% 4.94% 2.66% -6.09% -26.57%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.52

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

43

NEWS

Name Those Plotting to Overthrow Buhari, Northern Elders Tell Presidency Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has urged the Presidency to name those allegedly plotting to overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari and stop petrifying Nigerians with insurrection by claiming an alleged plot to sack Buhari on a regular basis.

In a statement released yesterday by the Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the Forum, Dr. Hakeem BabaAhmed, the body wondered what Nigerians should do with such information from the Presidency.

Ahmed urged the presidency to name the conspirators who allegedly recruited certain

leaders of suspected ethnic groups and ethnic groups, and urged the current administration to investigate the country’s problems as it shows they have a mechanism to remedy to the situation.

He said; “Subversion is a crime, sedition is a crime and treason is a crime. Why is the Presidency or DSS telling us that there are people who are involved in these activities?

What do they want the public to do with the information?

“They are failing twice; first of all, they are failing to eliminate the ground which gives these kinds of elements if they do exist, the reason to do what they are doing and then they are failing in enforcing the law.

Jonathan Pays Tribute to Yar’Adua, Says He was a Peacemaker Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday paid tributes to his former principal, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, describing him as a peacemaker and nation builder.

Yar’Adua died on May 5, 2010, and Jonathan, the then vice-president took over power.

Jonathan in a series of tweets yesterday described Yar’Adua as a friend and brother who shared a common vision of a peaceful and united Nigeria.

He said the late president would always be remembered as a peacemaker and nation builder.

“Today, I celebrate my boss, friend, colleague, and

brother, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who departed this world 11 years ago.

“As politicians, we shared a common vision of a peaceful, united, and just nation.

“President Yar’Adua kept faith with this vision, channelling his strength and time in pursuit of an egalitarian society, until his last breath.

“Although out of our sight, his legacies live with us and his memory we will continue to cherish.

“We will always remember him as a peacemaker, nation builder, and democrat whose timeline was defined by virtues of service, peace, truth, and love. – GEJ”

Tinubu Group Tells Buni to Place Fayemi on Watchlist of Disloyal APC Members Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The National Chairman of the South West Agenda for 2023 (SWAGA), Senator Dayo Adeyeye, has called on the National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Mala Buni, to place Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on the watchlist of suspected disloyal members.

Adeyeye said this in reaction to Tuesday’s suspension of the APC ward 8 chairman in Ado Ekiti Council area, Mr. Clement Afolabi, for allegedly coordinating for SWAGA in his ward.

SWAGA is a political pressure group within the APC, rooting for Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate, come 2023 against Fayemi’s aspiration.

But the APC Director of Media and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Party Matters, Mr. Sam Oluwalana, exonerated the party at the state level and Fayemi of blame.

Oluwalana said the suspension slammed on Afolabi was undertaken at the ward level, which he said was vested with the power to try

any erring member, adding that Fayemi and the APC at the state level never interfered in the crisis.

In a statement issued by SWAGA’s Media Manager, Mr. Gboyega Adeoye yesterday, Adeyeye described the political happenings in Ekiti State under the watch of Fayemi as “a theatre of the absurd by an evil intending vicious leader with mission to smash the eggs, kill the hen and put the entire poultry on fire.

“We think it is high time we began to get weary of some strange voices within. While we condemn the recent incisive and damaging statement of the Ekiti State governor on our party, we consider the save- face measure shoddily adopted in visiting undue punitive measure on Afolabi, who, purportedly, was showing support for the presidential choice of a top notch of the APC, a serious aberration.

“SWAGA is not unaware of the underground plots to frustrate the rising political profile of Tinubu in the South-west and indeed Nigeria, as the undisputable choice to bring stability into our fragile democracy and lift the nation economically.

“I can say we talk with other groups, we discuss national issues. That is our right; there is nothing illegal in that and I

am sure other groups do the same thing.

“But when you throw this kind of blanket accusations that

somebody that you haven’t told us, someone, that you are in opposition today with, you haven’t dealt with is engaging

and recruiting sociocultural groups, you have to wonder are you just using words to scare citizens?” he queried.

FRESH ACQUISITION…

L-R: CEO, Grobank South Africa, Mr. Bennie Van Rooy; GMD/CEO, Access Bank PLC, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, and Chairman, Board of Directors, Grobank, Mr. Patrick Mathidi, during the signing and official handover of Grobank to Access Bank South Africa in Sandton, South Africa…recently

Southern Govs Meet over Insecurity, to Reconvene Next Week Governors in the southern part of the country under the auspices of the Southern Nigeria Governors Forum met on Tuesday evening over the deteriorating state of insecurity in the country.

The governors will however reconvene in Asaba, Delta State capital, next week to harmonise their positions on the tension that has gripped the country.

Fifteen out of the seventeen

governors attended Tuesday’s meeting held virtually.

The governors were said to have called for commitment and unity in addressing the issues affecting Southern Nigeria.

They also resolved to meet in Asaba next week to harmonise positions over insecurity.

The meeting was convened by the governors of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu; Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa;

and Ebonyi State, Mr. David Umahi.

Akeredolu is the chairmean of the governors forum in the South-West; Okowa, for South-South, and Umahi for South-east governor.

Governors who participated at the meeting include: Ekiti State governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Godwin

Obaseki (Edo), and Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo (deputy governor of Enugu who represented the state governor); Douye Diri (Bayelsa); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (Abia); and Hope Uzodimma (Imo).

Others were: Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).

House Condemns Killing of 70 People in Benue By Herdsmen Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has condemned the killing of about 70 persons in communities in Benue State by suspected herdsmen.

The lawmakers, at the plenary yesterday mandated the Committees on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, and Appropriations to “prevail on the Budget Office and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to ensure (that) adequate extra allocation is provided in any impending supplementary budget, and in

NEMA’s 2022 budget to enable NEMA to provide monthly comprehensive intervention to IDP camps across Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states as is currently the case with IDP camps in Borno State.”

The House also urged the Ministry of Defence and the Nigerian Army to “immediately deploy more personnel and equipment, including surveillance and intelligence gathering technology to Operation Whirl Stroke operatives in Benue State, to enable them to tackle this resurgence of attacks by

suspected herdsmen.”

It also mandated its Committees on Defence and Army to “immediately conduct an investigation into the prevailing circumstances and conditions of Operation Whirl Stroke and other military operations’ operatives across the country, with a view to identifying any constraints deterring them from carrying out their mandate of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.”

House Committees on Police Affairs and Justice were also asked to “investigate the allegation that the police are

unwilling to support the Benue State Government in the enforcement of the antiopen grazing law and the constitutional implication and position in this regard.”

The committees are to report back to the House within four weeks.

A member from Benue State, Hon Mark Gbillah, had moved a motion of urgent public importance titled, ‘Resurgence of Wanton Killing of Innocent Nigerians in Gwer-West and Other Local Government Areas of Benue State by Suspected Herdsmen.’

Military Rescues 13 Abducted Persons in Kaduna Community John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State government has said that 13 kidnapped people have been rescued by troops following a fierce gun battle with bandits in Gwagwada community, Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

The commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan

disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna.

The commissioner said the victims went to a farm when the bandits attacked them.

He said the troops, on receiving credible intelligence about the abduction, trailed the bandits to a forest near Bana village and engaged them in a gun duel and rescue the 13 victims.

“The 13 citizens, originally

from Dutse, went to work at a farm called Tanadi farm, which is located around Bakin Kasuwa in Gwagwada general area of Chikun LGA. “They were attacked by the armed bandits in the process.

“Troops on receiving credible intelligence of the abduction trailed the bandits to a forest near Bana village and there engaged them in a gun duel. The 13 citizens were

thus rescued”, Aruwan said.

According to him, those rescued include; Kenth Yusuf, Izra Ali , Josiah Luka, Istifanus Suman Helen Ibrahim and Justina Gofwen.

He added that others include Ibrahim Madaki, Biyaya Yusuf, Sani Bello, Lucy Dada, Anayi Ezekiel, Benjiman Danieland Musa Usman.

NDLEA Nabs 80-year-old Woman, Others with Drugs in Akure Michael Olugbode in Abuja An 80-year-old woman, Mrs. Mary Adebayo, her 19-year-old grand-daughter, Funmilola Adebayo and two other ladies have been arrested in Akure, the Ondo State capital by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), for selling assorted

illicit drugs.

The drugs they were caught with include cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol, swinol and skuchies.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the spokesman of the anti-drug agency, Mr. Femi Babafemi, a raid was made on their locations based on intelligence.

He said: “Following intelligence-based raids and follow up operations on their locations on Sunday, May 2, 2021, over 192 kilogrammes of cocaine and other psychoactive substances were recovered from the suspects while the octogenarian, her granddaughter and two other ladies; Tessy Matthew

and Blessing Adesida were arrested.”

He said as a result of the bust, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) had directed the acting Commander, Ondo State Command of the Agency, Callys Alumona to launch a manhunt for other members of the drug cartel now on the run.

44

THURSDAY MAY 5, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Buhari Has Finally Surrendered to Terrorists, PDP Alleges Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said the statement made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Lai Mohammed, that the federal government is not duty-bound to protect Nigerians from bandits, has confirmed apprehensions that

the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Mohammadu Buhari presidency have finally surrendered Nigeria to terrorists.

The party called on President Buhari to personally address Nigerians in his own voice and not through his aides.

The PDP further stressed that the statement made by the minister is another clear

evidence that Buhari is indeed absent; has completely abdicated the responsibilities of his office and capitulated to bandits.

“Lai Mohammed’s statement further revealed that the Buhari presidency has not been committed to combating banditry, but had, all along, been feeding

Nigerians with lies, propaganda and falsehood, while bandits are pillaging our country,” the party said.

According to a statement issued by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it is incredulous

that the Buhari presidency, in its failures, is abdicating a responsibility exclusively vested on it by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to operate all apparatus of national security-the police, military, paramilitary and all other armed services-to secure lives and property in all parts

of the country.

The PDP said: “Perhaps Buhari and his minister of information need to be tutored that the Second Schedule (Exclusive Legislative List) clearly vested the control of all apparatus of national security on the federal government and not the states.

House Urges FG to Suspend Proposed 2021 Census The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to suspend the proposed 2021 population and housing census due to insecurity in the country.

The House has also summoned the chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) to clarify the feasibility of concluding census in the face of insecurity.

The decision of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Sheu Beji at the plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Beji said that the federal government through the National Population commission had commenced preparations for the

2021 population and housing census across the country.

He pointed out that the State of insecurity in Nigeria has displaced numerous citizens who are duellers of the various communities to be captured in the exercise.

The lawmaker observed that some displaced persons have crossed over to neighbouring countries for refuge and cannot be captured if the census is to be conducted.

Beji noted that with the overwhelming security challenges at hand, expecting accuracy in any census conducted now would be like passing an elephant through the eyes of a needle.

Fire Destroyed N902.1m Properties in Katsina Central Market, Says Committee Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Chairman of the Administrative Committee inaugurated by the Katsina State Government to unravel the cause(s) of the mysterious fire that gutted the Katsina Central Market, Mr. Tasi’u Dandagoro, has revealed that the inferno destroyed properties worth N902.1 million in the market.

Dandagoro, who submitted the committee’s report to Governor of Katsina State, Mr. Aminu Bello Masari, at the Government House yesterday, said poor and rampant electricity connections were responsible for the inferno.

He explained that 685 traders were directly affected by the disaster, while 605 shops were destroyed and

59 traders that were on attachment were also affected by the fire incident.

“Twenty One traders were affected by looting. The total submission in terms of cost lost to this incident has been estimated to the total sum of N902,138,500 and this submission did not include the cost of the structure.

“The administrative committee based on its findings blamed poor and rampant connection of electricity cumbered with the materials sold that has violated the standard regulations in engineering to causes of this fire incident,” he said.

Receiving the report, Masari said the state civil servants and political appointees will contribute to assist the victims of the fire disaster.

5G will Positively Impact Nigeria’s Digital Economy, Says NCC Chairman Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Chairman, Board of Commissioners of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, has stated that the full deployment of 5G technology in the country would have positive impact on Nigeria’s digital economy.

Speaking yesterday at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NCC and the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) on the full deployment of 5G in Abuja, Akande said 5G would build

on the successes of the previous generations of 2G, 3G and 4G, adding that spectrum plays a great role in the deployment of 5G. He said: “Spectrum plays a critical role in realising the full extent of these new capabilities.

Thus, 5G’s full socio-economic impact is dependent on access to a variety of spectrum resources.

“This Spectrum will play a key role in meeting the demand for many enhanced mobile data services as well as new wireless broadband cases such as remote object manipulation, industrial automation, virtual and augmented reality and next-generation connectivity for vehicle.

FIFTY-TWO HEARTY CHEERS…

L-R: Union Bank’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Joe Mbulu; Head, Retail Banking and Digital, Lola Cardoso; Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Emeka Okonkwo; Board Chairman, Beatrice Hamza Bassey; Company Secretary, Mr. Somuyiwa Sonubi; Non-Executive Director, Mr. Paul Kokoricha and Non-Executive Director, Mr. Emeka Ogbechie, at the bank’s 52nd Annual General Meeting in Lagos…recently

Teachers Begin Indefinite Strike in Niger Laleye Dipo in Minna Teachers in public schools in Niger State have commenced an indefinite strike.

The strike commenced yesterday after the collapse of a meeting that was summoned by the state government on Tuesday.

The meeting, which was presided by the Head of Service, Ms. Salamatu

Abubakar, failed to convince the officials of the Nigerian Teachers Associaton (NUT) to shift ground on their decisions to embark on strike.

The NUT directed all its members to turn their backs on public educational institutions from today (Wednesday) and remain at home until when they received a counter directive from the union.

A statement signed by the leaders of all the affiliate unions of the NUT in the state reads: “The NUT, Niger State wing, hereby directs all its members at both primary and secondary schools in the state to embark on an indefinite strike action as from 12 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

“Consequently all public primary and secondary schools in the state are to remain

closed and members are to stay at home until otherwise directed by the union.”

The union also ordered the immediate implementation of N30,000 minimum wage to primary school teachers on grade level 7 and above, payment of October 2020 salaries to primary school teachers and the refund of salary cut for April 2021 to all teachers.

N’Assembly Pledges Safe Return of 230 Nigerian Students Stranded in Caribbean Island

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has assured 230 Nigerian students currently stranded in the Southern Caribbean nation hit by volcanic eruptions that the National Assembly would intervene to ensure that they are safely

brought back home.

Lawan gave the assurance yesterday in response to a request for intervention by the Consul General of the Island Nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Levi Odoe who paid him a courtesy call in Abuja He said: “Let me commiserate

with you on the volcanic eruptions that took place in the Island.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a country that is very friendly with our country, Nigeria, over a long time. We have many bilateral and multilateral interactions and we appreciate your cooperation,

support and partnership over time with our country. “It is rather sad that you had volcanic eruptions that have caused serious damage in the Island.

“I’m also saddened by the loss of lives and of course the situation of the Nigerian medical students who are now trapped in the Island.

Gbajabiamila Discharges Committees over Failure to Meet Deadline for Reports Presentation Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, in compliance with standing order of the House, has discharged several ad hoc committees set up to carry out various tasks, for failing to present their reports which was due at the end of April.

Gbajabiamila had on April 21, 2021, asked all ad-hoc committees

to present their reports by the April 30.

The Speaker’s directive was sequel to adoption of a motion for the discharge, moved by the Chairman of Rules and Business, Hon, Abubakar Hassan Fulata.

Moving the motion, Fulata said the House was aware of the directive of the Speaker on April 26, 2021, that all ad–hoc committees should present their reports on or before April 30,

2021.

He noted that the committees listed were constituted to carry out various assignments and were given stipulated time frame within which to present their reports.

The Speaker also noted that the committees are yet to present their reports contrary to the provisions of Order 18, Rule 3 (1)(g) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives.

He listed the committees as: “Ad–hoc Committee to Interface with the Executive Arm of Government and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shi’ite) (HR.48/07/2019); Ad–hoc Committee to Investigate the Assault and Rape of Student by Teachers at the FCT School of the Blind, Jabi (HR.51/07/2019); Ad–hoc Committee to Investigate the Crude Oil Theft in Nigeria.

Firm Launches Scholarship Grant for Indigent Law Students

Sunday Okobi

The Managing Partner of Principle Legal Consult, Prada Uzodimma, has launched the Prada Uzodimma Law School Scholarship Grant to provide financial sponsorship for selected indigent law school aspirants across Nigeria.

According to a statement issued yesterday by Uzodimma,

the scheme is an educational philanthropic project initiated, sponsored and facilitated annually by her.

According to her, “winners of this scholarship grant will have their Law school tuition fees fully catered for. There are no stringent requirements (such as being a first class student); applicants are required to display

a show of impassioned drive and determination towards becoming a lawyer.

“The scheme is birthed from a passionate understanding of the financial inhibitions, which confront a sizeable number of Nigerian Law School aspirants, restricting them from attaining their aspirations, and is targeted at positively re-scripting these

sad narratives by emitting rays of hope and succour through financial grants.

“We are keen on ensuring that bright minds and intellectuals are not deprived of their ambitions to be called to the Nigerian Bar as a result of financial incapacity, and have benevolently setup this scheme to infuse life to those vulnerable dreams.

45

THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 • T H I S D AY

TIME TO JOIN THE TINUBU PRESIDENCY TRAIN:

A CRITICAL REJOINDER. We have read with keen interest a piece

by Kola Amzat, FCA; published in ThisDay newspapers on May 1, 2021. We agree with the author that “...the reins of power and authority of our dear nation move to the southern part of the country come 2023”. However, we disagree with his postulations that: i. The South-South is constitutionally and technically out of the race because of Jonathan’s truncated or short-lived tenure; ii. The South-East has not justified why Nigerians should repose confidence in them come 2023 because of “vociferous voices in support of Biafran Republic in the Zone” iii. Because of (i) and (ii) above, the SouthWest is the only zone from the whole of competent citizens with robust presidential Southern Nigeria to produce the next leadership capacity including Godswill president.

Akpabio, Chibuike Rotimi-Amaechi and many others. We like to zoom in on one of Nothing can be farther from the truth the personalities: Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi than the above claims of our professional Amaechi (CRA). colleague.

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (“Mr. South”) To be clear, the authors of this critical is the current Minister of Transportation rejoinder have nothing against the and has tirelessly spearheaded the national leader of the All Progressives transformation and reform of Nigeria’s Congress (APC). Asiwaju is an eminent rail and train system. Therefore, if there is Nigerian in every ramification; he has any presidential train to join, it should be paid his political dues; he has been the train of the man who knows all about politically tested and trusted by many; trains! Mr South is a detribalized Nigerian he has the capacity and clout to aspire, even by virtue of his names. Originally contest and perhaps win the presidency from the South-South, “Chibuike” and of Nigeria in 2023.

“Amaechi” in his name are from his Igbo (South-East) heritage, while “Rotimi” This critical rejoinder is aimed mainly demonstrates his South-West (Yoruba) at addressing the ignorant claim of affiliation. It is this affiliation with all three Mr. Amzat that “the South-South is zones of Southern Nigeria that has earned constitutionally and technically out of it” him the sobriquet “Mr. South”. as he puts it. For starters, the Nigerian Constitution does not exclude any part CRA was Campaign DG of PMB/APC for of the country from aspiring for the office the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections, of the President just because the zone leading the campaign train across every had previously produced a president nook and cranny of Nigeria. He is well or because some persons from a zone known across Nigeria and has a proven have voiced out their yearning for self- capacity of leading a campaign that can determination. We therefore believe that win the presidency. it is our duty to educate Mr. Amzat on certain critical political variables that While he was Speaker of Rivers State will be considered in choosing the next House of Assembly for eight years (1999 Nigerian president of southern extraction – 2007) CRA was instrumental to the in 2023. establishment of Forum of States Assembly Speakers and also led the Forum during Contrary to Mr Kola’s claim, if there that period; he still enjoys the political is any southern zone that – for the sake support of his speaker colleagues of that of equity, fair play and natural justice time. As Governor of Rivers State from – is “technically out of it” it ought to be 2007 to 2015, he delivered unbeatable the South-West zone, for the following developmental strides in the State, twice reasons: led the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) and still has the political support of his 1. In Nigeria’s recent democracy, the Governor peers of his time as well as South-West held sway of the presidency several current governors. from 1999 to 2007 and currently holds sway of the vice presidency from 2015, CRA will be 56 years of age on 27 May and potentially, to 2023. This means that 2021, meaning that by the corresponding by 2023, the South-West would have held period in 2023, he will be 58. This relative sway of Nigeria’s presidency and vice youthfulness, garnished with his immense presidency for a combined total of sixteen governance and leadership experience, (16) years. makes him a suitable candidate to tackle the myriad of challenges facing the 2. One of the reasons for which Mr. country, not to mention that his age bracket Amzat dismissed the South-East (Biafra also appeals to millions of Nigerian youths agitation) is equally true of the South- who are vociferous in their preference West given the recent vociferous agitation for a candidate that is not more than 60 for Oduduwa Republic. A rally was held (Nigeria’s retirement age). in that regards in Abeokuta a few days ago.

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is a Christian and his candidacy will bring about some 3. TheSouth-South,theregionthatgenerate religious balance in a religiously polarized sthewealthoftheNation,hasonly produced nation like Nigeria; this is because a a president (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan) for Muslim- Muslim presidential transition of five years between 2010 to 2015. Hence, power will not be healthy for Nigeria in the zone has a legitimate claim to the 2023.

Presidency in order to complete its tenure similar to one of the sentiments which the Finally, we hope and believe that with APC used to campaign in 2015 – to enable these few points of ours, we have been able the North-West complete its tenure to convince Mr. Kola Amzat, FCA; that it after the untimely demise of President is rather time to join the Amaechi Train.

Yar’Adua in 2010.

Now, on the most important issue of the candidate, Mr Kola Amzat must be made aware that All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South is not bereft of

Nwarisi S. Nsirim, FCA Amadi Chibuzo, PhD Writing from Ozuzu-Etche, Rivers State.

46

THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

EndSARS Protest: Lagos Compensates over 10,000 Business Owners with N939m Segun James

Following the destruction visited on businesses in Lagos State during the #EndSARS protest, the state government yesterday disclosed that not less than N939.98 million had been expended to support businesses that were affected during the protest.

The state Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, who made the disclosure during the ministerial press briefing on the second anniversary of the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in office, said of this amount, not less than 10,005 direct jobs and 40,020 indirect

jobs were saved in the aftermath of the protest in the state.

Arobieke said: “The MSME Recovery Fund was set up to support businesses in Lagos, whose assets were vandalised post-#EndSARS protest that rocked the country in October 2020. With funding from the state, corporate organisations and

private individuals, businesses were supported with grant sums ranging from N50,000 to N5,000,000 to beneficiaries to rebuild their businesses.

“1,835 beneficiaries benefited from the N939.98 million disbursed, and 10,005 direct jobs and 40,020 indirect jobs saved.

“The ministry has succeeded

through the unwavering support of the governor in his pursuits to mitigate unemployment in the state. I wish to re-affirm that the ministry will continue to strive for the actualisation of its mandate. These efforts through our activities and its resultant achievements have earned us commendations within and

outside the country.”

Speaking on the federal government’s initiative on Conditional Cash Transfer, the commissioner said: “The state government approved the establishment of the State Cash Transfer (LSCTU) for the implementation of the National Cash Transfer programme.”

Delta Tackling Insecurity through Job, Wealth Creation, Says SSG Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Delta State Government has stated that the increasing state of insecurity in the country is largely due to massive unemployment.

It added that, consequently, the state Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa administration has initiated various empowerment schemes through its job and wealth creation programme.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, stated this when officers and participants from the Nigerian Army College of Logistics, Lagos, visited him in his office in Asaba, the state capital.

The Commandant of the college, Major-General Martins Enendo, led the team that included 53 students, which is in Delta State, as part of the college’s curriculum designed to familiarise the participants

with the resources of the states towards strengthening logistic support for military operations in Nigeria.

Ebie noted that the state government realised that high unemployment rate, especially among young graduates and other categories of youths, was largely responsible for the worrisome levels of insecurity in the society, it accordingly launched an aggressive youth entrepreneurship and empowerment machinery to churn out job creators rather than white-collar job seekers.

A special agency, the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Office, was specifically created by the Okowa administration to oversee the various training and employment schemes with starter-packs and seed money for beneficiaries, especially in agricultural and technical entrepreneurship.

Peloton Recalls Treadmills after Child’s Death, Others’ Reported Injuries Peloton yesterday announced voluntary recalls of both its treadmill machines over safety concerns.

In a statement, it apologised for not acting more quickly to resolve the issue after reports of one death and dozens of injuries.

“I want to be clear, Peloton made a mistake in our initial response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s request that we recall the Tread+,” its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. John Foley, said in a statement.

“We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologise.”

Peloton shares tumbled more than 14 per cent on the news.

The announcement marked a major reversal of Peloton’s initial reaction and comes after weeks of discussions with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The company advised customers who already have either the Tread or Tread+ products to immediately stop using the equipment and contact Peloton for a full refund or other qualified remedies. It added that it is working on a repair that will be offered to treadmill owners in the coming weeks.

The recall affects about 125,000 Tread+ machines and roughly 1,050 Tread products in the US.

Funeral Announcement for Kolawole Michael Peters The body of the late General Overseer of the Evangelical International Full Gospel Church, Rev. Dr. Kolawole Michael Peters, will be laid to rest on Friday, May 7.

The announcement on the order of funeral rites was made by the church committee in Lagos.

According to the Deputy General Overseer, Pastor Funso Oyeniyi, “the rites will span three days, starting from Wednesday, May 5, Thursday, May 6 and Friday, May 7.

Oyeniyi said there would be lying-in-state at Ogun State Judiciary Complex, Olipakala Kobape Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State, 9: 00 a.m. on May 6.

“There will be a Christian

wake keep by 5:00 pm at the Providence Event Centre, Abiola Way, Abeokuta, Ogun State and on Friday May 7; there will be Interdenominational Church Service at the same venue” he said.

COURTESY VISIT...

L-R: Secretary General of Lagos Country Club, Mr. Adegboyega Oduwole; the Membership Secretary, Mr. Steve Oboh; Vice Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Femi Peters; President of the club, Mr. Funmi Bamkole; and Chairman of Media and Publicity of the club, Mr. Sanya Onayoade, during the Vice Chancellor’s courtesy visit to the club in Lagos...recently

EFCC Arrests 30 Suspected Yahoo Boys in Kwara Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested 30 internet fraud suspects, also known as Yahoo-Yahoo Boys, in Ilorin, Kwara State.

An EFCC statement listed the suspects as Adigun Oladapo,

Olamilekan Ogunsola, Fuad Abidemi, Haastrup Samuel, Olamide Adeyemi, Akinola Abideen, Ebenezer Haastrup, Kehinde Adeyemi, Quadri Kareem, Abubakar Abdulbashit, Damilola Akinola, Ola-Oluwa Samuel, David Oyewole, Mojereola Toheeb, Isaac Chikezie, Joshua Chiekezie, Abdulsalam Opeyemi and Abawonjo Abdulazeez.

Others are: Ganiyu Olanrewaju, Adeleke Ibrahim, Taiwo Ganiyu, Oke Gideon, Olakunle Adebisi, Ajani Samuel, Joshua Ogizien, Sodiq Olasupo, Olamilekan Mubarak, Adeniyi Olashile, Rotimi Adeyemi and Rasaq Olanrewaju.

The statement said the suspects, who were mostly students were arrested at different locations within Ilorin

following actionable intelligence earlier received on their alleged criminal activities.

Items recovered from them include: 10 exotic cars, mobile phones, laptops, charms and several incriminating documents.

The commission said the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations were concluded

Secondus Seeks Speedy Passage of New Electoral Law Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Uche Secondus, has called on the National Assembly to fast track the passage of a new electoral law ahead of the 2023 general elections in order to restore confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.

Secondus said: “The National Assembly should hasten the passage of the electoral laws.

They should pass it quickly and the President should sign it into law. The passage of the new electoral law must include the clause for the electronic transmission of results.

“The electoral law will check electoral corruption; ensure the electronic transmission of results.

This was done during the Edo governorship election. It was beautiful. The President must sign it. That is the only way to make the election to be free

and fair.”

Over 50 civil society groups stormed the National Assembly to call for the passage of new electoral laws.

The groups expressed concern over the delay in the passage of a new electoral law despite the promises by the National Assembly leadership that it would be passed in the first quarter of 2021.

Meanwhile, Secondus has warned Governor Hope

Uzodinma of Imo State and security operatives to kill any move to witch hunt politicians over the rising tension in the state.

He made the call when he spoke on his party’s position on the rising insecurity in the state at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday night and suggested that holistic approach should be used in seeking lasting solution to the situation in order to get to the root of the matter.

Nasarawa Signs N6bn Tripartite Agreement to Build 2,000 Houses Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia The Nasarawa State Government has signed a tripartite agreement with Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Family Homes Fund (FHF) to build 2,000 houses for low and medium income workers in the state.

The tripartite agreement, which was signed yesterday at

a ceremony in the Government House, Lafia, would provide associated financing requirements that would enable workers to purchase the houses on completion.

Speaking shortly after the ceremony, the Nasarawa State Governor, Mr. Abdullahi Sule, said that the agreement is in line with his administration’s

policy thrust as enshrined in the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), which has housing as its key area of interest.

The signing of the agreement, according to Sule, would create wealth, employment opportunities, boost economic activities in the state and provide houses for the less privileged

workers who are earning less than N100, 000 monthly.

He appreciated the FMBN for partnering with the FHF and thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for initiating the idea, which is aimed at ensuring that the less privileged members of the society acquired homes towards addressing challenges of housing deficits in the country.

Osun Security Strategy Inclusive, Integrative, Says Oyetola

Kolawole Michael Peters

As part of efforts to upscale security in Osun State, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola yesterday said his administration had initiated and sustained an inclusive security arrangement that brought all communities into a network to cooperate with and support the Police and

other security agencies.

He added that this was aimed at achieving the security and safety that Osun people desire and deserve.

Oyetola, while addressing the newly trained Special Constabulary Police for the state yesterday also lauded the Police and the

security agencies in the state for carrying out their responsibilities with utmost professionalism, to the admiration of the state and the people.

Oyetola, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, said: “Osun

is noted as an Omoluabi state where hard work, character, commitment to duty and honesty is second nature to its citizens. Our State is also ranked as the most peaceful in Nigeria. Despite the raging security challenges ravaging the nation, we still maintain this enviable status.

47

THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 ˾ THISDAY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Pinnick Leads Drive for Billion-dollar Infrastructural Lifeline for African Football

In a move to reposition the business of football in Africa, President of the Nigeria Football Federation

and Member of the CAF Emergency Committee, Mr Amaju Pinnick, was the pivot of a crucial

meeting in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan yesterday as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) set into action the push to raise a $1billion lifeline for wholesale revamp of football infrastructure on the continent.

The NFF supremo, recently elected into world football’s highest decision –making organ, FIFA Council, was in eminent company with President of world football –governing body FIFA, Mr Gianni Infantino and the President of CAF, Dr

Patrice Motsepe as they paid a visit to the President of African Development Bank, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina in Abidjan.

“It was a very important meeting, as we started the push for our objective of raising $1billion to change the face of football infrastructure in Africa.

You will recall that the CAF President made a statement regarding the need to raise this money for the sake of football infrastructure on our continent some weeks back. This new CAF

regime is a doing team, not just a talking one. So, we have set out to work.

“The President of FIFA was there as solidarity for the steps we are taking.

We had a very useful and positive meeting with the President of African Development Bank.

Further talks are lined up. We are also going to meet with other institutions and individuals who have the means and the willingness to help African football to realise its potentials and break into the big time,” Pinnick

told thenff.comfrom the Ivorian capital yesterday.

The meeting in the Ivorian capital came only a few days after the inspection team of Confederation of African Football released a report stating categorically that 22 of the 54 countries in Africa have no football pitch that meets the standard to host international matches.

Also at the meeting were CAF General Secretary, Mr Veron Mosengo-Omba and Ivorian football legend Didier Drogba.

Amaju Pinnick and CAF President Patrice Motsepe at a previous meeting ........recently

Oshoala Suffers Another Injury Blow Asisat Oshoala was left out of Barcelona Femeni’s last night cup tie against Sevilla following the ankle injury she suffered again soon after returning from a similar one.

The Barcelona Ladies announced Oshoala, who only recently bounced back from a foot surgery, will miss the Sevilla clash after she sprained her left ankle.

This development

may also impact on her selection for the UEFA Champions League Final in Gothenburg, Sweden, on May 16.

Oshoala was a late sub for this week’s Champions League semifinal return leg match at home against PSG. are defending the cup they won last season and are also 14 points clear at the top of the table even with three outstanding matches.

Sadiq Targets Golden Boot, Qualification with Almeria to La Liga Nigeria star, Umar Sadiq is hoping to win the Segunda Division Golden Boot, as well as help Almeria return to La Liga.

The former Nigeria youth international joined the Rojiblancos from Serbian side Partizan on a five-year contract on October 5, 2020.

He has been an instant hit for Rubi’s team by helping them remain in contention for a La Liga place.

Having found the net on 18 occasions, he is behind only Espanyol’s Raul de Tomas (22 goals) and Sporting Gijon’s Djurdjevic (24 goals) in the race for the 2020-21 Golden Boot prize.

Unbeaten in their last three games, impressive results in their last five games could earn them an automatic ticket to the Spanish top flight or a place in the promotion play-off at least.

Nevertheless, the former AS Roma and Bologna star has voiced his preference for achieving both at the end of the current campaign, he maintained the team’s needs come before those of the individual.

“I’m satisfied, on a personal level, with the goals that I’ve scored so far, but the important thing is not that,” he told the club website.

“All that matters is that we can win promotion to Primera Division, which is the prime objective.

“I don’t look at what the other players who also have scored many goals are doing, although it’s clear that I’d like my team to get promoted and also be the top scorer.

“We, strikers, are here to score goals and help our teams, so in addition to scoring, I like giving assists and contributing as much as I can to the team.”

Manager Rubi penned a two-and-a-half-year contract with Almería on 28 April, replacing Jose Manuel Gomes, who was fired over poor performances.

The 24-year-old also gave his assessment of his boss and likened him to a teacher.

“He’s giving us great ideas both in attack and defence, which we now have to put into action on the pitch. He’s like a teacher,” he continued.

Chelsea players celebrating their 2-0 (3-1 aggregate) victory over Real Madrid to reach Champions League final... last night

It’s Chelsea, Man City All-English Champions League Final!

The Blues defeat Real Madrid 3-1 aggregate to reach final Chelsea will face Manchester City in the Champions League final in Istanbul after convincingly overcoming a fading Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge last night.

On a night of high tension, even behind closed doors, Chelsea fully deserved a victory that sets up an all-English final against Pep Guardiola’s Premier League leaders on 29 May. Thomas Tuchel’s hosts were grateful to goalkeeper

Edouard Mendy for two fine first-half saves from Karim Benzema but they were able to build on the 1-1 draw they achieved in Madrid when Timo Werner headed in from almost on the goal-line in the 28th minute after Kai Havertz had lofted a finish on to the bar.

It set the platform for a second half of total Chelsea domination that was nevertheless laced with anxiety as the hosts missed chance after chance

to put the game to bed.

Real’s former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved from N’golo Kante and Havertz, who also headed against the bar, while Mason Mount shot wildly over the top when clean through.

It was Mount, though, who finally sealed Chelsea’s place in their first Champions League final since they won the competition in 2012.

The outstanding Kante,

who was also instrumental in the opening goal, fed substitute Christian Pulisic and his cross was turned in by Mount with five minutes left.

The result adds another chapter to the remarkable transformation under Tuchel since he succeeded the sacked Frank Lampard in January - and gives him the chance to make amends for the 2020 Champions League final, when his Paris St-Germain side lost to Bayern Munich.

NPFL: Enyimba, IfeanyiUbah in Four-goal Thriller The midweek Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) South-east Oriental Derby between Enyimba FC and FC IfeanyiUbah lived up to billing as the two teams battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw in Aba.

Saidu Adamu gave the visitors the lead a minute before the hour mark poking from close range after Uche Onuoha nodded Evans Ogbonda’s cross to his path.

Adamu got his second of the game in the 61st minute

after he was set up by Ekene Awazie.

Enyimba however rallied back with Reuben Bala reducing the deficit 12 minutes from time.

Substitute Imo Obot equalised for the home team in stoppage

time. It was Obot’s first goal for the Peoples Elephant.

Enyimba moved to fifth position on the table with 31 points from 17 games.

FC Ifeanyi Ubah remain in 19th position with with 17 points from 19 games.

Thursday, May 6, 2021

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“If the payment of ransom is not the solution, why are our security forces still unable to detect the whereabouts of the students and free them for this long?

When you have a helpless people and a helpless government, then the nation is hopeless. Our tears will be needless for a tragedy we could have avoided ” – former Kaduna Senator and Human Rights activist, on the remaining abducted Greenfield Varsity Students whose lives are threatened .

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Cry (for) the Nigerian Passport I THE VERDICT

n March this year, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) devised a ‘Naira 4 Dollar’ scheme to make remittances through formal bank channels more convenient for our nationals in the Diaspora. With many countries now tapping into remittances from their Diaspora populations to increase inflow and shore up their national economies, it is a smart move. For instance, on Monday, the Mexican Central Bank revealed that remittances to Mexico (mostly from their Diaspora citizens in the United States) hit $4.15 billion in March this year, the highest on record and an increase of 2.6% from the same month last year.

Unfortunately, while Nigeria recognizes the importance of contributions from the Diaspora to the national economy, the federal government has not done much to incentivize them. If anything, the authorities seem to be making even the simplest of things rather difficult for them. From New York to London to Paris, Bangkok and Ankara, obtaining or renewing a Nigerian passport has become a serious problem. That is because, out of desperation, the federal government is looking at this all-important travel document as another source of earning revenue without counting the reputational cost.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed a resolution directing that the Nigeria Immigration Service (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

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Aregbesola international passport booklets.” It is one of those meaningless resolutions that simply plays to the gallery without understanding the real issues. It is also typical. Like their resolution to investigate the remote and immediate causes of “the export of a cargo ship of 7,200 refrigerated penises from Nigeria to China” – a satirical ‘news’ published on a website whose motto, ’where facts don’t matter’ should have been obvious

to our lawmakers and reveals the lack of rigour in their work.

Meanwhile, as things stand, there are several challenges associated with issuance of Nigerian Passports that will require the intervention of both the executive and the legislature. Incidentally, our Diaspora citizens are not even complaining about the outrageous fees being charged. They just want to be able to process and collect their passport within a reasonable time as it is done in other countries. That is not too much to ask.

On the issue of charges, Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama recently explained: “The $100 they (Nigerians in the US) said has been added is voluntary; it is just for those who want to have their biometrics done without an appointment.

If you wait for your appointment, you will get it (done) and not pay. But if you want it the same day, then pay $100.”

Onyeama is not telling the complete story.

Let’s begin in the United States where a Nigerian Passport can be obtained in Atlanta, New York and Washington DC. At the three consular outlets, a fresh passport costs $336 for a 32-page booklet and $367 for a 64-page booklet. The breakdown is as follows: Production fee for express service ($100), appointment fee ($100) and administrative fee ($30). The balance of $106 and $137 respectively is for the booklet. Renewal of passport costs the same amount and the breakdown is same. But to reclaim a lost passport, it costs a whooping sum of $707 because a ‘caution fee’ of $370 must be paid! An Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC)

costs $150.

In Paris, France, a resident passport 32-page booklet costs $445.31 and $627.08 for non-resident.

Meanwhile, a resident seeking a 64-page booklet will pay $476.31 and a non-resident, $658.08.

Renewal of passport costs the same amount but to replace a lost passport, a 32-page booklet for a resident costs $757.97 and non-resident, $939.74.

For a 64-page booklet, a resident will have to cough out $788.97 and non-resident, $970.74.

An ETC in France costs £250. In Sweden where a fresh passport (renewal and replacement of lost one) can be obtained only in Stockholm, a 32-page booklet costs $106 and a 64-page booklet, $137. An ETC costs £120.

In Bangkok, Thailand, a 32-page booklet (for fresh, lost or renewal) costs $173 and $204 for a 64-page booklet. An ETC costs $67. At the Rome office in Italy, a 32-page booklet costs $242 while a 64-page booklet goes for $273. Same fees are charged for renewal of passport or replacement of a lost one. An ETC costs £120. In Athens, a 32-page booklet costs $106 for all categories of passport and $137 for a 64-page booklet. An ETC goes for £50 with a proviso that it varies depending on the type of visa.

In Vienna, Austria, a 32-page booklet for resident costs $225 and for non-resident, $180.

A 64-page booklet for resident costs $246 and $317 for non-resident. The costs are the same for renewal of passport. r/05& QJFDF DPODMVEFE PO QBHF

The Murder in Akwa Ibom

“I

thought I was going to a modelling job, but instead I was lured into a gang rape trap.” Kelly, not her real name, was 17 when she was approached on Instagram by a woman who posed as a modelling scout. She was invited to meet for a video shoot in central London, but when she arrived, a man she had never met was waiting for her. “He told me he was the manager and took me to an upstairs apartment where he forced himself on me,” she said. “The modelling scout I had been talking to online then came in half an hour after with condoms. It was clear that it all had been planned out between them.” Kelly’s story comes after 1,200 online grooming crimes were recorded by police across the UK during the April to June lockdown period. “I heard the lady on the phone to other men saying ‘she’s here’. It was obvious that they had planned for other men to come to gang rape me,” Kelly said. ========================== The foregoing story, published last December by the BBC, illustrates the danger that daily confronts female job seekers in the internet age.

But the main concern here is: If this can happen in societies where there is law and order and security agencies have the capacity to detect and punish such crimes, then it is obvious that many of our women and girls have fallen victim to traps set by criminals who use the internet for their nefarious activities.

Last week, Miss Iniobong Umoren, a 20-year old resident of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, posted on Twitter that she needed a job. Not long after the post, she was declared missing. Through a

friend, it was revealed that she had set out to meet one Uduak Akpan for a job interview that ended in rape, murder and burial in a shallow grave. With the suspected culprit arrested and now in custody, we hope that the police will get to the root of the crime, apprehend other accomplices (there are stories that it is a ‘family business’) and ensure justice for the victim.

Sadly, this is a growing problem in Nigeria.

Yesterday, I joined Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Professor Ayodele Atsenuga and others at the three-day virtual training for the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission ICPC investigators and prosecutors handling sexual harassment cases. I spoke on perspectives of sexual harassment in the educational sector and also stayed for the entire session. I benefitted from the interactions moderated by Mrs Bunmi Olugosa, an Assistant Commissioner and SA Legal to the ICPC Chairman who coordinates the series of quarterly engagement on how the commission can use the instrumentality of the law to deal with sexual and gender-based violence Late Umoren both on our campuses and within the larger society. In his opening remark, ICPC Chairman, reason, women shy away from drawing attention Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, highlighted why the to their pain because of the stigma that follows commission is at the forefront of tackling what reporting such incidences. The challenge is now he described as a gross abuse of power that compounded by criminals who ply their trade reduces the dignity of our women and girls. using social media. On 21st July 2012, Cynthia What came out clearly from the interactions Osokogu, the last child and only daughter of is that we have a huge problem that requires Major-General Frank Osokogu (rtd) flew to a multi-stakeholder approach if we are ever to Lagos from Abuja to meet with ‘retailers’ she successfully tackle the menace of gender-based befriended on Facebook. She was drugged, raped violence in Nigeria. and strangled. Over three months between July Ordinarily, the place for victims to file complaints and September 2019, Gracious David-West, lured of such crimes is the police. But that is actually eight young ladies with high-risk lifestyles across where the problem becomes magnified. For this Lagos, Imo and Rivers State to hotels, had sex

and then strangled them. In the typical Nigerian fashion of blaming the victim, the then deputy commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Chuks Enwonwu, narrowed the crime to the lifestyle of the victims, sparking a serious protest in Port Harcourt by women.

While I commiserate with the family of the late Iniobong, there are lessons in the tragedy for everyone. I believe the Nigeria Police should invest in technology that can enable them to detect and take out some of these online criminals who prey on vulnerable people. But this is also a challenge for the larger society. Most at risk are children who use the internet, especially in this age of remote learning. Last October, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, released a statement titled, ‘Internet Predators: Warnings & Prevention for Families During the Pandemic and Beyond.’

Allow me to conclude with an admonition from the US Attorney: “Parents don’t know all the apps or how to use them, but sexual predators do. Just as parents taught kids to be safe at home by locking the doors at night, parents must learn how to keep kids safe online. We must educate ourselves and talk to our children about the risks inherent in the open access the Internet provides. Talk to your kids about what sites they are visiting, what apps they use, whom they are texting and messaging, what kinds of pictures they take of themselves, and what kinds of pictures other people send to them. Encourage them to share with you anything (that) makes them uncomfortable, whether an image, a message, or a solicitation. Showing that you care will go a long way with a child, and that in turn will go a long way in keeping them safe.”

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